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Hands-On Activities

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

August 24, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Winnie the Pooh Craft ideas are wonderful for party favors, co-op activities, or just everyday fun, and it is made from just a few simple ingredients.

If you have little ones who love Winnie the Pooh and his adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, you’ll adore these cheerful, honey-inspired craft ideas I found.

They’re perfect for rainy days, parties, or just a cozy afternoon paired with a good Pooh storybook.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

From paper plate fun to Perler bead creation and our sweet and sticky honey slime, there’s something here for every age and skill level.

We will also bring Pooh’s favorite treat to life with this golden, stretchy honey slime.

It’s simple to make, looks just like the real thing, and is a great sensory activity. You can even store it in little jars with “Hunny” written on the side for party favors or gifts.

WINNIE THE POOH RESOURCES FOR KIDS

First, look at these fun resources to make learning about Winnie the Pooh come to life.

6 Books & Resources for Learning About Winnie The Pooh

Add some of these books and resources to your learning day.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Classic Gift Edition

For over ninety years, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and the ever doleful Eeyore—have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote this book for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape through his illustrations.  Now fans can celebrate the legacy of Pooh with a beautiful new gift edition of the original stories as they were first published in the United States. 

Friends Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh Plushie

With Its Sweet Disposition And Unmistakable Character Details,The Disney Lil Friends Eeyore Plush Will Win The Hearts Of Disney Fans Of All Ages

Now We Are Six (Illustrated): The 1927 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations

Now We Are Six takes us on a journey through a collection of poems that celebrate the joys and wonders of growing up. Experience the excitement and anticipation of a young child in Waiting at the Window as he watches the raindrops on the glass on a rainy day and pretends they are in a race to the bottom, sing along with the grumpy emperor in The Emperor's Rhyme, and admire the beauty of the world around us with Wind on the Hill! These unforgettable adventures offer a glimpse into A.A. Milne’s own son's childhood and the values the author passed on to him, reminding us that there is still much magic to be found in the world, even in the simplest things.

When We Were Very Young (Illustrated): The 1924 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations

With its memorable rhymes accompanied by charming illustrations, Milne's classic poems invite readers young and old to explore an enchanting world full of adventure, where anything is possible Follow Alice and Christopher Robin as they wait for the changing guard in Buckingham Palace and chant along with the independent James for his lost mother in Disobedience. These lovely poems capture the essence of childhood, transporting readers of all ages to a place of joy and wonder, where ordinary objects become extraordinary and even the most uneventful day can turn into an
unforgettable adventure.

The House at Pooh Corner (Winnie-the-Pooh)

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in A.A. Milne’s second collection of Pooh stories, The House at Pooh Corner. Here you will rediscover all the characters you met in Winnie-the-Pooh: Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, tiny Roo, and, of course, Pooh himself. Joining them is the thoroughly bouncy and lovable Tigger, who leads the rest into unforgettable adventures. Since 1926, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends have endured as the unforgettable creations of A.A. Milne, who wrote these stories for his son, Christopher Robin, and Ernest H. Shepard, who lovingly gave Pooh and his companions shape. 

The Enchanted Places

Millions of readers throughout the world have grown up with the stories and verses of A. A. Milne; have envied Christopher Robin in his enchanted world; laughed at Pooh—a bear of very little brain—and worried about Piglet and his problems. But what was it like to be the small boy with the long hair, smock and wellington boots? At the age of 54 Christopher Milne recalled his early childhood, remembering 'the enchanted places' where he used to play in Sussex. The Hundred Acre Wood, Galleon's Lap and Poohsticks Bridge existed not only in the stories and poems but were part of the real world surrounding the Milne home at Cotchford Farm. With deftness and artistry Milne draws a
memorable portrait of his father, and an evocative reconstruction of a happy childhood in London and Sussex. It is a story told with humor and modesty.

Before we get into these honey-sweet craft ideas, take a look at this darling Pooh’s Library set. Wouldn’t it make a wonderful keepsake from your early homeschooling years?

Next, look at these facts about honey.

6 HONEY FACTS FOR KIDS

  1. Bees collect nectar from flowers using their long tongues. They store it in their “honey stomach”.  Back at the hive, they pass the nectar to other bees, who chew it for a while to break it down. Then, the bees spread the nectar in honeycomb cells and fan it with their wings to dry it out—this turns it into thick, golden honey.
  2. Honey is sticky because it’s made of natural sugars like fructose and glucose, plus it has very little water. That thick, syrupy texture makes it cling to your fingers and everything else it touches.
  3. Honey is stored in a honeycomb, which is made up of perfect hexagon-shaped cells. The hexagon design is super strong and fits together without gaps, which means bees can store the most honey possible in a small space.
  4. Just like Pooh, real bears love honey, and they will go after the bees and larvae too because they’re a good source of protein. A hungry bear will rip open a hive and snack on everything inside, even if it means getting a few stings in the process.
  5. Honey isn’t always golden-it can be pale yellow, amber, orange, or even dark brown, depending on the flowers the bees visited. Clover honey is light and mild, while buckwheat honey is dark and strong.
  6. Honey never really spoils if it’s kept sealed. Archaeologists have even found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that were still safe to eat thousands of years later.
Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

Turn your simple story session into a bit of a science lesson and show pictures of beekeepers in protective suits and explain how they take care of hives.

POOH IDEAS

Then try two different kinds of honey and see if you can tell the difference in flavor while you share some of these sweet honey facts.

Explore the different types of bears and other things they like to eat to introduce some simple zoology lessons.

Next, look at these fun Winnie the Pooh craft ideas.

  • Winnie The Pooh Headbands- Create cute and simple Winnie the Pooh or any of his best friends’ headbands for dress up.
  • How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates–Turn an ordinary paper plate into an adorable Pooh face! With a little paint you will have a friendly bear ready to hang on the wall or join your next story time.
  • Winnie the Pooh Perler Bead Keychains-Perler beads are perfect for pixel-style Pooh and friends. Make keychains, magnets, or charms for backpacks—this is a great craft for older kids who like a little more detail.
  • Winnie the Pooh Bookmark–Keep your place in your favorite Pooh adventure with a homemade bookmark.

WINNIE THE POOH CRAFT IDEAS

  • 10 Creative Mason Jar Crafts | How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft– Reuse a tin can or mason jar by painting it like Pooh’s famous honey pot. It’s a quick, useful craft that can hold pencils, markers, or even utensils at a themed party.
  • Bee & Honeycomb Garland-Cut hexagon shapes from yellow cardstock and string them together for an easy honeycomb garland. Add a few paper bees for extra charm—perfect for decorating a Pooh party space.
  • Winnie the Pooh Oreo Pops– I love to include a simple recipe in my craft lists. Getting in the kitchen teaches many skills like following directions, chemistry, math, and more.

Finally, look at how to make this fun honey slime.

HOW TO MAKE HONEY SLIME

You will need:

  • ½ cup Clear school glue
  • ½ cup water
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Contact solution
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Yellow liquid watercolor
  • Brown liquid watercolor
  • Gold glitter
  • Mason jar or small container
Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

First, in a medium-sized bowl mix water, baking soda, and glue until well combined.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

Stir in glitter and yellow liquid watercolor.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

You can leave your slime the beautiful golden yellow that it is or add a couple drops of brown liquid watercolor to make it a more amber honey color.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

Add contact solution a few teaspoons at a time, stir well between each addition and continue until slime has a soft stretchy consistency but does not stick to your hands or spatula.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Winnie The Pooh Craft Ideas & How To Make Honey Slime

Until it begins to lose its stretch and stickiness then throw away.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, slime, Winnie the Pooh

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.

When Insects are Babies

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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  • 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
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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.

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

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

August 18, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing a taste safe kinetic sand recipe easy for you to do at home. We’re always looking for ways to include our youngest learner in our day.

Plus, I’m always on the lookout for hands-on, sensory-rich activities that are not only fun but also educational and safe.

Kinetic sand is a moldable, squeezable sensory material that feels like wet beach sand but doesn’t dry out.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

However, taste-safe kinetic sand is made from simple, edible household ingredients like flour and food coloring.

And this is a safe alternative for the toddler who is in the everything goes in my mouth stage.

Also, you can incorporate this sensory activity with many themed topics.

For example, you can use a different food coloring when exploring colors at the preschool and toddler ages.

BOOKS ABOUT COLORS FOR KIDS

For example, look at these books about color to add to your home library.

8 Books About Color

Add these books about color to your home library.

The Days The Crayons Quit

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Mix It Up!: Board Book Edition

Follow the artist's simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader's imagination. The result is not only enchantment and giggles, but a real and deeper understanding of colors brought by a true master of his craft.

Mouse Paint

One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors, mixing the
red and blue? Or dance in the blue and yellow? This playful introduction
to colors will appeal to any budding artist or curious preschooler.

Green

Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"―an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation.How many kinds of green are there? There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. In her newest book, Caldecott and Geisel Honor Book author Laura Vaccaro Seeger fashions an homage to a single color and, in doing so, creates a book that will delight and, quite possibly astonish you.

White Rabbit's Colors

White Rabbit finds three pots of paint―and discovers the magic of color!Young children will enjoy following Alan Baker's inquisitive LITTLE RABBITS as they make new discoveries. Simple storylines and playful artwork offer a fresh approach to learning early concepts.

Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color

Ruby flowers, violet quilts, lime frosting ― colors are all around us. How many colors can you find in the pages of this book?

Edible Colors: See, Learn, Eat

With a combination of unusual foods and a kaleidoscope of colors, this concept book shows that not all foods have to look the same way. A banana can be red, broccoli can be purple, and cherries can be yellow and still taste just as delicious.

Colors

A red fire truck races, orange pumpkins glow, and purple flowers bloom.Vivid pictures of familiar scenes, animals, and objects introduce future readers to color words and inspire them to look carefully at the world around them. Full of striking close-ups on fruits, flowers, and animals, as well as striking portraits of kids from diverse backgrounds, Colors is a bright, brilliant concept book from the creator of the award-winning Shades of People.

Also, look at more posts about sand.

MORE HANDS ON POSTS ABOUT SAND FOR KIDS

  • How to Make Fun DIY Kinetic Sand And Easy Sand Art
  • Desert Sand Art: Day 2 Hands-on Learning (Colors of the Desert)
  • How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin Using Kinetic Sand
How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Now, look at how to make this taste safe kinetic sand.

TASTE SAFE KINETIC SAND

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • 1 cup + 4 Tbsp baking soda
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup corn flour
  • 1 Tbsp cream of tartar
  • ¼ cup warm water Orange food coloring Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Spill tray or container with sides Plastic toys and shapes
How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

First, in a bowl, combine the baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, and cream of tartar. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

In a measuring cup, add warm water and orange food coloring.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Stir well to combine the food coloring and water.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Pour the water into the dry ingredients. Stir well until all the ingredients are combined.

Add to a container with sides, toys, and shapes.

  • *This can be stored in an airtight container.
  • *If the sand is too wet, add more baking soda.
  • *If the sand is too dry, add more water 1 tsp at a time,
  • *Any food coloring can be used.

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

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