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crafts

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

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

I’m showing you how to make a Trojan horse craft from cardboard which is a fun hands-on activity to go along with any ancient Greek unit. You’ll love my Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities.

When you are studying Ancient Greece real or myth, chances are good you’re going to be covering the Trojan horse at some point.

Is the Trojan Horse real or just a neat story?

No one knows for sure.

However, it is an important part of the poem about war. It was written by Greek poet Homer called the Odyssey. 

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Historians pretty much all agree it was just a myth but because the city of Troy did not survive in modern times. It is hard to know for sure if the Trojan horse existed.

In 1871 archaeologists discovered the ruins of a city. It had been destroyed by war near where Troy supposedly stood.

And the evidence lines up with the same period of time- 1180 BC.

But no pieces of a large wooden horse have ever been uncovered at the site.

What do you think? Was the Trojan Horse just in the imagination of Homer or did Greek soldiers use it to gain access to the impenetrable walls of Troy?

I can tell you one thing after your child builds this wonderful cardboard Trojan horse craft; they will remember the story.

Too, they’ll remember the lessons you taught for a long time.

Grab some boxes.

And let’s create a unique art and history project rolled into one.

Books About Ancient Greece

14 Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Learning About Ancient Greece

Add some of these living books to your reading library.

The Trojan War

In this retelling of the Trojan War, Olivia Coolidge crafts heroes and gods into real, multidimensional characters, not just the figures of legend. Vibrant storytelling and finely wrought action have made her version of the classic tale of the Fall of Troy accessible to generations of young readers.

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'

As the gods and goddesses of Olympus scheme, the ancient world is thrown into turmoil when Helen, the most beautiful woman in all of Greece, is stolen away by her Trojan love. Inflamed by jealousy, the Greek king seeks lethal vengeance and sends his black war ships to descend on the city of Troy.

The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey

King Odysseus and the Greeks have triumphed over the Trojans. At long last, they are able to set sail for home and the loving family Odysseus left behind. But for the heroic king, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the war. Forced by treacherous winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must face deadly perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe and her deadly enchantments, and the soul-chilling Land of the Dead and more.

The Greeks Pop-up: Pop-up Book to Make Yourself

Tarquin Popups are a special kind of do it yourself activity book. Not only is there the fun of making the scenes and seeing them popup but they are full of interesting information and ideas. This book contains six main scenes to make: Knossos, the Palace of Minos, the Lion Gate at Mycenae, the Battle of Salamis, the Golden Age of Athens, the Theatre, Alexander the Great and King Porus. There are a number of mini popups as well. Close the book and they fold away. Open it and they popup again. These vivid, colourful three dimensional scenes help to bring Ancient Civilisations to life in a way which no other kind of book can.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters

The new National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology offers timeless stories of Greek myths in a beautiful new volume. Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.

Greek Myths

From the terror of Medusa and the Minotaur to the Labors of Heracles and journeys of Theseus, the stories in this collection have thrilled and enthralled people for centuries with their high drama, hazardous quests, and unforgettable characters (both mortal and immortal).

Tales of Troy and Greece

Tales of Troy and Greece by Andrew Lang. Andrew Lang draws on his classical learning to recount the Homeric legend of the wars between the Greeks and the Trojans. Paris, Helen of Troy, Achilles, Hector, Ulysses, the Amazons and the Wooden Horse all figure in this magical introduction to one of the greatest legends ever told. Also included in this book are the adventures of Theseus and his dramatic battle with the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, and the quest of Jason for the Golden Fleece with the help of the Princess Medea.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

n print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. 

Tales from the Odyssey, Part 1

Brave Odysseus is far from home, tossed by stormy seas, and cursed by an angry one-eyed giant. If he ever wants to see his family again, he will have to face hungry cannibals, outwit a beautiful witch, and sail past a six-headed serpent. His journey is the ultimate test of endurance and courage. In this exciting series, best-selling author Mary Pope Osborne retells Homer's Odyssey, one of the most thrilling adventure stories of all time.

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus

Long, long ago in ancient Greece, people began telling wonderful stories to explain the mysteries of life. These myths featured gods and goddesses, mighty beings who look human but have amazing powers and live forever. Now you can meet these extraordinary characters and hear their legends, brought to life again by Aliki in this splendid, panoramic look at the amazing stories and characters of Greek legend.

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid's Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Greece (Build It Yourself)

Tools of the Ancient Greeks: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Life in Ancient Greece explores the scientific discoveries, athletic innovations, engineering marvels, and innovative ideas created more than two thousand years ago. Through biographical sidebars, interesting facts, fascinating anecdotes, and fifteen hands-on activities, readers will learn how Greek innovations and ideas have shaped world history and our own world view.

The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy

Travel back to a mythical time when Achilles, aided by the gods, waged war against the Trojans. And join Odysseus on his journey through murky waters, facing obstacles like the terrifying Scylla and whirring Charybdis, the beautiful enchantress Circe, and the land of the raging Cyclôpes. Using narrative threads from The Iliad and The Odyssey, Padraic Colum weaves a stunning adventure with all the drama and power that Homer intended.

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War

Illus. in full color. "An ancient history lesson emerges from this account of the way the Greeks tricked the Trojans and rescued Helen of Troy. The book is well tailored to younger readers with careful explanations and short sentences; a pronunciation guide is appended. Drawings portray the story's main events. A nice supplement to units on ancient Greece or mythology."-

The Iliad & the Odyssey (Deluxe Hardbound Edition)

Embark on a literary odyssey through ancient Greece with Homer's timeless epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey. In The Iliad, witness the ravages of the Trojan War as gods and mortals clash in a tale of honor, heroism, and the consequences of unchecked pride. Then, journey alongside Odysseus in The Odyssey as he battles mythical creatures, evades vengeful gods, ad strives to return home, navigating treacherous seas and testing the limits of human resilience. These masterpieces of ancient literature capture the essence of the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, destiny, and the indomitable spirit of adventure.

The Story of The Trojan Horse

The story of The Trojan Horse is that after 10 years of fruitless attempts by the Greeks to reclaim King Menelaus’s beautiful wife, Helen the Greeks of Troy came up with a plan.

The Greek soldiers took the city of Troy by hiding in a giant horse.

It was left as an offering to the goddess Athena.

They rolled this giant horse right outside the gates. Then, it was wheeled into the city.

Once the city was asleep and at ease, the soldiers exited the horse and were able to finally triumph, opening the gates and letting the entire Greek army walk in.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Next, look at more Ancient Greece activities and resources.

Ancient Greece Activities

  • Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities
  • 9 EASY and Fun Hands-on Ancient Greece Kids Activities
  • Hands-On Ancient Greece Study: Politics and Pottery
  • Free Ancient Greece Go Fish Game – Ancient Greece Unit Study
  • Ancient Greece Unit Study.Play Stomachion Like Archimedes {Explore Geometry}
  • Hands-on Activity 2. Ancient Greece Chariot
  • 13 Living History Books about Ancient Greece
  • Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks
  • Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
  • Easy Hands-on Fun Ancient Greek Games for Kids DIY Knucklebones
  • Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Finally, look how to make a Trojan horse craft.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft

You will need:

  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Straight edge blade
  • Hot glue
  • Brown paint
  • A ruler
How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

First, use a pencil to draw a basic boxy horse outline of whatever size you would like to build onto corrugated cardboard.

Once you are happy with your design, cut it using a straight edge blade.

You want to put another layer of cardboard beneath, so you don’t cut up your surface or use a self-healing that like this.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Use your first cut-out as a template to trace and cut out a second one for the other side.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Cut out several long strips.

Do more than you think, you will need about an inch or so wide, I use the width of my ruler.

We are going to use these to put between the two sides to create thickness for our structure.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Take your straight-edge razor and make little slits very close together through the top layer of cardboard paper into the corrugated part, but not through to the other side.

This creates a very flexible cardboard. It can be rolled around the corners and around the edges.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

If you want to make rolling wheels, lay the two sides together make sure that they are symmetrical, and then poke a hole through both feet at the same time to place your wheels.

It’s easier to do it first than after it’s put together.

Use your hot glue gun to run a bead of hot glue around 3”-4” inches of the edge of one side of your Trojan horse, then press your cardboard strip into place, curving it around the shape, and hold it for a minute to allow it to set.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Continue doing this all the way around just a few inches at a time bending it so that it matches the shape.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

It gets a little trickier on the other side and you’ll have to work faster run a bit of hot glue quickly around the side that is sticking up and quickly press your other piece into it.

Kid’s Trojan Horse Craft

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

If at the end you find that you have too many spots where the cardboard did not stick together well you can fill the gaps using hot glue.

Add a little bit at a time. Then, let it harden. Add more until it’s sufficiently filled.

Then you can take a scrap piece of cardboard to scrape away the excess before it’s completely cool.

While the glue is setting completely trace something round that’s proportionate to the size of your Trojan horse onto another piece of scrap cardboard and then cut them out times 4.

Place a toothpick, section of a skewer, or something else similar through the holes that you poked in the feet, and then attach the wheels to either side with hot glue. 

Place them at a level where they can roll freely.

If your Trojan horse won’t roll just hot glue the circles to the side.

This ensures that they are of the same height so that it will stand and not tip over.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Cut two triangles for ears, and some small rectangles to create a blocky mane as well as a boxy tail shape.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Hot glue those into position on the structure.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Take a few minutes to pick off the excess hot glue strings around the cardboard.

Now give the horse a good couple coats of brown craft paint and allow it to dry completely.

Once dry use a black permanent marker to add a little bit of details like wood grain or lines to make it look like individual pieces of wood.

How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Ancient Greece, crafts, greek, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history resources

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

December 20, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a cute but simple tutorial to show you how to make a pipe cleaner monkey with just a couple of basic craft items. Also, look at my page Rainforest Activities for Kids for more animal crafts and activities.

You will only need a few pipe cleaners, a couple of wooden beads, and some paint to make your own.

Besides, you can make any kind of monkey you like using this tutorial, changing up paint colors and features.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

We made a howler monkey to go along with the rest of the themed ideas here.

Howler Monkeys are a tropical species of monkeys that live in both lowland and mountain habitats.

For example, they live in the rainforests of Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Columbia, as well as throughout South and Central America.

Their loud howls can be heard up to 3 miles away, so it’s no wonder where they got that name from.

But our little pipe cleaner monkey is quiet and well-behaved.

Howler Monkey Books

Add some of these books and resources to your reading day.

6 Books & Resources for Kids Who love Howler Monkeys

Your kids will love some of these fun resources about howler monkeys.

Howler Monkeys (Monkey Business)

Howler monkeys are named for their distinctive calls, which they let loose at dawn and at dusk. This informative resource doesn’t monkey around in describing what howlers like to eat and where they live. The volume includes an explanation of howler monkey group behavior as well as an examination of efforts being made to preserve their endangered populations.

Howler Monkey Figurine

Our Howler Monkey figurine is designed with remarkable accuracy, showcasing the creature's distinctive features and vibrant coloring.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

World's Loudest Animals: Howler Monkeys |

Don't tell these howler monkeys to pipe down — they're considered to be among the loudest animals on Earth. They won't quiet down unless they're sleeping, which they do about 15 hours a day.

Howlers and Other New World Monkeys

Questions and answers explore the world of New World monkeys, with an emphasis on howler monkeys.

Meet the Howlers!

Playful, poetic text and vibrant art introduce young readers to howler monkeys. Extra facts within the text give readers the low-down on these loud, sloppy, and rude rain forest dwellers.

Photo Credit: learncreatelove.com

Howler Monkey Printable Craft

How about this Howler Monkey Craft?

Next, add some of these facts.

Zoology of The Howler Monkey

Next, have your child write out the classifications of the howler monkey, look below.

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Primates
  • Family: Atelidae
  • Genus: Alouatta
  • Scientific Name: Alouatta

Howler monkeys are made up of 15 different species.

  • Colombian red howler
  • Black howler
  • Yucatán black howler
  • Mantled howler monkey
  • Brown howler
  • Red-handed howler
  • Maranhão red-handed howler
  • Bolivian red howler
  • Guyana red howler
  • Ursine howler
  • Coiba Island howler
  • Amazon black howler
  • Spix’s red-handed howler
  • Purus red howler
  • Juruá red howler
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Also, here are some facts about howler monkeys.

6 Facts About Howler Monkeys

  1. Howler Monkeys are both the largest and the most abundant monkeys in the world with the Guatemalan Howler Monkey being the biggest of all the New World monkeys.
  2. They get their name from the howling sound that they make and are known as one of the loudest land mammals due to the special bone, the hyoid, in their throat that helps them make louder calls. Only the males make these sounds, never females. You can listen to those loud sounders here in the World’s Loudest Animals: Howler Monkeys.
  3. Their long, strong prehensile tales can be up to five times the length of their body, anywhere from 20”- to 30” long.
  4. 9 out of 15 species of the Howler Monkey make their home in the Amazon.
  5. Howler monkeys usually live in troupes of up to 15 males and females with a dominant member of each sex.
  6. An unusual thing about them is that both male and female juveniles will leave the group they were born in and join up with a new group, so most spend the adult portion of their life in a group they are not related to. 
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

This little Howler Monkey Figurine is a great addition to blocks, and sensory bins, and can be used to create a tropical diorama as well.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey

What You Will Need:

  • 4 brown pipe cleaners
  • 2 wood beads
  • 2 smaller wooden beads
  • 2 googly eyes
  • Brown craft paint
  • Small paint brushes or fine-tip paint pens
  • Hot glue gun/sticks.
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

First slip beads over a skewer and paint them brown or whatever color you like). You will probably need a second coat before letting it dry completely.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Lay one pipe cleaner vertically and twist another one across it horizontally about 2” from the top to give your monkey arms.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Slide one painted bead from the bottom.

Twist another pipe cleaner horizontally across just below the bead to hold it in place and make back legs.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Now, double over the tail, arms, and legs, twisting together, and bend the ends into hands and feet.

Cut off all but 1” of the neck, bend it over, then twist.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Cut 4 1” lengths from the 4th pipe cleaner and bend into a v, then twist around the feet and hands. 

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Slip the head onto the neck you cut and hold it in place with a dab of hot glue inside.

Once dry, take a tiny brush or paint marker and add features like eyes, a nose and a howling mouth.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Use a tiny bit of hot glue to add google eyes as well.

Finally, your monkey is ready to shape and bend, he can even hang from pretty much anything you want to hang him from with his little prehensile pipe cleaner tail.

Have fun creating a whole troupe of monkeys to hang all around, thankfully these monkeys stay quiet!

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, monkeys, science

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

December 19, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a fun stretchy batch of seed slime as we learn all about the colorful blue jay and his winter food. Also, look at my Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

But we won’t just make seed slime, we are going to provide our preschool- elementary learners with an entire themed but still open-ended tray to explore.

This slime is wonderfully stretchy, not too sticky and is a great base for adding seeds and more.

If you live in most of eastern and central North America to the Northwest, chances are you see these colorful birds plentifully in your backyard.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

They are a very loud bunch, making a loud jeering sound but you will also hear clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds.

Throughout the warm spring and summer months blue jays live and feed their young on a diet of mostly insects but in the cold of winter, they forage for seeds, nuts, fruit, berries, and grain to give them their much-needed energy.

We are using some of the seeds to create our slime and the rest can be put out to help feed backyard birds throughout the winter.

I have some tips for setting up a welcoming yard for Jays and other birds.

You will also find some fun facts and more hands-on ideas to build a lovely winter unit for the Blue Jay.

Books and Activities About Blue Jays

I lean toward living books for independent reading and to read aloud, then I look for reference books.

Books & Resources For Kids Who Love to Learn About Blue Jays

Blue Jays are a fun bird to learn about anytime of the year and turn it into a full unit study with toms of these resources.

The Adventures of Sammy Jay

Sammy Jay thinks he's a very fine gentleman and is proud of his handsome blue coat and high cap. But Sammy often does things he shouldn't do — like stealing. Nobody likes to be told he's a thief — especially Sammy Jay! Much of the time, he just struts around, trying to look important when he thinks someone is looking at him. Filled with pranks and rivalries, this delightful tale — enhanced with Harrison Cady's charming illustrations — combines humorous animal escapades with gentle lessons about wildlife and nature.

The Tale of Jasper Jay

Some of the feathered folk in Pleasant Valley said that old Mr. Crow was the noisiest person in the neighborhood. But they must have forgotten all about Mr. Crow's knavish cousin, Jasper Jay. And it was not only in summer, either, that Jasper's shrieks and laughter woke the echoes. Since it was his habit to spend his winters right there in Farmer Green's young pines, near the foot of Blue Mountain, on many a cold morning Jasper's ear-splitting "Jay! jay!" rang out on the frosty air.

Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay

When Jemima, a young orphaned blue jay, is brought to wildlife rehabilitator Julie Zickefoose, she is a virtually tailless, palm-sized bundle of gray-blue fluff. But she is starved and very sick. Julie’s constant care brings her around, and as Jemima is raised for eventual release, she takes over the house and the rest of the author's summer.  Shortly after release, Jemima turns up with a deadly disease. But medicating a free-flying wild bird is a challenge. When the PBS show Nature expresses interest in filming Jemima, Julie must train her to behave on camera, as the bird gets ever wilder. Jemima bonds with a wild jay, stretching her ties with the family. Throughout, Julie grapples with the fallout of Jemima’s illness, studies molt and migration, and does her best to keep Jemima strong and wild. She falls hard for this engaging, feisty and funny bird, a creative muse and source of strength through the author’s own heartbreaking changes. Emotional and honest, Saving Jemima is a universal story of the communion between a wild creature and the human chosen to raise it.

The Blue Jay–120 Piece Puzzle Fun

THE HARDEST CHALLENGE - With hints on the back that won't take away from the fun of the game by making it too difficult, the Fruit And Birds series will provide hours of screen-free entertainment and mental relaxation for the whole family, and is sure to become a permanent decoration in your home.

Birds Blue Jay Plush with Authentic Bird Sound

With one squeeze, Audubon birds produce beautifully authentic bird calls provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s bird recording archives.

Next, look at some facts about blue jays.

5 Fun Facts about the Colorful Blue Jay

  1. Blue Jays are large songbirds with blue, black, and white feathers.
  1. The pigment that is in Blue Jay feathers is melanin and brown. The blue color is caused by light scattering through the cells on the surface of the feather barbs.
  1. Blue jays are omnivores, which means they consume plants, animals, nuts, and seeds. They eat corn, seeds, fruits, insects, frogs, mice, and sometimes eggs and nestlings of other birds.
  1. The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks and does this sometimes when approaching a feeder to scare the other birds away.
  1. Unlike some other species of bird both the male and female Blue Jay look identical so you cannot identify the sex by color. Males are just slightly larger than females.
The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Also, look how to attract blue jays to your yard.

How to Attract Blue Jays and Other Birds To Your Backyard

Blue Jays mostly do well foraging on their own. If you want to enjoy these beauties and other birds in your backyard here is what you can do to bring them in and keep them happy, so they return again and again.

Provide shade and shelter- If you already have bushes and trees, you have a natural attractant for birds. Birds need trees for shade, to rest in, for protection, and to build their nests. Trees can also be a great source of food for birds, providing insects, fruits, nuts, and berries.

Provide food- Add a bird feeder or a few to your yard to provide a variety of seeds. The more variety the more bird species you will attract. Blue Jays in particular prefer open-platform feeders. Suet blocks are a great option in the winter as well for seeds as they offer healthy easy-to-digest fat that hungry birds need for energy.

Provide clean water- Add a bird bath to your yard, in the shade where they are protected, and watch how many feathered friends show up to drink and bathe.  Be sure to keep the water clean by adding fresh daily and scrubbing out the bowl often to prevent them from getting sick from bacteria.

The more you can offer to birds that they need the more frequently they will return and give you a colorful show.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Additionally, here are more slime seed ideas.

More Slime and Seed Slime Ideas

  • How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
  • Bird Seed Slime
  • Chia Seed Slime

More Backyard Birds Activities

  • Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study
  • How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts
  • How to Make a Chalk Pastel Bird Nest Easy Drawing
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
  • Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Finally, look how to make fun seed slime.

Fun Seed Slime

You will need:

  • Bird seed
  • 1 cup white or clear school glue
  • 1 Tablespoon baking soda
  • 2-3 Tablespoons contact lens solution
  • Tray for set up
  • Bird figurines
  • Brown pipe cleaners
The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

First, in a large bowl combine white or clear glue and baking soda, and mix well before moving on to the next step.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Slowly add in the contact lens solution ½ a teaspoon at a time, stirring to mix well between every addition.

As you mix it will become less sticky, if you add too much too fast once mixed it will be too hard and lose its stretch.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

You will know it is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl and does not stick to your hands.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Mix in your seeds, as much or as little as you like.

I wound up using about ¾ of a cup.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Now, to create a fun invitation to play with your slime.

You can use a divided round tray from Dollar Tree or just grab whatever tray and bowls you have on hand.

Place the slime in a larger bowl and fill smaller bowls with additional seeds so they can mix them in themself, bird figurines, and small pieces of brown pipe cleaner.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Look at this fantastic stretch!

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Little pieces of pipe cleaners can be poked into the slime to create little nests for the birds.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: birds, blue jay, crafts, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, science

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

December 14, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We are creating a bird craft that is so easy, inexpensive, and adorable that you might find the kids and you wanting to create different species to fill up your house. Also, you’ll love this Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

Too, be sure you look at my South America Unit Study and Lapbook.

All we needed was a quick trip to Dollar Tree for a fresh pair of socks.

The other simple items you will most likely have on hand to create this craft which is a fantastic supplement to a bird unit.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

One of the most unusual and recognizable birds is the blue-footed booby.

With their bright aquamarine blue feet and legs and rather funny-looking faces.

Blue-footed boobies are one of the three different booby species found on the Galapagos Islands.

There are also red and Nazca boobies.

Books about the Galapagos

Next, add some of these books about the blue-footed booby and other animals of the Galapagos to your unit study.

11 Books & Resources About the Animals of the Galapagos

Add one or two of these fun resources about the animals of the Galapagos Islands in South America.

Where Are the Galapagos Islands? (Where Is?)

The Galapagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands located on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The isolated location of the islands has allowed a vast number of species to develop that are original to each island, such as the marine iguana, the blue-footed booby, the magnificent frigatebird and of course the giant Galapagos tortoise, which may live to be over one hundred years old. 

Galapagos Wildlife TOOB

This Galapagos Island Toob is a must have item for sensory bins and dioramas, but they really give your child a better understanding of what creatures they may never get to see in person. They make great models for art projects as well from sketching to painting.

Galapagos (Earth's Extraordinary Places)

This is the ultimate book about the Galápagos for kids, covering the formation of the islands, the fascinating animals that live there, the evolutionary traits of the flora, the diverse climates, the brilliant conservation efforts and much more!This beautifully illustrated and photographic book provides a fascinating tour of the flora, fauna, and geology of the Galapágos islands. Children can learn about the unique and incredible wildlife, volcanoes, climate and Darwin’s theory of evolution from his visit to the Galápagos.  

Karl, Get Out of the Garden!: Carolus Linnaeus and the Naming of Everything

Carolus (Karl) Linnaeus started off as a curious child who loved exploring the garden. Despite his intelligence—and his mother's scoldings—he was a poor student, preferring to be outdoors with his beloved plants and bugs. As he grew up, Karl's love of nature led him to take on a seemingly impossible task: to give a scientific name to every living thing on earth. 

Exotic Birds TOOB

11 EXOTIC BIRDS: This Toob brings you some of the most amazing exotic winged friends from around the world. It includes a Parakeet, Quetzal, Yellow Macaw, Humming Bird, Hibiscus Flower, Keel-Billed Toucan, Cockatoo, Flamingo, White Ibis, Snowy Owl, and a Greet Parrot.

My Father's Island (Guinness World Records Little Books)

A true story that incorporates biography, adventure and the elements of armchair travel. Angermeyer, who grew up in Nebraska, embarks on a search to discover what happened to her father, a refugee from Hitler, on the Galapagos Islands where he and her mother had lived before his death.

Marcel McDuby the Blue-Footed Booby

For ages 3-9... The strange little bird with turquoise blue feet spent all his time imagining being someone else. Follow him on a journey that leads to self-acceptance and a life-changing discovery: It's our differences that make us special and set us apart. What's really important comes from our heart.

Galapagos Wildlife (Bradt Wildlife Guides)

This new, thoroughly updated and lavishly illustrated fourth edition of Bradt's Galápagos Wildlife is packed with information and magnificent pictures to aid in identifying key species, all in an easy-to-carry format that covers everything from the wildlife that you're likely to encounter, whether flying in the air, running along the ground or swimming underwater, to a succinct history of the islands, their habitats and volcanic origins. 

Galapagos animal adventure with 26 coloring pages for all ages

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands with this endemic animal coloring book. With 26 pages filled with detailed and realistic drawings, this coloring book will take you on a journey through the unique landscapes of the islands as you immerse yourself in the wild nature of the región.

Take Your Time: A Tale of Harriet, the Galapagos Tortoise

Harriet the tortoise likes to do things slowly. She explores her home on the Galápagos Islands―slowly. She eats―slowly. And when the sun goes down, she slumbers deeply all night long.

When Harriet’s friends tell her to pick up the pace, Harriet decides to journey to a neighboring island to see what there is to see. She parades with penguins and rides with dolphins, encountering adventure at every turn. But is life in the fast lane right for a tortoise who loves to take her time?

Marine Iguanas - Tails of the Galapagos Islands Series

Marine Iguanas. Discover the unique Galapagos Island critter called the Marine Iguana. Designed for Young Readers (Ages 5-7) in mind, your little adventurist can immerse themselves within the colorful pages that take them on a journey to better understand the Life of the Marine Iguana. Fun facts and vibrant photos make this book an enjoyable read now and for years to come.

Facts About Blue-Footed Booby

The boobies got their name from the Spanish word bobo.

Bobo means “fool” or “clown” because they seemed so silly and foolish to explorers with their colorful feet, funny walk, and what they felt was an unnatural fear of man.

Just like how flamingos are pink due to their eating habits, the color of their webbed feet comes from the collagens in the skin that are changed because of their diet of fresh fish.

The brighter blue feet that a male has the more interesting he is to females.

While boobies seem to move clumsily on land, their almost 5-foot wingspan lets them fly powerfully.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Also, they can fly for a long time, long distances, and are amazing plunge divers on the hunt for food, maneuvering well even in shallow water.

Blue-footed boobies as marine birds only need land to lay eggs and raise their young.

And they keep those eggs warm with their feet which are well supplied with blood and make a great little heater for the eggs to keep them toasty.

More Bird Crafts

  • How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts
  • How to Make a Chalk Pastel Bird Nest Easy Drawing
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
  • Free Peregrine Falcon Lapbook And Fun Unit Study Ideas
  • Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
  • How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • Free North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Finally, look at how to make a blue-footed booby sock bird craft.

How to Make A Blue-Footed Booby Sock Bird Craft

You will need:

  • White tube sock
  • Black felt
  • Blue felt
  • Blue pipe cleaner
  • Google eyes
  • Brown paint
  • paintbrush
  • Uncooked white rice/beans
  • Hot glue gun/glue
How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

First, decide what size you would like to make your bird craft and fill that size halfway with either the other sock in the pack or some cotton stuffing. I made mine about ⅓ of the sock length.

Place rice in a cup and dump it into the sock by wrapping the sock opening around the cup and flipping it over until the other half is full.

This will give your blue-footed booby some weight and help him sit upright nicely.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Cut off the excess from the open end, leaving just enough to fold over.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Fold the end in and glue it like you would gift wrap on the end of a box and secure it with glue.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

On the same end attach two halves of blue pipe cleaner sticking out for legs.

Once the glue is dry it ends downward and uses brown paint to speckle the head like a blue-footed booby.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Then, paint on wing shapes on either side. Allow paint to dry completely, you can save this step for last if you prefer.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Cut a long black triangle twice as wide as you would like the beak to be.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Fold it over with a piece of pipe cleaner in the middle to give the felt some stiffness and glue the sides together. Trim off the excess pipe cleaner sticking out.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Hot glue the beak into place on the front and arrange two googly eyes close on either side.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Cut two webbed feet out of the blue felt.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Hot glue to the end of the blue pipe cleaners.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Finally, attach a small piece of the sock scrap to the back for a tail.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: birds, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, south america

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

December 9, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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Here are 8 fun Abraham Lincoln crafts to celebrate the day he delivered the Gettysburg Address – November 19, 1863. You’ll also love my free War Between the States or American Civil War Unit Study and Lapbook page.

This craft is also great for presidents unit study or any Lincoln study you might be doing.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

The Gettysburg Address was given at the official dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

It was the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the Civil War.

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. “Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.” –
Abraham Lincoln

As the 16th President Abraham Lincoln was a huge and important part of America’s history, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves free.

He also preserved the Union, established the Department of Agriculture, supported the development of a transcontinental railroad, and enacted the Homestead Act.

He is an important historical figure you will want to highlight in your homeschool but as always you know I love to include lots of hands-on activities for learning.

Fun Books and Resources About Abraham Lincoln

So, to make your study full and fun I have a cute Lincoln Toilet Paper roll DIY that you will enjoy making.

Also, I have some Abraham Lincoln facts, some great books, and resources to turn your topic into a unit study.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Books and Resources

Add some of these books and resources to make a learning day about Lincoln and his accomplishments to American history

Abraham Lincoln

It was this spirit they hoped to exemplify in their biography of young Abe as he grew into manhood against the backdrop of the wilderness of Kentucky, the deep woods of Indiana, and the prairies of Illinois. Camping for weeks in Lincoln country, the d'Aulaires imbibed the spirit of the man Lincoln as well as his humor and good will. From his days as a clerk, teaching himself law reading Blackstone, practicing law in Springfield, running unsuccessfully for office, debating Stephen Douglas over the issue of slavery, and ultimately becoming President of the United States, the d'Aulaires have written and beautifully illustrated the life of one of America's most remarkable citizens.

Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom (Heroes of History)

When President Lincoln died the next morning, the United States mourned as it had never mourned before. An assassin had killed the man who had led Americans through the bloody turmoil of the Civil War with an unswerving commitment to rebuilding a strong and united country.

Abraham Lincoln and the Heart of America: The Jim Weiss Audio Collection

This dramatic audiobook introduces young listeners to Abraham Lincoln’s life and explains his role in American history. Jim Weiss’ spirited narration will remind children and adults alike why Lincoln
holds a special place in American history and in our hearts. This audiobook includes vivid descriptions of Lee, Grant, Stephen Douglas, Mary Todd Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, the complete Gettysburg Address, and more.

Lincoln's Grave Robbers

The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd - and $200,000 in cash.
From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.

Abe Lincoln Grows Up

A beautifully told story of young Abraham Lincoln’s coming-of-age. Drawn from the early chapters of Carl Sandburg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, this is the story of Abraham Lincoln’s childhood.

Growing up poor on the family farm, Abe did chores, helped his father cut down trees, and expertly skinned animals and cured hides. As a young man, he became an avid reader. When he witnessed a slave auction while on a flatboat trip down the Mississippi, he was forever changed—and so was the future of America. This is the remarkable story of Lincoln’s youth, early America, and the pioneer life that shaped one of our country’s greatest presidents.

My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography all about President Abraham Lincoln! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers!

I am Abraham Lincoln (Ordinary People Change the World)

The heroes are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. This book spotlights Abraham Lincoln who always spoke his mind and was unafraid to speak for others.This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are:• A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable• Childhood moments that influenced the hero• Facts that make great conversation-starters• A virtue this person embodies: Abraham Lincoln's compassion made him a great leader.

Abraham Lincoln: An Adventure in Courage (Pop-Up Book)

Pop-up pages trace the life of Abraham Lincoln,

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Winner of the Lincoln Prize Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Abraham Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.

Next, you’ll want to add some facts about Lincoln to your unit study.

Here are 5 facts about Abraham Lincoln.

5 Abraham Lincoln Facts

  1. Lincoln lost five separate elections before being elected president in 1860.
  2. Abraham Lincoln only attended 18 months of formal education and taught himself to read by borrowing a neighbor’s books.
  3. He was a lawyer before becoming president, he passed the bar exam in 1936 and went on to practice law.
  4. Lincoln had 4 children- Robert, Tad, Edward, and Willie. Sadly, only Robert survived to adulthood.
  5. Abraham Lincoln established the Secret Service that is still active today, though much different than its original intent, he signed the legislation for it on the day he was shot at Ford’s Theater.
16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Next, you’ll find some of these other crafts about Abraham Lincoln and his life.

Add one or two to your unit study too.

8 Abraham Lincoln Crafts

  1. Make a super cute Abraham Lincoln Paper Plate Craft that serves as a mask of sorts for your little one to pop their face through.
  2. Learn How to Make an Abraham Lincoln Top Hat that is perfect for dramatic play or maybe for giving a presentation at your co-op.
  3. After a simple lesson on Lincoln’s childhood, you can Build a Lincoln Log Cabin with Craft Sticks on Paper.
  4. Or opt for this stand-up option and create a Paper Bag Craft: 3D Lincoln Log Cabin Instructions.
  5. This Abraham Lincoln Hat Weave Activity is a good way to work on fine motor skills as you read all about our 16th president.
  6. Don’t forget my huge free Civil War Lapbook.
  7. Older children will enjoy this Easy How to Draw Abraham Lincoln and Coloring Page that gives a step-by-step easy method from start to finish.
  8. Scroll down a bit but this Coffee Filter Penny Project is a great way to familiarize your child with the famous face on the penny.
16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Finally, look at making this cute Lincoln toilet paper roll craft.

Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

You will need:

  • Empty toilet paper roll
  • White and black construction paper
  • Flesh-colored craft paint
  • Google eyes
  • Pencil or marker
  • scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Gluestick
16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

First, paint the top half of the roll flesh color and set aside to dry.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Grab something circular just a little bigger than the diameter of the toilet paper tube, trace it on black construction paper, and cut it out.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Cut two strips of black 6 ½” by 3” and make a v in the center of one to create his jacket.

Cut a piece of white construction paper 6”x 2 ½”.

Finally, using the scraps of black construction paper to cut a little beard, you will need to eyeball it on the tube to get the size and shape to be a good fit.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Glue and wrap the white strip around the bottom half of the tube to make a shirt.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Glue the black strip with the V cut out over the top of that, centering the V.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Attach the Google eyes and draw on a nose and mouth.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Glue the black circle to the top, this will be the brim of his hat.

Roll the second black rectangle strip and glue it to the top of this circle for the top of the stovepipe hat.

16th President Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Facts | Cute Lincoln Toilet Paper Roll

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, american history, crafts, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, toilet paper roll, U.S. Presidents

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