Inside the Guide: LHFHG’s Rotating Box of Plans

LHFHG’s Rotating Box of Plans

This “Inside the Guide” series provides a quick snapshot of Little Hearts for His Glory (LHFHG)! It’s a handy “how-to” reference, just one box of plans at a time. Have you ordered Little Hearts for His Glory from Heart of Dakota? Thank you – so fun! Are you getting excited to start? Totally understandable! Well, here’s your quick-start “Inside the Guide” for…LHFHG’s Rotating Box of plans!

Quick Start Info

Time It Takes: 10 to 15 minutes

Days It’s On: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Description: LHFHG’s Rotating Box of plans can be found on the bottom left side of the daily plans. Though the skills taught in these boxes rotate, every box connects to the history theme in its own special way. The rotating boxes of plans include: Artistic Expression, Dramatic Play, Thinking Games, and Science Discovery. Each of these is done once a week, with the exception of Science Discovery, which is done twice a week. This rotation allows many skills to be taught within a week and keeps each day fresh with varied things to do. LHFHG’s rotating boxes teach additional skills without adding too much time to the day.

A Handy How-To for LHFHG’s Rotating Box of Plans

For Artistic Expression, children creatively respond to the history story. Hands-on art projects encourage self-expression and teach needed skills. The focus is on the artistic process, rather than creating a perfect product. Common art supplies and household items make these projects quick and easy.

For Dramatic Play, children use play-to-learn skills to respond to the Bible story reading in a creative way. Dramatizations bring history to life, reinforce the history reading, and encourage creative expression.

For Thinking Games, children participate in game-like activities that require thinking skills to complete. Active movements reinforce the history theme and encourage mind and whole body movement connection.

For Science Discovery, children delve into life science, physical science, and earth science topics. Readings from the science book The World God Made provide the textual content for each lesson. Quick hands-on activities relate to the science readings, reinforce scientific vocabulary, and connect to both the Bible and the history reading for the day.

General Rotating Box Notes

Since the rotating boxes all link to the history readings, be sure you’ve read the Reading About History book before doing the rotating boxes. Hands-on activities that require supplies really do use common household items and art supplies. LHFHG’s plans also often suggest substitutions (i.e. use cereal pieces, chocolate chips, or mini marshmallows). Finally, after completing each rotating box, I read aloud the Key Idea in the LHFHG guide. It ties the rotating activities to the history theme beautifully!

Artistic Expression Notes

The Artistic Expression box often includes “youngers” and “olders” options. This makes extending the activity for artistically-inclined or older kiddos easy! My three children varied greatly in artistic abilities and fine motor skills like coloring, gluing, cutting, drawing, etc. I made a point to remember the purpose of Artistic Expression was to focus on the creative process. I liked to start them off and help them as needed – but NOT take over the whole thing! Then it would have been my art project instead of theirs! I often hung their completed art projects on the fridge with a strong magnetic clip. They loved showing their brothers and my hubby when he came home from work! They also liked to display their very favorite art projects in their rooms somewhere, like on an end table or propped up on a dresser.

Dramatic Play Notes

Dramatic Play was a blast! It taught many skills but in such fun ways that they made it seem like we were just playing. My biggest tip here is to get involved! Be part of the activity instead of just “directing” it. My sons enjoyed Dramatic Play so much, they often kept doing the activities long after “school” was done. This gave me time to teach my oldest son, so this creative, hands-on box was golden!

Thinking Games Notes

The Thinking Games box uses game-like activities to respond to the history theme. Children act out events, build things, discover new inventions, explore solutions to problems, and connect personally to the history readings. The directions have a purposeful sequence, and they are often scripted. The better I followed the directions, the better my sons did with the thinking games activity. Having a “game-like” attitude toward this keeps it fun, as intended! The Key Idea ties it all together, so I usually read that at the end of the activity.

Science Discovery Notes

The Science Discovery box of plans is based on the Christian science text The World God Made. For this reason, I always read the science text before doing the science activity. I liked to do this cuddled up on the couch, with the science book open for us both to see it clearly. The history topic is still the unifying theme though, so the science is planned in an order to best connect with the chronological history. The science book will not be read in order for this reason. In my opinion, at these young ages, the more a “unit study” can be incorporated, the better. This helps with retention, and connecting all the rotating boxes to the history theme helps each day feel consistent. Common household and art supplies are truly used for the science. I did not read ahead to gather things, but you can certainly do so if you like. The Key Idea ties it all together, so I usually read that at the end of the activity.

Finally, let’s take a “Look Inside” the science text The World God Made.

The World God Made (Click here to read sample pages)

To order this amazing science book, click here! To order complete LHFHG packages, click on the baskets here!