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Tina Robertson

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Are you looking for the first day of kindergarten homeschool ideas? Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Look no further, I have a couple of free printables including a scavenger hunt and kindergarten memory book.

And more ideas to make their first day amazing.

It’s important to create a positive and supportive learning environment right from the start.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

One way to do this is to establish some first-day-of-homeschool traditions.

They can help to make the first day of homeschool special and memorable.

Just because your child is not going back to a brick-and-mortar school does not mean they don’t deserve the excitement of the first day.

Small things like a fresh pair of clothes and new school supplies are fun ways to celebrate.

But don’t worry, there’s many ways to make it memorable without spending a ton of money.

These traditions can also help to set the tone for the rest of the year.

They make your child’s experience relaxed and special right from the get-go.

FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL IDEAS

Enjoy a slow start. Instead of jumping right into a full day explore the new curriculum and/or supplies together.

Talk about expectations for each day, ask your child for some input on what they would like to learn, fun trips to take, and then just complete a few pages.

Start off your first day with a yummy breakfast.

Homemade muffins and bacon are a favorite treat here.

I made a big batch of muffins by mixing pancake mix, separating it into smaller bowls and then adding blueberries to some, chocolate chips to some, and extra vanilla and cinnamon to the third batch.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

If you want a unique tradition from German culture you can put together a Schultute cone full of supplies as a special treat.

Begin their school year with a fun field trip to the zoo, state park, or a museum in your area. Read a book about what you saw while you were there when you got home.

Make a DIY Back-to-School Time Capsule to commemorate the special occasion, years from now it will be such a precious memory.

KINDERGARTEN FIRST DAY OF HOMESCHOOL IDEAS

  • Print these free back to school signs and have a photo shoot so that you can see how much they have changed and grown at the end of the year.

This set includes the first day, last day, and individual grade levels for all ages.

Include their curriculum, favorite read alouds, and extracurricular interests in their photos.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards
  • Take a trip to the library and get their first library card if they have not already done so. What a special memory for the first day of their home learning years.

 Choosing their own books to take home and learning to care for them.

There are so many fantastic learning board games that cover every subject your child might need to cover-math, science, history, geography, language arts, and they also teach social skills and more.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards
  • Make some handprint art to commemorate how little their hands were. I have lots of great handprint art ideas to choose from-summer themes to 3D volcano creations.
  • Decorate a bit.

Make a big deal out of the first day by adding in some inexpensive decorations like a banner on the mantle.

Or a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils here and there, or a notebook paper runner for the kitchen table help set the scene in a super fun way.

  • Give a back-to-school themed gift.

If you are doing a co-op a cute backpack for supplies is really fun, a character themed pencil pouch they would love, fresh art supplies, or a new water bottle for field trips even.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards
  • Have a homeschool supply scavenger hunt, below I have a two free printables and ideas for making a memorable scavenger hunt

MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

FREE SCAVENGER HUNT CARDS

So, this two part printable gives you a quick and easy scavenger hunt for your child to round up some fresh new school supplies.

 Using a little brain power and their feet also helps wake them up for the day.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

Hide their new supplies in each of the designated areas while you are enjoying your quiet morning cup- by the coffee pot, under the table, near the toothbrushes, etc

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

Read each clue out loud to your child or have an older sibling read them.

Help your child discover each of their new school supplies they will need to get started and then round them up at the kitchen table (or wherever you are going to be working together) and get your day started.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

Give your child a basket to gather up their supplies

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

FREE MY KINDERGARTEN BOOK

After they complete their scavenger hunt they can use the supplies to fill in this little keepsake printable book.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

It has a place to write their name, put a handprint, draw their family, tell what they want to be when they grow up and more.

Cut each page in half and have your child complete the pages and then assemble the book by stapling down the left side.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

You don’t have to complete it on day one.

First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards

You can use the whole first week to fill out the pages and savor these moments with your brand new kindergartener.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SCAVENGER HUNT CARDS AND ABOUT ME KINDERGARTEN BOOK

Now, how to grab the freebies. They are subscriber freebies.

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

1) Sign up on my email list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Stellaluna kindergarten activities are fun and make for great literature-based science lessons as well. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

I am bringing you a simple and inexpensive coffee filter bat craft.

Too, I have 8 more activity ideas and some cool resources for Stellaluna inspired fun.

If you don’t already have the book I highly suggest you grab a copy.

It is a sweet read all year long and will become a favorite classic of both you and your child.

8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

Bats are amazing flying mammals that come in all shapes and sizes.

They live all over the world, except for Antarctica.

They are nocturnal.

That means they sleep during the day and fly around at night and use their special echolocation ability to navigate and find food in the dark.

Bats eat mainly insects and fruit.

They are a very important part of our ecosystem because they help control the insect population and pollinate plants.

Bats don’t have to be scary if you know why they are good to have around.

We will dive into nature study, STEM, reading, life skills, and more as we learn about this sweet little bat and her journey.

Bat Books for Kids

Also, add some bat books to your reading list.

I prefer living books then add reference books.

9 Books and Resources for Kids Who Love Bats

Add some of these fun books and resources about bats for a hands-on day of learning.

Stellaluna 25th Anniversary Edition

Knocked from her mother’s safe embrace by an attacking owl, Stellaluna lands headfirst in a bird’s nest. This adorable baby fruit bat’s world is literally turned upside down when she is adopted by the occupants of the nest and adapts to their peculiar bird habits. Two pages of notes at the end of the story provide factual information about bats. “Delightful and informative but never didactic; a splendid debut.”--Kirkus Reviews

National Geographic Readers: Bats

They live in spooky caves, in forests, even in the dark reaches of ordinary attics and bridges. They flock by the hundreds, and they sleep while hanging upside down! In this beautifully photographed Level 2 Reader, kids learn about one of the most interesting creatures around—and discover the bat’s unique place in the wild and in the world. The high-interest topic, expertly written text, and bonus learning activity lay the groundwork for a successful and rewarding reading experience.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Bats (New & Updated Edition)

Though people often think of bats as scary, bats are really shy, gentle animals. There are nearly 1000 different species of bats, and they live on every continent except Antarctica. Some are tiny, but the giant flying fox bat has a five-foot wingspan! Popular science author Gail Gibbons also discusses the efforts to protect the world's only truly flying mammals. A final page offers additional facts.

Bats of the World

The natural history and evolution of bats- Important identifying features- Habitats, migration patterns, and common mating practices- The status of various endangered bat species

Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species

Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species explores bats and their fundamental role in our ecosystems through lavish full-color photographs and lively narrative. From the Giant Golden Crowned Flying Fox, a megabat with a wingspan of more than five feet, to the aptly named Bumblebee Bat, the world's smallest mammal, the number and diversity of bat species have proven to be both rich and underestimated. Nocturnal, fast-flying, and secretive, bats are difficult to observe and catalog. This richly illustrated handbook presents bats' evolution, biology, behavior, and ecology. It offers in-depth profiles of four hundred megabats and microbats and detailed summaries of all the species identified to date. Complete with an introduction exploring bats' natural history and their unique adaptations to life on the wing, Bats includes close-up images of these animals' delicate and intricate forms and faces, each shaped by evolution to meet the demands of an extraordinarily specialized life.

Bat Plush, Stuffed Animal

  • Even if the nocturnal life is not for you; this plush toy bat will be ready to play.

    • Stuffed animals are the perfect gift for any age or occasion.

    The Secret Lives of Bats: My Adventures with the World's Most Misunderstood Mammals

    Stories and science surrounding the beloved bat, from an ecologist who has dedicated his life to the curious creature.

    Few people realize how sophisticated and intelligent bats are. Merlin Tuttle knows, and he has stopped at nothing to find and protect them on every continent they inhabit. Sharing highlights from a lifetime of adventure and discovery, Tuttle takes us to the frontiers of bat research to show that frog-eating bats can identify frogs by their calls, that some bats have social sophistication similar to that of higher primates, and that bats have remarkable memories. Bats also provide enormous benefits by eating crop pests, pollinating plants, and carrying seeds needed for reforestation. They save farmers billions of dollars annually and are essential to a healthy planet. Tuttle’s account
    forever changes the way we see these poorly understood yet fascinating creatures.

    Dissect-It Simulated Synthetic Lab Dissection - Bat

    REALISTIC AND SAFE EXPERIENCE – Made out of gelatin-like material that is absolutely safe for children, our Dissect-It Bat gives the realistic experience of a dissection without the use of a real bat!

    Stellaluna is a story about a baby fruit bat who gets separated from her mother and ends up in a nest of baby birds.

    The baby birds are afraid of Stellaluna at first because she looks different from them.

    But Stellaluna is a kind and curious bat, and she soon makes friends with the baby birds.

    Stellaluna learns how to eat like a bird and fly like a bird.

    But she also misses her mother and her bat family.

    One night, Stellaluna hears her mother’s call and flies to her.

    Stellaluna is so happy to be reunited with her family, but she also knows that she will always be friends with the baby birds.

    Stellaluna Kindergarten Questions

    Here are some questions you can ask your child after reading Stellaluna:

    • What is the moral of the story of Stellaluna?
    • Why were the baby birds afraid of Stellaluna at first?
    • How did Stellaluna make friends with the baby birds?
    • What did Stellaluna miss about her mother and her bat family?
    • How did Stellaluna feel when she was reunited with her family?
    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities

    1. Make Flying Bat Straw Rockets for fun but also to teach some simple STEAM concepts like measuring the distance your bat flies and do different models make a difference?
    2. I have not just 1 but 4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten including studying bat anatomy and a really cute bat sensory bin.
    3. Not only does learning How to Build a Bat House For Kids teach your child empathy and kindness for small creatures but it wonderfully works in a natural life skill with a built in shop class.
    4. Create this easy peasy Flying Paper Tube Bat Craft by upcycling something that would end up in the trash.
    5. Incorporate the simplest of math activities by printing and using these Bat Shape Mats to use with play dough.
    6. I just love this Mosaic Bat Craft For Kids that can be used as an art project or take the next step and label the parts of the bat in this mosaic creation.
    7. Take it to the next level and create a diorama with 5 Easy Bat Stem Activities and Create a STEM Bat Habitat.
    8. Watch Science Tek Bats on PBS to learn more about the important role bats play in their ecosystem.
    • Besides just being a fun craft, you can use your coffee filter bat to talk about the parts of a bat, and also teach or reinforce positional words as you move it-over, below, on, beside, etc… on the stick.

    In Stellaluna the little bat is not sure about the way he is supposed to hang…or sit.

    This is a wonderful time to talk about bats and how they fly, hang, and more.

    MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

    Finally, look at how to make this bat craft.

    How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    You will need:

    • Coffee filters
    • Brown liquid watercolor
    • Wooden clothespin
    • Brown pipe cleaner
    • Google eyes
    • Glue
    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    First, add a little water to liquid watercolor in a bowl to thin it out.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Soak clothespins in watercolor for a few minutes, flipping it to a new side every so often.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Have your child paint or dip coffee filters into the watercolor until soaked, squeeze out excess and allow to dry completely.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Fold dry filters in half and then in half again, cut a couple of half circles up the sides to create the wing shape.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Open the wings so the filter is just folded over once, gather a bit and insert in the open clothespin.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Cut ½” pieces of pipe cleaner to use as little clutching feet.

    Use pieces of leftover scraps from the filter to cut small ears, hot glue to one side at the top.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Flip over and hot glue eyes and the small pieces of pipe cleaner for feet onto the other side.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    Your cute little bat is ready to take flight or hang out on a little limb you grabbed from the yard.

    8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    A kindergarten math game is the best way to teach your child basic math concepts. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

    Your child has fun and that helps him retain what he’s learning.

    I took an old school favorite and moved it from a deck of cards to one of our favorite craft supplies, wooden popsicle sticks.

     It is just fun and unique, making a ho-hum game a little bit more exciting.

    Gameschooling is a fantastic idea, especially for younger children.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    And it is a great way to introduce the simplest math concepts.

    At the kindergarten level typically kid start learning number recognition,

    Additionally, they learn counting, addition and subtraction, shapes, patterns, comparing, time, months of the year, and the days of the week.

    While it may seem very basic, this game really teaches a lot of great skills to young children.

    Not only is it good for math but this simple game has many other benefits that help develop strong minds.

    Why Go Fish Makes a Great Kindergarten Math Game

    Provides a sense of accomplishment to little learners.

    When kids successfully collect pairs, they feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

    This game is just plain fun!

    Go Fish is an engaging game that kids of all ages enjoy playing and even adults can have fun with this one.

    Teaches basic math skills. Go Fish helps kids practice basic math skills like number recognition.

    Develops memory skills. Kids have to remember which cards they have and which cards they need to ask for.

    Encourages social interaction. It teaches kids to learn how to take turns, follow rules, and interact with others.

    Promotes language development. Kids can practice their communication skills by asking for cards and describing the cards they have.

    Holding onto the cards or in this case, sticks helps to develop fine motor skills.

    Math Resources for Kindergarten

    Also, look at these fun hands-on resources and games for learning about math.

    7 Kindergarten Math Games & Resources

    Add some of these fun kindergarten math games and resources for hands-on math.

    Melon Rind Clumsy Thief Junior Math Game

    • GAME-CHANGING FUN : A hilarious game of give and take where kids develop confidence and solid math skills. Every player has fun as cards are constantly changing hands!
    • EASY TO LEARN: Players look at their dealt hand for any two cards that add to 10 to make food stacks. Get stacks from other players if you have a card in your hand that makes 10 when added to the top card of an opponent's stack. Thief cards take food stacks. Trap cards stop the Thief cards. All players are actively adding and snatching. The player with the most cards wins!

    ThinkFun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game | Perfect for Kids

    • LEARNING THROUGH PLAY: ThinkFun's Zingo 1-2-3 provides a fun and engaging way for kids to develop critical skills like counting, simple addition, number sense, and word recognition

    Math Dice Junior Game - Engaging Math Skills Builder |

    • MENTAL AGILITY ENHANCER: This game is designed to enhance mental math skills and cognitive abilities among kids aged 6 and up - a fun way to learn.
    • QUALITY AND TRUST: With over 50 million games sold worldwide, ThinkFun is a global leader when it comes to brain-busting puzzles and engaging games.
    • CRITICAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: The gameplay offers a stealth learning experience where kids can develop early math skills while having fun.

    Mathswatters Addition & Subtraction Game - 99 Pieces for Age 5+ Kids,

    • Swat, Learn, and Win!: Kids grab a swatter, add or subtract, and swat their way to new kindergarten math skills every time they play these fast-paced math games for kids!
    • Multiple Ways to Play: Designed for 1-4 players, these smart games for kids comes with many ways to play and learn—compete head-to-head, or boost with solo play!

    Math Scramble Game,Educational Games for Kids,

    • BUILD new elementary math skills with this strategy tile game!
    • RACE to build and solve addition and subtraction equations--first one to use all their tiles wins!
    • MULTIPLE ways to learn math skills, both solo or with up to 3 friends!

    MOBI Kids Fun Math Games for Kids 4-8

    • ✅ Objective: Help build confidence and social skills in children but engages the entire family young and old by teaching and reinforcing basic math skills in a cool entertaining game setting. Parents and teachers will love this for beginner’s.
    • ✅ How To Play: Each player selects one set of number tiles. Each toy set contains the exact same numbers. Players then connect their number tiles to form equations using operation tiles. The first player to connect all their number tiles wins!

    Big Time Student Clock, Teaching & Demonstration Clock

    Hidden gear mechanism automatically advances the hour hand when the minute hand is manually manipulated

    Don’t forget that you can also use dice or playing cards for many math practice games as well.

    MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

    Craft Stick Go Fish Kindergarten Math Game

    Play is just like the classic go fish game with cards but using numbered craft sticks instead.

    If you need a refresher, I included basic instructions at the bottom to fit the sticks better.

    Besides the basic go fish game, kids can use these numbered craft sticks as an interactive number line, or to add and subtract simple numbers.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    Put a pair of each number face down on the table and mix them up to use for a classic memory game.

    (Heads up. All of my games and hands-on ideas are tried and tested on littles. Guaranteed to have fun AND learn.)

    You will need:

    • 40-80 Jumbo craft sticks
    • Paint markers
    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    First, write each number on the top of 4 craft sticks, be sure to write it clearly. 

    Add dots to match the number to help kids that don’t quite recognize all their numbers yet.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    If you want to let your child have a little more involvement you can let them paint or draw on the backside of the sticks to add their own touch.

    Let the paint dry completely then add all the sticks, numbers down, into a container that cannot be seen through.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    How to Play:

    Each person grabs 6 random sticks from the container and lays down any matches that they pick up.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    Take turns asking one another for numbers you need, if you have it, hand it over, and the new match is laid down in front of the player.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    Otherwise tell them to “go fish”, they then draw one more stick.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    Continue until someone runs out of sticks and then have your child count how many pairs they have, the one with the most pairs is the winner.

    How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks

    Replace all sticks, mix them up, and go again!

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    When thinking of an idea for kindergarten sensory bin ideas I came up with a theme perfect to cap off summer while introducing kindergarten concepts. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

    What do you think of when you think of summer?

    For a preschooler headed to kindergarten they have probably spent their summer in the sand.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Or at the pool, splashing in sun shower puddles, kites, sidewalk chalk, and enjoying drippy popsicles.

    So, popsicles it is.

    This is a fun and inexpensive way to practice letter recognition and matching, not to mention the other wonderful benefits of sensory bins.

    Sensory bins are also fabulous for toddlers through middle elementary kids to introduce and reinforce new themes.

    Also, they encourage creative play, and sensory input.

    They can also be used as a fun way to teach simple concepts like alphabet matching.

    Kindergarten is a time of exploration and big learning leaps making it a great time to introduce or continue using bins for learning.

    Add another level of learning to the sensory bin learning by adding in some ABC tiles, books, or flashcards.

    Also, this is one of my favorite books for learning about the letters.

    Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

    Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is one of my favorites for learning letters, bright and fun with singsong rhymes. Kids love it.

    Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Chicka Chicka Book, A)

    There is always enough room on your child’s bookshelf for this rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children’s favorite for over thirty years!A told B, and B told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree” In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!

    Besides my summer sensory bin, I have 10 more amazing kindergarten themed sensory bins to make your whole year of learning fun and memorable.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas

    Whatever the theme you need to cover I can guarantee there is a creative sensory bin to go along with it.

    1. For another summer theme, learn How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learn to reinforce letter sounds and thematic concepts.
    2. Here, learn How to Dye Rice & Make Mini Sensory Bins
    3. Kids start with learning how to identify and spell out their own name first, making this Magnetic Letter Name Search Sensory Bin a great place to start.
    4. If you need something to do with all of those shells you brought home from the beach this summer, create a Seashell Alphabet Sensory Bin with them.
    5. These 4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities include a neat bat sensory bin
    6. Make a Construction Site Sensory Bin to go along with not only a construction themed unit but for community helpers as well.
    7. Use the Farm Harvest Sensory Bin to teach your child about the seasons of planting and harvest.
    8. Make teaching numbers a snap with a Number Recognition Sensory Bin that you can easily develop into simple addition and subtraction problems for your cold to figure out.
    9. Is your kindergartener reading sight words already? Check out this Kindergarten Sight Words Sensory Bin.
    10. This Apple Pie Sensory Bin can go in so many theme directions- A is for Apple, farm, fall, or a cooking unit.
    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

    Kindergarten Sensory Bin Resources

    • Sensory Bin
    • Letters
    • Numbers
    • Sensory Bin Tools
    • Kinetic Sand for Filler

    How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    You will need:

    • Large shallow bin
    • Shred paper filler
    • Craft foam
    • Wooden craft sticks
    • Paint marker
    • Pompoms, pipe cleaners, etc…
    • Alpha tiles/letters
    • Scissors
    • Hot glue gun/sticks
    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    First, start by adding a base layer to your sensory bin.

    A shredded paper from the dollar store is a great choice because it’s inexpensive, comes in a variety of colors, and is reusable for many applications.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    I also threw in some colorful pom poms to give it a little more splash of color.

    Twist some pipe cleaners around your finger to make a fun little spring shape that adds more color, texture, and dimension to your bin.

    And add some letter beads to continue with the ABC theme in our bin.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Cut out popsicle shapes, twice, you will need a front and back for every popsicle.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Run a line of hot glue along the top and sides of one half and then press the other piece onto the top and let it cool.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Now on the popsicle use a paint marker, sharpies run, to write either a lowercase or capital letter

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Finally, write the opposite letter (lowercase or uppercase) on a stick.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    Place “popsicles” in the sensory bin either together or separate with some buried to encourage your child to search through for matches.

    You can also add in cups, scoops, tongs, spoons, etc. for your child to investigate the filler and learn about measuring and more.

    I highly recommend capping off this activity with a real popsicle to enjoy.

    10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Check out these 8 best summer unit studies for kindergarten. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum. And other ideas on my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

    Too, I have a free ant study with tons of great resources and a step-by-step tutorial to create your own ant model.

    With a quick trip to Dollar Tree, you can get everything you need to make this detailed and display worthy ant model.

    All the while you teach your child all about ant anatomy.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    These tiny little powerhouses are fascinating.

    Ants are one of the world’s strongest creatures in relation to its size.

    One ant can carry up to 50 times its body weight.

    They are classified as insects as they are invertebrates with jointed legs and hard outer coverings called exoskeletons.

    They have three main body parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen.

    And most adult insects have six legs and one or two pairs of wings, as well as antennae.

    You will enjoy this ant study as much as your child.

    And if you work in a few books, videos, and fun hands-on activities you have everything you need for a knowledge hungry kindergartener to learn all about ants.

    Summer is full of beach trips, flowers, backyard birds, ice cream, gardening, and more.

    This is a great time to dive deep into those topics with fun unique studies on each one.

    Here are enough ideas to get you through the summer with a couple weeks free or to continue a longer study.

    Books About Ants for Kids

    First, look at these books about ants.

    I prefer living books when I can find them, then like to add reference books so all ages can be included in your study.

    9 Ant Books & Resources For Kids

    Add some of these fun books about ants to your home library.

    Ant Cities (Lets Read and Find Out Books)

    Did you ever wonder where an ant goes when it disappears into an anthill? Underneath the hill, there are miles of tunnels and hundreds of rooms!

    In this Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children (NSTA/CBC), Arthur Dorros uses simple, easy-to-understand words and colorful illustrations to guide early readers on the life of a harvester ant—and even shows readers how to build their own ant farms.

    This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It's a Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are:

    The Life and Times of the Ant

    Not mighty in size, but mighty in resourcefulness and industry, the ant has crawled the earth since prehistoric times. It has dwelt in rainforest tree trunks and acorns of oak trees, beneath logs, and under sidewalks. It has protected forests by capturing insects, cleared weeds away from acacia trees, and by growing gardens has released important nutrients into the soil. Seed lifters, dirt diggers, social beings, ants have the most advanced brain of all insects! So watch where you step, especially on a warm day: a small but mighty ant may be underfoot.

    Wonders of the Anthill

    Exactly as the title implies. A description of the daily routine of an ant's life cycle.

    Amazing Ants. A Kid's Book of Cool Facts and Pictures of Ants

    Please note that this book is not for toddlers. It is better for children ages 8 and up.This engaging and informative book introduces kids to the world of ants.This fun book is packed with cool facts, illustrations, and pictures of ants.It's perfect for inspiring kids to learn more about these amazing creatures. Whether it's a science fair project, a report, or for pure enjoyment, this book is a great source of information for the ant enthusiast.

    Life Cycle of an Ant Set - Realistic Ant Development Stages

    • Educational Journey: The Life Cycle of an Ant Set takes children on an enlightening journey from the tiny white eggs to the industrious adult ants. The set includes figurines depicting four stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult ant.
    • Realistic Representation: The set accurately mirrors the development stages and colors of ants, making it a powerful educational tool that blends learning and play.

    Ants for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Queens, Drones, and the Hidden World of Ants

    Ants are scurrying, social creatures with unique abilities to carry huge loads, work as a team, and fiercely protect their colony. This book gives you a microscopic look into the hidden world of ants, answering all your big questions about our small, hardworking neighbors. Learn fun facts about flat headed Turtle Ants, wide-eyed Gigantiops, and many more. Explore colorful photos and cool profiles on how big each ant is, what they eat, where they're found, and more!

    The City Under the Back Steps

    Down beneath the ground they are herded, to the city under the back steps and the complex world of the ant colony. Here where the haughty Queen rules with an iron hand, each of her subjects has a vital role to perform, and Jill and Craig are put to work. But no sooner had they become involved in the daily routine of the colony when an army of red ants sweeps down, threatening the destruction of the city and its
    inhabitants, including Jill and Craig!

    Evelyn Sibley Lampman's exciting fantasy, sure to ignite an interest in nature, accurately explores the fascinating hierarchy of the ant world.

    The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant)

    Avon the snail has never had an adventure. And adventure, he has heard, is the key to a happy life. So with his new friend Edward the ant, Avon sets out on a journey to find the excitement his life has been missing.This modern fable is filled with funny--and profound--insights about the meaning of things . . . great and small.

    Those Amazing Ants

    A clear, simple text and full-color, richly detailed artwork journey inside an ant colony to provide a close-up look at the lives, behavior, and life cycle of this fascinating insect.

    Too, if you’re planning your unit studies for the year, look at these 8 unit studies for kindergarten.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten

    1. Grab this idea for an ocean or shark unit to build language art skills-Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Fun Sight Word Activity.
    2. Summer is the best time for a Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages with the bright yellow flowers and puffs of seeds just about everywhere you look.
    3. Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam
    4. Get outside and enjoy a Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests as you observe feathered friends in your own yard.
    5. Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
    6. Delicious, this Ice Cream Unit Study is a tasty way to learn about a summer time favorite with a wide variety of hands on ideas.
    7. Learn How to Plan And Start an Easy Gardening Unit Study for Kids, this is easily adaptable for all ages and makes a good family unit.
    8. This Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping is full of great ideas.
    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

    Pack up your picnic and let’s get into this amazing ant study with tasty treats, some great books, and videos.

    Free Ant Unit Study

    Look at these ideas for a fun unit study about ants.

    Hands-on Ideas About Ants

    Ant Math Learning Ideas

    Science Learning Ideas

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    Also, write these ant parts down for your child to have them match to what is the function of the body part.

    • Eyes
    • Hairs
    • Antennae
    • Legs
    • Mandibles
    • Eyes sense motion.
    • Hairs to sense its environment.
    • Antennae helps to taste, smell and feel.
    • Legs clean the antennae.
    • Mandibles to grasp, cut and dig.

    Language Arts Learning Ideas

    • Practice writing the word Ant with this fun worksheet.
    • Have your child explain what is a life cycle and learn the life cycle. For example, egg, larva, pupa and adult.
    • Too, explain there are many kind of ants. There are leafcutter ants which are like farmers, army ants which are hunters and dairying ants with are herders.

    In addition, you can use these words to help your child appreciate what are ants and how they help our environment.

    • insects – air-breathing invertebrates with three body segments, two antennae, three pairs of legs, and normally two sets of wings
    • larvae – wingless, immature form of many insects before developing into pupae
    • invertebrate – lacking a backbone or spinal column
    • nectar – sweet liquid that flowering plants produce to attract insects and birds

    Also read The Life and Times of the Ant and a silly book they’ll love The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant).

    Additionally, if you want to include your older children with unit study or expand it for a very inquisitive learner, look at these other topics.

    • Illustrate an ant colony
    • Describe how they reproduce
    • Delve into learning how they produce ant colonies
    • How do they find and manage their food supply

    How to Make a Simple Ant Model With Kids

    You will need:

    • 3 small styrofoam balls
    • Black paint
    • 2 black beads
    • 3 Pipe cleaners
    • Hot glue gun/sticks
    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    First, cut two pipe cleaners into 3 pieces each for the legs. Cut two more for antennae.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    Paint three small styrofoam balls black all over and allow them to dry.

    I did not have any black pipe cleaners on hand so rather than run out and buy them I just covered them in a coat of black paint all over them.

    Allow them to dry alongside the styrofoam.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    Once everything is completely dry you can begin assembling your ant.

    Start by pressing the six legs into the thorax (center segment) of the ant.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    Next press two black beads into either side of the next ball for a head to make the eyes and add two black pipe cleaner pieces to create antennae.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study

    Finally use a hot glue gun to connect the three segments together, use care not to touch the hot end of the glue gun into the foam or it will melt it.

    Bend the legs into shape.

    8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study