Your preschool through third grade homeschooler will love a berry theme for learning new concepts! Below you will find some unique ideas for using the berry theme, including a Webkinz game.

Begin your berry fun unit by teaching an easy probability math lesson. Start by playing the Webkinz game Jumbleberry Fields alongside your child. Discuss the probabilties of combinations as you play. A wonderful website called "Math is Fun" offers a free and simple lesson plan to do in conjunction with the game or by itself.

Blueberries for Sal is a classic Springtime book. Read this book to your child, or have them read it aloud to you. Scholastic has a free lesson plan for this time honored story, incorporating math, reading and language arts skills.

No blueberry study is complete without eating some of the juicy fruits! If possible visit a U-Pick farm to choose your own, and then turn them into an easy jam. Here is a recipe to try with your homeschooler:

Blueberry Freezer Jam

Ingredients Needed:
3 1/2 cups blueberries, (rinse well)
5 cups granulated sugar
3/4 tablespoon lemon juice
1 package powdered pectin
3/4 cup water

Directions:
Crush berries using a food processor and put them in a in a large bowl. Next add the lemon juice. Stir the sugar in and let it stand for 5 minutes. In a saucepan, mix pectin and water and bring it to a full boil. Boil while stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Mix pectin mixture into fruit and stir for 3 minutes. Pour fruit mixture into freezer containers or small canning jars, leaving, 1/2-inch headspace. Cover right away and let stand at room temperature for about 24 hours. Store in the freezer.
*This makes about 6 cups.

If you end up with an abundance of berries try using them as fruit patterns for a snack, or counting out a certain amount of each type of berry with your child. The opportunities for creative, and delicious learning abound!

Probability Sites:
www.Webkinz.com
www.mathsisfun.com/data/probability.html

Blueberry Council/U-Pick Locations
www.nabcblues.org/upick.htm