Help your child learn his left from his right -- and keep all his favorite footwear neat in the process -- with a homemade shoe organizer.

Early human footprints showed they had anatomically modern feet.

A batch ancient shoe soles have been found in an ancient trash dump in Lyon, France.

I LOVE the Gamewright Company! Do you know them yet? After reading this review, you will certainly want to add them to your gift idea list for Christmas!  From the Gamewright website:  “Gamewright was founded in 1994 by four parents whose kids wanted great games. From the start, our mission has remained clear: Create the highest quality family games with outstanding play-value. Guided by themes and experiences that transcend age and salted with a bit of irreverence, our games are designed to foster laughter, learning, friendship and fun.  Over the years our family has grown to over 50 games, 150 awards, and countless happy players.” Include my family in that “countless happy players” group! The Gamewright company was VERY generous in allowing me to review three of their brand new games!  My children LOVED playing with all of them.  I wish I could post a video review of the kids playing the games, but to anyone outside of my home, it would have just looked like pure chaos.  :) My youngest two children absolutely loved Ring-O Flamingo!  It is their new pastime.  It is perfect for younger children, since they picked up on the rules of the game immediately!  They are 2 and 4, and they weren’t the ONLY ones who loved the game.  My older two children also love playing it… and so do I! The object of the game:  Ring the most flamingos by shooting life preservers from your playing piece!  But be careful, don’t ring a crocodile instead!  Here is a picture of my kiddos having a ball playing it! The next game we reviewed was, “Do You See What I See?”. We had a great time trying to collect all of the items on our Keep Me tiles!  This game is based on the award winning book, “Can You See What I See?” by Walter Wick.  Just to prove to you that children of all ages can play this game, my two year old beat the pants off the entire rest of the family when we played this game!! The next amazing game they sent us was BOOCHIE!!  :) This is just an incredibly fun game!  Think, horseshoes meets croquet, meets lawn darts, meets… well, I guess this game is actually just all-together unique!! Here is a picture of my kiddos having great fun with Boochie-   Watch this great commercial on the Boochie Game! Now, it’s YOUR turn!! The Gamewright Company is offering YOUR FAMILY a 2009 Gamewright game of your OWN!! To enter, please do the following: Mandatory for Entry: Comment below, telling me which game from THIS GROUP you would love to own if you win.  Be sure to leave your email in the comment, in case you win! Become a follower of this blog, and comment that you do For Extra Entries: Retweet this contest (http://twitter.com/vaagen/statuses/3393681764) and comment that you do Gain an extra entry for asking your friends to subscribe to this blog, and commenting with their screen name Post this contest to your Facebook page, and leave the URL in the comments below. Become a follower of this blog on its Facebook page, and comment that you do Favorite this blog on Technorati (link in right hand column of this blog), and comment that you do Place my blog button on your blogsite, and leave the URL below This contest will end on Tuesday, August 25th at 6pm EST.  GOOD LUCK! Thank you for coming to Mingle Over Mocha with Anna!

Erin Condren offers a homeschool planner that I like. The size is like their regular teacher’s planner, it is the 8.5″ x 11″. There is plenty of room to write plans and activities out. The months are undated so you … [continue reading] The post Erin Condren Homeschool Planner appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

The Immigrant Learning Center free webinar Understanding Immigration Today: Current Events in the Classroom on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM EST. In this free interactive webinar, participants will learn ways to incorporate immigration news across the … [continue reading] The post Understanding Immigration Today Webinar appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Ideas and activities to learn about the Solar SystemMake a Solar System Crayon Resist where you use crayon drawings of the solar system and paint with black watercolor over to reveal what you’ve drawn.https://artsomeelementaryart.blogspot.com/2014/05/3rd-grade-solar-system-watercolor.htmlCrayon Resist with Watercolor … [continue reading] The post Solar System appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Erin Condren offers a homeschool planner that I like. The size is like their regular teacher’s planner, it is the 8.5″ x 11″. There is plenty of room to write plans and activities out. The months are undated so you … [continue reading] The post Erin Condren Homeschool Planner appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Introducing the Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner! The ultimate organization tool for homeschooling parents, teachers, and tutors just got better. New 2020-2021 Teacher Lesson Planner is now available in a 3-ring binder! You can add, rearrange, and organize your lesson … [continue reading] The post Erin Condren Teacher Planner 2020-2021 appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

In honor of Black History Month, The Color Purple returns to cinemas and includes exclusive insights from Turner Classic Movies. One day only – February 23, 2020. The classic film is from director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer … [continue reading] The post The Color Purple 35th Anniversary appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Join the NASA STEM Engagement & Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Learn about My NASA Data, a learning tool that provides interactive technology lessons related to snow and ice. Explore data … [continue reading] The post Exploring Ice and Snow Free Webinar appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Join the NASA STEM Engagement & Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Participants will explore “Earth Observatory Kids,” NASA's free publication for students in grades 2-8. During this webinar we will … [continue reading] The post Earth Observatory Kids Free Webinar appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Make Your Own Coupon Binder, A Guide to Make A Mini Coupon BinderMy mother couponed and I still have her couponing box. It is a box with tuck-in flaps that a gift of some Christmas food items came in. … [continue reading] The post Make Your Own Mini Coupon Binder Guide appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

The purpose of this website is to make available ways of cutting costs while homeschooling. We hope this will enable you to save money while maintaining a high quality of education. Some homeschoolers love bargains. Others try to cut costs … [continue reading] The post Welcome appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Help Science The Great Backyard Bird Count! Scientists can't be everywhere; that's why they need our help. The Great Backyard Bird Count is February 14-17, 2020, and participation is fun, free and easy for all ages. You'll be part of … [continue reading] The post The Great Backyard Bird Count appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Groundhog Day by Jane Drotosto the tune of Up On the HousetopPlease Mr. Groundhog hide, hide, hideSo winter soon will be bye bye.Oh Mr. Sun please stay behind a cloudThere must be no shadow of … [continue reading] The post Groundhog Day Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Valentines by Aileen FisherI gave a hundred ValetinesA hundred, did I say?I gave a thousand Valentinesone cold and wintry day.I didn’t put my name on them or any other words,because my Valentines were seeds… [continue reading] The post Valentines Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Here are some Easter poems that you can easily add your own fingerplay and movements to.Mr. Rabbit has a habitThat is very plain to see.He wrinkles up and crinkles upHis little nose at me.Our rabbits … [continue reading] The post Easter Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Leap Day PoemFebruary has 28 daysExcept when leap year fallsThen we have 29 daysBut it’s still the shortestMonth of allYou may also like:Groundhog Day PoemsHomeschoolingEaster PoemsHomeschoolingGeorge Washington PoemsHomeschooling… [continue reading] The post Leap Day appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

FlagI love the flagIt flies so highIt almost seemsTo touch the sky.I love my flagWith colors true,Long may it waveRed, White, and Blue.You may also like:Easter PoemsHomeschoolingAbraham Lincoln … [continue reading] The post American Flag Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

George WashingtonI cannot tell a lie sirI’m sorry as can be.It was with my little hatchetI chopped down the cherry tree.You may also like:The Great Backyard Bird CountBlogProject Organize RefrigeratorLifeGroundhog … [continue reading] The post George Washington Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Abraham Lincolnborn February 12, 1809Abe Lincoln by Betty Anderson[verse 1]Lincoln lived in IllinoisThen went to WashingtonThe people made him president in 1861.[chorus]Lincoln, LincolnAbraham LincolnLincoln, LincolnAbraham Lincoln[verse 2]Lincoln … [continue reading] The post Abraham Lincoln Songs & Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Rosie Red RobinCame calling todayShe perched on the lilacAnd had much to say.Mr. RobinHis breast is redHis eyes are blackMr. Robin saysThat Spring is back.You may also like:Wind PoemsEnglish… [continue reading] The post Robin Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

Snowy MorningEvery whereI walk and go.I leave my step-marksIn the snow.You may also like:Abraham Lincoln Songs & PoemsHomeschoolingGeorge Washington PoemsHomeschoolingAmerican Flag PoemsHomeschooling… [continue reading] The post Winter Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

The WindHang onto your hatWhoever you areOr the wild March windWill blow it far.You may also like:FrogsHomeschoolingThe Great Backyard Bird CountBlogRobin PoemsHomeschooling… [continue reading] The post Wind Poems appeared first on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.