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Hands-On Activities

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

November 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

For the littles today, we’re crafting a pipe cleaner fall tree to celebrate the autumn season. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Fall is a beautiful time of the year. The air turns crisp, the leaves burst into fiery colors, and nature itself becomes a beautiful work of art

Do this fun pipe cleaner fall tree and your littles will never know they’re learning about the season changes as they develop their fine motor skills.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

And little fingers get a workout as they twist the tree and branches and create with the pony beads.

Besides, while your littles are crafting it leads to conversations about why leaves change colors, how trees prepare for winter and the importance of trees to earth.

Next, look at some of these fun fall books.

FALL BOOKS FOR KIDS

I prefer living books so I know you’ll love this roundup.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

Next, look at more pipe cleaner crafts.

MORE PIPE CLEANER CRAFTS

  • How Do Mollusks Breathe | Easy Pipe Cleaner Snail Craft
  • How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts
  • Fun Anatomy Activities For High School & How To Make An Easy Skin Layer Model
  • The World Of Slimy Insects: Snails Versus Slugs Unique Comparison
  • Explaining Thunder And Lightning To Preschoolers Easy Sensory Bin

Too, look at more fall craft ideas for preschool.

FALL CRAFT IDEAS FOR PRESCHOOL

  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Make Cute Felt Leaf Sachets For Fall Leaf Crafts for Preschoolers
  • How To Make Confetti Fall Leaves Crafts For Preschoolers
  • 10 Fall Felt Crafts & How to Make a Kids Felt Pie Garland
  • Fall Nature Crafts & How To Make A Pumpkin Nature Collage
  • How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Finally, look at how to make this fun fall tree.

PIPE CLEANER FALL TREE FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Pony beads in fall colors (red, orange, yellow, green)
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Twist a few brown pipe cleaners together to form the trunk of the tree.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Leave several ends sticking out at the top to create branches.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

At the bottom, bend and spread out the pipe cleaners to make a sturdy “stand” so the tree can stand upright.

Invite kids to thread the fall-colored pony beads

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Benefits:

Seasonal learning – A hands-on way to talk about autumn leaves, colors, and changes in nature.

Fine motor skills – Threading beads onto pipe cleaners strengthens finger muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Creativity – Kids can design their tree however they like, experimenting with colors and patterns.

Focus and patience – Sliding small beads takes concentration, encouraging calm, mindful play.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, preschool, preschool skills

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

November 4, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The letter K is a fantastic one to explore and this K is for key craft is just plain fun and invites your child on an adventure. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

This week’s alphabet adventure focuses on K is for key. It is a theme that opens the door (literally and figuratively) to creativity, early learning, and hands-on fun.

Keys are one of those everyday objects that kids see often but don’t always get to explore.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

They might watch adults using keys to open the front door, start the car, or unlock a special drawer, but to them, keys often seem a little mysterious.

That makes this a perfect topic for preschoolers because they’ll love discovering what keys do, why they’re shaped the way they are, and imagining what magical doors they might open.

Start your lesson by showing your child a few real keys. You can use house keys, car keys, or old keys from a junk drawer. Let them notice how heavy they feel, the different sizes, and how each key has its own unique pattern of teeth.

 Talk about how those tiny notches help each key fit just right into its designated location; no two are exactly alike.

If you have a padlock handy, demonstrate how a key turns to unlock it. Kids are fascinated by this simple cause-and-effect moment. It’s also a great way to introduce new vocabulary like lock, unlock, turn, and fit.

MORE KEY IS FOR KEY CRAFT ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES

  • Focus on the letter K—its shape, sound, and how it appears in words. Have your child trace a big K with their finger, make it out of playdough, or use crayons to color a giant K on paper.
  • Letter K | Explore & Learn Today — ABC See, Hear, Do
  • Practice saying K words aloud: key, kite, kangaroo, king, kitten, kitchen, kettle, kind, and kick. Make a game of finding K words around your home.
  • Alphabet Printable Craft Pack for Preschoolers
  • If you have extra keys, invite your child to sort them by size, color, or shape. Sorting helps build early math and observation skills.
  • Cereal Box Cat with Juice Box Kittens Kids Activities Blog
  • Trace the shape of several keys on paper, then let your child color or paint them. You can even make a “Key Collage” full of different designs.
  • Kite Craft
  •  As you read together, point out every time the letter K appears or when the story mentions something being locked, opened, or discovered.
  • Popsicle Stick Kings.
  • Ask your child to imagine what their key might open up, maybe it’s the door to a castle, a magical box filled with treasure, maybe it starts up a space ship.
  • Try some foods that start with K- Key lime, kiwi, kasha, kimchi, kombucha, kidney beans, kettle corn, kumquat, and kalamata olives.

Then, add a few more learning ideas.

Once you’ve explored real keys, it’s time for your main hands-on activity: making a giant cardboard key wrapped in shiny aluminum foil! This project is fun, inexpensive, and perfect for developing fine motor skills.

Preschoolers will love tearing off pieces of foil, wrapping, and smoothing them over the cardboard shape until their key gleams like silver. Add some sparkle with sequins, stickers, or gems if you’d like—it’s the perfect way to make their key look “magical.”

When the keys are complete, don’t just hang them up, use them for pretend play. Your child can “unlock” different parts of the house: the door to the kitchen, a toy chest, or a secret treasure box.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, look at more letter craft activities.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids
  • 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
  • How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint
  • 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
  • How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • Easy and Fun Letter S Sun Craft Activity for Preschoolers (Free Template)
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft
  • 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

Finally, look at how to make a giant key with your preschool and kindergarten kids.

HOW TO MAKE A GIANT K IS FOR KEY CRAFT

Cutting cardboard, wrapping foil, and decorating their key all help strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, skills that are important for writing later on.

You will need:

  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum foil
  • Pencil
  • Scissors, box cutter
How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

First, draw an oversized key shape on a large piece of cardboard; the bigger the better.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Next, cut the key shape out with a straight-edge blade or sturdy scissors.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Then, “paint” one side of the key using glue with a little bit of water mixed in to make it flow nicely.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, provide your child with small torn pieces of aluminum foil and demonstrate how to cover the whole thing with foil by pressing it in and wrapping the edges.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

When finished, flip the key over, paint glue on the other side, and continue covering the surface with aluminum foil pieces.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Allow to dry and trim off or glue down any loose pieces.

Use a black permanent marker to draw a lower and upper case K on the head of the key to help your child remember what it looks like.

Let your child use their imagination to unlock a world of fun.

Any leftover foil can be used for more sensory exploration-flatten it, crumple it, shape it into letters or objects that start with K.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, letter sounds, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

Nature’s Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

November 3, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love my free printable phenology wheel nature tracker.

A phenology wheel is a visual study or journal of the cycles in nature.

It is a way to record your nature observations every day, week, month, or season. You can record plants, and animals, the weather, the moon phases, sunrise and moonrise times, significant days, etc.

Nature's Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

All those changes are part of something called phenology which is the study of how living things change through the seasons.

Imagine a wheel divided into 12 slices — one for each month. Inside each slice, you draw or write down what you observe outdoors.

You can make your wheel about anything in nature. For example, you can do plants or trees, birds or insects and even weather patterns.

BOOKS ABOUT NATURE STUDY

Next, look at some of these books to use for your nature study.

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

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.

Handbook of Nature Study

The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.

Botanicum

Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)

Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.

Also, here are more nature hands-on ideas.

NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Fun Nature Study Ideas and a Free Nature Tracker
  • 26 Fun Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • 7 Super Easy Nature Lapbooks Guaranteed to Beat Boredom
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook
  • Seashore Beach Watching Unit Study and Seashore Lapbook
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Fun Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft
  • Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders With Kids
  • How Animals Cope With the Cold (Easy Nature Study)
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • Homeschool Kindergarten Life Science – Hands-on Fun Nature Tree Study
  • Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity
  • Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Finally, look below at how to grab the freebie.

Nature's Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker

Additionally, I have included 3 wheels so you can use them as you like.

I have the traditional wheel which includes the major 12 sections to divide by month with season.

And I have two blank circles for you to divide how you want because there are small sections within the main section. This allows you and child to journal what you observe.

HOW TO GET THE FREE PHENOLOGY WHEEL NATURE TRACKER

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: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, nature, nature journaling

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

November 1, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re creating an easy shoebox rainforest diorama to go with our Amazon Rainforest Unit Study. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Activities for Kids.

Making a rainforest diorama isn’t just a fun art project; it’s also a cool way to learn about ecosystems, animals, and plants that depend on each other to survive.

You can use this with all ages of your children, but your younger kids will especially love creating a habitat for the animals and plants of the rainforest.

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Besides, kids learn best by doing. Your child will remember facts when he builds and designs on his own.

In addition, each child can decide which animals and plants to add to his diorama.

Add trees, vines, and layers of plants. Then draw or print pictures of rainforest animals. For example, choose parrots, snakes, monkeys, frogs, jaguars, or butterflies.

RAINFOREST BOOKS FOR KIDS

In addition, look at these books to use as a unit study spine or for fun reading.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Then, look at these rainforest activities for kids.

MORE RAINFOREST ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Easy Jungle Crafts | Free Henri Rousseau Inspired Craft Kids Love
  • Amazon Toucan Study Guide for Kids Who Love Animals
  • 10 Fun Facts About Kapok Trees You’ll Love
  • The Wonders of Nature: Free Color by Number Sloth Rainforest Habitat Page
  • How To Make A Shoebox Toucan Habitat Diorama With Waterfall
  • 8 Fun Facts About Harpy Eagles | How to Make a Paper Bag Puppet
  • Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
  • How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts
  • Do Geckos Live in the Rainforest and 10 Facts About Reptiles
  • How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts
  • Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities
  • 10 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts and How to Make A Fun Iguana
  • How to Make an Easy Rainforest Triorama With Kids
Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Finally, look at how to make a diorama of a rainforest.

HOW TO MAKE A SHOEBOX RAINFOREST DIORAMA

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

Supplies:

  • Cardboard box
  • Green tissue paper
  • Green construction paper
  • Toilet paper rolls
  • Blue tissue paper
  • Green yarn
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape
  • Toy rainforest animals. I love the animals found in the TOOBS series.
Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Prepare the backdrop: Line the inside of a cardboard box with green tissue paper to create the lush rainforest background.

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Make the trees: Cut strips of green construction paper. Glue the strips to the inside edge of a toilet paper roll to form tall rainforest trees with leafy tops.

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Add vines: Drape green yarn from the top of the box to make hanging jungle vines. You can tape the ends of the yarn to the box to secure them.

Create water: Cut a strip of blue tissue paper and glue it to the box to represent a flowing river or pond.

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Add grass: Glue extra green construction paper strips around the bottom to look like thick rainforest grass.

Place the animals: Add toy rainforest animals throughout the diorama, like on the grass, near the water, or peeking from behind trees.

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Make a flying bird:

Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama

Tape a small toy bird to one of the yarn vines so it looks like it’s flying through the rainforest canopy.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: amazon rain forest, diorama, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, rainforest

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

October 31, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an adorable spoon and stick scarecrow craft for kids they’ll love. Also, there is a free template. Too, look at my free unit study and lapbook Fall Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Scarecrows have a long history in farming and gardening.

And they were once used to protect crops from hungry birds. Crafting a miniature scarecrow gives children a chance to learn about the seasons, farming, and how food grows.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Too, with this spoon and stick scarecrow and a few ingredients, your children learn how to reuse materials. This is a fun craft to include both preschool and kindergarten kids.

The spoon and stick scarecrow once created is so adorable it can be used for storytelling.

Besides, cutting fabric, and gluing tiny details all help children practice fine motor control. Fine motor skills are essential to strengthen for learning to write.

BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO LOVE FALL

Additionally, I’ve rounded up some of our favorite fall books kids will love.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

Also, look at these other scarecrow ideas.

MORE SCARECROW ACTIVITIES

  • Easy Fall Crafts To Make And Sell By Kids & Scarecrow Candy Jar
  • Paper Bag Scarecrow
  • How To Make An Adorable Scarecrow & Crafts To Keep Hands Busy
  • Paper Cup Hopping Scarecrow Craft
  • Paper Plate Scarecrow Craft
Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Finally look at how to make a fun spoon and stick scarecrow.

HOW TO MAKE A SPOON AND STICK SCARECROW CRAFT

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

List of Supplies:

  • Felt fabric
  • Popsicle stick
  • Fiber spoon
  • Pencil
  • A pair of scissors
  • Craft glue
  • Sharpies
  • template (you can grab this at the bottom by adding your email and you get the template instantly)

Step 1:

Select felt fabrics for the scarecrow patterns.

Trace the template patterns on the selected felt fabrics and cut them out nicely.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 2:

Attach the overall cutout to the shirt cutout.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 3:

Attach the button cutouts to the overall pattern.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 4:

Attach the hat band and the small square cutouts to the hat pattern.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 5:

Take the fiber spoon and attach a popsicle stick horizontally to the spoon, right below the bowl part.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 6:

Take the hat pattern and prepare some small strands of yellow yarns for the scarecrow’s hair.

Attach the yarn cutouts to the backside of the hat.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 7:

Attach 2 small square cutouts to the overall pattern. Prepare more yarn strands for the open ends of the overall’s leg parts.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 8:

Attach the yarn strands to the open ends of the overall’s leg parts.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 9:

Attach the body base pattern of the scarecrow to the fiber spoon. Make sure that the popsicle stick is aligned with the sleeves.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 10:

Cut a slit along the yellow marked line of the felt hat.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 11:

Insert the top end of the spoon through the slit of the hat from the bottom side. Apply glue to secure the hat with the spoon.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

Step 12:

Use markers or sharpies to draw the face of the spoon scarecrow.

Spoon And Stick Scarecrow Craft For Kids & Free Template

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE TEMPLATE

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: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, scarecrow

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