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Welcome

Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

August 23, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Mesopotamia lapbook for you today. Too, I created a few extra minibooks but you decide which ones you want to use. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning, Ancient Civilization and Ancient Mesopotamia Fun Facts For Kids Who Love History for more hands-on history ideas..

Lapbooks are interactive, creative tools that bring history to life.

And when it comes to Mesopotamia, the “Cradle of Civilization,” a lapbook is a fun way to help kids engage with one of the most fascinating early cultures in human history.

Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

And Mesopotamia isn’t just one civilization. It is a series of them.

For example, it includes the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians too.

Too, lapbooks can break information into chunks. They allow your child to focus on what he or she is interested in. Additionally, you can include topics you want covered in this lapbook.

For instance, you can cover topics like the major cities like Ur and Babylon, inventions like the wheel and cuneiform, the code of Hammurabi, ziggurats and geography like the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA BOOKS FOR KIDS

Additionally, look at these books.

7 Books to Read About Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a region situated within the Tigris–Euphrates River system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia occupies modern Iraq.  In the broader sense, the historical region included present-day Iraq and parts of present-day Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

Image for Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy)

Gilgamesh the King (The Gilgamesh Trilogy)

Gilgamesh, half-god and half-man, in his loneliness and isolation becomes a cruel tyrant over the citizens of Uruk. To impress them forever he orders a great wall to be built, driving his people to exhaustion and despair so that they cry to the Sun God for help.

Image for The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure

The Golden Bull: A Mesopotamian Adventure

5,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia during a terrible drought, Jomar and Zefa's father must send his children away to the city of Ur because he can no longer feed them. At fourteen, Jomar is old enough to apprentice with Sidah, a master goldsmith for the temple of the moongod, but there is no place for Zefa in Sidah's household. Zefa, a talented but untrained musician, is forced to play her music and sing for alms on the streets of Ur.

Image for Science in Ancient Mesopotamia

Science in Ancient Mesopotamia

Describes the enormous accomplishments of the Sumerians and Babylonians of ancient Mesopotamia in every scientific area, a heritage which affects our own everyday lives

Image for Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians

Explores Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures, discussing social structure, lifestyles, and the military in these societies.

Image for Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War: An Epic Tale From Ancient Iraq

Lugalbanda: The Boy Who Got Caught Up in a War: An Epic Tale From Ancient Iraq

Lugalbanda woke with a jolt. He opened his eyes and what did he see but the terrible Anzu bird beating its wings in its nest high above. . . . Did he quake? Did he quail? No. Lugalbanda the Brave sat and stared, and into his head came a brilliant idea.

Image for Mesopotamia (A True Book)

Mesopotamia (A True Book)

Presents the history of ancient Mesopotamia, describing the different groups of people who lived there, and their government, cities, everyday life, religion, and writing.

Image for You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!

You Wouldn't Want to Be a Sumerian Slave!

Invites readers them to become the main character. Each book uses humorous illustrations to depict the sometimes dark and horrific side of life during important eras in history.

Then, look at some hands-on activities to pair with this fun Mesopotamia lapbook.

ACTIVITIES TO PAIR WITH ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA LAPBOOK

  • How to Make Unleavened Bread Ancient Mesopotamia Bread Recipe
  • Hands-on Ancient Mesopotamia: Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
  • Ancient Mesopotamia (Hands-on History): and Cook Sebetu Rolls
  • Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • How To Make A LEGO Map Of The Mesopotamian Civilization
  • Free Simple List Of Ancient Civilizations | Their Inventions And Discoveries
  • 10 Interesting Facts About Mesopotamia And Unit Study Outline

In addition, look at more homeschool lapbooks.

MORE HOMESCHOOL LAPBOOKS

  • Ancient Rome
  • Ancient Babylon
  • Ancient Phoenicia
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • Famous Pharaohs and Queens of Egypt.
  • Ancient Assyria
  • Ancient China (ancient civilizations)
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • Indus Valley
  • Ancient Civilization Lapbook covering Sumer, Mesopotamia, The Babylonian & Hammurabi, Minoan and Mycenaean , Ancient Egypt,  Greece, Phoenician, Ancient Greece & Rome Pockets, and Celts
Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

Also, look at what is included in the lapbook.

  • Map of Mesopotamia
  • 1 color cover
  • Learn cuneiform writing
  • Fun facts about Mesopotamia
  • Artifacts and architecture
  • 1 flip book Sargon
  • 1 flip book Hammurabi

HOW TO GET THE FREE MESOPOTAMIA 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: Lapbook, Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

August 22, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a letter C caterpillar craft to add more fun to our units on letters of the alphabet. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas. Too, grab the free template pattern at the bottom of this post. And look at my post Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping for more ideas.

This colorful, creative project combines early literacy skills with fine motor development.

The Letter C Caterpillar Craft fits beautifully into themes like: alphabet week, insects and bugs, springtime and of course use with the classic book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Plus pairing the craft with a story or a theme strengthens comprehension and keeps learning cohesive.

Also, cutting out shapes, gluing pieces together, and decorating the caterpillar all require careful hand-eye coordination.

Too, children will love learning that a caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.

BOOKS ABOUT INSECTS FOR KIDS

Next, here are some fun books about insects for kids.

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

Image for When Insects are Babies

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

Image for We Like Bugs

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Image for Fabre's Book of Insects

Fabre's Book of Insects

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Image for Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Image for Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Image for Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Image for Insect Life

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

Image for The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Image for Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

Image for The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

Image for The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Then, look at a few facts about caterpillars to share with your little one.

CATERPILLAR FACTS FOR KIDS

  • A caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.
  • This amazing change is called metamorphosis.
  • They eat leaves all day long.
  • Some caterpillars even eat flowers or fruit.
  • Caterpillars go through four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • Caterpillars can have as many as 16 legs.

Additionally, look at more letter crafts for preschoolers.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton
How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Finally, look at how to make this fun paper plate caterpillar craft.

DOLLAR STORE PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT

First, look at this list of supplies.

  • Paper Plate – Dollar Store
  • Wiggle Eyes – Dollar Store
  • Chenille Stem, Black and Purple – Dollar Store
  • Pom Poms, Yellow – Dollar Store
  • Cardstock, Bright Green
  • Craft Paint – Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Pink
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors 
  • Ruler
  • Permanent Marker
  • Sponge Dabber
  • PATTERN Paper Plate Caterpillar. Grab the pattern by adding your email at the bottom of this post.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP ONE

First, gather all supplies. Fold the paper plate in half and crease firmly.

Basecoat half of the inside of the paper plate in wedges of red, purple, yellow, blue, and orange acrylic craft paint.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.

STEP TWO

Cut the paper plate in half with scissors, then cut along the curve to remove the center.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This creates the caterpillar body shape.

PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL

STEP THREE

Download and print the Caterpillar Pattern, then cut out with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Trace the head once onto the bright green cardstock.

You could also use colored craft foam or craft felt for this project.

STEP FOUR

Cut out the caterpillar head pattern with scissors making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP FIVE

Attach two wiggle eyes to the caterpillar’s face with a glue gun and glue sticks.

Create cheeks by dipping a sponge dabber in pink acrylic craft paint and stamping on either side of the caterpillar’s face.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

STEP SIX

Cut a purple chenille stem in half with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Bend in half, then attach a yellow pom pom to each end to create antennae.

STEP SEVEN

Cut two black chenille stems into one-inch pieces with scissors. These will become the caterpillar’s legs.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP EIGHT

Flip the caterpillar over on your work surface and attach the chenille stem legs along the bottom edge with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP NINE

Attach the antennae to the head and the head to the body with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP TEN

To finish, draw a smile with a black marker to create the caterpillar’s mouth.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This is a fun activity to keep the kiddos busy with coloring, counting and motor skills.

Make this super cute paper plate caterpillar kids craft in just about 30 minutes! 

HOW TO GET THE FREE CATERPILLAR TEMPLATE PATTERN

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: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, letter sounds, preschool, preschool skills

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

August 21, 2025 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 6 unit study resources that stir the imagination because supplementing is important. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. I’m doing 10 days of diving into unit studies by creating a unit study together.

You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed.  Like all things that are practiced, the more you design a unit study, the better you become at it. 

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so.

And gathering resources, for me anyway, is a constant factor in my journey. 

All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.  For me, it keeps planning time to a minimal because I already have some basic resources to choose from.

I guess you can call the resources I gather my unit study starters.

You notice how I will change directions on you when we are studying one topic and post my resources that I gather up for another one.

  I just did it this week with the few resources I shared about a human body unit study. 

My secret to planning is to gather as I go and to plan one or many unit studies while I am doing another one.  It really keeps the planning part from being overwhelming when you can spread it out over a period of time.

Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination

Gathering resources is just one aspect.  Also, knowing which resources will help to create the love of hands-on learning and knowing which ones to ditch will keep your unit study moving along and not stagnant.

Look at my list of things that I got to on a regular basis for my unit study starters.

  • board games
  • living books
  • atlases
  • bar charts
  • student magazines
  • teacher’s guides
  • movies
  • documentaries
  • my pinterest boards
  • My Amazon Shop for boards separated by topics
Day 6. Resources that Stir the Imagination. 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.

Choosing resources wisely that will capture your children’s interest is not the only caveat to be aware of.

Hands-on or Drooping Hands

While I do whole heartedly agree with the fact that hands-on learning is an inherent part of any well educated child, I do believe that an overload of them or complicated ones can exhaust both teacher and child.

As new unit study converts, sometimes they tend to go overboard with hands-on learning.

Hands-on projects are like seasonings that we add to our food.  Just a pinch of it enhances our food.  Hands-on projects should not be overwhelming or exhausting.

Planning too many or did other things that made them hard to fit into your day can make unit studies turn to blah quickly.

4 UNIT STUDY MISTAKES

Look at some of these tips for adding hands-on resources that will not exhaust you or your kids.

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.
  1. Avoid insanity by doing one project per child or grade level. Do one project for ALL of your children. Aim for a project that satisfies the middle age range of your children.
  2. Don’t do complicated projects. Choose projects that require normal household items you already have on hand. It is okay to gather supplies you don’t have on hand too, but try to plan ones where you have a majority of supplies on hand.
  3. Weigh doing long term projects carefully.  If you have very little kids {mostly under 8 or 9 years old} choose projects that have an immediate wow factor, i.e. blow up something.  You won’t hook them on hands-on learning if they have to always grow something that takes weeks or months to build.  As they grow older, they develop the love of waiting, watching and observing and then you can choose longer projects.
  4. Avoid doing all the work. If you have older kids, let them gather the supplies, decide some of the projects and lead the projects. Even when kids are young, they can learn by gathering up items on your list.

Unit Study Resources Organized

Key to using your resources is being able to find them after you have gathered them up.

An easy system and one that you can retrieve quickly always works best. 

And though I love Pinterest, the Pinterest boards are not really able to be highly organized at this time.  Pinterest really needs sub-boards. I’ve used  Evernote in the past.  Evernote is free and I find it way more practical than bookmarks because I am able to copy/paste just about anything onto it.  I organize it and type whatever I need to remember.

My very favorite way to organize is my Ultimate Unit Study Planner.

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.

TOS

Important: READ THIS FIRST.
Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.

• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar

• Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later, etc.

• The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.
• Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com (of course substitute the right symbol for dot) in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam.

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. If you have problems getting your download OR have a question email me my web based email: tinahomeschools at gmail dot com.

  • 2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    $5.99
    Add to cart

Then look at more tips.

10 DAYS OF CREATING A UNIT STUDY TOGETHER

  • Unit Studies Define & Redefine the Meaning – Day 1
  • Tips For Choosing Unit Study Topics.- Day 2
  • Selecting Superior Sub-Topics. Day 3
  • Finalize Sub-topics – Day 4
  • Creating Unit Study Objectives – Day 5
  • Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination – Day 6
  • Unit Study Activity Ideas – Day 7
  • Creating a Unit Study Lesson Plan – Day 8
  • Flow of Our Day with A Unit Study Schedule – Day 9
  • Unit Study Beginnings – Day 10

Ocean Unit Study Resources Gathered

Here are a few of the resources that I have for the Ocean Unit Study.

Update: I have since completed this unit study and have all these resources & more on free my Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook page.

Ocean Lapbook Cover Option 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Yum. Edible Ocean Layers @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Vocabulary Words and Wave Pocket @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Message in a Bottle Language Arts Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Lapbook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How Low Can You Go Ocean Lapbook Starter @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Currents Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
What is the Ocean Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1
Winter Homeschooling - Look to the Sea. 17 Hands-On Activities for Two to Teens @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Edible Geography Sea Levels
5 Days of Look Alive Winter Homeschooling. Day 1 Look to the Sea. @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured

Though there are volumes of links, I find that by grabbing just a few of the ones that better suit us or the ages of my children keeps me from storing links that we will not use.

Gathering resources is a practiced art no less important than teaching the unit study.  Be selective and choose ones that you think will inspire your unit study.

Do you find it hard to organize your resources or find them for your unit study?

Hugs and love ya,

10 Days of Creating A Unit Study Together

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Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.

2 CommentsFiled Under: Diving into Unit Studies by Creating A Unit Study, Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, unit studies

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

August 20, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an easy DNA extraction from a banana fun experiment.

DNA might sound like something straight out of a high-tech laboratory. However, you don’t need fancy equipment or even a lab coat to explore it.

For example, you can pull visible strands of DNA from an everyday piece of fruit: a banana.

This simple experiment is safe, kid-friendly, and a great way to spark curiosity about biology.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

If you’re looking to dive deeper into food science The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science) offers an engaging look at their history, growth, and biology.

Combining science experiments like this with reading activities turns a hands-on project into a full learning unit.

Hands-on science like banana DNA extraction makes abstract ideas tangible for kids.Instead of just reading that “bananas have DNA,” they can see it with their own eyes.

THE BIOLOGY OF BANANAS

By pairing experiments with books like The Biology of Bananas, you help kids connect curiosity with deeper knowledge, creating a memorable learning experience.

The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Get ready to play (and learn!) with your food! Discover the truth about yeast, learn how to count calories, conduct experiments with rubbery eggs, and more.

Image for The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Explore the key principles and practice of everyday science by using analogies, experiments and research with food and drink in the home kitchen environment.

Then look at more kitchen science experiments.

MORE FASCINATING KITCHEN SCIENCE IDEAS

Kitchen Chemistry: Cake Baking Experiment for Kids– Experiment with different ingredients to see the effect it has on the baking process.

Strawberry DNA Extraction – Similar to bananas but even more dramatic since strawberries have extra copies of DNA.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Build a DNA Model – Use candy to construct a delicious double helix you can snack on once you are done.

How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model – Use toppings to represent cell organelles for a tasty biology lesson.

Food Chemistry: Gummy Juice Noodles Kids explore the magic of molecular gastronomy by turning fruit juice into long, colorful gummy noodles using gelatin or agar powder. This tasty activity introduces concepts like gelling agents, polymers, and the difference between liquids and solids.

Turn Milk Into Plastic–Using only warm milk and vinegar, kids can transform a liquid into a moldable substance called casein plastic. Afterward, the plastic can be molded into beads, buttons, or small trinkets.

Popcorn Science Mini Unit Study Which Brand Pops the Best?-This mini investigation compares popcorn brands to see which produces the fewest unpopped kernels. Kids record their observations, measure and graph results, and discuss variables that affect ws,Epopping—like moisture content, kernel size, and cooking method. It’s a perfect blend of snack time and STEM learning.

How to make Fizzing Lemonade. Edible Science for Kids-By mixing lemon juice and baking soda, kids create a fizzy, bubbly drink while learning about acids, bases, and carbon dioxide gas.

5 Facts About Ice Cream | How to Make Ice Cream In A Bag Science– Kids discover cool facts about ice cream and then make their own ice cream using milk, sugar, and ice in a sealed bag. Shaking the mixture chills it quickly while adding a dose of fun and a little arm workout.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Finally, look at how to extract DNA from a banana.

DNA EXTRACTION FROM A BANANA EXPERIMENT

First, you will need:

  • 1 ripe banana (the softer, the better)
  • Ziplock  bag
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dish soap
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Coffee filter or fine mesh strainer
  • Small clear glass or cup
  • Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl, chilled in the freezer)
  • Wooden skewer, toothpick, or popsicle stick
Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Peel your banana and place a chunk into the zip-top bag. Seal it and gently mash until it’s smooth and lump-free, this step breaks apart the banana cells physically.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

To make the extraction solution, mix the water, salt, and dish soap in a small cup. The salt helps release the DNA by breaking up protein chains, and the soap dissolves the cell membranes.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Pour the extraction solution into the bag with the banana mush.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Seal and gently mix for about 1 minute. Avoid shaking too hard—you don’t want to break the DNA into pieces.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Place the coffee filter over your glass and pour the banana mixture through it, letting the liquid drip into the glass. This separates the solids from the cell-rich liquid.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Slowly pour chilled rubbing alcohol down the side of the glass so it forms a layer on top of the banana liquid..

Because DNA is not soluble in alcohol, it will rise into this layer.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

In a few minutes, you’ll see white, stringy, cloudy material in the alcohol layer. That’s the banana’s DNA! Use the skewer or toothpick to gently spool it up.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Continue gathering more and more of the DNA

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

How it works:

Every living thing contains DNA, the genetic instructions for life. In bananas, DNA is stored inside the cell nucleus.

The mashing, salt, and soap help break down the cell walls and membranes, releasing DNA into the liquid.

Adding cold alcohol causes the DNA to clump together, making it visible to the naked eye.

BANANA DNA EXTRACTION EXTENSION ACTIVITY IDEAS

  • Banana Genetics – Learn about the differences between wild bananas and cultivated varieties, and how cloning is used in banana farming.
  • Compare Fruits – Try the experiment with strawberries, kiwis, or grapes. Which fruit gives the most visible DNA?
  • Banana Botany – After reading The Biology of Bananas, explore how banana plants grow, their reproduction process, and why most bananas in grocery stores are seedless.
  • Microscope Investigation – Place a drop of your banana DNA on a microscope slide and view it up close.
  • Banana Life Cycle Chart – Draw and label the stages of banana growth from flower to fruit.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: banana, DNA, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

Day 5 Creating Unit Study Objectives 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

August 19, 2025 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 5 creating unit study objectives. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. I’m doing 10 days of diving into unit studies by creating a unit study together.

Head on I want us to tackle another myth or challenge about creating unit studies which is that they are hard to grade and even harder to satisfy educational standards. 

That doesn’t have to be the case with unit studies.  But like any creative teaching tool, you need to put measured steps in place.

Day 5 Creating Unit Study Objectives 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

Satisfying the educationalese of a state or country if you live in one that requires stricter record keeping is important.  Even if you don’t live in a state or country that requires strict planning like I do, it is very important to decide what you want to extract from any unit study.  A unit study is only beneficial if it serves your goals or objectives.

If you want to include goals or objectives, then you will want to do them at this point in your planning.

10 DAYS OF CREATING A UNIT STUDY TOGETHER

  • Unit Studies Define & Redefine the Meaning – Day 1
  • Tips For Choosing Unit Study Topics.- Day 2
  • Selecting Superior Sub-Topics. Day 3
  • Finalize Sub-topics – Day 4
  • Creating Unit Study Objectives – Day 5
  • Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination – Day 6
  • Unit Study Activity Ideas – Day 7
  • Creating a Unit Study Lesson Plan – Day 8
  • Flow of Our Day with A Unit Study Schedule – Day 9
  • Unit Study Beginnings – Day 10

Exploring Unit Study Goals & Objectives

Goals and objectives are technically or educationally speaking two very different things.  I won’t bombard you with too many educationalese, but it helps to understand a bit about them so you can chart progress.

Objectives are tiny measured steps.  It is hard to boil down about what objectives are to a few sentences, but at the same time I don’t want you to think there isn’t a simple explanation either.

Objectives in the educational world are precise, measurable and specific steps or what you want your children to learn.  Taking this one step further you want a clear objective because lesson plans are based on an objective.   The lesson plan is the explanation of how you are going to accomplish that very specific outcome you described in the objective.

Make sense?

On the other hand, a goal is just a broad sweeping statement about what you are going to study.  It is not about how you are going to do it.  A goal is like a mission statement.

Having a non-public school teacher background helps me to appreciate that I can either set objectives first or like I did with you here, choose the sub-topics first and then create objectives. 

The second option may seem probably weird, crazy and far-fetched for a public school teacher who plans normally the other way around.  In other words, standards are in place first. 

So they would plan a course description or goal and then jot down specific, measurable objectives to reach those standards.

Unit Study Goals & Objectives

I don’t want to cloud the difference for you.  We have freedom as home educators when it comes to preparing objectives or goals of a unit study. 

We can choose child-led learning by focusing on unit study topics and sub-topics and not objectives. 

Then, write our goal and objectives. 

This is perfectly sane, unique, and creative because you are putting the needs and interest of your family ahead of meeting standards. 

If however, you want to write standards for each grade and plan the other way like a public school teacher, it is fine too.

Overall, the nifty tip to being a technical teacher when you have to be and you don’t have a public school teacher background is knowing that a transition into creating objectives can be done by choosing sub-topics first.

Look at my goals and objectives on the Ocean Unit Study that I started below.  I divided my objectives into 2 general grade levels.

My Goal for the Ocean Unit Study

“To provide a learning experience showing the importance of oceans to all life on our planet.”

That’s it! Easy.  I could stop there because it is simple enough. 

But, I also want to add in “To marvel at the vastness of the ocean and the creation in it.” 

In other words, I want to remember that one of my goals is to build in my sons an appreciation for creation too.

Extracting Unit Study Objectives

Now, look at some of these objectives I came up with.  Remember, the key to creating your objectives is to be very specific and describe what your child is expected to do by the end of the unit.

Lower/Elementary level

  • Students will know the approximate size of the ocean.
  • Identify the oceans of the world.
  • Students will identify some animal and plant life that lives in the ocean.
  • Compare and contrast the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
  • Tell what coral is.

Middle/High School level

  • Using hands-on ideas students will identify how water moves around the world.
  • Build a model showing the tidal zones.
  • Identify the composition of seawater, currents, tides, waves, and marine life.
  • Analyze ways to protect our ocean resources.

This is certainly not all I would want to add, but I wanted you to get a running start in how you could create objectives and be technical if you ever needed to be.

Unit Study Goals and Objectives Sample

I hope I didn’t lose you in all this.  My mind goes to  details of planning and I just wanted to arm you with some technical background in case you have been timid to take the leap into unit studies.

Unit Study Day 5. Creating Unit Study Objectives. 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.

Also, I have created an easy planning page for you when you need it.

Understanding that you can have both goals and objectives while you savor the engaging interactive part of unit studies helps the teacher mom in all of us.

Are you going to create objectives with your unit study? I think we are just about ready to start pulling resources together now.

HOW TO GET THE FREE UNIT STUDY & GOALS OBJECTIVES FORM

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!

10 Days of Creating A Unit Study Together

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Day-3.-Selecting-Superior-Sub-Topics.-10-Days-of-Diving-Into-Unit-Studies-by-Creating-a-Unit-St.png
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Day-7.-Unit-Study-Activity-Ideas.-10-Days-of-Diving-Into-Unit-Studies-by-Creating-a-Unit-Study-T.png
Day-8.-Creating-A-Unit-Study-Lesson-Plan.-10-Days-of-Diving-Into-Unit-Studies-by-Creating-a-Unit.png
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2 CommentsFiled Under: 2. My FREE Organizing Printables {Any topic}, Diving into Unit Studies by Creating A Unit Study Tagged With: unit studies

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