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Welcome

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

November 16, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some cool slime ideas. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

And there are amazing benefits of playing with what otherwise seems like just a fun activity.

But there is more to slime than just the mess and thrill of sensory play.

It can be used in your homeschool to build lots of skills.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Putting together a slime supply kit is fun for rainy days or days when your child just can’t think of something to do.

But it also makes a wonderful gift for them or a friend.

Honestly, making slime is also a great way to teach your child money and entrepreneur skills.

Kids love slime.

And you could set your child up with a small slime business helping to create logos, slime recipes, figure out costs, profit, and reinvesting back into the business.

This would be a fantastic lesson for upper elementary or middle school kids.

BENEFITS OF KIDS PLAYING WITH SLIME

Next, look at some of the benefits of playing with slime.

Stress relief and relaxation- The act of squishing, stretching, and molding slime can be a great way to relieve stress and promote relaxation.

Repetitive motions and tactile sensations can help to calm the mind and body, making slime a popular tool for stress management and mindfulness.

Improved fine motor skills- Playing with slime can help to strengthen fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and bilateral coordination.

As children manipulate and mold the slime, they are exercising the muscles in their hands and fingers, which can lead to improvements in handwriting, drawing, and other fine motor tasks.

Enhanced creativity and imagination- Slime can be a great tool for fostering creativity and imagination.

Children can use slime to create various shapes, objects, and scenes, allowing them to express their artistic abilities and develop their imaginations.

Sensory stimulation: The unique texture and properties of slime can provide sensory stimulation that is enjoyable and calming for many individuals.

The tactile experience of playing with slime can be particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing disorders or autism spectrum disorder.

Improved focus and concentration- The repetitive and calming nature of playing with slime can help to improve focus and concentration.

By engaging in slime play, children can develop better self-control and the ability to stay focused on a single activity for longer periods.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Social interaction and bonding- Slime can be a fun and interactive activity that children can enjoy with friends and family members.

Playing with slime together can help to promote social interaction, cooperation, and bonding.

MUST HAVE SLIME SUPPLIES

Also, if I were to put together an awesome slime kit with various items for making a variety of slimes here is what I would put in it.

  • Sensitive shaving cream
  • School Glue
  • Baking Soda
  • Sensitive Contact Solution
  • Borax
  • Food Coloring
  • Glitter
  • Mix ins
  • Containers
  • Bowls and spoons
  • Measuring utensils

8 COOL SLIME IDEAS

  1. There are plenty of Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun and Snow Slime, give your kids a great hands-on activity to support a unit on winter animals.
  2. The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime is the perfect addition to a winter or bird unit study.
  3. Turn candy into fun with this 2 Ingredient DIY Miniature Skittles Slime, this one is not edible though!
  4. Another yummy slime that IS safe to eat  is this Edible Gummy Bear Slime.
  5. Head on over to find out how to make How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play, perfect for fall and winter.
  6. Make The Best Fluffy Slime Recipe for Kids with a fresh recipe that slightly changes slime texture and gives a new experience.
  7. Good clean fun is ready to be had with a Hand Soap Slime recipe.
  8. For a simple and quick slime recipe try The Best 2 Ingredient Slime here.
How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Finally, look at how to make the cinnamon and icing slime. Yum!

HOW TO CRAFT CINNAMON SLIME

You can make just the cinnamon slime or add a batch of the ‘icing’ slime to vary the texture, it is so fun to drizzle over your ‘cinnamon roll’.

You will need:

Cinnamon Roll Slime:

  • 1 4 oz bottle of school glue ( ½ cup)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon contact solution
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Cinnamon essential oil-optional
How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

HOW TO CRAFT CINNAMON SLIME

Icing Slime:

  • 1 4 oz bottle of school glue ( ½ cup)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon contact solution
  • Generous squirt of sensitive shaving cream
  • Vanilla or marshmallow essential oil

First, mix the glue and water together in a bowl.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Add the cinnamon, baking soda, and contact lens solution to the bowl.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Stir until the mixture is well combined.

Knead the slime for 1-2 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

Depending on the brands of items used you may need to add a little more contact solution, add just a few drops at a time and stir well with each addition until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Store the slime in an airtight container.

Now if you want to go the extra step and create an ‘icing’ for a cinnamon roll slime, repeat the process of making another batch of slime.

This time omit the cinnamon and instead stir in vanilla or a marshmallow scent.

Then fold in some sensitive shaving cream to give the slime a fluffy different appearance from the cinnamon slime.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

To gift your slime place in two separate containers.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Stack them and attach with a small dab of hot glue or double sided strong tape.

Tie on a ribbon and tuck a cinnamon stick inside the ribbon. Make a label or tag to identify the scent.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

When added together the slime will of course change color and texture slightly but it is still really fun to make and work them together to create a new one.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cinnamon, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, slime

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

November 15, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It is the perfect season for a peppermint science experiment. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Besides peppermints are plentiful in the stores and can be found in canes, discs, and even spoon shapes.

This dissolving candy cane experiment is a simple and fun way to demonstrate the process of dissolution.

Dissolution is the process by which a solid substance dissolves into a liquid.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Dissolution is an important process in nature and is responsible for a variety of phenomena, such as the formation of caves and the weathering of rocks.

In this experiment, you will observe how a candy cane dissolves in different liquids over time, record your hypothesis, variables, process, and results in your science notebook.

You can use any shape and size of peppermint candies that you like for your experiment.

But you will want to keep them uniform throughout so that your results are more accurate.

For today’s purpose we used a fun candy cane shape.

Too, I am not just going to show you a single activity and move on.

I have lots of fantastic peppermint science experiment ideas for you as well as some crafts, facts, and videos to make it a fun little unit for you and your child.

5 PEPPERMINT FACTS

  1. Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint and the scientific name for it is Mentha × piperita.
  2. Peppermint grows to a height of 1-3 feet and is native to Europe and Asia but has become cultivated in many parts of the world including North America.
  3. In early history peppermint was mentioned throughout Greek mythology, by Roman philosophers, and Monks in the Middle Ages.
  4. Peppermint is used in a variety of products, including candy, gum, toothpaste, tea, and is also used in traditional and holistic medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as indigestion, nausea, and headaches.
  5. Handmade striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900 while the first machine to make candy canes was invented in 1921 by Brasher O.

PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND ACTIVITIES

  • Candy Canes: How it’s Made shows the process from the first ingredient to the packaging of candy canes.
  • Test out your child’s STEM skills with a Building Peppermint Candy Towers Challenge that encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
  • Prewriting skills are so important and preschoolers love sensory activities, a Peppermint Writing Tray is the perfect fun way to practice letters, numbers, and shapes.
  • Build up the fine motor skills in small growing hands by making and playing with a Peppermint Playdough Recipe to roll, pinch, press, and form.
  • Whether you have tried crystal growing activities or not the Crystal Candy Canes You Can Make
  • The Fizzing Candy Canes Experiment is not only a great science experiment but makes a fun seasonal decoration.
  • For older kids I think these Peppermint Shower Steamers would be a fun and useful hands on science exploration. They can be made to keep or gift to friends and family.
  • While you have candy canes or peppermints on hand make up a batch of Crock Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate to enjoy, cooking is science!
Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Too, look at more candy science.

MORE FUN CANDY SCIENCE

  • Hands-on History: Make Maple Snow Candy – Pioneer Activity
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
  • How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity
  • 5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops
  • Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
  • Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Finally, look at how to do this peppermint science experiment.

PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

The results of the experiment will show which liquid dissolves the candy cane completely the fastest. You can simplify the experiment by simply timing how long it takes for one candy cane to dissolve in water.

You will need:

  • Candy canes
  • Clear glasses
  • Water and at least 3 other liquids
  • Stopwatch or timer
  • Ruler
  • Science notebook
Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

First, have your child make a hypothesis on which liquid they think will melt the candy canes the fastest and record it in their science journal or on a sheet of paper for just this experiment.

Fill the glasses with water, and your other liquids.

Some ideas are milk, vinegar, hot water, cold water, room temperature water, rubbing alcohol, clear soda, oil, etc.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

List each of your liquids in the science journal as well.

Measure the length of the candy cane, record it.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Place each of the  candy canes into different liquids. Make a label for each one so similar ones don’t get confused.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Start the stopwatch or timer.

Observe the candy canes as they dissolve. You will notice almost immediately the red begins to dissolve and your liquid turns pink.

The hot water especially creates changes so quickly.

Every minute or two, measure the length of the candy canes and record your observations.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Continue observing the candy canes until they are completely dissolved. Don’t forget to record your findings.

As the candy canes dissolves, you will observe the following changes:

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment
  • The candy canes will become smaller in size.
  • The water will become colored.
  • The candy canes  will become softer and more pliable.
  • The candy canes will eventually disappear completely.

By varying the conditions of the experiment- using different brands of peppermint, different liquids, and various shapes you can learn more about the process of dissolution and the idea of variables in an experiment.

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

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

November 14, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some inexpensive preschool winter activities and a simple winter busy book. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

When teaching preschoolers about winter it’s important to incorporate hands-on activities.

Even add stories, music, and playing.

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

Play learning is essential for preschoolers.

It allows them to use their imagination and creativity.

And if snow is available, play snowball toss game. Games that require steps nurtures focus and self-regulation.

Too, although I don’t like the word busy book, it does describe activities that enhance eye-hand coordination.

WINTER BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL

Next, look at these fun books about winter.

W is for Winter Preschool Theme

Teach your child the sound of the Letter W and add in these fun books and resources about winter.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow. Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

The Snowy Day

The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal - winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child’s bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season.

Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”. Hilarity chills the air with playful mixed-media illustrations by Stephen Gilpin as Sneezy attempts to warm himself with some silly results.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow!

The old lady is swallowing everything from snow to a pipe, some coal, a hat, and more! With rollicking, rhyming text and funny illustrations, this lively version will appeal to young readers with every turn of the page. And this time, there's a surprise at the end no reader will be able to guess!

Also, look at the benefits of busy books.

8 BENEFITS OF BUSY BOOKS

  1. It encourages independent play.
  2. Puzzles, sorting tasks, or cause-and-effect activities encourage children to think critically.
  3. Open-ended activities like drawing sections give preschoolers a chance to create.
  4. One of the best reasons to use them is that they lay the foundation for early literacy skills.
  5. For example, tracing letters and recognizing numbers keeps learning hands-on.
  6. By exploring emotions helps preschoolers develop sympathy.
  7. And busy books are great alternatives to digital tablets. Limit screen time with hands-on learning.
  8. Cutting and gluing strengthens fine motor skills.
Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

Additionally, look at these preschool winter activities.

PRESCHOOL WINTER ACTIVITIES

  • How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers
  • Hot Cocoa Craft Preschool | How to Make a Cocoa Name Craft
  • Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert
  • Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity

Next, look at this simple winter busy book.

ABOUT THE WINTER BUSY BOOK

This is a 45 page .pdf download.

It covers the following skills.

  • Match the months
  • Spell winter
  • Sequence puzzles
  • Picture puzzle
  • Count and match
  • Match the pair
  • Match the letters
  • Sort by size
  • Trace the letters
  • Match opposites
  • Polar animals
  • Northern lights
  • Fun in the winter
  • In the winter I wear
  • Counting snowglobes
  • Matching emotions
  • Penguin shapes
  • Match halves
  • Match the pattern
  • Match by color
  • Match the shadows

It has 29 pages of activities and 15 pages of cut-out.

For example, print the 29 pages and place them in a small binder.

Then print the cut out pages.

Have your child cut and glue the cutout on the correct activity.

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

By keeping the busy book in a binder, your child can return to it again to play and learn.

HOW TO GET THE WINTER BUSY BOOK

You can get it now!

Important: READ THIS FIRST.
Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.

• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar.
• Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later,etc.
• The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.
• Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com (of course substitute the right symbol for dot) in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam.

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. Also, you can email me at my personal email tinahomeschools at gmail dot com.

  • Dynamic Simple Winter Busy Book For Kids Who Love Learning

    Dynamic Simple Winter Busy Book For Kids Who Love Learning

    $3.75
    Add to cart

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

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

November 13, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I like to find unusual homeschool history ideas to mix up everyday topics and studying the history of henna in India fits the bill.

Henna is a special plant that grows in hot, dry places like India.

Leaves are dried and turned into powder. Then the powder is mixed with water to create a paste.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

This paste is used to create beautiful designs on the skin.

In India, henna is a big part of celebrations like weddings and festivals.

People decorate their hands and feet with intricate patterns, and it’s a fun way to express their creativity.

But it is more than just a decoration; it’s a symbol of joy, celebration, and cultural heritage in India.

It’s a beautiful way to connect with tradition and add a touch of color to special occasions.

Beyond henna, let’s dive into the Taj Mahal that is over 400 years old, some traditional Indian foods, crafts highlighting the amazing animals of the country, and more.

Of course I have plenty of facts, hands-on ideas,  books, and more to help you create a wonderful unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT OR SET IN INDIA FOR KIDS

Next, living books bring to life the period or area we’re studying about.

When I can find them, I list them. Then add reference books too.

11 Books About or Set in India for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.

The Lost Kingdom

Thirteen-year-old Rodmika is well acquainted with the crystal-clear rivers and tangled vines of the Green Jungle. So when his family moves to the other side of the jungle, leaving behind his chance for an education, Rodmika is perfectly suited to find a way to return. As Rodmika searches for a way back to the place of his schooling, he uncovers much more than a path.Set against the backdrop of a lush, untamed Indian rainforest, The Lost Kingdom weaves adventure and mystery into a thrilling tale that will resonate with readers who have a love for exploration and excitement.

Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

A vibrant collection of Indian myths and legends illustrated in beautiful watercolors and told by one of India's sparkling personalities, Madhur Jaffrey.Seasons of Splendour is a richly illustrated treasury of stories about Indian gods and goddesses, kings and queens, princes and demons. Here are engaging and beautifully told tales of Krishna, Ram, and Sita, along with stories based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as others of ancient origin with no known source. When Madhur Jaffrey was a young girl growing up in her grandfather’s house in Delhi, storytelling was an integral part of life. After dinner, she would huddle with her cousins and siblings around a seated aunt, grandmother, or mother and listen.

Burying the Moon

In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty.

No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village. 

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the tale of a courageous young mongoose who saves a boy and his family from the evil snakes lurking in the garden.

Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty.

Malgudi Days

Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

Tiger Boy

"One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!"When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel's island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub's anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching--he wants to sell the cub's body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel's preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn't mind--he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.

Boys without Names

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.

Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition? 

Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.

India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

Kids love learning about food, they need to learn their ABC's, and this mouth-watering alphabet book covers both in the most delicious way! From spicy achaar to sweet zafrani pulao, flip through food from every corner of India, for all kinds of occasions.

Where Is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal may look like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields. When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound visitors today.

Next, learn about henna.

  1. Henna is derived from the henna plant Lawsonia inermis. It is a natural dye that has been used in India and other parts of the world for centuries. The henna plant is a small shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The plant cultivated for its leaves, which are dried and ground into a fine powder.
  2. Henna is traditionally applied to the hands and feet of brides and grooms during Indian wedding ceremonies. It is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the couple. The intricate designs created with henna are often passed down through generations and hold deep cultural significance.
  3. Paste is applied to the skin using a cone and left on for several hours. Once the paste is dry, it is then peeled off leaving behind the beautiful orange or brown design on the skin.
  4. Henna is also used in India for its cooling properties and stress-relieving effects. Henna paste is believed to have a calming effect on the body and mind, and it is often applied to the forehead during meditation or relaxation practices.
  5. Henna is a versatile plant with various uses beyond body art. The leaves of the henna plant have medicinal properties. They are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as skin conditions and headaches.
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

In addition, look at more homeschool history ideas.

INDIA HOMESCHOOL HISTORY IDEAS

  • Find India on a map or globe, then locate the capital, New Delhi.
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India
  • Art Around the World: India (Taj Mahal Bleeding Tissue Paper Art)
  • Create beautiful Paper Plate Dandiya Dolls that display the clothing used in the traditional Indian folk dance.
  • Watch India: The Harappans – Ancient World History for Kids! To learn more about the people of the Indus Valley and more.
  • Take a trip to a local Indian restaurant and try a unique dish or two like centuries old Khichuri, a dish made of rice, moong lentils, ghee (clarified butter), cumin seeds, ginger and asafoetida.
  • Celebrate the National Bird of India with this fun and simple How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock.

ASIA ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • 5 Asia Activities For Kids & Free Color by Number Camel
  • Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Finally, look at how to make this fun Indian handprint henna craft.

INDIA HANDPRINT HENNA CRAFT

This is really a fun hands-on activity for the whole family and is a great way to build fine motor skills and spend some time in a calming activity as you create intricate designs on the hand.

You will need:

  • Cardstock/construction paper
  • Brown fine line pens/markers
  • A willing hand
  • Scissors
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Trace the entire hand and include the wrist and some of the arm with a pencil, give yourself as much canvas to work on as possible.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Cut out around the outline of the hand carefully.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Use fine line pens or markers to create designs.

Take your time creating intricate designs on the hand, wrist, and fingers. Look to Google for some beautiful design inspiration.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

The more small and detailed design you create the more amazing the final outcome will be.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

If you want to test out henna designs on your actual hand you can grab a tattoo kit.

Look at this Body Mark Temporary Tattoo Markers for Skin, Henna Vibes, Flexible Brush Tip, 3-Count to try out your own designs on the skin.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, India

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

November 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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We are exploring a variety of Seneca tribe crafts as we learn more about how and where they lived. You’ll also love my page Native American Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning.

We’re learning the beautiful handiwork they created and who they were as people.

The Seneca are a Native American people originally based in present-day New York State and northern Pennsylvania.

They are one of the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. And are known as the “Keepers of the Western Door.”

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

They were known as skilled warriors, diplomats and extensive trade network.

Also, for their matrilineal society, Iroquois Confederacy leadership, and agriculture of corn, beans, and squash.

In addition, they are also known for their beautiful art of quillwork and beadwork.

These skills were often applied to an important aspect of daily life – footwear, moccasins to be precise.

Moccasins were a traditional footwear worn by Native Americans.

When they wore out, they were able to quickly and easily make another pair from a single piece of buckskin.

The Seneca wore moccasins to protect their feet from the cold and wet weather, for comfort- moccasins allowed the wearer to still feel the ground.

Moccasins are part of their traditional Seneca outfit, which also included leggings, beaded skirts, and decorated overdresses. 

They were also worn simply for style to show which community they belonged to; the distinctive styles would identify the wearer’s community.

We are going to do something very similar to what we learn about them but with much easier to acquire craft felt and some beads.

If you have smaller children, you should be able to make a pair of moccasins with two pieces of 12×18 felt.

If you are making them with middle or high school students you will want to purchase a large piece by the yard to be sure you have enough fabric.

BOOKS ABOUT THE SENECA FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about the Seneca.

5 Seneca Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Grab some of these books about the Seneca to add to your reading list or to a unit study.

Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison

In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenski reconstructs the real-life story of Mary Jemison, who was captured in a raid as young girl and raised among the Seneca Indians.

Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this Newbery Honor novel is an unforgettable tale.

Twelve-year-old Mary Jemison took for granted her peaceful days on her family's farm in eastern Pennsylvania. But on a spring day in 1758, something happened that changed her life forever.

When a band of warriors invades the Jemisons' house and takes the family captive, Mary is separated from her parents and siblings. She travels with the Indians to southern Ohio and later to a Seneca village on the Genesee River in
what is now western New York.

Muskrat Will Be Swimming

Although Jeannie loves her lakeside neighborhood, her feelings are hurt by her schoolmates who live in fancier homes and call her a Lake Rat.

When she confides her troubles to her grandfather, he tells her about his own childhood experiences with teasing. As the story unfolds, the grandfather shares a traditional Seneca story that helps Jeannie to find strength in her Native identity and a new appreciation for the different roles that animals play in nature. This is a quiet book that celebrates family and place and the teachings of Native people. Muskrat Will Be Swimming is based on a real incident in Cheryl Savageau's life.

Land of the Senecas

This classic work of local history tells the story of the Seneca people of western New York, from their ancient origins to the present day. Arch Merrill's engaging prose and vivid descriptions of Seneca life, culture, and traditions make this book an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of upstate New York and its Native American peoples.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

Red Jacket: Seneca Chief

This is the story of the famous and controversial Seneca chief and orator Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha, ca. 1750–1830), whose passionate and articulate defense of the old ways won the admiration of many but also earned him the enmity of Chiefs Joseph Brant and Cornplanter. Red Jacket received a medal from George Washington as a token of friendship. He is remembered as a vocal and persistent opponent of foreign encroachment on the Iroquois, protesting bitterly against the sale of tribal lands and involvement in European-American disputes, missionary activities, and various efforts to “civilize” the Iroquois.

Turtle's Race with Beaver

Turtle lives in a beautiful little pond with everything a happy turtle needs. But one spring, Turtle awakes from hibernation to discover that her lovely home has been invaded! A pushy beaver takes over Turtle's beloved pond and refuses to share. Instead, he challenges her to a race to determine who can stay. But how can a little turtle outswim a big, powerful beaver? This charming fable of brains versus brawn is a great read for all the young readers in the forest to share!

Next, look at these facts about the Seneca.

WHO WERE THE SENECA TRIBE?

The Seneca have a long and rich history dating back thousands of years.

They were originally semi-nomadic people who lived in longhouses and relied on hunting, fishing, and agriculture for sustenance.

In the 16th century, the Seneca encountered European settlers and began to trade with them for goods such as metal tools and guns.

The Seneca have a vibrant culture that is rich in tradition and spirituality. 

The Seneca people have a strong oral tradition. Many stories and legends have been passed down through generations.

Today, the Seneca people live on several reservations in New York and Pennsylvania.

The tribe is federally recognized. The Seneca have their own government and laws.

The Seneca continue to maintain their traditional culture and way of life while also adapting to the modern world.

FAMOUS SENECA PEOPLE

  • Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010): A Cherokee-Seneca activist and politician who served as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
  • Red Jacket (1758-1830): A Seneca war chief and orator who was a prominent figure in the War of 1812.
  • Ely S. Parker (1828-1895): A Seneca engineer and military officer who served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs under President Ulysses S. Grant.
  • Jim Thorpe (1888-1953): A Seneca athlete who is considered one of the greatest all-around athletes of all time.

SENECA TRIBE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

  • The Iroquois Confederacy was made up of  the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes. Look at How To Make a 5 Arrows Craft the symbol of their unity.
  • Here is my Native American Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning to dive deeper into the different tribes.
  • Try this simple but beautiful Quillwork Inspired Craft as you study about this handcraft.
  • French And Indian War Activity: How To Make An Iroquois Longhouse, the Seneca people lived in Longhouses rather than teepees.
  • Here you will find recipes highlighting one of the 3 Sisters(corn of the corn, beans, and squash) hominy, corn muffins, and corn soup. Cooking is a wonderful hands-on activity.
  • No Sew Quiver and Macrame Arrows

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

HOW TO MAKE EASY MOCCASINS

You will need:

  • Two large pieces of felt
  • Suede cording
  • Beads
  • Needle and thread
  • Paper and a pencil
The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

First, trace your child’s foot on a piece of white paper.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Cut out the outline and center it on a piece of felt so that you have a good 5”-6” on either side, and several inches at both heel and toe.

Cut around the foot not quite halfway around leaving about 2” of excess felt around it.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Flip the template over and repeat for the second moccasin.

Fold the shape in half and “measure” to the foot, as you wrap it around you will see where you need to trim some down but leave enough to cover with a ½” seam allowance.

 Sew ¼” in up the back and all the way around, leaving the “ankle” portion unsewn.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Turn the sewn boot inside out. The stitches are now hidden on the inside.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Cut a fringe all along the ankle section like this.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Fold the fringe down.

Cut two small holes on either side of the top portion of the shoe for laces and thread cording or ribbon through them.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Finally add beads to the ends of the cording and tie it off.

The Art of Seneca Tribe Crafts: How to Make Easy Moccasins

Slip on your handmade moccasins and enjoy your handiwork.

If you are worried about them being too slippery on hardwood floors just run a few lines of hot glue along the bottoms.

Allow them to harden, this will create a gripping effect.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, Native Americans, nativeamerican, nativeamericans, Seneca

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