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Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam

October 26, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re studying pond life for kindergarten you’ll love this activity for your kindergartener to build a beaver dam. Grab my other craft ideas for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

As the largest rodents in North America and the second largest rodent in the world, beavers are a fun subject to cover.

They go along perfectly with a pond life unit study. They are a vital part of life in rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam

I have a fun and inexpensive hands- on activity to share that your little one will love.

It’s a simple invitation to create and learn using items gathered from the yard and few items from the house.

Your child will probably spend the day playing in their little “pond” learning and growing their imagination.

Beaver Facts for Kids

Beavers don’t actually live in the dams they build; they make them to create a deep pond of water for protection from predators. They live in similar structures called beaver lodges.
Beavers build their dams out of trees, limbs, mud, moss, plants, grass, and rocks.
When they feel threatened, beavers will slap the water with their tail making a loud noise to warn all creatures in the area.
A long time ago beaver fur was commonly used to make hats and clothing. Some people still trap beavers for their fur today.
Beaver dams don’t just benefit them, they also help with carbon storage, flood management and drought prevention. They are also helpful in keeping streams cool.
Also they create wetlands that house many frogs, fish and invertebrates, and in turn these animals provide food for birds and bats.
Beavers can swim underwater for 15 minutes.
Some adult beavers can reach up to 55 pounds.
Beavers eat the inner bark of trees and woody plants, but they also enjoy soft vegetation like apples, grasses, clover, water lilies, giant ragweed, and cattails.

Pond Life Activities

Before you begin your activity, read about beavers and ponds and choose a video or two to watch together.

If possible visit a local pond or lake that has beavers to observe them in the wild.

This will help give your child a good point of reference for beavers and how and why they build dams.

Also, grab letter tiles you have on hand,

Scrabble tiles are great because you can pick the games up inexpensively at yard sales and thrift stores.

Use them to practice beginning letter sounds or spell out words related to your theme.

For this one you could use:

Pond
Beaver
Fish
Turtle
Dam
Water
Frog

Allow your child to build silly words and see if he can pronounce them as well.

Too, you’ll love adding some of these books to your activity.

Books About Pond Life

This is one in a little series of picture books that are gems with beautiful illustrations and they teach children about the ecology of the pond. Over and Under the Pond goes perfectly with this activity.

Nature Anatomy is another one. If you don’t know by now I just love this series, they are perfect to add to any nature study that you do.

This next resources if Natural and Earth Science Educational Flash Cards.

If you enjoy doing earth science with your child this is a great addition. Little cards with everything from beavers to minerals.

Safari LTD North American Wildlife toobs are a great resource for small world play like this, to give children a model to see for art or learning.

Also they can be used in dioramas, or to create an inviting setup for a new unit study.

Beaver Videos

Finally, here are a few videos that are interesting and will give you and your child a little more understanding of beavers and ponds.

How to Build a Beaver Dam Activity

Gather:

Sticks and small branches
Grasses
Leaves
Small rocks and pebbles
Mud or clay
Moss

First, go on a nature walk into your own backyard to gather the above items.

Set out your invitation to play and learn in an inviting way by placing the items neatly on a tray (or cooking sheet like I did).

This makes it more eye appealing than just throwing everything you gathered in a heap.

Add water to a shallow dish or pan to create a pond.

Encourage your child to create a beaver dam in the pond using all the same items that a beaver would use in the wild.

Twist sticks together to make it sturdy. Add moss and clay to the openings between sticks, etc.

Continue building until it is heaped up both above and below the water.

Once they have built their dam in the water, add in a fun little plastic beaver as well as other pond animals.

Now they can have fun exploring inside and outside the dam.

How cute is this little beaver peeking out from the dam he just built?

Finally, you’ll love these other resources for teaching kindergarten.

Other Tips and Crafts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Day 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

October 25, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 21 time tested tips for homeschool of the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers.

Time tested teaching tips are treasures. There are some tips for homeschool which fit across the education board on a variety of subjects that work year after year.

Instead of trying to figure this all out on your own, by applying some of these teaching tips in your day to day school from the beginning, I am hoping you avoid the hitting-a-brick-wall syndrome.

Day 21 Time Tested Tips For Homeschool And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Making learning fun as well as meaningful will hold the attention of a lifelong learner.

Look at these time tested teaching tips.

6 Tips For Homeschool

Adding in project oriented tasks like a family night where your children demonstrate to extended relatives what they have learned gives them a purpose to be proud of their learning.

1) Time tested tips for homeschool. Remember, testing does not demonstrate mastery. Keep this as one of the most important tips for homeschool.

Day 21: Time Tested Teaching Tips. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Skits, dioramas, lapbooks and musicals are great ways to show mastery of material.

{Tiny showing off what he learned for the year for an end of the year talent show. It is nice to have an audience of relatives, homeschoolers and friends.)

(I have expectations for my children and public speaking is one of them to demonstrate mastery. Here is Tiny a little older and about 6 years down the road. )

2) **Do not force your children to learn in the learning style you feel comfortable with and then ask what is wrong with them. One of my best tips for homeschool.**

As adults, we need to come out of our comfort zone and try to teach to our children’s learning style.

This is not coddling because as they get older, we balance that with teaching them to learn in other ways.

If they are hands-on learners then train them to heighten their auditory learning skills too or visa versa.

3) Do not practice insane homeschooling by separating your children on every subject by grade level.

You are not a public school. It is natural to learn together and subjects like science, history, Bible, art and music can be taught to all of your children together using one or more books at one time.

Preserve your sanity by teaching some subjects together. Note: I will be sharing an upcoming series on how to teach multiple ages together.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

I am the author of the book Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

4) Do not schedule TOO long or too much in the day and do not schedule TOO short or too less in a day.

How do you determine this? Well 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. should be saved for high school seniors getting ready to enter an Ivy league college.

For elementary age children, the morning time consisting of 2 – 3 hours is a nice balance on the 3 R’s.

Save the afternoon for a fun hands-on science project or history project.

Also, a five line paragraph is too much for a first grader still learning to write and one 5 line paragraph is too little for a highschooler who has no disabilities.

As I blog this year, I will be sharing some ways to assess and measure progress.

(Crazy kids! Something about schooling on those tiny cute little desks that made learning about science come alive. They always had keen observations when I pulled those desks out. Uhmm …..investigating marshmallows and M & M’s didn’t hurt either.)

5) Do include your child in choices of schedule, subjects and where he wants to learn.

Do not give up your authority as parent to have the ultimate say but show that you are reasonable and workable. Have a bottom line on what you want to get done for the day?

Does it matter that he goes to his room to do math as long as he does it?

Does it matter that he sits on the living room floor to do map work as long he gets done what you have planned? Roll with it and relax. There is a difference between relaxed and lazy homeschooling. Relaxed means you get it done while enjoying it.

6) Do harder subjects first in your day when children are more alert.

Normally math is the subject across the board that deserves first with writing behind that.

Keeping things simple when you teach is an acquired art is another one of the important tips for homeschool.

Tips for Homeschool

Too, teaching is not just about learning techniques and styles, but it comes from the heart.

Techniques for teaching and plans for action can always be mastered, but a good teacher full of love is what your child needs this year.

Have you tried any of these teaching tips for homeschool tidbits?

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

1 – 7 Start with the Homeschool Basics

8-14 Homeschool Organization 101 for Beginners

15 – 21 Best tips for New Homeschoolers Choosing Curriculum

10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books

October 24, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We absolutely adore the fun Geronimo Stilton chapter books for ages 7-10, grades 2^nd-5^th, but also reluctant readers will love the Geronimo Stilton books.

Geronimo Stilton is an editor in chief of The Rodent’s Gazette, the most “famous” newspaper in New Mouse City.

He’s also the author of his own best-selling book series.

But the Geronimo Stilton chapter books were actually written by Elisabetta Maria Dami who is an Italian children’s book author and she is the creator of the character Geronimo Stilton.

10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books

And the character of Geronimo Stilton is a shy, funny, but adventurous mouse.

Because the author Elisabetta Maria Dami has an interest in archaeology and a passion for traveling and exploring, Geronimo is always off on an adventure.

The whole series makes for a fun literature study but especially to incorporate geography and history into your unit studies.

About the Geronimo Stilton Series

Look at these ten things to learn from the Geronimo Stilton books.

1. Learn literary devices in a fun way.

Be on the lookout for examples of literary devices such as:

Onomatopoeia
Similes/Metaphors
Hyperbole
Idioms
Puns

What is an onomatopoeia?

Other than it being my favorite little gem found in these books, it’s a literary device to know and super fun to teach.

First, let’s take a minute to appreciate how fun this word is to say.

If this is a new word for your kids, be sure to listen to the pronunciation.

“Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes.”

For example, a dry fall leaf crunches underfoot.

Also, look at my Amazon Shop to see a list of the books.

A bumblebee buzzes around the backyard.

Geronimo Stilton must love Onomatopoeia too because the word pictures he uses to show the reader this literary device are perfection for a visual learner.

How many examples of onomatopoeia can you find in each chapter?

2. Have a fun vocabulary scavenger hunt.

Make a list of new words you find in each chapter.

It won’t be hard for your kids to find them.

3. Focus on character development.

You will fall in love with the characters.

They are full of personality.

For example, Geronimo Stilton is quite the “scaredy-mouse”, but he is always going on an adventure and facing lot of fears to get there.

Have your child pick a favorite character and follow his/her character development throughout the story.

4. Nurture a love for famous mystery novels and authors.

If your geek level is as high as mine, and I assume it must be if you’re reading this post, you’ll love the fun facts that pop up for adults too.

These books are a great bridge to a study about other famous mystery titles and authors.

There’s even a nod to some characters you might recognize like Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s well-known fictional Belgian detective.

What a fun way to introduce your reader to other books, authors, and the mystery genre!

5. Cultivate a love for history and geography.

Not only does Geronimo Stilton live in the center of New Mouse City, he reluctantly travels around the globe.

Each book will land the reader in a new place.

These books are great for learning state facts, especially New York, and they’re also the perfect addition to a history and geography study about where the setting takes place.

6. Have some cheesy food fun.

Geronimo Stilton is a cheese connoisseur. He eats lots of cheese.

He talks about cheese and makes “punny” jokes about cheese.

It’s impossible to not want to snack on some cheesy delights of some kind.

Create a cheese platter and sample some new snacks.
Make homemade macaroni and cheese.
Look at moldy cheese under a microscope.
Have a cheese fondue night.

7. Nurture a love for timeless treasures like antiques.

Any antique lovers out there? Well, you will love Geronimo Stilton’s eye for timeless treasures.

If your kids are into antiques, visit a few thrift stores and hunt for treasures.

Check out American Pickers or Antiques Roadshow.

8. Learn how to plan a trip.

Plan a vacation to the destination in your book.

Estimate the cost of flight, hotel, and car rental. Research prices on the internet to find the best deals.

How much will you need to for food and spending?
What activities will you do while you’re there?
Add the cost of excursions or admissions to special events or destinations.

9. Learn how to face fear.

Geronimo must face lots of fears to travel, solve mysteries, and go on each adventure.

These are a great way to talk to your kids about fears, anxiety, and coping skills.

10. Learn about nurturing family ties.

I love the Geronimo is a family guy!

He spends a lot of time with his nephew, Benjamin and his sister, Thea.

It’s a great opportunity to focus on the importance of family.

Create a family tree.
Research your family’s origin.
Send an email to a family member to brighten their day.
Do something nice for a sibling.

Have you tried this series with your children? I know you’ll fall in love with the books.

Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books Resources

6 Easy Ways to Identify the Charlotte Mason Homeschool Style

October 22, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Six ways to identify the Charlotte Mason homeschool style is important to understanding homeschool learning styles

Because you want to align homeschool learning styles approach with how your children learn best, you need to know the basics of each homeschool approach.

Not only do you want to identify characteristics of the Charlotte Mason homeschool style but identifying Charlotte Mason curriculum, you make better choices for your family.

6 Easy Ways to Identify the Charlotte Mason Homeschool Style

First, you need to understand that learning differences is a good thing.

I’ve helped many homeschoolers who think something is wrong with their child.

The point is folks are different from each other and so are our kids.

I’m a firm believer in finding the homeschool style to match your child’s temperament and most important his learning style and needs.

Charlotte Mason Approach

Let’s dive into looking at the Charlotte Mason homeschool style of teaching.

Who was Charlotte Mason

First, you need to understand who was Charlotte Mason.

Charlotte Mason was a turn-of-the-century British educator who used “living books” rather than textbooks or twaddle.

She encouraged curriculum which includes nature study, picture study, music study, and handicrafts and the normal academic subjects.

Here are 6 ways to identify characteristics of a Charlotte Mason homeschool approach.

A gentle approach to language arts.
There is emphasis on the arts, music, and nature.
Learning should include forming lifelong habits.
More time should be spent outdoors.
Literature based learning is one foundation.
Poetry is important.

The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.
— Charlotte Mason

Also, you’ll love this book Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits.

Why Your Child’s Learning Personality is Important

Because teaching styles are only part of choosing curriculum easily, I’ve included a link to my online course Identifying Your Homeschooled Child’s Learning Personality.

How to Determine the Best Learning Style Approach for Your Child? Determining the best learning style approach is much easier when you know about homeschool learning styles. A learning style is not something I thought about when I started homeschooling or even when my kids were struggling. However, had I taken time to learn what is the best learning style for each of my children, I would have saved myself unnecessary stress.

YOU WILL LEARN:

How to understand the way your child prefers to learn so that you can teach him in a way that he enjoys learning;
How to pinpoint your child’s learning personality;
A starting point in understanding (barring any special learning challenges or disabilities) and accepting your child’s preferred way of taking in information;
Understanding when the learning personality emerges; and
Teaching tips for each learning personality to stop the head-butting.

Other Homeschool Learning Style Resources

In addition, look at these other Charlotte Mason resources:

Charlotte Mason Resources

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

October 20, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This fun snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten can be used for a winter unit study. Grab more craft ideas on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

Whoooo doesn’t love owls? Sorry, corny pun. If you are working on an owls unit study or talking about winter I have the perfect hands-on winter craft to add

You probably won’t even need a trip to the store to put together this snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Whether you are learning about winter, owls, or even just looking for an O or W craft for your letter of the week this simple activity is fun and cute to include.

You can find pinecones on your nature walk.

But if not, you can also find them at craft stores in the seasonal section.

Add a few books and additional activities like videos and you have a quick mini snowy owl unit study ready to go.

Snowy Owl Facts

Female owls remain with the babies while the male owl brings food back.
A baby owl is called an owlet.
They have feathers all over their legs and feet to keep them warm.
They are quite large. Their wingspan can reach 4’-5’ wide.
Snowy owls are diurnal, unlike most other owls. Instead of hunting at night they hunt during the day.
Male owls are pretty much solid white. Females have brown markings on their white plumage.
Snowy owl pairs mate for their whole life.
Lemmings make up most of the snowy owls diet.
By the time they are just 6 weeks old, snowy owls can fly well.

Snowy Owl Books

Nature Anatomy is the perfect companion spine for little learners, even if they are not reading yet.

The illustrations are fantastic and the little pieces of info they give are just enough for you to read and keep their attention.

I found a two page spread on owls to go along with the craft.

Gail Gibbons books are also a fantastic choice if you love the idea of Charlotte Mason style living books.

Owls are perfect to go along with this activity too.

The classic Owl Babies would also be a wonderful addition to your book collection.

Look below for more ideas.

Winter Unit Study Ideas

Try these other activities along with your winter craft

Listen to these Snowy Owl Sounds while you craft from YouTube.
Also look at my Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity. It is a fun way to demonstrate how Arctic animals keep warm.
How to Make fake snow with 2 ingredients for your owlet to hide in or for your little learner to play with in a sensory bin.
This Owl Babies Craft is absolutely adorable and would make for a great companion activity to this one.

Finally, measure out 5’ with painters tape on the floor to demonstrate to your child how large the snowy owl wingspan can be.

Next, let’s make a pine cone snowy owl craft.

Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

You will need:

A large pine cone
Craft glue
White and yellow craft felt
White feathers, cotton balls, or cotton batting.
Tan or yellow pipe cleaner
Googly eyes

First, prepare small pieces of cotton batting, cotton balls, or white feathers.

Cut wing shapes from white felt. Cut them a little bigger than you think you need.

Try on your pinecone and trim as needed.

Draw w’s with a paint marker or sharpie to create feather definition on the wings.

Cut a small beak and two circles slightly larger than your google eyes from the yellow felt..

Squeeze a generous amount of school glue into the openings between the scales of the pinecone.

Stuff in your cotton pieces to make it fluffy.

I had originally intended on using fiber fill on the owl because I had it on hand but took a run to Hobby Lobby and found this cute little fluffy boa on sale for $1.50.

It looked so soft we couldn’t resist.

I cut it into little pieces to make stuffing all over easier. Encourage your child to fill it in and create a sweet little fluff ball baby owl.

When the pinecone is stuffed and fluffy to their liking, glue the wings, beak, and eyes in place with a generous amount of glue.

We found that laying it on its back to dry helped keep the pieces from sliding off.

Finish off by gluing small v shaped pieces of pipe cleaner/chenille stems to the bottom for his feet.

Other Winter Craft Ideas for Kindergarten

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.