• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

  • HOME
  • How to
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Planner
  • Lapbooks
    • Trioramas
    • History Games
  • Shop
  • GET STARTED NOW!
    • Learning Styles
  • 7 Step Planner
    • DIY Best Student Planner
    • Free & Easy DIY Home Management Binder
  • Unit Studies
    • Creation to Ancients
    • Middle Ages to Reform
    • Exploring to Revolution
    • World Wars to Today
    • Science
    • Free Art Curriculum Grades 1 – 8
  • Curriculum
    • More Unit Studies
    • Geography
    • Writing PreK to 12th
    • Geronimo Stilton
  • BootCamp
    • Resources
      • Dynamic Subscriber Freebies
      • Exclusive Subscribers Library
      • Ultimate Unit Study Planner

Science Based

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

September 8, 2013 | 19 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.


Tiny never gets his fill of doing something fun and hands-on when we start  a geography unit. We did a salt dough map in our Arctic & Inuit Unit Study and he remembered and ask for it again to start our South America Unit Study. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Why mess with something working? Besides after you make it, you can use it again and again as review during the unit study. It’s so much more fascinating and interactive than a worksheet too.

Before I forget though I want to update the salt dough recipe I had used before because it was wayyy too much. So I cut it in half this time and still had plenty left over.

We tend to use left over pizza box lids as our platform and unless you are going to make your salt dough map giganto, you should be fine with this new recipe. Of course, you can double it if you need more.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

So here is the update recipe for you which is all the ingredients cut in half. If you want to see how we create it, look at my post on the Arctic & Inuit Unit Study.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants


Also, a really good map is needed and we had a big map that pulled out of the center of our atlas. This was really way more helpful than just printing one off the internet.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Since we are working on identifying more of the landforms, we wanted to draw those in and so Tiny use the most complicated tools

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

—like a toothpick and plastic clay roller —to draw in the political boundaries of each country.  Simple I am telling you, so simple to keep it fun.

Remember you have to draw in your land forms and place a toothpick in the holes before it dries overnight.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

We also took time to look at the Amazon and some of it’s tributaries and used the toothpick to draw it going through Brazil (top right) and he formed the Galapagos Islands on the left side.

Tiny only put one island there though there are many islands that Charles Darwin investigated. Of course this is why it’s important that he learn to use the map to see that the Galapagos are made up of many islands and not just one.

Then next we went about locating the Andes mountain range.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

He had the idea of forming little peaks or mountains down the left side to show the stretch of the Andes mountains.  I think they turned out so cute, but he was disappointed. Tiny is like Mr. Senior 2013, he has a high standard for his work and expects perfection. I just expect fun.

Of course after he painted the peaks brown they did look like chocolate kisses which gave me another idea.  This map could be made out of sugar cookie dough and use chocolate Hershey kisses for the mountains. Use frosting to decorate each country and make this edible.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Then because we are working on identifying/locating all the countries and one French territory, and Galapagos Islands, I created some country flags or pennants. Not only that, but by him painting each country a separate color, it really has helped to identify each one, which is another objective of mine.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Lastly, he labeled it and added in the equator and showed it running through Ecuador, which in Spanish means “equator”. We still need to add in the Tropic of Capricorn.

South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants

Tiny has loved doing these maps each time and it is a great way to bring geography and history alive. I guess you can say we never tire of hands-on geography and fun sets the tone for learning.

More to come as we trek our way through South America.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

  • Appreciating the Culture of South America Through Dance
  • Free Machu Picchu Mini Book & Completed South America Lapbook
  • 6 South America Country Notebooking Pages
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks
  • South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map
  • South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
  • South America Unit Study resources

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

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

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

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1

19 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on activities, handson, salt dough map, south america

South America Unit Study Resources

September 6, 2013 | 8 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my Lapbook ideas, and on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies pages.

My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. 

Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch.

First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”.

South America Unit Study Resources

Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook or if we will just do some minibooks and keep it notebooking style. 

Besides, a lot of our units we do both a lapbook and some notebooking pages.

Also, I decide if our unit study will be just enrichment to what we are doing day to day or if it’s all we focus on for a while.

SOUTH AMERICA UNIT STUDY

My objectives affect how long we stay  on a unit.

Next, here is my short list for my objectives in this unit and a few goals.

  • Comprehensive overview of the physical geography
  • Focus on landforms like Andes, Machu Picchu and some reminders on the Amazon Rain Forest
  • Understanding the influence of the Spanish Colonial Empire and the key influence Simon Bolivar had in Latin America’s struggle for freedom

  • Build appreciation from our prior study of the Amazon that it is a life line for many and essential to our planet
  • Appreciate a unique design has a Designer by introducing the Galapagos
  • Allow time to immerse in the culture of people living in South America and the similarities and differences of each country though they are all considered Latin America.

We will be doing a lapbook and notebooking pages. I guess you could say for the first unit of the year, we are going all out.

South America Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Basically, South America has 12 countries and 2 dependent territories so we have more than enough to keep us learning for quite a while.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

After all, we will spend time looking at what we have covered up to this time, so I can build my unit study on that foundation.

My South America Unit Study Resources

South America and Rainforest Free Notebooking Pages @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have a total of 12 notebooking pages right now on my page on the Amazon Rain Forest which I could use in this study.

I have free Rainforest lapbooks too on my site.

However, because I want to focus on the other parts of South America and because the boys are a bit older, I already see that I will need some more printables. So I will be sharing those with you soon too.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
After I gathered the books I had on South America which happen to be mostly atlases, I know I need a trip to the library.

You'll love these South America Free Resources Unit Study @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

However, the library didn’t have as many as I would have wanted in the adult section.

Besides, they had some and that is more than enough to start a good thorough unit study.

SOUTH AMERICA UNITY STUDY ACTIVITIES

In addition, look at the resources and activities I have on my page.

  • Free Machu Picchu Mini Book & Completed South America Lapbook
  • South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks
  • South America Unit Study–Vocabulary & Copy work
  • Free Mini Layered Book – South America Galapagos Islands
  • Free 8 Page Fan Book–Animals of the Galapagos Islands
  • Humboldt Who? Hands On to Understand Ocean Currents & Their Effect On The Galapagos Islands
  • How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft
  • Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity
  • How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day
  • South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
  • Negrinho From Brazil–South America Unit Study
  • Appreciating the Culture of South America Through Dance
  • 8 Small Things About Traveling to Cuenca, Ecuador that Make a Big Difference
  • 5 Things I Love About Cuenca Ecuador
  • Everyday Life in Cuenca, Ecuador
  • We Arrived in South America!!!!
  •  Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
  • Effigies Celebrations and Customs of Cuenca Ecuador
  • How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
  • Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas

  • Llama Love And Creative Machu Picchu Crafts for Kids

South America Unit Study Ideas to Borrow

Additionally, there are so many talented teachers in the homeschool world, we can see what else we find. I have linked some of my favorite resources here.

1. Heather over at Blog She Wrote starts with a Geography Quest on Brazil. It starts with a treasure hunt and ends in Brazil. Then they did a map of the watershed of the Amazon River.
Geography Quest on Brazil Answers and a video.

2. Jolanthe over at Homeschool Creations has some great stuff too. She has some printables for a country study on Argentina, Chili, Peru and Venezuela.

3.  Then of course I always love Amy’s stuff over at Homeschool Share.

  • Brazil Lapbook
  • Colombia Lapbook
  • Ecuador Lapbook

4. Heidi over at Homeschool Room has a nice collection of geography resources on studying Brazil. Geography Resources for Studying Brazil

South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study Resources. I have many South America Unit Study resources. Grab more ideas on my lapbook ideas, and on my best homeschool unit studies pages. My first step as far as planning is to determine what I have in my home and what I can find online. Planning my unit studies is a lot like cooking from scratch. First, I like to dig out what is in my pantry, then take a look at what others have too in their “pantry”. Too, at the beginning I decide whether we will do a lapbook,
South America Unit Study resources

HOW TO GET THE FREE SOUTH AMERICA LAPBOOK

Finally, look at how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words
  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.

 1) Sign up on my list and get this freebie at the same time.
 2) You’ll instantly be directed to download the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you following me!

8 CommentsFiled Under: Geography Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, homeschoolgeography, south america, unit studies

Break for Nature Luv

May 29, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There really was another reason I couldn’t finish my spring cleaning.  We got to the back porch and discovered a nest down between the cushions of the chair.

Baby Bird Nest

I know I have seen nests in some crazy places. Makes you wonder what a bird finds appealing about a certain place. In between the back and seat cushion of our chair is not a safe place in my opinion, but it sure made for a grand view for me and the kids over the last few weeks.

Baby Bird Nest

It wasn’t long before we had babies.  I thought it would be easier to take pictures but the mom and dad were quick in bringing back food. So we had to shoot pictures quickly. They had their mouths opened quickly.

nature

By the next week, they grew quick too but we were able to get as close as we wanted to. We noticed this week that they probably knew we weren’t mom and dad now.

It was just a few more days before we saw them ready to leave the nest.

We knew it because of the great amount of chirping coming from mom.  This baby managed to leave the porch right to the grass and had to take a break. I don’t know who enjoyed this more, me or the boys. He is so cute and we loved being so close to him without handling him.

nature Break

Then it got up on the wall and found the corner. It took momma to come find him so he could leave the corner. He couldn’t figure how to get to the trees but finally figured it out. Amazing how they can cling to almost nothing, but the tiny ledge of a brick.  I finally got to clean my back porch but waiting those few weeks for our bird watching was more fun.

It didn’t take long before the kids and I decided it was too hot to be doing cleaning now.

nature break during homeschool

So we invited over my niece and spent a good amount of time in the pool. So this is how we will be starting our school days during the summer.  I highly recommend starting your day off like this.

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Science Based

Dynamic Reader Spotlight Life in The Rainforest Project

May 24, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I love getting your emails and hearing about your projects whether they are learning or organizing related. And, I am never too busy in my blogging schedule to pause and share when I get one from my dynamic readers. I recently got these beautiful pictures from Chayaan’s mom in (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and I just had to show you what a beautiful job Chayaan did.

Life in the Rainforest by Chayaan Perera (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Vrai, Chayaan’s mother said:The cover images are all cut outs, and the other pictures of animals, birds, reptiles etc are also all cut outs pasted on to the backgrounds.

I love it because it shows how intricate children can be when learning comes alive or when you find the spark that ignites them.

You have to love the fact that when something interests a child, they will write. The key is to finding something that interests them.

Vrai also said: The pages of pictures on Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, People and Flowers have been done in 3D!

Each key page has a ‘Fact Box’ into which he made and placed ‘Flash Cards’.

I know he will not get tired of reviewing or going back over this. This is the kind of tool to use for assessment of knowledge instead of boring tests.

Vrai also told me: This was all his idea and plan and knowledge is all his own.

I also love the fact that he mixed and matched printables from our site and others to get something unique.

I love the end where he made a call to save the planet. Overall, you can tell how much time was spent on this project. I put Chayann’s work as a slide presentation on our Amazon page. If you get a chance and have time, go on over  to our page and show this little guy some love by commenting in the box at the bottom of our website.

Chayaan, you did a GREAT job and hope you enjoyed the dynamic reader spotlight today. Thank you to your mom for sending in your hard work. She is doing a great job with you.  You made my day today.

Hugs and you know I love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Dynamic Reader Question, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based Tagged With: amazon rain forest

The Inuit & Arctic Wrap up + Free Lapbook Cover Pages

May 22, 2013 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I just realized as we had put the final touches on our Arctic & The Inuit Unit study that I did not ever send you the cover pages. I normally try to make these first if I make some, but usually send them last or toward the end of the unit since they go on the outside flaps of our lapbook. Too, if you choose to notebook and just use part of the minibooks, the covers can be used to divide sections or as decorative pieces.

Both of the covers are in color and as always I normally add more later that are black and white. When I put this unit on the website, I will probably add more black and white coloring pages then as well as links.  You received a good portion of the links as you followed me along in this unit study, but I will still have more to share on the site.

Download Cover 1 above here.

Download Cover 2 above here.

Okay, NOW, I think I am ready to move on to our Ancient Civilizations Unit and the Home Management Binder update.  Keeping it organized for you me.

You have to love the Dr. and all his inspirational quotes. Thinking about this today…..

“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”

~ Dr. Seuss~

Hugs and love ya,

 

 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 16
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • Page 19
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Privacy Policy | About Me | Reviews | Contact | Advertise

Categories

Archives

Tina Robertson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · 5 TNT LLC · Log in · Privacy Policy