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Fun Ways To Teach Geography & Free Great Plains Bucket List

January 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There are many fun ways to teach geography to homeschool kids besides a snoring boring map. Also, look at my page Hands-On Simple And Best Homeschool Geography Ideas & Tips for more ideas.

Besides sharing ways to keep geography fun I have a free printable which is The Great Plains Road Trip Bucket List. You can grab it below by adding your email.

And geography should not be dry. Especially middle school kids need to feel like geography is an adventure.

Fun Ways To Teach Geography & Free Great Plains Bucket List

You want to teach it through exploration, stories and curiosity.

Additionally, middle school is a great time to add a twist to geography since it can become boring.

Plus challenges, games, and creative writing taps into a child’s natural curiosity.

GEOGRAPHY LIVING BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, I think geography should be learned using as many living books as possible.

Grab a book or two to add to your home library.

13 Geography Living Books

Add some of these living geography books to your home library. All ages will love them.

Paddle-to-the-Sea: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (Sandpiper Books)

Follow the journey of a little turtle through all the great lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, not only covering; landforms but also dipping into science, and uses figurative language to help children think and understand the story better.

Seabird: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

A carved Ivory Gull tells of oceans all over the world and three generations of sailing families in America. 

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World

In more of a story book fashion we are led around the world to gather ingredients from all over to make an apple pie and it even includes a simple recipe for an apple pie.

Tree in the Trail

The history of the Great Plains and the Santa Fe Trail is told in text and pictures by focusing on a cottonwood tree and the events that happen around it.

Complete Book Of Marvels

Explore the wonders of the world with America's foremost adventurer, Richard Halliburton. In the Complete Book of Marvels Halliburton takes you with him on thrilling journeys to countless wonders of the world, including natural features like Gibraltar, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Fuji, and famous or forgotten temples and ancient cities, and monuments bigger than life. He follows in the footsteps of Demetrius and traverses the Great Wall.

Replete with historical facts, maps, and a treasure trove of unique restored photographs of both well-known and hidden wonders, Halliburton journeys with the reader by his side to reveal the beauty and mystery of the world's greatest sights as if for the very first time. As a youth Richard Halliburton dreamt of seeing the many mysterious lands and exotic locales beyond the horizon, and by the time he was a teenager he set out to do just that. During his life, his voyages took him to an enormous variety of truly marvelous places, from familiar American landmarks to the far reaches of the globe.

Where We Live: Mapping Neighborhoods of Kids Around the Globe

This fascinating look at 16 children’s neighborhoods around the world broadens readers’ understanding of global cultures. This unique illustrated map book explores the neighborhoods of 16 real children from around the world. Author Margriet Ruurs, who met many of these children in her travels, tells the story of each child’s neighborhood by highlighting the places that are important to them, such as where they live, go to school and play, as well as interesting facts about their lives, including the food they eat, their religious practices and the sights and smells they encounter every day. From big cities, such as Amsterdam and Beijing, to small communities, such as Salt Spring Island in Canada and the village of Komanyana in Zambia, each place is special to the children who live there.

Minn of the Mississippi: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream.

National Parks of the USA (Americana, 1)

Packed with maps and fascinating facts about the flora and fauna unique to each of the 21 parks portrayed, this lushly illustrated coast-to-coast journey documents in large format the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places—and shows why they should be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Explore Florida's river-laced Everglades, travel down the white water rapids of the Grand Canyon, trek across the deserts of Death Valley, and scale the soaring summits of the Rocky Mountains with this book that brings you up close to nature's greatest adventures. Divided by region (East, Central, Rocky Mountains, West, Tropics, and Alaska), a pictographic map at the start of each section shows the locations of the parks to be covered. Each park is introduced by a stunning, poster-worthy illustration of one of its scenes and a summary of its makeup, followed by individual illustrations of the animals and plants that make their homes there.

Strawberry Girl by: Lois Lenski

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.

Wow Canada!: Exploring This Land from Coast to Coast to Coast (Wow Canada! Collection)

The multi-award-winning Wow Canada! has steadily wowed readers with its original, witty, and fabulously informative cross-country excursion. This thoroughly updated edition is filled with amazing facts, historical wonders, and descriptions, photos, and illustrations of Canada's most famous sights and hidden gems — it's the perfect accessory for that family car trip across Canada. Eleven-year-old Guy and his family travel from province to province —and even up to Canada’s territories! Guy is the ideal narrator, curious but cool and always armed with a wry comment. Incredible sidebar material offers moments of respite from the family’s high-speed travels, making Wow Canada! both the perfect car trip guidebook and a fantastic armchair travel book.

How the States Got Their Shapes

Why does Oklahoma have that panhandle? Did someone make a mistake?

We are so familiar with the map of the United States that our state
borders seem as much a part of nature as mountains and rivers. Even the oddities—the entire state of Maryland(!)—have become so ingrained that our map might as well be a giant jigsaw puzzle designed by Divine Providence. How the States Got Their Shapes is the first book to tackle why our state lines are where they are. Here are the stories behind the stories, right down to the tiny northward jog at the eastern end of Tennessee and the teeny-tiny (and little known) parts of Delaware that are not attached to Delaware but to New Jersey.

A Child's Geography of the World

A Child's Geography of the World is a general course in geography for juveniles. Hillyer was headmaster at the famed Calvert School and wrote a series of books as part of the curriculum for his students. This title was the result of many years of teaching the subject to young children and of several more years in authoring it. The books is now considered in a classic in home schooling.

Geography: An Illustrated A-Z Glossary: An Introduction To Earth's Geographical Features For Kids

Welcome to Geography: An Illustrated A-Z Glossary by B.C. Lester Books! This book takes you across the world's main landforms and biomes, each with a colorful illustration acWelcome to Geography: An Illustrated A-Z Glossary by B.C. Lester Books! This book takes you across the world's main landforms and biomes, each with a colorful illustration accompanied with a child-friendly definition.

What is a mesa? Or an estuary? What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?

Covering over 100 geography terms, this book has all the answers! This book is a great, concise introduction to the natural features of Earth for children and is a nice way to spark or develop an interest in geography for kids accompanied with a child-friendly definition.

What is a mesa? Or an estuary? What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?

Covering over 100 geography terms, this book has all the answers! This book is a great, concise introduction to the natural features of Earth for children and is a nice way to spark or develop an interest in geography for kids.

Next, look at these fun ways to learn geography other than a textbook.

FUN WAYS TO TEACH GEOGRAPHY

  • Make it a road trip to learn one region of the U.S. or world. This is ideal for any family. For example, I have a road trip bucket list for The Great Plains of the U.S. below.
  • Lean about the culture of a country through cooking local dishes.
  • Visit light houses and cemeteries to learn about the people of the area.
  • Drawing areas of the U.S. helps kids to commit the area to memory. Add a watercolor element or paint element to your drawing.
  • Explore an area through the eyes of a person that lived there. What did he eat? What did he do? Why did he live in that area?
  • Watch movies or documentaries to learn the geography of an area.
  • Make it a 50 state geography quest.
  • Create lists of landmarks.

Also, look at these other geography activities.

MORE GEOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES

  • How To Teach Geography To Preschoolers: Around The World Bin
  • How To Create Elementary Geography Curriculum Using Living Books
  • Amazing Geography Landforms: An Engaging Triorama Tutorial for Kids
  • 13 Living Geography Books For Kids Who Love Exploring
  • Learn US Geography the Fun Way: Free States 3-Part Flashcards
  • 100 BEST Books for Kids from all 50 States (Easy Geography)
Fun Ways To Teach Geography & Free Great Plains Bucket List

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HOW TO GET THE FREE THE GREAT PLAINS ROAD TRIP BUCKET LIST

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

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

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Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream – Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

January 9, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Are you looking for a unique, easy LEGO art lesson that blends creativity, history, and hands-on building?Also, look at my page From Simple to Spectacular: Easy LEGO Ideas for Everyone.

This LEGO art project, inspired by Edvard Munch’s The Scream, is perfect for students in elementary through middle school.

Kids will learn about expressionist art, explore famous paintings, and then build their own colorful version using LEGO bricks on a baseplate.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

It’s a low-prep activity with significant visual impact, and it helps kids understand art in a memorable, tactile way using a tool that they love at just about any age-LEGO.

Your homeschooler will not only learn about a famous painting but will also explore how artists use color, emotion, and movement through a simple building project.

I have more ideas to turn this from a one-activity wonder to a whole unit of art, whether you stick to expressionism or expand into all art styles.

MORE EASY LEGO IDEAS

  • How To Use LEGO Maths to Teach Essential Foundational Skills
  • Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream – Easy LEGO Art Tutorial
  • 5 Exciting LEGO Science Activities for Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning
  • Craft Lego Mythology Sets – How To Craft The Powerful Titan Atlas
  • How to Make a LEGO Solar System That Educates & Entertains
  • How to Create a LEGO Duck Pond: Step-by-Step Guide
  • How To Make A DIY LEGO Turkish Design Craft
  • Easy and Creative LEGO Eye Anatomy Activity for Curious Kids
  • A Splash Of Fun: The Ultimate LEGO Minecraft Coral Reef
  • Crust to Core: How to Build LEGO Earth Layers
  • Unleashing Creativity: An Easy Guide to a LEGO Stonehenge Model
  • Crafting Connections: How to Design a LEGO Family Tree
  • Ancient Civilizations: The History & Significance Of The Simple LEGO Ziggurat

LEGO IDEAS FOR KIDS

First, look at these other ideas to inspire your kids.

Lego Ideas for Kids

Use one of these LEGO ideas in your homeschool. Besides, LEGO are great hands-on crafts to teach with.

Brick Shakespeare: Four Tragedies & Four Comedies

Never before have Shakespeare’s plays been depicted in LEGO bricks, and now Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar and Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew are available in one extraordinary hardcover.With over two thousand color photographs depicting the most well-known scenes in some of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, this bind-up is the perfect gift for your LEGO- and Shakespeare-loving friends and family!Fall in love with LEGO Juliet on her balcony as Romeo proclaims his love. See the full effect of Lady Macbeth’s manic “Out, out, damn spot!” in a whole new way. Laugh along with LEGO Puck as he mischievously hassles the lovers in the woods. Cast a storm with brick Prospero as he strands his usurping brother on his deserted island.

Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel...

Enter the magical world of fairy tales retold through LEGO bricks! Filled with creative and whimsical settings built from this universally celebrated toy, this book presents an all-new retelling of the original Grimm’s fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and more! With one thousand color photographs, this inspired adaptation uses intricately designed brick sets to present some of the most cherished and widely told stories of all time.Watch the clock strike twelve as Cinderella leaves her glass slipper behind at the ball, and see just how long brick Rapunzel’s hair can grow as she waits in her tower. Watch the seven dwarfs plot against the evil Queen and her brick looking glass, and try to find your way home with Hansel’s path of brick breadcrumbs

Lego Tribute to Jules Verne's Books Set 40690, Creator Imagination Library, Book 1

LEGO 40530 Tribute to Jane Goodall

  • Dr Jane Goodall + Chimps

But first let’s learn a little bit more about the artist and The Scream in particular.

WHO WAS EDVARD MUNCH

Edvard Munch (pronounced “Moonk”) was a Norwegian artist, born in 1863, known for his emotionally charged, dramatic paintings.

His most famous work, The Scream, depicts a figure standing on a bridge amid swirling colors. Munch wanted his viewers to feel the emotions of the painting-fear, surprise, and the chaos of the world around us.

5 EDVARD MUNCH FUN FACTS

  1. The Scream is actually one of four versions Munch created.
  2. The sky in the painting may have been inspired by a volcanic sunset in the late 1800s.
  3. The swirly background makes the painting look like it’s moving or vibrating.
  4. The figure’s hands on their face create one of the most recognized poses in art history.
  5. Munch wasn’t compelled to sell, and he kept most of his own work until after his death.
Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

LEARNING EXTENSIONS FOR THE SCREAM

Try Painting the Scene- After making the LEGO version, let kids paint The Scream using watercolors or oil pastels to compare textures.

Study Expressionism-Introduce other expressionist artists, such as Kandinsky or Franz Marc, and discuss how they used color and movement.

Creative Writing Prompt- Ask: “If the figure in the painting could talk, what would they be screaming about?” Have your child write a short story or comic to tell the story behind the painting.

Math Tie-In- For older students, talk about scale and ratios. How many bricks tall is the figure compared to the bridge? Can they enlarge or reduce their design?

Then, look at more ideas.

LEGO ART IDEAS

Here are some fabulous tutorials of LEGO creations, as well as a few from the company itself.

  • This Minecraft Art Idea: Pixelated Masterpieces on Canvas! Reminds me of Starry Night with a modern Minecraft twist.
  • Make these LEGO Self-Portraits as a form of self-expression.
  • Explore modern art with this Make A Mondrian Puzzle With LEGO
  • Put together the LEGO Art Mona Lisa
  • Another option is the LEGO Art Hokusai The Great Wave Framed Japanese Wall Art.

Make a LEGO Exhibit

Create a mini “art museum” with multiple LEGO masterpieces, and kids can be curators and write small labels.

  • Girl With a Pearl Earring
  • Starry Night
  • Mona Lisa
  • The Great Wave

THE SCREAM- EASY LEGO ART TUTORIAL

You will need:

  • Square LEGO baseplate
  • Any white round LEGO
  • picture of The Scream for reference
  • Any mix of LEGO bricks in these colors:

Blues
Oranges
Yellows
Browns
Beiges
Black

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

I had a blue baseplate, which we used as the background sky. Use any color you have and then just cover it accordingly.

We decided to build the figure in the foreground first and then create the scene around him.

Use black or brown bricks to create the dark clothing with raised arms.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

Fill in the hands and create the head with flesh colored bricks.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

Add white round studs for the eyes and an open mouth.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

For the bridge, add long brown, yellow, or tan bricks in horizontal lines. Kids can stack slightly different shades to mimic the texture of the real painting.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

The sky in The Scream is one of the painting’s most dramatic elements. Let kids choose bright oranges, reds, and yellows to fill the top half of the baseplate.

Encourage them to create wavy, swirling lines instead of straight rows by staggering them for an expressionist look.

Start by scattering yellow bricks, allowing a little blue to peek through here and there.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

Then fill in with orange.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

Add extra movement using lines of bricks around the figure. The more variety in color, the more the LEGO version will “feel” like The Scream. Let kids experiment; every version will look different, and that’s part of the fun. We did this by adding a few random flat bricks into the open blue area.

Create Your Own Masterpiece: The Scream - Easy LEGO Art Tutorial

Best of all, they’ll create a keepsake masterpiece you can display with pride.

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Free Ancient Phoenicia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on History

November 26, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Ancient Phoenicia lapbook for you today. Too, I created a few extra minibooks but you decide which ones you want to use. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas and Ancient Civilization.

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that lived along the eastern Mediterranean coast. That area is now Lebanon, parts of Syria, and northern Israel.

They were known for exploring and trading across the Mediterranean. And were excellent sailors and shipbuilders.

Free Ancient Phoenicia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Besides being the inventory of the Phoenician alphabet of 22 letters which consists of all consonants, they made a purple dye.

The Phoenicians made the purple dye from tiny sea snails called murex. This dye was so rare and expensive that only kings and queens could afford purple clothing.

The Phoenicians traded goods like glass, cedar wood, purple cloth, jewelry, pottery, and wine with Egypt, Greece, and even parts of Africa and Spain.

ANCIENT PHOENICIA RESOURCES & BOOKS FOR KIDS

Then, look at a few of these resources.

7 Ancient Phoenicia (Modern Day Lebanon, Syria & Northern Israel) Books or Set In Ancient Phoenicia

Add some of these fun resources to your unit study or study for the day of Ancient Civilizations.

Ancient Israelites and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide (Cultures of the Ancient World)

Children can try their hand at re-creating ancient Israelite culture—along with the cultures of their neighbors, the Philistines and Phoenicians—in a way that will provide perspective on current events. The book covers a key period from the Israelites’ settlement in Canaan in 1200 B.C.E. to their return from exile in Babylonia in 538 B.C.E. This part of the Middle East—no larger than modern-day Michigan—was the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. More than 35 projects include stomping grapes into juice, building a model Phoenician trading ship, making a Philistine headdress, and writing on a broken clay pot. Israelites', Phoenicians', and Philistines' writing and languages, the way they built their homes, the food they ate, the clothes they wore, and the work they did, and of course, their many interesting stories.

Photo Credit: store.homeschoolinthewoods.com

Activity Study: Great Empires

Included in this study are over 35 projects, games, recipes, links, and the history of fourteen empires! Generally, each empire's materials can be covered in 1-3 days

History Pockets: Ancient Civilizations, Grades 1-3

The book includes the following pockets:

  • What Is History?
  • Ancient Mesopotamia
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • Ancient China
  • Ancient Aztec World

This resource contains teacher support pages, reproducible student pages, and an answer key.

Explore the Old City of Aleppo: Come with Tamim to a World Heritage Site

Explore the Old City of Aleppo: Come with Tamim to a World Heritage Site

Other Words for Home: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

A gorgeously written, hopeful middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who must leave Syria to move to the United States, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Aisha Saeed.

Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live
in Cincinnati with relatives.

The Source: A Novel

In his signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East. An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, The Source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of Western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.

The Phoenician Cities of Sidon and Tyre | Ancient Mediterranean Cultures

In this book, your child will learn to identify on the map where the ancient world of Phoenicia was located. He/she will also learn how unique Phoenicia was compared to the present-day countries in the sense that it was made up of city-states. The most important of these city-states are Sidon and Tyre, both of which will be explained in this book. Grab a copy today.

Also, look at more Ancient Phoenicia activities.

Free Ancient Phoenicia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on History

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS ABOUT ANCIENT PHOENICIA

  • Hands-on Ancient Phoenicia: Alphabet Clay Tablet Craft
  • Ancient Phoenicia MinibookModern Day Lebanon
  • 20 Ancient Civilization History Coloring Pages
  • Easy Israel Crafts for Preschoolers: How to Make Mini Torah Scrolls

Also, look at what is included in the lapbook.

  • Exploring Ancient Phoenicia map
  • A Day in Phoenicia
  • Learn Phoenician writing
  • Where did the Phoenicians trade
  • Crafts and goods
  • Fun facts about Phoenicia

MORE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS HOMESCHOOL LAPBOOKS

  • Ancient Civilization Lapbook covering Sumer, Mesopotamia, The Babylonian & Hammurabi, Minoan and Mycenaean , Ancient Egypt,  Greece, Phoenician, Ancient Greece & Rome Pockets, and Celts
  • Ancient Rome
  • Ancient Babylon
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • Ancient Assyria
  • Ancient China (ancient civilizations)
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • Indus Valley

HOW TO GET THE FREE ANCIENT PHOENICIA LAPBOOK

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

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me

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Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

November 15, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A bottle buddy is just one of many amazing Greek God project ideas that can bring these ancient stories to life for your child. Also, look at my page Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and look at my second free Ancient Greece Lapbook for more ideas.

Creating a Poseidon bottle buddy is a creative, hands-on way to explore ancient mythology while connecting art, history, and even ocean science with some of the extension ideas I have included for you.

In the colorful world of Greek mythology, Poseidon stands out as one of the most powerful and dramatic gods.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Known as the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, Poseidon ruled over all the waters of the earth and commanded storms with a sweep of his mighty trident.

Poseidon was one of the Twelve Olympian gods, the main deities of Greek mythology, who lived on Mount Olympus. He was the brother of Zeus (god of the sky) and Hades (god of the underworld).

The three brothers divided the world after defeating their father, Cronus, and the Titans.Zeus ruled the heavens, Hades ruled the underworld, and Poseidon ruled the sea.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Ancient Greece.

Use one or two for a unit study spine.

14 Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Learning About Ancient Greece

Add some of these living books to your reading library.

The Trojan War

In this retelling of the Trojan War, Olivia Coolidge crafts heroes and gods into real, multidimensional characters, not just the figures of legend. Vibrant storytelling and finely wrought action have made her version of the classic tale of the Fall of Troy accessible to generations of young readers.

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'

As the gods and goddesses of Olympus scheme, the ancient world is thrown into turmoil when Helen, the most beautiful woman in all of Greece, is stolen away by her Trojan love. Inflamed by jealousy, the Greek king seeks lethal vengeance and sends his black war ships to descend on the city of Troy.

The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey

King Odysseus and the Greeks have triumphed over the Trojans. At long last, they are able to set sail for home and the loving family Odysseus left behind. But for the heroic king, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the war. Forced by treacherous winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must face deadly perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe and her deadly enchantments, and the soul-chilling Land of the Dead and more.

The Greeks Pop-up: Pop-up Book to Make Yourself

Tarquin Popups are a special kind of do it yourself activity book. Not only is there the fun of making the scenes and seeing them popup but they are full of interesting information and ideas. This book contains six main scenes to make: Knossos, the Palace of Minos, the Lion Gate at Mycenae, the Battle of Salamis, the Golden Age of Athens, the Theatre, Alexander the Great and King Porus. There are a number of mini popups as well. Close the book and they fold away. Open it and they popup again. These vivid, colourful three dimensional scenes help to bring Ancient Civilisations to life in a way which no other kind of book can.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters

The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.

Greek Myths

From the terror of Medusa and the Minotaur to the Labors of Heracles and journeys of Theseus, the stories in this collection have thrilled and enthralled people for centuries with their high drama, hazardous quests, and unforgettable characters (both mortal and immortal).

Tales of Troy and Greece

Tales of Troy and Greece by Andrew Lang. Andrew Lang draws on his classical learning to recount the Homeric legend of the wars between the Greeks and the Trojans. Paris, Helen of Troy, Achilles, Hector, Ulysses, the Amazons and the Wooden Horse all figure in this magical introduction to one of the greatest legends ever told. Also included in this book are the adventures of Theseus and his dramatic battle with the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, and the quest of Jason for the Golden Fleece with the help of the Princess Medea.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

n print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. 

Tales from the Odyssey, Part 1

Brave Odysseus is far from home, tossed by stormy seas, and cursed by an angry one-eyed giant. If he ever wants to see his family again, he will have to face hungry cannibals, outwit a beautiful witch, and sail past a six-headed serpent. His journey is the ultimate test of endurance and courage. In this exciting series, best-selling author Mary Pope Osborne retells Homer's Odyssey, one of the most thrilling adventure stories of all time.

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus

Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories to explain the mysteries of life. These myths featured gods and goddesses, mighty beings who look human but have amazing powers and live forever. Now you can meet these extraordinary characters and hear their legends, brought to life again by Aliki in this splendid, panoramic look at the amazing stories and characters of Greek legend.

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Greece (Build It Yourself)

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and innovative ideas created more than two thousand years ago. Through biographical sidebars, interesting facts, fascinating anecdotes, and fifteen hands-on activities, readers will learn how Greek innovations and ideas have shaped world history and our own world view.

The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy

Travel back to a mythical time when Achilles, aided by the gods, waged war against the Trojans. And join Odysseus on his journey through murky waters, facing obstacles like the terrifying Scylla and whirring Charybdis, the beautiful enchantress Circe, and the land of the raging Cyclôpes. Using narrative threads from The Iliad and The Odyssey, Padraic Colum weaves a stunning adventure with all the drama and power that Homer intended.

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War

Illus. in full color. "An ancient history lesson emerges from this account of the way the Greeks tricked the Trojans and rescued Helen of Troy. The book is well tailored to younger readers with careful explanations and short sentences; a pronunciation guide is appended. Drawings portray the story's main events. A nice supplement to units on ancient Greece or mythology."-

The Iliad & the Odyssey (Deluxe Hardbound Edition)

Embark on a literary odyssey through ancient Greece with Homer's timeless epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey. In The Iliad, witness the ravages of the Trojan War as gods and mortals clash in a tale of honor, heroism, and the consequences of unchecked pride. Then, journey alongside Odysseus in The Odyssey as he battles mythical creatures, evades vengeful gods, ad strives to return home, navigating treacherous seas and testing the limits of human resilience. These masterpieces of ancient literature capture the essence of the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, destiny, and the indomitable spirit of adventure.

Also, look at more Ancient Greece activities.

MORE GREEK ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • How To Make A Greek Theatre Mask With Kids
  • Great Minds Of The Past: List Of Ancient Greek Philosophers & How to Make A Wreath
  • Fun Ancient Greece Activities To Learn From The Great Minds
  • Hands-On Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery
  • 9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities
  • Ancient Greece (Hands-on Science)
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • Ancient Greece Unit Study Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry}
  • Hands-on Activity Ancient Greece Chariot
  • Ancient Greece Hands-on Activity Refraction
  • Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts – Great Big List of Ancient Greece Freebies
  • 13 Living History Books about Ancient Greece
  • Cursive and Free Greece Copywork Poetry
  • Geronimo Stilton The Race Against Time Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History
  • Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks
  • Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
  • How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids
Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Then, look at more facts about Poseidon.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT POSEIDON

Poseidon’s temper was legendary; he could be calm and kind, but when angered, he created raging storms, floods, or even earthquakes. Because of this, ancient Greeks often offered sacrifices and prayers before sea voyages to seek his favor.

The ancient Greeks believed Poseidon lived in a palace beneath the sea, made of coral and precious gems. Sailors often threw bulls or horses into the ocean as offerings for safe passage.

Poseidon once tried to impress the city of Athens by creating a saltwater spring, but Athena’s gift of the olive tree was more useful, so the city was named after her instead.

Poseidon’s sacred island was said to be Atlantis, which later became part of the famous legend of the lost underwater city.

 It was also said that he created the first horse from sea foam and earth as a gift to humans.

He was known as the “Earth-Shaker” because the Greeks believed he caused earthquakes by striking the ground with his trident.

Poseidon was worshiped heavily in coastal cities like Corinth and Cape Sounion, where a magnificent temple still stands in his honor.

  • Parents: Cronus and Rhea
  • Siblings: Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, and Demeter
  • Wife: Amphitrite, a sea goddess and one of the Nereids

Poseidon had many children, both mortal and divine. Some of the most famous include Triton (a merman), Polyphemus (the Cyclops from The Odyssey), and Pegasus, the winged horse.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Finally, look at how to make a Poseidon bottle buddy.

MAKE YOUR OWN POSEIDON BOTTLE BUDDY

You will need:

  • 2-liter bottle
  • Acrylic paint
  • Craft felt
  • Yarn or craft fur
  • Styrofoam ball or half sphere
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Gold paint glitter
  • Glass cutting board or silicone mat
Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Prepare the base by washing and drying off the inside and outside of the bottle.

You can paint the outside of the bottle, but it is easily scratched. I find it’s better to squirt your base(flesh) paint right into the bottle with just a little bit of water to help it flow better.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Replace the cap and shake until the inside is completely coated.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Turn the bottle upside down into a cup lined with a sandwich bag for easy cleanup until most of the excess paint has dripped out. An hour or so should be plenty.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Leave the cap off and let the inside dry for one to two days- you can do this at the end after everything else has been done, if you don’t want to wait.

POSEIDON BOTTLE BUDDY

Paint the styrofoam ball or half sphere with the same flesh color paint and allow to dry.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

We gave our Poseidon pecs and a 6 pack with a permanent marker, even though we covered most of it up.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Drape craft felt around the bottle, trimming and draping until you are satisfied with it and then attach with a little hot glue. Place the glue on the felt rather than the bottle to avoid melting a hole through the plastic.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Hot glue hair and a long beard to the styrofoam ball that you have painted, and draw on eyes with a permanent marker.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Glue to the cap area at the top of the bottle to give him a head.

On a glass cutting board or silicone mat, “draw” a trident and crown with hot glue. You want to go over it a few times to make sure it is thick enough to hold up to being peeled off.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Allow the glue to cool and harden, and then paint the crown and trident gold. Once, you can easily cut off any strings or irregular pieces with a pair of scissors.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

Carefully peel up your creations and attach them to the bottle buddy by adding a little more hot glue to their backs.

Unique Greek God Project Ideas: How to Make Bottle Buddies

And then putt them into place, holding until the glue cools.

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Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

November 10, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have listed some fun rainforest preschool activities to go with our rainforest unit study. And there is a cute rainforest themed cutting activity which is like a peekabook craft. You can grab the free printable at the bottom. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

 Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, Rain Forest – Amazon, and Rainforest Activities for Kids for more ideas.

A rainforest-themed paper cutting project is more than just a fun craft; it’s a powerful learning experience that supports fine motor development.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Besides, cutting paper strengthens hand muscles, improves coordination, and prepares children for writing.

While cutting and gluing, you can talk about where rainforests are found, what animals live there, and why rainforests are important.

Too, this adorable craft with cutting away grass makes it fun for your preschooler to do a peek a boo activity as the rainforest is revealed underneath.

BOOKS ABOUT THE RAINFOREST FOR KIDS

16 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books & Resources

Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.

All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.

Over and Under the Rainforest

Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow!Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:

Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.

The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.

Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.

In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species. Some animals live high up in the trees, some crawl across the forest floor, and some tunnel underground, but they all depend on one another and the rain to survive. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet. 

Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

This book introduces readers to the largest snake in the world: the anaconda. Readers learn about the life cycle, behavior, physical characteristics, and habitat of anacondas

Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

Expanding the popular collection of animal books in the Learn to Draw Series, Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals will teach kids how easy it is to draw a variety of exciting and exotic creatures from around the world. Each project starts with a basic shape and progresses with simple-to-follow steps to a finished realistic final colored artwork. While they’re learning, kids will also discover fun facts about each featured animal.

The Rainforest Grew All Around

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

While it covers more than just the rainforest this is a fabulous resource to have on your shelves. You will find plenty of great pictures and information on many animals that live there- crocodiles, harpy eagles, monkeys, tapir , sloths,Jaguarundi, and the food web.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

Tells a story of a man who came to cut down a kapok tree and encounters many of the beautiful and exotic native creatures who make their home in the Amazon Rainforest.

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?!  That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game.  Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.

Where Is the Amazon?

Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike.

Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.

Afternoon on the Amazon

Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

NatureI n a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

Explores the richness of the Amazon rainforest, how humans have damaged it, and efforts being taken to protect it. Clear text, vibrant photos, and helpful infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.

Also, look at these fun rainforest preschool activities.

RAINFOREST PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

  • The Wonders of Nature: Free Color by Number Sloth Rainforest Habitat Page
  • 7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime
  • Fun Easy Amazon Rainforest Crafts and Make a Bubble Wrap Pattern Anaconda
  • Learn About Mammals In The Amazon Rainforest & Make an Adorable Sloth Craft
  • Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
  • Amazon Rainforest Predators and Make a Fun Pasta Emerald Tree Boa
  • Cute Colorful Toilet Paper Roll Rainforest Frogs for a Rainforest Frog Craft
  • 18 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Fun Resources
Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

RAINFOREST CUTTING ACTIVITY

Supplies:

  • Pencil or marker for curling
  • Rainforest printable (grab the template below quickly by adding your email at the very bottom of this page)
  • Two shades of green construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

Print the rainforest printable and set it aside.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Take the two shades of green construction paper and cut them into strips, making sure not to cut all the way through. Leave about an inch at the bottom uncut.

These will become the “tall rainforest grass.”

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Use a pencil or marker to gently roll the cut ends of the paper to create a fun curled look, like jungle vines or tall grass.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Glue both sheets of construction paper to the bottom of the printable. Only glue the uncut section so the grass can lift and move.

Rainforest Preschool Activities | How to Do a PeekABoo Craft (Free Printable)

Once the glue dries, invite kids to “trim the rainforest grass” by snipping along the curled edges to reveal the hidden rainforest animals underneath the paper.

HOW TO GET THE FREE RAIN FOREST PRINTABLE

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

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

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: amazon rain forest, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, rainforest

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