One of our favorite events of the year is Faces of History.

It is the culmination of many hours of writing and grammar instruction in the Classical Conversations Essentials program.

Don't know about Essentials? It's a wonderful program for 4th-6th graders! It is the afternoon program (generally 1-3 p.m.) that includes writing and grammar instruction, as well as math games. Moms attend class with their children, so while the tutor models instruction for US we can then go home and instruct our students during the rest of the week.

One of the many benefits of being in Classical Conversations is that our students are taught to be excellent, concise writers. They are given opportunities to practice delivery, articulation, and other presentation skills.

Our world desperately needs more COMMUNICATORS, and more young people to fulfill the mission of Knowing God and Making Him Known!

Faces of History - Classical Conversations Essentials 2016

This year, the children worked their way through IEW's History Based Writing Lessons (Ancient History).

The culmination of their hard work is a five paragraph research report - delivered in the first person - about a character of their choosing.

They learn all about good research techniques, how to tie a five paragraph paper together, and how to create a bibliography --- not to mention pacing and planning in preparation for the big day.

What a JOY it is to watch these children share all they have learned.

In our home, Rameses the Great has been preparing extensively for this day.

Since this is Grant's second year in Essentials, he did the entire report on his own. I'm not telling you this to brag... but to show you what a quality writing program and consistent instruction can do for our children!

Mom was there to edit along the way and offer a few suggestions, but it was important to me for my guy's spirit to shine through in his paper.

Our biggest obstacle in public speaking is going way too FAST. Grant is a speed talker, and I'm so proud that he slowed down and got his point across.

Having opportunities like this makes him not afraid to get up and speak in front of groups. (How many adults do you know that have a fear of speaking in front of others? I know LOTS!)

So.... moms of Foundations students who are not Essentials age yet: do not fear!

Be greatly excited!

Your children will learn to express themselves in wonderful ways, and you will be giving them an invaluable gift!

Enjoy!

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Faces of American History

10 Reasons We Homeschool With Classical Conversations

We've done so much with LEGOS in our homeschool.

I've taught a 10 week LEGO class at our co-op - which was a TON of fun.

As my guy is getting older (he's 11 now), it's time to think about more advanced LEGO building and robotics.

This year, in an effort to be more intentional about our time, I started a LEGO club for my son and four of his friends. We also have a teen helper who happens to love LEGOS, too.

Our goals are to nurture supportive relationships for the boys, learn about simple machines and robotics, and have FUN!

People who follow my Instagram feed have been seeing our LEGO Club pictures and ask how to start one.... so, here's what I did and the materials we are using.

Stick around, because I want to show you exactly what our LEGO Club looks like.

(But if you just can't wait, download your FREE LEGO Club Resources list by clicking HERE.)

Starting a LEGO Club

This part was easy! We found a few other LEGO lovers and invited them to come to our house once every other week for 90 minutes of LEGO learning and fun.

*I am keeping the number very small at first (5 boys and 1 teen helper) so we can form relationships and learn to work as a team.

Our teen helper, Evan, is KEY to this group. He is a young man I've known for many years, and he loves LEGOS! He is also very good with younger children and has that inquisitive mind most LEGO lovers possess. Honestly, I don't know much about LEGO building techniques, but Evan does!

A lot of people are asking me if this is a First Lego League team or a robotics club and I am quick to say NO. I always like to set the bar low when I first attempt something like this... and we can always aim for bigger things later.

If I've learned anything in my years of homeschooling it is that LESS IS MORE -- SIMPLE IS BETTER.

Fun Opening Activities for a LEGO Club

We always begin each club time with a fun activity. This takes approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on how much fun we're having.

Most recently we did the PAPER BAG CHALLENGE. I put a base plate and two large handfuls of basic LEGO bricks (with some other fun parts from my son's collection) into a brown paper grocery bag (I made one bag for each of the boys in the class). Then, I had the boys build in the bag WITHOUT looking inside of it. It's a blind build, and it's a lot of fun!

To up the fun factor you can set a time for five minutes and see what they can build without looking.

If you have more time, switch bags, and do the paper bag challenge again.

Another fun opening activity is a SPEED BUILD. I keep a huge basket of random LEGO bricks and let the boys take three handfuls and a base plate. Then, set a timer for 10 minutes and see what they can create. Speed builds can be done individually or with a partner.

After the timer goes off, allow each child to speak to the club about what they have created. This is a great way to work on presentation and organization skills!

We will also use the create your LEGO minifigure printable as an opening activity for our club.

Also, never underestimate the fun children can have just building with LEGO bricks. For our next meeting I will just allow the boys to create something TOGETHER for the first 15 minutes of club time.

LEGO Club Lesson Ideas

Because we want to be intentional with our time as homeschoolers, it is important that there is a "curriculum" for our club.

I love all of the LEGO® Education products, and use those as our curriculum.

(These products are worth the price. I consider them an investment in our homeschool.)

We worked our way through some of the lessons in the Simple Machines set. We learned about gears and ratios and levers.

The curriculum has step by step building instructions, and also extension activities, key vocabulary words, and student worksheets. It's very well done.

I send the set and teacher's guide home with our helper, Evan, and he decides on the lesson for the following club meeting.

Learning With LEGO Education Simple Machines

We have recently started working our way through the Introduction to Simple and Powered Machines curriculum.

Here you'll see a street sweeper the boys made - learning more about gear ratios and velocity.

(By the way, the Uncle Sam minifig riding in the street sweeper is our club mascot!)

Learning With LEGO Simple & Motorized Mechanisms

* We will also be working towards using the LEGO® Education Mindstorms set... but it's important to get our boys familiar with LEGO building techniques and more advanced instructions first.

Closing LEGO Club Activities

BINGO is by far the favorite closing activity for LEGO club.

I use this free printable LEGO BINGO game and you would think it's Christmas when we play!

The boys love to use the little animals from the LEGO® Education Story Starter set as their BINGO markers!

And, of course we always have a snack at the end. The parents take turns providing snack for our group.

To top it all off, when it's a nice day the boys run and play in our yard when club time is over. This gives the moms a chance to chat and the kids a chance to just be KIDS.

(I really love homeschooling.)

I hope this has been helpful to you!

My encouragement to you is just START THE CLUB. Don't put off doing something your children will LOVE and LEARN FROM. Starting a LEGO Club will be such fun for everyone involved!

Download your FREE LEGO Club Resources list here!

Faces of History: The Gift of Communication