Kara Noel Lawson

June 12, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Mr. Nobody – Plus a {FREE} Chocolate Chip Cookie Printable

Thanks for following along with all our hands-on activities for First Language Lessons Level 1! I hope you had as much fun as we did, and your kids are displaying their art with pride. Our very last enrichment activity is for the poem “Mr. Nobody.” (And I have a Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Printable at the end of this post!) It’s a LONG poem, and I’m so proud of my kids for memorizing the whole thing.

I have to be honest… I didn’t think they would be able to memorize “Mr. Nobody.” When we started FLL, I flipped through the book and saw the lengthily poem and thought, “Yeah right! This language is old-fashioned the whole thing is outdated!” And did I mention it’s looooooong?

But the FLL method works. It works well. Our kids are capable of so much more than we think! The big kids memorized the whole thing within a week and Cy only needs prompting on one section… I’ve even heard Tess rattling off stanzas while playing.

You can watch Cora Jane recite the whole poem below, and I announce our final First Language Lessons activity in this video too!

Lesson 81: Mr. Nobody activity
(materials – kids, cookie recipe, time.)

Tell your kids to pick up all the things Mr. Nobody left out in your house!
Bake cookies. Because doing homeschool means we are the fun moms!

Check out all the activities in the series below… I promise the rest are educational.
(Not that cleaning and baking aren’t their own kind of educational…)

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2)
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81) You are looking at this activity!

If you want to make the most perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER, here is the recipe:

How cute would this be printed and framed in your kitchen? Or as a gift to a friend?
(Along with a batch of cookies, of course!)
If you like this printable, you will LOVE the rest of Kindyl’s work in her shop.
Click here for the 8.5 x 11 size Chocolate Chip Cookie printable.
Click here for 2 5×7 Chocolate Chip Cookie printables on one sheet.
Keep in mind we never do anything small in the Lawson House. This is a big batch of cookies, perfect for big families! They come out “just right” every time!

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June 11, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

The Months – Painting and Dots with First Language Lessons

We have been having more fun with our First Language Lessons enrichment activities!!!
I hope you have too!
Today is a fun (not too messy) paining project for “The Months” poem. Your kids will have a blast dotting their papers for each of of the different number of days in a month. This poem is introduced in lesson 43, but I would do this activity around lesson 50… before lesson 57 when you do the cumulative poem review.

the months paint and dots

Lesson 43: The Months activity

(materials – printable on white paper, pencil, one piece colored construction paper, 3-5 Q-tips, 3-5 colors of tempura paint, glue stick.)

Younger children

Print The Months copy work printable on white paper.
Trace the poem.
Dip the Q-tips into the paint and make 31 dots in one color, 30 dots in another color, and 29 dots in a third color.

Older children

Print The Months copy work printable on white paper.
Write one word of the poem in each day box on the calendar. (Note: Poetry lines won’t line up properly with the poem.)
Dip the Q-tips into the paint and make 31 dots in one color, 30 dots in another color, and 29 dots in a third color.

The Months activity

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2) You’re looking at this post!
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81)

June 10, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Days of the Week Activity – Hand-on First Language Lessons

We are loving our First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Activity series.
I hope you are too!
This is a fun days of the week activity flip-book to help reinforce your child’s poem memorization. “Days of the Week” is introduced in lesson 35, but this activity would be a great activity to do with your children on the day you do lesson 38 (proper nouns for the days of the week).

days of the week activity

Lesson 35: Days of the Week activity

(materials – page 1 & 2 printables on white paper, pencil, scissors, one piece colored construction paper, stapler, crayons.)

Print page 1 & 2 Days of the Week copy work printable on white paper.
Have children trace the poem.
Cut along the dotted lines.
Cut the piece of construction paper in half lengthwise, then fold in half to create a flip book cover.
Stack the white flip book paper inside the cover and staple together at the top.
Decorate the cover of the book with the title.

days of the week poem

Print page one of the flip-book here.

days of the week poem

Print page two of the flip-book here. days of the week poem
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2)
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81)

days of the week activity

June 9, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Sewing Heart Activity – First Language Lessons interactive activity

If you are working your way through First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1, your kids will love this sewing heart activity to help reinforce their poetry memorization.

“Hearts are like Doors” poetry memorization is introduced in lesson 27 and consider doing this activity on the day you do lesson 32 (a lighter lesson day). Hang up the the finish project (along with the “Work” activity and “The Caterpillar” activity) as a fun way to help reinforce the poem memorization and remind the children of the poems they have memorized. You can also turn this work into your Charter Schools.

Lesson 27: Sewing Heart Activity

(materials – top printable on red or pink paper, bottom printable on white cardstock, pencil, scissors, hole punch & yarn (or glue stick), crayons.)

Print “Hearts Are Like Doors bottom” copy work printable on white cardstock.
Print the “top” copy work printable on red or pink or paper.
Have children trace the poem.
Cut out the “top” heart.
Hole punch across the top of the cut out heart.
Use the yarn to thread the “top” heart onto the “bottom” heart.
Trace your house key or create little keys with your imagination to decorate the white paper.

Click here for the top printable on colored paper, and click here for the bottom printable on white paper.

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2)
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81)

June 8, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind – Work enrichment activity

Are you ready for the next First Language Lessons enrichment activity for First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1? (If you have no clue what I’m talking about, check out my summary of First Language Lessons here and the first enrichment activity in the book.)

This enrichment activity goes along with the poem “Work” in Lesson 15. Do this activity around Lesson 22 to reinforce the poetry memorization. (These activities a also great to turn into your charter, if that applies to you.)

Lesson 15: “Work” poem flip-up activity

Young children (materials – printable on white paper, pencil, scissors, 1 piece of light colored construction paper, glue stick, crayons.)

Print “Work” copy work printable.
Have children trace the letters.
Cut along the dotted lines.
Run a line of glue stick across the top back of the copy work paper. Center and paste onto the construction paper.
Fold up the top sheet with the copy work and color a picture on the bottom layer.

Older children (materials – blank white paper, pencil, scissors, 1 piece of light colored construction paper, glue stick, crayons.)

Place the piece of white paper in the landscape direction and fold into fourths. Creating 4 equal columns.
Write the title of the poem at the top center of the paper and write the poet’s name underneath.
Write two lines of the poem in each of the four columns.
Cut along each fold from the bottom of the paper leaving about 1.5” uncut at the top.
Steps 4-5 above.

Download the hands-on enrichment activity for Work here.

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First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2)
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81)

June 7, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Hands-on Caterpillar Activity for First Language Lessons

We have discovered First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind and I’m obsessed!
Read my summary of FLL here.
(You can buy First Language Lessons Level 1 here)

Your kids will love this hands-on Caterpillar activity if they are doing FLL or if you want to do a poetry study on your own. “The Caterpillar” poem is introduced in Lesson 2 but I would do this activity around Lesson 9ish to reinforce the memorization and have something fun to hang up and remind the children of the poem as them move on to the next poem.

Lesson 2: Hands-on Caterpillar activity

Young children (materials – printable on white paper, pencil, brown washable maker, at least two other colors of washable marker, black fine-tip marker or pen, lil’ fingers, green crayons.)

Print “The Caterpillar” copy work printable.
Have children trace the letters.
Use fingerprints to make a caterpillar on the bottom of the paper on the left hand side.
Use fingerprints to make a butterfly on the right hand side of the paper.
Draw antenna, faces, and feet with the sharpie.
Children can make a shady leaf or stalk with crayons on the sides of the paper.
Consider mounting on a piece of construction paper for display.

Older children (materials – printable on white paper, pencil, brown washable maker, at least two other colors of washable marker, lil’ fingers, green crayons.)

Place the “The Caterpillar” copy work for older children. (There is space for their original poem.)
Trace “The Caterpillar” on the left hand side.
Have students write the final draft of their own original poem on the right hand side. (Suggested topics are caterpillars, butterflies, plants or flowers.)
Follow steps 3-7 above to decorate the poems and display.

The kids created some pretty cute butterflies and caterpillars!

Cyrus did the copy work and the older kids created original poetry.
Some of you might have just discovered FLL (like me) and want to blast though Level 1 with your older kids to get to the proper level without gaps. My older were able to do just a bit more than the level one requirements. This hands-on caterpillar activity and original poetry exercise was right up our alley!

This was our first time intentionally writing a poem, inspired by a poem they memorized.
They had so much fun brainstorming their ideas then honing in on what would actually be in their poem. I thought the process would be a little daunting… but it was wonderful!

We did the brainstorm and rough drafts on one day, then final copies on the next day.

Click here for copy work for younger children.
Click here for smaller copy work an blank space for original poem.

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1 Hands-On Activities:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2) You’re looking at this post!
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27)
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35)
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43)
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81)

June 6, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

What is First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind?

We have discovered First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind and I’m obsessed!
(You can find First Language Lessons Level 1 here)
What is First Language Lessons? (you ask)

Well, First Language Lessons for the Well-Trianed Mind (FLL) is a grammar curriculum.
Level 1 is first grade grammar – the lessons are awesome and SHORT. We do our FLL grammar right after our morning read aloud. My 2nd and 3rd graders finished level 1 in 2 months.

Since we were just introduced to FLL, and I didn’t want any grammar gaps, we plugged through book Level 1 (doing 2-6 lessons a day) quickly. I wanted to get us on track asap.
(We plan on finishing level 2 this summer and then we’ll be on level three when the next school year starts. Right on track.)

What is First Language Lessons?

Here is my summary of First Language Lessons Level 1:

Lessons 1-45 are all about nouns. The lessons break up common nouns, proper nouns, persons, places, things, and ideas.
About 6 lessons introduce pronouns.
About 8 lessons cover the basic concept of a verb.
Sprinkled throughout the 100 lessons are 9 story narrations, and 4 picture narrations.
Kids will memorize 6 poems by the time they finish the level. (This is my favorite part!)
There are 10 “oral usage “lessons to train the children’s ears for the proper use of common words and word phrases. i.e. ain’t, was/were, see/saw/seen, ordering I and me, pronouns, It is/was I, was/were, sit/set, is/are.
Other topics: memorizing your address, phone number, birthday. Introducing seasons, initials, abbreviations, grammar rules in poetry, types of sentences, oral composition, and introducing copy work.

This book is perfection and stands on it’s own.
But you know I love hand-on activities and the ones in this book are basic.
(Side Note: They are basic by design! I just like a little flare.)

So I’m introducing a Hand-on activity guide for First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind Level 1! Check back this whole week and I’ll be posting new content every other day.

Enrichment activities for First Language Lessons for the Well0Trained Mind Level 1:

Hands-On Activity for “The Caterpillar” poem (FLL Lesson 2)
Hands-On Activity for “Work” poem (FLL Lesson 15)
Hands-On Activity for “Hearts Are Like Doors” poem (FLL Lesson 27) Coming soon!
Hands-On Activity for “Days of the Week” poem (FLL Lesson 35) Coming soon!
Hands-On Activity for “The Months” poem (FLL Lesson 43) Coming soon!
Hands-On Activity for “Mr. Nobody” poem (FLL Lesson 81) Coming soon!

May 28, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Pirate Coast Paddle Company – Epic Summer Camp!

Last weekend we had the most wonderful family day with Pirate Coast Paddle Company. Pirate Coast invited us to their little slice of paradise at Newport Dunes in Back Bay.
It was magical!
I’ve never been paddle boarding before, and I was able to do it right away on my knees, and I could stand up by the end of the day.

Pirate Coast Paddle Company

(above photo credit Marcie Taylor… I love it!)

We arrived and Tess was wearing her flamenco shoes. (A gift from our old foreign exchange student, Maria, aka one of our Spanish daughters.) Because mismatched socks and heals are proper beach wear.

beach shoes at pirate coast no one beats tessa's style

All the kids were able to experience a typical day of Kids Pirate Paddle Camp. First, they had a beginning paddle boarding class. My kids were giddy. And they picked it up so quickly!

Pirate Coast Paddle Company

learning to paddle at pirate coast

Then they went out on a HUGE paddle board. It was epic.
(Check out my Facebook Live video here to see the kids launch!)

kids on biggest paddle board on the west coast

I can’t even… look at those smiles…

biggest paddle board on the west coast

It’s been hitting me hard this year that we only have 8 summers left before Eli is 18 years old… and even less time where I get to pick his summer activities. I feel like paddle board camp will create the most special memories. Don’t you?

team work at Pirate Coast Paddle Coast Paddle Company on your knees at pirate coast

About Pirate Coast Paddle Company Kids Summer Camp:

When: Summer months- One week (M-F) increments June 20th- August 15
Times: 9am-12:30pm (Guaranteed to tire out the most active kids!)
Cost: $279 for the week. (Use coupon code 10OFFCAMP for 10% off!)
Who: Boys and Girls ages 7-12 years old who love adventure.
What will the kids actually be doing? Fun activities everyday! Including a visit to the Back Bay Science Center, visit to all the fun activities at Newport Dunes, scavenger hunt, exploring the bay, learning paddle board tricks any kayaking. And more memories than you can ever count.

Family Paddle Board time

And the beach.
Oh how we love the warm sand and ocean breezes…

beach side at pirate coast paddle life vest at Pirate Coast Paddle Coast Paddle Company

If Summer camp isn’t your cup of tea then you can try one of Pirate Coast’s SUP Night Tours on a Friday or Saturday evening. We want to do a night tour this summer with our Life Group!
Or you can rent a paddle board any day for just $20 an hour!

my favorite view We love Pirate Coast Paddle Company

All my kids loved the paddle camp experience, but Cora Jane was in her element! Isn’t it wonderful when you see what amazing humans your children are growing into?
I think so.
And Cora Jane was on cloud nine.

Pirate Coast Paddle Coast Paddle Company

We left the camp with that beach afterglow and my kids were content and exhausted.
Happy campers all around the Lawson house.
Thanks you for the special day Pirate Coast Paddle Company!1

beach afterglow

May 24, 2016 by: Kara Noel Lawson

My truSculpt Second Treatment – Three Ways to Flush Fat Today

Does truSculpt work?
I set out to discover the answer, and now it was time for the moment of truth! I had my first treatment (read all about it here), but it takes a few treatments to get the best results. Now, I can say with confidence: TruSulpt Works! (And I’m sharing three ways to flush fat today at the end of this post!)

I lost an inch around my waist. Woo hoo!

Let me back up a little… Do you know about truSculpt? (I didn’t until I became a Mombassador for CosmetiCare.)

Long version: TruSculpt is a nonsurgical energy-based procedure that delivers therapeutic heat to the deep subcutaneous tissue layer.

Cliff’s Notes: TruSculpt is a med-spa procedure that kills fat cells with heat.

I’ll take it!!!

Since this was my second time, it only took about 45 minute… which may sound like a long time but you’ll get to chat with my favorite technician, Lisa. The time goes fast!

Wear loose fitting clothes and prepare to be grounded.
Really.
You’ll get hooked up with some grounding patches. Painless.
Then chat for a bit and 12 weeks later you’re down an inch!

You can read my mind during a truSculpt treatment by reading my tweets in my first post. After a treatment you HAVE to drink lots of water to flush out all this dead fat cells.

Three ways to flush fat today or after truSculpt:

Try this Beauty Shot from my favorite organic skin care line, Bambu Earth. I love starting my day with this “shot.” In fact, just typing this makes my body crave it! (Print the shot here.)
Drink 3 liters of water a day. 12 cups… which for me is 6 full Ball jars. It’s harder than you think! Read all about it here.
Afternoon Pick-me-up tonic: Combine 3 cups of coconut water, 1/2 cup fresh ginger slices, juice from one lime, 1 T ground turmeric, 3 T honey and 1/4-1/2 t of cayenne pepper.