5 September Homeschool Family Fun Ideas

The tease of slightly-cooler temperatures in some parts of the country tempts the senses with the promise of autumn beauty. A few leaves are loosening their hold and farmers prepare their fields for new plantings. Enjoy the last calendar-deemed days of summer and savor shades of green before they meld into fall delight. Make the most of every day with some of the zany, but actual, holidays below or consider creating your own fall family fun. Here are five September homeschool family fun ideas.

5 September Homeschool Family Fun Ideas

National Truck Driver Appreciation Day – Create this fun craft to use as a table centerpiece for the celebration. Start with a kid-sized shoebox for the truck’s trailer. Remove the lid and paint the outside of the empty box. Then use a smaller box, like a one-serving cereal box, for the tractor unit or cab of the truck. Paint the small box and be sure to paint on windows or glue white construction paper in place for the windows. When the paint is dry for both boxes, glue the cab to the trailer or use strong tape to hold the boxes together. Then, glue wheels cut from black poster board in place on the truck project. Place the cardboard truck in the center of the table and fill with individually wrapped fall candies, school supplies like pencils and erasers, or fall-colored leaves from the holiday section of a department store. While enjoying the centerpiece at dinnertime, talk about the blessings that truck drivers provide by delivering goods and services that keep the country going daily. Give thanks for truck drivers, and ask God for travel mercies and protection for the men and women who drive trucks. Don’t forget their family members who are often separated from their loved one for days at a time. 

Hummingbird Day – Did you know that hummingbirds can flap their wings over fifty times per second? These diminutive birds with iridescent feathers are fascinating to watch in their frenzied flights and feedings. Find a location conducive to hummingbird feedings and sit quietly in hopes of spotting the gorgeous birds flitting about. Which watching for hummingbirds, memorize this verse: “Look at the bird of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26 (NIV).  

National Ampersand Day – AND then there’s this celebration. Turn this bizarre holiday into a festive event with a competitive family game. See who can name the most words that are typically together, like, up & down; backwards & forwards; east & west; peanut butter & jelly; macaroni & cheese; pots & pans; bricks & mortar; stars & stripes; night & day; AND so on. Who thought of the most word pairs? Give the winner a high-five AND a pat on the back! Then read the delightful kids’ book by Terry Border, entitled Peanut Butter & Cupcake. Memorize this verse to end the celebration – ampersands added for emphasis: “But grow in the grace & knowledge of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now & to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV). 

Punch Day – Mix fruity ingredients to make a yummy fall punch to sip and celebrate. In a large container, mix one cup of apple juice, one-half cup of orange juice, one-fourth cup of lemon juice, one-half cup of pineapple juice, and one cup of cranberry juice. Chill until ready to serve. When ready to share with the family, pour the chilled juice into a punch bowl and add one quart of ginger ale. Dollop several scoops of orange sherbet atop the punch and enjoy! Read about a time when God’s people celebrated the reading of His word. Read Nehemiah 8, and pay special attention to verse ten: “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV).

International Dot Day –  Making its debut as an educational initiative in 2009 that encourages kids to ‘make their mark,’ this holiday continues each year. Wear polka dots today and talk about the ‘mark’ each person in the family hopes to make in the world. Then play a game outside by placing dots (circles cut from construction paper) of various sizes on the ground. Let each person take turns tossing bean bags or discs or paired socks at the circles. The person who lands the most items on dots successfully is the winner. Celebrate with lemonade dotted with ice pieces while reading the old classic, Put Me in the Zoo, about Spot, an animal who exhibits quite the talent with the dots covering his body. Read about a man in the Bible with “dots” all over his body. Read 2 Kings 5:1-14 and talk about Naaman’s trust in and obedience to God, both before and after he was healed. How can Naaman’s story help you follow God’s commands without doubt and question?

Celebrate the last official days of summer and herald in a new season towards the end of the month. Make the most of every moment with family members and store up memories to last long into autumn. Until next month, make every day a holiday with those you love.

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