Welcome to Day 2 of our series "Road Trip United States". For those of you who are just joining us, we have been learning about the history of the United States and how states were formed. We are taking a learning road trip from the comforts of our own home. Today we learned that Maine was the twenty-third state.


We are loving Kids Learn America! by Patricia Gordan & Reed Snow. They have made it most enjoyable to remember the capitals of each state. Does anyone enjoy learning these capitals? Well, my kids have embraced it due to the fun way it is presented in Kids Learn America! It can be difficult to remember the capitals of all the states, so I was delighted when I found this fun way to remember them. To remember Maine's capital they recommended imagining a lion with a shaggy mane with a gust of wind blowing it. The mane will help you remember Maine, and the gust of wind will help you remember Augusta. This is a cute way to remember the capitals.

Here are some things we learned about Maine:

Maine is home to more than 60 lighthouses. The oldest lighthouse is Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. Visit PBS for a fun lighthouse craft.

Did you know that Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge is the nesting grounds to Puffins? Color the Puffins "Parrots of the Sea" with these coloring pages. You will find some interesting information about them here.

Guess where 90 percent of the lobster comes from? You guessed it Maine. Watch this interesting video about lobster.

Maine has more moose that any other state. Watch this informative video about moose.

On a fun note, don't blow your nose in public in Waterville, Maine, it's illegal.

I love the free printables from USA-Printables. I print them out and my 3rd grader colors them for his USA Notebook. It shows the capital, the state bird, and the state flower. Here is the link for the Maine coloring page.

Download my free PDF notebook cover to keep all your coloring pages in. It makes a nice keepsake memory too!




Learning is supposed to be fun, right? It is all about how you present the material and allowing kids to be hands on while learning. Children love being read to. If you find interesting things and present them in a fun way, they will love what they are learning. Allow your kids to learn what they are interested in. Don't feel like you have to do everything. A page here and there will enhance their learning without overwhelming them. Be hands on, do a lighthouse craft or imitate lobsters. These are things that they will retain.

Have fun creating memories with your child. This is a special cherished time.

Blessings,
Bridget 

Time sure flies! Even though Easter has passed, I have a sweet memory for years to come. I know you remember dying Easter eggs as a child, and not wanting to crack the egg. I use to save the best for last, because you are going to have to throw them out if you don't eat them. Right?



A few years back I found some faux eggs at Walmart, and I have never looked back. The first year we dyed them as usual and got some really nice pastel colored Easter eggs. We tried the paint and bag method, let's just say it's messy. We spun them in a egg spinner with dye, still a bit messy but, with great results. Then last year we started coloring them with Sharpies. Wow, what fun! This year we did a Sharpie and paint combination. The results are true keepsakes.

I have enjoyed putting out my eggs year after year, and remembering my boys creating them. This year we met at my mom's house and had a great time with all our family coloring eggs. The best part is, these eggs are a bargain just $1.98 for a dozen at Walmart. So, consider stocking up for next year if you find them on sale, or just be on the lookout for them next year.

I love that I can leave out the can of Sharpies and spontaneously create a egg without much clean up. For those of you who love hand lettering like me, these are so much fun.

Have fun creating lasting memories! I would love to see your treasures.

Bridget