Happy New Year! This is my favorite time of year to sit with God and my family to reflect on the past year and discuss changes we can make or goals we would like to work toward together. As a family, this may look like adding more notes to a gratitude jar, donating unused clothes or toys, planning volunteer opportunities at a local animal shelter, or setting academic goals.
I have learned that in order to truly meet a goal (and not just create a vision board that is worked on for a month and then forgotten), it takes discipline (focus), determination (never giving up), and perseverance (continued effort toward a goal despite challenges, difficulties, and failures). In 1 Corinthians 9:24, it reminds us:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
As we begin the new year, we will focus on the importance of perseverance. This is a great time for students to review their academic progress and reflect on what they would like to improve during the next semester. Goals may include reading, writing, or math, but should also include at least one fun or personal goal.
While it is important to review data and set goals, goal-setting becomes unproductive without a clear plan to reach them. As you pray, review, and discuss next semester’s goals as a family, here are a few engaging activities to support this process.
-AMW
What is Perseverance?
Here are few project ideas you and your family can complete together as you look at academic and personal goals.
Once you know what you would like to work toward, create a vision board. You may either print a vision board template or use a sheet of poster paper to design your board. Goals can be written, drawn, or represented through a collage of printed images. Pictures can be gathered from old magazines, internet sources, pamphlets, and similar materials. Libraries often sell older magazines for a small fee, which can be a great resource.
Movies
As a family pick a movie about perseverance and as you watch discuss what character is showing perseverance and how.
PG 2008 88 minutes
PG 1994 109 minutes
G 1964 172 minutes
Experiments
To practice perseverance as a family, create a challenging experiment to complete together. One fun option is making homemade ice cream. This activity is challenging not because of the steps, but because it requires patience and continuous effort—shaking and shaking until the liquid finally turns into a solid. Another engaging activity is to have each family member design and build their own rocket or car, then test them to see whose creation travels the fastest or the farthest.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it, and then hand it to them with the well-taught lessons of how they in their lifetime must do the same.”
Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. President
If you are in need of a copy of the U.S. Constitution, The Constitution Service Project (ConSource) provides a pdf that has a printable guide to the constitution with available references and links to visuals of the actual documents for free.
Reading
To read and study the Constitution, take a look at The Kids Guide. It is a collection of fun and educational books designed to help children understand important topics—such as history, science, money, technology, and more—in an engaging and easy-to-follow way. This magazine is fun and accessible for all grade levels. Copies can be purchased through The Kids Guide , or families can view the magazine and make copies using the free PDF, Arkansas Kids Guide on the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Videos
Worksheets
Elementary Constitution Worksheet
Middle School U.S. Constitution Worksheet
High School Constitutional Convention Vocabulary Worksheet
Games and Projects
Constitutional Art
Create visual representations of concepts. Each Member can take an amendment and create visual. Put all pieces on a poster board to show what the family has learned.
Visit Aurora History Museum to make old fashioned crafts! We will be churning butter, making beeswax candles, quilling, weaving, and exploring how wool is made into yarn.
Date: Monday, January 5 2026
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 AM
Location: 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy. Aurora, CO 80012
Ages: 5-12
Cost: $8 per student - includes one adult - adult must be present for program.
TimberNook NOCO Winter Programming Through the cold months visit TimberNook January–March for magical winter adventures. Students will get to explore the woods in all kinds of weather—building, creating, imagining, and playing through the season.
Date: Every other Tuesday, January–March
Time: 10:30–1:30
Location: 8200 W 49th St, Greeley, CO 80634, USA
Ages: 4–12
Cost: $150
Sign-up:
https://timbernook.com/pro.../little-wild-ones-wildhorizons/
If your teen enjoys design or making their own DIY projects, they may be interested in designing their own mug. Kelver library is hosting an event allowing students to create their own mug and later drinking hot cocoa.
Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Location: Kelver Library
Ages: 9-18
Registration required Register for event here
Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS)
Special hands-on activities and dissection demonstrations will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Add-on experiences like the Gates Planetarium and Infinity Theater shows are available for $5 per person. More information can be found on the Denver Museum of Nature and Science website.
Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205
Cost: Admission is free for homeschool families on this day.
Homeschool parents, we would love to hear any questions, ideas, or suggestions regarding homeschooling. Do you have any questions regarding curriculum or any suggested materials to help other families? Please post your responses in the questions and comments section below.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER!!
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9