Get ready for your most memorable and enriching Veterans Day yet! Silverdale Press is thrilled to announce the release of White House Holidays: Veterans Day. It is the second in our White House Holidays series. The unit study is now available for purchase. Veterans Day is November 11th, so get your copy today. Don't let the holiday pass without seizing this unique learning opportunity. 

Designed for students in grades K-12, this unit study is a great way to teach your kids history, while learning to honor those who have fought for our country. The unit study is brimming with vivid illustrations, rich stories, and creative and meaningful activities. This is a unique learning opportunity that is guaranteed to bring lasting memories to your entire homeschool family. 

​Click here to buy. 

In this unit study, students will learn about

• President Woodrow Wilson and how he led America through the Great War
• Why we observe a moment of silence at 11 o'clock on the 11th of November
• The history of Armistice Day, which preceded Veterans Day
• Herbert Hoover and how he persuaded Americans to conserve food during the Great War
• Dwight Eisenhower's military career and why he changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day

Homeschooling students will also complete enriching activities. 

Students in grades K-6 will

• Create a poppy pin to wear on Veterans Day
• Analyze, memorize, and illustrate the poem "In Flanders Fields"
• Analyze Food Administration posters and create their own food conservation posters
• Observe one of Herbert Hoover's food rules, such as having a meatless, wheatless, or sugarless day
• Get involved on Veterans Day
• Engage in one more more of the many suggested activities-from observing a moment of of silence to planting poppies to visiting a veterans memorial

Students in grades 7-12 will

• Complete an Armistice Day crossword puzzle
• Analyze Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points Speech
• Research and write their own Fourteen Points for a lasting peace
• Get involved on Veterans Day
• Celebrate Veterans Day as President Eisenhower intended: remember veterans' sacrifices, rededicate ourselves to peace, display the flag

The curriculum is easy for parents to use. It features

• Teacher scripts/lesson narratives for parents to read to students
• Lesson plans for teachers—with an introduction and overview for each lesson
• Fun and easy activities
• An answer key

Further details:

• White House Holidays: Veterans Day unit study comes in a downloadable PDF format
• The curriculum has a one set of lessons for grades K-6 and a separate set of lessons for grades 7-12
• There are three lessons for each grade level
• The lessons cover similar topics, but they are tailored to each age group
• Each lesson should take one to two hours to complete
• The Lesson 3 Activity, Get Involved on Veterans Day, is the same for all grade levels

How to Use

• Take all of Veterans Day to complete the unit study. Alternatively, complete Lessons 1 and 2 on the days leading up to Veterans Day. Lesson 3, Get involved on Veterans Day, should be completed on the actual holiday if possible. 

*Note: This post went originally appeared in our Friday newsletter on September 22, 2017. To get the latest current events, subscribe to our newsletter. 

For our second Hot Chocolate and Current Events, we will equip your homeschool family to discuss President Trump’s speech to the UN General Assembly. 

There are a couple of options here. Choose one. Kick up your feet with your cups of hot chocolate and... 

• watch a video of Trump’s speech. The actual speech is a primary source, and watching it is the best way to increase knowledge about foreign affairs. 
• read the text of the speech. Just as good as the option above, though you’ll miss audience reactions. 
• read this article about Trump’s speech. 

Key Terms:

United Nations General Assembly: The main deliberative, policymaking, and representative body of the United Nations. Each country has one vote. 
Marshall Plan: After WWII, the U.S. gave Europe over $13 billion (about $130 billion today) in economic support to help rebuild its war-torn countries. 
sovereignty: the authority of a state to govern itself
Otto Warmbier: The American student who was imprisoned in N. Korea for ripping down a banner. He presumably was tortured in prison and returned to the U.S. in a coma, where he later died. 
Kim Jong Un: Leader (dictator) of N. Korea (nicknamed Rocket Man by Trump) 


Questions for discussion:

Why did Trump say the UN was founded? Do you think that they have done a good job fulfilling these roles? 

What do you think was the main message that Trump wanted to get across? 

Why do you think Trump uses the word “sovereignty” so many times? Why is it so important that the UN protect nations’ sovereignty?

Trump calls a small group of “rogue regimes” the “scourge of our planet.” What do you think is the job of the UN with respect to these rogue nations?

How does North Korea threaten the world? 

Trump said that the U.S., if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, will “totally destroy North Korea.” What do you think of this statement? 

Should Trump call Kim Jong Un “Rocket Man”? Why or why not?  

*Photo courtesy of Trump White House. 

We here at Silverdale Press are getting ready for the release of our White House Holidays: Veterans Day unit study for homeschoolers. To mark the occasion, we are sharing some fun facts with you. 

Did you know that 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the Selective Service Act? This act, passed by Congress, allowed President Wilson to raise an army to fight in World War I. 

Before the Selective Service Act, America had a small, volunteer fighting force and was in no way prepared to fight in the Great War. As the Central Powers sank more Allied ships and killed more American citizens, war looked increasingly likely. So, President Woodrow pushed for military conscription. 

At the time, all men between the ages of 21 and 30 had to register for the Selective Service. President Wilson's plan was a success. By Armistice Day (November 11, 1918), 24 million men had registered for the draft. The weight of United States fighting force had helped bring an end to the war. 

You’ve probably heard of homeschool morning basket time. This is time carved out at the beginning of the school day to snuggle on the couch and read together. Whether it’s literature, poems, or assigned read alouds, the idea is to get the family together and reading. The bigger goal is to give your children a rich, literary childhood. 

But have you heard of the homeschool afternoon basket? The goal is the same as the morning basket, but how you put it into practice is a little different. 

Many homes observe an hour or so of quiet time in the afternoons. This provides a much-needed break for mom, as well as some much-needed peace and quiet for the kids. It’s tempting for kids to want to fill this time with video games, iPads, television, and maybe not-so-high-quality books. The idea behind the afternoon basket is to fill kids' “down time” with high-quality, useful readings. 

What kind of readings do you put in the afternoon basket? You could choose readings that would enhance what they are learning in homeschool. Or you could fill their afternoon baskets with quality books you (or they) would find interesting. Or you could fill their baskets with books on a subject that always seems to get put on your homeschool back burner. 

Parents will have to do a little curating for the afternoon basket. You will need to pick out books, clip articles, and maybe make a trip to the library. But once the upfront work is done, parents can rest assured that their kids’ minds are being filled with good words and pictures even during their down times. 

Here are some ideas about what to include in the afternoon basket:

• Books about great art and artists: “Electives” like art and art history can sometimes get put on the back burner. So pick out an artist or an art movement and fill the afternoon basket—and your kids’ minds—with beautiful images. 
• Classic literature: If left to themselves, kids may overlook books that don’t have shiny, modern covers. Afternoon basket time is perfect for getting them to read books by great authors. Maybe throw in some George MacDonald, Louisa May Alcott, or Rudyard Kipling. 
• Articles about important issues: Clip articles from newspapers or magazines that you find interesting and important. Maybe use them as preparation for Hot Chocolate and Current Events. If you find an issue interesting, your kids probably will too. And you’ll enhance their civics knowledge at the same time. 
• Biographies: Fill the afternoon with biographies of great leaders, great writers, and great thinkers. Maybe tailor the biographies to the seasons of the calendar or the holidays. Is Thanksgiving coming up? Throw in a biography of Sarah Josepha Hale. Is Veterans Day around the corner? Include a biography of Dwight Eisenhower. 
• Geography books: If you are studying the United States in your history or geography curriculum, put books about states or regions in your afternoon basket. If you are studying countries around the globe, put books about world cultures in your afternoon basket. Your library probably has a good non-fiction selection of such geography books. 
• Cookbooks: On a lazy afternoon, it can be fun and relaxing to thumb through cookbooks, old and new. Reading cookbooks is a great way to get the sensory and creative juices flowing! 

Afternoon basket time can be a great addition to your homeschool. It can awaken wonder, helps kids meditate upon beautiful pictures and words, and increase their knowledge of important people, places, and events.  Why not give it a try? 

This article is from our 9/15/17 newsletter. For the most up to date current events, subscribe here.

For our very first Hot Chocolate and Current Events, we will equip your homeschool family to discuss DACA. 

DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is the federal government program that provides work and study permits to young people whose parents brought them to the U.S. illegally. Donald Trump recently decided to discontinue it, stating that is was an unconstitutional use of executive power (the Constitution gives Congress the power to make immigration and naturalization laws). 

First, read this article from BBC News.  
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41267926

Here are some key terms and people from the article:  

border wall: Donald Trump promised to build a wall along the Mexican border when he announced his candidacy for president
DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Created by Barack Obama via executive order. Gave temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. 
Chuck Schumer: Senate Minority Leader (Democratic Party)
Nancy Pelosi: House Minority Leader (Democratic Party)
amnesty: an official pardon for people who have done something illegal—in this case, entered the country illegally
Dreamers: the term for young people brought to this country illegally

Here are several questions to use in discussion:

Why do you think that President Trump tweeted in August 2015 that Dreamers “have to go,” but then tweeted this past week, “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated young people who have jobs, some serving in the military?” What explains his apparent change of heart?

What do you think of the proposed border wall? Do you think Trump should use DACA negotiations to get his proposed border wall? Do you think he’ll be successful? 

Do you think Dreamers should be given amnesty? If not, what should happen to Dreamers? 

What are reasons for and against giving undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children permanent residency status? 

Is it more important to obey the rule of law or to show compassion?  

Credit: Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks

We here at Silverdale Press want to help your family get ready for Veterans Day. 
Did you know that Veterans Day was first called Armistice Day? It marked the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. 
The U.S. fought in WWI from 1917-1918. So there are very important 100 year anniversaries this year and next.
To help you learn more about the Great War and Veterans Day, we will be sharing some fun facts ahead of our White House Holidays: Veterans Day curriculum release. 
Did you know that Herbert Hoover (president from 1929-1933) was food czar during the Great War? He headed the Food Administration in Woodrow Wilson's war cabinet. 
He came up with lots of great posters and propaganda campaigns to get Americans to conserve food so that soldiers and starving Europeans could have more. 
Herbert Hoover was literally a household name during the Great War; here's a fun card from the era. 
​Image courtesy Library of Congress

Homeschooling families across the land are settling into autumn. The sun may be warm, but the air is growing crisp and the orchards are drooping with apples. It is the perfect time to bring hygge into your homeschool. 

What is hygge? Pronounced, HOO-GA, it is the Danish secret to happy living. And the Danes should know. Research shows that Denmark is one of the happiest countries on the planet. Hygge has to do with physical space, but it is a feeling above all else. Some might call it coziness or homeyness. It is the feeling of comfort, warmth, pleasure, and security. 

We want our homeschools to be places of togetherness and havens from the cold outdoors. So here are some practical tips to help you bring hygge to your homeschool: 

1. Light candles. Candles create instant hygge. The Danes love candles and have them everywhere, including in schools and workplaces. In your homeschool, the flickering lights will surely bring a measure of warmth and peace to math worksheets and book reports. 
2. Turn on the fireplace: Or your wood stove, or your pellet stove. Encourage your students to do school work around these warm areas whenever possible. 
3. Sip warm drinks: Allow your kids to sip warm drinks like tea, cocoa, or cider. Not all day, of course, but do provide times set apart to fuse relaxation and learning with a warm drink in hand. For example, give Hot Chocolate and Current Events a try. Don’t forget to use nice ceramics. 
4. Take breaks for sweet treats: Some days, school can drag. Try interjecting breaks for chocolate, cookies, pastries, or bread and jam. These small pleasures will give everybody something to look forward to and provide a much needed break in routine. 
5. Turn off the devices: Be sure you and your children are present and undistracted by technology. Living in the moment is key to hygge. 
6. Add blankets and cushions: Make sure your homeschooling space is comfortable. Can your kids sit comfortably? Place snug blankets and cushions around your homeschool space. 
7. Create reading nooks: Carve out special reading nooks where you and your kids can cozy up with good literature and periodicals. 
8. Wear your woolens: Before you crack open the math books, don’t forget to don your woolen socks. Rarely are good memories and learning linked with chilly feet. 
9. Add nature: Spend time together in nature. If it is cold, bundle up. Go on nature walks, observe local flora, have conversations along the way. Danes also like to bring nature indoors. Fill a mason jar with acorns. Arrange twigs in a vase. The more rustic elements you can add to your homeschool space, the better. 
10. Build relationships: Hygge is all about togetherness, good conversations, and pleasant memories. At the end of the day, take time to reflect on whether your homeschool built relationships between family members. If not, think about what you can do to boost hygge in your homeschool tomorrow. 

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The world today is both a scary and exciting place. Our children face both tremendous opportunities and great challenges. Yet, we face a troubling trend. Most young Americans know very little about current affairs. 

Homeschooling families have a great opportunity to correct this trend. To prepare your students for their present and future, it is critically important to bring current events into your homeschool. 

Here are ten reasons why: 

1. Current events increase knowledge: Want to learn something new? Pick up a newspaper! In every article, there is something new to be gleaned. Current events will dramatically increase knowledge about government, history, economics, social studies, world affairs, health and science, business, geography, and more! 
2. Current events make learning come alive: Textbooks can only go so far in passing down knowledge. Current events give real-world insight into what students are learning in their academics. They allow students to delve into what’s happening here and now, helping them make connections between theory and practice. 
3. Current events give students a heart for their communities and world: Students must know what’s going on before they can care about it. What a gift to open students' minds to issues and struggles beyond their walls! 
4. Current events encourage students to make the world a better place: If students have a heart for the world, they will be more likely to devote themselves to making it a better place. In short, studying current events makes students better citizens. 
5. Current events prompt students to share their intellectual struggles: Is your homeschooler puzzling through a moral issue? Did he or she witness something that challenged a cherished belief? Discussing current events provides parents a forum through which their students can talk though big questions and difficult issues. 
6. Current events discussions provide a safe, nurturing space: What better way for students to work through difficult questions than in the warm, caring environment of home and family?
7. Current events discussions bring families together: If done well, current events discussions bring families together, helping them to connect over important topics. 
8. Current events provide a way for families to pass along beliefs and values: Many of us homeschool because we want to be the ones to shape our children’s minds. Perhaps more than any other “subject,” current events bring discussions about beliefs and values to the forefront. 
9. Current events discussions help families make lasting memories: Do your homeschooling dreams include your family sitting around in cozy chairs, discussing articles from your favorite newspaper or magazine? If you purposefully schedule current events in your homeschool schedule, those dreams can become reality. 
10. Current events discussions are purposeful work: We homeschool to build relationships, learn new and fascinating things, and shape worldviews. It is hard work, but it is meaningful work. Current events discussions may seem like one more thing to pile on. But rest assured it is purposeful work. 

Consider making current events a part of your homeschooling week—for children of all ages! 

In our next post, will give you a practical way to bring current events into your homeschool.