Tina Robertson

Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy

November 17, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for Egypt crafts for kindergarten, you’ll love this kid sized mummy. Grab my other craft ideas on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

Here is a fun hands-on way to teach younger children about Egyptian mummies.

This activity literally puts them in the middle of it and they are able to complete it mostly on their own from start to finish.

Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy

Those types of activities have a lot of value for learning as well as enjoyment.

Also, add in a few Ancient Egypt activities to make your day a fun learning day.

More Egyptian Crafts for Kindergarten

Apple Mummies teach the drying process of mummification.
Learn about another step in the mummification process and make Canopic Jars
Make a beautiful Cleopatra Collar and Cuffs to wear.
Continue learning about mummies with these adorable Mummy Rocks.
These Pipe Cleaner Wrapped Mummies would also make great pointers for new readers.
Ancient Egypt for Kids from Homeschool Pop is about 7 minutes long.

Make a fun mini sensory bin to explore more.

I have some great figures below that would go perfectly with this activity.

Then, below are some facts for you to share with your eager learner.

Fun Egyptian Facts

What is a mummy? The body of a person that has been preserved after death.
Why did Egyptians make mummies? They believed that preserved bodies could be used in the afterlife.
Was everyone made into a mummy? No, just those who were rich and could afford it.
Who did Egyptians believe was the god of mummification? Anubis with a human body and the head of a jackal was the god of mummification.
Were mummies buried with anything else? Yes. Often they were often buried with personal items, games, food, and more so they could use them in the afterlife.
Where were the mummies placed? In a Sarcophagus, which is an elaborate stone coffin.
Do people still make mummies today? Mummification is not very common but there are a few places that still practice it like Papua New Guinea.

Also, add in more kindergarten learning ideas below.

Other Tips and Crafts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look at these hands-on ideas.

Ancient Egypt Toobs are perfect for sensory bins.
And how fun is this excavation dig for finding ancient treasures?
Who Was King Tut from the Who Was Series can make for great reading aloud for a younger child instead of a textbook.
Unwrap a mummy with the Inside out Egyptian Mummy book.
Excavation Dig Kit for Kids Egyptian Mummy
Who Was King Tut?
Inside Out Egyptian Mummy: Unwrap an Egyptian mummy layer by layer!

In addition, you can grab a roll of shipping paper at Dollar Tree (well the $1.25 Tree now) as well as a 4 pack of toilet paper and the paper plates to complete this project with plenty left over to spare for other crafts.

All three come in handy for many things so it is totally worth the few dollars investment to have them on hand.

How to Make a Kid Sized Mummy

You will need:

An excited little learner
Brown roll of paper
Toilet paper, crepe paper, or torn copy paper
2 paper plates
Gold paint
Scissors
Markers

Roll out your brown paper as long as your child and trace around them with pencil.

If you have more than one child you might let them take turns tracing one another.

Darken the lines with a black sharpie marker so that it is easier to cut around the lines later on.

Have your child brush glue all over one section of the outline.

It’s okay if they go over the lines, this will be cut out later.

Have them press pieces of toilet paper all over the glue, pressing in well.

Tear off different lengths of squares from 1 piece to longer strings of 5 or 6 with your child to cover different areas.

Again don’t worry if it overlaps the outline.

Repeat the glue and papering process until it is completely covered.

They can put on one layer or more, just keep adding glue.

Allow your “wrapped” mummy to dry.

While you are waiting for it to dry completely, cut the center out of one paper plate and cut out the curved strips of the ruffled edges.

Paint one paper plate gold all over as well as the two strips you made.

Let the gold paint dry.

When dry, have your child draw on the death mask details with a marker or paint pen.

Add the two strips underneath the sides of the full plate and let them hang down, glue in place.

Cut out your completely dried mummy or let your child cut it out on their own.

Apply a mask over mummy’s face.

Your child’s mummy is all ready to go on display.

Day 24 Finding homeschool Curriculum For Unique Learners And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

November 16, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 24 finding homeschool curriculum for unique learners. You’ll find the other tips for this new to homeschool boot camp on 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

When I first started leading classes for new homeschoolers, I thought the most challenging parents I had to help were those with triplets.

Then, numerous parents who are homeschooling children with special needs or unique learners entered my workshops throughout the years.

My journey of understanding their needs began because I do not have a special needs child.

Day 24 Finding homeschool Curriculum For Unique Learners And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

How would it be possible to help somebody if I didn’t have a child with special needs? I did have one child with speech delay so I could sympathize, but it is still not the same.

By helping families that have children with ADHD, dyslexia, processing disorders or autism, I learned that these parents have to be the best advocate for their children.

There is no way another person can fully appreciate what a parent goes through that has a unique learner.

These parents seem to find an inner strength that I admire.

They share with me how their special needs child slapped them in the face because the child didn’t know how to deal with feelings of frustration.

They find a way each day to look past those types of things and go on.

Parents with unique learners are the backbone of the homeschool community.

They know the traditional way of learning in a classroom will not meet the needs of their children, most of whom are very bright.

5 Sanity Savers For Parents of Unique Learners

My best advice to these parents who are determined to homeschool with a hardiness that a lot of us can learn from is this:

1.) There is nobody else, even professionals who knows your child better.

Make it your determination to know EVERYTHING there is to know about your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

2.) Without trying to make you feel defeated, I want you to know that there does not exist curriculum that is just for unique learners.

There is curriculum that is easier to tweak for your learner, but most of it does not fall into the boxed curriculum method..

3.) Do not try to follow the scope and sequence of ANY curriculum.

Children that learn differently develop skills, for example, like reading at a later time. Teach to their strengths.

They may be developmentally ready later for reading but excel at math. Focus on what they can do instead of what they cannot do.

4.) I have learned that visual aids help challenged children chart their progress.

Because a lot of unique learners may also be right brain learners they have to “see” math or “see” language arts.

They can be learners that learn whole to parts, which is opposite of the way that phonics is taught. This is opposite of the way a lot of public schools teach.

For example, phonics is taught through letter sounds put together to form words, then sentences and then paragraphs which is parts to whole words and sentences teaching.

Challenged learners sometimes learn better by seeing the whole picture first or globally, then focus on the parts.

5.) Resources that educate you are far more important in understanding curriculum than looking for years in frustration trying to find curriculum that your child can use.

They help you to turn any resource into something that a unique learner can use.

Homeschool Resources for Teaching Unique Learners

Look for curriculum that is more visual along with learning aids or hands-on that makes it easier to teach children that learn differently.

An example of some of the curriculum resources that parents have used for unique learners are: All About Spelling, Math U See, Living Math, Brave Writer, Handwriting Without Tears, Explode the Code, Games like Stack the States on the iPad, Eyewitness Book by Dorling Kindersley, Kidspiration Software and Life Of Fred.

Some take delight in making lapbooks. My blog has lots of free lapbooks.

Tapping out music to sounds they are learning or creating art to learn about history are other creative ways to learn.

Online resources about history and geography, drawing significant events in history and even playing Mine Craft are strengths of visual learners.

Please do not discount creative ways like playing games as not learning.

Children of any age can learn any subject by playing a learning game, but unique learners especially benefit.

More importantly than finding curriculum is understanding the fact that you are teaching a child and not curriculum.

Do not get on the band wagon of those who always use a left brain measuring stick for progress. If you do, instead of realizing the brilliant child you have, you may feel like you have a child that is always behind.

When we all accept that our children learn outside the box and equally praise a gifted artist right alongside a child that read early, then we have tapped into the real meaning of an excellent education.

Struggling with the challenges of a unique learner now produces a confident teacher later.

Resources for Educating Unique Learners

By helping families that have children with ADHD, dyslexia, processing disorders or autism, I learned that these parents have to be the best advocate for their children.

How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and On to Learning

Carol Barnier knew that her son -- more likely to be sitting on the table (or the refrigerator) than in his chair -- was worthy of high expectations. She also knew that he could easily miss achieving them if she didn't find the right key to unlock his capacity to learn.

Learning in Spite of Labels

All children can learn. It is time to stop teaching subjects and start teaching children!

Learning In Spite Of Labels helps you to teach your child so that they can learn. We are all "labeled" in some area. Some of us can't sing, some aren't athletic, some can't express themselves well, some struggle with directions, and on and on!

Homeschooling Your Child With Special Needs: Practical Support And Encouragement For Learning With Differences

It happens almost every day. I hear from a mom desperate for information on homeschooling her child with special needs and learning differences.

Dreamers, Discoverers & Dynamos: How to Help the Child Who Is Bright, Bored and Having Problems in School

Does your imaginative, computer-proficient daughter tune out in the classroom? Does your spirited son become headstrong and aggressive when faced with the simplest decisions? Does your bold, energetic child have trouble focusing on basic tasks?

The Highly Sensitive Child: Helping Our Children Thrive When The World Overwhelms Them

With the publication of The Highly Sensitive Person, pioneering psychotherapist Dr. Elaine Aron became the first person to identify the inborn trait of “high sensitivity” and to show how it affects the lives of those who possess it. In The Highly Sensitive Child, Dr. Aron shifts her focus to the 15 to 20 percent of children who are born highly sensitive—deeply reflective, sensitive to the subtle, and easily overwhelmed.

Hands-on Activities for Children with Autism & Sensory Disorders

Innovative, practical and fun activities for children with autism and sensory disorders.

The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun

The first accessible guide to examine Sensory Processing Disorder, The Out-of-Sync Child touched the hearts and lives of thousands of families. Carol Stock Kranowitz continues her significant work with this companion volume, which presents more than one hundred playful activities specially designed for kids with SPD.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

22- 28 Homeschool Preschoolers, Highschoolers, and Unique Learners

Day 24 Finding homeschool Curriculum For Unique Learners. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Geronimo Stilton Time Travel How to Make a Medieval Stained Glass Craft

November 15, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This Geronimo Stilton Time Travel book has your kids going back in time through the Medieval time. If you love the Geronimo Stilton Books, you’ll love this medieval stained glass window cling.

Let’s ride off with brave Geronimo Stilton through the Medieval Period straight into Camelot.

This first book in the series takes you through prehistory with the dinosaurs, and through Ancient Egypt and the Great Sphinx of Giza, and finally into Camelot.

Geronimo Stilton Time Travel: How to Make a Medieval Stained Glass Craft

The Medieval period is where we are going to hang out today with a colorful hands-on activity that you will love.

After reading Geronimo Stilton: The Journey Through Time (Geronimo Stilton), we decided to make a stained glass window craft.

This is a DIY window cling that you can use over and over and move it around as you like.

Start with a simple design like a window with big areas to fill in.

However, once you get the hang of it you can create beautiful flowers, swords, a coat of arms and more to deck your windows out in style.

About the Geronimo Stilton Time Travel Series

And the time travel series are a unique series. Like most all the books they have unique sections and pictures full of facts for the time period.

They are filled with maps that show your child where events are taking place.

Also, facts about the time period, detailed and labeled buildings, in this case a castle.

Throughout the reading there are important tidbits woven in like what they ate and wore during the time period.

So, the series is more than just fun reading, but a way to make science, history, and geography a meaningful part of the story.

Again, we’re focusing on only one section of the book.

History Middle Ages Hands-on Activities

Then, add a few more activities and fun items.

And you can create a simple and easy Middle Ages unit study that your royal knight will thoroughly enjoy.

Make a Coat of Arms Activity
How to Make a Codex
Build a fun Medieval Catapult to work in some STEM
These Safari Toob Knights and Dragons add to any unit study to encourage dramatic small world play but also they can be used in dioramas and sensory bins.

In addition, here is a fun role-playing costume.

Too, you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton activities to go with the books.

Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Book Activities

Finally, here are some tips to keep in mind before doing this craft.

How to Create a Medieval Stained Glass Window Craft

Before you get started, know this.

Keep a couple wet q tips on hand to clean up drips and overflow.
Start with a simple design for your first one, keep it large and with minimal detail.
Don’t use paint in place of food coloring or it will not have the translucent effect. You can use liquid food coloring though if that’s what you have on hand.

List of supplies.

Black craft paint
White craft glue
Gel food coloring
Dish soap
paint brushes
Gallon ziploc bag
paper
Paint palette or a paper plate

Start by designing your window by drawing it with a pencil on a sheet of white paper or cardstock.

Once you are happy with the design darken the lines by drawing over them with a black marker.

Slip your drawing inside a gallon sized ziploc bag.

To create the leaded paint lines, mix black paint into white craft glue.

This part does not need to be translucent and we want thicker lines here.

Just add enough paint to the glue to turn it black. Add 2 drops of dish soap and mix well.

Smooth out your plastic bag and “draw” over the outlines of your picture with the black glue mixture.

You will need to let this dry probably overnight so that it is completely dry and will not smear for the next step.

Once the black lines are dry you can add your color.

Geronimo Stilton Time Travel Stained Glass Craft

To do this, mix a drop of gel food color and a very small drop of dish soap to a couple teaspoons of glue.

Repeat this for as many colors as you would like.

Fill in all the open spaces.

Make the spaces solid or swirl to get a different effect.

Be sure to add a thick layer of paint so that your cling is sturdy and doesn’t fall apart when peeled off.

Use a wet q tip to clean up drips off the black paint if needed.

You will need to let this next step dry for a day as well.

Once everything is dry, carefully peel the window off the plastic bag.

Clean the window where you want to put it with a bit of windex and leave slightly damp.

Apply your stained glass to the window.

It will stick until you peel it off and can be stored in a plastic bag when not in use.

If you have them, separate multiple window clings with pieces of waxed paper.

What do you think? Ready to try another fun Geronimo Stilton activity?

Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids

November 14, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If your kids are looking for winter watercolor art projects, they’ll love this easy diy salt project. Add it to a winter season unit study for more learning fun.

If you live in Texas like I do, you won’t see a lot of snow unless you’re vacationing somewhere else.

But it’s still nice to dream about beautiful forests under a blanket of snow.

Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids

So, today we are going to create our own winter watercolor art project to capture some of that snowy magic with a few different types of paint.

I’ve seen a technique like this done using snow but obviously that’s not an option for us.

Instead, I set to thinking about how I could make it happen here and turn into a fun art lesson too.

Over and Under the Snow

And my solution was a spray bottle filled with water instead of letting the snow melt over my picture.

You will probably want to take this one outside or put a plastic tablecloth on the table under your craft to help contain the mess.

No matter what you’re studying this winter or where you live, snow or not, it can still be fun and informative to learn about snow.

Topics like snowflakes, ice, hibernation, glaciers, icebergs, and everything else winter entails keep it fun.

Add a fun book to this winter watercolor art project like Over and Under the Snow to investigate what happens when that white blanket of snow covers the earth.

As a matter of fact, the book which inspired this project progresses from day to dusk to night as the child and father ski over the snow noticing it all.

I love the darling images of creatures sleeping beneath the earth.

Winter Subnivean Zone

And above there are busy people, squirrels, owls, and a big full moon.

It is a great way to introduce snow, hibernation and terms like subnivean zone (it’s the network of open spaces and tunnels between the snow and ground) to your kids.

The word subnivean comes from the Latin “sub” (under) and “nives” (snow).

There is a fantastic appendix of animals at the back of the book.

It introduces animals and gives a bit of information on each spotted throughout as well as suggestions for more winter books.

More Winter Season Unit Study Resources

Then, here are some other winter unit study resources you’ll love.

Add in a few of these activities to make a fun learning about winter day.

Let’s make this watercolor art project.

How to Make DIY Winter Water Art Project

You will need:

Watercolor paper. It really makes a difference with this paper.
Fine Salt
Food coloring
Black craft paint
White craft paint
Paint brushes
Water in a spray bottle
Baking sheet

First, place watercolor paper on a baking sheet and spritz the entire paper well with water.

Pour a few tablespoons of salt into a small container.

Mix with a few drops of food coloring and repeat for as many colors as you would like to have.

Scoop colored salt all over paper randomly and in different sized piles with different thicknesses to create a mottled watercolor effect.

Spray the colored salt until completely saturated with the spray bottle.

You want to make sure that the salt is very wet so that the food coloring can absorb into the paper.

Allow it to sit undisturbed for 20 to 30 minutes.

The longer it sits the more saturated the image will be.

Too, you can let it dry overnight if your little one has the patience to wait.

Flip over your paper quickly to remove all the salt and use a dry brush to remove excess or just wait until it dries naturally and brush then.

Now you should have a beautiful watercolor paper that resembles a dusky night sky or the aurora borealis.

Winter Crafts

Allow your paper to dry completely.

Then, paint a few straight lines straight up from the bottom using a thin flat brush. Draw any amount of trees you want, just leave room for the branches.

Take the same brush dipped in black paint and start at the top line and drag it away from the line in a downward stroke.

This creates the shape of an evergreen tree.

Also, draw some scraggly spindly trees with just limbs and branches using a small, pointed tip brushed if you like.

Finally, allow your black paint to dry a little and then dip your paintbrush in white paint.

If it’s thick, add a tiny bit of water to loosen it up.

You’re gonna want your paint a little runny so that you can tap it on your hand over the paper and create splatters for snow.

Paint a moon if you’d like up in the corner.

Let your completed painting dry.

Because the paper was so saturated it may crinkle up a bit. Lay a couple heavy books on top once it’s dry to help smooth and flatten it.

What do you think? Easy winter art?

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun

November 13, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’ve rounded up some fun world history board games. Also, you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page.

If you are digging deep into a study on Ancient Egypt, The Fall of Rome, or The Middle Ages the best ways to learn and have fun at the same time is with a great board game.

While not all may actually teach specifics of history they are a great way to get a taste and understanding of life back then.

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun

Of course you don’t have to be studying a specific history topic.

All of these games are great for any history lover in general and have a lot to offer for fun and game schooling.

Learn about history through strategy, trivia, combat, role playing games and more.

Start by exploring three main periods of history

The three main time periods I’ve covered in these games are

The Ancient World
Middle Ages,
and Modern History of the world.

Cool History Games

After all, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it according to George Santayana.

Besides the facts these games can help teach a period of history game play is just amazing for family bonding.

Too, family board games help your children learn other things like cooperation, strategy, memorization, and reading comprehension.

Besides being a diversion from the normal routine of your homeschool day, cool history games can motivate your kids if they find history boring.

I’ve divided up board games by time periods so that you can easily match to your unit studies.

15 World History Board Games Guaranteed to Make Learning Fun. I've rounded up some fun world history board games. Also, you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page. If you are digging deep into a study on Ancient Egypt, The Fall of Rome, or The Middle Ages the best ways to learn and have fun at the same time is with a great board game. While not all may actually teach specifics of history they are a great way to get a taste and understanding of life then. #worldhistoryboardgames

More Fun History Games

I know you’ll find something you’ll love in one of these time periods.

Ancient World History Board Games

This period covers the oldest records of human history from 3000 BCE – 500 CE. It ends with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Han Dynasty in China, and the Gupta Empire in India. It teaches us about origins, cultures, traditions, and beginning civilizations. Here is where we
learn of Egyptian Kings and Queens, the Trojan War, and Genghis Khan. It begins rising out of Mesopotamia and Egypt and ends with the fall of the Roman Empire

Imhotep Builder of Egypt | Family Board Game

Imhotep is the legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments like the Step Pyramid, in this game you play as him working to build in five different construction sites. This game is a great way to introduce or refresh some Egyptian vocabulary as well as just enjoy the theme.

Ancient Egypt Press Go Fish Cards

There is always a time and a place for a fun game of Go Fish, but these cards can be used for more than that.

Pandemic Fall of Rome Board Game

There are several versions of this game but in this one you travel back in time and try to stop the fall of Rome. This is a cooperative game for 1-5 players and is a great family game.

Age of Civilization Strategy Card Game

Get ready for war in this card game that can be played in as little as 30 minutes. Wage war, build civilizations with this set in ancient times, build wonders like the Hanging Gardens, Machu Pichu,
Great Pyramids, and Stonehenge. This is such a fun way to learn about ancient history.

Middle Ages World History Board Games

The Middle Ages refers to that time in European history that started with the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century CE to the Renaissance. It is full of conquerors, explorers, scholars, brave knights and Vikings.

Carcassonne Board Game

This strategy game lets you develop your medieval city and can be played with as few as 2 players and up to 5, or more with expansion packs! If you are into the Middle Ages this is your game.

Battle Line: Medieval

If you want a Medieval card game with quick play this is one to grab. Win battlefields with your strong card formations, recommended for 14 and up. You can also get this in other versions as well-
WWII or Ancient Greek.

Raiders of The North Sea

Do you wish to set sail with the adventurous Vikings? This game takes a little over an hour on average and puts you right in the action assembling a crew, battling, and on journeys.

(Dungeons & Dragons Intro Adventure Set)

While it is a fantasy game, Dungeons & Dragons develops strategy, risk assessment, communication, math, science, history, culture, ethics, critical reading, and introduces lots of Medieval vocabulary.

CATAN Cities & Knights Board Game

Defend against attack and build up the land of Catan of the Middle Ages in this expansion pack with knights, barbarians, merchants, and more. You will need the base Catan to play this version as it is an add on.

Modern Age World History Board Games

Explore card and strategy games that take place from the end of the Middle Ages to the middle of the 20th Century. Test your knowledge on things like the Industrial Revolution, Cold War, and the Wright Brothers first flight.

CHRONOLOGY - The Game Where You Make History

This timeline board game has you racing to be the first to place 10 timeline cards in the correct order. Do you know if the first bikini was introduced before the first man landed on the moon? This is a great family game for learning and reinforcing what you know about Modern History.

Anno 1800 - | A Civilization Game

Explore and build a city during the Industrial Revolution in the old world. Plot trade routes and gather resources to grow. This game is great for teaching about exploration and trade routes, the importance of gathering resources, and civilization growth and development

Axis & Allies Pacific 1940 Second Edition WWII Strategy Board Game

This strategy game is a great way to learn about the cold war playing as either President John F. Kennedy or the USSR Premier Nikita Khrushchev with the goal to avoid nuclear war.

World History Board Games Covering Multiple Time Periods

These games cover ancient to modern history for those that want a broader scope of time. Test your knowledge of everything from Ancient Egypt to Adolph Hitler and see who will hold the title of Hero of History.