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crafts

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

November 10, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking to make an adorable toilet roll snowman well actually the cutest pair of snow people ever, you’ll love this for winter crafts or a winter season unit study.

You don’t need snow in your backyard to create these adorable toilet roll snowmen or ahem or is that snowman and snowwoman?

Just some toilet paper rolls pilfered from the recycling box and a few items from the craft room and you have toilet roll snowman.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

If you’re missing anything you can easily find it at Dollar Tree. 

These are so fun to make and so darling you are going to want to create an army of precious snow people with your child.

Winter Snow Ideas

One of my favorite science books Nature Anatomy has a few pages on weather and a few on snowflakes.

I love this page.

The book is a great reference book to go along with the craft and to toss in a little educational twist to your toilet roll snow man craft.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Too, add in some other winter themed learning fun to this craft.

Winter Learning Ideas

Look at these ideas below.

  • Have a snowball fight using cotton balls.
  • Practice spelling snowy words like snow, ice, snowflake, winter, chilly, and cold.
  • Make paper snowflakes.
  • Watch this Wild Kratts How a Snowflake is Formed video. 
  • Make and enjoy some hot cocoa together
  •  This Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft would make a great companion craft to this one.
  • If you do live in the snow, go out and build a snowman together.
  • Try one or all of these 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • Sing Frosty the Snowman and Let it Snow
  • Make a sensory bin with fake snow as the base.

Next, add in some winter themed books.

Books About Winter

Expand this craft to a unit study or just fun facts about winter with these books.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Other Winter Craft Ideas

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

Next, let’s move on to our fun toilet roll craft.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Let’s get on with building our all weather not gonna melt cute toilet roll snow people.

You will need:

  • Empty toilet paper rolls
  • White paint
  • Foam paintbrush
  • Yarn
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Pompoms
  • Markers/paint pens

How to Make Fun Toilet Roll Snow People

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Then paint toilet paper rolls completely white.

Allow the paint to dry completely. You child can paint inside and out if they like.

Then cut a small hole in each side directly opposite of each other.

Thread half of a brown chenille stem through each side to create the arms.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Give your child markers or paint pens to draw on details like buttons, eyes, a mouth, and a carrot nose.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Create a simple scarf by wrapping some yarn around the neck a few times and knotting it.

For the cute little ear muffs we just glued pom-poms on either side about where we thought the snowman‘s ears would be.

And then topped it off with a short length of pipe cleaner that we glued in place as well.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

To create the cute and fuzzy winter hat, cut off an ½” circle from the end of another toilet roll.

And then cut the yarn into links 5 inches to 6 inches long, fold in half.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Next, slip the yarn through the slice of toilet paper roll pull the two loosens through the loop at the top. Pull tightly.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Also, repeat all the way around until it is completely full.

Then, draw all the yarn upward and tie another piece of yarn around the top to secure.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Finally, snip off excess yarn thus creating a pom-pom at the top.

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

To fit the head on your snowman you will need to pinch the tops of the toilet paper roll to make it slightly smaller so you can press it securely over the top.

Isn’t this little couple just precious?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, snowman, winter crafts, winter season

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

November 7, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Geronimo Stilton The Journey Through Time #2: Back In Time has your kids going back in time to Ancient Rome. If you love the Geronimo Stilton Books, you’ll love this craft which is making a fun mosaic.

Traveling with this wandering mouse we will be introduced to Romulus and Remus, the birth of Rome, the official language of Ancient Rome, fashions of the time, thermal baths, and chariot races.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

There are even some puny Roman jokes.

I always learn so much myself from just a small section of Geronimo Stilton’s adventures and The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Geronimo Stilton Special Edition) is no different.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

The series of books really weave so much about that time into an entertaining story with colorful inviting words, images, and a storyline that draws in the most reluctant readers.

About Ancient Mosaics

Today, we are going to be creating a Roman mosaic in honor of Geronimo’s visit to Ancient Rome.

We did a profile of a Roman soldier but you can choose anyone or anything you like to make.

This hands-on activity is great for learning about history through an ancient art form, working fine motor skills, and you can create a special piece to display.

A mosaic is just a picture or pattern that is made with small pieces of ceramic tile.

The Romans used to create very large and elaborate mosaic pieces, covering walls and sometimes the entire floor in their art.

Be sure you grab the SuperToob Ancient Rome to go along with your study.

What can you use these cute little figures for?

There are lots of ways to use them to compliment a unit and they come in so many themes.

  • Introduce a new unit with a fun set up.
  • Sensory Bins
  • Dioramas
  • Model for art projects
  • Shadow boxes
  • Cake/cupcake toppers
The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Then, add in more fun Ancient Rome activities.

Ancient Rome Activities

Here are a few more fun activities to include.

  • Homeschool Pop  Ancient Rome For Kids video on YouTube.
  • Free printable Ancient Rome Definition Cards
  • Ancient Rome Hands on History, Paint a Jester.
  • Paper Dolls of Ancient History. Scroll down a bit for Rome.
  • Create an Edible Roman Road, use those Ancient Romans from the Toobs.
  • How to Make an Easy Roman Helmet & Shield & A Set of Printable Wings
  • Really jump into the study with this Ancient Civilization Lapbook.
  • As alternate or supplement to this project you could have your Minecraft loving kid create a mosaic art project in the game. The blocks are a perfect representation of the little mosaic squares.

Here are some ideas for additional mosaic tile art subjects you could choose from which keep with the Ancient Rome theme.

  • Colosseum
  • Columns
  • Soldier
  • Gladiator
  • Triumphal Arch
  • Pottery
  • Parthenon
  • Laurel Wreath
  • Roman gods and goddesses

Too, I recommend that you stick with a simple image for your first project, two to three colors max.

It is a lot of gluing and arranging.

Once your children get the hang of it, the sky is the limit.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Hands-on History Ancient Rome Mosaic

You could also try making a mosaic of your dog, a cup of coffee, a video game controller, or whatever interests you.

I used cardstock.

But you could also upcycle colorful magazine pages and sort the colors for your project, use construction paper, or paint sample cards would be great.

You will need:

  • Cardstock
  • Scissors or paper cutter
  • Glue stick

Choose what image you want to create.

Then lightly draw the most important outlines and features with a pencil.

You don’t need to be detailed just get the general shape down.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Grab cardstock in the colors you will need and cut them in about ½” strips with scissors or paper cutter.

Next, cut the strips down into ½” pieces.

I cut some slightly larger and smaller to help fill in different areas.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Add any details you want to put in your picture first, then work around them like the eyes and mouth.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Apply glue in small sections and work on one color at a time to fill in completely.

I found that it was easiest to do the outline of the particular section first and then fill in.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Continue gluing and pressing down squares until your piece is completely filled in.

Once the glue is completely dry, lay it under a heavy book for a few hours to flatten if you like.

The Journey Through Time #2 Back In Time Ancient Rome Fun Mosaic

Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Book Activities

  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower
  • 10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books
  • Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time Fun Cleopatra Collar
  • Learn About Mozart The Eight Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Series
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
  • Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
  • Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
  • The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page

What do you think? Ready to try another fun Geronimo Stilton activity?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Ancient Rome, crafts, Geronimo Stilton, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, literature

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

November 3, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for homeschool science experiments, you’ll love this easy instant ice activity. Add it to your winter season unit study.

If your kids are like mine, they prefer to get hands-on with their learning rather than just being read to from a book.

Although we love reading, we also love doing.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Whenever you start a new unit, a new week, or a new concept consider adding something that requires a lot more of their involvement like this instant ice homeschool science experiment.

This homeschool science experiment is easy to set up, perform, and requires very little prep.

Other than a watch and wait for the bottles to almost freeze, it’s simple and fun.

Freeze extra bottles so that it can be repeated.

But don’t stop with this hands-on winter experiment, keep the learning going.

Look at how to turn simple ideas into a fun little unit for you and your curious learners.

Fun Winter Ice Facts

Check out Why Does Water Turn Into Ice and Where do Icicles Come From to learn more about incredible ice.

Read a few interesting ice facts to see what you both can learn and reinforce what they already knew.

Interesting Ice Facts:

  • Fresh water will freeze at 0 ℃.
  • Ocean water will freeze but at a colder temperature of -2 ℃.
  • The Inupiaq of Alaska have 100 names for ice.
  • There are two types of ice on the earth. Land ice consists of fresh water and sea ice is made of salt water.
  • More than ⅔ of the earths fresh water is in the form of glaciers.
  • Ice is not only on earth but it can also be found on some of Saturn’s rings, in comets, the Moon, and on Jupiter.
  • The thickest ice ever recorded was 2.97 miles thick by an Antarctica research aircraft
  • Scientists believe there to have been 5 different ice ages which are the Huronian, Cryogenian, Andean-Saharan, Karoo Ice Age and the Quaternary glaciation.
  • Glaciers do not melt in very cold areas like the arctic but continue to build up and create massive ice sheets.
  • Ice is a mineral and meets all four of the requirements to make it a mineral.

The four requirements are it’s naturally occurring, a solid, has organized crystal structure and is inorganic.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

So, technically, ice is a rock.

Ice Vocabulary Words

Next, add a few science words about ice.

  • Supercool- a liquid that is below its freezing point without solidification or crystallization.
  • Ice- Frozen water, a brittle transparent crystalline solid.
  • Freezing- When the temperature of the air falls below the freezing point of water- 0 ℃.

Then move into learning about the science behind instant ice.

Instant Ice Science

First, purified water can be chilled below its freezing point and remain in a liquid state. This is a supercooled water.

There are not enough impurities in the water for ice crystals to grow on. Hitting it on the counter or pouring it over the ice gives it a kick start.

When a new material phase begins to form that is the water changing to solid ice.

It is called nucleation. 

Nucleation is when there is an imperfection in the substance.

For instant, dust in the water that the state it is changing to (ice) can anchor to and thus create a nucleus.

Just one molecule forms an ice crystal at the nucleus.

And the molecules next to it and on top of it begin to change state due to the icy surface.

This creates a chain reaction of ice until your supercooled water forms a little tower of ice.

We used the ice cubes to help us get that process started.

Take this experiment further and use different types of water in the water bottles.

Try these different waters.

  • tap,
  • salt water,
  • filtered,
  • add coloring, or
  • sugar.

Do you get the same results?

Have your child record it in a science journal and tell them the why of the bottled water working after they have tried their different ones.

Instant Ice Homeschool Science Experiment

This experiment will amaze your kids.

You will need:

  • Ice
  • 5 or 6 water bottles
  • Sheet pan or tray
  • Small bowl or cup
Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Open and reclose the caps.

This will help keep it at the supercooled state later without disturbing it too much when you open.

Place bottles in the freezer for an hour (set a timer so you don’t forget) how long it takes to freeze will depend somewhat on your freezer, how full it is and etc.

Check them after one hour, then after 30 minutes, and then every 15 minutes.

You want them to be close but not yet frozen.

A good way to test this is to remove one and hit it on the counter.

If you see a bit of slush form at the bottom of the bottle it’s perfect.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Here is a quick video of me tapping it on a chair to demonstrate that kick start effect of your supercooled water.

Fill your bowl or cup with ice when you are ready.

Learn from our mistake. Put a tray or baking sheet under it to catch overflow.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Carefully remove your bottles from the freezer and set them down gently.

Quickly remove the cap from your water and slowly pour the water over the ice from just slightly above it.

You should see an ice tower begin to grow.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

You should be able to get at least 2” to 3” before it begins to melt.

You need to be sure to work quickly because the ice will begin to melt within 30 second.

Therefore it’s a good idea to freeze a lot of bottles so you can try it over and over.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Want to see it in action?

More Winter Homeschool Science Experiments

Also, you’ll love these other winter homeschool science experiments.

  • How Does the Power of Ice Shape Mountains Activity
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders

What do you think? Ready to give it a try?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, homeschoolscience, ice, science, winter crafts, winter season

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

October 31, 2022 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series has so many topics in one book. If your child is loving the Geronimo Stilton books, your child will love making a fun Eiffel Tower.

In Geronimo Stilton No Time To Lose The Fifth Journey Through Time Geronimo jumps from Napoleon’s Time to the Vikings’ Time and finally to King Solomon’s time in the Whisker Wafter time machine.

We are going to ride with him to France to Napoleon’s Court for his coronation ceremony to crown him as emperor of France.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

And then we will work on a hands-on activity which combines several areas of stem.

  • technology
  • engineering
  • math
  • art and
  • some history, and geography as we learn about a famous French landmark.

Geronimo Stilton Hands-on Literature

As usual these great Geronimo Stilton adventures take you through the clothing of the time periods in the books.

No Time To Lose (Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time #5) is no exception.

You get to meet interesting historical figures like Napoleon and Josephine, and your kids learn so much about history through an entertaining little chapter.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Was the Eiffel Tower part of the landscape when Napoleon charged through?

No, but it was built to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution at the World’s Fair.

While it is not a part of the story it is unarguably one of the most famously identifiable landmarks in the world.

Too, this is a great way to introduce a timeline to learn about events before, during, and after the French Revolution.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Also, you’ll love my French Revolution Unit Study and Lapbook to go with this craft.

6 Hands-on Activities for Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series

Then, look at these 6 ways to enhance the book and timer period about the French Empire.

  1. Pull up a world map online, check out the map on your wall, or use an atlas to help your child identify France.
  2. Give them a hands- activity like this Edible Eiffel Tower to make.
  3. Learn a few words in French – Bonjour-Hello, Au Revoir- Goodbye, Merci- Thank You, Oui- Yes and Non- No
  4. Check out a few French artists through their paintings online or in a book.
  5. Free Storming the Bastille Game
  6. Learn About the Geography of France by Creating A Solar Oven

French Empire Hands-on Activity

First, before I get to the directions I want to say you should definitely let your kids learn through trial and error in making this edible Eiffel Tower.

This is a great learning experience but I do want to give you a few tips that we learned along the process that will make it a little bit easier for you. 

We originally set out to make our Eiffel Tower with just the cookies and the frosting which was not a strong enough glue. 

Definitely, include toothpicks as well as anything else you think might be helpful for the building process and then let your child experiment with what works and what doesn’t. 

Second, I found the sugar wafers cut very nicely with a butter knife but they make a huge mess from the minute they leave the package.

I’m talking worse than those little green packages of granola bars that leave crumbs everywhere.

I highly recommend you do this somewhere that is easily swept up or possibly even outside.

Will it be perfect? No it won’t, but remember momma, that’s okay the goal here is for them to learn and most importantly have fun while figuring it out.

Add these Safari Ltd Around the World figurines to your collection.

They can be used as art inspiration like for the Eiffel Tower, in sensory bins and dioramas, and so much more.

Build a Fun Edible Eiffel Tower

You will need:

  • Vanilla sugar wafers
  • Frosting
  • Plastic or metal butter knife
  • Toothpicks, skewers, etc…
  • Plate, cookie sheet or other base
Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Next, the directions to make this fun craft Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series

This is an activity where you want your kid to be in the lead.

Let them solve with as little support as possible.

Try to keep your help as open ended as possible by forming it into a question.

  • I see your tower is leaning, what do you think you could do to help that?
  • You did a great job on the base, what is your next step going to be?

That being said I will give you a few tips and things that worked for us to share with your child to help them get started.

Dip both ends of your cookies in the frosting to help hold it into the base and each other as you secure it. 

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Start by making the base with 4 cookies in each corner.

Using another cookie in between is a good way to measure equal distances between the corners.

I found the easiest way to do this was to carefully press a toothpick through two, slide them apart to the ends and bend them slightly to get an angle. Two made a stronger connection.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Then build your “platform”.

This is easily done by piercing two wafers through the sides at each end like this.

Place it on top of the angled corners and secure.

You can then “wrap” cookies all around the side or just leave the platform depending on your little one’s level.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Repeat the same steps and cut your cookies slightly smaller for each level to create the tall tapering look. Use lots of toothpicks.

This is what happened before we started using lots of toothpicks to secure everything- a great lesson in why the strength of the foundation and each subsequent level to support your structure is so important.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Continue building all the way up as high as your child wants to go.

They will find after a certain point it will not hold well. Another great lesson they can learn on their own by doing.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Here is what your final structure may look like.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

Finally, look at these other Geronimo Stilton books.

Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Book Activities

  • 10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books
  • Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time Fun Cleopatra Collar
  • Learn About Mozart The Eight Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Series
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
  • Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
  • Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
  • The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page

For younger children or those who may become too frustrated due to coordination or learning challenges you may just choose to let them copy the Eiffel Tower on a flat surface.

You can still talk about the structure, the shape, what makes the Eiffel tower strong, etc.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower

3 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, French Empire, Geronimo Stilton, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschoolhistory

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

October 20, 2022 | 2 Comments
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This fun snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten can be used for a winter unit study. Grab more craft ideas on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

Whoooo doesn’t love owls? Sorry, corny pun. If you are working on an owls unit study or talking about winter I have the perfect hands-on winter craft to add

You probably won’t even need a trip to the store to put together this snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Whether you are learning about winter, owls, or even just looking for an O or W craft for your letter of the week this simple activity is fun and cute to include.

You can find pinecones on your nature walk.

But if not, you can also find them at craft stores in the seasonal section.

Add a few books and additional activities like videos and you have a quick mini snowy owl unit study ready to go.

Snowy Owl Facts

  • Female owls remain with the babies while the male owl brings food back.
  • A baby owl is called an owlet.
  • They have feathers all over their legs and feet to keep them warm.
  • They are quite large. Their wingspan can reach 4’-5’ wide.
  • Snowy owls are diurnal, unlike most other owls. Instead of hunting at night they hunt during the day.
  • Male owls are pretty much solid white. Females have brown markings on their white plumage.
  • Snowy owl pairs mate for their whole life.
  • Lemmings make up most of the snowy owls diet.
  • By the time they are just 6 weeks old, snowy owls can fly well.

Snowy Owl Books

Nature Anatomy is the perfect companion spine for little learners, even if they are not reading yet.

The illustrations are fantastic and the little pieces of info they give are just enough for you to read and keep their attention.

I found a two page spread on owls to go along with the craft.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Gail Gibbons books are also a fantastic choice if you love the idea of Charlotte Mason style living books.

Owls are perfect to go along with this activity too.

The classic Owl Babies would also be a wonderful addition to your book collection.

Look below for more ideas.

Winter Unit Study Ideas

Try these other activities along with your winter craft

  • Listen to these Snowy Owl Sounds while you craft from YouTube.
  • Also look at my Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity. It is a fun way to demonstrate how Arctic animals keep warm.
  • How to Make fake snow with 2 ingredients for your owlet to hide in or for your little learner to play with in a sensory bin.
  • This Owl Babies Craft is absolutely adorable and would make for a great companion activity to this one.

Finally, measure out 5’ with painters tape on the floor to demonstrate to your child how large the snowy owl wingspan can be.

Next, let’s make a pine cone snowy owl craft.

Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

You will need:

  • A large pine cone
  • Craft glue
  • White and yellow craft felt
  • White feathers, cotton balls, or cotton batting.
  • Tan or yellow pipe cleaner
  • Googly eyes
Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

First, prepare small pieces of cotton batting, cotton balls, or white feathers.

Cut wing shapes from white felt. Cut them a little bigger than you think you need.

Try on your pinecone and trim as needed.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Draw w’s with a paint marker or sharpie to create feather definition on the wings.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Cut a small beak and two circles slightly larger than your google eyes from the yellow felt..

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Squeeze a generous amount of school glue into the openings between the scales of the pinecone.

Stuff in your cotton pieces to make it fluffy.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

I had originally intended on using fiber fill on the owl because I had it on hand but took a run to Hobby Lobby and found this cute little fluffy boa on sale for $1.50.

It looked so soft we couldn’t resist.

I cut it into little pieces to make stuffing all over easier. Encourage your child to fill it in and create a sweet little fluff ball baby owl.

When the pinecone is stuffed and fluffy to their liking, glue the wings, beak, and eyes in place with a generous amount of glue.

We found that laying it on its back to dry helped keep the pieces from sliding off.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Finish off by gluing small v shaped pieces of pipe cleaner/chenille stems to the bottom for his feet.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Other Winter Craft Ideas for Kindergarten

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

2 CommentsFiled Under: Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: arctic, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, kindergarten, owl, winter crafts, winter season

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