Learn To Draw For Kids

If you have ever tried to draw and have little to no artistic skill, it can become frustrating rather quickly. There are many books and DVDs available to teach drawing, but sometimes you need something simple, basic, spelled out in a step by step manner.

Ed Emberley has a line of drawing books that are amazing for kids. They are step by step instructions that add the picture drawn plus each step that was added for each step. Many of the steps are simply drawing a letter, like an elephant's tail is added by drawing the letter 'S'. These books are really fun and inexpensive.

What is Easter? Lesson Plan in Vocabulary Words For Kids

What is Easter? To many it's simply Easter bunnies hopping about hiding eggs and offering photo opportunities at shopping malls. For others, it is a whole lot more.

It is the biggest holiday among Christian believers next to Christmas as it traditionally celebrates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ who is believed to be savior to many.

Here is a great study for kids in vocabulary words and terms from a religious perspective! It makes for a great lesson plan on Easter.

History of April Fools Day

It's April Fools Day! Did you have some fun today? Did you fill up the salt and pepper shakers with cayenne instead? Did you loosen the lid on the milk carton to watch an unsuspecting family member pour milk aimlessly over the entire kitchen floor? Did you come up with a doozy?

Personally, I never have enjoyed this particular day of revelry. Perhaps my personality is simply too serious and realistic. Or, maybe I don't see laughter among pain caused when you play someone for a fool. Maybe I am over the edge and simply need to lighten up on this one. But, this has got to be the worst holiday ever thought up, in my humble opinion. What other holiday allows you to play jokes on someone making them out to be foolish? What other holiday allows you to out right "lie" in the name of a day. I'm paying off all of your debt - April Fools! Look, you get a raise - April Fools! You're the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on? Really! No! April Fools! Hah hah the joke's on you! What kind of fun is found in such cruelty?

O.K., O.K., I get it! April Fools Day is not all that serious. Put on a happy face and buck up and just have some good, clean innocent fun! Somehow the day still bothers me. Where did it come from? Who originated April Fools Day?

In searching for the answer to this question, I came across this write up on April Fools Day!

The best anyone can tell the day either has to do with a Gregorian calendar change, switching the date of January 1, or a Roman celebration to the god Attis. Neither description endears me or encourages me to embrace the day of laughter.

Learning About Japan For Kids

What do you know about Japan? With all the recent events in Japan, I started thinking about Japan. What do I actually know about the country and what my kids know? Or, I should say what they don't know. Geography has never been my strong point, so teaching it to my children is - well, interesting. Without a globe, your guess is as good as mine on many regions of this world. But, I found there are some things I know. And, what I don't know I can learn and teach my kids. In case you're like me and want to know more about Japan, here's some sites I found helpful:

5 Facts About Japan For Children

Kids Web Japan

Time For Kids - Japan

Enjoy the new discoveries you'll learn from these sites. And, Sayonara (Goodbye)

Elephant Education Crafts

We're launching our new Website, Elephant Ears Education. So, I put the kids to work coming up with ideas of educational tools, learning aids and items we could even sell on the new Website. The idea is to come together as a family and make and sell our ideas and merchandise. In the process, we hope to help others learn and enjoy the process.

Here's what we made today. Which ones do you like?

Also, please check out the new Website. It's a work in progress, growing everyday. Let me know what you would like to see added.

You can find the new Website Here!

You can Like the New Facebook Page Here!

Welcome To Eliana's Elephant Ears Education

I have a daughter. We call her our miracle because she came to us after losing 3 pregnancies to miscarriage. She is our youngest child and keeps us hopping. From the time she was about 2 years old, she fell in love with elephants. The moment she laid her eyes on her very first WebKinz elephant, she was hooked. Now, she claims her mission is to go from thrift store to thrift store rescuing all of the elephants in the world. Our house needs an additional room to fill her collection.

Throughout the course of elephant collecting, it dawned on me how elephants have a huge (no pun intended) impact on learning.

They are said to never forget (memory is a part of learning)

They have large ears (listening plays an important role in learning)

And, there are probably countless other connections I have yet to discover. But, for the time being, this blog is being prepared to share learing in many forms. So, sit back, open your large elephant ears and get ready to add some education into your memory so you never forget...