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How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

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

Your kids will love this fun stained glass fall leaves craft. Too, you can add this activity to my huge fall unit study.

Whether you live in a place where the trees fall leaves will soon be exploding with color or not this is a great time of year to learn about leaves.

Kids want to know why and how they change color and why other areas don’t have as much color.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Some of us stay green year round but we can still appreciate the red, gold, and brown spectacular through pictures or even vacations where we venture north to see it.

Fall is still a great time to study leaves and trees.

Dollar Tree Stained Glass Materials

You can turn a simple leaf appreciation into a mini unit study with this stained leaf fall craft and a few fun hands-on ideas.

I have loads of ideas for you to get started with a unit study.

As always, I like to start a unit study by gathering up some books on the topic at hand, from our own collection, the library, or of course Amazon.

And one of the best parts besides learning about leaves is that the craft materials are all at Dollar Tree for just a few bucks.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Then look at some fun ideas for studying about leaves.

Hands-on Leaf Activities

  • Go on a leaf hunt and find as many leaves as you can, use books or the Leaf Snap App to help identify them.
  • Go on a nature walk around the neighborhood, your property, local, or state park to look for as many species as you can find.
  • For older children you can have them memorize Robert Frost’s Nothing Gold Can Stay or use it for copywork.
  • Make leaf rubbings by putting fall leaves under paper and rubbing across it with the side of a crayon.
  • Make a list of trees and have your child sort them by the two main types- Deciduous and Coniferous.
  • Label the parts of a leaf.
  • Leaf Man

And older children can draw and label a leaf cell.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

This fall craft is great for preschool through high school.

Kids Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

You will get a wide variety of looks from the different skill sets but they all come out looking so pretty and you will cherish their craft.

Look at this list of supplies. You will need:

  • A glass vase, bowl, mug, or candle holder.
  • Fall colored craft paints
  • Black craft paint
  • White school glue
  • Paintbrushes
  • Small containers for each paint color
  • Battery operated tea lights
How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Put about a teaspoon of glue and half that of all the chosen colors into each of your containers.

Stir in just a few drops of water to thin it.

You don’t want it watery just a little thinner to make it spread more easily.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Clean the glass container well with glass cleaner to remove any dirt or oils from your hands, be sure to dry it completely.

Paint splotches of color all over the glass until its completely filled. You don’t want any empty spaces.

If you want to make it look like leaves go ahead, but it is not necessary.

Just do them different shapes and sizes for variety.

We will sharpen up those edges later.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Once the entire surface is painted in color allow it to dry completely.

It really only needs about an hour.

Here is a look at mine completely dry and if you add less paint to the first step you will get an even more translucent look.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Then, you will need a half empty bottle of glue. Dump some out into something with a lid if you need to.

Add some black craft paint into the bottle and shake until combined and it is a nice black color.

This next part is really fun and makes the design come together.

Open the lid of the glue only halfway so that you get a finer stream of glue.

Have your child trace the blobs of paint outlining everything to clean up the edges and create the leaded look of stained glass.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

Next, add details like the veins, the stem, and the midrib (the line up the middle).

Let this part dry completely.

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

Insert a tealight and its ready to glow!

How to Make a Kids Fun Stained Glass Fall Leaves Craft

You can enjoy this fall craft on it’s own or make it part of a mini unit study. Let me know if you did and share your creation with me.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

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

Nothing speaks fall or September more than a fun hands-on apple unit and making dried apples. Add this hands-on activity to my fall unit apple study.

Incorporating cooking into your homeschool is an easy and fun way to include many subjects naturally into the day.

There is so much learning to be had in even the most simple of recipe.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

For fall I thought I would share a delicious dried apple ring recipe.

What is so great about teaching kids to cook? First, they learn to read and follow directions.

Also, they get a lesson in fractions.

Cooking is a Life Skill

Too, cooking boosts a child’s confidence and encourages picky eaters to try something new.

Besides, learning how to cook teaches a child about nutrition.

And introduces science through the various reactions that cooking produces and can strengthen family bonds, teaches responsibility and builds attention skills.

Cooking can be done with everyone from toddlers to high schoolers making it a great family or co-op activity.

So aside from those benefits this recipe opens the door to an opportunity to talk and learn about apples.

It makes a great hands-on start up to a mini apple unit.

Add in some great books, a little apple math, and a few other activities and you have yourself a great mini unit study.

Apple Study Resources

Julia Rothmans anatomy books are great for creating your own unit study.

And both of these books, Food Anatomy and Farm Anatomy, have a great little section on apples.

I highly recommend you add them to your library.

Not only are they pretty reference books but great snippets of information.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Who Was books also make a great addition for reading aloud or independent reading.

Who Was Johnny Appleseed is perfect for this study.

Unit Study Ideas for Apples

Then, here more ideas for a unit study besides the ones on my apple unit study page.

Art Apple Idea.

For art create a picture of a cross section of an apple with watercolor or chalk.

Have your child label the parts of the apple. Toddlers and preschoolers can use half an apple to stamp with paint.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Math Apple Idea.

Use fresh apples to weigh, measure, test density, cut them up and work on fractions, compare apple prices in the grocery flier.

Science Apple Idea.

Make a volcano in a cored out apple with baking soda and vinegar.

Test the ability of various liquids to keep apples from turning brown and test your five senses by using them to sample apples.

Geography/History Apple Idea.

Learn about Johnny Appleseed, research where the most apples are grown and mark it on a print out map.

How to Make Easy Dried Apple Slices

Next, let’s make this fun hands-on activity.

If you want to use your dried apple slices for a craft like potpourri, a dried apple garland or wreath instead of eating, simply leave the sugar out of the mixture.

Once dried you can add fragrance or essential oils to them to make the scent stronger.

Choose your favorite variety but some of the best apples for baking are :

  • Gala
  • Honeycrisp
  • Pink Lady
  • Fuji
  • Red or Green Delicious

You will need:

  • 4 medium-large apples
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice ( about 1 lemons worth)
Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Directions:

Preheat oven to 225℉. First decide if you want your peel on.

If not go ahead and peel your apples. We left ours on for all the additional nutrients.

Slice your apples very thinly.

You can do this with a knife or a mandolin which is a wonderful kitchen gadget to have for slicing fruits and veggies thin and uniform.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

The easiest and safest way for kids to core apples is by slicing them then laying them out on a cutting board and using a lid from a water or soda bottle to cut out the center.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Stir together cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, and lemon juice.

Place your apple slices in a gallon ziplock bag and pour the mixture over the top.

Shake the bag and move the apples around gently until they are completely coated in the mixture.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Place apples in a single layer on baking sheets, 4 apples should take up about 2 large baking sheets, maybe 3.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Bake for  2  to 2 ½ hours until the edges curl up and they are lightly browned. You want pretty much all the moisture out of them.

Store in an airtight container. They are good for up to a week on the counter.

Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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

Day 13 streamline record keeping is about homeschool record keeping for Day 13 of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

I confess that when I first started homeschooling, record keeping was one fact weighing heavy on my mind.

It even affected my view of homeschooling not for the long term. I admit it.

I was sure that when the time came that I would send my son to high school because I felt he would be missing out on something. (By the way, my first son graduated 2013 and the other ones never ever went to high school. Too much goodness at home.)

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Little did I appreciate then that my son’s high school years would be filled with unique, precious, memorable, practical and rigorous skills that I could offer him as I continued homeschooling. 

Record keeping would be a cinch. But, I will save my rant on that until Day 25: Homeschooling Happily Through High School.

Streamlined Record Keeping

Then to complicate my stress level about record keeping in my humble beginnings I lived in fear or at least had some anxiety about the homeschool laws changing so drastically that I would be called on to produce documents for my children at a moment’s notice.

Somewhere lurked the homeschool police that only lived in my community.

As my confession continues, I touched on Day 7:Tied Up With Testing of negative effects of schooling when you school by the “what if” mentality.

All I managed to do was have sleepless nights and worry got me nowhere.

I feel better now that I confessed.

Although it would be nice to be worry-free, the truth of it is that it is hard to homeschool completely stress free.

Any challenge brings responsibility, but it also brings life time benefits that have been worth every bit of self-imposed distress.

It really is a wonder that I even managed to have enough energy to focus on teaching my sons.

So I hope that I can ease your fears and lighten your load by explaining how to approach this subject.

5 Reasons to Homeschool Record Keep

Dividing this up into topics, you can determine where along the record keeping path you are at right now.

5 Reasons to Record Keep When Homeschooling @ Tina Dynamic Homeschool plus

What to Keep?

As you can see from the above reasons to record keep, it can really be divided into two categories.

Unofficial documents or those that are for your eyes only and official documents that are mostly needed for high school and college.

Relax if you have younger children because you have plenty of time to mull over a method that will work for you.

My method changed drastically when I worried about this in Kindergarten and then when my son actually got to high school. You will be a pro by then.

Unofficial Record Keeping.

  • Keep their “first” writing assignments.
  • Keep awards earned.
  • Keep crafts.
  • Keep first drawings.
  • Keep first hands-on designs and projects.
  • Keep standardized tests you administer.

Keep things you decide YOU can’t part with.

{I have tried not to shed a tear as I have been writing this series, but long tears stream when I see their work in preschool and I end up keeping most of it.)

Official Record Keeping.

Whether you have to report to an agency or not, you want their grades in high school documented.

  • Keep field trip logs.
  • Keep awards earned.
  • Keep up with community volunteer service.
  • Keep up with trips abroad for older students.
  • Keep work records.
  • Keep attendance records.
  • Keep standardized tests.
  • Keep a diary or journal.

Where am I suppose to keep all of this?

One thing we all have in common is that most of us clamor for more book shelves and room for our lifestyle that is quickly growing with books and supplies.

However, where and how to store and keep records and deciding what to keep and not keep is very different for each homeschooler.

Look at these solutions below.

  • Can you take a picture or scan items, then toss it?
  • A virtual online year book can store memories.

Folders, expandable pocket folders color coordinated for each child, and color coordinated notebooks for each child works too. I used the system for a while and even notebooks.

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp

BUT, after 5, 6 and more years down the road, it can get more challenging.

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp
image

Long Term Homeschool Storage @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

For many years, I have used press board report covers by Wilson Jones side bound, pressboard because I could extend the brads as I added in work and the covers were moisture resistant as I put away each year in the attic.

This is the kind of folder where the top and back cover are two separate pieces. I have one color for each child and labeled by grade. Too, I wanted something where the pages could hang out or extend because a lot of work in younger grades is on bigger paper.

Because this is stored away in totes in the attic, it is okay if the pages stick out because the binders are stored upright.

Using thick notebooks is good too for long term storage if it will be kept in a cool area and you can add pockets for storing small crafts that you can’t part with when they were preschoolers. I have separate pockets for storing things like that.

Another thought is to coil bind some of your papers.

Your office supply guy make not like seeing you come, but then again you are storing memories. I actually have some of my boy’s math papers coil bound because they are mostly the same size.

Hidden Storage Places in Your Home

Hidden storage spaces like attics, the top part of a closet, underneath the stairs and underneath the bed provide excellent places to store long term.

Source: Home DIT (Please Pin from Original Sources)

Padded storage trunks or chest that doubles as a night stand or table is also a wonderful niche for storing long term items. Company that sits in your living room will never know that under that beautiful table is a hidden treasure of several years of work.

If you keep more than you need for the first few years, it is okay.

Security counts when you are new to homeschooling and you are the only one to determine at night if you sleep sound because you kept a field trip log.

You can come back later and declutter because then you will see that your children are making progress.

Streamlined record keeping is a must in homeschool, but it can be personal, unique and distinct to your needs. Even in high school, you can accomplish stream line record keeping.

Embrace record keeping.

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

Who is Tina Robertson

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

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

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

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

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

Also, look at a few other things about me.

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

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

I cherish keeping my children’s hard work and seeing my earlier mistakes.

Start slowly by adjusting your thinking to realize that you have the flexibility and freedom to make and adjust any “official” records that you may need. Control does allay fears. You are the teacher now.

Have you determined what you will keep and have a starting out niche to keep it in?

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-12 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp

School Year 2023-2024 Homeschool Planning Schedules Beautiful Forms

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

Today I have the 2023 to 2024 homeschool planning schedule for your homeschool planner ready early.

Sometimes having both the current homeschool schedule and marking the next school year in your planner can be helpful.

My homeschool planning schedules allow you to plan your year whether you homeschool year round or not.

The planning schedule begins July, 2023 and ends June, 2024.

School Year 2023-2024 Homeschool Planning Schedules Beautiful Forms

Even if you started in August or September, you can use the schedule because it is twelve months.

Remember, I create both academic and physical year calendars.

Although the homeschool planning schedule calendars may seem similar to plain calendars, let me assure you they are not.

Three Different Homeschool Calendars

And I create three different types of calendars each year.

The three different types of calendars I prepare each year are.

  1. Regular calendar for reference. I normally put two or three in my planner.
  2. A planning schedule like I have today which I create both an academic and physical year.
  3. Then the two page per month calendar for tracking appointments.

Also, you need at least one of each type of calendar in your homeschool planner.

School Year 2023-2024 Homeschool Planning Schedules Beautiful Forms

However, you want to know best how to use it.

Homeschool Planning Schedule

Here are some features and sections it has.

  • 12 months on one page so if you school year round, you can still track;
  • is a calendar where highlight weeks you plan to homeschool and mark out weeks you take off;
  • is used to track each day and total weeks by writing down; and

it has a comprehensive key box at the bottom of the form for you to note things like first day of school, holidays, quarters, and goals for days and weeks to homeschool.

Look at my samples below in how to use the planning calendar.

School Year 2023-2024 Homeschool Planning Schedules Beautiful Forms

Finally, having a plan to begin your homeschooling year with sets you up for success.

Other Homeschool Planner Resources

School Year 2023-2024 Homeschool Planning Schedules Beautiful Forms

More Planner Resources

How to Get the Free Planner Schedule

This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my Exclusive Subscriber’s Only Library and you get this freebie too.

This is how you get access quickly.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you.
►3) Look for the automatic reply giving you the password to the private subscriber’s area. You should have it soon.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Day 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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

Creative storage solutions is our next topic. Today is day 12 creative storage solutions for the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

I think homeschooling storage epitomizes the meaning of creative storage solutions.

Thinking outside of the box starts on your first day of homeschooling and you just keep reinventing as you go along.

I found out that I had quite a few things at my house that with a little tender loving care could be turned into storage or at least be used in our school area.

Day 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Though it’s not storage, something as simple as updating a lamp shade to bring it to your school room gives you a sense of empowerment or starting fresh.

Day 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Of course, a little orange in my house doesn’t hurt anybody either.

Take a look below at the medley of things I have collected from the around the web that could easily be used as storage.

Homeschool Storage

Do you have something like this at your home that you can remodel, repair or refinish?

Source: The Pleated Poppy

I loved how she used wood crates to create a space. A little paint and you have beautiful and unique!

Source: Hello Kiddo

How many different things can you find to make into a  bookshelf?

Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool

Source: Schoolgirl Style

I shared my color coordinating binders on Day 8: Organize Your Home Then School and look how this idea is implemented. 

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

Who is Tina Robertson

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

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

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

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

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

Also, look at a few other things about me.

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

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

Your imagination is your limit when it comes to color coordinating everything.

Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool

Source: Little Brags

A tool box for craft storage. I luv.

Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool

Source: Somewhat Simple

She created preschool stations with these bins. Lovely!

image

Source: Becoming Martha

Homeschool Storage Ideas

Make your school room unique by creating things you need and like!

image

Source: Decorascao

Isn’t this beautiful and thrifty? Gorgeous.

image

Source: That’s My Letter

These beautiful diy chalkboard easels are so creative and useful.

Weekly-Workbox-Grid-visual-organizer-for-homeschool-copy.png

Source: Homeschool Creations

Look at the way Jolanthe organizes her homeschool. She uses a system called Workboxes by Susan Patrick

I love the way she modified the system to fit her family. She uses folders and a grid instead of strips. Be sure to check out her post: Our New Workbox System ~ Workbook Weekly Grid

Look at how Kathy has set up her workboxes and she has some free printables for her system too.

And again, look how Kristen modified that same system to work for her family by using At A Glance Charts.

Source: Preschoolers and Peace.

Look too at how Kendra put her twist on this system.

Source: Squidoo Workboxes by SpellOutLoud

If you can’t get enough then go to the Squidoo Lens kept by Maureen at Spell Out Loud to see more. There are some wonderful ideas there.

Day 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Are the creative juices flowing yet? I hope you are inspired to use some of these ideas to make your learning a place that is both beautiful to learn in and a place for creative storage.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-11 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

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Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool