crafts

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

September 28, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 8 easy fall wood crafts for kids. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

I love to walk the craft aisles at Dollar Tree to see what I can come up with.

Have you been lately?

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids And A Dollar Tree Pumpkin Patch

They have so much great stuff for homeschooling and crafting now.

I found several great unfinished wood items for kids to make a cute fall pumpkin patch as a centerpiece or anywhere else you want to display it.

Just in case your own little pumpkins can’t get enough I have 8 more easy fall wood crafts for kids from preschoolers up to the biggest kids.

Fall Crafts For Kids

First, look at these other fall crafts for kids.

Next, look at these fall wooden crafts for kids.

8 Easy Fall Wood Crafts For Kids

Add some of these fall wood crafts to your crafting homeschool day.

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

Wood Slice Turkey Craft

Kids will enjoy creating these wood slice turkeys. Add some floral wire, and they become place card holders or photo holders!

Photo Credit: simplemomproject.com

Easy Popsicle Stick Scarecrow Craft Tutorial

I’m excited to share one of my favorite fall crafts; the easy DiY fall scarecrow popsicle stick craft.

Photo Credit: www.virginiasweetpea.com

Dollar Tree Tumbling Tower Block Pumpkins

Dollar Tree Tumbling Tower Block Pumpkins are easy and inexpensive to make and they are perfect to use for fall decor.

Photo Credit: www.themakersmap.com

How to Make a Dollar Tree Mini Pumpkin DIY Fall Decor

Photo Credit: simplybeautifulbyangela.com

Scrap Wood Pumpkin

I’ve seen a few tutorials in blogland for making pumpkins out of scrap wood and they always turn out so cute! This year I decided to finally make one

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Photo Credit: wordandhome.com

Dollar Tree Caramel Apple Sign DIY

No one loves pumpkins as much me, but did you know there’s another fall staple? I’ll give you some hints; apple cobbler, apple pie, and even apple crisp!! They are so delicious, but sometimes I forget how cute they can be for fall! I found these cute apple cutouts at Dollar Tree and thought they’d be perfect for a Dollar Tree caramel apple sign DIY!!

Photo Credit: www.mycreativedays.com

DIY Dollar Store Fall Garland Craft

This DIY Dollar Store Fall Garland Craft could not be any easier and the outcome looks like you spent a lot of time and/or money on it. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Photo Credit: www.semiglossdesign.com

How to Make a Twig Wreath for Fall

Learn how to make a twig wreath.

Our colorful inspiration for our Dollar Tree pumpkin patch came from the beautifully colored varieties we found in our Farm Anatomy Book.

Just look at how beautiful the options are.

Even though it is a fun fall craft you can still introduce a little learning by talking about the varieties and shapes of pumpkins and squash.

Encourage them to research fun questions like where the most pumpkins are grown or what the biggest one ever grown weighed.

Finally, look at how to make a dollar tree wooden pumpkin patch.

How to Make a Dollar Tree Wooden Pumpkin Patch

This is an excellent craft for the whole family but it can be as simple or as elaborate as you like depending on the crafter, even toddlers or preschoolers will love painting a wooden square.

You could also have each member of the family paint their own pumpkin to add to the display.

You will need:

Square Wood Planks (Dollar Tree)
Wood strip (Dollar Tree)
Mini Jenga pieces (Dollar Tree) or small bits of sticks
Silk Leaves- (Dollar Tree)
Several colors craft paint
Paintbrushes
Fine permanent marker
ruler
Hot glue gun/sticks

First, grab 3 square planks out of the 6 pack and let your child paint them any colors they like.

We went with some unusual but realistic squash colors in addition to orange like the ones we saw in our book.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

Flip them over and paint the other side, again in any colors. Let them dry.

We are going to paint both sides because this craft can be seen from all sides, especially if you opt to put it on a table.

Dollar Tree Fall Crafts for Kids

Don’t forget to have them cover the edges as well.

Paint 3 tumbling tower blocks brown and set aside to dry.

Use a ruler and fine-line marker to add ribs to the pumpkins.

Lay out your pumpkins to decide what order you want them in.

Run a bead as long as your square along the center but towards the edge of the wood strip and press the pumpkin into place.

Hold it there until the glue cools and hardens.

Repeat with the next two pumpkins but place them at either end along the edge of the other side so that they are staggered and have a little room between them.

Glue a small silk fall leaf to the top of each of the pumpkins.

And you can also add them to the stem in the next step if you would rather.

Top with a brown tower block to create the stem.

That’s it, this pumpkin patch is ready to go on display.

Want to create a more extended centerpiece? Glue as many strips of pumpkins as you need end to end to create a large pumpkin patch.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

September 24, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a cute Wilbur paper plate Charlotte’s Web craft that you and your little ones are going to love. Also, I have more ideas at my post Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas.

Paper plates are a must-have on hand art supply.

They are inexpensive, take up little room, and can be used in so many ways like creating this craft.

Wilbur is a beloved childhood character from a favorite book that you probably read over and over as a child and couldn’t wait to read to your own children. Am I right?

How cute was that pig and how sweet was the relationship between him and Charlotte?

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Charlotte’s Web is a wonderful read-aloud that everyone will enjoy, it shows an imaginary side of a working farm as the animals converse and plan together.

It is also a beautiful story about the love between a girl and a tiny helpless runt as well as a growing lonely pig and a sweet spider.

Once you have read the book or had your child read it on their own you will enjoy the movie adaptation as well.

Resources for Learning About Charlotte’s Web

Next, look at these fun resources for studying about Charlotte’s Web.

Charlotte's Web Unit Study Resources

Add some of these books to flesh out your unit study if you're studying about farm animals, geography of Main or spiders.

Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books.

The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

This handsome box set provides hours of enlightening entertainment for those curious about farm life, the natural world, and food. Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Rothman presents Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy in a specially designed slipcase with 10 framable prints. Rothman’s popular line drawings offer a whimsical and educational guide to life on a farm, nature’s hidden wonders, and delectable tidbits from kitchens and pantries around the globe.

Insects and Spiders (Nature Explorers)

With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations, Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these bewildering bugs. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.

Pigs

With clear, simple text and bright, well-labeled watercolors, Gail Gibbons explores the truth about pigs. Digging up truffles, competing in county fairs, grunting and squealing to communicate-- these flat-snouted farm animals are complex and surprisingly talented.

DK Super Readers Level 1 A Day on the Farm

A Day on the Farm is a beautifully designed reader all about a day in the life of a farm, with eggs hatching, milking time for the cows, sheep shearing and lots of hungry baby animals!

I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I’m Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from heir awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you’re sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there’s heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears .

National Geographic Readers: Spiders

You don’t have to look far to see a spider’s web—in the corner of the window, on a fence, or in a bush—spiders make their homes everywhere. And there are so many kinds of spiders! Some red, some blue, yellow, and more…all fascinating. Amazing photography and easy-to-understand text make Spiders a hit in this National Geographic Kids series.

Assorted Farm Animals Toys

Teach your child about the different farm animals and the sounds they make; Set up an interactive playtime to collaborate with your child to count and sort the animals.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.... Doreen ronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.

On the Farm

From the bull to the barn cat to the wild bunny, the farmyard bustles with life. The rooster crows, the rams clash, the bees buzz, and over there in the garden, a snake — silent and alone — winds and
watches. David Elliott’s graceful, simple verse and Holly Meade’s exquisite woodcut and watercolor illustrations capture a world that is at once timeless yet disappearing from view — the world of the family farm.

Also, look at these facts about pigs.

8 Pig Facts

Pigs are not dirty at all, they are very clean animals, one of the cleanest. Pigs will not poop where they sleep, even the babies leave the bed to use the potty.
Mother pigs are known to sing to their babies while they eat, it is a low rhythmic grunting that reminds me of a cat purr.
If you are looking for a smart pet, a pig might be the way to go, pigs are even more intelligent and trainable than any breed of dog.
Pigs do roll around in mud but not because they love to be filthy. Pigs don’t have many sweat glands so to keep cool they roll around in the mud. It also acts as a sunblock to help keep a pig’s skin from getting sunburned.
Surprisingly, though a piglet weighs only 2.5 pounds at birth a full-grown pig can weigh anywhere from 300 to 700 pounds.
Male pigs at any age are called boars while female pigs are called sows, and babies are called piglets.
Pigs’ snouts are more than just cute, they are very powerful. A pig’s sense of smell is around 2000 times more sensitive than a human’s. They are powerful in another way too-pigs have a round disk of cartilage at the tip of their snout that is connected to the muscle to give it flexibility and strength for rooting in the ground.
Wild pigs get a bad rap sometimes, but they are actually very important to the ecosystem, they root around and loosen up the soil which helps create room for new plants to grow and spread plants around with their droppings.

If you are looking for a great reference on pigs you will want to pick up Farm Anatomy by Julia Rothman.

There are 5 full-color pages.

They are pig terminology, breeds, and pig anatomy as well as lots of other great farm animals, crops, buildings, and machinery.

These adorable pig figures make a great feature for a diorama.

Or use them in a pig sensory bin for dramatic play.

Finally, look at this cute Wilbur paper plate Charlotte’s Web craft

Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web craft

You will need:

2 paper plates
2 googly eyes
1 pink pipe cleaner
Light pink craft paint
Dark Pink Marker
Black Marker
Glue
Scissors

First, paint both paper plates completely in light pink, just squirt the paint right on the paper plate to paint, no need for a palette.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

After the paint is dry you want to take one of the plates and cut out pieces.

Like this, cut two triangles for ears, a round snout, two elongated trapezoids, and the bottom pieces that are shaped like an inverted V.

Glue the inverted V shape to the back of the other plate so that most of it is hanging out the bottom to create his back legs.

Color nostrils on the round snout piece and the center of the triangles to make the inner ears and glue into place on the full plate.

Add googly eyes securely with glue as well.

Take the two small trapezoid-shaped pieces and glue them on the back of the plate on either side of the larger leg piece to add on his front legs.

Use the black marker to draw on a mouth.

Cut a piece of twine about 2” long and untwist one end, glue it to the back of the plate at the top to give him a little sprig of hair.

Finally, coil a pink pipe cleaner around your finger or a marker to make a little pigtail.

Glue it to the back of the back leg piece and twist it to the side or down so that it peeps out the bottom.

Wilbur is now ready to reenact all the scenes from the book or hang around on the fridge while you read it aloud.

7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity

September 16, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Help your child complete this human skull anatomy activity using a styrofoam skull from Dollar Tree. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

Whenever fall rolls around I always grab some of the skeleton parts and pieces to repurpose as models in our anatomy lessons.

And this styrofoam skull caught my eye and I immediately knew what I was doing with it.

I had the idea to turn it into a labeled skull like I have seen available for purchase, but they are expensive,

So, unless your child wants to be a brain surgeon such an extensive one is not necessary.

7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity

This activity has several parts that will help your child learn the different bones of the skull.

First, they examine a diagram to learn and mark the various areas.

Secondly, they create the keys to make this activity a game, and finally they play and identify the parts again.

If they oversee making everything from start to finish, by the time they get to the game they are already quite familiar with the different names and sections.

You can read aloud about the facts of the different parts of the skull as your child works on coloring in the human skull anatomy activity.

7 Facts About The Human Skull

The top of the skull (cranium) is made up of 8 bones that cover the brain to surround and protect. The lower part makes up the bones of the face and is made of 14 bones.
Teeth are not considered bones that make up part of the skull.
Besides your eyes, nose, and mouth openings the human skull has many small holes in it known as foramina. They allow nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
Skulls look different and can be identified as male or female, even heritage by the size and shape of them.
The jawbone (mandible) is the only bone in the human skull that moves, it is also the largest and strongest bone in the skull.
In Latin ‘frons’ stands for forehead which is what gives the frontal bone its name.
The skull is not fully fused at birth, this allows for brain growth. Babies are born with soft spots on the top and back of their head called the fontanelles.

Next, look at some of these resources for learning about the human body.

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.

The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body

One of the resources we used as a reference for this activity was The Way We Work, it covers a lot of interesting topics on the human body.

Medical Torso Human Body Model Anatomy

Vivid Human torso organ structure: 15 Pcs Removable Organs including: Torso, Brain (2-part), Heart, Esophagus and Aorta, Lungs (4-part), Cranial Cap, Stomach, Diaphragm, Liver, pancreas and spleen, small and large intestine. The torso structure showing the relative position, morphological features, anatomy of the head, neck and internal organs, especially the respiratory, digestive, urinary and nervous systems.

Human Organs Shape Silicone Molds 8 Pc

[HUMAN ORGANS SILICONE MOLD]: 8 Pcs Human Organs Mold With Different Shapes, Include 1 Human Heart Mold, 1 Brain Silicone Mold, 1 Liver Mold, 1 Intestinal Mold, 1 Lung Mold, 1 Stomach Mold, 1 Brain Stem Mold, 1 Kidney Mold.

Ooze Labs: Visible Human Body with Squishable Organs

This human body with squishable organs is another great way to identify the organs and become familiar with their layout in the body, it has that gross factor that so many kids love.

Human Body Model for Kids 8PCS Mini Body Parts

8PCS Human Organ Figures Set:Human organ anatomy parts display model children learning toy include small intestine, large intestine, lung, brain, stomach, heart, liver, kidney. Suitable for boys and girls over 6 years old,good for brain ability and imagination.

Anatomy (Quickstudy Academic)

Complete labeled illustrations of over 1,400 anatomical identifications.Loaded with beautifully illustrated diagrams clearly and concisely labeled for easy identification.

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts!

Basher Science: Human Body, A Book with Guts! Created & illustrated by Simon Basher, written by Dan Green

From the best-selling team that brought you The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, and Astronomy comes a topic that's close to our hearts-literally! Meet the characters and processes that that keep the human body chugging along. From the basic building blocks like Cell, DNA, and Protein, to Bones, Muscles, and all of the fun-loving Organs, readers will cozy up with the guys on the inside. Trust us-Liver has never looked better!

Heart Anatomy Poster - LAMINATED

High-quality 3 MIL LAMINATION for added durability

Tear Resistant

Human Heart Anatomy Floor Puzzle

HUMAN ORGANS LEARNING: Marvel at the rich complexities of the human heart muscle! Every piece has a unique shape designed to outline each major part of the heart organ, making these an exciting challenge to assemble. Each puzzle includes an Anatomy Reference Guide, so you can learn as you build!

Fixed Bones X-Rays, Black/White, 14 Pieces,

Authentic x-ray images
Works with any light source or light table)
Matching facture card
Detailed teaching guide

4 Pack - Anatomical Poster Set - Laminated - Muscular, Skeletal, Ligaments of the Joints, Anatomy of the Spine

Set of 4 Posters Made in the USA
Posters are 18" x 24” in size
High-quality 3 MIL lamination for added durability
Tear Resistant

My First Book About the Brain (Dover Science For Kids Coloring Books)

Discover the workings of the body's most complex organ! How does the brain control the rest of the body? How does it enable the senses to function, regulate speech, affect balance, and influence sleep and dreams? These 25 illustrations to color explain every aspect of the brain's important jobs, from communicating with the central nervous system to retaining memories. Suitable for ages 8–12.

Skull Anatomy Coloring Book: Incredibly Detailed Self-Test Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book

Enjoy This Coloring Book with 34 Beautiful Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Pages.

The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book Provides A Means Of Learning About The Structure And Function Of The Human Skull Anatomy Through A Process Of Coloring-By-Directions.

Coloring The Human Skull Anatomy And Its Nerves Is The Most Effective Way To Study The Structure And Functions Of Human Skull Anatomy. You Assimilate Information And Make Visual Associations With Key Terminology When Coloring In The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book, All While Having Fun.

1 Pair Plastic Skeleton Hands

Fall is a grea time to grab a set of hands at Dollar Tree but also here is a pair if you're doing a unit study and need one now.

Circulatory System Poster

This poster makes a great reference and can be used with older children to help them add more detail to their project.

The Circulatory System (Your Body Systems: Blastoff! Readers

Our bodies contain a super highway of blood vessels that carry nutrients, waste, and much more from our heads to our toes. This network is the circulatory system! Beginning with a deep breath in, this fact-filled title uses easy-to-follow text and diagrams to allow readers to dive inside the bodys circulatory system!

The human body is a complex being made up of systems that keep us alive and moving! In this series, readers will dive into the bodys systems though engaging, leveled text and related diagrams that follow the parts and functions of each system. Get a microscopic view inside the body with A Closer Look, and put new knowledge into action with a hands-on activity. Check out what is happening inside the body with each title!

Also, look at these other activities to learn about the human body.

More Human Body Crafts

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$5.00 Add to cart

Human Skull Anatomy Activity

One of the best things about this activity is that it is self-correcting.

Once your child makes a guess, he can check the color-coded key to see if he is right.

You will need:

Foam skull
8 different marker colors
Skull diagram

To create a game with your skull you will also need:

2 dice
Parts of the skull key-typed or handwritten
Craft stick or pencil for a pointer

First, you are going to want a good diagram either in a book or online for your child to follow.

Here is a simple diagram to follow on Neuroscience for Kids.

Next, decide on a color for each part of the skull that they are marking.

Here are the parts:

occipital,
frontal,
parietal,
temporal,
nasal,
maxilla,
mandible,
and zygomatic bones.

The next step is to have them type or handwrite a key for the colors that each will be and another one with each one numbered.

Use the colors you have decided on to outline each section of the skull.

Color each of the sections in the coordinating color. You could also have them paint or cover each section in thin layers of playdough.

Now you can turn learning the parts of the skull into a game simply by adding a pair of dice and the numbered key.

To play:

Use the numbered key your child made and roll both dice (anything above an 8 is a reroll).

The colored key should remain covered until ready to check their answer.

Whatever number rolled corresponds with one on the key, your child must identify.

Have your child use a skewer, pencil, or craft stick as a pointer to point to the answer.

Play can be as long or as short a time as you like.

How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity

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

This fun hands-on playdough brain activity will bring any anatomy lesson to life. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

This homemade playdough brain activity is a great way to teach your child about the different parts of the brain and their functions.

You can let them oversee the experience from start to finish by letting them make a soft safe moldable homemade playdough.

How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity

In addition, they can divide and color the dough, pressing it into the mold to build a complete brain, removing it, and labeling.

Learning what the brain is made of and how it works is a very important part of any anatomy studies and this hands-on activity lets them really be involved.

If you store the playdough brain properly you will be able to use it time and again over the course of a week or two before it dries out.

6 Parts of the Human Brain

You can make small cards to identify the differences between the left and right sides of the brain for your child to put into place as well.

And you will see this simple activity has several applications and can be adapted for all ages and skill levels.

Label each of the 6 parts.

But beyond just labeling the parts you can turn it into a game by asking questions like

Which part of the brain is responsible for processing and
Which part takes care of automatic behaviors like breathing, heart rate, sleep, and temperature control?

Now, let’s look at what each part of our model is responsible for.

Frontal Lobe- manages thinking, emotions, your personality, judgment, self-control, muscle control and movements, and memory storage.
Parietal Lobes –Sensory perception and integration, such as taste, hearing, sight, touch, and smell.
Occipital Lobe-Visual perception includes color, form, and motion.
Temporal Lobe-Processes auditory information and the encoding of memory.
Cerebellum- Coordinates your movement and balance. It is also known as the little brain.
Brain Stem-The brainstem is the stalk-like part of your brain that connects your brain to your spinal cord.

Next, look at some of these resources for learning about the human body.

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.