At Home Learning

Practice your addition skills! Write down a simple addition problem. Then, using two different colors, make and connect a paper chain showing your addition problem and solution!

Explore soundwaves together! Using a string or a jump rope, move it in big and small waves creating different patterns. This is the same way sound moves through the air! Big, slow waves make low noises and small, fast waves make high noises.

Next, get a plastic cup and poke a hole in the bottom. Put a string through the hole and tie a knot in it. Using a piece of wet paper towel, pull down on the string. The wet paper towel is creating vibrations due to friction. Those waves move up the string into the cup and becomes sound as the waves move across air. The cup then begins to quack like a duck!

During WWII, news was reported quickly via radio broadcasts including President Roosevelt's fireside chats. Report on important battles of WWII in an engaging and informative way using the information sheets provided. Your goal is to make those families listening feel as if they are part of the action to stir support for the war effort, such as rationing and supply drives across the country!

Toys on the Texas frontier were often made of scrap materials, including fabric, old handkerchiefs, wood, metal, and clay. Make your own handkerchief doll following the instructions provided below!

From the late 1800s to the 1930s, cotton was grown all over Texas and Bell County. At the time, cotton was the largest "cash crop" farmers grew to make money so it was nicknamed "white gold”. Still today, Texas is the largest cotton producer in the nation! Using the template below along with cotton balls and markers, make your own cotton diagram showing the parts of the plant. Be sure to notate what is needed for the plant to grow healthy and tall!

Since the early days of Texas, land grants were given by the Spanish and Mexican governments to encourage new settlers to make their home in the area. Land grants were measured, or surveyed, using a variety of measurement systems; some more accurate than others. One of the most common forms of measurement was the vara chain, which equaled approximately 3ft. Once the land was surveyed, an empresario was assigned to grant the land to families who settled in the area and helped build Texas as we know it today. Make your own creative form of measurement using things at home. Then, survey the land around your home, your neighbor's home, and a nearby park. How large is your land grant compared to others?

Native American tribes across the country would weave beautiful baskets, blankets, and rugs for use in their tepee and holding food. Practice your weaving skills! Connect three straws together at one end with tape. Then, tie a piece of yarn at the taped end of a straw. Begin weaving yarn over then under through the straws attaching new pieces of yarn as you go to make beautiful color patterns. When you're done, you can remove the yarn from the straws, tie a knot in the end and wear it as a bracelet!

Discuss with your kids what plants need to grow and explain the process of photosynthesis. Go outside and pick the largest leaf you can find off a tree or plant. Then, fully submerge it in a glass bowl of water. In a couple of hours, you will be able to see bubbles forming on the leaf. This is part of the process of photosynthesis in which plants use water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to grow and release oxygen! While you wait, complete the worksheets below.

After the experiment, gather some leaves and paint. Paint the leaf and imprint it on paper to see the veins of the leaf that carry carbon dioxide and water through the process of photosynthesis.

A legend is a traditional story thought to be true and historical but has not been proven through research and facts. All cultures have legends that have been passed down from many years ago. Texas has many of its own legends including that of “The Yellow Rose of Texas”. The “The Yellow Rose of Texas” is a folk song that was most likely written in the 1850s and is believed to be based on a popular legend of the Texas Revolution!

Read the included legend of the yellow rose.

• Do you think it could be true?Why or why not?

Make your own yellow “rose” of Texas!

• Glue a yellow cupcake liner to the top of the included flower stem.
• Add more glue to the center and sprinkle it with bird seed.
• Color the stem and leaves. You can also decorate the rest of the paper.
• Hang it up for all to see!
  • You can also plant it and grow a beautiful garden to feed the birds.