“I feel like our days are all about finishing curriculum, not connecting.”

A few days into the new school year and already I felt we were slowing in finding the little moments that bring joy into our day. We were getting through the work. But it was feeling a little empty.

That moment made me pause and ask: what if success this week meant more warmth, not more worksheets?

Mindset shift: Coverage isn’t connection. The heart of homeschooling is built on relationship, curiosity, and noticing the sparks — not just checking the boxes.

Try one (or more) today:

• Heart check — Ask, “What made you curious today?” before diving into any lesson.

• Trade a worksheet for a short creative project: cook, sketch, build, or make something together.

• Let them teach you one thing they learned this week — it builds confidence and connection.

This week, we’re learning about The Heart — in science and in how we homeschool.

The Heart Learning Bundle for Curious Kids

This heart-themed bundle includes videos, thinking prompts, creative writing, and a parent guide to help you turn curiosity into learning.

📺 Watch & Think Playlist (Total time: ~8 min)

👉 WATCH the PLAYLIST

Included Videos:

• 💖 How the Heart Works (2 min)

• 🏃🏾 What Happens Inside Your Body When You Exercise (3 min)

• 🩸 Blood Pressure, Explained (3 min)

💬 Would You Rather?

Fun prompts to discuss aloud or write about:

1. Would you rather exercise every day to keep your heart healthy (playing sports, walking, biking) or take a single magic pill once a week that keeps your heart healthy with no exercise? Why? (Younger students: think about fun vs. easy. Older students: think about long-term effects, side effects, and lifestyle.)

2. Would you rather eat delicious salty foods you love but have a higher risk of high blood pressure, or switch to a low-salt diet that protects your heart but means giving up many favorite foods? Why? (Discuss trade-offs and health vs. enjoyment.)

3. Would you rather your city require restaurants to limit salt in meals to lower community blood pressure, or let restaurants choose their recipes and rely on people to make healthy choices themselves? Why? (Think about personal freedom, public health, and fairness.)

⚖️ One-Minute Debate Topics

Pick one and defend your opinion:

• Should schools include routine blood pressure checks for older students during annual health screenings? Defend your opinion.

• Should governments require food manufacturers to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods to prevent high blood pressure across the population? Defend your answer.

• When someone has mildly high blood pressure, should doctors start medication right away or first require a supervised lifestyle-change plan (diet, exercise, stress management)? Take a side and explain why.

🧠 Think Deeper

Pulse & Pressure Practice: Over five days, do this with an adult's help—1) Find your resting pulse: sit quietly for 2 minutes, then count your wrist pulse for 30 seconds and double it to get beats per minute. 2) Do 3 minutes of jumping jacks or a brisk walk, rest 1 minute, then measure your pulse again. Record both numbers each day and make a simple line graph showing how activity changes your pulse. Extra step for middle/high students: visit a pharmacy or ask a caregiver for a supervised blood pressure reading (do not change any medicines) and compare those readings to your heart-rate changes; write a short paragraph about what you learned and one question you still have for a healthcare provider.

✍️ Writing Challenge

Use one of these prompts to spark creativity — out loud or on paper.

Elementary:
Imagine your heart could talk. Write a short story where your heart tells a silly secret about your day.

Middle School:
Write a short story about a character who discovers a small, glowing heart in their pocket. Where did it come from, how does it change them, and what choice must they make because of it? Use sensory details and show the character's feelings through actions.

High School:
Some people believe competitive sports for teenagers should require stricter cardiac screening to prevent sudden cardiac events. Do you agree or disagree? Use scientific, ethical, and practical reasons to support your stance and respond to opposing concerns about privacy and access.

📥 Downloads

• 📝 Elementary Writing Prompts

• 📝 Middle School Writing Prompts

• 📝 High School Writing Prompts

• 📊 Parent Evaluation Guide

💡 Tip: These prompts also work as discussion starters — no pen or printer required. Mix age levels based on your child’s energy or interest.

👋 UNTIL NEXT TIME

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart."
— Helen Keller

This week was a reminder: homeschool isn’t just about what we teach — it’s about how we connect. Whether you asked a curious question, shared a small project, or simply slowed down long enough to laugh together, that counts.

You don’t need perfect plans to build meaningful days.
Just heart.