Tina Robertson

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

November 27, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have an Ancient Egypt diy mummification process game. You’ll love the other History Games I have on my page.

If you are studying Ancient Egypt and need a great hands-on activity to help teach your child you’ll love this mummification process game.

Yes, we made a game for that.

Games are an incredible way to learn something new.

Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game

And games reinforce a topic that you are learning.

Now, I’ve bought all kinds of ready-made games.

However, creating your own game from the ground up and including your child in the process is the best way to learn.

I came up with this game that doesn’t require any special items and let’s your child be in charge of the game creation.

Creating the game will help the facts that they learn stick in their head better.

Benefits of Game Playing

Also, it will help teach your children research skills and give them a sense of pride in accomplishment.

I wanted to be sure it included more than just the history of this Ancient Egyptian ritual.

For younger children rolling and adding dice is a simple way to also incorporate math into your day.

They will learn or reinforce anatomy lessons through the anatomy drawings and labels.

I created a printable with the basic rules and values for the dice numbers rolled.

Creating the game requires reading, writing, and art skills

Before you begin use videos, resources, and books from your personal collection or borrow them from library to learn about the mummification process.

Fun Ancient Egypt Resources

This will make creating the cards much easier and give your child an understanding of the why.

Here are a few resources and activities that you might enjoy along with this diy mummification process game.

Inside Out Egyptian Mummy

These Toob Organs are a great teaching tool not only for anatomy but here in Ancient Egypt Studies. Also, they can be used for inspiration when drawing the organ cards. We have also used them in making large canopic jars as well.

There is also the Ancient Egypt Toob that can be used for art inspiration, sensory bins, dioramas, and so much more.

Let each child be responsible for creating their own set of cards for when you play

More Fun History Games Resources

Look at them below.

Depending on their age and ability level they may create the entire card on their own or may need some assistance.

They will be tickled with their own contributions to the game.

You don’t need anything other than the cards and dice but the props sure are fun to set the

How to Make a Mummification Process Game

Here is what you will need:

White cardstock
Colored cardstock
Paper slicer
Glue stick or double sided tape
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
2 dice

First, cut white cardstock into 3 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles. You will need 9 for each player.

Then cut 9 of one colored cardstock for each child to 3 ¾ ” x 4 ¾”.

Write or instruct your child to write one of each of these phrases on the top of each of the 9 cards:

1-Wash body and remove organs
2-Remove brain through the nose
3-Place lungs in canopic jar
4-Place intestines in canopic jar
5-Place stomach in canopic jar
6-Place liver in canopic jar
7-Fill body and cover with salt for 40 days
8-Wrap body in linen bandages
9-Place body in sarcophagus

Next, encourage them to draw something to represent each of these steps.

I encourage a bit of silliness if it has something to do with what they are trying to accomplish for the step.

Use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or whatever they like to make it fun and colorful.

Here is a look at some more of the cards we created.

Glue the white completed cards to the colored cardstock to make it a bit sturdier.

Write the step numbers on the back of each card so they can easily be lined up for play face down.

Below is a printable with the rules and the assigned “value” for each dice combination.

You can choose to roll one or two dice depending on which numbers you need.

For instance, if all you are missing is a #1 you would want to roll only once die to attempt to get the number you need.

How to Get the Free Printable Rules

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Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium

November 26, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for rainforest science activities for kindergarten, you’ll love this living terrarium craft. Look for my other kindergarten tips and crafts on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Amazon and Rainforest Activities for Kids.

Are you learning all about the beautiful and fascinating rainforest habitat?

You can have your child make a diorama the old-fashioned way or try something new and end up with a beautiful living decor piece.

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium

This living rainforest diorama terrarium can be a great hands-on way to teach your child about the animals and plants of the rainforest and a lesson on self-sustaining environments.

This mini ecosystem becomes a self-sustaining environment with living plants once the lid is closed.

And it is a beautiful addition to your homeschool or living room. Add this idea to your rainforest science activities for kindergarten.

Nature Book

Also, I wanted to share this beautiful resource I found with you that is perfect for adding some botany into your studies.

Botanicum is an oversized book which has gorgeous illustrations that look like vintage museum prints.

There is a good section with information on rainforests including tropical trees and plants

Also, beautiful, detailed pictures that are great for tracing or using as inspiration to draw your own.

Also, here are some rainforest facts.

Rainforest Facts

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest.
In addition, there are two types of rainforests- tropical and temperate.
The average temperature in the rainforest is 82℉.
6% of the earth is covered by rainforests.
More than ⅔ of the world’s plant and animal species live here.
It can take all the way up to 10 minutes for a raindrop to fall to the ground because of the thick canopy cover of the trees that slows it down.
25% of medicines in production come from the rainforest regions.
The rainforest contains over two million types of insects!
Most animals and plants live in the canopy area of the rainforest.

And the rainforest is made up of 4 different layers:

The dark, damp Forest floor.
The Understory, the part that makes up the shorter tree space between the canopy and the forest floor.
The Canopy, the lush thicker tree filled area where most animals live.
The Emergent Layer, the thick treetops that stretch up into the open air.

Other Kindergarten Resources

Too, be sure to not miss these other homeschool kindergarten resources.

Additionally, you love some more rainforest activities.

You’ll love all the Amazon Rainforest resources.

More Amazon Rainforest Activities

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten
Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids
These slithering Paper Chain Pythons.
The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest
An adorable Paper plate Sloth.
Plants and Animals in the Tropical Rainforest cards make a great resource.
Fun Pineapple Candle
100+ Best and Free Tropical Amazon Rainforest Educators Resources

Now, let’s dive into making this amazing living terrarium.

How to Make a Rainforest Living Terrarium

First, you will need the following items.

Potting soil
A large sealing glass jar, a gallon size is perfect.

Small succulents-real or faux
Other small tropical plants
Small rocks or pebbles
Rainforest animals

Moss. I used dried moss from Dollar Tree and you can include live moss on the forest floor if you have some.
Sticks or small limbs from the yard
Hot glue gun/glue sticks
White labels

Then, here are the directions.

Add a 1” -2” layer of small rocks or pebbles carefully to the bottom of the jar, this will help with drainage.

Next, place 2” of potting soil on top of the rocks.

Before planting the succulents spritz them well with water or give them a good dunk under water.

Now you can use real or fake succulents if you don’t want to keep up with watering but the care for succulents is minimal.

And once established, they need little care.

Plant your succulents and spread around the jar. We used a mix of real and fake succulents to fill the space.

Now to create the tall full lush trees we used some sticks we gathered from the yard.

Break them down to size so that they fit a couple inches below the lid once pressed into the dirt.

Make your trees by putting hot glue all around on the top of the stick.

Then, roll it around and press it into the moss.

Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten

You may repeat this step to fill in your tree as full as you would like.

Don’t forget to add some to your lower branches if your tree has them.

Once the glue has hardened you can press them down into the soil and rocks.

Finally, add in some rainforest creatures to live in your habitat.

Additionally, these toob animals come in handy for so many projects. Try to spread them out among the 4 different layers.

Spritz everything well and close up the lid.

Now your habitat is also a fantastic demonstration on the water cycle as moisture will form on the inside and on the plants.

That moisture will drip down and water the soil.

The cycle will repeat itself over and over. It is good to open the lid once a month for a few minutes and allow the plants to get fresh air.

Now, to learn a bit about the 4 layers -use a white label to write the 4 layers that make up the rainforest- The Emergent Layer, Canopy, Understory and Forest floor.

Have your child place them in the correct place on the side of the jar to label each one.

Your terrarium just needs indirect sunlight and do not place directly in the sun.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

November 25, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is National Native American Heritage Day and we’re making a fun Iroquois bracelet. Add this to my Iroquois lapbook for an amazing unit study.

When studying the Iroquois, you can’t forget the beautiful beadwork that was so important to the culture for many reasons.

National Native American Heritage Day Make a Fun Kids Iroquois Bracelet

Additionally, wampum belts were worn for ornamental, ceremonial, diplomatic and commercial purposes.

They were made to identify agreements and treaties between peoples.

For example, like between the Haudenosaunee and newcomers to North America.

Also, they were used as currency between tribes and the colonists.

We are going to take some liberties and use regular beads to work on fine motor skills with some simple coloring in squares and bead stringing.

Adding in some Native American history we’ll create simple a beadwork bracelet and have fun in the process.

While there are more complex weaving patterns for the wampum, this simple tutorial makes it easy for anyone to create.

Books About the Iroquois

Grab a few books from your library or pick up a couple that I have linked below to learn a little more about the Iroquois and the importance of wampum.

5 Books About the Iroquois

Learn about how the Iroquois lived.

The Iroquois (A True Book: American Indians)

A True Book: American Indian series allows readers to experience what makes each American Indian people distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each tribes culture, influence and history

Hiawatha: Founder of the Iroquois Confederacy (North American Indians of Achievement)

Examines the life and career of the fifteenth-century Iroquois Indian.

The Iroquois: The Six Nations Confederacy (American Indian Nations)

The Iroquois have lived in what is now upper New York State and Ontario, Canada, for more than 4,000 years. In the 12th century, a man of their tribe called the Peacemaker convinced the five other nearby tribes - the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca - to work together with the Iroquois in a peaceful confederacy.

Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children (Keepers of the Earth)

These traditional Native American stories along with related activities show parents and teachers how to teach children the importance of wildlife in Native American traditions. As the stories unfold and the activities come to life, the importance of our connections to animals became apparent.Features traditional Native American stories.Includes field-tested activities appropriate for all ages.Connects wildlife ecology and environmental issues.Fosters creative thinking and the synthesis of knowledge and experience.The stories in this book present some of the basic perspectives that Native North American parents, aunts and uncles use to teach the young. They are phrased in terms that modern youngsters can understand and appreciate, along with eye-catching illustrations and photographs throughout.

Children of the Longhouse

When Ohkwa'ri overhears a group of older boys planning a raid on a neighboring village, he immediately tells his Mohawk elders. He has done the right thing—but he has also made enemies.

Then look at some facts below.

Interesting Iroquois Facts

They were originally Five Nations that made up the Iroquois people- Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca. Later the Tuscarora joined.
There was a trail that connected the Five Nations that make up the Iroquois, it was called the Iroquois Trail.
The Iroquois Great Council still meets today.
Wampum Is a shortened version of wampumpeag, which is derived from the Narragansett word meaning “white strings of shell beads. They were tubular beads made from seashells on the coast and were most often the white shells from the whelk shell and purple from the quahog clam shell.
The main homeland of the Iroquois was in what is now New York State. They were also spread across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quebec and Ontario.
Up to 60 people would live in a single longhouse.
The Iroquois slept on raised platforms.
Besides the animals that they hunted, they mainly ate corn, beans and squash, named the Three Sisters.
Men of the Iroquois hunted and fished, were the traders and fighters. And the women took care of farmed, gathered and processed food, raised the children, and took care of the housekeeping.
The Iroquois moved to a new settlement near water every 10-30 years because the soil lost its nutrients and the animal and fish population declined from use.

Also, I have these other resources.

Finally, look at these Iroquois resources below.

More Iroquois Resources

First, learn about the Confederacy here.
Then, grab my free Iroquois lapbook here.
Watch YouTube for Iroquois Haudenosaunee Long House Crafts for Kids
Iroquois Diorama

In addition, look below at how to make a Native American wampum bracelet.

How to Make a Native American Wampum Bracelet

Next, you will need:

Colorful beads
Pipe cleaners/chenille stems
Graph paper
Markers in the same colors as the beads you use.
Small piece of cardboard
scissors

The number of beads you will need will depend on the length you want it and the size of the beads you choose.

First, determine how long you want the bracelet to be.

Line up beads along the length of the pipe cleaner to designate the length and this will help you decide how many you need for one row to determine the pattern in the next step.

You want to make it large enough that it can slide on and off without opening.

Decide on a pattern you would like to use, you can keep it simple and just alternate 2 to 3 colors, or a simple shape.

Mark it on a sheet of graph paper by coloring in each of the squares to represent the bead color you will use. For a bracelet 3 to 4 lines tall is perfect.

Next, cut a piece of cardboard a little shorter than the pipe cleaners and about 4”- 5” wide.

Cut slits in one end ¼” apart.

Place pipe cleaners on cardboard, press them through the slits and bend a small amount of one end over the back

Follow the pattern.

Put either one pipe cleaner at a time or across from one side to the other to replicate the pattern you created on paper.

Once all your beads are in place, remove the strands and twist one end together tightly without moving all the strands.

On the opposite end of the bracelet twist the ends together around one strand leaving it longer than the others.

Bend into a bracelet shape and wrap the longer strand from the end around the other piece to close it off.

Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers

November 24, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for winter craft ideas for a winter season unit study, your kids will love these fun pinecone flowers.

These pinecone flowers are adorable and add a sweet touch to your table or bookshelf.

Creating an entire bouquet is a great way to fill a chilly fall or winter afternoon with your nature lover.

Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pine Cone Flowers

I just love the mix of the natural and the handmade.

This activity can be done as a standalone or as part of a tree or pinecone unit study.

All you need to do is gather up some pinecones from the yard and a handful of small sturdy twigs and you are ready to get to creating a beautiful bouquet.

Favorite Nature Winter Craft Ideas

If you want to include this craft as part of a unit on pinecones or trees in general here are some of my favorite resources for nature study.

The Nature Anatomy book is always a goldmine of information.

There are plenty of pages on bark, leaves, pinecones, tree rings, etc.

Another great pinecone activity is this Easy and Fun PineCone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten.

This is a cute and well done Pinecone Unit Study that you can do.
Nature lovers should have a copy of Peterson First Guides Trees on hand. This is a great reference for home or to pack for nature walks.

Safari LTD Trees Toobs are great as a reference especially trees you might not see in person but they can also be used for dioramas and sensory bins.

Finally, explore this simple activity: Why Do Pinecones Open and Close While you have pinecones gather up.

Pinecone Facts

Also, here are a few pinecone facts.

The main purpose of a pinecone is to keep the tree’s seeds safe.
The inner bark can be sliced and fried, it is a good emergency food option.
Pinecones can stay on pine trees for more than 10 years before falling to the ground.
The large pinecones you see are the female pinecones.
Pinecones are the official Maine state flower.
Pine nuts can be used in coffee, jam, tea, and seasoning.
Pinecones are a natural barometer for predicting severe winters and forest fires. A pinecone on the forest ground is an indication of moisture and could mean a wildfire risk. The closed scales on a pinecone indicate damp conditions while open scales mean the forest floor is dry.
Pine, spruce, firs, cedars, larches, hemlocks, yews, etc. are all conifers and produce cones, but pinecones only come from pine trees.
The reason that pinecones close their scales is to protect the seeds from cold temperatures and the wind.

Other Winter Craft Ideas

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

Now, look at how to make these fun pinecone flowers.

How to Make Pinecone Flowers

You will need:

Pinecones
Sticks
Craft paint
Paintbrushes
Toilet paper rolls
Pruning shears/cutters
Hot glue gun/sticks

Go on a nice leisurely nature walk and gather pinecones and twigs.

If you can’t find any in your area, they are easily found at craft stores in bags.

Clean the pinecones with soap and water to remove dirt, bugs and loose pieces.

Allow to dry completely. Use pruning shears or loppers to cut pinecones into about 3 pieces. Pull off loose leaves.

Cut empty toilet rolls into rings and use them to prop up your pinecones.

This will help them dry quicker from underneath.

Paint pinecones completely inside and out, top and bottom and allow them to dry.

Repeat with a second coat to get nice coverage, allowing it to dry completely.

If you like, add dots of yellow paint to the center to create the center of the flower the pistil.

Once all the paint is completely dry choose a twig to fit with the size of your pinecone and attach it to the bottom with a generous amount of hot glue.

You will need to hold each one in place while the hot glue cools and hardens. Repeat for each flower.

Once all stems have been added you can arrange them in a simple jar or lay them on shelves to brighten up your home.

Day 25 Homeschool High School And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

November 23, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 25 homeschool high school. You’ll find the other tips on 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Quite a few years back in my humble homeschool beginnings my best friend and I went to a convention.

We paraded right to the very front row of a workshop about homeschool high school.

It was one of our first homeschool conventions.

Sitting happily, we were hoping as if by osmosis that we could devour every seasoned veteran’s experiences about high school.

Day 25 Homeschool High School And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Then we both realized as the speaker started to talk that no bolt from the heavens would come down and infuse us instantly with high school expertness.

Bewilderment turned to plain anxiety when the speaker asks that parents of 14 and 15 year old kids come to the front row now so that he could assist them with the other parents presently sitting there.

A graceful and fast exit we tried to make as we had determined that we could not find a teen among our 3 year old and 5 year old.

Homeschool High School

I still get a huge chuckle today when I think about this, but it also reminds me of the deep-seated fear that I had of the high school years.

I agree with Sir Frances Bacon when he said: “Knowledge is Power” and especially when it comes to homeschooling in high school.

Knowledge is acquired over time so that it becomes of value and you will acquire it too.

3 Tips to Homeschool High School

Instead of focusing on exactly how you are going to do it, focus on foundational pegs that will keep you moving to homeschooling while in high school.

Here are some foundational pegs to take notice of:

1. Homeschool High school is Just A Continuation of Education.

Keep in mind that you still ARE the best teacher whether you arrive at highs chool after many years of homeschooling or whether your teen has just left high school.

Highschool is a readiness program for adulthood. You as the parent are the one most qualified to do that.

Focus on the 3 R’s and on creating a unique experience for your teen by pinpointing subjects that he will need.

I heart this motto and have kept it in mind as I planned courses for Mr. Senior 2013 and now planning for Mr. Awesome: “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else” by Judy Garland. How VERY true in high school.

2. Plan Backwards by Looking Forward.

Plan for life after high school by looking forward and working your way back for courses to fulfill.

If your child is college bound, then take time now while they are a teen to find out what the requirements are for college and adjust your transcript accordingly.

Not all highschoolers are college bound, but may prefer a vocational school or missionary service.

You still need to look forward at the requirements and work on those over the teen’s course of middle school and high school.

Learning to weed out knowledge or courses that are not relevant to your final goal should be accomplished during high school.

In other words, high school is not the time for busy work, but rather for subjects that will help your teen reach his goals.

3. Your Hat Changes from Teacher to Supervisor.

A few parents may yammer at the thought of given their child the teacher’s manual, but that IS part of homeschool high school.

However, how can they teach themselves if they don’t have access to it?

Sure, in the beginning a teen just out of high school may use it to find answers.

Then again that is all he may have been taught from his previous educational experience.

When he realizes that he actually needs to learn the subject, he builds an appreciation for learning.

He sees that you have placed confidence in him and that he needs to take his learning seriously.

Both of my older boys work their problems, then look at the teacher’s manual. However, I check their work by having them tell me at ANY given time what they know.

That is mastery of learning and the teacher’s manual becomes a tool.

Homeschool High School Tip

Resorting back to the teacher’s hat too during the high school years is common too.

It may sound absurd when I say you actually need to homeschool until 12th grade, but it is very true.

It is the manner in how you homeschool a young adult that will change.

They need your guidance and patience.

Whether they apply for colleges, look for part time work, look at missionary work or take care of their first car, your teens need you.

There is life after graduation and high school is just a continuation of the journey.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

Day 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.