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Hands-On Activities

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

May 1, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a 4-week summer unit study because learning doesn’t have to stop while you enjoy the change in weather. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more fun unit studies.

Today, summer is about relaxation and travel.

Also, I have some fun facts about starfish and how to make this adorable starfish craft.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Besides, in some places where the temperature doesn’t soar too much you can get outside and explore the great outdoors.

From geography to oceans to the history of summer and the flora and fauna, a summer unit study is a great way to involve all ages.

Too, many educators talk about the summer slide but when you homeschool summer is just another season of fun learning.

Also, if you’re looking for more ideas or ways to summer learning, look at my post A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas.

And if you’re new to homeschooling, look at How to Use Summertime to Put a Foot in Homeschooling and 7 Advantages to Starting Your Homeschool Year in the Summer to get your year off to a great start.

SUMMER BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these books to add to your home library.

Additionally, I prefer living books when I can find them and then add reference books.

13 Books About Summer to Read to Kids and For Kids to Read

Grab some of these fun books about summer to add to a summer unit study or to learn about the change in the season.

Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic

In a companion volume to Autumn: an Alphabet Acrostic and Spring: an Alphabet Acrostic, sandy beaches, juicy watermelons, and porch swings are just a few of the warm-weather delights featured in acrostic poems about summer.

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World

Are trees social beings? In The Hidden Life of Trees forester and author Peter Wohlleben convincingly makes the case that, yes, the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration that he has observed in his woodland.

A Frog in the Bog

There’s a small green frog on a half-sunk log in the middle of the bog. He eats one tick, two fleas, three flies, four slugs, and five snails. And the frog gets a whole lot bigger. Then a hungry gator shows up, ready to eat the big fat frog. The frog opens his mouth wide to scream and out comes everything he’s eaten! And the frog gets a whole lot smaller.

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read

It's not easy to teach a cat to read, but one boy tries to anyway in this sweet and silly picture book debut that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read.Nick loves to read books--and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it's a great idea to teach his cats to read.

And Then Comes Summer

When the days stretch out like a slow yawn, and the cheerful faces of Johnny-jump-ups jump up . . . then it’s time to get ready for summer! From flip-flops and hide-and-seek to fireworks and ice-cream trucks, from lemonade stands and late bedtimes to swimming in the lake and toasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and buoyant celebration of the sunny season.

The Lorax (Classic Seuss)

Dr. Seuss’s beloved story teaches kids to treat the planet with kindness and stand up and speak up for others. Experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted in a story that is timely, playful, and hopeful. The book’s final pages teach us that just one small seed, or one small child, can make a difference. 

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

It was such a hot summer. The sky was deep blue and the sun never faltered. All along Brambly Hedge, the mice did their best to keep cool. Poppy Eyebright sought refuge in the mossy shadows of the mill wheel; Dusty Dogwood took to walking by the banks of the cooling stream. Dusty and Poppy spent more and more time together, so no one was at all surprised when they announced their engagement. They decided on a very unusual setting for the wedding ceremony, but even they didn't realise just how unusual it was prove to be!Also look out for Spring Story, Autumn Story and Winter Story!

The Raft

Nicky is convinced that his summer with his grandmother in the Wisconsin woods is going to be the worst summer ever. She cooks food that he doesn’t like, there’s an art studio where her living room should be, and he’s expected to do chores—including fishing, the most boring chore ever.

But one afternoon, while Nicky is trying to catch their dinner, a raft drifts down the river towards him. The raft has a calming magic about it, affecting both Nicky and the wildlife of the river and woods. Through the raft and the adventures it brings him on, Nicky finds new common ground with his grandmother, a fellow river rat, who encourages him to explore his newfound talent for art.

Summertime in the Big Woods (Little House Picture Book)

The winter is finally over, and now it is summertime. Laura and Mary are busy all day helping Ma in the garden and playing outside.

We Were Tired of Living in a House: 55th Anniversary Edition

"We were tired of living in a house.

So we packed a bag with

sweaters and socks and scarves

and mittens and woolen caps.

And we moved to a tree...."

So begins this whimsical tale of four small children, a dog and a cat who decided they were tired of living in a house. They try a tree, a pond, a cave and the seashore, but in each place something unusual happens to make them move on to the next place-and finally home.

Blueberries for Sal

Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter.  Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?With its expressive line drawings and charming story, Blueberries for Sal has won readers' hearts since its first publication in 1948."The adventures of a little girl and a baby bear while hunting for blueberries with their mothers one bright summer day. All the color and flavor of the sea and pine-covered Maine countryside.

Over and Under the Canyon

Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals living in it—and the desert is FULL of amazing and surprising animals!

Over and Under the Waves

Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal return in this latest addition to the Over and Under picture book series, this time exploring the rich, interconnected ecosystem of the ocean!Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.SO MANY FASCINATING FACTS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals and plants living in it—and the ocean is FULL of amazing and surprising life!ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS MADE WONDERFUL: Preservation of our wilderness—and of our oceans in particular—is essential, and this book makes such a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world's natural habitats and ecosystems.

Next, look at ideas for how to add each subject to this summer unit study.

Keep in mind that not all school subjects may fit naturally into a unit study. Don’t force a fit with a subject.

However, it is a chance to tie concepts in and fit as many ideas as you can in a fun way.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY SUMMER UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

For example, talk about the early origins of summer.

Summertime has been a time of focus on agriculture for thousands of years.

Besides, the Mesopotamians and Egyptians relied on the sun to grow crops.

In addition, other countries celebrate summer through festivals. Like the Swedes during the Middle Ages.

They began raising midsummer poles decorated with flowers and danced around it.

Research about how different countries celebrated the beginning of summer.

Ancient countries like Rome and Celts celebrated the day to honor the sun for a good harvest.

Then here are some history topics/ideas to learn about.

  • summer festivals
  • countries to visit during the summer
  • Titanic
  • create a summer geography travel journal
  • history of baseball
  • history of lighthouses and why they were needed
  • history of solstice

Here are some posts with hands-on ideas.

  • How to Make Celtic Cakes -Recipe for Hands-on History
  • 5 Cool Lighthouse Facts and Make a Chip Can Lighthouse
  • Hands-on Ancient Babylon: Hanging Gardens Fun Activity

In addition, the idea of a summer vacation is a relatively new concept in the 19th century.

A summer break allowed children to help with farming during the busy summer months.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

As you can see public school then built their schedule or school year around the harvest time.

Because of that public schools started in the fall to allow the children to help their parents in the field.

NATURE & SCIENCE SUMMER UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

Additionally, the topic summer study makes for a heavy on the nature and science topics.

Next, here are some nature/science topics/ideas to learn about.

  • camping
  • nature study
  • seeds
  • berries
  • ice cream
  • tadpoles to frog and toads to amphibians
  • study animals found on an island
  • coral reefs
  • weather patterns
  • gardening
  • seashores, oceans, marine animals and ponds
  • tide pools
  • watermelon
  • butterflies
  • dandelions
  • farming
  • summer sensory bins
  • organize cooking classes

Then, look at some of these hands-on ideas to teach about the topics above.

  • 5 Tide Pool Facts and Create An Edible Tide Pool Diorama Ideas
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
  • Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Fun Sight Word Activity
  • Free Carnivorous Plants Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • How to Create Homeschool Farming Curriculum and Adorable Clothespin Sheep Craft
  • 10 Edible Beach Crafts For Teens and Make Edible Beach Glass
  • How to Make Fluffy Lemonade Summer Slime With Kids
  • 5 Facts About Ice Cream | How to Make Ice Cream In A Bag Science
  • Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On
  • Fun Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
  • Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook
  • The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity
  • How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Cutest Ever Egg Carton Sea Turtle Craft and Learning Activities for Kids
  • How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning
  • How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
  • How to Make a Strawberry Lemonade Summer Sensory Bin
  • Explore the Outdoors: Top Summer Ideas and Free Scavenger Hunt
Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft
  • Weather In A Bottle | How To Make An Amazing Tornado In A Jar. 
  • 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer.
  • Hands-on Weather Activities for Kids and Awesome Weather Sensory Tray 
  • How to Plan And Start an Easy Gardening Unit Study for Kids
  • Seed and Gardening Unit Study 
  • Gardening Projects For Homeschool Easy Composting With the Amazing Dr. George Carver (Free Printable About Compost

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS SUMMER UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

In addition, there are some fun hands-on ideas to add for fun math and language arts summer unit study ideas.

  • track daily temperatures during the summer. Older kids can create line graphs
  • look for geometry in nature and patterns in nature
  • Use Swiss Family Robinson book to do a whole unit study about living on an island Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.
  • Read The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs: Use Outdoor Clues to Find Your Way, Predict the Weather, Locate Water, Track Animals – and Other Forgotten Skills.
  • younger children can keep an easy weather journal
  • use summer themed counters like mini starfish, ocean animals or seashells
  • keep a nature journal
  • do storytelling by creating art on stones
  • have older children choose a country and focus on learning its summer celebrations.
  • do a math scavenger hunt
  • create a summer reading challenge
  • 20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial
  • Fun Felt Weather Chart & Free The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm Worksheet
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • How to Make a Cool Fibonacci Lemonade and 8 Things to Learn about Fibonacci
  • Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

ELECTIVES & CRAFTS FOR A SUMMER UNIT STUDY WEEK 4

Finally, summer is the perfect time to pursue electives or crafts that we just couldn’t squeeze into our regular schedule.

Too, look at some of these ideas.

  • 30+ Summer Activities for Middle School Kids
  • Fun Pineapple Candle For Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • 20 Fun Summer Ideas for a Teen
  • Homeschooling Through the Summer with My Highschooler
  • 25 Summer Homeschool Ideas To Keep The Learning Spark Alive
  • How to Make an Ocean-Inspired Sea Shell Necklace | 8 Summer Beach Crafts
  • Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft
  • Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • Fun Making Ocean Layers Soap | Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • 11 Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • 10 Sea Shell Activities for Kids and Make Crystal Sea Shells
  • Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box
Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Finally, look at some fun starfish facts and how to make this giant starfish.

7 STARFISH FACTS

  1. Starfish are predators and eat a variety of animals, including mollusks, crustaceans, and worms.
  2. Starfish are not actually fish! They are echinoderms, which are a group of marine animals that also include sea urchins and sand dollars.
  3. Starfish have five arms, but some species can have up to 40 arms!
  4. Starfish have a water vascular system that helps them move around and capture prey.
  5. Starfish can regenerate their arms if they are lost or damaged.
  6. Starfish have tiny tube feet on the underside of their arms that help them grip surfaces and move around.
  7. Starfish can change their color to camouflage themselves with their surroundings.

GIANT PAPER MACHE STARFISH

Now, look at how to make this giant fun starfish. Most starfish have 5 legs.

But they can have anywhere from 5 to 40 legs, and we had so much fun creating the armature of the legs we ended up with a 6 legger.

You will need:

  • Roll of toilet paper
  • Aluminum foil
  • Duct tape
  • Water
  • School glue
  • Craft paints
  • Paintbrush
Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

First, use aluminum foil to create the body and arms of the starfish.

Next, make it any size you would like, squeeze it together tightly.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Then, connect each leg to the body with duct tape. Set aside while you work on the paper mache pulp.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Shred most of the roll of toilet paper into small pieces, put into a saucepan.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Add just enough water to cover the paper.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Bring to a boil and stir.

STARFISH CRAFT FOR KIDS

Turn off heat and use an immersion blender or transfer to a blender to puree the mixture.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Allow to soak for a couple of hours.

Place mixture in a strainer and let it drip until a good portion of the moisture has drained off, 15-20 minutes.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Give it a few squeezes to help remove more excess water.

Put pulp back into the pan and add half a bottle of white school glue, mix well.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Add a couple teaspoons of table salt.

Paper mache pulp takes a while to dry and if it takes too long to dry it might mold. Adding salt to the mixture helps keep away mold and mildew.

Lay your starfish base on a silicone mat, alternatively you could use another piece of aluminum foil.

Begin pressing paper mache pulp onto the structure, squeezing to form it to the body and legs of the starfish.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Continue until it is covered in a ¼ thick layer on both sides.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Leave it to dry for 2-3 days until completely dried out.

Paint in the style of any starfish you like.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

We went with the coloring of a Cushion Sea Star.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Paint the underside as well

Let the paint dry.

Free Summer Unit Study For Kids and Fun Starfish Craft

Last, add any more details you would like to the top or underside with a small brush or a paint pen.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, starfish, summer, summer crafts, summerideas, summerschool

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

April 30, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love this fun (and delicious) hands on Japan activity for older kids. Also, look at more ideas on my page Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook 1185 – 1600 A.D.

I have two simple sushi recipes for you today using just a little variation on ingredients.

It can be hard to find cool hands-on ideas for older kids.

One of my standby ideas, especially when studying other countries, is cooking.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Since Sushi is such a huge part of the way of life in Japan, I thought it would make a perfect activity for our study.

Our favorite sushi rolls are California roll and the vegetarian sweet potato roll so that is what I wanted to share.

They are also very simple, which makes them great for beginners, be they older or younger kids so everyone in the family can join in.

Sushi is vinegared rice topped with other ingredients and there are several ways to prepare it.

Maki Rolls are rice, veggies, and fish rolled up in seaweed and is what most people think of when they think of sushi.

Japan is rich in culture, art, contributions, history, and complex traditions.

Books About Japan For Kids

11 Books and Resources for Studying About Japan

You'll love these resources and books for studying about Japan. Add them to my Medieval Japan Unit Study or just fun for the day.

Samurai: An Illustrated History

This Japanese history book traces the story of a unique historical phenomenon: a period of 700 years--equivalent to the entire stretch of Western history between the reigns of the Crusader king Richard the Lionhearted and of Queen Victoria at the height of the British Empire--during which an enclosed civilization was dominated by a single warrior caste.

The historical narrative of samurai history is supported by explanations of samurai armor, weapons, fortifications, tactics, and customs, and illustrated with nearly 800 fascinating color photographs, maps, and sketches, including ancient scroll paintings and surviving suits of armor preserved for centuries in Japanese shrines.

Samurai Arms, Armour & the Tactics of Warfare

Part of the acclaimed Book of Samurai series, which presents for the first time the translated scrolls of the historical Natori-Ry samurai school of war, this volume offers an exceptional insight into the weaponry and armour of the samurai era, as well as tactical advice for use on and off the battlefield.

Life in Old Japan Coloring Book

More than 40 handsome, ready-to-color illustrations depict samurai warriors, the imperial villa at Kyoto, a Shinto shrine, a tea ceremony, a Noh play, a typical city street, a restaurant, music makers, more. Introduction and detailed captions describe Japanese culture and provide detailed information on art, government, costume, and daily life.

Japanese Picture Dictionary Coloring Book: Over 1500 Japanese Words and Phrases for Creative & Visual Learners of All Ages

Learning a new language is a new way of meeting new people, opening doors in your professional career and attracting fresh opportunities when traveling around the world, as you may know. The great thing is - whether you want to learn Japanese to visit Japan’s precious historic landmarks, watch anime and movies or simply meet wonderful Japanese people - we’ve got you covered!

All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids

A cultural adventure for kids, All About Japan offers a journey to a new place--and ways to bring it to life! Dive into stories, play some games from Japan, and learn some Japanese songs.

The Inch-High Samurai

The brave little boy who sailed to the Capital in a teacup and fought a demon with a needle to win the love of a Lady is a Japanese cousin to Tom Thumb.

The Crane Girl

In this magical retelling of a Japanese folktale, a mysterious girl weaves silk to help repay the kindness of a boy and his father until the father's greed finally exposes her secret.

While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches as it flies away over the wintry hills.

The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at Yasuhiro's home seeking shelter from the cold. The boy and his father welcome the girl, named Hiroko, to stay with them. When Hiroko notices that Yasuhiro's father is struggling to earn money, she offers to weave silk for him to sell. After the fabric fetches a good price, the boy's father becomes impatient for more silk, and his greed has a life-changing effect on them all.

Lyrical storytelling deftly interwoven with original haiku create a magical adaptation of a popular Japanese folktale--an inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.

Commodore Perry the Opening of Japan (Landmark Series, #56)

For more than 200 years Japan had isolated herself from the world - now Commodore Perry, representing the US government had arrived on the shore of Japan. Perry's mission was to open a door into Japan so US ships might stop for fuel & water on their route to China.

3D Puzzle Wooden Craft Kits DIY Model Building Kit

This 3D wooden Puzzle is the oldest tower in Japan and one of the iconic buildings, ancient and elegant.

Japan Tokyo Skyline Famous Architecture Model Block Set

The iconic landmark you love,Build this detailed Japan skyline model!Features an elaborate façade with Tokyo Tower,Tokyo SKYTREE, Mount Fuji,Sensoji Temple,Osaka Castle and more.

Japanese Flower Pavilion Cherry Blossom Bonsai Tree Bricks Kit

Japan Sakura Tree House Building Set consists of 1810pcs + mini-blocks. It includes detailed step-by-step color instructions, and exquisite details of various sizes and color componentsand.

Whether you are studying Ancient or more modern Japan, homemade sushi fits perfectly as it is strongly associated with Japanese Culture.

Originally, around the Yayoi period (early Neolithic–early Iron Age 300 BC) the earliest form of sushi, today referred to as narezushi, was fish fermented with vinegar, salt and rice.

Then the rice was discarded. 

People began to eat the rice as well as the fish during the Muromachi period (1336–1573).

In addition to sushi making, you can find other hands on resources.

For example, a books, games, and crafts to add to your Japan Unit.

Enjoy your journey to “The Land of The Rising Sun” and  linger as long as you like, no passport or return date needed.

While not entirely authentic this is close to the real thing with just a few modifications to make it a little simpler for first timers.

But before we begin the sushi tutorial let me show you a few more fun hands on resources to use for your unit.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Next, look at more hands-on ideas for kids learning about Japan.

Hands on Japan Activity Ideas

  • If you are a game loving family like we are you have to try Sushi Go!
  • Give this Ancient Japan for Kids: Fun and Simple Handwriting Activity a go to learn how to create your own ancient text.
  • LEGO is an extraordinary way to incorporate themes. Their variety is so good that you can usually find a set to fit any topic like this Bonsai Tree.
  • Check out these Origami Koi Fish for another activity to keep hands busy.
  • Celebrate Arbor Day With A Fun Flowering Cherry Tree Activity.
Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids
  • Make this super easy hand fan,. Besides being used in summer to cool down, they are a fashionable accessory. They are paired with a kimono and yukata at bon odori dances,at firework displays, and of course summer matsuri (festivals).
  • Learn Japanese by tucking these learning notes all over the house to reinforce some basic words.
  • Grab this inexpensive sushi making kit to make quick work of those rolls.
Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Finally, look how to make this simple homemade sushi.

How to Make Simple Homemade Sushi

You will need:

  • Sushi rolling mat
  • Nori (seaweed for sushi)
  • 1 cup uncooked white sushi rice
  • 2 cups of water or follow instructions on rice
  • 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
  • 1 large, sweet potato
  • 1 avocado 
  • 1 cucumber
  • Crabmeat
  • Soy sauce
  • Finger Bowl of water
Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

First, cook rice according to package directions.

Combine rice vinegar and sugar until dissolved.

Stir the sugar and rice vinegar mixture into rice.

Slice vegetables into strips about 2” long – avocado, cucumber, and sweet potato.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Toss in oil and then bake the sweet potato strips in the oven at 350 or in the air fryer until softened.

Lay out all your ingredients including thin slices of crabmeat, rice, and vegetable strips.

Place Nori sheet on a sushi rolling mat rough side up with the lines going in the same direction as those on the mat, horizontal to you.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Cover the bottom ⅓ of the Nori with a thin layer of rice. Wet fingertips to spread the rice without it sticking to you.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Add strips of your desired fillings to the bottom half of the rice.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Grab the mat at the bottom and roll it from the bottom up, tucking veggies in as you go.

But for the right technique you do not want to roll the bamboo inside the sushi roll, just pull it along over it.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Stop ½” from the edge and run water along the exposed portion, continue rolling, the water will help seal your roll.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Use a sharp knife to cut the roll into ½” pieces.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

California Roll- Use crab, cucumber, and avocado.

Sweet Potato roll-Use sweet potato, cucumber and avocado.

Experiment with sauces like Yum Yum, Soy, Ponzu, Sriracha, or wasabi.

Simple Homemade Sushi: Hands on Japan Activity for Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Ancient Japan, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, historycostumes, Medieval Japan

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

April 28, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Naturalist John Muir was not only a naturalist but conservation advocate. You’ll also love the John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas).

He dedicated his life to recording and preserving the beauty he saw, so much so that he is called “The Father Of The National Parks”.

Muir was born in Scotland in 1838 but migrated to the States in 1849 with his family.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Though still a traveler with a fierce love for nature, at 30, he decided that California would be his home wherever he went.

He spent much of his time there writing, sketching, and creating landscapes of sights like the peaks of the Sierra Nevada and other places around the globe.

Too, he was at the forefront of developing many national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, and Grand Canyon and fought to maintain their majestic views.

 Today we are focusing on his beloved California and the landmarks there.

Because he claimed California as his home, we are diving into some of the landmarks around the state. 

Next, look at some of these resources.

Books for Kids about John Muir

Add these living books and reference books to your study about John Muir.

11 John Muir Resources

The mountains are calling, and I must go -John Muir

In observance of National Park Service Founders Day and the care and work John Muir put into helping it become a reality, put together a unit study with a book or two, a video, a game, and a few hands-on activities like visiting the closest national park to you. There is plenty to choose from below.

John Muir Wilderness Box Set

A collection of John Muir’s best-selling writings and essays collected in 1 set.

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers. Collected here in 1 set are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, national park observations, travels throughout Alaska, and writings about working in the Yosemite Valley. 

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

John Muir, one of America’s great environmentalists, has inspired nature lovers for generations with his writings.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf by John Muir is the adventure that started it all.

Walk with John from Indiana through Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A story that is sure to inspire your own adventures and love for nature and the off beaten path.

John Muir: Candlewick Biographies: America's First Environmentalist

John Muir loved the land. Born in 1838, he was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer, and an explorer. But above all, he was a naturalist. John Muir was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his careful influence, were set aside as Yosemite, one of the first national parks in America. Here is the life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day. Back matter includes an epilogue, a bibliography, and information about the Sierra Club.

A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir

"I am hopelessly and forever a mountaineer," John Muir wrote. "Civilization and fever and all the morbidness that has been hooted at me has not dimmed my glacial eye, and I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature's loveliness. My own special self is nothing."In Donald Worster's magisterial biography, John Muir's "special self" is fully explored as is his extraordinary ability, then and now, to get others to see the sacred beauty of the natural world. A Passion for Nature is the most complete account of the great conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club ever written. It is the first to be based on Muir's full private correspondence and to meet modern scholarly standards. Yet it is also full of rich detail and personal anecdote, uncovering the complex inner life behind the legend of the solitary mountain man. It traces Muir from his boyhood in Scotland and frontier Wisconsin to his adult life in California right after the Civil War up to his death on the eve of World War I. It explores his marriage and family life, his relationship with his abusive father, his many friendships with the humble and famous (including Theodore Roosevelt and Ralph Waldo Emerson), and his role in founding the modern American conservation movement.

National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States, 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores

National Geographic’s wide-ranging travel guide to recreation areas, trails, historic sites, nature hikes, seashores, camping, and campgrounds is geared to everyone who loves outdoor recreation. This 544-page reference is the ultimate travel planner for all things national parks, filled with full-color photos, detailed maps, historical background, and practical facts on the location of the park system properties, as well as the best times to visit and top-rated activities.

Our National Parks

ohn Muir (1838–1914) ranks among America's most important and influential environmentalists and nature writers. Devoted to the preservation of wilderness areas, Muir founded the Sierra Club and was active in the establishment of Yosemite National Park. Our National Parks, originally published in 1901, includes ten articles that previously appeared in The Atlantic Monthly. Muir wrote them in hopes of exciting interest in the parks, certain that visitors would fall in love with the scenic grandeur as he had—and that their enthusiasm would ensure the parks' preservation.

National Parks Scratch Off Map of United States Poster, ALL 63 Parks

UNIQUE DESIGN…ARROWHEAD SHAPES: Scratch off each beautifully designed US National Park as you visit them, like Acadia, Zion, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Olympic, Grand Canyon, Arches and others!

National Parks Trivia: A Card Game: 400 Questions

Get to know America's 63 national parks with 390 wide-ranging trivia questions that cover their iconic geography, ecology, geology, history, wildlife, and botany—from the authors of Scenic Science of the National Parks.

Professor Noggin's Wildlife of North America Trivia Card Game

  • PLAY & LEARN: Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.
  • FUN FACTS: Journey through the Wildlife of North America discovering facts about our continent’s most interesting animals. From Polar Bears to Pronghorns, from Alligators to Bald Eagles, this game is perfect for young nature lovers.

Our National Treasures Matching Game USA National Parks Memory Game for Kids. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Arches, Denali and More

What you get – Our National Treasures Matching Card Game comes with 52 tiles (26 pairs) and instructions

Clear instructions – Easy to learn memory card game. Learn to play in less than five minutes!

Develops critical skills – card games for kids help preschoolers practice their focus, memory, & matching skills.

Trekking The National Parks -The Perfect Board Game for National Park Lovers

Wildly Popular National Parks Game - Winner Of The Mensa And Parent's Choice Award

Created By National Parks Enthusiasts - This couple traveled to every single national park and then worked with their son to make the game.

Fun + Educational - It’s the perfect recipe for a family game night! Appeals to a wide range of people: outdoor lovers, board game players, and gift givers. A great board games for kids!

You are going to want to add this post to your bookmarks for either a California unit or a John Muir unit or combine both for a wonderfully multifaceted study.

John Muir, as he ascended the Pacheco pass wrote:

“At the top of the Pass I obtained my first view of the San Joaquin plain and the glorious Sierra Nevada.

Looking down from a height of fifteen hundred feet, there, extending north and south as far as I could see lay a vast level flower garden, smooch, and level like a lake of gold—the floweriest part of the world I had yet seen.”

Those bright orange California Poppies must have been an incredible sight to behold from above!

Let’s make a bouquet of our own while we learn about their homeland, Muir, and the flowers themselves.

If you want to learn to capture the beautiful landscape, plants, or animals wherever you may live, a copy of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling is a must have.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir

  • There are many recognizable California landmarks, some were highlighted in his art and the topic of his books. Yosemite National Park- The land here is made up of waterfalls, cliffs, meadows, Sequoia trees, and abundant wildlife.
  • Muir Woods Has been a Federally protected National Monument since 1908. It is full of stately old Redwoods from 400 to 800 years old and was named in honor of the naturalist John Muir.
  • Joshua Tree– Here the landscape is studded with Yucca (Joshua Trees), it has two very distinct deserts the Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, and at night time there’s very little light pollution making the view of the nighttime sky other worldly.
  • Sequoia National Park– 404,064 acres of forested mountain terrain. The park is known for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman tree, the largest tree on Earth by its volume. These mighty trees can reach 350 ft  tall and 24 ft in diameter, living up to 2,000 years.
California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Then, look at a few more resources.

Kids Activities to Learn About John Muir

  • Grab this fun book Our National Parks.
  • You can also try to grow some of your own California Poppies at home. They are supposed to be pretty easy to grow and like hot, dry spots with even poor soil.
  • 7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas
  • John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas)
California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Finally, look at how to make this fun California poppy craft.

How To Make A Poppy Craft

You will need:

  • Coffee filters
  • Yellow and orange buttons
  • Liquid watercolors
  • paintbrush
  • Green pipe cleaners
California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

First, fold 3 coffee filters in half, then in half again.

Cut the corners to round them off and create a more distinct 4 petal shape.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Combine half a cup of water with 25 drops of yellow and 15 drops of orange, you can make several different cups to get variations on your shading.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Lay coffee filters on a tray or cookie sheet and paint them until fully saturated. 

You can also take straight liquid watercolor and paint or drop onto the coffee filters to create natural shading and patterns.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Set them aside to dry, I laid them on our tray outside with a small rock holding each in place until they dried, which only took about 15 minutes in the hot sun.

Once they’re dry, stack three together and scrunch them up to wrinkle it and make your petals look more natural and ruffled, then press them flat.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Fold the stack in half then in half again, cut a slit ¼” up. Unfold one time and then slip several inches of pipe cleaner all the way through the holes.

Bend and twist it on itself to make the stem.

Gently unfold the petals of each of the layers until you get the look that you like.

To create the center of the poppy glue a yellow or orange button to the middle.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

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Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

April 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun hands-on butterfly unit study for kids. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more homeschool unit studies.

Also, I have a bit of everything you need to keep on theme with math, science, and language arts for younger learners.

And I have put in a few so we can include older siblings as well.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Fun is always the way to go.

Besides for any nature study, I encourage you to get out and do it first!

Since butterflies are found on every continent except Antarctica there are always some fluttering around.

Observe butterflies in the wild, caterpillars climbing on milkweed, flowers that they use for nectar, how they drink, etc.

There is no substitute for seeing it firsthand but there are plenty of great supplemental activities to go along with it to make the most fun unit.

Of course, when you are living life and learning through play you will find that multiple subjects naturally overlap creating a wonderful experience for you both.

Keep on reading for a cute and fun sponge stamping activity at the end that younger kids will enjoy as a unique art project.

Kids’ Books About Butterflies

First, look at these books about butterflies.

I love to add living books to our reading list and next look for reference books especially for science subjects.

10 Butterfly Resources and Book

Fun books and resources to learn about butterflies.

It's a Butterfly's Life

What is a butterfly s life? Its full of twists and turns as butterfly glide on air currents. Its full of dips and dives as they show off for their mates. There are more than 17,000 kinds of butterflies in the world. Some of them will only live for a few days. Others will migrate thousands of miles to winter in a warmer climate. Still others will hibernate through the cold months. For all butterflies, life begins with metamorphosis. In one of nature s most amazing feats, caterpillars become creatures of beauty and grace.

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

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.

UANDME 4pcs Butterfly Life Cycle Kit Lifestyle Stages of Monarch Butterfly Teaching Tools for Kids, Students

This is a wonderful, realistic set of the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly, which contains the 4 stages, eggs, caterpillars (larva) with a leaf, a chrysalis (pupa), and a butterfly. It is a good learning toy for homeschoolers teaching.

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey

Some farms grow vegetables or grains, and some raise cows, sheep, chickens, or pigs. But have you ever heard of a butterfly farm? How do you raise a butterfly?On a farm in Costa Rica, workers care for these delicate, winged creatures as they change from eggs to caterpillars to pupae. Like any other crop, the butterflies will eventually leave the farm. But where will they go? And just how do you ship a butterfly?

Insect Lore - Butterfly Growing Kit - Butterfly Habitat Kit

Pop-up, reusable 11.5-inch tall mesh habitat perfect for butterfly viewing; includes feeding dropper and complete instructions

Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close

Caterpillars ship separately via included Voucher (additional $8.95 for processing); packaging may vary

Monarch Butterfly (New & Updated)

Introduce young readers to the fascinating process of how caterpillars become butterflies.Follow the transformation from a tiny white egg laid on a leaf to a brilliantly colored butterfly in this kid-friendly introduction to metamorphosis.  With detailed, bright watercolors, Gail Gibbons illustrates the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, stage by stage, as it grows, changes, and takes flight.

Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

A beautifully illustrated, informative book for children introducing them to bugs that creep, crawl, bite, fly, and more

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.

A Butterfly Is Patient: Nature Books for Kids, Children's Books

From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies.Part of the incredible six-book Nature Books series from the award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long, A Butterfly Is Patient celebrates a dazzling variety of butterflies in all their beauty and wonder.Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these beautiful winged insects through watercolor illustrations that bring to life garden landscapes filled with flowers, vines, leaves, and sunshine. A BUTTERFLY BOOK TO TREASURE: From the tiny Western Pygmy blue butterfly to the grand Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, from the iridescent blue swallowtail to the brilliant orange monarch, curious kids will find a wealth of information and inspiration in this fascinating picture book.

National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly

Butterflies are all around us. It's hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. How in the world does this transformation happen? This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. With bonus information including different types of butterflies and poisonous caterpillars, this reader is one of a kind.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Butterflies and Moths

Crinkleroot introduces the amazing world of butterflies and moths as he tours the natural world, exposing the facts and behaviors of this fascinating insect group known as Lepidoptera.

Next, look at these butterfly unit study ideas.

Math Ideas to Learn About Butterflies

  • You can’t get much simpler than using a handful of plastic butterflies for sorting, counting, patterns, and basic addition and subtraction for easy practice.
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping
  • Practice counting and number recognition with an easy peasy Butterflies and Flowers Number Line Activity.
  • Learn about Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft for a beautiful butterfly activity on one that you don’t see every day. 
  • For toddlers and very young preschoolers color matching is one of the first introductions to math through sorting, here is an adorable Cardboard Butterfly Color Matching Activity to make.
  • Count how many different varieties of flowers you see in your yard or on a nature walk as you talk about how caterpillars use plants for food and learn
  • How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Science & Sensory for Studying Butterflies

  • First, raising butterflies inside is just a passage of homeschooling and if you have never done it you just have to experience it with your child. These kits come with the habitat and food.
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping
  • See them in all their glorious stages with a Butterfly Sensory Bin that introduces kids to language, sensory experiences, math, and so much more as they play.
  • My Butterfly Life Cycle Activity uses inexpensive craft items that are in most of our supplies to teach the more complex life cycle of butterflies simply.
  • Grab this life cycle as well which also comes with Montessori cards.
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping
  • While your little ones are building up fine motor skills and getting sensory input they will also be learning the Parts of a Butterfly on this  Playdough Mat

Nature Anatomy, just look at these beautiful butterfly pages, there is also plenty of info on flowers.

This is a great field guide to take on every nature walk.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Language Arts Butterfly Themed Ideas

  • A simple B is for Butterfly activity is a great way to reinforce the sound as well as identify B.
  • If you want to include older children in on the theme you could have them write a paragraph or a whole page on a favorite butterfly to incorporate some language arts.
  • A Butterfly is Patient is a must-read-aloud and then your child will pour over the beautiful illustrations on their own as well.
  • Free Butterfly Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Finally, look at how to make this butterfly sponge craft.

Butterfly Sponge Stamping

You will need:

  • Sponges
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Craft paint
  • Thick paper
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Wrap a pipe cleaner around the center of a sponge tightly and twist to secure the middle.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Then curl the remaining ends into the shape of antennae.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

You can either dip the “stamp” into a solid paint color, paint directly onto the sponge, or press into blobs of various colors.

One of my favorites is to load up one half with paint by squeezing it directly from the bottle.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Then fold it in half to transfer some of the paint to the other side.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Now stamp your coated sponge onto paper.

This is a great intro to learning about symmetry as well.

Be sure to have your child press firmly all over the sponge to be sure it leaves a good imprint.

Repeat as much as they like. Incorporate ideas like patterning, and color symmetry, and talk about the parts of a butterfly after they stamp it.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

You can reuse these butterflies over and over, just wash them out in the sink and start all over with a fresh batch of colors and designs.

They do work best slightly damp, so they have a bit of flexibility.

If they have dried out just reset and squeeze out as much as you can.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

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7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

April 24, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a list of 7 famous Texans. Also, you may love Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas.

Too, I have a highlight on one famous Texan.

It is an art project which is perfect for any Texas-sized unit study.

You might have heard of Davy Crockett and Sam Houston.

But do you know about the contributions sculpture Elisabet Ney made to the Texas art world and beyond?

Have you studied James S. Hogg, who was the first native Texan to become governor?

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Do you know about the exploits of Bonnie and Clyde?

To create a wonderful Texas unit, I have information on these famous Texans and several more to spark a deeper study.

We are focusing on Elisabet Ney in particular and incorporating a self-portrait art project to honor the contributions she made.

Now, for this bust, you can choose one of the famous Texans, someone that you know like a family member, or a famous historical figure.

Although you are not carving the bust it is a fun way to open conversation about Elisabet Ney.

For example, you can learn about the art of creating a bust sculpture. Elizabet Ney made them of marble.

Books About Famous Texans

First, look at these books about Texas.

When preparing unit studies, I like to add both living books and reference type books for a well rounded study.

27 Books For Kids Who Love Reading And Being Read to About Texas

 Forget a boring textbook and add some of these books about Texas to your unit study or add to your learning day.

Susanna of the Alamo: A True Story

Relates the experiences of the Texas woman who, along with her baby, survived the 1836 massacre at the Alamo.

The Boy in the Alamo

The classic story of the siege of the Alamo, as told for young readers. Originally published in 1958, thousands of children each year enjoy this story from the unique point of view of twelve-year old Billy Campbell.

Plains Warrior: Chief Quanah Parker and the Comanches

A biography of the legendary Comanche leader profiles the son of a white woman, who fiercely defended tribal lands against those who tried to seize them and who, after being moved with his people to a reservation, fought for the recognition and decent treatment of his tribe.

A Paradise Called Texas

Searching for a better life, Mina, Papa, and Mama left their German fatherland aboard the brig Margaretha ,bound for Texas. They had been told it was the paradise of North America, but when Mina steps onto the desolate beach at Indian Point on a cold December day in 1845, she wants to go back to Germany and Opa's cozy house in the village of Wehrestedt. But go on they must. In spite of mama's tragic death, Mina and Papa push inland with the Kaufmann family to the Texas Hill Country. There Mina encounters an Indian chief and his young daughter, Amaya, whose help she needs when Papa falls ill. Based on her ancestors' immigration to Texas, Janice Shefelman tells of a journey into the wilderness that is filled with hardship, tragedy and adventure.

The Texans! Tejas to Today

Lessons Taught In Story Form.

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #6): A Texas Tale (Volume 6)

“Remember the Alamo!” That rallying cry has gone down in Texas history. But what, exactly, should we remember? Who were the ragtag group of adventurers behind the famous slogan, and how did they end up barricaded in a fort against a Mexican army Who survived, who died, and how. In the early 1800s, Native Americans, the Mexican government, and settlers from other areas of the United States were fighting over the territory that would become the Lone Star state. Here, vivid illustrations—rendered in black, white, and shades of gray, with tinges of yellow—and witty text tell the story, from Texas’s near wilderness beginnings to the Battle of the Alamo and General Sam Houston’s ultimate victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Indians Who Lived in Texas

Briefly describes the environment, daily life, and customs of four Indian groups that lived in Texas--the farmers, the fishermen, the plant gatherers, and the hunters.

Make Way for Sam Houston (Unforgettable Americans)

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico.

Wilderness Pioneer, Stephen F. Austin of Texas

I wanted to tell Austin's story so that boys and girls all over the United States would come to know him not as a stuffy figure in a history book but as a man who had a great dream for the welfare of his fellowmen, and in working to make that dream come true met adventure and danger, heartache and happiness.

Caleb's Choice (Puffin Novel)

In 1858 Texas, people are violently divided over a law that makes it a crime to help runaway slaves. Caleb isn't sure how he feels. When an escaped slave saves his life, Caleb knows he has a debt to repay. But should he break the law and risk his life to help two slaves escape?

A Gentle Tour Through Texas History

A guide for teaching Texas History through literature. It is based on a 34-week timeframe and is useful for students in grades K-6/7.

Johnny Texas

In the early days of Texas history, ten-year-old Johann comes from Germany with his family to settle in this vast land and soon grows to love his new home.

Remember the Alamo! (Landmark books)

I love this series of books and this one tends to be fairly accurate.

A Time to Stand: The Epic of the Alamo

The #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Miracle of Dunkirk tells the story of the Texans who fought Santa Anna’s troops at the Battle of the Alamo. Looking out over the walls of the whitewashed Alamo, sweltering in the intense sun of a February heat wave, Colonel William Travis knew his small garrison had little chance of holding back the Mexican army. Even after a call for reinforcements brought dozens of Texans determined to fight for their fledgling republic, the cause remained hopeless. Gunpowder was scarce, food was running out, and the compound was too large to easily defend with less than two hundred soldiers. Still, given the choice, only one man opted to surrender. The rest resolved to fight and die. After thirteen days, the Mexicans charged, and the Texans were slaughtered. In exquisite detail, Walter Lord recreates the fight to uphold the Texan flag. He sheds light not just on frontier celebrities like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, but on the ordinary soldiers who died alongside them. Though the fight ended two centuries ago, the men of the Alamo will never be forgotten.

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

More than a century later, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is still America's deadliest disaster. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving the horrible event churns with page-turning action and bold hope.

The city of Galveston, Texas, was booming. Perched on an island off the southern coast of Texas, Galveston had been founded in the 1830s. By 1900, it was Texas's richest and most important city. Boats loaded up with American cotton and wheat steamed from Galveston to countries around the world. Arriving ships were crowded with immigrants. The streets, paved with crushed oyster shells, sparkled like they'd been sprinkled with diamonds.

Galveston's Summer of the Storm (Chaparral Books)

When fourteen-year-old Abby Kate boards the train in Austin to spend three weeks with her grandmother in Galveston, she’s full of excitement—about the train ride and the prospect of days on the beach, exploring Galveston with her cousin Jane, family picnics, and her grandmother’s good food. But things go wrong even before she gets to her grandmother’s house. Abby Kate gets off the train briefly in Houston—and the train leaves without her. Stranded in the railroad station, she is befriended by a man traveling with his two sons and eventually reaches Galveston safely.

Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen

In the 1820s, the Texas frontier was a rugged, lawless place that needed defending. The men that banded together to protect the citizens of Texas from the threats of bandits and raiding native tribes were known as the Texas Rangers. Since bravery was never in short demand, any unmarried man with a good horse and a sharp shot could be selected to join the ranks. As they roamed the Texas frontier maintaining peace and order, the Rangers were present for many of the most famous moments in Texas's exciting history-they defended the Alamo alongside Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, spied on the Mexican army during the war for independence, and chased down outlaws in the booming oil towns of the Wild West.

Texas Tomboy

The entire ranch is thirsty—will the rains ever come?

Remember Goliad: Their Silent Tents

Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, turned out to be the blackest day in the war of independence between Texas and Mexico. Colonel James Walker Fannin Jr. and his men were ruthlessly slaughtered at the Presidio La Bahia near Goliad. The order was given directly by General Santa Anna. The author describes the background leading up to the start of hostilities in October 1835 and the two Mexican armies which threatened to overrun the Texans, with the massacre at the Alamo on March 2 and then the attack on the Presidio La Bahia, which Fannin called Fort Defiance. A description of garrison life and the men under Fannin's command precedes the battle of Coleto Plains, where Fannin's Texans, without an adequate water supply and defenses, were surrounded by General Urrea's army and forced to surrender. One of the more traumatic aspects of the battle and executions involved a group of young soldiers from Alabama, mainly from the same area, whose leader, Dr. Shackleford, was spared to minister to the sick and injured and was forced to witness the deaths of his protégées.

Jane Long Mother of Texas

A biography of the brave wife of General James Long who was the first woman of English descent to enter Texas and bear a child there.

Camel express; A story of the Jeff Davis experiment (Winston adventure books)

Story of a little known chapter in American military history; extensive illustrations throughout book by Joseph C. Camana.

Texas Yankee: The Story of Gail Borden

Famous as a newspaperman and surveyor in Texas, Gail Borden was the discoverer of how to condense milk. 

Tex's Tales

Picked up by a tornado and swept away from his family in nineteenth-century Texas, a dog has some exciting adventures in the frontier wilderness before making his way home again.

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson: First Woman Governor of Texas (Volume 3) (Stars of Texas Series)

Miriam Ferguson was a quiet, private person who preferred to stay home in her big house in Temple, Texas, and take care of her husband, raise her two daughters, and tend to her flower garden. But in 1924 she was elected governor of Texas, the first woman governor elected in the United States.

Texas History for Kids: Lone Star Lives and Legends, with 21 Activities

Encapsulating the 500-year saga of the one-of-a-kind state of Texas, this interactive book takes readers from the founding of the Spanish Missions and the victory at San Jacinto to the Great Storm that destroyed Galveston and the establishment of NASA’s Mission Control in Houston while covering everything in between. Texas History for Kids includes 21 informative and fun activities to help readers better understand the state’s culture, politics, and geography. Kids will recreate one of the six national flags that have flown over the state, make castings of local wildlife tracks, design a ranch’s branding iron, celebrate Juneteenth by reciting General Order Number 3, build a miniature Battle of Flowers float, and more. This valuable resource also includes a timeline of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online, and web resources for further study.

Make Way for Sam Houston

Colorful Sam Houston leaps to life in the pages of this fresh and funny biography, set against the story of Texas's fight for independence from Mexico. Lively, readable, and solidly researched, this is the kind of biography every child needs. Booklist, starred review Jean Fritz has done it again. Her writing turns this larger-than-life character into a very real person.School Library Journal, starred review ?Young readers will find the book fast-paced and fact-packed. The New York Times Book Review Jean Fritz lives in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Trail Fever: The Life of a Texas Cowboy

The story of one of Texas's most famous cowboys is filled with cattle drives, stampedes, floods, droughts, freezing desert nights, raiders and bandits, and one man's endurance and love of life on the plains.

Next, look at these famous Texans.

7 Famous Texans You Want to Know About

  1. Elisabet Ney (1833-1907)- or “Franzisca Bernadina Wilhelmina Elisabeth Ney” was born in Europe and migrated to the States at 39 years old with her husband, eventually settling in Austin. After settling in Texas, she built her home and studio named Formosa. And she was commissioned for many portrait busts. For example, including some of those listed below like Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin.
  2. Sam Houston (1793-1863) Samuel Houston was an American general and statesman who played a very important role in the Texas Revolution. He fought in the war of 1812. Notably he also won two non-consecutive terms as president of the Republic of Texas.
  3. David (Davy) Crockett (1786 – 1836)– Was a frontiersman, Tennessee legislator U.S. congressman, soldier, storyteller, folk hero, and an icon of popular culture. He is perished defending the Alamo fighting for Independence.
  4. Gail Borden(1801-1874).  He was the first person to develop a successful commercial method for condensing milk becoming a dairy pioneer in his 40’s. You have probably heard of him and may have a carton of his still well-known milk sitting in your fridge. Not only was he a milk mogul he was a delegate at the Convention of 1833, where he assisted in writing early drafts of the Republic of Texas constitution.

Famous Texans

  1. James S. Hogg (1851-1906). The first native governor of Texas, he championed 5 major pieces of Texas legislation that changed the local government.
  2. Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836). He is known as the “Father of Texas” and the founder of Anglo Texas. He lead the second and, ultimately, successful colonization of the area. Also known as the Father of the Texas Rangers, he founded the earliest precursor of the famous law enforcement organization. Many places are named after this famous Texan, including the capital!
  3. Jane Long (1798-1880)– The “Mother of Texas” was a powerhouse of a woman. She became widowed at just 24 and survived a long hard winter at the fort with very few supplies along with a twelve-year-old servant and her six-year-old daughter, even keeping Indians at bay by tricking them into thinking that the fort was still protected by a troop of soldiers
7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Grab my 22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages (editable) For a Fun History Study,  it includes these 7 famous Texas and 15 more.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

The book The 50 States is a beautiful oversized reference and I found loads of information including some more famous faces from the great state of Texas.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

While the simple craft idea is not exactly a sculpture, it still gives your learner a peek into what goes into creating an art piece replica of someone else or themselves.

Take note of details that make you or the person you are recreating unique such as eyes, scars, freckles, hair color and texture, glasses, etc.

 Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

You will need:

  • Styrofoam head
  • Craft paints
  • Paint pens
  • Paintbrushes
  • Yarn, ribbon, felt
7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

The first thing you want to do is lay something out on your work surface.

Be it a spread of newspaper or a silicone mat, these are great for many craft projects.

Then, paint a thin layer of flesh-colored paint all over your bust and let it dry until it is at least dry to the touch.

Go back and add another layer or two until you are satisfied with the coverage and again let it dry completely before continuing.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

You can start wherever you like but one way to get your ” sculpture” looking like something or someone is to start with the eyes here.

I highly suggest using paint pens as you can get more detail and have a little bit more control over it.

Spend some time adding details like freckles, eyelashes, eyebrows, scars, or anything that makes you or the person you are creating unique.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

While the paint is drying, you can determine how you want to do the hair.

Elisabet Ney Bust Texas Crafts for Kids

You can use ribbon, string, yarn, felt, or any other art supply you can think of.

Cut plenty of pieces to cover the head, you may find that you need to come back and do some more, you just want to get a bunch started.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Curling ribbon would be great for curly hair, or you could even just paint on the hair to keep it simple.

To add hair, including beards and mustaches you can use any kind of tacky glue. I like to work with hot glue because it dries so quickly.

Be sure not to touch the hot end of the hot glue gun to the foam or it will melt it.

Just squeeze from an inch or so above covering small areas at a time to add in hair.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Once you are done you can give your “bust” a little trim to even it up and give it a little style.

The hair makes it even more top-heavy so you may want to mount it on a piece of wood or cardboard to make it a little sturdier.

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

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