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2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

October 31, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have the free 2027 New Year Printable Get it Together Girl Homeschool Goals form ready. Grab other gorgeous planning pages on my Homeschool Planner and 7 Step Curriculum Planner page.

Now well past my 20th year of supporting homeschoolers, I still feel in our harried world full of digital devices, a simple written plan brings wellness, harmony, clarity and peace to your year.

2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

That may sound like a tall order, but homeschooling is such a different pace than when I started. This generation needs to know you’re in control.

Stepping back and stepping off means as the main educator, we have the power to be dragged by life or make a FULL stop.

Stop to ALLOW MORE of what we want or envision our homeschool to be.

Next, look at more homeschool planner products.

OTHER HOMESCHOOL PLANNER PRODUCTS YOU’LL LOVE

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  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

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And how do we allow time for more.

Simply saying it may work but for most of us we need a visual reminder. And that reminder is something physical we can see.

I love my phone but having a printable where I’ve taken time to vision how I want my life or school has been essential to my successful homeschooling.

HOMESCHOOL GOALS FREE PRINTABLE FORM

Sometimes, I have more broad goals and not something that fits into exact educational objectives. I just like having the options each year. 

Too, sometimes I tend to write down all that I want to do and have few reminders of what not to do for the year. 

2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

So the section I call “less of this” is just as important to me as I want to keep setting realistic goals each year.

MORE HOMESCHOOL PLANNER FORMS

  • 2027 to 2031 Years Colorful Free Printable List Of Holidays
  • 2027-2028 Year Beautiful Two Pages Per Month Printable Monthly Calendar
  • 2027-2028 Two Pages Per Month Calendar – Chartreuse Color
  • 2027-2028 Two Pages Per Month Calendar – Tempest Color
  • Beautiful 2027 to 2028 Monthly Calendar on Two Pages
  • Free Homeschool Planner Inside Title Page
  • Free Student Planner Undated Calendar {Girly Girl Set}
  • Curriculum Planner for Homeschool Day At a Glance Form
  • Free Printable Homeschool Life Skills Checklist for Your Homeschool Planner
  • Free Pre-Homeschool Year Planning Checklist For Your Homeschool Planner

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE 2027 NEW YEAR HOMESCHOOL GOALS PRINTABLE

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Homeschool Planner Tagged With: curriculum planner, goals, homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool curriculum planner, homeschool planner, homeschool planning, homeschoolplanner, homeschoolplanning, planner, planning

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

October 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an easy cave diorama shoebox exploring stalactites & stalagmites and to demonstrate how they’re made. Also, look at my pages Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode and Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

Who says science can’t be creative, hands-on, and a little messy? Today, we’re exploring the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

We’re turning an upcycled soda box into our very own cave full of these amazing formations.

We’ll paint the inside, create stalactites and stalagmites using hot glue drips, and transform recycled materials into a 3D science model.

It’s a fun way to combine earth science, creativity, fine motor skills, and recycling into one memorable learning experience.

First, look at this list of books.

CAVE BOOKS FOR KIDS

We prefer living books and like reference books too especially when doing a science unit study.

Add one or two of these living books about caves to your home library.

5 Living Books About Caves for Kids

Explore the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

Image for The First Book of Caves

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

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Image for Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave

Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave

Tells the story of the seventeen-year-old slave whose interest in the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky led him to become the tour guide for many to this natural wonder, helping him escape the grueling work of his fellow slaves on the plantations above.

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Image for Caves and their mysteries

Caves and their mysteries

Excellent illustrations and beautiful page turner.

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Image for The Secret of the Caves: The Hardy Boys ~ Book 7

The Secret of the Caves: The Hardy Boys ~ Book 7

Strange lights flickering along the coastline. Priceless artifacts vanishing without a trace. Whispers of pirate treasure hidden for centuries.Frank and Joe Hardy thought they were investigating simple museum thefts—until their search led them into a labyrinth of seaside caves where smugglers operate under cover of darkness. What begins as an intriguing puzzle quickly becomes an exciting adventure in the challenging underground passages.

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Image for Caves: The Underground Wilderness

Caves: The Underground Wilderness

Stepping into a cave is like entering an unfamiliar world. These majestic underground spaces are full of breathtaking sights, from columns of glowing ice and fantastic rock formations to vast networks of underwater caverns. In this book you'll learn about different types of caves and the strange and beautiful creatures that live inside them as well as how to safely and responsibly explore the subterranean world.

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Let’s learn more about caves and the stalactites and stalagmites that form in them.

WHAT IS A CAVE

  • A cave is a natural opening in the ground that is large enough for a person to enter.
  • Many caves form when slightly acidic water slowly dissolves limestone, creating openings, cracks, and underground passages.
  • Limestone caves are among the most common places to find stalactites and stalagmites. Limestone contains a mineral called calcite, which is made of calcium carbonate.
  • Caves can form over thousands or millions of years.
  • Caves provide habitats for bats, cave crickets, salamanders, spiders, and other animals. Some cave animals have special adaptations for living in darkness.

WHAT ARE STALACTITES

Stalactites are mineral formations that hang down from the ceilings of caves. They form when water containing dissolved minerals, especially calcium carbonate, drips from the cave ceiling.

As the water loses carbon dioxide and evaporates, it leaves behind tiny deposits of minerals.

Over thousands of years, these deposits can grow into long, icicle-like formations!

WHAT ARE STALAGMITES

Stalagmites grow upward from the floors of caves. When mineral-rich water drips from stalactites or cave ceilings onto the ground, it leaves behind mineral deposits.

Over time, these deposits slowly build upward into cone-shaped or mound-like formations.

Remember StalacTite’s, T means they form on the top, while stalagMites grow from the bottom up.

HOW ARE THEY FORMED

Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide as it moves through soil, forming a weak acid. This slightly acidic water dissolves minerals from limestone as it travels through cracks in the rock.

When the water enters a cave, it releases carbon dioxide and deposits calcium carbonate.

These tiny mineral deposits gradually build up, forming stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Most natural formations grow incredibly slowly, often taking hundreds or thousands of years to become noticeable.

  •  Stalactites- Formations that hang from cave ceilings as mineral deposits accumulate from dripping water.
  • Stalagmites- Formations that grow upward from cave floors as mineral-rich water drips onto the ground.
  • Cave Columns- When a stalactite and a stalagmite eventually join, they can form a column connecting the ceiling and floor.

5 STALACTITE AND STALAGMITE FACTS

  1. Stalactites and stalagmites are both types of speleothems, which are mineral formations found in caves.
  2. They often form in limestone caves, but cave formations can develop from other minerals, too.
  3. Some cave formations are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years old.
  4. Not every cave has stalactites and stalagmites; the right rock, water chemistry, and environmental conditions are needed.
  5. Real formations grow through mineral deposition. Your hot glue formations are a model of the shapes, not the actual mineral-forming process.

MORE EASY CAVE DIORAMA SHOEBOX IDEAS

  • Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity
  • Diorama, Bat in the Cave
  • 5 Easy Bat Stem Activities and Create a STEM Bat Habitat
  • Cave Diorama

HOW TO MAKE A SHOEBOX CAVE PROJECT

While a shoebox is the perfect size and shape for this kind of project, you don’t have to use one; you can use any box you have on hand, be it an Amazon box or part of a soda box, as we used here.

You will need:

  • A cardboard box
  •  Black Craft paint
  •  A hot glue gun
  •  glue sticks
  •  Additional paint if desired
How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Start by cutting the box down to size.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 Paint the entire inside of the box black.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

You can also add various shades of tan and gray to make it look like different rocks and formations inside the cave; set aside to dry.

 Paint or cover the outside with black paper.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 Once the inside has dried, you can begin to create your stalactites and stalagmites with hot glue.

This can be a little tricky.

Start at the back of the cave and make a few blobs of hot glue, let it cool until it just starts to scab over, then flip the box and let your hot glue drip.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 You can let it create different lengths and widths, including columns where they connect from top to bottom.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Flip the box and repeat in the other direction. If you see they are moving too fast, just allow your blobs to dry a little bit more before you flip it.

Continue to add more paint and repeat the process, letting it cool a bit, then flipping to create drips.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: caves, earth science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

October 29, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some sound facts for kids if you’re putting together an energy unit study or just learning about the sound around us and how it’s made. Also, I have a free sound lapbook.

And look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbooks.

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

Because sound is all around us, a fun way we started our unit was by closing our eyes and listening for sounds. For example, listen for clapping hands, a drum or a bird singing. We can identify objects by the sound they make.

Sound is a form of energy traveling through various materials created through the vibrations of matter. And when we change the vibrations, we change the pitch or sounds and create new sounds.

The best part learning about the topic of sound is that it’s something kids can explore through simple experiments, music, nature, and hands-on activities.

Next, look at some of these fun books about sound.

BOOKS ABOUT SOUND FOR KIDS

You can use them to ignite your discussion for the day or to create a sound unit study.

3 Books About Sounds

Learn about the science of sounds, vibrations, sound waves and pitch.

Image for The First Book of Sound

The First Book of Sound

What causes the rumble of thunder? How does music travel to our ears? In The First Book of Sound, David C. Knight unravels the mysteries of acoustics, guiding young readers through the science of how sound is produced, transmitted, and heard. This accessible introduction covers the fundamentals of sound waves, vibration, pitch, and volume, making complex concepts easy to grasp. 

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Image for Sound: Loud, Soft, High, and Low (Amazing Science)

Sound: Loud, Soft, High, and Low (Amazing Science)

Sound is created through vibrations that vary in pitch and volume. This creates sound-waves that you can hear. Includes experiments.

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Image for Waves: A Very Short Introduction

Waves: A Very Short Introduction

We live in a world of waves. The Earth shakes to its foundations, the seas and oceans tremble incessantly, sounds reverberate through land, sea, and air. Beneath the skin, our brains and bodies are awash with waves of their own, and the Universe is filled by a vast spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, of which visible light is the narrowest sliver. Casting the net even wider, there are mechanical waves, quantum wave phenomena, and the now clearly detected gravitational waves. Look closer and deeper and more kinds of waves appear, down to the most fundamental level of reality.

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Then, look at these fun facts about sound.

SOUND FACTS FOR KIDS

  • Sound is the movement of air in the form of sound waves.
  • Sound is caused by vibrations.
  • A sound wave is a chain of vibrating molecules.
  • Sound needs a medium to travel. Unlike light, sound cannot travel through a vacuum. It needs matter, such as air, water, or solids.
  • Amplitude is the size of the vibration, which relates to sound intensity and perceived loudness.
  • Frequency is the number of times that a sound wave vibrates in a second.
  • Sound waves are affected by its frequency and pitch.
  • Frequency is the number of vibrations or wave cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz).
  • Humans cannot hear every sound. Most young people with healthy hearing can detect frequencies of approximately 20 to 20,000 hertz.

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

FREE SOUND LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS

  • Sound needs a medium
  • Frequency
  • Did You Know
  • How We Hear the World Around Us
  • What is Sound
  • Resonance of Sound Waves
  • How is Sound Made

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SOUND LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science, sound

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

October 26, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

To help you make the most of the season, I put together a fall bucket list for homeschool checklist filled with fun ideas for the whole family. Too, I’m sharing an easy pumpkin butter recipe made with canned pumpkin. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Fall is such a wonderful time to slow down, enjoy the little things, and make memories together as a family.

Even if your homeschool days are full of lessons, reading, and activities, there is something special about making room for a little seasonal fun.

From visiting a pumpkin patch to baking something warm in the kitchen, autumn offers so many opportunities to learn, explore, and enjoy time together.

It’s a delicious way to bring a little fall flavor into your kitchen and teach some basic cooking skills.

Next, look at some books to pull out and read during the fall season.

LIVING BOOKS ABOUT THE FALL SEASON FOR KIDS

And we prefer living books when we can find them.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Image for Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

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Image for Autumn Harvest

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

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Image for Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

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Image for The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

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Image for Sophie's Squash

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

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Image for Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

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Image for Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

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Image for Dance Like a Leaf

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

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Image for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

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Image for Down Buttermilk Lane

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

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Image for Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

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Image for Hooray for Fall!

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

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Image for Hopefully the Scarecrow

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

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Image for Maple & Willow Apart

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

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Image for Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

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One of my favorite things about a seasonal bucket list is that it gives us something fun to look forward to.

MAKE THE MOST OF FALL WITH A FAMILY BUCKET LIST

Activities don’t have to be complicated or expensive, and you don’t have to check off every single activity.

The goal is to just be intentional about enjoying the season and making memories along the way.

Many of these activities naturally lend themselves to learning without feeling like traditional schoolwork.

A trip to the pumpkin patch can turn into a science lesson.

Baking together offers opportunities to practice measuring and following directions, and a nature walk can become an outdoor exploration of seasonal changes.

Here are a few ideas to inspire your family’s fall adventures and check out my free fall bucket list for homeschool at the bottom.

MORE FALL ACTIVITIES TO ADD TO YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST

  • Visit a pumpkin patch
  • Decorate pumpkins.
  • Check out a local farmers’ market for fall fruits and veggies.
  • How To Make Confetti Fall Leaves Crafts For Preschoolers
  • Go on a nature walk and collect colorful leaves, then turn them into leaf rubbings.
  • Bake an apple pie or your favorite fall treat.
  • How To Make An Adorable Scarecrow & Crafts To Keep Hands Busy
  • Read fall-themed books together or turn an old book into a pumpkin.
  • Make homemade applesauce.
  • Have a cozy family movie night.
  • Visit a corn maze or enjoy a hayride.
  • How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask
  • Make a fall craft using leaves, acorns, or pinecones.
  • Enjoy a picnic outdoors on a cool afternoon.
  • Roast pumpkin seeds.
  • Make homemade playdough in autumn colors.
  • Visit a local fall festival.
  • Have a family game night with warm cider or hot chocolate.
  • Watch the sunset and talk about your favorite parts of the season.

Choose activities that fit your family’s interests, budget, and schedule. Some might become special outings, while others can be enjoyed right at home.

TURN YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST INTO A HOMESCHOOL ACTIVITY

A fall bucket list is also a simple way to add seasonal learning to your homeschool days. You can incorporate reading, writing, science, math, art, and practical life skills into activities your children already enjoy.

For example, after a nature walk, have your children draw the leaves they found and write a few sentences about their observations.

If you visit a pumpkin patch, estimate the weight of different pumpkins, compare their sizes, or learn about how pumpkins grow.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

In the kitchen, let your children help measure ingredients, read the recipe, and observe how the texture and smell of the ingredients change as they cook.

Younger children might enjoy coloring a fall picture or checking off each completed activity on the bucket list, while older children can keep a seasonal journal documenting their favorite experiences.

EASY HOMEMADE PUMPKIN BUTTER WITH CANNED PUMPKIN

No fall bucket list is complete without something delicious to make in the kitchen, and pumpkin butter is one of those simple recipes that fills your home with cozy autumn flavors.

Spread it on toast, biscuits, pancakes, or waffles, or swirl a spoonful into your oatmeal for a seasonal breakfast.

This recipe uses canned pumpkin, so there’s no need to roast and puree a fresh pumpkin. It’s quick to prepare, easy to customize, and a fun recipe to make with your children.

You will need:

  • 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt

Add the pumpkin puree, apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a medium saucepan. Stir everything together until well combined.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Reduce the heat. Turn the heat to low and continue cooking for about 20–30 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.

The mixture will gradually thicken and develop a deeper, richer flavor.

Pumpkin mixtures can splatter as they cook, so use a splatter screen if you have one and keep little helpers at a safe distance.

Add the vanilla. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Cool and store. Allow the pumpkin butter to cool before transferring it to a clean container.

Refrigerate promptly and keep it refrigerated for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-safe container.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Food safety note: This recipe is intended for refrigeration or freezing and is not shelf-stable canning.

 
Be sure to grab your fall bucket list checklist and keep it somewhere the whole family can see it.

Work through the list whenever you have time, whether that’s during a free afternoon, on the weekend, or as a fun break from your usual homeschool routine.

Free Printable Fall Bucket List For Homeschool & Make Pumpkin Butter

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE FALL BUCKET LIST FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES

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1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, pumpkin, science

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

October 25, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book. Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks. I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece.

I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hands-On History) and so Tiny quickly opened it to find something he wanted to try.

He was reading about Ancient Greeks studying refraction. We did this when the boys were little, but as is the case when you have younger children, they don’t remember what you did with the older kids.

First, look at some of the books I gathered for our Ancient Greece unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE FOR KIDS

8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

Image for D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

In print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. “For any child fortunate enough to have this generous book . . . the kings and heroes of ancient legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the pictures interpret the text literally and are full of detail and witty observation.”—The Horn Book

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Image for Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

The suggested reader age for this book is 8 to 14 years old. To write this book, I went back to Herodotus, Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, and other ancient sources of biographical anecdotes, and extracted from them the stories that will be most memorable to a modern kid. I retold them without adding any fictional color. I have omitted some things, however. Anything gruesome or seriously cruel is not included. Anything off-color, or outside traditional-family-friendly morality is not included. I have included only accounts of the most major battles, and without much detail. Battles are important, but as a kid - maybe as a girl - I was falling asleep over the ancient battles. Politics: Again, I have included only major turns of events.

I wove the information about the social order and geography of Ancient Greece into the stories of the era's historical figures. So, no worries, the kid will learn about the Agora and Acropolis of Athens, the city-states of Corinth and Sparta, daily life in an Ancient Greek household, the major Greek temples, and the three orders of Ancient Greek architecture. This book is richly illustrated. I don't agree that if you are 13 or 16 you should be content with pages and pages of text and no pictures. Illustrations help both kids and grownups to visualize - and therefore to remember - events and descriptions. I have illustrated the book mostly with paintings portraying historical figures or everyday life in classical Greece. Whenever I could, I chose late 19th century and early 20th century art over the older neoclassical paintings for a more accurate representation of the Ancient Greek costume and environment.

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Image for The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time. Set during the Trojan War, this timeless poem vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amid devastation and destruction. Homer's tale is a compassionate view of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death in the face of an often uncaring divinity.

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Image for Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

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Image for The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

You have probably heard about Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. When it comes to ancient minds who created foundations in philosophy, science, and math, these three names would automatically come up. But what exactly did they do to warrant immense respect and admiration? Well, your fifth grader will soon find out from this biography book.

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Image for Marathon Looks on the Sea

Marathon Looks on the Sea

Illustrated by Erwin Schachner. The story of the Battle of Marathon and how it determined the future of Athens.

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Image for Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

What was it like to live in Ancient Athens? All the people who lived in ancient Greece spoke the same language and worshipped the same gods and goddesses. But they all lived in different city states a city and the land around it that it controlled. These city states were all run differently, and there were often fights between them. Despite their differences, there were things that united the city states. Find out more in this exciting title.

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Image for Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Describes daily life in ancient Greece, discussing life in the city, life in the country, school, ceremonies and festivals, food, and other aspects

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However, when you include your older kids this just means double fun because I get to do easy science activities again.

As the book brought out refraction is the way rays of light change when they pass from one thing to another that’s made of different material. That is what it means to have materials made of different density.

Ancient Greece Unit Study refraction activity and Ancient Greeks Pull Tab book @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So this activity was super easy but cool and I love the fact that all 3 things were found in my house.

ANCIENT GREEKS STUDY REFRACTION – EASY HANDS-ON SCIENCE ABOUT LIGHT

Here is the really short list of what you need:

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book
  • Pie or cake pan (dark coated, not glass or clear)
  • Coin
  • Pitcher of water

The activity is really easy. Tiny rounded up Mr. Awesome to help us. Mr. Awesome placed the coin right next to the side.

And Tiny stood a distance away so that the coin is hidden by the side.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

Then Mr. Awesome poured the water slowly into the container.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

As Mr. Awesome poured the water, it appeared to move to the center of the pan.

Of course the coin doesn’t move, it’s just that the light rays were distorted or bent as they passed through the water.

A bit of easy and quick science was enough to pique Tiny’s interest for the unit study.

In summary, refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one transparent material into another, such as from air into water or glass. It’s an important part of science because it helps explain many things we see in everyday life.

For example, light changes speed. When light travels from air into water or glass, its speed changes. If it enters at an angle, this causes the light to bend.

Since that is the activity he chose to do first, we focused on reading about some Greeks and what they were famous for.

I created a giant pull tab book which is Famous Greeks and their Contributions.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

Though there are many famous Greeks to focus on, I used the ones below and listed a bit of information about them.

It’s pretty easy to find information on the internet, but I am listing a few facts here for you too.

  • Aesop – storyteller; author of Aesop’s fables
  • Eratosthenes – geographer; first to describe the world as a globe
  • Euclid – mathematician; “Father of Geometry”
  • Aristotle – philosopher; student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great.
  • Archimedes – mathematician and inventor; calculated value of Pi; invented the lever; Archimedes Screw

For the giant pull tab book, just cut out all the pieces and write about each Greek on the box provided.

Ancient Greece Pull Tab 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have instructions on the minibook, but you will form a pocket with the two pieces and place the pull tab book inside.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

I hope you like the first “little” giant pull tab book I have for our new unit study.

The lapbook is now complete. And I have two Ancient Greece lapbook.

Below, download the Ancient Greece lapbook which has this famous Ancient Greek pull tab book.

Look at the books included in this lapbook.

ANCIENT GREECE MINIBOOKS INCLUDED IN THIS LAPBOOK 2

  • Why Study About Ancient Greece
  • Go Fish pocket
  • Different Lives Athens and Sparta
  • Ancient Greeks About Greek (Life , Politics, History and gods)
  • Famous Greeks and their Contributions
  • Greek & Latin Root Words
  • Greece is Called the Birthplace of Civilizations
  • Can You Answer True or False

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE ANCIENT GREECE LAPBOOK NUMBER 2

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Lapbook, Science Based Tagged With: ancient civilizations, Ancient Greece, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool

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