Forgetful Momma

Secular Homeschooling in Canada

Winter

10 Indoor Energy Burning Activities

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Cooler weather is upon us here in Saskatchewan already. Our seasons are so messed up, we go from hot summer, to cool fall in a week. And then very quickly we end up in winter. It’s all summer, summer, summer, fall, winter, winter, winter, spring, and back to summer all over again. From one extreme to the next. Having indoor energy burning activities is a must for rainy days and cold winter days.

10 Indoor Energy Burning Activities

10 Indoor Energy Burning Activities

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Simon Says

This is a favorite kids game. It can be fun and easy for parents to bust some energy out of their kids simply by calling our “Simon says ____. ” You can have your kids hopping in place or crab walking around the dining room table.

Red Light, Green Light

If you have a good amount of space for your kids to move back and forth red light, green light is fun. We like to change it up a bit with crab walking, wiggling like a worm, etc. Different movements to burn energy.

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Painter’s Tape Hop Scotch

Painter’s Tape doesn’t leave a sticky residue behind so you can use it on the floors. Make a Hop Scotch for them to hop through in between subjects or on the way to a different room.

Music

Just turning music on in my house is enough for my kids to bust a move and burn energy. Plus it can be a fun workout for moms too!

Twister Game

You might have to buy this one or make it with some paper plates. Its a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon.

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100 Things to Do This Winter with Your Family

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Winter weather is upon us here in Saskatchewan, and in many other places in Canada. We’ll be living with months of snow and cold which has made us quite good at finding things to do outside and inside, so good that I have 100 things to do this winter with your family.

100 things to do this winter

100 Things to Do This Winter with Your Family

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I have included some things to do before Christmas, but the majority are for all winter long. Mainly, we’re just trying to keep active for winter and become couch potatoes in the cold.

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Things to Do Outside

  1. Skating
  2. Down hill skiing
  3. Cross county skiing
  4. Tobogganing
  5. Sledding
  6. Snowball fight
  7. Build a snowman
  8. Snowman building contest
  9. Hot Chocolate outside
  10. Build an igloo
  11. Go for a hike in the snow
  12. Shovel driveway
  13. Roll down a hill
  14. Blow bubbles – in really cold temperatures they’ll freeze
  15. Throwing boiling water outside – ADULTS only. Quickly take a cup of boiling water and throw it out the door in -30°C temperatures. It will turn to steam.
  16. Water + food color + spray bottle = paint for snow
  17. Go caroling
  18. Decorate for the holidays
  19. Make a wreath
  20. Play pond (or rink) hockey
  21. Make a volcano outside in the snow – similar to making a regular one, bury a plastic cup in the snow to contain the insides
  22. Make a snow fort
  23. Look for animal tracks
  24. Go snowboarding
  25. Nature walk
  26. Snow angels
  27. Measure snow fall
  28. Ice fishing
  29. Snowshoeing
  30. Head to a tree farm for your Christmas tree
  31. Wagon/Sleigh Ride
  32. ATV Ride
  33. Dog Walking
  34. Dog sled ride
  35. Ski-do rides
  36. Catching snowflakes on your tongue
  37. Collect pine cones
100 Things to Do This Winter with Your Family

Things to Do Inside

  1. Have a cup of hot chocolate
  2. Play board games
  3. Read a book
  4. Watch a movie – read the book, then watch the movie
  5. Movie Night with popcorn
  6. Read alouds – we loved Charlotte’s Web and are loving Little Pear
  7. Make hot chocolate from scratch
  8. Make apple cider from scratch
  9. Make a gingerbread house
  10. Make Christmas cards
  11. Make Valentine’s
  12. Decorate your Christmas tree
  13. Make homemade gifts
  14. Make paper snowflakes
  15. Have a Christmas sweater day
  16. Make Christmas gift tags
  17. Drink Eggnog (or as my kids call it “knock knock milk”)
  18. Make Eggnog
  19. Make sugar cookies
  20. Make paper chains to decorate your house or child’s room
  21. Write a letter to Santa
  22. Make marshmallows for your chocolate, or just for snacking
  23. Spend the day in your pajamas
  24. Take a family portrait
  25. Make a snow globe
  26. Indoor picnic
  27. Do a puzzle
  28. Shadow puppets
  29. Skype with long distance family/friends
  30. Paint by numbers
  31. Borax snowflakes
  32. Make paper snowflakes
  33. Make caramel/candy apples
  34. Make soup or chili
  35. String popcorn for the tree
  36. Make ornaments
  37. Indoor gardening – herbs are great
  38. Make white playdough with glitter in it for snow playdough
  39. Try a new hobby
  40. Balloon volleyball
  41. Christmas / Winter Movie marathon – Elf, The Santa Clause series are some of our favorites
  42. Make snow ice cream
  43. Add a candy cane to your hot chocolate

All About Arctic Animals – 11 Different Animals – Google Slide Presentation

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Places to Go

  1. Public Library
  2. Museum
  3. Science Centre
  4. Human Society / SPCA to volunteer
  5. A friend’s house
  6. Grandparents’ house
  7. Playground
  8. Park
  9. A book store
  10. To the movies
  11. To a play
  12. To a coffee place – Starbucks
  13. Donate old toys or books
  14. Bowling
  15. Go curling
  16. Take cookies to someone
  17. Go see Santa
  18. Take a drive to look at Christmas lights
  19. Take a class
  20. Go to a hockey game

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Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

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Who knew that putting snow in a bag could make for a fun science experiment and give such a snow reaction. This is a great winter only kind of activity you definitely should try this winter.

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

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Looking for something to do on a really cold day? How about grabbing a Ziploc bag and some snow for a science experiment. It really simple. All you need is a Ziploc bag, some snow, and an alka seltzer or two. If you bought some to make the lava lamps then you probably still have some on hand.

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What you need:

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How to Create a Reaction in a Bag of Snow

Now if you are like me, you don’t want to go outside in the freezing -42C windchill, even if it is just to fill a bag with some snow. That’s why we have kids though right? To make them do it.

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

I drew a snowman face on our Ziploc bag, just to make it cuter. Fill it up with snow, but don’t pack it in tight, just fill it loosely. Before you seal the bag, add in a few alka seltzer.

I laid a thick towel over my table, just incase it exploded on us. But this is optional.

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

We watched it inflate over a period of about an hour. It slowly expanded as the snow melted and caused a reaction with the Alka Seltzer.

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

Snow Reaction in a Bag

Yield: 1
Active Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $1

Materials

  • snow
  • alka seltzer

Tools

  • large Ziploc bag
  • large towel - optional

Instructions

  1. I drew a snowman face on our Ziploc bag, just to make it cuter. Fill it up with snow, but don't pack it in tight, just fill it loosely.
  2. Before you seal the bag, add in a few alka seltzer.
  3. I laid a thick towel over my table, just incase it exploded on us. But this is optional.
  4. We watched it inflate over a period of about an hour. It slowly expanded as the snow melted and caused a reaction with the Alka Seltzer.
© Ashley Mullen
Project Type: Science Experiment / Category: Homeschool

Alka-Seltzer is made of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which is a base. When the tablets are dry, the acid and base powders don’t mix, but as soon as they are immersed in water they mix and react to form carbon dioxide gas.

The same type of reaction is made when you are baking and you mix baking soda and vinegar together.

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

You can see just how much it expanded here:

Snow Reaction in A Bag Science Experiment

After an hour, my kids stopped caring so we stopped. There was still one out of four tablets that wasn’t gone, so it would have continued as the snow melted. They gave it a solid hour which is pretty good.

Science Experiment E-Book

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While we had this going we watched an episode of Magic School Bus – season 1 episode 13 – Kicks Up a Storm. You can also find great science kits that dig deep into the science of weather if your kids are interested.

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When the Homeschool Mom is Sick

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What happens when the teacher is sick? In a public school, they call in a substitute teacher, but when you are a homeschool mom there is only you. What happens to your carefully planned out day? It helps to be prepared for the common cold, or to battle the flu. You might want to have a small plan for when you, the homeschool mom is sick.

when the homeschool mom gets sick

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When you have finally succumbed to the germs that can be picked up anywhere, what happens to the homeschool day that you had planned out? Does it go out the window? Do you get through the plans with a box of Kleenex or a bucket at your feet?

It might just help to have plan in place, a Plan B if you will, for those days when you are sick and need to be able to have a slower day or two.

When homeschool mom is sick:

Watch educational movies or documentaries. Check out the Magic School Bus series on Netflix or DVD, they’ll be learning and entertained at the same time.

A reading day. Whether they are curling up with a pile book of their own, or you are all taking turns reading. You could also check out both audio books and e-audio books.

Arts and crafts day. Having a good arts and crafts supplies on-hand can make this much easier. Set out some supplies, those that aren’t going to cause too much mess. Pencils, crayons, markers, paper, but perhaps steer clear of scissors or glue.

A game day. Hull out the board games that have been gathering dust, or card games that haven’t been used in awhile and put them to use. Its a great way to entertain, and to practice skills.

Get out the workbooks/worksheets. Maybe you aren’t normally workbook users but having some on hand for sick days can be useful, or go online and print a few off.

Just take a break! Relax, and have a quiet day without worrying about homeschooling. It is not going to hurt, it might just give everyone the rest they need.

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Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

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Winter brings the hot soups that warm you from the inside out. French onion soup warms us from the inside out, fills us up with warm bread and cheese. It’s especially great for a budget friendly meal, or a day where you feel like eating lighter. If you are looking for something  bit heavier you should check out our bacon cheeseburger soup.

This french onion soup is a great starter when having friends over for supper, or for a light meal before heading out.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

*This post may contain affiliate links, see my disclosure policy.*

What you need:

  • 3 large white onions sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp dried Thyme
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • french bread
  • 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella

How to make slow cooker french onion soup:

First start, slice your onions, I like to slice mine into circles, but slice them however you’d like, slicing them thinly.

Melt your butter in a frying pan over medium heat, with your brown sugar. Toss in all your onions, cover, let them sit for 5 minutes. Then toss them, cover and sit for 5 minutes. Repeat for 20 minutes. You want your onions tender.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Once your onions are tender dump them, the melted butter, everything into your slow cooker.

Add in your beef broth, bay leave, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, thyme, and garlic to your slow cooker.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

While you’re waiting on you soup to cook, slice your french bread, thick. Grate your cheese, we use mozzarella because we have it.

After 4-5 hours on low your french onion soup is cooked and ready to move on to the next step. Dishing it into ramekins.

Top with a slice of of the french bread, and grated cheese.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

I placed our ramekins on a cookie sheet to make it easier for handling. Broil in your oven. If you use High, watch it closely! You want your cheese to melt and brown not burn.

These are also really good for saving them for later. Great for single serve heating up the next. And I always find soup so much better the next day, chili too.

I don’t feel guilty making a pot of crock pot french onion soup for myself once in awhile that I can reheat multiple times a week to have lunch for myself.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup

Yield: 10
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 large white onions, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp dried Thyme
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • french bread
  • 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella

Instructions

  1. In a large non-stick pan, cook onions, butter and brown sugar over medium low heat until golden and caramelized.
  2. Empty the pan into the slow cooker along with remaining ingredients except bread and cheeses.
  3. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
  4. Remove and discard bay leaf and ladle the soup into bowls. Top with bread slices and cheeses. Broil until cheese is melted and browned.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
© Ashley Mullen
Category: Main Course

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Slow Cooker French Onion Soup