For homeschooling with preschoolers , try some hands-on things that still meet the "fun but educational" requirement.
For Christmas, we received this toy.
It doesn't get used as often as it should, but I think I'll be working it into our days a little more.
It's fun, creative, colorful, and doesn't roll off the table like those wretched lacing beads do. Plus, smaller siblings can't swallow them. Good to know, right?