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How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

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

If you need a back to school craft or two then you want to keep on reading. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more fun ideas and tips.

I am showing you how to put together a super cool duct tape wallet.

But I have loads of resources for teaching about money for all ages.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

If you are looking for a fun and frugal back to school craft that your kids will love to make and then carry them with them everywhere.

Just because our kids are not going back to a public-school building does not mean they have to miss out on back-to-school crafts.

We just call it ‘back to homeschool’.

Books & Resources for Learning About Money

Even if you opt to do year-round homeschool with smaller breaks you usually have breaks.

There is a small time of year when you kick off a new curriculum, new experiences, start co-op, etc.

This time we are going to be making duct tape wallets.

Dad has been using duct tape for years and years to repair everything from leaky faucets to broken handles.

But it has become a versatile product for crafters as well.

First teach your kids how to identify bills and coins and give change back.

Then, they’re going to need somewhere to store it all right? Enter this duct tape wallet.

But first here are some amazing resources and ideas for teaching your kids the importance of the dollar.

Too, I’ve included counting, budgeting and learning how to make more of it resources.

8 Rad Money Resources to Teach Money For All Ages

Grab some of these money resources to teach your children about how to save and budget money.

Also, look at these other back to school crafts for homeschooled kids.

More Not Back to School Crafts for Homeschooled Kids

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Finally, look at how to make this boys duct tape wallet.

Not Back to School Craft Boys Duct Tape Wallet

You will need:

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

First, cut four 9’ lengths of duct tape and overlap them ¼” to ½” sticky side up.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Repeat with another 4 and press them sticky side to sticky side.

You can make both sides the same or use different patterns for each side.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Trim up each side with scissors to even everything up, cutting your wallet down to about 8”x6”.

Next cut two strips just a little longer than 8” and press the sticky sides together.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Lay along the bottom of the inside of the wallet and trim it to the same size as the base piece.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Then you can either cut a strip of your other color of tape in half or use 2” tape like this that I found at Hobby Lobby.

Then, place half of it on one side then fold the other half over to the other side of each end to hold your money pocket in place.

Fold the wallet base in half and crease it sharply to find the middle.

Now you want to cut two 4” strips and stick them together sticky side to sticky side.

Cover the top and bottom edges by folding thin strips of tape equally over each side.

Place it on one side of your wallet or the other and taping into place on the interior side.

Trim the edge that it is even.

This will create a little “credit card pocket”.

You can create a second one by making the next one ¼” shorter so the cards overlap but are visible.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Finally, run your alternating color around the entire wallet.

Fold it in half over the edges to give it strength, a clean edge and close up the openings of your pockets. 

You can also cut out some additional shapes or strips like we did here to add a little design flair to your wallet.

At first your wallet will tend to pop open but if you put it folded in half under a stack of heavy books for a day or two it will stay closed much easier.

How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

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I have some amazing summer wood crafts and other ideas to keep teens busy this summer.

For example, you’ll love this simple idea for a teen bikini box to keep all her summer suits and other gear.

All you need is an unfinished white crate from the craft store, some craft paints, and a clear sealer in whatever finish you like.

I guarantee this is going to be a summer craft that your middle or high school girl is going to get so excited about and think you’re the coolest mom on the block for coming up with the idea.

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

If you feel like you need to extend this activity and make it educational there are plenty of fantastic books about the beach that you can use alongside the craft like Ocean Anatomy or the Best of Seashells Craft Book.

Beyond books, life experiences with a summer theme will help keep your teens busy.

It will keep your teens out of trouble and prevent learning loss through the long hot dog days of summer while they gain valuable experiences and possibly even credit for high school courses.

Also, if you want to include all your children in some fun learning about the ocean, I have some living books.

Kids Books About the Ocean for Multiple Ages

We prefer living books but also like to add reference books too.

I have something for all ages to keep learning fun along with this summer wooden craft.

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

Also, look at a few more ideas on how to extend learning through the summer.

How to Extend Learning Through Summer

  • Buy your teen a pretty journal and require or encourage daily journal prompts with a summer theme.
  • Assign a craft a week that counts as an elective as well as reading, language arts, and science. Just like today’s bikini box or one of the additional ideas below.
  • Brush up on cooking/practical life skills and make summer themed food like homemade popsicles, Coral Reef Cake, or put what your teen has learned about nutrition into practice by putting together a healthy salad.
  • Have your child sign up to volunteer for a kids summer program as a big brother/sister, lifeguard etc. to count towards volunteer hours in high school.
Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

Next, look at more summer wood crafts.

Summer Wood Crafts

  1. How fun would this Jumbo Tic Tac Toe Board be for indoors or outside at a pool party? It does require power tool usage and makes a great project for shop class credit.
  2. Make DIY Lawn Dominoes and add a fun game to your family’s backyard time while your teen learns a new skill.
  3. Dye unfinished wood and create this gorgeous Rainbow Wood Stacking Game that builds fine motor skills, decision making, dexterity, and decision making skills.
  4. A DIY Colorful Cornhole and Bean Bag Set is a great addition to your physical education requirement and is so much fun for get togethers and family BBQ’s
  5. Turn a plain wooden craft staple into a really cool and portable Popsicle Stick Playing Cards deck. This is great practice for more complicated wood burning ideas and makes a great gift for friends, family members, or to take along to co-op.
  6. Get them off their tech by helping them make a Wooden Phone Amplifier/Speakers, this project is great for practice working with power tools but also makes a really cool and useful end product.

How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

You will need:

  • Unfinished wood crate
  • Craft paint
  • Sandpaper
  • Clear sealer spray
  • Paint brushes
  • Pencil
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

First, you need to do two things to keep the wooden box from snagging and ruining those bathing suits.

The first is to give it a good sanding all over to smooth off any rough edges inside and out.

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

Next, wipe it down with a slightly damp towel to remove all the dust and allow it to dry thoroughly.

You can freehand words and pictures with paint, but I recommend using a pencil to first draw out your design to get it just the way you like.

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

The next step is the most fun, let your teen paint and decorate the box any way that they like. Of course, a summer/beach theme is fun. 

You can use paint and paintbrushes, paint pens, or a combination of both to make the details pop.

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

Paint, dry, and then hot glue the letters onto your box, spelling out a name, phrase, or simply ‘bikini box’.

I picked up these wooden letters on sale for $5 and there are enough to do several projects with. 

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

Once the box is painted and dried completely, take it outside and give it 2 to 3 coats of sealer inside to help seal on the paint and make it more permanent.

Also, this will help create a smoother surface, so it is less likely to snag bathing suits.

Allow the sealer spray to dry completely and it’s ready to use.

Fill it up with beach towels, bathing suits, sunglasses, sunscreen, goggles, and more.

Summer Wood Crafts: How to Make a Teen Bikini Box

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

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Hands-on time activities are the way to go when it comes to teaching your child how to read an analog clock.

Another thing I like to do is apply learning to real life situations as much as possible.

When a child is learning time, it helps to attach it to things like 12:00 for lunch, 8:00 for bedtime, etc.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

It’s a simple but effective way to begin teaching your child about AM and PM.

Today to give your child an activity that they can use to learn this new skill, I have a cute little tutorial.

It’s a simple watch craft your child can design and then use to practice telling time on as they go about their day.

But that’s not all, there are 7 more fun hands-on time activities to try.

They will get your child moving, thinking, and eventually telling time all day long as they move from meals to playtime to bedtime.

Books For Kids About Telling Time and Clocks

Next, look at some of these hands-on resources for learning about telling time.

Also, include older learners by reading some of these living books about clock and time.

9 Time Telling Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these resources to your day for telling time.Your kids will love hands-on games and ideas.

Here are a few suggestions for games and other resources that will have them calling out the time on analog clocks all day long.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities

  1. Check out this rock sundial that will help your child learn small numbers and tell time using the sun to the hour.
  2. Find out how Teaching Time Made Fun works kids gross motor skills while teaching them time.
  3. These Telling Time Clock Playdough Mats are a fun way to incorporate sensory learning in a simple lesson.
  4. Using a basic learning clock you can play Rush Hour Game – How to TEACH Kids How to Tell Time! In a really entertaining way.
  5. Make use of the free resources in the yard like rocks by creating a Rock Clock and teach kids how to tell time with a creative twist.
  6. Use up those leftover eggs by creating the Telling Time Match Up game, what a great way to get familiar with matching numbers and clock faces.
  7. This Easy Telling Time  Craft For Kids shows examples of both analog and digital clocks for practice.
7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Finally, look how to make this simple watch craft.

Simple Watch Craft

For young children practice identifying the numbers on the watch face.

After they are very familiar with them you can move on to telling time to the hour, half hour, quarter hour, in five minute increments, and finally down to the minute.

You will need:

  • sturdy cardstock
  • A metal brad
  • Scissors
  • Hook and loop tape
  • Small round object to trace
  • Laminating machine/sheets
7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

First, to make it easy to read and wear if you want to find a small round object larger than your child’s wrist, I used a little bowl to trace the watch face.

Measure their wrist and trace then cut a strip of paper about 1 ½ to 2” longer and  2” wide.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Measure the space from the center of the watch face to a little shorter than the edges and cut out two arrows, one shorter than the other.

Cut out each piece and let your child color it then write 1-12 on the watch face around the outside.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Place each piece in laminating sheets and seal to make them sturdier.

You don’t have to do this step but the practice watch will last a lot longer

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Cut the laminated pieces leaving just a small border.

Poke a hole through the arrows and in the center of the watch face.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Push a brad through the arrows and watch, open into place.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Hot glue the watch face to the center of the “strap”

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Now place each side of velcro on either ends of the strap so that it can be put together and pulled apart. (one half goes on the inside uncolored portion, the opposite piece should go on the colored side.)

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

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When you get to the end of The Swiss Family Robinson book itself, or to the end of the unit celebrate by having a movie night. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

You could even stay in your pajamas and spend the entire day immersing yourself in a themed sit-down meal, or just make up a tray of treats inspired by their adventures.

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

Watching the movie is a great way to help your children develop opinions to compare and contrast the book with the movie and their minds will be searching for discrepancies.

Besides, everybody will have a better opinion, movie, or book (spoiler alert- it’s always the book).

Not to mention it is a wonderful family bonding experience that everyone will remember for years to come.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

The Robinsons were lucky to not only be able to salvage many food items from the ship but also to find an island that was rich with everything from coconuts to pistachios to fish and lobster.

They were able to plant seeds saved from the ship and make jerky when they built a smokehouse as well as eating plants and animals on the island.

You don’t have to work as hard, just a trip to the grocery store to create a really cool theme for an adventurous night that they will remember forever.

Next, look at these other resources to round out movie learning.

Resources for Learning About The Robinson Family Survived

Adding a book or resource to your movie night your kids will love experiencing first hand how the family survived and thrived.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Movie Night Food Ideas

If you want to make it more than just a snack here are some tasty recipe ideas for drinks and heartier treats to make together to bring in a tropical island feel.

The Swiss Family Robinson Movie Snack Tray

You can cook an entire tropical island meal or set up a quick and easy snack tray and let everyone enjoy a mini buffet of themed tasty treats while they watch.

Here are some ideas for what you might include on your tray:

  • Pretzels firewood or tree limbs
  • Whoppers-Coconuts
  • Pineapple
  • Fish sticks
  • Blue punch-ocean water
  • Broccoli-treehouse
  • Pistachios
  • Bananas
  • Beef jerky
  • Goldfish

Grab a board or tray and some small dishes, you can find inexpensive disposable ones at Dollar Tree.

You can add a sheet or two of fun patterned paper to give it a more tropical look ( I found these at Hobby Lobby 4/$1).

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

Place your book and/or DVD case in the center to make the theme even more obvious.

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

Fill up each bowl with a fun snack item from above using items that they ate or fun foods that represent life on the island like broccoli for trees or banana slices.

Add a little greenery to your board to make it even more lush and tropical.

The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

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Here are 10 polar bear science activities preschool level. They are a great way to teach your child all about these Arctic loving creatures. Also, look at How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Besides these hands-on activities that they will love.

I also have a fun and simple idea for a polar bear themed dessert to make and enjoy.

Polar bears are one of the most identifiable creatures living in Arctic regions.

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Polar bears are strong swimmers, using their large front paws to paddle, which are slightly webbed.

They are carnivores whose main food source is seals, and they have no natural predators themselves, but walruses and wolves can kill them.

They are found mainly north of the Arctic Circle all the way to the North Pole.

There are some living south of the Arctic Circle in the Hudson Bay of Manitoba, Canada.

Polar bears can be found in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and some northern islands.

Books for Kids About Bears

If your kids love studying about polar bears, look at these other books about bears.

I add in living books when I can find them. Then, we add reference books to our day.

14 Books About Bears of All Kinds For Kids Who Love Reading

Add some of these fun resources and activities if you're studying about bears.

Next, add more hands-on fun about polar bears.

10 Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool

Choose one or more of these polar bear science activities to simply teach your child about polar bears and other animals with easy-to-understand hands-on fun.

  1. This demonstration is a great explanation of how animals like polar bears in extreme temperatures are able to survive- Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity.
  2. A very basic demonstration for Why Are Polar Bears White? A Preschool Investigation doesn’t require much time for setup or execution.
  3. Grow Your Own Polar Bear is just a fun silly activity that they will enjoy and teaches preschoolers about the scientific method.
  4. Watch All About Polar Bears For Kids to learn facts and see real polar bears in action as they lumber through the snow.
  5. Build a shelter for Polar Bears with this STEM for Kids Structure Challenge as you talk about the habitats and habits.
  6. Dig a little deeper into our topic with the Polar Bear Activity and The Impact of Melting Sea Ice Activity to teach your child about the effects of environment on nature without going above their heads.
  7. Try out this Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting while you learn about the characteristics of the polar bear like his thick winter fur and why it’s white.
  8. Learn How to Make an Arctic Small World Sensory Bin that lets your child use their imagination, I also find that these spark lots of great questions from kids as well.
  9. Learn Why are Polar Bears White? Arctic Tundra Animal Adaptations to help explain this simple science to young children.
  10. Grab a free Polar Bear life cycle printable to teach your child about one of the most basic science processes.
Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Finally, look how to make this fun polar bear dessert.

How to Make a Fun Polar Bear Pop Dessert

Now onto this delicious dessert activity.

You do not have to put your cookie on a stick.

You can just leave it as a cookie, this is just a fun option for a unique twist that will help your child remember all the fun stuff they learned about polar bears.

Also, you can also use chocolate chips in place of the candy eyes to save a little bit more money and everything else you might even have already on hand.

You will need:

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

First, bake the sugar cookies, you can use your favorite recipe or grab a ready to bake dough.

I must share with you this trick I learned to make your cookies perfectly round.

As soon as your cookies come out of the oven take a cup or small bowl and put over them, swirl it around gently to shape the outsides.

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Immediately transfer your warm cookies to parchment paper and if you are going to turn them into cookie pops immediately slide your sticks in the bottom all the way to the top, not quite coming through the top.

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Allow to cool completely then ice the entire cookie.

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Sprinkle or dip your cookie in coconut to give your polar bear some fur. If you don’t care for coconut, you could also use shaved chocolate or leave it off entirely.

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert

Add a little bit of icing to the back of the eyes and put them in place.

Use the tip of the decorating icing to make a puddle for the polar bear’s muzzle and two smaller ones at the top for ears.

Press a chocolate chip cookie into the muzzle for the nose.

Just how adorable are these Polar Bear pops?

Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert