crafts

15 Easy Back to School Crafts And Make A Yarn Wrapped Pencil

July 5, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some easy back to school crafts today. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more fun ideas and tips.

Just because your homeschoolers aren’t heading back to a red brick building with lockers, bells, backpacks doesn’t mean they still won’t enjoy creating easy back to school crafts to celebrate a new year of learning.

This fun yarn-wrapped pencil craft is a fun one for kids.

Add your family name with stickers or small chipboard letters or tuck the supplies in your morning basket for the first day of school for everyone to create their own.

Back to School Crafts

We still enjoy freshly sharpened pencils, a new box of crayons, and new books as much as anyone so let’s have fun and take a little time to create some easy back-to-school crafts with the kids to mark a new year.

Besides this yarn wrapped pencil, I have rounded up 15 other easy back-to-school crafts from organizers to decorations.

15 Easy Back to School Crafts

From preschoolers to teens there is something here for everyone, even an excited mom to enjoy.

How to Make Easy Bath Bombs Back to School Craft

Today your kids can learn how to make easy bath bombs back to school craft. Set your homeschool up for success by starting off with something fun. Enjoy a little science, art, math, and more while you make these homemade bath bombs with your kids for a little back to school routine fun. They aren’t just for the kids though. Toss one in your next bath and ignore the banging at the door.

Photo Credit: www.theidearoom.net

DIY Back To School Craft

This No. 2 Pencil vase is perfect for a back-to-school gift or classroom decor. And it is a budget-friendly upcyle, too!

Free and Fun Homeschool Planner Stickers Back To School Craft

Today I have a homeschool planner stickers back to school craft. Whether you do this craft for your homeschool planner or do it as part of your homeschool year, it’s fun.

Photo Credit: artsycraftsymom.com

Pipe Cleaner Pencil Topper Bird Craft | Back to School DIY tutorial

Add spunk, color and loads of cuteness to your kids’ pencils. This pipe cleaner pencil topper bird craft is an absolutely adorable accessory.

Fun Upcycled T Shirt Library Tote Back to School Kids Craft

This upcycled t shirt library tote back to school kids craft is so fun and sassy. And learning how to homeschool means we love visiting the library.

It is almost time for public school to ring back into session and for homeschoolers to come out of hiding.

Photo Credit: onelittleproject.com

Monster Bookmarks

I’m sharing a super easy craft that will work for your summer reader as well as getting ready for back to school.

DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft

This diy easy duct tape pencil pouch back to school craft is a great way to start your year. Before you jump into learning how to homeschool or a full schedule, have some fun first.

Photo Credit: www.handmadecharlotte.com

Back-to-School Pencil Shaving Garland

As we wrap up the end of summer here, and get ready to head back to school, I have mixed emotions. While I will miss the slower pace, and the kids, I definitely will NOT miss the sibling rivalry! Shopping for all the fun school supplies has me dreaming up some back-to-school party ideas.

Photo Credit: kidsactivitiesblog.com

Cute Tissue Paper Apple Craft Perfect for Back to School

This tissue paper apple craft works great for kids of all ages, even the younger kids in preschool and Kindergarten. Use the free printable apple template included below.

How to Create Easy Back to School Basket Ideas for Middle School (Anatomy)

Easy back to school basket ideas for middle school is not only a great craft idea, but it gets your students excited about the new homeschool year. And check out more tips on my page homeschool middle school.

Photo Credit: www.recyclart.org

Wood Pencil Holder • Recyclart

Andrea Hudson of the blog Strawberry Chic shares this simple DIY accessory that’ll add a perfect touch of rustic, organic charm to your office, kitchen nook, or craft areas.

Photo Credit: tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com

Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids

These cute clay pencil earrings for back to school crafts are plain fun. Besides the dynamics of how to homeschool means celebrating the start of each new year.

Photo Credit: teachingmama.org

Pencil Sensory Bottle

It’s time to share my sensory bottle of the month! This month I’m going with the theme “Back to School”. I decided to make a sensory bottle look like a pencil! It was a fun little experiment

Photo Credit: www.idigpinterest.com

DIY Tin Can Desk Supply Organizer

It’s back to school time, which means organizing and preparing for change! I’m embracing it wholeheartedly with this cute DIY desk supply organization station.

Photo Credit: tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com

Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft

This clever diy Dollar Tree desk organizer back to school craft is just the perfect idea to organize your homeschool places. Besides the dynamics of how to homeschool means organizing learning areas.

How to Make an Easy Back to School Yarn Wrapped Pencil

This yarn wrapped pencil is a great upcycle project too for all those Amazon boxes that have been coming bringing new supplies or curriculum.

You will need:

Cardboard
scissors
Pink yarn
Yellow yarn
Gray yarn
Tan yarn
Markers
Hot glue gun

First, cut out a pencil shape in any size you like ours is 12” x 4” using scissors or a straight edge boxcutter blade.

For younger children, you might go ahead and color in each section to give them a little bit of a guide on how far to go with each color.

This also helps if there are pieces of cardboard showing through.

Hot glue the end of your pink yarn to the cardboard and wrap the entire section.

When it is covered snip the end and glue that in place.

To finish off the very end I just wrapped and glued the pink yarn all the way across.

Move to the next color (gray) and secure the end down and wrap again as far as you wish to go.

Repeat with yellow, covering the pencil well up near the pointed end.

Color the pencil tip black with a marker.

You could also continue with a bit of black yarn but that takes a lot more glue to attach it so I find it just as effective to color it in.

Wrap the final part with a tan color to represent the exposed wood and secure the end with hot glue. I like to tuck a couple of strands of tan underneath the yellow.

You can use it as a display on your back-to-school table, a tiered tray, or anywhere else you want to add a bit of back-to-school whimsy.

More Back to School Craft Ideas

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

July 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 homemade horse treat ideas for your horse-loving kid and an easy carrot and apple treat recipe. Also, look at my Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

If you have a horse-loving kid and whether you have horses, they ride at a friend’s or family member’s, or even at a stable, I have a wonderful and simple recipe for a horse treat.

Beyond that I have links to more horse treat ideas, facts, and book suggestions to help you funnel their passion into a fun unit study.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

These horse treats are super easy and made with very basic ingredients.

And cooking is a great way to get kids in the kitchen learning measurements, how to follow steps, problem-solving, knife skills and so much more.

I should also note that they are good for dogs, goats, and chickens.

They love these treats as well so you can share them with all your barnyard friends.

5 Horse Facts

Horses can’t breathe through their mouth. They have to breathe through their nostrils, unlike humans, who can do both.
Because of the positioning of their eyes on the side of the head, horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision. They have a small blind spot directly behind them and directly in front.
Horses carry their babies for 11 months.
The scientific name for horses is Equus ferus caballus.
Horses can sleep either standing up or lying down.

Also, add some of these books to your learning day.

9 Books and Resources for Horse Loving Kids

Whether you add a book or two to use as a spine for your study or just for fun, your horse loving kids will enjoy them.

Homeschooling With Horses

A Homeschooling Journal for Horse Lovers! 365 Lessons and Activities. This Journal has a special focus on learning through logic and creativity!! It also covers every required subject! Perfect for 2nd to 4th grade, but fun for all ages.

This is the perfect Fun-Schooling Journal for students who love horses!

There are 365 activities in this book, and you can require your student to use 1, 5 or 10 pages per day, along with 6 library books, and your favorite math, history and science curriculum. You are free to use it any way you wish. That is the joy of fun-schooling with Thinking Tree Books.

Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Did you know that a miniature horse weighs just a few pounds, while a giant draft horse can weigh well over a ton? Or that from a standstill a mule can jump, kangaroo-like, more than five feet high? With answers to hundreds of questions about behavior, physiology, training, and special breed characteristics, Knowing Horses has all your horse quandaries covered.

Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

This book is designed for all those who love horses. Tracing the evolution of equines, this guide also explains the difference between horses and ponies, looks at how different breeds evolved or were selectively developed, and examines equine anatomy and behavior. Packed with 250 vivid full-color photographs of more than 100 horse-breeds, it uses a systematic approach from Dorling Kindersley and the Smithsonian Institution to train readers of all experience levels to identify and appreciate the wide variety of horses in the world.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life.

Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

The complete beginner’s guide to horses and riding for kids 8 to 12

This ultimate guide to horses for kids teaches you all about the basics of equine care―from anatomy to housing to bathing and feeding. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a horse of your own, you’ll learn how to ride, how to stay safe around horses, and how to develop a healthy and friendly relationship with them.

Black Beauty

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite, one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography, describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach, the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred, Black Beauty, is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes, including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London, Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending

Misty of Chincoteague

Marguerite Henry’s beloved story of a wild horse’s gentle colt—winner of a Newbery Honor!On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.

Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Horse and book set: National velvet is Enid Bagnold's unforgettable tale of a horse-loving girl with aspirations of jumping Glory. A story about perusing dreams and taking chances, National velvet follows the adventures of 14-year-old velvet Brown.

The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

Whether you are a veterinary nurse or student preparing for an exam or just an ordinary horse lover seeking to learn more about this amazing domestic animal called ‘horse’ this colouring workbook is for YOU!

This book has been designed and structured to make you learn horse A&P easily and effortlessly. By colouring the images contained in this book, you will easily make visual associations with key terminologies and concepts.

10 Horse Treats For Horse-Loving Kids to Make

Here is a great selection of 10 different horse treats that are fun to make, and horses will love- Because treats are a good way to make great friends with a horse,

Pumpkin Horse Treat Recipe
How to Make Horse Treats
Happy Horse Treats
How to Make Sugar Cubes for Horses
DIY Doughnut Recipes (2 recipes here)
Pill Hider Horse Treats
Cake For a Horse.
Healthy Banana Horse Treats
Do It Yourself: Cake Pops for Horses Recipe
Carrot Apple Muffin (recipe below)

HORSE STUDY GUIDE

This printable packet is a 102 page printable pdf download.

Here are some of the topics included.

Wild horses
What is a horse
Horse Life Cycle
Caring for a horse
Equipment for horses
Parts of a saddle
Horses in history
Horses on the farm
Hooves
Pony vs horse
Donkey vs horse
Zebra vs horse
Arabian, Mustangs,
Thoroughbreds, American Quarter, Appaloosa, American Paint, Clydesdale, Friesian, Morgan Tennessee Walking, Shire, Percheron, Gypsy Vanner, Andalusian, and Shetland Pony
Breed matching, sorting and matching activities
Horse quiz activity
Bingo activity
Name the horse activity
Anatomy of a horse hoof activity
Horse life cycle activity
Horse care matching
Parts of a saddle activity
Equipment I Spy activity

HOW TO GET THE HORSE PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners
$5.95 Add to cart

Then, don’t forget to grab this Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

Next, look at how to make this fun carrot apple oat muffin horse treats.

How to Make Carrot Apple Oat Muffin Horse Treats

This recipe makes 12 muffins but can easily be halved or doubled depending on your needs.

You will need:

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large carrots (1 cup)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup oats

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next, spray the bottom and sides of a muffin tin well.

Grate both carrots.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined thoroughly.

Fill muffin tins ⅔ of the way full and pat down ingredients. You could also just spread it out in a pan to cut after baking or roll them into balls or little patties.

Bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.

I like to leave mine just a little bit soft, but you can bake them until the moisture is mostly out for a crunchy treat if you like.

Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time and Fun Mayan Mask

June 30, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If your child is reading Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time, you’ll love this Mayan mask. Be sure to grab more Geronimo Stilton Books ideas and crafts on my page.

If you don’t know about him already, Geronimo Stilton is a globetrotting mouse who finds himself in all kinds of adventures.

Oftentimes these adventures take him time traveling.

In this second book in this series, he finds himself first in Ancient Rome, in the middle of the Mayan Empire, and finally in the Age of The Sun King visiting Louis XIV.

Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time and Fun Mayan Mask

Geronimo’s books love to share maps, landmarks, dress, customs, and legends of the period he visits.

These books make wonderful “textbooks” disguised as chapter books.

Assign the section for independent reading or read aloud and then add in a few fun activities to round it out.

I wanted to dive a little deeper into the second part of the book, the Mayan Empire, and create a craft that highlights some of their traditions.

Mayan masks were a big part of the ancient culture and were a perfect activity to highlight the culture, traditions, and art.

They were made from a variety of materials like gold, shells, stones, gems, and volcanic rock.

Masks were used for a variety of reasons including to adorn the faces of the dead, to be worn at important events, to be worn during battle, as well as hung up in houses.

5 Facts About Mayan Culture

First, look at some of these facts about the Mayan civilization.

The Mayans were a group of people who lived in the Yucatan Peninsula in what is today Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
Many Mayans still live there today, they are still living in the same areas where the Mayan civilization used to be. They follow the ancient Mayan traditions and beliefs, as well as speak the Mayan language.
New Archaeological ancient sites are still being discovered, Ek Balam was just found in the 1980’s.
The Mayans main crops were corn, beans, avocados, papayas, and cocoa, etc.
They made 7 big contributions to the modern world-The Mayan Calendar, astronomy, hydraulic buildings, filtration systems, rubber, chocolate, and medicine.

Also, look at more activities about the Mayan civilization.

More Mayan Civilization Resources

Geronimo Stilton – Build a LEGO Temple of Kukulcan
Make Mayan paper clip jewelry.
Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
Pull out an atlas or map and have your child find Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala to learn where ancient Mayans lived.
Make a Kukulkan Mayan Paper Snake Craft
9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
Try recreating this Maya Chocolate Recipe for a tasty history lesson.

Moreover, here are more Geronimo Stilton book activities.

Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Next, look at these other crafts to go with the books.

Finally, look how to make this fun Mayan mask.

Geronimo Stilton Back in Time – Mayan Mask

We wanted our mask to resemble a jaguar.

The Mayan warriors believed that wearing a jaguar helmet mask gave them the ability to face their enemies with courage and strength.

I like to use 12×12 cardstock, it makes a great size for a Mayan mask. You can find this in the scrapbook section at your local craft store.

You will need:

12×12 Cardstock
Jumbo craft stick
Scissors
Markers

First, fold the cardstock in half and press in a good crease.

Keeping cardstock folded, draw a half circle/oval to create a basic face shape.

Cut out the half circle.

On the center of one side draw an oval eye.

We want to keep the mask as symmetrical as possible so to do that you need to fold the two sides in towards the crease.

Close along the fold again and cut out the eye outline.

Depending on where your eye was in the fold here is how your eyes should look.

Open all the folds and then refold only at the center crease, cut a half oval shape for the mouth.

Use scraps leftover from the cardstock and cut out ears as well as a nose shape.

We cut our nose shape out 4 times and layered them together with glue like this to create a little depth to the mask.

Glue the nose in place.

After looking up some Mayan masks online for inspiration let your child use markers to design their own mask.

Flip the mask over and glue the ears and teeth onto the back.

Cut teeth out of white cardstock and attach them to the back of the mouth opening.

Now, glue the popsicle stick into place as well to hold the mask up. Alternatively, you can glue string to the top to wear it.

Let the glue dry completely.

Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today And Make a Fun Windsock

June 25, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’ll be learning about meteors, meteorites, comets, and meteoroids today and making a fun windsock. Also, you’ll love my Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

I have a cool space-themed craft.

We are creating a fun meteor windsock which can be used indoors or out.

This simple craft is a great way to introduce meteors, what they are, how they form, what they look like, and more.

As you create it together you can talk about facts, watch a video on meteors, or look for inspiration in your favorite book.

Before we jump into the craft let’s learn a bit more about what meteors are and what they aren’t.

Did you know that meteoroids, meteorites, and meteors are all the same things?

Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today And Make a Fun Windsock

These are just different classifications that tell us about their position.

A meteoroid is a small body moving in the solar system that will become a meteor if it enters the earth’s atmosphere.
A meteor is a streak of light in the sky caused by a meteoroid passing through earth’s atmosphere.
A meteorite is a small asteroid that has survived its passage through the planet’s atmosphere.

Asteroid or Meteor? If it is larger than 1 meter/3.2 feet in diameter, it is an asteroid. If it is 2 millimeters/.0078 inches to 1 meter/3.2 feet in size, then it is a meteoroid.

Comet or Meteor? A comet is a ball of ice and dust that orbits around the sun. A meteoroid is a small piece of an asteroid or a comet.

Meteor Shower- A meteor shower is what we call when a lot of meteors enter the atmosphere during a short period of time.

Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through the debris field of a comet or asteroid as these objects make their way around the sun and they drop smaller pieces along the way.

This is why scientists can generally predict known meteors around the same time each calendar year.

7 Interesting Facts About Meteors, Meteorites, Meteoroids, and Comets

Meteors don’t have tails like comets. What you may see trailing behind is either a plasma trail or a dust tail.
About 40 meteorite craters have been found on earth by scientists which are 12 miles in diameter or larger.
Meteors are commonly called falling stars or shooting stars.
Most asteroids orbit the sun in the area between Mars and Jupiter. This is called the asteroid belt.
As comets orbit far from the sun, they travel at about 2,000 miles per hour. As they get closer to the sun, the speed increases- as fast as 100,000 miles per hour.
More than 150 asteroids are known to have moons.
Earth’s moon, Mars, and Mercury are covered with round impact craters from asteroid and meteor impacts.

Next, look at these meteorite activities.

Meteors, Meteorites, Meteoroids, and Comet Activities

Watch What is a Meteor? Are Meteors The Same As Shooting Stars ? on Youtube.
Or look at Learn Brights Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors | Learn all about what they are made of and how they differ.
This Burning Asteroid Craft is a great simple craft for younger learners.
Work on preschoolers’ gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination with Asteroid Toss.
A Glow in the Dark Comet project is a great way to illustrate the comet hurtling through space.
I love to get out and actually experience as much as I can with kids. Here is a great post on How to Watch a Meteor Shower With Your Kids.

Moreover, look at my astronomy ideas below.

More Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today

Look at some of these crafts about astronomy and space to go along with this study today.

And add my space lapbook for a fun unit study.

It’s created for kids of multiple ages.

Dynamic Astronomy Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$4.00 Add to cart

In addition, look at some of these books about astronomy.

11 Astronomy Resources & Books

Add one or two books to your unit study or use one as a spine for studying about space.

The Planets

From the burning surface of Venus to the freezing darkness of Neptune, Gail Gibbons takes children on a tour of our planetary neighbors—which are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather.

The Planets

With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe.

Who Was Neil Armstrong?

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind."

Find the Constellations

Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.

New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.

Where Is Our Solar System?

Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun.

Signs and Seasons Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy

Gorgeous. Worth every penny! Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy

The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the best-kept secrets

Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe.

Basher Science: Astronomy: Out of this World!

Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed.

Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.

Solar System Puzzle Wooden Space Toys for Kids

【Planet Toys for Kids】Our wooden solar system puzzle is the PERFECT CHOICE for you and your kids as it is made from natural wood, vivid planet patten with well designed. This preschool learning activities is suitable for 3+ years kids and represents the perfect activity to learn through play!

Solar System Planetarium - DIY Glow In The Dark Astronomy Planet Model

The Solar System Planetarium set teaches children about the wonders of the solar system. Just assemble, paint and learn.

This set includes planets, stencils, squeeze glow paint pen, rods, string, a fact filled wall chart and 10 sets of Kidz Quiz questions.

How to Make Meteor Windsock

You want to go with the larger sheets of craft foam, like the 9×12, for this project so you have long trailing tails on the end.

You will need:

Craft foam
Hot glue
Scissors
School glue
Hole punch
Chenille stems
String
Glitter
Glue gun/sticks

First, cut a piece of dark blue craft foam so that it is roughly 9×6 to represent the night sky.

With school glue “draw” stars, a milky way, or whatever you want on the sky.

Sprinkle with glitter and press into the glue gently. Set aside to dry.

Cut a large rocky meteor out of black or grey foam, draw with the glue, and add glitter to your meteor also if you wish.

Allow all the glue to dry completely.

While your glue is drying cut long streamers, to give the impression of the plasma trail of the comet. You want these fairly thin, so they are more flexible and move with the breeze.

Once the glue is dry, attach the meteor to the sky, I recommend a glue gun to fix it more permanently, take care not to touch the hot metal end directly to the foam.

Cut up smaller pieces of chenille stems to add to your meteor and tuck them under the edge as if they are trailing behind.

Give it a couple of minutes for the hot glue to set completely.

Punch a hole through either end and the center of the top of the blue section (sky).

Flip over the piece and hot glue down the streamers all along the bottom. Wait 2 minutes for the glue to set.

Carefully roll the entire thing and hot glue the ends together, hold them into place, or clamp them with clothespins until hardened.

22 Hands-on Fun Ocean Sea Shell Activities For Teens

June 22, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 22 fun ocean sea shell activities for teens. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my pages Oceans, Homeschool Middle School and How to Homeschool High School.

There seems to always be a lot of fun ocean seashell crafts for the younger kids but not so much for older kids and especially teens.

I found a great list of crafts that are fun and more challenging.

From tinkling wind chimes to elegant artwork there are plenty of choices here to use for fun craft projects that will brighten up their room or have a special place on the mantle

22 Hands-on Fun Ocean Sea Shell Activities For Teens

Before we get into the more creative stuff, let’s answer a couple of important questions about these beautiful beach treasures.

You can ask your teen and have him research the answers on their own or read to them about shells while they work on a craft.

And yes, teens still liked to be read to.

What Is A Sea Shell?

A seashell is a mollusk’s abandoned exoskeleton.

It was their protection, home, and a place for their muscle to attach to.

While ocean sea shells seem to come in an endless variety of shapes, they’re all really versions of the same fundamental pattern – a spiral.

How Are Seashells Made?

During their daily life mollusks draw in salts and chemicals from the water around them.

As they process the materials, they secrete the calcium carbonate, which hardens on the outside of their bodies and begins to form the hard outer shell.

As they continue excreting the calcium carbonate the surface grows and grows.