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My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}

Hands-On History: Helen Keller Braille and ASL Activity

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I have a fun hands-on history Helen Keller braille activity.

My eleven year old read about Helen Keller as part of his history curriculum this past fall.

He was amazed that being blind and deaf was even possible, much less that she was able to learn to communicate, read and eventually, become a motivational speaker for our nation.

Last week, he brought it up again.

Hands-On History: Helen Keller Braille and ASL Activity. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to incorporate a hands- on idea for language arts and history while studying about Helen Keller, your kids will love this Braille & ASL activity. Click here to make it!

Helen Keller’s diligence and perseverance is what impressed him. “She just never gave up,” he said, shaking his head a bit.

You see, my son is profoundly dyslexic and still struggles with basic reading. Although he has made a ton of progress, reading continues to be a constant struggle for my little guy.

It occurred to me that this connection he felt to the historic story of Helen Keller was influencing his perception of his own abilities.

He felt so inspired witnessing the endless possibilities associated with Helen Keller’s grit and desire to learn.

Wanting to jump on this history and life lesson, I decided to layer in some additional learning by created this challenging, but fun hands-on activity.

Helen Keller Braille and ASL Activity

Hands-On History: Helen Keller Braille and ASL Activity. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to incorporate a hands- on idea for language arts and history while studying about Helen Keller, your kids will love this Braille & ASL activity.

What You Need For This Activity:

  • Printables (included for your reference) – The Braille alphabet and the American Sign Language alphabet
  • Card Stock or Index Cards
  • Thumb Tacks or Push Pins
Making Braille Letters with Kids

Step 1: After printing up the alphabet references, I asked my son to take a look at the patterns in the braille letter formations.

He studied them for a bit, and then I created a secret message for him in “braille” using an index card and a push pin.

Reading Braille with Kids

Step 2: At first, he tried to run his fingers over the letters, but was not able to identify the letters, even when he used the reference sheet.

We talked about how difficult it would be to have to learn it all by touch, with no access to a cheat sheet.

Making the ASL Activity

Step 3: Then, he took the sheet itself and visually matched the dots to the reference. He was able to decode his message, and then created one for me to decode as well.

Decoding Braille with Kids

Easy Hands-on History Kid’s Activity

Step 4: After finishing our “braille lesson,” I grabbed a few coins.

As he closed his eyes, I placed each one in his hand and asked him to identify what coin it was, and any other writing or engravings on it.

Learning the ASL Alphabet

Step 5: Now it was time to move on to the sign language alphabet.

He and I both spelled different words, using the sign language letters, back and forth to one another. We remarked how much easier it was than interpreting the braille lettering.

Step 6: Finally, we stepped into the world of Helen Keller.

He closed his eyes while I placed his hands on mine and finger spelled basic words. He did the same for me.

Step 7: The most impactful part of this activity was our recap. We discussed how it felt to have one sense removed, how difficult not being understood must be, and the amazing the story of Helen Keller.

This was a wonderful way for my son to actually experience what had fascinated him in his reading and I was so encouraged to have this level of conversation with him.

Hands-On History: Helen Keller Braille and ASL Activity. If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to incorporate a hands- on idea for language arts and history while studying about Helen Keller, your kids will love this Braille & ASL activity.

We were able to deeply discuss empathy and the power of perseverance – something not always easy to do with a middle school boy.

Best of all, we had fun!

How to Get the Free Braille & ASL Printables

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) 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!

Make history fun for your kids with these activities!

Written by Shawna at Not the Former Things.

Easy Hands-on Science: Animal Camouflage Activity Hunt

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As we’ve been using the Coping With the Cold unit study from NaturExplorers, we’ve been learning so much about how animals adapt to colder temperatures. And, boy, have we had some cold temperatures around here lately!

While animals may choose to migrate (leave a cold climate for a warmer one) or hibernate (sleep during the cold weather), many of them also take advantage of camouflage to keep themselves safe from predators during winter. After all, many predators need to fatten up for winter too!

So when the NaturExplorers unit suggested an outdoor animal camouflage activity hunt, we were excited to try it in our own backyard!

Of course, the best thing in getting out of doors would be to actually find camouflaged animals. But, if your kids can’t, this is a fun animal hunt to do in your backyard.

We've been learning so much about how animals adapt to colder temperatures. But if you don’t spot any animals, this easy activity works too in your backyard. Click here for a fun nature activity on animal camouflage.

Animal Camouflage Activity Hunt

To do this activity, you’ll need the following:

  • Colored construction paper (We used the closest natural colors we had: green and brown)
  • Child-safe scissors
Animal Camouflage Hunt Supplies

You can use an online template to make your animals, but I just drew a few freehanded.

Drawing Camouflage Animals

We went with a snake, a bird, and a bear – all animals that make use of camouflage. Birds that live in the Arctic, in particular, tend to be white or light grey to blend in with snowy surroundings. Since we don’t get snow during the winter, we used colors that would fit in with our area.

Making Camouflage Animals

Easy Nature Activity

Once I drew the animals, we cut them all out. And then it was time to head outside!

Camouflage Animals Activity

We placed our snake in the grass. Which was a good time to talk about the meaning of the phrase “a snake in the grass” – someone who lies in wait to take advantage of someone else.

Spotting Camouflaged Animals Nature Activity

After a few minutes of searching, our kids spotted the snake. At least he looks like a friendly one!

Animal Camouflage Nature Study Activity

Take a good look at this picture. Our other two camouflaged animals are hiding among the leaves. These took the kids a while to find.

And, if I’m being totally honest, once I hid them, I had a hard time finding them again too!

Looking for Camouflaged Animals Nature Activity

They finally spotted the brown bird.

Spotting Camouflaged Animals Outdoor Activity

And there’s our friendly bear!

Bears typically find caves to hibernate, since they’re large enough for cubs and food supplies. But for this activity, we decided to have bears hide in the backyard!

More Animal Camouflage Activities

This was such a fun activity for the kids! It gave them a chance to get outdoors, learn more about animals, and play a fun game of hide-and-seek! You could easily adapt this with other animals such as rabbits, raccoons, and insects.

We've been learning so much about how animals adapt to colder temperatures. But if you don’t spot any animals, this easy activity works too in your backyard. Click here for a fun nature activity on animal camouflage.

Just be sure to change up the colors to match the colors in your area! So if you do have snow during the winter, use a white color for your animals. See which animals your kids can spot the quickest!

Share these other hands-on science activities with your family!

How to Teach Limits: Hands-on Middle School Math

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Eventually kids run into the concept of limits during their math classes. In traditional classes, it’s common to use graphs to explain this idea. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.

But when you homeschool, you can make learning a bit more hands-on, which is how I prefer to teach my children.

This fun hands-on math activity is a great (and simple) way to explore this concept with middle school students!

How to Teach Limits: Hands-on Middle School Math

Sometime around 450 BCE, Zeno of Elea, one of the ancient Greek Philosophers, gave a puzzle to his students.

How to Teach Limits: Hands-on Middle School Math. It's common to use graphs to explain how to teach limits. But when you homeschool, you can make learning a bit more hands-on. Click here to see how to bring this math concept alive

A tortoise came up to Achilles and proposed a race.

You know who Achilles is, right? The hero of the Illiad (think Trojan War). The guy who died of an arrow in his ankle. The mighty hero himself!

Well we’ve met the tortoise in Aesop’s Fables. He’s a pretty smart guy.

So the tortoise comes up to Achilles and proposes a race. Achilles fell down laughing. A slow, crawling, reptile is challenging ME to a race?

Why yes. However I need a head start. 10 meters should be enough.

Achilles laughs harder, even with a head start he’d quickly catch the tortoise!

Then the tortoise begins to explain.

No matter how fast you run, you will only catch up to where I WAS, not where I am now. After you’ve run the 10 meters, I will have moved farther ahead.

No matter how fast you run, you will only run to where I have been. Not where I will be. I will have always added a small distance before you reach where I am. So you can never catch up to me.

Achilles sadly conceded the race.

So let’s take a look at this concept on the kitchen table.

Pull out your Achilles and Tortoise. We used two different Lego minifigures.

Set the Tortoise ahead of Achilles. Place a piece of tape or use a piece of posterboard to mark the spot where the tortoise is standing.

Simple Math Limits Activity

Now move “Achilles” to the designated spot, but move the “tortoise” slightly ahead.

Hands On Math Limits Activity

Do this again and again and again. No matter how fast Achilles runs, he always ends up where the Tortoise WAS, not where he is.

Teaching Kids About Math Limits

In the pure world of mathematics, Achilles will always run the where the Tortoise WAS, not where the Tortoise IS. Achilles will get close to the Tortoise. He may be atoms away from the Tortoise, but he will never catch Achilles.

The tortoise is the limit for Achilles in the race.

A limit is the value that a function or sequence approaches as the input, or index, approaches some value.

Achilles can approach the tortoise but never quite reaches the tortoise. The tortoise is the Achilles limit!

Isn’t the pure world of mathematics fun!

Let’s take another look at limits through a joke my math professor once told us.

An engineer, physicist, and mathematician were placed on one side of the room. A line was drawn on the other side. They were told they could only go halfway each time.

So the engineer whipped out a calculator and measuring tape. After a few measurements and calculation, he quickly crossed the room.

The physicist pulled out a slide rule and a yard stick. After a few measurements and scribbled calculations, she quickly crossed the room as well.

The mathematician…. well the mathematician has yet to arrive!

So again, we pulled out the LEGO figure to take a look at what’s going on.

First you place one figure at one end of the table. Now measure the table and go halfway.

Learning About Math Limits for Kids

Measure the table and go halfway again!

Learning About How Math Limits Work

As you can tell, if you only go halfway each time, you’ll never reach the end of the table.

The measurement of the table is the limit of the infinite series 1/2(table) + 1/4(table) + 1/8(table) + 1/16(table) + 1/32(table) and so on. Once you reach infinity, supposedly you’ll have reached the end of the table.

But not until then!

Hence our poor mathematician is trapped trying to get to the other side of the table.

Try again moving the mathematician 1/4 or 1/8 of the way each time. Does it change the limit or does the limit remain the length of the table?

How to Teach Limits: Hands-on Middle School Math. It's common to use graphs to explain how to teach limits. But when you homeschool, you can make learning a bit more hands-on. Click here to see how to bring this math concept alive

Written by Sara at Classically Homeschooling.

Limits is a fascinating and fun concept to explore with kids!

Check out these other math activities for homeschoolers!

Hands-On Math: Factoring and Balancing Chemical Equations

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Written by Kim at The Learning Hypothesis.

Hands-on Chemical Equations Fun!

Chemistry requires a lot of algebraic thinking in order to be successful and it’s easy to incorporate hands-on chemical equations. Chemistry includes formulas, proportions, and the basis of the balanced chemical equation includes math concepts like the lowest common multiple, factoring, and the distributive property.

Balancing equations is necessary to satisfy the law of conservation of matter and simple means that what goes into a reaction comes back out.

The number of atoms on one side of the yields sign will equal the number on the other side.

Learning this kind of advanced math can be a bit tricky for students, so I like to make it as hands-on as I can.

Middle & High School Hands-On Math: Factoring and Balancing Chemical Equations. Chemistry requires a lot of algebraic thinking in order to be successful. It includes formulas, proportions, and the basis of the balanced chemical equation includes math concepts like the lowest common multiple, factoring, and the distributive property. Look at this fun hands-on idea to bring math alive!

This hands-on balancing chemical equations activity was a great way for my kids to visualize the concept as they learned.

How to Factor and Balance Chemical Equations

Let’s talk about the 3 mathematical concepts that are necessary to balance these equations:

  • Lowest common multiple
  • Factoring
  • Distributive property

The lowest common multiple (LCM) is the smallest number that 2 (or more numbers) are factors of.

Factoring is the process of determining what combinations of numbers can be multiplied to create a specific product. It looks like this.

Factoring Numbers

Distributive property says that multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately.

In the case of balancing equations it means that when we add (or change) coefficients that the change will impact all of the elements in the formula.
Example

Balancing Chemical Equations

In this equation, there are 2 atoms of oxygen on the reactants side and 1 atom on the product side.
Reminder: the only thing that can be changed is the coefficient.

The LCM of 1 & 2 is 2. The factors of 2 are 1 & 2 so 2 is the first coefficient to try.

How to Balance Chemical Equations

That 2 will multiply the 2 hydrogens and the 1 oxygen atom resulting in 4 hydrogen and 2 atoms.

Now the hydrogen are unbalanced. There are more hydrogen on the product side.

The LCM between the two sets of hydrogen is 4. The factors of 4 are 1 & 4 and 2 & 2.

To make the hydrogen on the reactants side equal the number on the products side we will use a coefficient of 2 on the reactant side. This results in 4 hydrogen atoms on both sides.

Balancing Chemical Equations for Kids

All balanced.

Now if all of that math, made your head spin. Let’s look at a hands-on way to work through balancing these chemical equations.

Hands-On Activity for Balancing Chemical Equations

Make Factor Trees:

Do a quick lesson/review on creating factor trees. This is something many students have done since upper elementary. This is a great review of factor trees.

I like to actually multiply the number of atoms to get a common multiple and use factor trees to determine the lowest common multiple and the coefficients needed for that number of atoms.

This is a quick example…

How to Make Factor Trees

The factor trees make it easier to determine both the lowest common multiple and the coefficients (the factors of the LCM will be used in conjunction with the subscripts in the formulas

For instance if you were trying to balance an element with 4 atoms on the reactant side and 6 atoms on the product side, you can multiply those together to get 24.

Do a factor tree and quickly discover the lowest common multiple is 12 and the factors of 12 that will be used as coefficients.

Create a Chemical Equation Balance

Making a Math Balance

Supplies:

  • ruler
  • paper clips (colored are best)
  • binder clips
  • pencil

Directions:

  1. Place the binder clips on the opposite ends of the ruler.
  2. Count the type of atoms in your equation.
  3. Now count the number of each atom and add it to the corresponding binder clip (Use a different color for each element)
  4. Use the factor trees to help determine how to best balance the equation by adding atoms (paper clips)
  5. The ruler will be flat (balanced) when the number of atoms is balanced.

Using the example from above. This is the balance in action.

Hands On Math Balancing Equations Activity

Unbalanced equation:

This balance activity uses green paper clips for the hydrogen atoms and blue paper clips for the oxygen atoms.

To balance the oxygen, we added the coefficient to the product side to balance the oxygen.

The result is that hydrogen is now unbalanced. There are 4 atoms (paper clips) on the product side and only 2 on the reactant side.

The balance is leaning to the right.

Balancing Chemical Equations Activity

To completely balance the equation add the coefficient to the hydrogen on the reactant side.

DIY Balancing Chemical Equations Activity

Changes the number of hydrogen from 2 to 4 which completely balances the equation and the balance.

Middle & High School Hands-On Math: Factoring and Balancing Chemical Equations. Chemistry requires a lot of algebraic thinking in order to be successful. It includes formulas, proportions, and the basis of the balanced chemical equation includes math concepts like the lowest common multiple, factoring, and the distributive property. Look at this fun hands-on idea to bring math alive!

Make learning math fun and easy with these other hands-on activities!

Hands-On Math: Fun and Easy Snowflake Geometry

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an easy snowflake geometry activity.

With the onset of winter weather, we’ve experienced the first few snow flurries in our area.

Just the mention of the word snow and kids of all ages get into a tizzy that brings delight and happiness.

I really wanted to bring that feeling of magic into our lessons, so I began hunting for ideas for my older kids.

Hands-On Math: Fun and Easy Snowflake Geometry. With the onset of winter weather, we’ve experienced the first few snow flurries in our area. Add a bit of math and science together to make these easy snowflakes and study a bit of geometry too. CLICK HERE to make this easy hands-on math craft!

When my kids were younger, we did a lot with crafts.

Crafts are a great way to make lessons hands-on and fun.

The more ways you can make math an art activity, the more kids can connect with the concept.

It’s also nice to connect other subjects and make lessons more efficient and engaging.

Because my kids are older, we’ve fallen away from crafts. However, it had become my goal to find a learning craft to tie into both math and science for the winter season.

Easy Snowflake Geometry

The following craft was the perfect lesson to review angles and geometrical shapes.

To get in our science skills at the same time, we learned a little about the science of weather.

Winter can be a hard time to keep focused with lessons, so this activity can be a great way to keep up your schooling stamina.

Hands-On Math: Simple Snowflake Geometry

Break out the smocks, paint, and craft sticks!! It’s time to get crafty! Here is a fun DIY decoration for your kids to make for their rooms, for a friend, or for a party.

For this craft, you will need the following materials:

  • craft sticks
  • protractor
  • liquid glue or a hot glue gun
  • any color of paint
  • paper to cover work space
  • paint brushes
  • decorative ribbon
  • double stick foam tape

We began this lesson by reviewing the different types of angles. We measured out and drew a 30 degree angle using the protractor.

Making a Simple Math Geometry Craft

Then we used 6 craft sticks to glue together a star shape. We were careful to make sure our angles measured at 30 degrees.

Winter Snowflake Geometry Craft

Next we added the points to our star in the form of diamonds or rhombuses.

At this point, a few of the kids got off of their measurements which resulted in the creation of their own shapes.

Painting a Geometric Snowflake

The kids then chose a color of paint to paint their snowflakes.

Making a Geometric Snowflake

You’ll love these living books for winter which bring learning alive when your kids hit the doldrums.

Winter NaturExplorers 940x788 (Facebook)


There are many ways to extend this activity:

  • Use the book Snowflake Bentley to learn about the man who studied snowflakes and invented the photomicrographic technique.
  • Research the science of snowflakes. Learn how snowflakes are made and what determines the shape of snowflakes.
  • Learn the seven shapes of snowflakes and then identify all of the shapes found in each snowflake type.
Hands-On Math: Fun and Easy Snowflake Geometry. With the onset of winter weather, we’ve experienced the first few snow flurries in our area. Add a bit of math and science together to make these easy snowflakes and study a bit of geometry too. CLICK HERE to make this easy hands-on math craft!

Add more math learning fun to your winter studies with these hands-on activities!