• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

  • HOME
  • How to
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Planner
  • Lapbooks
    • Trioramas
    • History Games
  • Shop
  • GET STARTED NOW!
    • Learning Styles
  • 7 Step Planner
    • DIY Best Student Planner
    • Free & Easy DIY Home Management Binder
  • Unit Studies
    • Creation to Ancients
    • Middle Ages to Reform
    • Exploring to Revolution
    • World Wars to Today
    • Science
    • Free Art Curriculum Grades 1 – 8
  • Curriculum
    • More Unit Studies
    • Geography
    • Writing PreK to 12th
    • Geronimo Stilton
  • BootCamp
    • Resources
      • Dynamic Subscriber Freebies
      • Exclusive Subscribers Library
      • Ultimate Unit Study Planner

handicraft

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

July 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

We just call it ‘back to homeschool’.

Books & Resources for Learning About Money

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 Rad Money Resources to Teach Money For All Ages

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

Not Your Parents' Money Book: Making, Saving, and Spending Your Own Money

For the first time, financial guru and TODAY Show regular Jean Chatzky brings her expertise to a young audience. Chatzky provides her unique, savvy perspective on money with advice and insight on managing finances, even on a small scale. This book will reach kids before bad spending habits can get out of control. With answers and ideas from real kids, this grounded approach to spending and saving will be a welcome change for kids who are inundated by a consumer driven culture. This book talks about money through the ages, how money is actually made and spent, and the best ways for tweens to earn and save money.

The Toothpaste Millionaire

Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower is betting that he can make a whole gallon of toothpaste for the same price as one tube from the store.
There’s just one problem, he has to solve real-life mathematical
equations first! With help from his good friend Kate Mackinstrey, can
these two entrepreneurs keep up with the high demand for their popular product? Beloved children’s author Jean Merrill introduces readers to the ins and outs of a budding business, from costs to profits, in this exciting tale about perseverance, ingenuity, and underdogs.

Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game

  • MONEY GAME FOR KIDS: Players collect, count, and exchange money all the way to the finish line
  • MONEY SKILLS: Learn valuable money skills through fun game play
  • PLAY MONEY: Includes game board with spinner, 100 plastic coins, play bills, markers, and dice

Smart Money Smart Kids - Raising the Next Generation to Win with Money

In Smart Money Smart Kids, financial expert and best-selling author Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze equip parents to teach their children how to win with money. Starting with the basics like working, spending, saving, and giving, and moving into more challenging issues like avoiding debt for life, paying cash for college, and battling discontentment, Dave and Rachel present a no-nonsense, common-sense approach for changing your family tree.

I Want More Pizza: Real World Money Skills For High School, College, And Beyond

The perfect gift! Give the gift of financial literacy to your teen - they will thank you for a lifetime. You are not alone; it is often difficult to reach young adults on the topic of money management, but look no further. I Want More Pizza finally has teenagers excited about personal finance and is giving them the confidence that they can succeed. This resource is being used in classrooms around the nation as young adults enjoy the pizza model for learning about money management. Now available for the first time for you to bring into your home, give your young adult the gift of financial literacy and they will thank you for a lifetime. Primary topics discussed include saving, spending, prioritization, goal setting, compound growth, investing, debt, credit cards, student loans, mental blocks, and taking real world action.I am sure you have heard a few of these: "I don't need it", "I'm too young", "I need to spend my money on _____ ", and the list goes on. The pizza model for learning personal finance breaks down those barriers because, well, everyone loves pizza! Just because money management is extremely important doesn't mean that it has to be extremely complex. I Want More Pizza leaves them in complete control to find the plan that works for your young adult - it's their choice. If they don't enjoy math or don't like to plan, no problem, we've got them covered as well. And it's only ~100 pages, which young adults love given their busy social calendars. Money doesn't have to be stressful. Finally reach your young adult and help them become financially literate for a lifetime. After all, there is a lot of pizza in life to enjoy!

Managing Your Money (Usborne Life Skills)

This down-to-earth guide is filled with practical advice on everything from how to budget and be a smart shopper to student loans, mortgages and insurance. An essential book for equipping young people with the skills they need to manage their money now and in the future. Includes links to websites with more tips and advice.

12 Ways for a Homeschooled Teen to Earn Money - A Budding Entrepreneur?

Long before they are of age to start working, kids want their own money. And whether they count bricks at a construction site as a kid like my entrepreneur husband did or just want some spending money, kids are looking for creative ways to earn their own bucks.

Economics for Beginners

Nobody has everything they need, all the time – so how can we make do with what we have? Economics is all about understanding the choices we make to solve this problem. With bright, infographics pictures, this informative book describes why markets are so important, how businesses work out what to sell, and how governments choose how to run a country. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites for more information.

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

More Not Back to School Crafts for Homeschooled Kids

  • How to Make Easy Bath Bombs Back to School Craft
  • How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft
  • Free and Fun Homeschool Planner Stickers Back To School Craft
  • Fun Upcycled T Shirt Library Tote Back to School Kids Craft
  • 8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes
  • Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft
  • DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft
  • How to Create Easy Back to School Basket Ideas for Middle School (Anatomy)
  • Back To Homeschool Student Notebook Covers
  • Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids
  • How to Make An Adorable Trinket Dish Handcraft For Kindergarten
  • Apple Themed Back to School Crafts & Fun Calming Apple Jar Craft
  • 15 Easy Back to School Crafts And Make A Yarn Wrapped Pencil
How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

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

Not Back to School Craft Boys Duct Tape Wallet

You will need:

  • 2 colors/patterns of duct tape
  • Scissors
  • ruler
How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trim the edge that it is even.

This will create a little “credit card pocket”.

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

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

Finally, run your alternating color around the entire wallet.

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

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

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

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: back to school crafts, crafts, handicraft

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

January 20, 2024 | 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 rag doll with strips of fabric for an easy no sew primitive toy. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Little House on The Prairie Unit Study.

This is truly the original rag doll, one of the oldest toys.

And is made with no sewing.

Too, it can be put together with whatever scraps of fabric you have on hand.

Sweet little pioneer girls would have tucked their rag babies into bed, clutched them tight on wagon rides across the country, and had tea with them under the cool afternoon shade.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

They were a treasured toy even though they were made from just scraps of discarded fabric.

If you are a Little House on the Prairie fan or any similar books you would have heard about calico quite a bit.

It was a staple fabric that was worn from the 1700’s on.

Once people began to move westward, they couldn’t go to the store and pick up bolts of fabric from the store so most often their clothing became homespun fabrics, buckskin, or sheep’s wool.

Calico was a fantastic choice for travel clothes.

The cloth was sturdy and held up to long, hard wear which was much needed for their arduous journey, building homes, hunting, and all the work they had to do on the open prairie.

So how did this seemingly simple fabric become such a staple? Let’s learn a bit about the history of calico.

The History of Calico

Calico was originally created in India.

It was named for Calcut, the English word for the state of Kozhikode, India.

Calico referred to the textile itself, not the delicate floral patterns.

It was imported to America in the 1700’s. The name calico came to refer to the tiny floral pattern more than the fabric.

Calico was an unbleached coarse cotton fabric and was very inexpensive and washable.

It was store bought. Cut and sewn at home into dresses.

Calico fabric ranged from fairly fine and sheer to the more coarse, stronger textures that would have been the best option for pioneers.

Even Lewis and Clark had forty-eight calico shirts packed in their bags for their 1804 expedition and it was quite common for men to wear sturdy calico shirts with delicate flower designs.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Early European calicoes were made from a cheap plain weave white cotton fabric, cream unbleached cotton. Then to add a print they were block dyed with single or multiple colors.

Because making clothing in early times was so labor intensive nothing was wasted.

Pieces from worn out clothing that couldn’t be mended would be braided into rugs, rags for cleaning, and dolls for the children.

Next, add some books to the craft how to make a rag doll with strips of fabric.

Little House on the Prairie Unit Study Resources

Add some of these fun resources to ignite a love for learning about the Little House on the Prairie.

The Little House (9 Volumes Set)

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Readers around the world know and love Laura, the little girl born in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and raised in covered wagons and on wide open prairies. Now Little House fans can learn more about the remarkable story of the pioneer girl who would one day immortalize her adventures in the beloved Little House books in this, the first picture book biography book of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

A Little Prairie House (Little House Picture Book)

With the My First Little House picture book series, the youngest readers can share in the joy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books in these illustrated adaptations of the beloved series! 

Laura, Pa, Ma, Mary, and baby Carrie have traveled from the Big Woods to the prairie in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa builds a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie.

Farmer Boy (Little House, 2)

The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams. 

The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories. The Little House series has captivated millions of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier.

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Here Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Time for fun comes when the jolly tin peddler visits, or best of all, when the fair comes to town.

Almanzo wishes for just one thing—his very own horse—and he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.

The Little House Cookbook

With this cookbook, you can learn how to make classic frontier dishes like corn dodgers, mincemeat pie, cracklings, and pulled molasses candy. The book also includes excerpts from the Little House books, fascinating and thoroughly researched historical context, and details about the cooking methods that pioneers like Ma Ingalls used, as well as illustrations by beloved artist Garth Williams.

Who Was Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, based on her own childhood and later life, are still beloved classics almost a century after she began writing them. Now young readers will see just how similar Laura's true-life story was to her books. Born in 1867 in the "Big Woods" in Wisconsin, Laura experienced both the hardship and the adventure of living on the frontier. Her life and times are captured in engaging text and 80 black-and-white illustrations.

Laura Ingalls Dress Up

  • Three Piece Set: Kid girls colonial dress, attached apron and bonnet.

Little House Coloring Book: Coloring Book for Adults and Kids

A beautifully designed coloring book featuring classic artwork by Garth Williams and quotes from all nine original Little House books. Perfect for at-home creative time—return to the world of Little House with your kids...or enjoy on your own!

Join Laura Ingalls, her Ma and Pa, and her sisters, Mary, Carrie, and Grace, on their travels across the frontier as you color in your favorite pioneer characters and scenes and revisit this beloved series.

This 96-page coloring book offers hours of relaxing, stress-reducing pleasure.

Next, add more activities if you’re creating a unit study about frontier living or Little House on the Prairie.

More Resources for Learning about Frontier Living

  • American Frontier Legends and Hero Paul Bunyan Blue Ox Craft
  • Fun Punched Tin Lantern
  • Step Back in Time with These 12 Little House on the Prairie Gift Ideas
  • Fun No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll For Kids Westward Expansion Activity
  • Fun Pioneer Peg Dolls For Kids Westward Expansion Hands On Activities
  • 11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft
How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Finally, look at how to make a rag doll with strips of fabric.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

You will need:

  • White fabric
  • Colorful fabric
  • Cotton balls or pom poms
  • scissors
How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Look for fabric about 20 to 26 in long.

Fat quarters are the perfect length, if you don’t know what that is, it’s the little folded squares of ready to buy fabric at the craft stores.

They are 18”x 22.  I bought most of this fabric at Dollar Tree and those little rolls are also an ideal length.

Cut or tear six strips of white or cream-colored fabric about an inch wide. I made a small starting cut for each one and then ripped the rest of the way down.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Then cut or rip 25-30 1-inch strips of whatever colorful fabric you have chosen for the dress. Cut at least 3 extra pieces to use elsewhere.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Cross 3 of the white strips like this.

Then start crisscrossing the colorful fabric over the top of the white until you have at least 25 more strips, the more you add the fuller your rag strip doll will be.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Once you are done layering fabric, place some pompoms or cotton balls in the very center.

This is the head.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Slip your hand carefully under the strips and flip it over as you squeeze your hand around the pom poms.

Tie it off right under them with another strip of fabric or twine to create the neck and head.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Now let’s make her arms, grab the three remaining strips of white fabric and tie off one end in a knot, trim the length if desired to shorten the arms.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Braid them tightly all the way across and knot off the other end.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Slip the arms up through half of the rag strips up to the knot under the head and then tie a strip just below them to secure in place.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Finally, cut a square scrap of cloth 4”x4” and fold it into a triangle.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Place the triangle over the head and wrap it around, tie it in place with a final strip of fabric and now she has a bonnet.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: frontier, handicraft, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, toys

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

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

If you have a middle school student that you are trying to get off their tech for a bit these winter crafts for middle school are a perfect distraction from texting and video games. Also, look at my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook.

Snowmen, snowflakes, and cocoa candles, oh my!

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

I have rolled up 8 adorable craft ideas to cover a lot of our favorite winter topics and will keep your teen screen-free for at least a little while.

Too, I have an easy tutorial for how to craft a snowman bead necklace as well and it is a great intermediate project for one child, a group of friends, co-op, or even the whole family to create.

You don’t have to stop with just one craft though.

Challenge your middle school child to choose another craft and learn some of these fantastic snowman facts, get outside and build their own snowman, or make a snowman-themed snack.

4 Winter Snowman Facts for Middle School

  1. In February of 2020 residents in Donnersbachwald, Austria, built a giant snowman named Riesi that towered above at 124.8 feet.
  2. According to scientists the best snow for building snowmen is moist or wet snow, which forms when the air temperature is hovering just above freezing- 0°C and 2°C.  When this happens some of the snow melts and makes water between ice crystals that acts as a glue to hold it all together.
  3.  Everyone’s an expert! There are more than 90,000 YouTube videos that teach you how to build a snowman, there is even a patent out there for the process.
  4. The classic song ‘Frosty The Snowman’ “Frosty the Snowman” was written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. It was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys and later recorded by Jimmy Durante in the same year, Jimmy’s version being used in the animated movie.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Then add some books for fun winter reading for your student.

I lean toward living books then like to add in some reference books too.

7 Books for Middle School Students to Read in the Winter

These books also make for a great read aloud, even older kids would enjoy piling up on the couch in the morning for a good story together.

Julie of the Wolves (HarperClassics)

Julie of the Wolves is a staple in the canon of children’s literature and the first in the Julie trilogy. The survival theme makes it a good pick for readers of wilderness adventures such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, or Island of the Blue Dolphins.

This edition, perfect for classroom or home use, includes John Schoenherr’s original scratchboard illustrations throughout, as well as bonus materials such as an introduction written by Jean Craighead George’s children, the author’s Newbery acceptance speech, selections from her field notebooks, a discussion guide, and a further reading guide.

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he learns the ways of the wilderness.

Sweet Home Alaska

    It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

The Winter King

Ever since Cora's father disappeared through the ice, whispers about her family's "curse" have grown increasingly louder. Desperate to help her mother and siblings survive another bleak season in the Winter King's frozen grasp, Cora begins to bend (and even break) the rules she has kept since she was a little girl. But when she discovers a secret that's much bigger than herself, she realizes too late that she has put herself--and those she loves--in even greater peril.

Winterhouse (Winterhouse, 1)

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Northwind

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.” With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

Then, add in these other fun winter crafts for middle school.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School

  1. Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter.
  2. With just paper, glue, and scissors you can create a winter wonderland of Curled Paper Snowflakes to decorate the whole house.
  3. Not only is it beautiful but this Snowflake Soap serves a purpose and makes a great craft to keep or gift to friends and family.
  4. Check out these 10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle.
  5. Think of the personality that can be infused into this cute DIY Wood Block Snowman tutorial. I think this is the perfect craft for everyone in the family to make together to represent themselves.
  6. I just love this Popsicle Stick Winter Bucket List idea. I have found that kids don’t need you less as they turn into teens, just in a different way. Create a list of things you would enjoy doing together throughout the winter season and let your middle schooler turn it into this fun tin pail bucket list.
  7. Sometimes a winter craft can be longing for spring, like with these Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers that can bring a bright touch to a dreary winter.
  8. Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Okay so maybe this is less craft and more of a snack but it definitely looks like a work of art.

So maybe these Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks can do double-duty as your middle schoolers’ project.

Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

You will need:

  • Elastic string
  • Unfinished wood beads
  • Unfinished wood spool
  • Plastic beads
  • Glitter
  • Craft paint
  • Paint pens
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

The first thing you want to do is string your unfinished wood beads for the snowman on a skewer, this is the easiest method for painting.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Next paint the beads with a light coat all over, leaving room between each to dry.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Also, paint a little unfinished wood spool black to make a hat.

If you would rather you can also use a scrap of fabric to make a cloth hat instead.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Once your first layer is dry, paint a second thick coat on them and then sprinkle with fine glitter if desired to give the snow a dimensional and glistening effect.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Allow the paint to dry then hot glue the 3 pieces together, leaving the hole on the beads vertical for the bottom two and going horizontally for the head so that it can be strung on the necklace.

Add your top hat as well.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Use paint markers to add details like eyes, a carrot nose, buttons, etc.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

While the details are drying begin adding beads in whatever pattern you like to one side of the necklace.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Slip your snowman onto the string and repeat the bead pattern on the other side, going as far up the string as you like.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

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

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

November 3, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating a geography craft is a fantastic way to teach geography in a hands-on way that won’t soon be forgotten. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Geography , Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports and Learn About Indigenous Animal Geography Fun Activity for Preschool to Elementary for more ideas and tips.

When you think of geography most likely you think of map skills, states, countries, mountain ranges, etc.

But it is so much more than that.

Geography is the study of Earth and the forces that shape it, both physical and human.

Specifically, it is the study of Earth’s landscapes, its people, places, and the environment.

I am going to show you how to make an embroidered map.

We made Africa but you can apply the same technique to any map you like.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

You also don’t need to be an embroidery expert.

I am fairly new to it myself. If you know how to sew a basic stitch, you can create this pretty keepsake map.

Not only is sewing your embroidery map a fantastic way for kids to learn geography but they also are learning a beautiful handiwork skill that will translate into hobbies or maybe even a career later in life.

It is great practice in fine motor skills, patience, planning, spatial recognition, and of course art!

6 Facts About The Continent of Africa

First, look at these facts about Africa.

  1. There are 54 different countries in Africa and 9 dependent territories with more than 1.3 billion people living on the continent.
  2. More than half of the African continent is covered by grassland or savannah.
  3. Northern Africa is made up mostly of the vast Sahara Desert and the semi-arid Sahel zone which also includes fertile land in the Nile delta.
  4. Central Africa has rainforests and coastal plains. It is also home to the continent’s highest mountains and lakes.
  5. Southern Africa is mainly on a high plateau.
  6. The southernmost city on the African continent is Cape Town in South Africa. It has about 5 million inhabitants and is one of the most populous cities in the world.
How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Next, look at some of these books to add to your collection about Africa.

Books About Africa

13 Resources for Children Studying About Africa

Add one or two of these books to your study about the art of Africa.

Africa For Kids: People, Places and Cultures - Children Explore The World Books

Africa For Kids: People, Places, Culture gives children not only a peek into the land and its people but the artwork of even simple everyday items like weaving and serving plates.

Africa Coloring Book For Kids!

Here is a coloring book filled with African souvenirs to color that is soothing and a great springboard for discussion.

African Patterns Scrapbook Paper

I found this beautiful book of African Patterned Scrapbook paper that can be used for many craft projects.

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Atinuke’s first non-fiction title is a major publishing event: a celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! Her beautifully-written text captures Africa’s unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity. The book divides Africa into five sections: South, East, West, Central and North, each with its own introduction. This is followed by a page per country, containing a delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colourful illustrations.

Africa Is Not a Country

Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play.

The Water Princess

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (Picture Puffin Books)

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."

When Stars Are Scattered

Omar and his brother Hassan, two Somali boys, have spent a long time in the Dadaab refugee camp. Separated from their mother, they are looked after by a friendly stranger. Life in the camp isn't always easy. The hunger is constant . . . but there's football to look forward to, and now there's a chance Omar will get to go to school . . .With a heart-wrenching fairytale ending, this incredible true story is brought to life by Victoria's stunning illustrations. This book perfectly depicts life in a refugee camp for 8-12 year olds.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.

Wildlife of East Africa (Princeton Pocket Guides, 3)

Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

Heads up: this is a great book but there is a rite of passage and has a part about circumcision.

Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experience and emotions of a growing boy.

The Bitter Side of Sweet

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. The higher the number the safer they are. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make money to help their impoverished family, instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives. She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Next look at more geography crafts.

More Geography Craft Ideas

  • How to Make a Paper Mache Planet Earth is a simple classic craft idea to familiarize your child with the landforms and bodies of water of the planet.
  • Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map
  • Paper Art Landforms are beautiful and interesting, helping to cement the different landforms in their mind.
  • Hands-on Geography Mesopotamia: Fun Salt Dough Map
  • As a big fan of LEGO I of course agree– Is There Anything You Can’t Do With Lego? This demonstrates a simple map of Australia. Crafts don’t have to be consumable items, a reusable resource like LEGO gives you endless use.
  • Hands-on Geography: Longitude/Latitude Mapmaking Activity
  • Lewis and Clark Louisiana Purchase Edible Map
  • Another delicious map idea is How to Make a Rice Krispies Edible Map.
  • Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags

Finally, look at how to learn a handwork skill and geography too.

Embroidered Map Fun Geography Craft

Depending on skill, age, ability, and how often it is worked on this will probably take about 2-4 hours total.

It is a lot for one day, especially for a child who is new to the craft and should be broken up over several days.

Also, know that the marker fades after several days.

You will need:

  • Embroidery fabric 
  • Embroidery needles
  • Embroidery thread
  • Embroidery loom
  • Water erasable pen 
  • Map outline of Africa

Print a physical map of Africa (or whatever continent or country you like).

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

I highly recommend reducing the size by 25% or 50% before printing.

I printed my full size, and it was too big for my hoop.

If this is the case for you just move the fabric around until you can embroider the whole piece.

Cut a piece of thin embroidery fabric to a few inches larger than the map all the way around.

Tape the printout to a window and then tape the fabric over it.

Use the fabric marker to trace the outline of the map.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Then any important characteristics like mountains, rivers, etc.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Place your fabric on your embroidery hoop, pull it tight, and tighten down the screw.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Cut off a piece of black thread about as long as your arm.

You can use the full thickness of the embroidery thread or carefully pull off 3 or 4 of the strings to use if you would like a thinner line. 

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Run the thread through the needle, leaving about 3 inches of a tail coming out the eye of the needle. On the other end knot as close to the end as you can and then trim excess.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Come through the back side with the needle, pinching the tail of the thread with the needle.  Start at one end of the outline and stitch in and out, starting a new stitch very close to the last one. 

Continue until you have filled in the complete outline.

When you’re finished with the outline, tie a knot in the end of the thread, as close as you can to the fabric.

Use different colors to mark off each of the topographical features like mountains and rivers.

Fill in each area with a different type of stitch if you like to create interest and make it more obvious that the land is different.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Flip your fabric over and cut any loose threads to clean up the back. It’s okay if your back is messy from big knots or thread running all the way across, you won’t see it on the final product!

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

You can either wait for the purple fabric marker to fade to invisible or use a wet paintbrush to brush away the marker, it will just fade out.

To display, you can either mount it in a hoop, place it in a frame behind glass, or back it with felt to make it stiff for tabletop use.

How to Make An Embroidered African Map Fun Geography Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Africa, crafts, geography, handicraft, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool geography, homeschoolgeography, map

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

October 29, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This stuffed heat pack winter owl craft is not only a fun and easy craft, but it makes a wonderful heating pad for cold feet or for headache relief. Grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Felt is a very easy to use and forgiving material for learning how to sew and this activity does not require a pattern or fancy materials.

You need just a few pieces of felt and a bag of rice, both of which can even be found at Dollar Tree making it a $3 or less craft.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

While it is a great craft to make for learning a basic life skill it is also ideal for gifting and can also be used with essential oil to create another layer of soothing comfort.

First, look at these facts about the snowy owl.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl

  1. Snowy owls are the largest Arctic bird predator and one of the largest of all the owls in the world.
  2. When their wings are fully expanded the span can be as wide as 4 to 5 feet from tip to tip.
  3. The Snowy owl is also known as the arctic owl, ghost owl, great white owl, and Scandinavian night bird but their scientific name is Bubo scandiacus.
  4. Unlike most other species of owls, snowy owls are diurnal, which means they are active during the day instead of night.
  5. In the wild a snowy owl has a lifespan of 10 years or more. But owls in captivity can live almost 30 years.
  6. Snowy Owls fly at an impressive speed of up to 46 mph.

Next, I have some fun resources to learn about snowy owls.

Books and Resources for Learning about Snowy Owls

Add some of these fun resources to your unit study about snowy owls.

Snowy Owl Family Animal Adventures

Each member of the Snowy Owl family has a special role in the flock. Kevin Torline's colorful artwork showcases how a special family of birds works together to live in the frosty Arctic tundra.

This book is special because:

  • Sharing books with your little one strengthens your bond
  • Adorable books support empathy for animals
  • Educational focus: reading skills, early learning, animal facts, snowy owls, arctic, birds

Snowy Owls

Snowy owls make their homes in the icy white lands of the north. In these snowy places, they are perfectly camouflaged. Learn more about this giant owl with full color photos, range maps, and carefully leveled text.

Snowy Owls Are Awesome (Polar Animals)

Snowy owls call the bitterly cold Arctic their home. Learn how they live in this harsh environment. Snowy Owls tells readers how these birds find their prey, what dangers they have to watch out for, and more.

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. Nature Anatomy is the second book in Rothman's Anatomy series – you'll love Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Farm Anatomy, too!

Snowy Owl Figurine

This adorable snowy owl would be great for a diorama, sensory bin, or even just to add to a winter themed science shelf.

A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

One winter, as food gets scarce, a snowy owl finds himself forced to look in new and unfamiliar spots in order to find food and a place to call home. Based on a true story, A Snowy Owl Story describes, through the tale of one particular owl, the recent irruption of snowy owls all across the United States. Through this simple narrative, youngsters will learn about migration, adaptation, and respectful human interaction with nature. This unique title (first in a projected series of four board books) is written and designed specifically for a preschool market; few board books exist that tell conservation stories for this age range. Published in cooperation with Maine Audubon.

Also, here are more winter craft ideas.

Winter Craft Ideas

  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
  • Kindergarten Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
  • Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers
  • Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids
  • Free Easy Arctic and Inuit Science Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
  • Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Finally, look how to make a stuffed heat pack winter owl craft.

You can absolutely make your owl any color you like but we opted to avoid white for this project since it gets dirty so quickly.

Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can follow the same steps below but sewing by hand instead.

You will need:

  • 2 pieces of 9×12 felt for the body- same color
  • A half piece of any color for the wings
  • A small scrap of black, white, and yellow felt
  • Sewing machine or needle and thread
  • 1 to 2 pounds of rice.
  • Fabric or tacky glue
6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

The first thing that you want to do is lay your two pieces of felt together and either trace with a white pencil or marker or free hand cut an owl shape. 

You can see here it’s just a modified oval with two points on the top for ears.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Take the color that you chose for the wings and lay it across the bottom half of the body where you would like to position the wings.

Then flip your fabric over and cut along the edge of your main felt so that they are the same size.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Flip it back over and cut your wing piece in half, then cut one side into the shape of a wing.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Lay it on the other piece and cut out the exact same piece so that they match.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Now, taking into consideration the scale of your owl that you’ve chosen, cut out a yellow beak shape.

And two large white circles, and two smaller black circles to create the eyes.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Keep the small pieces in place while you sew by gluing them with tacky glue or a fabric clue rather than pins.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

The first thing you want to sew is about a quarter inch all the way around the wings to secure them to the body piece on each side.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Next, sew a circle around the white eyes and inside the black as well as around the nose.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Trim off the excess thread everywhere, use a black permanent marker to blend the white thread into the black eyes.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Now you will need to match up your two main body pieces with the wings and the eyes facing inward, so it is “wrong side out”.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Sew all the way around the body except for the bottom.

There are two ways you can do this.

First, sew leaving just a couple inches unsewn, use a funnel to fill the bag.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

 Fold the remaining sedition inward and sew a hidden seam in between the folds.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Second, if you have a beginner sewer or just want an easier method, leave the bottom completely unsewn.

Fill it up, and then hold the weight of the bag up as you do an external stitch all the way across the bottom.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

To heat up your warmer, throw the rice pack in the microwave for 30 second intervals until desired heat is reached.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil like lavender, which is great for headaches and anxiety.

On cold days, you might wish to use a warm seasonal scent like cinnamon or peppermint.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

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

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Privacy Policy | About Me | Reviews | Contact | Advertise

Categories

Archives

Tina Robertson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 · 5 TNT LLC · Log in · Privacy Policy