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How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations

April 15, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing tried and true tips for how to determine the best beginner reading books for kindergarten while homeschooling. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Besides, reading is one of the most important subjects to teach well.

Teaching other subjects in kindergarten is important.

How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations

However, if a child doesn’t read well, he could struggle lifelong in all subjects.

Also, I have a free reading journal you can download below to help you track reading time.

As he grows and has interests in other subjects, like history or science, he may struggle with comprehension.

So, what we do in the beginning or while homeschooling kindergarten matters.

For example, beginner books for children should not only meet them where they’re at but be engaging and delightful.

3 Questions About Beginner Reading Books for Kindergarten

With that being said, look at these ways you can meet your child where he is in understanding phonics and growing in reading.

Some kindergarten aged children are ready for beginner chapter books or higher and others are still very much finding delight in repeated texts and phonics readers.

Being at either level is very much normal as well as anywhere in between.

Now, look at these 3 questions to see if your child needs more prereading help or if he is ready to tackle beginner chapter books.

1. How well does your child understand or master rhyming?

Rhyming is not just a fun childhood pastime, but learning to rhyme helps him to see patterns in reading.

After that when you point out the similarities in the word pattern, he learns to make other words quickly.

For example, if you print CAT on a card, then write FAT.

After you show him how the first letter is different, but the end is the same, he sees and hears the pattern.

This is an effective and simple way to have a strong foundation in reading.

Next, identify his knowledge of letter sounds.

2. How well does he know letter sounds?

That is more important than the shape of the letter or knowing the name of the letter.

While recognizing the shape of the letter is important, your child will need to grasp that it represents or stands for a sound.

Thereafter, you want to be sure of his print awareness.

3. What is his understanding of print concept?

For example, does he hold the book right way up, looks at the pictures and knows we read from left to right?

Even if he doesn’t understand his left from his right (even as adults we get confused) does he point with this finger or lead with his eyes and track left to right to read?

If you can answer yes to these prereading concepts, then barring any special needs he is ready for beginner reading books.

Additionally, if your child is still mastering some of the concepts listed above, then keep his reading diet steady with phonics readers and mixing in easy chapter books.

The books listed below will help him to not only reinforce basic reading concepts but challenge him to continue moving on in reading levels.

How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations

More Homeschool Kindergarten Reading Tips

  • 12 of the Best Books For Beginner Readers Being Homeschooled
  • How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations
  • 6 Boy Approved Books Which Spark the Love of Reading
  • How To Get Your First Homeschooled Child Reading
  • Awesome Reading Aloud Tracking Time Homeschool Form
  • 6 Tricks for the Kid That’s NOT in Love with Reading!
  • How to Know What A Homeschooled Child Should Learn Yearly?

I have chosen to mix both phonics readers and fun readers so you have a choice to mix and match.

Too, look at more activities for kindergarten.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum And Crafts

  • Kindergarten Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting
  • How to Make A Fun ABC Flip Book Fingerprint Activity for Kindergarten
  • Homeschool Kindergarten Life Science – Hands-on Fun Nature Tree Study
  • 40 Awesome Earth Science Movies for Kindergarten
  • Growing a Seed Activity For Kindergarten Science Kids Activity
  • Native American Activities For Kindergarten Create A Fun Cradleboard Craft
  • Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium
  • Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam
  • Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • 4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
  • Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot
  • 10 Best Homeschool Phonics Curriculum For Kindergarten
  • 15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool
  • 19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten
  • Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
  • How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)
  • 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten
  • 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
  • How to Effortlessly Blend Kindergarten Homeschool Subjects & Life
  • BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
  • Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning

Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten

A homeschooled kindergarten child’s reading diet should still be a mix of repeated texts or phonics readers and beginner readers.

This way your child’s basic reading skills continue to be strengthened while your child’s reading level is advancing.

Starfall Short-Vowel Pals 16 Decodable Phonics Books

These decodable primer books provide beginner readers with practice connecting letter sounds. Set of 16 Short-Vowel Pals: Zac and Cat Zac and the Hat Peg Helps Zac Peg's Egg Hen Mox Jogs Hop, Bend, Stomp Pop! Pop! Pop! Tin Man Sits Fix the Jet Fish and Me Bug in a Jug Get Up, Cub Gus and His Dog Peg and the Box Zig-Zag

Meg and Greg: A Duck in a Sock (Orca Two Read, 1)

Great books for parents to share with kids. Parents read then child reads.

A Duck in a Sock is the first book in the Orca Two Read series designed for shared reading
between a child learning to read and an experienced reader. Inside you'll find four stories that introduce one new phonogram (a letter or combination of letters that represent a sound) in each story: the ck, sh, ch and th phonograms. Each story builds on the previous ones by including words
with the phonograms already introduced. In addition, the series has special features to help a child with dyslexia or another language-based learning difficulty achieve reading success.

Usborne My First Phonics Reading Library Collection 12 Books Box Set

Usborne My First Phonics Reading Library Collection 12 Books Box Set (Phonics Readers) (WITH FREE AUDIO ONLINE)

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

From #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems!
Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! The Pigeon WILL be ready. Will YOU!

Bob Books - Set 1: Beginning Readers Box Set |

Many early reader books contain words that are too difficult for a child who has just learned the sounds of the alphabet. Not these books! With only four letter sounds in the first story (M, A, T, and S), children can read a whole book and their confidence grows. Kids love the stories and funny pictures, and can’t wait to read these books to everyone they know!

Biscuit Flies a Kite (My First I Can Read)

For fans of Clifford and Spot, welcome everybody’s favorite little yellow puppy, Biscuit, in an I Can Read adventure!

It seems like the perfect day to fly a kite, until—oh, no!—the wind begins to blow the kite away!

Join Biscuit, that sweet puppy, and his friend Puddles as they put their furry heads together to save the day. Woof woof! Bow wow! 

The gentle and appealing Biscuit books are a wonderful first introduction to reading for little pups, and this My First I Can Read friendship tale is perfect for shared reading in a classroom or at home. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

25 Irresistible Books That Are Just the Right Level for Beginning Readers

Jumpstart reading success with this big collection of 25 motivating storybooks correlated with Guided Reading Level D. The books features simple text, decodable words, strong picture cues, and two to four lines of text per page to support readers with just a little experience under their belts. Children will laugh, learn, and build confidence with these funny books on their favorite topics—from dogs to dinosaurs, princesses to pizza! Includes a 4-page parent guide. 

Apples and Apricots: The Letter A Book (AlphaBOX Alphabet Readers collection)

This is the first book in the highly acclaimed AlphaBOX Alphabet Readers collection – a gorgeously illustrated series that teaches each letter of the alphabet and its phonetic sound. With Apples and Apricots, young readers will explore the letter A with bright colours, adorable pictures and an arty challenge you can enjoy together

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)

Books in this boxed set include:The Cat in the HatOne Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue FishGreen Eggs and HamHop on PopFox in Socks   Originally created by Dr. Seuss himself, Beginner Books are fun, funny, and easy to read.

Usborne Beginners History 10 Books Collection Box Set (Stone Age, Iron Age, Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Castles & MORE!)

Great history set of books that an advanced kindergartener could tackle.

(Usborne Beginners Series) Usborne Beginners Science Collection Box Set (10 Books)

This box set includes: Living in Space, Planet Earth, Storms and Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, The Solar System, Weather, Your Body, Sun, Moon and Stars and Astronomy.

However, I also have a way for you to track your reading time, or help your child track his time in 15 minute increments.

Free Reading Journal Tracking Reading Time by 15 Minute Increments

Free Reading Logs by tracking reading time in 15 minute increments.

How to Get the Free 7 page Reading Logs With Journal Cover

Now, how to grab the freebie. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

 1) Sign up on my email list to get my emails.
 2) Get your freebie instantly.
 3) Last step. Look for my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following..

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: homeschoolreading, kindergarten, language arts, languagearts, reading, reading journal, readingcomprehension

How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study

April 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Adding fun teatime to your homeschool poetry study is a beautiful way to include everyone, whatever their age, skill level, and interests. Also, you’ll love more resources on my post The Ultimate Guide to Poetry for Multiple Ages (For the Intimidated).

Too, I’m excited because April is National Poetry Month.

What better reason to start enjoying afternoon poetry teatime with the family.

How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study

Maybe you haven’t done poetry study yet, then this might be the perfect way to incorporate it.

If you don’t know what it is, then read on.

What Is Poetry Teatime

Poetry Teatime is a lovely way to slow down, and enjoy each other and some tea, maybe a nibble or two, and absorb the beauty of the world of poetry.

Julie Bogart from Brave writer is credited with bringing this fun and special time to the homeschool world.

Everyone does it a little differently.

Some do it every week or every month, and some just occasionally.

Other families choose various themes, dressing up a bit is fun but not required.

You can enjoy poetry teatime on the couch, at the table, or even outside as a picnic.

How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study

It truly is as simple as 1,2,3,

  1. Step 1 Gather Everyone Together
  2. Bring some kind of beverage and snack.
  3. Read Poetry
  4. Oh, and step 4 Enjoy.

Poetry Teatime Themes

Themes can give your poetry study a fun direction to go in and you can create a theme based on almost anything you are learning.

Here are some of my favorites.

  • Nature- Poems about grass, the sky, trees, insects, etc.
  • Female Poets-Angelou, Browning, Plath, Dickinson.
  • Seasons-Celebrate the beginning of a new season.
  • The Hobbit- Bring a little bit of the shire home. Here is a list of poems in The Hobbit.
  • Silly Holidays- Think National Spaghetti Day or Batman Day.
  • Medieval -Sir Gawain and The Green Knight? Beowulf?
  • International Poetry Teatime- China, Russia, France, All American.

Shakespeare-Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer’s Day? Sonnet 18

Also, look at some of these fun books for your littlest bard.

Preschool to Elementary Poetry Books

Begin teaching poetry to nurture a budding bard. Add some of these books and resources to your poetry unit study or just for a lesson for the day.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers

For the first time ever, 75 beloved songs from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and The Children's Corner are collected in this charmingly illustrated treasury, sure to be cherished by generations of children as well as the millions of adults who grew up with Mister Rogers. 

A Child's Garden of Verses

Here is a delightful look at childhood, written by master poet and storyteller Robert Louis Stevenson. In this collection of sixty-six poems, Stevenson recalls the joys of his childhood, from sailing boats down a river, to waiting for the lamplighter, to sailing off to foreign lands in his imagination. Tasha Tudor's watercolor paintings evoke a simpler time in the past, and celebrate two of the things she loves most -- children and nature. Her talents are the perfect match for these inspiring poems, making this a handsome gift edition that will be cherished by families for generations.

A Child's Book of Poems

William Blake, Kate Greenaway, Emily Dickinson: the writers in this charming anthology of 200 poems—first published in 1969—are among literature’s most beloved. And Gyo Fujikawa’s appealing illustrations depict children of all races sweetly interacting, as well as an engagingly rendered menagerie of animals and the natural world in all its wonderment.

Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young

irst published in 1986 and just as fresh and relevant today, this widely acclaimed, child-friendly poetry anthology is now being reissued with a striking new jacket. In his introduction to this book Jim Trelease, bestselling author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes, “No one better recognizes the essence of the child-poetry connection than poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky. . . . Here are more than 200 little poems to feed little people with little attention spans to help both grow. Marc Brown’s inviting illustrations add a visual dimension to the poems, which further engage young imaginations.” The poems are by 119 of the best-known poets of the 20th century.

A Child's Introduction to Poetry

Poetry is fun—especially when we can read it, hear it, and discover its many delights. A Child's Introduction to Poetry joyously introduces kids (and parents) to the greatest poets in history—from Homer and Shakespeare to Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou—and provides excellent examples of their work and commentary on what makes it so special and everlasting. The book covers every style of poem, from epics and odes, to nonsense verse and haikus, and is filled with examples of each one.

A Child's Anthology of Poetry

A timeless collection celebrating the joys of poetry for children of all ages—an indispensable introduction to literature and life that brings together essential classic children's poems with the best of modern and contemporary international poetry.

The simple pleasures of reading and listening to poetry can make unforgettable memories in childhood and help children develop an interest in language and storytelling. From Robert Frost to Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein to Emily Dickinson, this collection emphasizes the fun and diversity of poetry, providing young readers with a well-rounded, inclusive selection of poets.

The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh

In 1926, the world was introduced to a portly little bear named Winnie-the-Pooh. Along with his young friend, Christopher Robin, Pooh delighted readers from the very beginning. His often befuddled perceptions and adorable insights won the hearts of everyone around him, including his close group of friends. From the energetic Tigger to the dismal Eeyore, A. A. Milne created a charming bunch, both entertaining and inspirational. These simple creatures often reflected a small piece of all of us: humble, silly, wise, cautious, creative, and full of life.

Hands-On Activities Poetry

  • While you can use anything you have on hand already it would be fun to visit thrift stores and hunt for pretty cups and teapots together-also a great lesson in thriftiness.
  • This is a great opportunity to let your child take the lead. Let your child help or completely plan the menu, the theme, or other activities.
  • Some kids just can’t sit still, and that’s okay. During poetry read-aloud, let your kids be busy with play dough, drawing, or simple quiet handiwork like needle felting or a simple sewing project.
  • Create a template for younger children to learn how to properly set a table. Simply trace the plate, cup, and utensils on a piece of construction paper and laminate it for practice.
  • Have your child write their own poem to share and try different styles of poetry each time or for each person.
  • Make tea sandwiches. Put together your child’s favorite be it a peanut butter and jelly or cucumber sandwich. Cut them into tiny bite-size pieces for a fun treat.
  • Think of special food like tea with crumpets, scones, tiny cookies, fruit, and dainty petit fours for a special treat.
  • Make teatime a lesson in table manners, practice being fancy pinkies up.

More Homeschool Poetry Resources

In addition, I have these other posts with more great resources.

  • Online Homeschool High School Poetry (No Teaching Involved)
  • The Ultimate Guide to Poetry for Multiple Ages (For the Intimidated)
  • How to Easily Add Poetry to Your Homeschool Subjects
  • How To Teach Your Homeschooled Children Shakespeare
  • Cursive and Free Greece Copywork Poetry

Also, look at these books for middle and high school kids.

Middle to High School Poetry Books & Curriculum

Grab some of these books for your middle to high school students and instill a love of poetry. It doesn't have to be that hard to learn about figurative language.

150 Most Famous Poems: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe,

Are you looking for a Poetry Book with an amazing collection of the most famous english poems?

This great English Poetry Anthology contains 150 of the Most Famous Poems of the last centuries. Dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, these famous poems remain Masterpieces of English Literature and continue to inspire and influence people all over the world.

Poetry Speaks Who I Am: 100 Poems of Discovery, Inspiration, Independence, and Everything Else for Teens

Poetry Speaks Who I Am is filled with more than 100 remarkable poems for teen boys and girls, making it the perfect addition to any classroom. With poems about who teens are and who they are becoming, they'll find poems that make them laugh, that make them angry, or poems that speak directly to them.

The Art of Poetry

Poetry is a universal art form, and a deep communication of the world around us. The Art of Poetry is an excellent upper school curriculum. It will teach how to read a poem, and introduce students to the many elements and forms of poetry. The book is rich with examples from many sources, including their explication. A biography of each poet is included, along with an audio CD of many of the poems.

The Complete Poetry

Throughout her illustrious career in letters, Maya Angelou gifted, healed, and inspired the world with her words. Now the beauty and spirit of those words live on in this new and complete collection of poetry that reflects and honors the writer’s remarkable life.

Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost (Volume 1)

Use all your senses—not just your eyes—when you read Robert Frost’s remarkable poems. Your own world will quickly melt away as Frost draws you into winter wonderlands, forests, and fields. More than twenty-five of the Pulitzer-Prize winner’s best-loved poems are included, along with stunning illustrations, in this introduction to the work of one of America’s greatest poets.

100 Great Poems for Girls

Girls of all ages will enjoy reading poems catered specifically to them, whether it means envisioning adventures with princesses and witches, or laughing at the antics of mischievous little girls.

What do you think? Ready to give one of these themes a try?

How to Add Fun Teatime To Your Homeschool Poetry Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool Language Arts Tagged With: books, homeschoolanguagearts, language arts, languagearts, poetry

Free Printable Strawberries Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

March 10, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free printable strawberries lapbook today. And you’ll love my Strawberry Unit Study, and Best Homeschool Unit Studies page.

Sharing some background information about strawberries and then sharing my free printable strawberries lapbook, I think all ages will enjoy this lapbook.

­The strawberry is an herbaceous perennial and the perennial portion of the plant is the crown, which is the stem.

Free Printable Strawberries Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

­The crown produces roots, leaves, branch crowns and flowers.

First, a bit of history about the strawberry.

In Greek and Roman times, the strawberry was considered a wild plant.

­In 1780, the first strawberry hybrid was developed in the United States.

And ­the strawberry was a symbol for Venus, the goddess of love because of its heart shape and red color.

There are many theories on how the strawberry got its name.

Some people believed that the name came from the practice of placing straw around the growing plants for protection.

Still others believe the name originated more than 1,000 years ago with the runner, which are horizontal branches at the base of the plant that produce new plants from buds at its tips.

And one more thought is that the name came from the Anglo-Saxon verb to strew (spread) and the fruit came to be known as streabergen, straberry, streberie, straibery, straubery, and finally, strawberry to the English.

Strawberry Facts

  • Strawberries are among the first fruit to ripen
  • They are called a berry, but they are not like any other berry, because their seeds are on the outside.
  • They are part of the rose family.
  • Strawberries are perennial which means they can grow back year after year.
  • Early settlers in Massachusetts enjoyed eating strawberries grown by local American Indians who cultivated them as early as 1643.

Strawberries are of the genus Fragaria in the rose family and are low herbaceous perennial plants with edible fruits.

Free Printable Strawberries Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Here are more strawberry activities like a strawberry time activities, coloring booklet and some videos.

More Strawberry Resources

11 Strawberry Unit Study Resources & Books

Add one or two of these strawberry unit study resources to make your fun spring unit study come to life.

1000+ Red Strawberry Seeds for Planting

Big pack: 1000+ Non-GMO red strawberry seeds by Monique939-002..

Interesting: Whether they are spotted in your yard or as part of a tasty treat, strawberries are sure to spark attention! Liven up a fruit salad, muesli or trifle.

From Seed to Strawberry

How does a tiny seed grow into a sweet, juicy strawberry? Follow each step in the cycle from planting seeds to eating yummy strawberries in this fascinating book!

Strawberry Girl

Strawberries—big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. "Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!" her father tells her.

Strawberry Night Light

How fun.. What an adorable gift or to use in your school area.

Strawberry Shortcake

Your child will quickly fall in love with this Strawberry Shortcake pillow and be excited to jump into bed. Great for playtime, naptime, or bedtime this will make the perfect gift for your loved one. 

Saving Strawberry Farm

One penny.

In the hot, mean summer of 1933, a penny is enough to buy caramels or red hots or peppermint sticks or licorice strings. Is it enough to buy Miss Elsie's Strawberry Farm?

There's only one way to find out. Davey takes a deep breath and shouts, "One penny for trawberry Farm!"

Set during the Great Depression, and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Rachel Isadora, Saving Strawberry Farm brings Davey's Midwestern town to life as friends and neighbors plan to
save the farm the only way they can -- with a secret penny auction!

Strawberry Shortcake Coloring Book Super Set/ Over 100 Stickers

Delight your Strawberry Shortcake fan with this Strawberry Shortcake Giant Coloring Book Bundle with 144 coloring pages and 50 stickers.

This giant Strawberry Shortcake sticker activity book set features Strawberry Shortcake and her friends.

Includes two premium Strawberry Shortcake coloring books filled with coloring activities and games. Includes 50 stickers!

National Geographic Readers: Plants (Level 1 Co-reader)

Adult and child readers will learn all about plants together in this new Co-reader from National Geographic Kids. Find out how plants grow as well as the different parts of plants, seeds, and flowers.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the big hungry bear . . .

How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red ripe strawberry?

This classic story is beloved for its humor, expressive illustrations, and surprise ending—pure read-aloud fun!

Watch a Strawberry Grow (Bullfrog Books: Watch It Grow)

In Watch a Strawberry Grow, early fluent readers learn how strawberries grow. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about how this delicious berry is grown and harvested. An infographic illustrates the life cycle of a strawberry. Children can learn more about how strawberries grow using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites

The Strawberry Garden

Grandfather Ethan planted strawberry seedlings in the garden bed, and when they grew big strawberries that were all shiny and red - everybody wanted to taste them: the cow, the crow, and even the cat. It's a good thing that the scarecrow was there to scare them away! But what happens when little Nora, the granddaughter, wants to collect the shiny red strawberries?

Moreover, I’ve added some printable resources and guides below.

More Printable Strawberries and Hands-on Resources

In addition, here are some more fun printable strawberries activities.

  • Free Strawberry Notebooking Pages
  • Strawberry Slime Recipe
  • Strawberry Printable Activities for Kids
  • More Unit Study Ideas
  • So many fun resources and free educational lessons for grades 1 to 5.
  • Strawberry Patch preschool fun ideas and curriculum.

You can expand this lapbook to include many ages because of the lapbook and notebooking pages I have.

Free Printable Strawberries Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Minibooks on Strawberries

Next, look at these free minibooks which come in this one free download.

  • There are a couple of strawberry cover pages for the outside of your lapbook
  • A Strawberry Shortcake cover page
  • Label the strawberry plant
  • Petal book about strawberry facts
  • A true berry book
  • Seeds minibook
  • Trivia about strawberries
  • The First Strawberry a Cherokee Tale
  • Lifecyle of strawberries
  • How many ways to eat strawberry pocket
  • A spring coloring minibook
  • Mini report about California
  • Jeopardy game about strawberries
  • A place for a fun photo of your child in a strawberry shaped book
  • Several strawberry notebooking pages

It is a 39 page download of nothing but fun.

How to Get the Free Strawberry Lapbook

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

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

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the freebie.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbook Tagged With: hands-on activities, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, spring, strawberry, unit studies, unit study, unit study approach

Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

March 8, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Spring is in the air, and I have a free North American Robin bird lapbook and unit study ideas. You’ll love my North American Robin unit study, lapbook ideas, and best homeschool unit studies pages.

The North American robin can be found in all parts of the United States except Hawaii.

Some robins will migrate to south Texas and Florida, but robins have a huge winter range.

Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

But when you see them in abundance you know spring is here in the northern regions.

I have some more fun facts below about robins and a free bird lapbook.

And did you know that March is the peak month for robins migrating?

As the day lengthens and the temperatures are warmer, they return to warmer grounds.

Another interesting fact is that British robin is smaller than the American robin.

However, early colonists from England gave the name robin, a name familiar to them.

Next, look at some vocabulary words below.

Vocabulary Words American Robin

  1. migration – movement to another area either to seek food or warmer climate or both.
  2. breeding cycle – producing offspring robins breed in the spring and it extends from April to July
  3. fertilized – if a female robin mated with a male, the yolk would be fertilized or become a baby robin. If the female didn’t mate, the egg would just remain as a yolk.
  4. albumen – watery protein that surrounds the yolk.
  5. egg tooth – hard hook on the beak of the baby robin to help it hatch out of the egg.
  6. brood patch – This is an area on the mom’s belly where her feathers fell off. It’s an area where she shares her warm bare belly heat with her young and the outer feathers cover over that area.

Also, look at some more robin resources below.

More North American Robin Resources

  • Bird Craft For Kindergarten Make an Adorable Fun American Robin Foot Print
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Mache American Robin Bird Craft
  • American Robin Free Printables, Resources and Crafts
Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Then, add some more facts to your study.

10 American Robin Did You Know Facts

And kids love trivia and learning facts, look at some of these fun facts about American robins.

  1. That robins are the easiest birds to train to feed from your hand. Put food on something nearby and add to your open palm. Eventually the robin will eat from your palm but not always land on your hand.
  2. A wave is three or more robins.
  3. Male robins sing when they get to their breeding territory.
  4. Territory means a place where nesting and mating occurs.
  5. Most birds lay their eggs at sunrise, but robins lay their eggs mid-morning.
  6. During breeding season robins spend the early morning hours looking for worms.
  7. Female birds have only one working ovary unlike most mammals.
  8. They lay one egg a day.
  9. Robins usually lay 4 eggs and stop.
  10. Until they lay a full clutch, a female won’t sit on the eggs so they all hatch close to the same time.

More Bird Lapbook and Resources

Also, look at these fun bird resources.

  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook
  • Peregrine Falcon Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Backyard Bird Lapbook
  • Make a Kid’s Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity
  • How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids
  • Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

American Robin Books

Next, add some of these books or resources to enhance your spring unit study about robins.

11 Fun Resources and Books to Learn About North American Robin Birds

Studying about North American Robin birds is fun to do anytime of the year with all ages. You'll love adding one ore more of these resources to your study.

1. All About Robins

A robin is one of the most familiar and beloved of all birds that are found throughout North America. You may see robins running across lawns or going after earthworms in your yard or a park. You can also find robins by listening for their clear, melodic singing.There are many facts about robins that most people don’t know. If your children have ever wondered about robins and how they grow from chicks to adult birds, this book is for them. The book contains dozens of beautiful photos of robins from the time they first hatch, to when their mother feeds them, until they take their first flight. It also includes many little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists.

2. Model Backyard Birds Toys

Set of bird figurine toys, which contains 7 different small plastic birds. The weight of bird figure toy is 96G / 0.2LB. The set of small plastic bird contains 7 pieces of toy birds, such as robin, bluebird, oriole, woodpecker, etc. Please refer to the picture for the actual size and color.

3. Big Book of Birds

The book draws in children and parents alike with captivating information about and charming illustrations of hummingbirds, peacocks, flamingos, bald eagles, secretary birds, puffins, red-crowned cranes, and more. The book also invites young bird-watchers to protect birds where they live and make their gardens bird-friendly. The text is chatty, funny, and full of remarkable facts.

4. A Nest Full of Eggs (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Named a Best Children's Science Book of the Year by Science Books & Films, this picture book shows how the birds develop inside their eggs during the spring; how they mature into fledglings in the summer; how they learn to fly in the fall; and how they leave for warmer climates in winter—only to return when spring comes around again.

5. BACKYARD BIRDSONG GUIDE EASTERN AND CENT (cl) (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Suitable for beginning bird watchers, Backyard Birdsongs is an interactive handbook of birds and their songs. With a touch-button electronic module that contains common vocalizations of seventy-five species from across eastern and central North America, this volume offers a truly sensory way to identify and get to know local birds. Crisply detailed, scientifically accurate illustrations accompany each entry, and up-to-date range maps provide clear geographical reference points. With an introduction that will inspire readers to look out their windows and venture into the field, this unique book gives people of all ages an exciting entryway into the subtle art of using birdsong to identify birds.

6. A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home (Nest for Celeste, 1)

Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of black-and-white drawings, A Nest for Celeste is a short novel that tells the story a mouse living in the 1800s and his friendship with John James Audubon’s young apprentice. While enjoying this sweet amd appealing story, young readers will also learn about nineteenth-century plantation life and the famous naturalist who was known for his paintings of birds and American wildlife.

7. An Egg Is Quiet: (Picture Book, Kids Book about Eggs)

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

8. Robins!: How They Grow Up

Robins are the most familiar and beloved of all birds, found throughout North America and celebrated as one of the first signs of spring. But there's a lot about them that most people don’t know! In this visually stunning picture book that features comic-book panels combined with painterly illustrations, Eileen Christelow tells the story of two young robins’ first year, and reveals plenty of little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists. Narrated with humor and filled with kid-pleasing details, this fascinating account of how robins grow up includes an Author’s Note, Glossary, More About Robins, and Sources.

9. Rob the Robin: A Tale of a Feathered Friend

Join Rob the Robin on his adventure as he discovers first the difficulty of surviving a long winter and then the wonders of spring. Written as an early reader, this tale is sure to delight children with captivating photography and pictures that visually tell the story in such a way that will interest both readers and non-readers alike.

10. The American Robin

In this book, Roland Wauer offers a complete natural history of the American Robin for a popular audience. Combining his own observations as a field naturalist with data gleaned from the scientific literature, he described the American Robin from every angle - appearance and biology, distribution, behavior, life cycle, and enemies and threats. In addition, he explores the legends and lore surrounding robins ("Whoever kills a robin redbreast will never have good luck were they to live a thousand years") and offers suggestions for attracting robins to your yard with favorite food, water, landscape plantings, and nesting places.

11. American Robin Plush Authentic Bird Sound

Kids and adults love this bird stuffed animal and are captivated by its realistic sound. They are also great baby toys and used as sensory toys. With one squeeze, Audubon birds produce beautifully authentic bird calls provided by the Cornell lab of Ornithology’s bird recording archives.

How to Get the Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook

Finally, how to grab the free bird lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get this freebie.

Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

 1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie instantly.
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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbook, Lapbooks Tagged With: American Robin, birdjournal, birds, elementary science, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, life science, science

The Day is About Your Graduate Home Graduation Ideas Day 5 of 10 Days

March 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is Day 5 home graduation ideas remember the day for the updated 10 days series for planning a homeschool graduation. Also, look at more ideas on my how to homeschool high school page.

By this time in the stage of planning, I am feeling better because we have hired a baker for the cake, a caterer for our chicken and prime rib dinner, had invitations ordered and a place to hold our graduation.

Now came the nitty-gritty details of planning for the big day and for the fun part – decorations.

The Day is About Your Graduate Home Graduation Ideas Day 5 of 10 Days

Here were some of the ideas going through my mind for the events of the big day.

  • How would my son want his diploma given to him?
  • Did we want a table showcased with his achievements, hobbies and interests?
  • How comfortable was my son with a slide show presentation of our journey?
  • Did he want to give a graduation speech?
  • Did he want to play the piano?

Surprisingly, my son wanted it pretty simple for the day.

He wanted a dinner, give a short but gracious speech, have lots of pictures taken and reflect back by looking at pictures from previous field trips and events.

Home School Graduation Ideas

The Mr. gets emotional only on a few occasions, but wanted to give my son his diploma in private so the could tell him how he felt. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

A lot of our friends are homeschooled too and have been with us from the beginning, so they know his achievements.

The Day is About Your Graduate Home Graduation Ideas Day 5 of 10 Days. Today is Day 5 home graduation ideas remember the day for the updated 10 days series for planning a homeschool graduation. Also, look at more ideas on my how to homeschool high school page. By this time in the stage of planning, I am feeling better because we have hired a baker for the cake, a caterer for our chicken and prime rib dinner, had invitations ordered and a place to hold our graduation.

Would my son feel differently or want something more elaborate if we had started homeschooling in high school?  I don’t know.

I do know that I learned that my son was not affected by the things of this world like I am because I went to public school. He didn’t have any preconceived ideas of what a graduation was suppose to look like.

Was I still trying to do things the public school way, even on his graduation?

Remembering that the day is more about what our family wanted, I started planning to keep it simple, but fun for the night.

Understanding that my son wanted pictures at the party more than a slideshow focused on him, I started preparing a photo collage.

The Day is About Your Graduate Home Graduation Ideas Day 5 of 10 Days. Today is Day 5 home graduation ideas remember the day for the updated 10 days series for planning a homeschool graduation. Also, look at more ideas on my how to homeschool high school page. By this time in the stage of planning, I am feeling better because we have hired a baker for the cake, a caterer for our chicken and prime rib dinner, had invitations ordered and a place to hold our graduation.

I started at one small corner by making letters of his name. Of course, you know my love affair with washi tape, so it has to go on anything I make. It can’t hurt.

Home Graduation Ideas

After slowly adding more pictures I think I had something that Mr. Senior 2013 would allow at the party. Boys! They have to be sure everything is not too girly looking or too big.

ME? I wanted a whole wall of pictures, but restrained myself to a smaller display.

 Homeschool  High School Photo Collage

Fast forwarding you to the day of the party. What do you think?

The photo collage turned out to be just enough of his accomplishments, but focused on friendships we built through the years.

But oh no, I couldn’t stop there with decorations.

I had way more ideas. I will show you another project or two we did with the help of hubby and some more ideas for THE day.

More Homeschool High School Graduation Planning Resources

  • Start the Planning Day 1.
  • High School Senior Portraits Day 2
  • Invitations Day 3
  • Graduation Menu and Party Venue Day 4
  • Home Graduation Ideas Day 5
  • DIY Decorations Day 6 
  • Table Decoration Ideas Day 7
  • High School Graduation Gift Day 8
  • Free Editable High School Diploma Template Day 9 
  • Graduation Celebration Day 10 

Every family and teen is different too.

It’s not like I didn’t already know that, it just became more of a reality check when planning the graduation.

The Day is About Your Graduate Home Graduation Ideas Day 5 of 10 Days

As I stopped trying to follow what I think our special day should look like or be according to everyone else and started planning for an occasion unique to my family, things started to fall in place.

If you missed the other posts in this series, you can catch up below:

Planning a Homeschool High School Graduation 10 days day 1 Start the Planning thumb Day 4. Menu & Venue. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation
Day 2 Senior Portraits and Senior Cap and Gowns Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus thumb Day 4. Menu & Venue. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation
Day 3 Homeschool Graduation Invitations Which Words Matter Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus thum Day 4. Menu & Venue. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation
Day 4 Menu Venue of 10 Days of Planning a Homeschool High School Graduation CP Tinas Dynamic H2 Day 4. Menu & Venue. 10 days of Planning A Homeschool High School Graduation

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 4. {10 Days of ... Blogging Series}, Graduate a Homeschooler, Planning a Homeschool High School Graduation Tagged With: homeschoolgraduation

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