This month I have some really exciting things to share with you. We have been using and enjoying all of these products in our homeschool this month and I am thrilled to be able to share them with you!
I’m even doing a GIVEAWAY of one of my favourites, so scroll down to the bottom of this post to enter!
Please note:
You do NOT need to buy any of these products to be a good mum, or give your child a good education!!!
The chances are you’re already doing a great job with our without these products!
However, if you are looking for something new and want to see what we’ve been using, please read on!
May Homeschool Favourites
This has to be my absolute favourite thing we did this month! We raised five caterpillars and watched them transform into butterflies…in our kitchen!
We had raised butterflies before, when my eldest son was three years-old, so we already had our Butterfly Garden
The caterpillars came in their own little tub that contained all the ‘food’ the would need. We watched them grow…and grow …and GROW! They got really big!
I’ll be honest, they gave me the creeps a little bit! Thankfully, at no point do you have to touch them!
Once they had all made their cocoons, we opened up the plastic tub and carefully removed the paper-like insert from the lid, which had all the cocoons stuck to it. Then we pinned this to the inside of the Butterfly Garden
(essentially just a big mesh enclosure).
After a week or two, the butterflies suddenly emerged! We kept them in the house for two days, and gave them fruit, wild flowers and ‘homemade-nectar.‘ (Otherwise known as sugar in water!)
Releasing them into the garden was truly special! It’s memories like this that I will treasure forever insha’Allah.
Usborne Beginners Book Series
We have really enjoyed using these books in our homeschool. This collection of reference books, is aimed at children aged 4-8 years-old.
From this series, we have:
Caterpillars and Butterflies
Rubbish and Recycling
Weather
The reason I really like this series of books is that the language in them is accessible for young children, without being too childish.
They are fun, informative and a young reader could comfortably read one independently. The illustrations are beautiful and it is very visually appealing.
I’m hoping to get a few more for next year when we start to study Ancient History insha’Allah.
Nakd Fruit & Nut Bits
I love the whole Nakd range! Their snack bars and fruit and nut bits are so delicious!
They are Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Sugar-Free.
The primary ingredient of the range appears to be dates and cashew nuts. There are loads of different varieties, but my favourite is the cocoa delight. It really tastes like chocolate, but it’s completely healthy!
These snacks are very handy to take out with us in the car or when we are out and about on field trips. It’s nice to know that the kids are snacking on something wholesome š
The best thing about these snack bits are that they make NO Crumbs and NO Sticky Fingers and NO Stains!
For these reasons, they are an absolute essential in my homeschool.
Yusuf the Talking Doll
Arabic when you push his hands and feet. I love how says, “Atchoo…Alhumdulillah,” when you push his little nose!
words, phrases and Surahs including:
- As-SalamuāAlaikum
- Bismillah hir Rahman nir
Raheem - Al-hamdu lillah
- SubhanAllah
- InshaāAllah
- JazakAllah Khair
- MashaāAllah
- La ilaha illallah Muhammad
dur Rasulālallah - Surah Ikhlas + translation
- Surah Fatiha + translation
- Fun Nasheeds
GIVEAWAY
I hope you enjoyed seeing what products we’ve been using in our homeschool this month. I’d love to hear what some of your favourite products are.
Please let me know in the comments below.
For a daily look into our homeschooling day follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
In need of your duaas.
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13 Comments on Homeschool Favourites | May 2016 |
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Rabia S.
16/05/2016 at 9:21 am (7 years ago)The butterfly garden really fascinated me. I loved as a child everything I could watch growing. How nice that they provide today packages. We had to collect it all by ourselves š
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:27 am (7 years ago)That's a really good point Rabia. It's so much easier for us to do these activities now. Anyone can do them!
maria tahir
16/05/2016 at 10:45 am (7 years ago)Lovely Ma sha Allah…butterfly garden is an amazing activity for kids..and i hope kids will be much excited for the final outcome..Unfortunately where i live in Pakistan we Donot have such amazing toys and amazon etc d'nt have service in Pakisttan..but having them and using them in creative is your talent.thumbs up for that.looking forward to future articles as well.
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:28 am (7 years ago)Yes, I suppose we are fortunate in the U.K. to have these resources so readily available. Thank you for your kind words of support.
Blogs by FA
16/05/2016 at 6:41 pm (7 years ago)Wow! Did anyone say giveaway? I love giveaways. Being a home-schooling mom is indeed something FAB. You are doing great and I love your blog.
Fatima | http://www.blogsbyfa.com
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:29 am (7 years ago)YES! I hope you entered! Thank you for being so supportive Fatima
Nawal
16/05/2016 at 6:58 pm (7 years ago)Ma shaa Allah! I don't have any children but have always thought of home-schooling, especially considering the standards of the education system in the US. I'm not really sure how the concept would would in Saudi, but the butterfly habitat is a great idea even for a summer or after school activity. I've always been fascinated by butterflies (I blame Mariah Carey) but their transformation is astounding. Yusuf and Aamina are adorable, I love seeing toys geared towards Muslim children, far too often toys (especially for girls) are over sexualized and completely inappropriate! Thank you for sharing, I will definitely be sharing these ideas with my 2 co-workers, who have children!
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:31 am (7 years ago)Firstly, LOL to the Mariah Carey comment! It is comletel astounding the way the caterpillar transforms. Did you know that if you were to cut open the cocoon, it would be of slime….and fro that a butterfly is formed! Subhanullah!
Muslim Mummy
16/05/2016 at 9:06 pm (7 years ago)OOh I really want to try the butterfly garden! So fun and educational!
Entered the giveaway and will share it on my FB page
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:33 am (7 years ago)Do, I'm sure Bee would love it! It's so straight forward and I love that you release them into the garden afterwards. Thank you so much for sharing the Giveaway!
Abbie
17/05/2016 at 1:49 am (7 years ago)Watching caterpillars grow! That is so cool! I compliment you for the bravery though. Anything that moves scares the daylight out of me! I have seen those talking dolls before! They sell those at the ICNA MAS Convention every year here in Baltimore. Last year I contemplated buying one for my niece but she was a newborn then. Maybe this year insha'Allah
Gemma
17/05/2016 at 6:36 am (7 years ago)LOL! They were a little creepy, but I had to hide my fear from the kids! They really enjoyed the experience
Zainab Dokrat
19/05/2016 at 12:39 pm (7 years ago)So cute lol I love sharing this with home-schooling mums š