Fall Is the Perfect Time For A Leaf Project

Take your children out on a warm, sunny afternoon and tromp through the woods this fall. Collect leaves of different colors, shapes, sizes, and types. Place the leaves in a book to flatten them for a few days. Now sit down and identify the leaves. Use the internet or a book to identify them and display the leaves on a poster board or in a photo album.

You can adapt this project to any level. If you homeschool children of multiple age groups, you can all go out together to collect the leaves, but then do different things based upon your child's age or ability level. Kindergarteners can just display the pretty leaves or even group them according to their attributes: yellow leaves on one page, red one on another. Big leaves could be grouped together and small ones together. A tenth grader could do a more in depth study by taking a field guide book and identifying the leaves and trees based upon bark, size, color, and leaf shape.

*Bes sure to take photos of the nature walk and your children completing this project for inclusion in your child's portfolio.

Don't forget to go home for a nice warm cup of apple cider. Check out this recipe for a warm an yummy autumn treat.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4514168_cinnamon-apple-cider.html

What To Include In Your Portfolio

A portfolio is the easy way to produce an assessment for your child. The biggest question I get as a portfolio reviewer is "What do you want me to put in it?" So I'll go over this today, and hopefully clear the air on what to include in a portfolio.

1. Make sure the required subjects are covered. Include work samples from easy of the required subjects. These subjects vary from state to state. I review portfolios in WV, and our required subjects are math, science, social studies, language, and reading. Save work from the required subjects throughout the school year.

2. Date your work. This is an easy step, but important. Your portfolio needs to show progress from throughout the year, so the best way to do this is to include work from the beginning, middle, and end. I would actually include work from each month. That way a reviewer can see that your child has improved from September to November, and from December to May.

3. Work Samples. Here are some suggested work samples. Spelling tests, short stories, tests, daily written assignments, written reports of science experiments, term papers, language assignments, worksheets.

4. Pictures. Pictures are wonderful additions to any portfolio. If your child made a science project, take a picture and include it in the science section of the portfolio. If you go on a field trip, take pictures and include them. Pictures that show your child working on projects and school work are always appreciated in a portfolio. Reviewers love to see this "proof" of engagement in learning.