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How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

November 12, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to make a squirrel nest sensory bin with preschoolers is not only a fun activity but a great time to teach preschoolers about nests, season changes and squirrels. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

As the leaves start to change and acorns begin to drop, fall is the perfect time to bring nature indoors.

One of my favorite hands-on activities for this season is a squirrel’s nest sensory bin. For a squirrel-themed bin, you can fill it with items inspired by what squirrels gather and where they live.

How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

And sensory play is a natural fit to make learning meaningful.

Beside you can have conversation with your littles about animal behavior, hibernation, and habitats.

Encourage your child to tell a story about the squirrel. For example, ask your child where does it live and what is it collecting. Adding a small squirrel figurine can inspire play and build narrative skills.

BOOKS ABOUT SQUIRRELS FOR KIDS

16 Books & Resources For Kids Who Love Reading About Squirrels

If your child loves reading about all kinds of squirrels, they’ll love reading these books and add some of these fun resources to your unit study.

Image for Arctic Ground Squirrel: Pictures and Fun Facts on Animals for Kids

Arctic Ground Squirrel: Pictures and Fun Facts on Animals for Kids

The Arctic ground squirrel looks small, harmless and innocent. But this little creature survives some of the most challenging weather conditions that occur on the entire planet. It lives in the Arctic, which is literally on top of the world. In the winter it gets so cold that humans couldn't survive in the open!

Image for The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (Peter Rabbit)

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (Peter Rabbit)

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is an original classic by Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter's famous tale of a naughty squirrel who loses his tail is as popular today as it was when it was first published over 100 years ago. Join Nutkin, his brother Twinkleberry and all his cousins as they make their way over to Owl Island to gather nuts. See what happens when Old Brown, the terrifying owl guardian of the island decides he has had enough of silly Nutkin's cheekiness! Ouch!! Beatrix Potter is regarded as one of the world's best-loved children's authors of all time. From her first book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, published by Frederick Warne in 1902, she went on to create a series of stories based around animal characters including Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Tom Kitten. Her humorous, lively tales and beautiful illustrations have become a natural part of childhood. With revenue from the sales of her books, Beatrix Potter bought a farm - Hill Top - in the English Lake District, where she later became a farmer and prize-winning sheep breeder. She launched the now vast merchandise programme by patenting the very first Peter Rabbit doll in 1903.

Image for Perri (Bambi's Classic Animal Tales)

Perri (Bambi's Classic Animal Tales)

A young squirrel experiences the wonders of forest life and befriends a human toddler in this collectible edition of a classic animal story from the author of Bambi.Perri is a young squirrel living in Bambi’s forest. She grows up, learning about survival, friendship, and love as she observes and interacts with the complicated world around her. Most exciting of all, she meets a three-year-old human girl who can understand and talk to animals!

Image for Gray Squirrels (Woodland Wildlife)

Gray Squirrels (Woodland Wildlife)

Gray squirrels leap from high heights to move from tree to tree. Discover these delightful rodents' life cycle and lifestyle in the woods.

Image for 8pcs,Miniature Animal Squirrel Figures

8pcs,Miniature Animal Squirrel Figures

Fun Toys include 8pcs miniature squirrel figurines in different style. With bright color and cute designs. You’ll certainly be impressed by the amazing level of details of these squirrel character figurines

Image for Life in the Neck Squirrel Trouble

Life in the Neck Squirrel Trouble

Welcome to a new adventure in the Neck, a beautiful place where animals and humans live together in harmony--most of the time. In this book, a young boy named Eli builds a log fort with his dad, but it's not long before mischievous squirrels Chatter, Whistle, and Squeak move in and take over. As the nuts, acorns, and pinecones pile up inside, Eli realizes he's going to have to get creative to get them out. Will his plan work, or will the squirrels win?

Image for The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel

The Adventures of Chatterer the Red Squirrel

Author and editor of numerous children's books, Thornton W. Burgess was also a noted conservationist. In writing for youngsters he combined a gift for storytelling with his love of the outdoors, creating an entertaining menagerie of animals whose adventures he skillfully recounted in a series of charming fables. In them, he taught young readers about nature and encouraged them to love the "lesser folk in fur and feathers."In this delightfully told tale, Burgess chronicles the escapades of Chatterer the Red Squirrel, who's known throughout the Green Forest as a mischief maker. Narrowly escaping the clutches of Shadow the Weasel and Redtail the Hawk, the bushy-tailed little fellow decides to leave the forest for a new home, only to learn that curiosity, carelessness, and mistrust can lead to a heap of troubles.

Image for Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry — and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart.

Image for Nuts to You

Nuts to You

How far would you go for a friend? In Nuts to You, the funny and moving illustrated novel by Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins, two squirrels go very far indeed to save a friend who has been snatched up by a hawk. Nuts to You “begs to be read aloud . . . another completely original and exceptional package from Perkins,” said the Horn Book. Nuts to You features black-and-white art by the author on every page, as well as exclusive material original to this edition.

Jed, TsTs, and Chai are the very best of friends. So when Jed is snatched up by a hawk and carried away to another realm, TsTs and Chai resolve to go after him. Mysteriously, the hawk has dropped him. They saw it. Jed could be alive. New communities are discovered, new friends are made, huge danger is encountered (both man-made and of the fox and bobcat variety) and the mysteries of squirrel culture are revealed. Nuts to You is wholly original, funny, lively, and thought-provoking. Publishers Weekly said, “Readers . . . will relish the squirrels’ adventures, as well as Perkins’s laugh-aloud illustrations and equally witty footnotes.”

Image for Squirrels

Squirrels

Portrays the physical characteristics, behavior, life cycle, and natural habitat of the small mammals.

Image for Miss Suzy

Miss Suzy

Miss Suzy is a little gray squirrel who lives happily in her oak-tree home until she is chased away by some mean red squirrels. Poor Miss Suzy is very sad. But soon she finds a beautiful dollhouse and meets a band of brave toy soldiers.

How Miss Suzy and the soldiers help each other makes a gentle, old-fashioned tale that has captured the imaginations of girls and boys alike for more than fifty years. Arnold Lobel’s enchanting pictures are sure to make the kind squirrel and the gallant soldiers the everlasting friends of all who turn these pages.

Image for The Chisel-Tooth Tribe

The Chisel-Tooth Tribe

Here, in a comprehensive and extremely readable volume, the author-artist whose many nature books are favorites with children gives an absorbing account of little animals equipped with chisel-like teeth for gnawing including their habits, appearance, and activities. The world of this army of small mammals is one which most of us could observe for ourselves if we wished to. No one reading these lively chapters about the squirrels, beavers, rabbits, prairie dogs, etc., could ever again take them and their interesting ways for granted.

Image for Gray Squirrel at Pacific Avenue (Smithsonian's Backyard)

Gray Squirrel at Pacific Avenue (Smithsonian's Backyard)

Children will enjoy this exciting story as Gray Squirrel darts and dashes away from predators while trying to gather up a tasty meal of bird seed and acorns. Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Gray Squirrel at Pacific Avenue is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations. Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!

Image for Grey Squirrel 8" Plush

Grey Squirrel 8" Plush

Silky plush and soft huggable bodies

Image for Squirrel (Animal World)

Squirrel (Animal World)

Text and illustrations describe the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of the red squirrel.

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

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.

Next, look at more activities about squirrels.

MORE SQUIRREL ACTIVITIES

  • Crafting with Nature: DIY Flying Squirrel Craft You’ll Love
  • Dixie Cup Squirrel Craft
  • Fascinating Life of Red Squirrels | Paper Plate Squirrel Craft
  • Magnetic Squirrel and Acorn Fall Craft
  • Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources
How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

Finally, look at how to make a squirrel nest bin.

HOW TO MAKE A SQUIRREL NEST SENSORY BIN

First, look at this squirrel nest sensory bin.

Supplies:

  • Shredded brown paper or paper filler
  • Leaves
  • Small sticks or twigs
  • Acorns
  • Pinecones
  • Small squirrel figurines or toy squirrels
How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

First, fill the bottom of your sensory bin with shredded brown paper to create a soft, nest-like base.

Add leaves and small sticks to mimic the texture of a real forest floor.

Scatter acorns and pinecones throughout the bin, perfect for squirrels to collect and hide.

Place a few squirrel figurines in the bin to complete the cozy woodland scene.

How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

Invite kids to pretend their squirrels are gathering food for winter.

They can hide acorns under the shredded paper, build tiny nests with leaves and sticks, or sort and count the different natural materials.

Encourage imaginative play and storytelling as children create their own forest adventures.

How To Make A Squirrel Nest Sensory Bin With Preschoolers

This sensory bin supports fine motor development as children scoop, grasp, and manipulate small objects. It encourages imaginative thinking, language skills, and hands-on exploration of nature.

The different textures and natural materials also promote sensory engagement, helping kids connect to the sights and feel of the outdoors.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, homeschool, homeschool preschool, preschool, preschool skills, science, squirrel

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

November 11, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s learn how to make the cutest egg carton sea creature fish craft that presents a wonderful model of one of the ocean’s creatures. Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more hands-on ideas.

This craft can easily be adapted by making it simpler for younger learners and challenging upper elementary through middle school students to put more detail into it.

The ocean is full of amazing creatures, and fish are some of the most diverse, colorful, and fascinating of them all.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

With a few simple materials, you can turn learning about sea life into an engaging hands-on activity that will help your child learn the names of fish, their anatomy, and more.

We won’t stop there, with plenty of books, videos, and more to keep your child’s mind and hands engaged. The learning is just beginning.

Start with a fiction story (like The Rainbow Fish or The Pout-Pout Fish) to engage your child with characters and emotion.

Then look at a nonfiction one (like Fish for Kids or About Fish) to introduce real fish and habitats.

OCEAN BOOKS FOR KIDS

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

Image for The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Image for Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

Image for The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Image for Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Image for Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Image for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

Image for Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Image for Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet! 

Image for Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

Image for Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

Image for The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

Image for All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Image for Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Image for Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Image for Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Image for Pagoo

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Then continue your lesson by talking about what makes fish special. Ask questions to get your little ones thinking…..

  • Where do fish live? Are there fish in fresh and saltwater?
  • How do fish move through the water?
  • Why do you think fish have gills instead of lungs?
  • What would happen if a fish tried to live on land?
  • Do all fish look the same? Why not?
  • How do fish stay safe from bigger animals in the ocean?

Explain that fish live in water and breathe using gills. They have fins and tails that help them swim and scales that protect their bodies.

Some fish are big, like sharks or tuna, while others are tiny and colorful like clownfish or neon tetras.

FUN FISH FACTS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun fish crafts.

  • Fish breathe through gills instead of lungs.
  • There are over 30,000 types of fish!
  • Some fish can glow in the dark in the deep ocean.
  • A school of fish is a group that swims together.
  • Some fish can change colors to blend in with their surroundings or to attract other fish.
  • The clownfish lives in a sea anemone and helps keep it clean.
  • Fish don’t have eyelids, they sleep with their eyes open because they live underwater and don’t need to blink.
How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Next, look at these fish crafts for kids.

FISH CRAFTS AND MORE FUN

Add in a few other hands-on and attention catching to make learning about ocean fish fun and exciting including crafts, games, fun videos, and art projects.

Show pictures or videos of ocean fish so your child can see the different shapes, sizes, and colors. This helps them learn to observe details while appreciating God’s wonderful underwater world.

  • Watch All About Fish For Kids to learn more about the characteristics of fish.
  • For science give my How do Fish Breathe Underwater Fun Activity a try.
  • Foil Fish Craft
  • Moving Fish
  • Games make everything more fun and less like work, try Guess in 10: Underwater Animals
  • Learn letters while you learn about ocean life with the Alphabet Fish Match Game.

Finally, look at how to make this fun egg carton fish.

HOW TO MAKE AN EGG CARTON SEA CREATURE FISH CRAFT

This was a neat way to learn about the structure and coloring of a unique and easily identifiable fish in the ocean, as we painted and put it together we talked about its features and of course looked at real photos to compare.

You will need:

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Paint-acrylic or watercolor
  • Paintbrushes
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Scissors
How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

First, of course, you want to decide which amazing sea creature fish you are going to make.

We opted for this colorful Mahi Mahi.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Cut 3-4 cups, one of the taller points between the cups, and a generous piece of the flat top out of a cardboard egg carton.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Cut each cup out individually and trim the edges.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Poke a hole in the end of each cup and the taller piece.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Run a pipe cleaner through all pieces, knotting or hot gluing it inside each piece.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Paint the cups your base color, for our Mahi Mahi we used a lime green, set aside to dry, trim the smallest piece at the end into a tail shape.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Out of the flat piece cut a dorsal fin, pectoral fins, and anal fin shapes.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Paint them with your base colors, you can wait until it’s dry or dab the other colors on while wet to blend in more.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Set aside to dry while you add a layer of a darker lime green to the top half, and dabs of a bright blue to get its distinct coloration.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Add a black eye on either side.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Cut the fins down to fit each segment of the fish/egg carton cups.

How To Make An Egg Carton Sea Creature Fish Craft

Hot glue each one in place.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, ocean, science, sciencecurriculum

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

November 10, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have listed some fun rainforest preschool activities to go with our rainforest unit study. And there is a cute rainforest themed cutting activity which is like a peekabook craft. You can grab the free printable at the bottom. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

 Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, Rain Forest – Amazon, and Rainforest Activities for Kids for more ideas.

A rainforest-themed paper cutting project is more than just a fun craft; it’s a powerful learning experience that supports fine motor development.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Besides, cutting paper strengthens hand muscles, improves coordination, and prepares children for writing.

While cutting and gluing, you can talk about where rainforests are found, what animals live there, and why rainforests are important.

Too, this adorable craft with cutting away grass makes it fun for your preschooler to do a peek a boo activity as the rainforest is revealed underneath.

BOOKS ABOUT THE RAINFOREST FOR KIDS

16 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books & Resources

Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.

Image for All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.

Image for Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.

Image for Over and Under the Rainforest

Over and Under the Rainforest

Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow!Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:

Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.

The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.

Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.

Image for In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species. Some animals live high up in the trees, some crawl across the forest floor, and some tunnel underground, but they all depend on one another and the rain to survive. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet. 

Image for Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

This book introduces readers to the largest snake in the world: the anaconda. Readers learn about the life cycle, behavior, physical characteristics, and habitat of anacondas

Image for Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

Expanding the popular collection of animal books in the Learn to Draw Series, Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals will teach kids how easy it is to draw a variety of exciting and exotic creatures from around the world. Each project starts with a basic shape and progresses with simple-to-follow steps to a finished realistic final colored artwork. While they’re learning, kids will also discover fun facts about each featured animal.

Image for The Rainforest Grew All Around

The Rainforest Grew All Around

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.

Image for Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

While it covers more than just the rainforest this is a fabulous resource to have on your shelves. You will find plenty of great pictures and information on many animals that live there- crocodiles, harpy eagles, monkeys, tapir , sloths,Jaguarundi, and the food web.

Image for The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

Tells a story of a man who came to cut down a kapok tree and encounters many of the beautiful and exotic native creatures who make their home in the Amazon Rainforest.

Image for Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?!  That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game.  Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!

Image for Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.

Image for Where Is the Amazon?

Where Is the Amazon?

Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike.

Image for Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.

Image for Afternoon on the Amazon

Afternoon on the Amazon

Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?

Image for Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

NatureI n a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.

Image for Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

Explores the richness of the Amazon rainforest, how humans have damaged it, and efforts being taken to protect it. Clear text, vibrant photos, and helpful infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.

Also, look at these fun rainforest preschool activities.

RAINFOREST PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

  • The Wonders of Nature: Free Color by Number Sloth Rainforest Habitat Page
  • 7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime
  • Fun Easy Amazon Rainforest Crafts and Make a Bubble Wrap Pattern Anaconda
  • Learn About Mammals In The Amazon Rainforest & Make an Adorable Sloth Craft
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
  • Amazon Rainforest Predators and Make a Fun Pasta Emerald Tree Boa
  • Cute Colorful Toilet Paper Roll Rainforest Frogs for a Rainforest Frog Craft
  • 18 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Fun Resources
Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

RAINFOREST CUTTING ACTIVITY

Supplies:

  • Pencil or marker for curling
  • Rainforest printable (grab the template below quickly by adding your email at the very bottom of this page)
  • Two shades of green construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

Print the rainforest printable and set it aside.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Take the two shades of green construction paper and cut them into strips, making sure not to cut all the way through. Leave about an inch at the bottom uncut.

These will become the “tall rainforest grass.”

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Use a pencil or marker to gently roll the cut ends of the paper to create a fun curled look, like jungle vines or tall grass.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Glue both sheets of construction paper to the bottom of the printable. Only glue the uncut section so the grass can lift and move.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Once the glue dries, invite kids to “trim the rainforest grass” by snipping along the curled edges to reveal the hidden rainforest animals underneath the paper.

HOW TO GET THE FREE RAIN FOREST PRINTABLE

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: amazon rain forest, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, rainforest

Free Lapbook India for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

November 9, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free lapbook India. This India lapbook is for kids who love a hands-on approach to learning. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas.

India is in South Asia, bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It’s the seventh-largest country in the world.

And an India lapbook is a fun way to capture any information that your child may want to know about India.

Free Lapbook India for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Besides, lapbooks are not just for young children. Middle and high school teens benefit from a hands-on approach to geography.

A lapbook is a folder that contains minibooks about any topic which interests your child.

You can use any of the laid out material I have or use only part of it to mix and match with other foldables you find.

Also, India’s history goes back thousands of years and a lapbook is a great way for your child to show off what they learned and to keep for years.

Some of our lapbooks we visit later. Simply glue a file folder extension on and add minibooks to capture topics like science and geography.

BOOKS ABOUT INDIA OR SET IN INDIA

Next, look at these books about India.

12 Books About or Set in India for Kids

Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.

Image for T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet (Discover the World)

T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet (Discover the World)

From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Image for The Lost Kingdom

The Lost Kingdom

Thirteen-year-old Rodmika is well acquainted with the crystal-clear rivers and tangled vines of the Green Jungle. So when his family moves to the other side of the jungle, leaving behind his chance for an education, Rodmika is perfectly suited to find a way to return. As Rodmika searches for a way back to the place of his schooling, he uncovers much more than a path.Set against the backdrop of a lush, untamed Indian rainforest, The Lost Kingdom weaves adventure and mystery into a thrilling tale that will resonate with readers who have a love for exploration and excitement.

Image for Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

A vibrant collection of Indian myths and legends illustrated in beautiful watercolors and told by one of India's sparkling personalities, Madhur Jaffrey.Seasons of Splendour is a richly illustrated treasury of stories about Indian gods and goddesses, kings and queens, princes and demons. Here are engaging and beautifully told tales of Krishna, Ram, and Sita, along with stories based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as others of ancient origin with no known source. When Madhur Jaffrey was a young girl growing up in her grandfather’s house in Delhi, storytelling was an integral part of life. After dinner, she would huddle with her cousins and siblings around a seated aunt, grandmother, or mother and listen.

Image for Burying the Moon

Burying the Moon

In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty.

No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village. 

Image for Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the tale of a courageous young mongoose who saves a boy and his family from the evil snakes lurking in the garden.

Image for Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty.

Image for Malgudi Days

Malgudi Days

Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

Image for Tiger Boy

Tiger Boy

"One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!"When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel's island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub's anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching--he wants to sell the cub's body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel's preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn't mind--he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.

Image for Boys without Names

Boys without Names

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.

Image for Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition? 

Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.

Image for India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

Kids love learning about food, they need to learn their ABC's, and this mouth-watering alphabet book covers both in the most delicious way! From spicy achaar to sweet zafrani pulao, flip through food from every corner of India, for all kinds of occasions.

Image for Where Is the Taj Mahal?

Where Is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal may look like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields. When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound visitors today.

Also, look at more hands-on ideas about India.

HANDS-ON IDEAS FOR KIDS ABOUT INDIA

  • Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity
  • Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India
  • Watch India: The Harappans – Ancient World History for Kids! To learn more about the people of the Indus Valley and more.
  • Easy Lotus Flower (or Water Lily) Craft for Kids
  • Celebrate the National Bird of India with this fun and simple How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock.
  • Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity
Free Lapbook India for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Then, look at these minibooks about India.

  • Food in India
  • Fun Facts about India
  • Exploring India
  • Famous Landmark
  • Classical Dances of India
  • Famous cities

HOW TO GET THE FREE INDIA LAPBOOK

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool geography, homeschoolgeography, India, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

November 8, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun Asian activity today. The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and recognizable buildings in the world, it is known for its graceful white domes, perfect symmetry, and romantic history. Also, look at my post Free Lapbook India for Kids Who Love Hands-on History for more ideas.

The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India and was built between 1631 and 1648 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

It was constructed from gleaming white marble, and decorated with semi-precious gemstones, floral carvings, and elegant calligraphy.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

The amazing complex features gardens, reflecting pools, and a mosque, all meticulously arranged to represent paradise in accordance with Islamic design principles.

Every detail of the Taj Mahal was created with symbolism and spiritual meaning.

Its perfect symmetry represents the balance and harmony found in both nature and faith.

BOOKS ABOUT INDIA FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about the Taj Mahal and about India.

We love living books when we can find them.

12 Books About or Set in India for Kids

Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.

Image for T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet (Discover the World)

T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet (Discover the World)

From the quiet grandeur of the Himalaya Mountains to the urban city of Calcutta, T is for Taj Mahal: An India Alphabet showcases India's exotic treasures. Visit the haunting Taj Mahal, a tribute from an emperor to his dead wife. Traverse the bustling streets of Mumbai, the second most populated city in the world. Sample a traditional meal fragrant with garam masala spices, or attend a cricket match where some games have lasted up to five days! Varsha Bajaj was born in Mumbai, India. Her book, How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, was named to the 2005 Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List. Varsha lives in Houston, Texas. Robert Crawford's paintings have appeared on the cover of major magazines such as The Atlantic and U.S. News and World Report, as well as books. He also illustrated Sleeping Bear Press's The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain. Robert lives in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Image for The Lost Kingdom

The Lost Kingdom

Thirteen-year-old Rodmika is well acquainted with the crystal-clear rivers and tangled vines of the Green Jungle. So when his family moves to the other side of the jungle, leaving behind his chance for an education, Rodmika is perfectly suited to find a way to return. As Rodmika searches for a way back to the place of his schooling, he uncovers much more than a path.Set against the backdrop of a lush, untamed Indian rainforest, The Lost Kingdom weaves adventure and mystery into a thrilling tale that will resonate with readers who have a love for exploration and excitement.

Image for Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

A vibrant collection of Indian myths and legends illustrated in beautiful watercolors and told by one of India's sparkling personalities, Madhur Jaffrey.Seasons of Splendour is a richly illustrated treasury of stories about Indian gods and goddesses, kings and queens, princes and demons. Here are engaging and beautifully told tales of Krishna, Ram, and Sita, along with stories based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as others of ancient origin with no known source. When Madhur Jaffrey was a young girl growing up in her grandfather’s house in Delhi, storytelling was an integral part of life. After dinner, she would huddle with her cousins and siblings around a seated aunt, grandmother, or mother and listen.

Image for Burying the Moon

Burying the Moon

In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty.

No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village. 

Image for Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the tale of a courageous young mongoose who saves a boy and his family from the evil snakes lurking in the garden.

Image for Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty.

Image for Malgudi Days

Malgudi Days

Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

Image for Tiger Boy

Tiger Boy

"One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!"When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel's island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub's anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching--he wants to sell the cub's body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel's preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn't mind--he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.

Image for Boys without Names

Boys without Names

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.

Image for Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition? 

Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.

Image for India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

Kids love learning about food, they need to learn their ABC's, and this mouth-watering alphabet book covers both in the most delicious way! From spicy achaar to sweet zafrani pulao, flip through food from every corner of India, for all kinds of occasions.

Image for Where Is the Taj Mahal?

Where Is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal may look like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields. When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound visitors today.

Then, look at more facts about the Taj Mahal.

MORE FACTS ABOUT THE TAJ MAHAL ASIAN ACTIVITY

Its perfect symmetry represents the balance and harmony found in both nature and faith.

The central dome, rising up toward the sky, symbolizes the heavens, while the surrounding gardens are arranged in four parts to represent the four rivers of paradise described in the Quran.

Even the Taj Mahal’s white marble is also symbolic. In Mughal culture, white represented purity, peace, and eternity, which is fitting for a monument dedicated to eternal love.

The light shining across the marble surface changes color throughout the day, glowing pink in the morning, brilliant white at noon, and golden at sunset.

This shifting light mirrors the passage of time and the idea that true beauty shines in every season of life.

Even the reflecting pool has special meaning. It doubles the beauty of the monument and reminds visitors of reflection, peace, and stillness. 

When studying Asia, history, or world architecture, creating your own Taj Mahal model from cardboard is a fun and hands-on way to learn about this magnificent landmark and its connection to the Seven Wonders of the World.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Also, look at more Asian activity.

MORE ASIAN ACTIVITIES

  • Learn About Indigenous Animal Geography Fun Activity for Preschool to Elementary
  • Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes
  • 5 Asia Activities For Kids & Free Color by Number Camel
  • Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook
  • How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TAJ MAHAL ASIAN ACTIVITY

You will need:

  • Cardboard recycled boxes/cereal boxes
  • Scissors or a utility knife
  • White paint or white paper
  • Styrofoam
  • Glue or tape
  • Markers or metallic pens
Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Choose a large enough piece of cardboard to act as the base to hold your structure, minarets, reflecting pool, and some of the garden, you will cut the rest of your pieces to fit this.

Paint this base green for grass and set it aside.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Draw the following pieces out onto cardboard- a long slim rectangle of cardboard for the base , a large square for the main structure of the building, two smaller squares-these will need to fit within the width of your base,  and 4 minarets (domed towers) with two being a bit smaller to add perspective to our layers.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Use a utility knife to cut out all your pieces.

Paint everything white and set aside to dry.

Draw in any windows and arches you would like to cut out.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

While you are waiting on the structure to dry, move on to the landscaping, drawing and cutting out the tall cypress trees that line either side of the reflecting pool, we did the same here, cutting each set slightly smaller to force some perspective.

Paint them green and set aside to dry.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

If your base is dry, paint a strip down the middle to represent the reflecting pond. We went with a teal color to go along with our inspiration photo up above.

TAJ MAHAL ASIAN ACTIVITY

Once your base is dry glue strips of red cardstock or paint on either side for the walkway. I found this red piece in my stash that was perfect for bricks.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Hot glue all the pieces of your structure into place, layering everything to give it dimension. bend pieces of cardboard behind it to make supports and hot glue into place.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Cut tall strips of cardboard and paint gold, these will be spires to finish off the onion domes on top of your Taj Mahal.

Cardboard Crafting: How to Make Your Own Taj Mahal Asian Activity

Once these dry hot glue to the tops.

 The final step is to add bits of gold to your structure using a gold paint and paint brush or a gold paint pen.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool

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