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Tina Robertson

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

December 21, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you are studying coral reefs, you will need a host of wonderful books about the Great Barrier Reef for kids to make a rich and full study. Also, grab more ideas on my Coral Reef page.

Also, I have plenty of fun and exciting hands-on activities to do for all ages that will make this one of your best units yet.

The Great Barrier reef is in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

And it is the world’s largest coral reef system.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,400 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles.

The Great Barrier Reef is important for many reasons.

For example, it’s biodiversity is important, its impact on tourism, the protection it gives the coastline from storms and erosion, and the food and medicine that can be found there as well.

In addition to sharing books about the Great Barrier Reef, I have a faux coral reef craft project that will add a beautiful touch to any room.

BOOKS ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these books about the reef.

When possible, I add living books to our reading list.

5 Great Barrier Reef Books

Add some of these fun books about the Great Barrier Reef to your home library.

The Great Barrier Reef (Earth's Incredible Places)

Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the peoples who have embraced it as a centerpiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!

The World of Coral Reefs: Explore and Protect the Natural Wonders of the Sea

Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, but they support 25% of all marine species with food and shelter. In this lavishly illustrated book for ages 7 to 10, marine ecologist and underwater explorer Erin Spencer provides fascinating, scientific information in a highly accessible format, including details about the
types of coral, their anatomy and life cycle, where they live, how reefs develop, and the incredible diversity of marine animals that live among them, including aquarium favorites like clownfish, royal blue tangs, and sea turtles. Kids learn about the interdependent relationships of people and reefs and how human behavior puts reefs in danger, promising conservation work that scientists are undertaking, and solution-oriented ways kids and families can help in the effort. 

Where Is the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. Stretching more than 1,400 miles, it provides a home to a wide diversity of creatures. Designated a World Heritage Site, the reef is suffering from the effects of climate change but this fascinating book shows this spectacular part of our planet.

The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef (Around the World in 80 Mysteries (Paperback))

It's a trip Down Under for Christina, 10, Grant, 7, and their mystery-writing grandmother Mimi! Lots of surprises and mysterious activities unfold as the group travels through the Outback, Queensland, and finally to the Great Barrier Reef. During a glass-bottom boat ride, they discover more than coral and fish under the water-scuba divers and flesh-tearing moray eel lurk beneath their boat! They shudder at the eerie screech of the Tasmanian devil and brave the awesome Australian Outback (and Aborigines!) at night. Watch and wonder as Grant ends up in the Camel Cup camel race- will he make it to the finish line? Don't miss a moment of excitement in Christina and Grant's Australian adventure! Download free activities for this book!

Coral Reef

Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time. "Science education at its best." ― Science Books and Films

We are going to use hot glue and paint.

Then transforming them into unique coral pieces while we learn about the different types and specifically about The Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants.

GREAT BARRIER REEF FACTS

The Great Barrier Reef has an abundance of life with:

  • Fish: Over 1,600 species of fish, including clownfish, angelfish, and parrotfish.
  • Corals: Over 600 species of hard and soft corals.
  • Sea Turtles: Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles.
  • Sharks and Rays: Over 30 species of sharks and rays.
  • Marine Mammals: Whales, dolphins, and dugongs.
  • Seabirds: Over 200 species of seabirds.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms.

It is so big that it can be seen from space.

The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish – that’s more than in the entire Caribbean Sea.

Some of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef are over 1,000 years old, coral of the Great Barrier Reef has gradually been destroyed in recent years by a pest known as the Crown of Thorns Seastar, a marine organism that eats Coral Polyps.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it is recognized as a place of outstanding universal value and is recognized as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

HANDS ON GREAT BARRIER REEF ACTIVITIES

  • Fun Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
  • How To Make Your Own Magic Crystal Coral Reef
  • Free Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity
  • Egg Carton Coral Reef Craft
Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Finally, look at how to make this coral reef hot glue art.

HOW TO MAKE CORAL REEF HOT GLUE ART

You will need:

  • Wooden plaque
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Paint
  • paintbrushes
  • Silicone mat
Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

First, paint your wooden plaque piece blue for the ocean or any color you like.

I found this one along with glue sticks and paint at Dollar Tree, making for a very frugal craft. Set aside to dry.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

If you do not have a silicone mat I cannot recommend one highly enough. They are a fantastic item for painting, slime, and any other messy craft.

On to our beautiful faux coral pieces.

To begin with, use a light marker like a highlighter or even a dry erase marker to draw out your design.

Make any kind of coral you want here.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

I tried some fan coral, a brain coral and some basic branch pieces.

Be mindful of the size wooden plaque that you have chosen to use. You want to make at least 4 or 5 of varying widths, heights, and types to layer on the background.

You want to gather a lot of hot glue for this activity, depending on how many pieces and how large you want to make them.

CORAL REEF HOT GLUE ART

Now you’re going to take your hot glue, gun and draw along the lines that you made with a nice thick line,

You can allow it to cool while you work on another piece and add additional layers of thickness if you like.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Here is a gorgeous example of fan coral that had been washed up on the beach after a hurricane.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Allow your designs to dry completely until the glue is hard and it will peel right up off the silicone mat.  I peeled it back just to be sure my lines were thick enough and laid it right back down.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Now you are going to paint each piece in whatever color combination you like.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Let the paint dry completely, then begin testing out how you will layer and place your pieces on the plaque.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Once you’re satisfied, add a little bit of hot glue to the back of each piece and press it into place.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: coral reef, great barrier reef, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

December 20, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 toilet paper roll activities and a fun toilet paper roll giraffe. Also, look at my Free Africa Unit Study for more hands-on ideas.

Because toilet paper rolls are made of cardboard, they’re recyclable and a great way to reuse items.

Also, the soft cardboard material of toilet paper rolls is easy to cut with scissors.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Besides, they can be glued and stacked to form any number of projects.

Not only can you build and stack them, but they can be painted on and decorated.

They also make excellent educational toys and learning activities.

Look at some of the ones we made as we studied our different unit studies.

TOILET PAPER ROLL ACTIVITIES

Next, look at some of these toilet paper roll activities.

10 Toilet Paper Roll Activities For Kids

Toilet paper rolls are one of the most fun and versatile craft supplies you have in your house.

How To Create Toilet Paper Roll Penguins For A Bowling Game

We’re making these super cute toilet paper roll penguins for a bowling game. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

How To Make A Frog Craft Toilet Paper Roll

We are making a frog craft toilet paper roll. Also, look at my page Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas.

It is not only a model for a frog but also, is a fun cup and ball activity for motor development and hand eye coordination.

How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Honeycomb Honey Bee Activity

This simple honey bee activity is not only a fun dramatic play idea for young learners but also can be used to build fine motor, math, science, and language arts skills. Also, look at my post Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Here are 8 fun Abraham Lincoln crafts to celebrate the day he delivered the Gettysburg Address – November 19, 1863. You’ll also love my free War Between the States or American Civil War Unit Study and Lapbook page.

Make An Adorable Toilet Roll Winter Village

Toilet paper roll winter crafts are a fantastic way to add a little fun to your winter-themed lessons. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

They are fun for themes like snow, snowflakes, animals in winter, or any other topic.

Fun Bat Anatomy Toilet Paper Roll Craft

I have 8 bat science activities preschool age and bat toilet paper roll craft. Also, I have more fun ideas for all ages on my post Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook.

Cute Colorful Toilet Paper Roll Rainforest Frogs

I have a cute toilet paper roll rainforest frog craft. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

Easy Israel Crafts for Preschoolers: How to Make Mini Torah Scrolls

Teaching ancient history to young children can be daunting, make Israel crafts for preschoolers to simplify it and help them understand. Also, look at my Ancient Civilization page for more activities.

How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock

This easy bird craft paper plate peacock is fun to do to celebrate Bird Day. Also, you’ll love my Free Bird Unit Study. Peacocks are beautiful and easily identifiable.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

If you’re looking to make an adorable toilet roll snowman well actually the cutest pair of snow people ever, you’ll love this for winter crafts or a winter season unit study.
You don’t need snow in your backyard to create these adorable toilet roll snowmen or ahem or is that snowman and snowwoman?

In addition, we’re making toilet paper roll giraffe to go with our Africa unit study.

Look at some of these fun facts about giraffes.

FUN FACTS ABOUT GIRAFFES

  • Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth. They can grow up to 18 feet tall.
  • Too their tongues are long – about 18 inches.
  • And there is a reason for their tall necks. Giraffes are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, and their height allows them to reach leaves high up in trees.
  • They sleep standing up and only sleep for about 4 to 5 hours.
  • There are different subspecies of giraffes. For instance, there are Reticulated Giraffes: Known for their distinct, net-like pattern of spot, Masai Giraffe: These giraffes have jagged, irregular spots and live in Kenya and Tanzania, Rothschild’s Giraffe: Found mostly in Uganda and Kenya, they have light-colored spots and are one of the rarest types, and Southern Giraffe: Found in Southern Africa, they have large, star-shaped spots.
10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Finally, look at how to make a toilet paper roll giraffe.

TOILET PAPER ROLL GIRAFFE

First, look at this list of supplies.

  • Toilet Paper Roll.
  • Construction Papers
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Ruler

Step 1:

To make the toilet paper roll giraffe craft you will need a long toilet paper roll.

The tissue paper roll I’m using is 12 inches.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 2:

Download the templates and cut out the base pattern for the tissue paper roll giraffe.

Place the cutout template over the tissue paper roll and use a pencil to trace the pattern on the tissue paper roll.

Then along the outline.

Step 3:

Cut out the mouth from the templates from a beige colored craft paper.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 4:

Use a pencil to draw the nostrils and mouth.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 5:

Then use a pink marker to draw the cheeks.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 6:

Glue the mouth paper cutout on the top of the tissue paper roll giraffe pattern. 

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 7:

Use a pencil to draw the giraffe’s spots on the tissue paper roll.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 8:

Then use brown paint to fill in the giraffe’s spots.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 9:

Glue two googly eyes on the of the giraffe’s head.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 10:

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Then glue the ears on the two top corners.

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Step 11:

10 Fun Toilet Paper Roll Activities & How To Make A Paper Roll Giraffe & Free Template

Finish it off by gluing the two horns in between the giraffe’s ears.

GRAB THE FREE TEMPLATE FOR THE CRAFT

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: giraffe, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, toilet paper roll

Horse Study Guide For Kids Who Love Animals

December 19, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have a horse study guide for your kids who love animals. Also, look at my page Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

If you want a fun place to start with introducing horses, you’ll love this fun horse study guide.

My horse study guides give your children a way to learn independently.

Horse Study Guide For Kids Who Love Animals

Besides covering various horse topics, there are a few activities included.

For example, my study guide covers topics, from the anatomy of a horse to how to care for them.

Besides, this allows your child to be as hands-on or hands-off as he wants to be when learning.

Also, I’ve included more hands-on horse activities at the bottom.

First, here are some books to add to your child’s reading day.

BOOKS ABOUT HORSES FOR KIDS

We prefer living books.

So, when I find them, I add them to our reading list.

9 Books and Resources for Horse Loving Kids

Whether you add a book or two to use as a spine for your study or just for fun, your horse loving kids will enjoy them.

Homeschooling With Horses

A Homeschooling Journal for Horse Lovers! 365 Lessons and Activities. This Journal has a special focus on learning through logic and creativity!! It also covers every required subject! Perfect for 2nd to 4th grade, but fun for all ages.

This is the perfect Fun-Schooling Journal for students who love horses!

There are 365 activities in this book, and you can require your student to use 1, 5 or 10 pages per day, along with 6 library books, and your favorite math, history and science curriculum. You are free to use it any way you wish. That is the joy of fun-schooling with Thinking Tree Books.

Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Did you know that a miniature horse weighs just a few pounds, while a giant draft horse can weigh well over a ton? Or that from a standstill a mule can jump, kangaroo-like, more than five feet high?  With answers to hundreds of questions about behavior, physiology, training, and special breed characteristics, Knowing Horses has all your horse quandaries covered.

Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

This book is designed for all those who love horses. Tracing the evolution of equines, this guide also explains the difference between horses and ponies, looks at how different breeds evolved or were selectively developed, and examines equine anatomy and behavior. Packed with 250 vivid full-color photographs of more than 100 horse-breeds, it uses a systematic approach from Dorling Kindersley and the Smithsonian Institution to train readers of all experience levels to identify and appreciate the wide variety of horses in the world.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life. 

Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

The complete beginner’s guide to horses and riding for kids 8 to 12

This ultimate guide to horses for kids teaches you all about the basics of equine care―from anatomy to housing to bathing and feeding. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a horse of your own, you’ll learn how to ride, how to stay safe around horses, and how to develop a healthy and friendly relationship with them.

Black Beauty

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite, one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography, describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach, the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred, Black Beauty, is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes, including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London, Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending

Misty of Chincoteague

Marguerite Henry’s beloved story of a wild horse’s gentle colt—winner of a Newbery Honor!On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.

Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Horse and book set: National velvet is Enid Bagnold's unforgettable tale of a horse-loving girl with aspirations of jumping Glory. A story about perusing dreams and taking chances, National velvet follows the adventures of 14-year-old velvet Brown.

The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

Whether you are a veterinary nurse or student preparing for an exam or just an ordinary horse lover seeking to learn more about this amazing domestic animal called ‘horse’ this colouring workbook is for YOU!

This book has been designed and structured to make you learn horse A&P easily and effortlessly. By colouring the images contained in this book, you will easily make visual associations with key terminologies and concepts.

Also, look at some hands-on activities.

MORE HORSE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Look at adding these activities to this fun study guide.

  • Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids
  • Horse String Art
  • How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History
  • Cardboard Dala Horse (3 ways)
  • 10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat
  • Clothespin Horse Craft for Kid
  • Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study
Horse Study Guide For Kids Who Love Animals

Additionally, look at more information about this study guide.

ABOUT THE HORSE STUDY GUIDE

This printable packet is a 102 page printable pdf download.

Here are some of the topics included.

  • What is a horse
  • Horse Life Cycle
  • Caring for a horse
  • Equipment for horses
  • Parts of a saddle
  • Horses in history
  • Horses on the farm
  • Hooves
  • Wild horses
  • Pony vs horse
  • Donkey vs horse
  • Zebra vs horse
  • Arabian, Mustangs, Thoroughbreds, American Quarter, Appaloosa, American Paint, Clydesdale, Friesian, Morgan, Tennessee Walking, Shire, Percheron, Gypsy Vanner, Andalusian, and Shetland Pony
  • Breed matching, sorting and matching activities
  • Horse quiz activity
  • Bingo activity
  • Name the horse activity
  • Anatomy of a horse hoof activity
  • Horse life cycle activity
  • Horse care matching
  • Parts of a saddle activity
  • Equipment I Spy activity

HOW TO GET THE HORSE PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

TOS
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.

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Horse Study Guide For Kids Who Love Animals
  • Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    $5.95
    Add to cart

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Do Unit Studies Tagged With: hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, horse, life science, science, study guide

Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

December 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free roll-a-gingerbread house game for your littles. Also, grab more ideas and a free lapbook for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

When winter sets in, it can be hard to keep the littles learning.

Games breathe life into the part of the day when your littles are not feeling independent play.

Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

And what I love about this roll-a-gingerbread house game is that it promotes independent learning.

Besides getting a bit of math and color recognition, your child will have created a fun piece of art.

All you need is a die and a plate full of treats that are your preschooler’s favorite.

BOOKS ABOUT GINGERBREAD FOR KIDS

Also, I have some fun books and activities if you want to do a gingerbread theme.

We choose to read living books when I can find them.

8 Books and Resources Studying About Gingerbread

Add some of these books and resources for a gun Gingerbread theme.

The Plan for the Gingerbread House: A STEM Engineering Story

The gingerbread man and woman need a new home! A team of kids struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.Sounds easy?But creating is hard. Cookie burn, the icing it too thin, the house caves-in, someone is eating the candy decorations, and—Oh!—they forgot about putting the gingerbread boy and girl inside the house. Engineering is a creative process. That means you must learn to

  • overcome problems
  • and persevere.

Inspire budding engineers to think about the classic gingerbread house in new ways.

Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set

SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR YOUR FAMILY - The simple stainless steel Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set design is easy to clean, the folded edges are kind to hands, and the welded seam won’t come unstuck

The Gingerbread Man Padded

"Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" Follow the gingerbread man as he runs from the old woman, the old man, pig, cow, and horse, and meets a sly fox. This padded storybook of the classic fairy tale features engaging text and delightful, colorful illustrations by Gail Yerrill. Designed to encourage vocabulary development and help children read aloud, this story uses large font types and vibrant, contemporary illustrations to help early learning skills. It's a perfect addition to any children's library.

The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone Nursery Classic)

The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and ‘at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!’ A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone’s broadly humorous color wash drawings.

Gingerbread Baby

Fairy tale about the Gingerbread Baby. Full-color illustrations.

12PCS Measuring Cups, Little Cook Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

The 12 different spoon sizes in this measuring cup set make it versatile for measuring a wide range of ingredients. The measuring spoons range from 1/8 tsp teaspoon up to 1 cup tablespoon, allowing you to measure small or large quantities with ease. This makes the measuring spoons set perfect for home cooks and professional chefs alike, as it can be used for a variety of recipes, from baking to cooking and more.

Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Set (Gingerbread Man 3 Piece)

Gingerbread Man 3 Piece

How to Catch a Gingerbread Man

Do you have what it takes to catch the Gingerbread Man? The famous storybook character has magically come to life and leapt from the pages during story time! Follow along as the Gingerbread Man runs loose in a bookstore with the help of Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Peter Rabbit, nursery rhyme characters, and more! If you set the right traps, you might…just might be able to catch this wily cookie and finish the fairy tale!

Also, games are not just fun.

Look at some of the benefits of games for preschoolers.

WHY PRESCHOOLERS LEARN THROUGH GAMES

  • Problem solving boosts cognitive skills
  • And they promote short term and long term memory.
  • Most games children learn to take turns.
  • When children play independently they are learning self-regulation.
  • This game promotes creativity. For example, your child can place more than 1 piece of candy on a circle.
  • Also, mix textures like green hard candy with green jelly beans.
  • Because games are fun, preschoolers do not feel pressured to learn. It should never be that way.
  • In this game early math skills like counting is introduced without the need for a worksheet.

Also, look at more hands on fun for kids about gingerbread.

MORE GINGERBREAD ACTIVITIES

  • How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas
  • DIY Adorable Salt Dough Gingerbread House To Make With Kids
  • Fun Selfie Salt Dough Gingerbread Kids Activity for Long Winter Nights
Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

Finally, look at how to grab this free printable game.

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE PRINTABLE

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Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

December 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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I have a free 4-week penguin study unit for kids. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.

Also, I have a fun study packet if you want to dive deeper into studying penguins.

With their upright stance and short legs, penguins are recognized by their waddle.

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

But what makes them unique is that they are actually birds.

They have wings and are covered with feathers. They lay eggs and are warm-blooded animals.

Too, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. But they don’t all live in cold climates.

Several species live in tropical areas. For example, the Galápagos penguin is a penguin native to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.

It is the only penguin found north of the equator.

Additionally, there are many different kinds of penguins.

Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguin and can grow to be about four feet tall. Some other well known penguins are the King, the Macaroni, and the Adelie.

PENGUIN BOOKS FOR KIDS

Also, grab one or more of these books to your learning day.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

11 Penguin Books & Resources for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books and resources about penguins to your learning day.

Penguin's Way

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating Antarctic species. Originally published in 1962, Penguin’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard. In Penguin’s Way, a playful colony of emperor penguins lives on the edge of a faraway secret sea. During the summers, the penguins are content to fish and swim in the icy waters. But, when the seasons change, they must travel more than one hundred miles to the snowy lands surrounding the South Pole. All across the snow plain, the penguins sing songs to welcome newly hatched chicks into the world, but how will the fluffy newborns survive the freezing winter? Few things pique children’s curiosity about the world around them better than a good book. Brought back for a new generation of young readers, Penguin’s Way offers a fun and creative introduction to these fascinating animals.

Mr. Popper's Penguins: All-Time Popular Children Book

Charming Characters: Meet the endearing Mr. Popper and his comical penguins, each with their distinct personalities and quirks, creating a delightful and memorable cast of characters.

Whimsical Adventures: Follow Mr. Popper and his penguins on a series of whimsical escapades, as they navigate unexpected challenges and create joyous chaos in their small town.

Heartwarming Message: Experience the heartwarming message of friendship, family, and the importance of embracing the unexpected, as Mr. Popper's life is transformed by the presence of his unusual feathered companions.

Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World

Whiteblack the Penguin is worried. He has run out of stories for his radio show, a dire situation for the Chief Storyteller of Penguinland. So Whiteblack decides to travel in search of new tales to share. The result is a journey that spans the globe and not only introduces the precocious penguin to a host of colorful characters but teaches him about the power of friendship and what it means to be a hero. Originally created in 1937, while the Reys lived in Paris, this delightful story is being published for the first time, and is sure to enchant readers young and old. From the creators of Curious George, Whiteblack the Penguin Sees The World is a timeless tale with all the hilarity and childlike sense of adventure characteristic of the Reys’ previous work.

The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder

Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. Welcome to the story of the world’s most devoted dad!

Penguins!: Strange and Wonderful

A new edition to the acclaimed Strange and Wonderful series. The seventeen species of penguins come in all sizes and are fascinating in many other ways. The little blue penguin, the smallest, stands about sixteen inches high, and the emperor penguin, the largest, stands almost four feet tall. Some penguins are named for how they look, such as the black-footed penguin, while others are named for where they live, such as the Galapagos penguin. Laurence Pringle's informative book, with stunning illustrations by Meryl Henderson, introduces young readers to the life and behavior of one of nature's most remarkable birds.

12PCS Realistic Penguin Figurines

This penguin figures set was made by hand painted with high realistically detailed appearance, cute face and childish eyes. Their uniquely molded textures and richly painted details make the animals vivid. And all the animal figures stands up very well, they do not fall over. Children would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins

African penguins waddle around nesting colonies in lower numbers than ever before. Despite South African government efforts to protect the penguin colonies and their ocean fish supply, young penguins still struggle to survive. Fuzzy chicks waiting for food in open nests may overheat in the sun or become prey. Others simply may not get enough food to survive on their own once their parents leave. But new conservation methods, including rescuing and hand-feeding vulnerable chicks, are giving experts hope. Can volunteers and scientists help save Africa's only penguins before it's too late?

March of the Penguins

This documentary chronicles the heroic and harrowing journey that emperor penguins make amid subfreezing temperatures and violent snowstorms at the South Pole in order to mate.

365 Penguins (Reissue)

A family finds a penguin mysteriously delivered to their door every day for a year. At first they’re cute, but with every passing day, the penguins pile up—along with the family’s problems. Feeding, cleaning, and housing the penguins becomes a monumental task. They’re noisy and smelly, and they always hog the bathroom! And who on earth is sending these kwak-ing critters? Bright, striking illustrations with lots of opportunity for counting (and lots of laughs), 365 Penguins has become a perennial wintertime favorite.

Penguin: A Season in the Life of the Adélie Penguin

Beautiful, full-color photographs and an engaging first-person narrative introduce young readers to an Adelie penguin family's first view of the harsh, wild Antarctic environment.

Penguins!

An illustrated introduction to those wonderful waddling water birds!Living only in the southern hemisphere, there are seventeen different kinds of penguins.  With bright watercolor illustrations and kid-friendly language, Gail Gibbons introduces these black and white birds, describing where and how they live, what they eat, and how they hatch their young.   An exploration of the egg-laying and chick-raising habits of the emperor penguin is also included, describing how these large penguins take care of their babies in extremely cold temperatures, working together to look after one large egg at a time. Readers will also learn about threats to penguin populations, and what conservation efforts have been made to help preserve them.  A collection of penguin facts is also included.

Next, look at history and geography penguin unit study ideas.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

This is the perfect time to explain the differences between the Arctic and Antarctica.

I still see pictures where penguins are in the Arctic. They are not with the Eskimo.

Penguins live in the Antarctica where there are no people albeit researchers and their teams.

  • Locate the area where penguins live. Antarctica, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands.
  • Create a penguin timeline for their life cycle
  • Investigate the Galapagos Penguin near the equator. Go her to my free South America Unit Study to learn about the Galapagos.
  • Explore penguin migration. Look at this video Over a million penguins gather to migrate from Argentine peninsula.
  • Learn about their Antarctica habit and look at How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids.

NATURE & SCIENCE PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

Then, this penguin unit study is obviously a strong slant toward nature and science.

Penguins or marine birds are adapted to living at sea. Some penguins spend as much as 80% of their lives in the ocean.

  • Discuss the waddle or how penguins walk on land
  • Penguin camouflage activity Learn how black and white protect them from prey
  • Slippery Penguins on Ice Experiment
  • Penguins eat mostly squid, fishes, and krill. Krill are small crustaceans—relatives of shrimps, crabs, and lobsters.
  • Read how deep penguins can dive
  • Baby Emperor Penguins Emerge from Their Shells 
  • How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity

There are 18 different species of penguins. Look at this list of the names and where they live.

  • Galápagos – Galapagos Islands
  • Humboldt- Coasts of Chili and Peru
  • Southern Rockhopper  -Southern Chili and Southern Argentina
  • Northern Rockhopper-Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island – South Atlantic Ocean
  • Emperor -Antarctica
  • Adélie-Antarctica
  • Chinstrap-Antarctic Peninsula
  • Fiordland-Southwest coasts of the South Island in New Zealand.
  • Snares- Snares Islands south of New Zealand
  • Macaroni-Antarctic Peninsula
  • Gentoo  -Antarctic Peninsula
  • Erect-Crested-New Zealand sub-antarctic- mostly Antipodes and Bounty Islands
  • Royal-Macquarie Island, near Bishop and Clerk Islands in Australia
  • African-Southwest coast of Africa- Namibia to Port Elizabeth
  • Little- Australia and New Zealand
  • Yellow-Eyed-New Zealand
  • King- Antarctic Peninsula
  • Magellanic- Southern coasts-Argentina, Chile, and Falkland Islands.

And baby penguins are called chicks. (Sometimes they are called fledglings.) And learn how penguins care for their chicks.

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

Some penguins never build nests. A king or emperor penguin incubates a single egg on the top of its feet. A featherless patch of abdominal skin keeps the egg warm.

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

  • Penguin Facts for Kids Printable
  • Penguins Addition with 100 Chart 
  • Penguins Math Pack (PreK-Middle School)
  • How long can a penguin hold its breath under water? 20 minutes. Time how long that is.
  • Penguins Emergent Readers
  • Magnetic Ice Skating Penguin Letter Writing Activity
  • How cute! Grab these Free Penguin Math Puzzles for Preschoolers.

Also, look at these vocabulary words.

predator — an animal that eats other animals
preen — to clean, arrange, and oil feathers
down — the covering of fine, soft feathers of a young bird; also the soft underfeathers of adult birds.

ARTS & CRAFTS PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 4

Finally, look at these fun penguin arts and crafts ideas.

  • How to Make an Egg Carton Bobblehead Penguin Preschool Craft
  • No-Sew Sock Penguin Craft 
  • Emperor Penguin Craft: Step-by-Step Guide To Make Your Own Penguin
  •  Popsicle stick penguin craft
  • How To Create Toilet Paper Roll Penguins For A Bowling Game
  • Free Color By Number Penguin And Penguins Antarctica Habitat
  • Marble-Painted Penguin Craft 
  • Salt Dough Handprint

Next, look at this fun printable themed informational packet.

ABOUT THE PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

This printable packet is a 75 page printable pdf download.

Here are some of the topics included.

  • What are penguins
  • Penguin anatomy
  • Socialization
  • Mating for life
  • Life Cycle
  • Survival
  • Diet
  • Habitat
  • Predator
  • Species
  • Emperor Penguin
  • Adélie Penguin
  • King Penguin
  • Chinstrap Penguin
  • Gentoo Penguin
  • Macaroni Penguin
  • African Penguin
  • Rockhopper Penguin
  • Little Blue Penguin
  • Galápagos Penguin
  • Penguin Quiz fill in the blanks activity
  • Penguin Quiz True or False activity
  • Penguin Quiz Multiple Choice activity
  • Anatomy Game activity
  • Sound Matching activity
  • Conservation Matching Game activity
  • Life Cycle Game activity
  • Penguin Diet Sorting Game activity
  • Penguin Word Search activity
  • Penguin Adventure activity

HOW TO GET THE PENGUIN PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

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Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

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  • Dynamic and Amazing Penguin Study Guide For Young Learners

    Dynamic and Amazing Penguin Study Guide For Young Learners

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