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Easy Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity

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

Today, I have an atom playdough activity.

This year, we’ve been learning some introductory physics with our fourth-grader. And you can’t talk about physics without mentioning the atom.

Atoms are all around us.

They’re even inside us!

Easy Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity

When my son learned that everything in the universe is made up of atoms, he was amazed.

But that led to more questions, such as “What are atoms made of?”

Which is how we ended up learning more about the parts of the atom through this fun label the atom playdough activity!

Pick up the free printable diagram and see how to complete this hands-on science lesson with your kids too!

Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity

To complete this label the atom playdough activity, you’ll need the following:

  • Printer
  • Laminator
  • Assorted playdough (at least three colors)
  • Printable Atom Diagram Playdough Mat (Download this image and then print it as is to make it a full-size printable.)
  • Mini sticky notes
Atom Playdough Mat

The playdough mat shows a basic diagram of an atom, complete with three electrons moving around the nucleus.

Inside the nucleus are two protons (designated with the positive sign) and two neutrons.

Of course, this is a very simplified diagram.

Scientists now know that electrons travel around the nucleus so quickly that they actually tiny electron “clouds”!

Making a Playdough Atom Diagram

After printing and laminating the atom diagram, you can start having the kids add small balls of playdough to fill in the picture.

We started by adding three electrons with green playdough.

Learning about Parts of an Atom

Then we added two red neutrons inside the nucleus.

MORE FOURTH GRADE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

Making an Atom Diagram Out of Playdough

And, finally, two protons made out of blue playdough.

Labeling Parts of an Atom

Now it’s time to label each part of the atom!

We added mini sticky notes to each item on the mat and then labeled them all.

Playdough Atom Labeling Activity

Electrons were first, then the nucleus.

Then we labeled the protons.

Labeling a Playdough Atom

And the neutrons.

Learning About Atoms with Playdough

And we’re done!

This was a quick activity that really helped the kids visualize what’s inside an atom.

It’s truly incredible to know that the movement of the atom is what makes up matter inside and around us.

It’s also neat to discover that atoms are in constant motion, even inside solid objects!

Items that appear to be stable are only stable because the atoms that make them up move super duper slowly.

Easy hands-on science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity

But they’re still moving. The chairs at your dining room table? Yep, the atoms inside are in motion.

The foundation of your house? Its atoms are moving too!

This year, we've been learning some introductory physics with our fourth-grader. And you can't talk about physics without mentioning the atom.Atoms are all around us. They're even inside us! When my son learned that everything in the universe is made up of atoms, he was amazed. But that led to more questions, such as "What are atoms made of?" Click here to make this fun and easy hands-on activity!

If you want to try this activity without playdough, you can print it out and have the kids color it in with markers and then label each item on their own.

Or you can challenge them to draw a similar design themselves!

Ready to share more hands-on science lessons with your kids? Try these fun activities!

Wipe Out Self-Doubt: 13 Ways to Show Homeschool Progress (And How I Know My Sons Got It)

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

Working in the sun 7 days a week and 12 hour days as insurance auto adjusters, my sons have been walking down rows and rows of thousands of cars as they’ve been processing insurance claims at their job.

The vehicles are owned by persons affected by Hurricane Harvey. Recently, the insurance company considerably reduced the amount of staff needed to work the claims; they kept only 5 people to finish up.

My two sons were part of the 5 kept. By the way, although they have worked doing various things, this has been their first real life (don’t you just hate when people use that word with us) job.

THIS is How I Know My Homeschooled Sons Got It

How do they measure up in their first real life job? One of their bosses told the team, “It’s hard to find kids in this generation with a work ethic like these two boys. They are prompt, do what they’re told, work well with the team, and work without complaining.”

Just prior to the boss speaking, the other employees had called attention to the fact that my boys have been homeschooled.

Homeschool progress, achievement, and success is measured differently by everybody.

And you know it’s not been my style to talk a lot about my sons’ achievements. I want my son’s to explore their options during and after homeschool without feeling the need to perform for the public.

However, I do know, like me, you want to know that your day to day efforts of homeschooling are working.

And letting you know how I know that my homeschooled sons got it, I hope that if you’re having nagging feelings of self-doubt that you’ll put them to rest today.

When a student takes initiative in his school every day that practice spills over to real life. Rigorous academics builds character. Giving your kids freedom to demonstrate mastery equips them with a can do spirit that will stick into adulthood.

What I’m saying is that there is a connection between rigorous academics while homeschooling and success later.

I have rounded up 13 ways to show homeschool progress. And although I didn’t use all of them with my older boys, I used a lot of them. Too, not every idea will work with every topic, but they give you a starting point.

ONE/ Student made maps.

Mapmaking and geography for homeschool study. Check out the tips!

Whether you choose for a student to draw a map from memory or label one teaching concepts get mastered.

WonderMaps by Bright Ideas Press

Wondermaps have been our choice of maps. Whatever time period my boys are working on, we can use them as a blank outline or add as much information to them as we want to.

TWO/Field trip notes.

I’ve always insisted that my sons come back with at least three key things we learned on our field trips. Not only was it fun, but I was enforcing that learning takes place outside of a book.

THREE/ Student made powerpoints or webquests.

FOUR/ Create a timeline.

FIVE/ Engage in a mock discussion. If need be, create a limited time co-op.

SIX/ Write narratives.

Writing narrative is a great way for an older student to demonstrate that he understands a subject.

SEVEN/ Student made presentations.

Presentations have been a huge part of not only recognizing achievement but gave my sons impetus to create excellent work. You don’t have to have something as formal as a co-op, but even a small family audience will work.

EIGHT/ Teach the subject back to you or to one of his siblings.

NINE/Keeping a journal.

TEN/Create a song.

ELEVEN/Create a play.

TWELVE/Oral discussions.

Oral discussions with my sons is one way I was able to gauge their progress in literature.

If they couldn’t go beyond telling me the basics of a story using proper literary terms, I knew they really didn’t put forth effort to engage with the literature.

THIRTEEN/ Narration.

Narration is a Charlotte Mason technique that I incorporated into our unit studies. If a child can’t tell back what he read, he doesn’t really understand it. Look at my tips at my post Narration – Telling Back or Testing? Books that Make Teaching Narration Easy Peazy.

Although my sons job right now is tough, it works for them while they are still taking courses. And I’m just as proud of their work ethic as I am of any academic grade they make.

I’ve learned that my focus on cultivating their attitude was just as important as nurturing their aptitude. You can have both.

When a student takes initiative in his school every day that practice spills over to real life. Rigorous academics builds character. Giving your kids freedom to demonstrate mastery equips them with a can do spirit that will stick into adulthood. Grab these 13 creative ways for your child to show mastery! #homeschool

Tests are important, but they’ll never be able to prepare a homeschool child for facing real life. Try one or two of these ways above for your child to demonstrate progress.

Also, you’ll love these articles!

Hugs and love

Free 2018-2019 Academic Year Calendars – Planner Pages

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

Today, I’m rolling out the first two color choices for the 2018-2019 academic year calendars that go in your 7 Step Homeschool Planner.

CURRICULUM PLANNERS

Don’t forget when putting together your homeschool planner that I have calendar pages like the ones today which are to be used for reference purposes, homeschool planning calendars which are to be used for tracking school week, and 2 page per month appointment keepers for tracking appointments.

You’ll want a set of one or more in your homeschool planner each year.

Free 2018 to 2019 Homeschool Year Academic Calendar. Scoot by to grab your copy!

The two color choices I have are breathless and sweet. Because these are calendars used for reference purposes, you’ll want to print a couple of these for your planner.
I print one or more in the front of my homeschool planner and I print another one or two toward the back.

Download Breathless Color Option Here.

These calendar pages can also be used for a front cover although I have created Front Covers on STEP 1.

Free 2018 to 2019 Homeschool Year Academic Calendar. Scoot by to grab your copy!
Download Sweet Color Option Here.

UNIQUE HOMESCHOOL PLANNER

If you’re wanting to grab an appointment keep for the 2018 to 2019 school year you can grab Tide Pool below or visit STEP 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers.

Free 2018 to 2019 Academic Year Homeschool Calendars. Don't forget when putting together your homeschool planner that I have calendar pages like the ones today which are to be used for reference purposes, homeschool planning calendars which are to be used for tracking school week, and 2 page per month appointment keepers for tracking appointments.You'll want a set of one or more in your homeschool planner each year.Grab these AWESOME calendars here!

As I create them, I keep all color choices there on Step 2.

If you haven’t started building your UNIQUE homeschool planner begin by clicking below. I help you every bit of the way with tips and TONS of options.

7 Easy Steps – Tons of Options & Pretty Color

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You! Not a kazillion other people

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

Step 7. Bind it! Love it!

Hugs and love ya,

Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art

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

For years now, we have completed “continent studies” and hands-on geography as a way to learn more about our world and it’s geography as we homeschool. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

The truth is: it was so much easier to do this when they were younger. I selected books from the library, we looked at the pictures of different dwellings and foods, and we colored in maps.

But my boys are older now. The same approach no longer keeps anyone interested for very long (including me!).

In order to keep them engaged and increasing in their overall level of knowledge, I decided it was time for a change.

This year, my boys are each “in charge” of their own continent for a more in depth study. Each month, they pick a topic to cover from their continent and “teach” each other about it.

My youngest chose Australia for his study this year without a second thought.

For his first presentation, he asked me to help him put together a presentation on Australia’s deadly creatures, because animals and danger – I am not sure I need to say more.

See how we used this hands-on Australia unit to study the continent’s awesome and deadly animals!

Hands-On Australia: Awesome and Deadly Animals

You see, I remember being in middle school. I remember preparing presentations to deliver in front of the class.

I remember listening to my friends. As much stress as it caused, I have to admit, I really learned from “teaching back” activities. I want my boys, despite being in a “classroom” of two, to experience the same.

And that’s why this hands-on activity was such a good way for us to learn about geography together!

What You Need:

My son began his research at the library, checking out various books on Australia in general, and a few on the animals themselves. For further investigation, we also watched a YouTube video and looked at various pictures of aboriginal art online.

More Hands-on Australia Activities

Then it was time to get started.

Hands-On Australia Activity

Cutting Out Australian Animal Templates

Our first step was cutting out the templates. We then used them to trace animal outlines onto black construction paper.Then we cut out the traced forms of the jellyfish, shark and snake.

Deadly Australian Animal Templates

(Incidentally, if I could do it all over again, I would eliminate the tracing portion and just have my son use the templates to paint. Cutting each animal out twice was far more scissor action than either of us have seen in a long time.)Next, he glued the black deadly creatures onto brown construction paper backdrops.

Decorating Australian Animals with Paint
Making an Australian Animal Display Board

This color scheme is consistent with what we learned about aboriginal art.Taking the q-tips and the paint with us outside, he carefully “dot painted” each of the black forms, true to aboriginal tradition. The Q-tips make perfect paint brushes and are easy to clean up!

Q Tip Painted Australian Snake

The more my son painted, the more excited he became.

Q-tip dot painting is really easy, even for children with fine motor differences or those who get a little perfectionistic with their art projects.

It looks wonderful, even if the artist struggles a bit with steadiness.

Australian Deadly Animals List

When all three had dried, he attached them to the poster board.

Giving a Report about Deadly Australian Animals

At the last minute, he also decided to add a “cheat sheet” with facts he wanted to share about the different animals (printable) as well as a list of Australia’s Top 10 Deadliest as learned from the video and books.Once his presentation was assembled, his brother and I sat down and he taught us more about Australia’s Box Jellyfish than we ever thought possible!

He did a great job and I had a lot of fun working with him on this project.

If you love hands-on geography, your kids will love some of my favorite hands-on geography programs:

Overview of Activity:

Step 1: Trace and cut-out deadly creatures on black construction paper.
Step 2: Attach to brown construction paper background.
Step 3: “Dot paint” black areas with various colors.
Step 4: Create list and fact sheet about Australia’s deadly creatures.
Step 5: Attach all to posterboard and teach what you’ve learned.

Learning about continents is a way to learn more about our world and its geography as we homeschool. This Australia awesome and deadly animal art activity is not only fun but it gives kids a chance to learn about science too. Click here to do this fun activity if you’re doing a unit study about Australia.

Overall, this hands-on activity worked well for us. It incorporated in a different culture’s art and allowed my son to really dive deep into a subject he is already incredibly passionate about. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!

Learn more about the countries of the world with the hands-on geography activities below!

Written by Shawna at Not the Former Things.

Homeschool Blog Readers Survey Results Are In! (Surprised?)

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

Let’s have some fun today. I put up my annual readers survey and so many of you took the time to answer it. Thank you!

Just so you know, I use my homeschool blog readers survey to plan my blog activities and projects for the upcoming school year.Too, I use it for inspiration for you and me both. My blog has grown as fast as it has only because of you. You’re important to me and I want you to know that.

I love doing this survey because not only do I get to peek at your day through the results, but it lets me target homeschool areas to help you in.

HOMESCHOOL BLOG READERS SURVEY

So, I wanted to let you see where everybody is from and what they had to say.Using my readership for the past year, most of you are living in the U.S., then Canada – eh, (couldn’t resist), and a few from the United Kingdom.

One of the parts that always interested me besides the topics you want me to blog about are the kid’s ages you’re homeschooling right now.Between 6 to 10 years of age is about 63% and another huge range is 11 to 14 years of age, which is 55%.

HOMESCHOOL BLOG READERS SPEAK – I LISTEN

I did like seeing that almost 40% have kids 15 years and up which is high school level. I especially love this age because so many blogs can focus only on the younger years.

Basically you have kids in every age range so I need to be sure my content is well-rounded for each family.

My next very favorite and exciting part is seeing what you want to read about. The largest section, but not by much is my homeschooling tips.

This means you equally want to know about unit studies, want more hands-on ideas, more organization ideas, language art ideas, geography and history and that you love curriculum and product reviews as much as I do.

Then, I have to share a few things you said because we all need encouragement, including me, and you rocked my world with some of your comments.

►I enjoy EVERYTHING you do! I really admire and appreciate the time you put in to publish the things you do, and your generosity is wonderful. You’ve taught me a lot about reaping and sowing. I started out my homeschooling journey with my kids, so gung-ho, but sickness has waned my abilities,and sadly, enthusiasm, for finding new and exciting things for my girls to learn. You and your blog etc, are a great joy to me. Thank you.

►I’m past needing newbie tips, but now I’m facing the transition from elementary to middle grades, and it’s intimidating!

►I would like to know more about what grades you use unit studies and lap books.

►Specifically looking for hands-on history for High School. We can do the reading (love all the books!), but want something hands-on other than a timeline.

►I love everything on your sight.

►Because I love your encouragement and the helps you share. We love you!!!!

►All the above, I’m in our second year and I read all I can get my hands in and yours is one of them.

►and I love your sense of humor!

Homeschool Blog Readers Survey Results Are In! Just so you know, I use my homeschool blog readers survey to plan my activities and projects for the upcoming school year. Click here to see what you want to read on a homeschool blog.You gave me a lot more feedback on exact things you need for your homeschool and I have ALL of your notes about each topic and idea you want to read more about.

Thank you so much for the GREAT feedback. I always value your candor and more than anything, I value your loyalty in following my blog.

Want to read more about what goes on here at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus?

Hugs and love ya,