Decorating for Homeschoolers

I've just been thinking about next year. What can I do different? What can I add to the experience to make it more enjoyable? I've been pondering for quite some time how each child learns and what they like. I have come to the conclusion that next year I must decorate.

Jordan reminisces about the decorations his kindergarten teacher put up each month. He loves to decorate and enjoys art. I will be using A Beka Arithmetic for second grade next year and throughout the curriculum they use six themes: Pond, Transportation, Children Around the World, Jungle, Workers and Helpers, and Camping. (Yes, I've already purchased next year's curriculum and I can't keep my hands off it:) Surely I could hang up decorations over the dining room table and designate a "billboard area" for the themes. I wonder if I could pull this off by the time school starts in August?? I guess it will have to be Mama's summer project. Oh, well, I love to color and it's a marvelous stress-reliever. It's also something I can do with the boys. Well, Jordan anyway. Landon just doesn't like to color. I sincerely hope that changes.

I've been "googling" the web looking for the first theme. Here's a couple of the websites I printed from for the pond theme: http://www.colormountain.com/ (lily pads), http://www.karenswhimsy.com/ (butterfly), www.kerkhoffchiropractic.com/images/coloring_pages/turtle.gif (cute turtle), www.familycrafts.about.com/library/graphics/colorfrog1.jpg, and www.freeprintablecoloringpages.net/samples/Birds/Mallard_Duck.png (small duck). Just a thought, be sure to check these sites out before allowing the kiddies to print from them--you know how site content can change overnight!!

It should be fairly easy. I think I will print off coloring pages that are too detailed and arrange them in the billboard area and then I can print and color extra items to hang from the dining room ceiling. The boys can color and cut out something different to go along with the pond theme and I'll display that above the dining table as well. I can't wait!

Hopefully, by then, I can post pictures of it.