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handicraft

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

October 21, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a varied list of 10 Viking explorer project ideas to get you started on a wonderful hands-on unit study. Also, I have this Vikings Lapbook Unit Study and Hands-on Activities.

And we are also going to make a simple Trollen wheel and Viking braid.

Create costume pieces, tools, ancient writings, and more through the tutorials, and learn more about Vikings who ruled the seas from the late 8th century to the 11th.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

For example, a Trollen Wheel is a tool for making patterned cords or ropes and dates back several centuries.

Trollens were traditionally made from organic materials like bone, horn, leather, and wood.

We are going to craft a simple and inexpensive one with cardboard.

While Trollen wheels are used frequently in Viking reenactments it is undetermined if they used them, since none have been found in archeological digs.

However, they did wear braids in their hair as well as adornments on their clothing and the Trollen wheel is a great way to braid intricate decorative braids.

Books About The Vikings

First, add some of these books to your day.

11 Viking Resources & Books for Multiple Ages

Grab some of these books and resources for multiple ages about Vikings.

Viking Adventure

Sigurd, a Viking boy, cannot see the value of learning to read and write. All he can think of is adventure. But then he has an adventure that he cannot help but tell. And to do that, he decides, he must learn to write. A fine story for young readers.

Guts & Glory: The Vikings (Guts & Glory, 2)

From battle-axe-wielding tribes plundering the greatest cities of Europe to powerful kings and queens ruling their dominions with iron fists, the Vikings were some of the most feared and fearless figures in European history. Find the bravest heroes, the most menacing villains, and unbelievably awesome facts and myths inside this action-packed overview that will amaze kids with tales of a people so incredible...it's hard to believe they were real.

Viking: Discover the Story of the Vikings―Their Ships, Weapons, Legends, and Saga of War

The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures. Loaded with superb color photographs of Viking ships and swords, clothes and shields, memorial stones and beautiful brooches, this revised and updated edition of Eyewitness: Viking offers a unique view into the lives of the Norse people and their outstanding achievements.

LEGO Creator Viking Ship

Kids can experience thrilling adventures on land and sea with this 3in1 set featuring a toy Viking ship, Viking house and Fenris wolf figure

A Child's Introduction to Norse Mythology: Odin, Thor, Loki, and Other Viking Gods, Goddesses, Giants, and Monsters

The newest book in the best-selling, award-winning A Child's Introduction series explores the popular and captivating world of Norse mythology. Organized into two parts, part one introduces characters like Odin, the leader of the Norse gods; Thor and his mighty hammer Mjollner; Frigg,
weaver of the destinies of humans and gods; frost and fire giants; cunning dwarves like Brokk and Eitri; and many more. Part two tells the stories of the suspenseful myths themselves including The Creation of the Cosmos, The Aesir-Vanir War, Loki Bound, Thor's Hammer and many more.

Renegade Game Studios Raiders of The North Sea,Multi-colored

Play Raiders of The North Sea, a worker-placement board game where players work to assemble a crew and outfit a longboat to raid settlements for gold and fame.(For 2-4 players)

Odd and the Frost Giants

Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid. In his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear…and then Odd's destiny begins to change.

The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods. Now our hero must reclaim Thor's hammer, outwit the frost giants and release the gods…

Viking Quest Series Set of 5 Volumes Including Raiders From the Sea, Mystery of the Silver Coins, the Invisible Friend, Heart of Courage, and the Raider's Promise

Raiders from the Sea: Viking raiders capture Bree and her brother Devin and take them from their home in Ireland. After the young Viking prince Mikkel sets Devin free on the Irish coast far from home, Bree and Devin embark on separate journeys to courage. Readers will be captivated by the unfolding drama as Bree sails to Norway on the Viking ship and Devin travels the dangerous road home.

Black Fox of Lorne

Set in 1005 AD, twins Brus and Jan go a-Viking with their father Harald Redbeard and all their household. They plan to settle in England with Danish relatives there. But, their ships are caught in a fierce gale on the North Sea, and they are taken far off course to the western shore of Scotland. Held captive by a cunning Scottish Laird, Jan and Brus must navigate the political intrigue of chieftain, clan, and king without the help of their father, who has been killed and their mother, who is believed lost at sea. They follow adventure after adventure until they earn their freedom and find a home in Scotland at last.

Make This Viking Settlement (Usborne Cut-Out Models)

Printed on stiff card, this book contains templates to cut out and construct a model of a Viking settlement crammed with authentic detail. The base of the completed model measures 61 x 46cm, and includes 16 houses with doors and windows that open to reveal the details inside, and two Viking trading ships. It contains over 40 cut-out figures including merchants, traders and towns people to recreate scenes of everyday life in a bustling riverside settlement.

Who Were the Vikings Internet-Linked (Starting Point History)

Answers questions about the everyday life of the Vikings, including clothing, homes, religion, medical care, food, entertainment, ships, shops and towns, government, warfare, and the travels of the Northmen in Asia and the North Atlantic.

Too, look at these facts about daily life with the Vikings.

Daily Life With the Vikings

  1. Surprisingly the majority of Viking men spent most of their time farming, not sailing the seas. They raised crops like barley and oats, as well as a variety of animals.
  2. Vikings were known for their good hygiene, dig sites have turned up tweezers, razors, combs, and ear cleaners that were made from animal bones and antlers. They bathed weekly, which is more than most Europeans at the time, and also enjoyed frequent dips in natural hot springs.
  3. Viking men preferred being blonde, so if one was born brunette they would use a strong soap with a high lye content to bleach their hair and sometimes their beards as well.
  4. They did not wear helmets with horns, or any helmets at all. This belief started when it was dreamt up by a costume designer named Carl Emil Doepler for an 1876 production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen.
  5. A Viking named Leif Erikson was the first to set foot in the new world, not Christopher Columbus, he beat him to it by 500 years. Leif’s father was the first Viking to set foot in Greenland.

Next, look at these explorer project ideas.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas

  1. This impressive tutorial will teach you how to Make a Viking Shield that is worthy of the best adventures.
  2. Create fun and special messages on these Viking Runestones.
  3. The Best Free Viking Lapbook and Hands-on Ideas
  4. Try this delicious Viking Bread Recipe and see how Nordic explorers ate between adventures.
  5. The BEST Viking Unit Study for Homeschooled Kids
  6. Turn cardboard and metallic paint into this amazing-looking helmet with the Make a Viking Helmet-Crafts for Kids.
  7. How cute is this simple Viking Lunch? What a great addition to a Viking unit study and a fun break in the day..
  8. STEM and Geography: How to Build an Ancient Viking Ship
  9. You can learn to make A Makeshift Lucet, a fiber-working tool used by the Vikings.
  10. This DIY Kids Viking Costume is great for the kid who loves to dress up, for fairies, for a co-op presentation, or just for fun.
10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Finally, look how to make a Trollen wheel Viking braid.

Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

You will need:

  • Sturdy cardboard
  • String or yarn
  • Ruler
  • Pen
  • Scissors
10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

First, trace a circle on sturdy cardboard, you want it small enough to be held comfortably in your child’s hand, 3”-4” in diameter is a good size.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Cut out the circle.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Use a ruler to create 4 lines, intersecting across the middle, to end in 8 equally distant ends.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Cut ⅛” to ¼” of the way in, into a narrow v at the end of each line.

And then use the scissors to cut out a roughly ¾” in diameter hole in the center of the wheel.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Cut 8 lengths of string or yarn to 12” long.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Tie all the strings together at one end in a knot.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Place the knotted strings through the hole and place one string through each slit you cut in the ends of the lines.

You should have one empty spot.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

To create a braid, you will hold the wheel in your hand, letting the knotted end hang free in the middle.

Place the empty spot right in front of you and count 3 strings clockwise from the empty hole, bring that string down onto the empty spot.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Repeat, moving the 3rd string clockwise from the empty spot into the empty spot over and over until you reach the end of the string.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Once at the end of the length, you can remove the strings from the cardboard and knot it.

Use the braided piece to make a friendship bracelet, or to make a decoration for a keychain or backpack.

10 Viking Explorer Project Ideas and Make a Trollen Wheel Viking Braid

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Ancient HIstory, handicraft, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, Vikings

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

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

Today, I have some fun Little House on the Prairie crafts and a rug craft. Also, you love my post Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern.

I love Little House on The Prairie crafts, from making bonnets to building little model wagons it has always been one of my favorite periods to recreate.

Little House was a large part of my childhood.

I spent countless hours pretending to ride in a covered wagon, harvest crops, and churn butter.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

I can also remember when braided rugs still lined kitchen floors with their colorful simple beauty.

Sometimes those things seem to have faded away but if you are like me and want to pass on some of those sweet handicrafts you will enjoy my braided rug tutorial.

Ma, Mary, and Laura would have braided rag rugs for their floors from strips of worn-out calico dresses.

We will use something that we are likely to have on hand, t-shirts.

Too, I have plenty of other crafts from the pioneer days that will go wonderfully with a study on any or all the Little House books.

Books About Little House on the Prairie

First, look at some of these resources and books to study about pioneer life.

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, look at these Little House on the prairie crafts.

Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts

  1. Make hand dipped beeswax candles.
  2. Fun No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll 
  3. Have fun churning butter.
  4. Pioneer Peg Dolls 
  5. Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing 
  6. Edible Log Cabin 
  7. A simple craft that even little hands can help create is this Make an Apple Pomander Just Like Ma Ingalls idea
  8. For teens, A Beginner’s Guide to Whittling is a great way to reprise the past time of carving out little toys and other bits as they did.
  9. Punched Tin Lantern.
  10. No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll
  11. Another great sewing project is this Pioneer Quilt Craft using cloth scraps.
11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Finally, look how to make this pioneer rug craft.

How to Make a T-Shirt Rag Rug Craft

You will need:

  • Old cotton t-shirts
  • Scissors

First, start by cutting t-shirt strips 1 ½” -2” wide, cut through both sides of the t-shirt to make a big loop piece, and then one of the ends so it is a long strip.

You can either use scissors or a rotary blade and mat which makes it quicker.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

For this tutorial I used just 3 shirts and saved the sleeves and neck for another project; it came to about 10” wide.

So, you will want to cut up enough to make a good-sized rug which is about 6-8 strips for a small standard rug.

This can be an ongoing project as you get enough shirts or grab a bunch from the thrift store.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

At the end of each strip cut a small vertical hole.

The holes are to secure the pieces together rather than trying to braid 10’ lengths. 

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Grab 3 strips and tie one end into a knot as small and tight as you can, and then cut off the excess.

You can either create a random pattern or use the same colors over and over to make a pattern.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

If you want to follow a pattern, you might want to go ahead and lay out a bunch of strips together.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Braid the pieces together just like you would a simple hair braid about 4” long and then begin twisting the center so that the braid wraps around itself.

T-Shirt Rag Rug Craft

It needs to be firm and tidy but not too tight as you will need to slip through the braid occasionally.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Take the strand closest to the ball of the braid and slip it through the outside piece of the braid.

This is how you will secure each row together without sewing.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Resume braiding and wrapping it around itself for about 2” and then repeat the step of threading the closest strip to the center through one of the loops of the braid coil.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

When you reach the last couple of inches of strip, draw a new strip through the hole in the end and then loop the other end around.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Draw it through the hole of the other end to make a small flat knot.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Continue the method of braiding for a couple of inches and then loop the closest strip through the closest braid inside until the rug is as big as you would like it.

To finish it off, thread the ends through the front side of the rug to the back and knot them off, cut off any excess as close to the knot as you can.

11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: american history, crafts, handicraft, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, pioneer, pioneer crafts

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

August 6, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some fun ideas for easy Arctic animal crafts. Too, you’ll love my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-On Ideas and my Arctic Region pages.

If you are studying the Arctic with your little one these peg doll animals are a great craft project to do together.

They can be used in sensory bins, for small-world dramatic play, or as part of a simple diorama and can be kept as simple or as elaborate as you would like.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

You can make an entire family of polar bears. Or craft a village of all different arctic creatures to round out a nice keepsake collection using the variety of sizes and shapes that unfinished peg dolls come in.

A wonderful resource to add to your study is Ocean Anatomy, besides the gorgeous illustrations it offers a treasure trove of information on icebergs, polar bears, narwhals, seals, and more arctic animals.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Next, look at some facts about animals of the Arctic.

10 Arctic Animal Facts

  1. Snowy owls hunt during the daytime instead of at night like other owls.
  2. Male snowy owls are easy to distinguish from females as they are almost completely white and female snowy owls have black and brown markings.
  3. Polar bears can smell a seal 3 feet below the snow.
  4. An Arctic Fox’s fur is not always white, sometimes during the summer months it can be gray or brown.
  5. Beluga whales start gray or brown when born but eventually turn white as they grow up.
  6. A Narwhal tusk is not a horn, rather it is a large tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long.
  7. Both the male and female walruses have large tusks that are used for things like pulling themselves out of the water onto the ice.
  8. Polar bears are the largest living carnivores on land at about 8 feet long and nearly 800 pounds.
  9. Arctic Hare’s eyes are set on the side of their heads so they can look forward, backward, and sideways without needing to move their head so that they can avoid predators.
  10. Learn why there are not penguins in the Arctic.
How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

As you make your peg dolls together you will find lots of opportunities to talk about topics like camouflage in the white snow, predator vs. prey, and different adaptations like fur-covered feet to help them survive the extreme cold.

Use some of the facts from above as conversation starters as you work on each animal.

More Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

  • How to Paint Peg Dolls to Look Like Farm Animals is perfect if you are learning about the farm theme and would make a great handmade gift.
  • Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
  • DIY Peg Doll Woodland Animals, find out how to make adorable woodland creatures like a fox and raccoon as well as their babies.
  • Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
  • Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources

Also, look at these books about the Arctic.

12 Arctic Books about People & Animals of the Arctic

Studying about the region of the Arctic is a fascinating topic. Grab some of these books about life in the Arctic and animals of the Arctic.

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

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

In Arctic Waters

This arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.

Arctic Fox: Fascinating Animal Facts for Kids (This Incredible Planet)

Fascinating Animal Facts Arctic Fox Learn all about the amazing and adaptable Arctic fox. This small yet hardy creature survives in the harshest of environments!

This Incredible Planet series provides young readers with interesting information about the Earth’s most fascinating creatures.

Beautiful color photography makes each animal come to life. Learn about the Arctic fox’s habitat, diet, breeding, lifespan, behavior, threats, and so much more!

Over and Under the Snow

A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Read and find out about how animals cope with winter in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

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

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter!

This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades.

The Inuit Thought of It: Amazing Arctic Innovations (We Thought of It)

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set, Polar Animals Toy for Kids Plastic Arctic Reindeer,Walrus,White Whale,Polar Bear,Arctic Fox,Wolf Figures,

Tiny Animals Figures Party: 18 PCS Package include orca, walrus, white owl, reindeer, husky, 2pcs seal, 2pcs beluga whale, 2pcs arctic wolf, 2pcs arctic fox, 2pcs arctic rabbit, 2pcs polar bear figurines and igloo model.

Who are the Eskimos? Arctic People's Traditional Way of Life

Who Are The Eskimos is perfect for early to middle elementary students and makes a great addition to your library.

North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration

“A treat for middle-graders of an ecological bent.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.Back matter includes additional information about the arctic, a glossary, and an index.

Arctic White

When you live in the Arctic in winter, everything is a shade of white. A young girl looks around her home in the Arctic and sees only white, white, white...but one day her grandfather takes her on a journey through the tundra.  And at the end of their cold walk across the ice, they find something special that brings color into their world.

Farthest North: The Incredible Three-Year Voyage to the Frozen Latitudes of the North (Modern Library Exploration)

In 1893, Fridjtof Nansen set sail in the Fram, a ship specially designed and built to be frozen into the polar ice cap, withstand its crushing pressures, and travel with the sea’s drift closer to the North Pole than anyone had ever gone before. Experts said such a ship couldn't be built and that the voyage was tantamount to suicide.  This brilliant first-person account, originally published in 1897, marks the beginning of the modern age of exploration. Nansen vividly describes the dangerous voyage and his 15-month-long dash to the North Pole by sledge. Farthest North is an unforgettable tale and a must-read for any armchair explorer.

This Place Is Cold: An Imagine Living Here book

Can you imaging living in a place where it's so cold your breath turns instantly into tiny ice crystals that glitter in the sun? Where temperatures can drop fifty degrees below zero and even lower and the sun only comes out for a few hours per day? In This Place Is Cold readers will learn how people and animals survive in Alaska's ferocious cold, and how because of global warming this region is now in trouble. Vicki Cobb and Barbara Lavallee travelled the world together to research this groundbreaking geography series, that is now updated and redesigned to appeal to today's readers.

More Arctic Region Unit Study Ideas

  • The Inuit & Arctic Circle Hands-On Activities
  • Inuit Art, Arctic Circle + 10 Notebooking Pages & Free Resources
  • Arctic Region Salt Dough Map + Free Map Flag Printable
How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Finally, look how to make these adorable easy Arctic animal crafts.

How to Make Peg Doll Animals of the Arctic

You will need:

  • Peg dolls
  • Craft paint
  • Paint pens
  • Small wood beads
  • Air dry clay
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
  • Paint brushes
How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

First, I like to add my details to the peg dolls using beads or air-dry clay.

Small wooden beads make the work go quicker as hot glue dries fast but I like the detail and shape that I can get with air dry clay.

For ears, muzzles, and wings you want to pinch off a small bit of clay and press it into the wood. Heavier pieces like ears or muzzles you want to glue in place.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

I made a polar bear using beads and one with clay for ears so you can see the difference and choose for yourself.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

For the snowy owl, we just smoothed some clay over the sides for wings.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

To make a narwhal roll out a little piece of clay into the horn shape and twist gently, hot glue to the top of the peg doll head.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

 Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Animals of the Arctic Craft Ideas

Then paint all your peg dolls white, including any clay you added.

Even though some of our animals aren’t white or at least not all white it gives you a good prep base to work from and it will be the majority of your animal’s fur color.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Now, here is where those paint pens will come in handy.

You can do the details with a tiny brush dipped in paint, but it is so much easier to get crisp lines and details with a fine-tipped paint brush.

Use the paintbrush to draw on some basic details like eyes, noses, and outlines.

Allow to dry, these dry quickly faster than a coat of brushed-on paint.

Now layer on more detailing like whiskers, spots, etc. to make your creatures a little more realistic.

If you want to give them a little bit more life and durability you can either seal them with a clear coat or give them a mod podge seal coat or two.

Add some fake snow or even cotton batting to your animals to spark your child’s imagination.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: animals, arctic, crafts, elementary science, handicraft, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science, winter crafts, winter season

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

July 23, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 7 Wyatt Earp and the cowboy facts and a fun gun holster handicraft. Also, your kids will love this Free American History Lapbook The Old West Through the Life of Wyatt Earp.

Too, today is a tribute to National Day of the Cowboy which is the fourth Saturday in July. It really began in the heart of Texas.

However, we’re also learning about Wyatt Earp.

One thing about Wyatt Earp and the cowboys is that they always had a gun in a holster at their side in the wild untamed west.

Many boys and girls love pretending that they are taming the Wild West, protecting their wagons, etc. So, I thought the perfect craft for this theme is a diy gun holster.

We are going to fashion a quick but serviceable holster with just felt and embroidery thread so our little gunslingers can get on the move.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

But let’s learn more about Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys before we make our holster.

Grab your favorite add-on activities, games, and books from my resources below.

One side was lawmen, the other outlaws.

You have likely heard of the Gunfight at the Okay Corral in Tombstone, Arizona between them.

However, that was just one story in the long hard life of Wyatt Earp.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts

  1. Wyatt Earp was larger than life indeed. He stood 6 feet when the average height was only about 5 feet 6 inches, his brothers were also tall.
  2. The 1881 Gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone is believed to only have lasted 30 seconds.
  3. Wyatt’s life was a restless one. At various times throughout his life, he held many different positions, such as a constable, city policeman, county sheriff, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Deputy Sheriff, teamster, buffalo hunter, saloon owner, gambler, mine owner, bouncer and a boxing referee.
  4. Earp was the last surviving participant of the OK Corral shootout, dying at home at the age of 80 years old.
  5. At just 17, Wyatt left his home and went to work hauling freight and grading track for the Union Pacific Railroad.
  6. After he left Tombstone, Wyatt Earp moved around the West, and he ended up settling in California with Josephine Marcus.
  7. At age 62, Earp was hired to work for the Los Angeles Police Department to perform tasks considered “outside the law”.

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7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Next, look at more hands-on activities about Wyatt Earp and the cowboys.

More Activities for Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys

  • I think it would be really fun to also add this Printable Sheriff’s Badge craft to go along with your DIY holster.
  • For older kids, this version of Wyatt Earp on Amazon Prime might be a good option for your family.
  • You could also create your own “Wanted Poster” for crimes like stealing cookies from the cookie jar or unlawful noise level.
  • Free American History Lapbook The Old West Through the Life of Wyatt Earp
  • Set the mood with a little wild west backdrop in the form of a Desert Sunset Painting.
  • Free Printable History Board Game – American History Through the Life of Wyatt Earp
  • Learning American History through the Life of Wyatt Earp – Hands-on Activities
  • I have a Children’s Encyclopedia of American History that had several wonderful pages on the expansion West, Wild West celebrities, and settling the West.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft
  • Not Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys specific but What Was The Wild West is a great supplement to learn all about the wild west.

Also, add some of these books and fun resources.

American History Through the Eyes of Wyatt Earp Resources

Add one or two of these books to your unit study about Wyatt Earp who lived between 1848 and 1929.

Wyatt Earp : U. S. Marshal (Landmark Books #67)

- Possibly the greatest gunfighter the Old West ever knew.

Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell (Frontier Lawmen)

On the afternoon of October 26, 1881, eight men clashed in what would be known as the most famous shootout in American frontier history. Thirty bullets were exchanged in thirty seconds, killing three men and wounding three others.The fight sprang forth from a tense, hot summer. Cattle rustlers had been terrorizing the back country of Mexico and selling the livestock they stole to corrupt ranchers. The Mexican government built forts along the border to try to thwart American outlaws, while Arizona citizens became increasingly agitated. Rustlers, who became known as the cow-boys, began to kill each other as well as
innocent citizens. That October, tensions boiled over with Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, and Billy Claiborne confronting the Tombstone marshal, Virgil Earp, and the suddenly deputized Wyatt and Morgan Earp and shotgun-toting Doc Holliday.

History for Kids: The Life of Wyatt Earp

Of all the colorful characters that inhabited the West during the 19th century, the most famous of them all is Wyatt Earp (1848-1929), who has long been regarded as the embodiment of the Wild West. Considered the toughest and deadliest gunman of his day.

Earp symbolized the swagger, the heroism, and even the lawlessness of the West, notorious for being a law enforcer, gambler, saloon keeper, and vigilante. The Western icon is best known for being a sheriff in Tombstone, but before that he had been arrested and jailed several times himself, in one case escaping from prison, and he was not above gambling and spending time in houses of ill-fame.

Wyatt Earp Dots Lines Swirls Coloring Book: Wyatt Earp Stress Relief An Adult Color Puzzle Activity Book Creativity & Relaxation

This book is designed for anyone who loves Wyatt Earp. Put all of your stress behind, have a nice seat, then find out what will amaze you inside this fascinating coloring book!

This coloring book is a perfect collection of stunning images and perfect artworks of Wyatt Earp film. Besides that, bleeding is no longer a big problem in this book because all pages are printed on high-quality papers.

With a balance of design and simple elements, these images will satisfy adults and experienced colorists without being overwhelming to a beginner.

Wyatt Earp: Wild West Lawman (Best of the West Biographies)

A biography of the lawman who helped to bring order to "The Wickedest Town in the West," Dodge City, Kansas.

How to Make a Kids DIY Gun Holster

You will need:

  • Felt or leather sheets
  • Scissors
  • Cardstock
  • Embroidery floss
  • Embroidery needle or regular needle
  • Child’s belt
  • Toy gun for template
7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Start by laying your child’s toy gun on a sheet of cardstock, tracing around it leaving about 1 12/” of space all the way around.

You want the handle portion to stick out above the holster.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Next, cut out the cardstock template.

Now fold over your felt and lay the template on top.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Trace and cut out both layers.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

On the back piece fold the felt over about 2” down from the top and cut two lines 1 1/2” or so apart. This is where they will thread the belt through.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

It is totally up to you if you want to mark or let your child mark every ½” around for the thread holes or if you want to just let them sew it as near as they can.

But since you will be going in and out of each side you will need to do it on both sides. We just laid a ruler alongside and made a tiny pin mark.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Thread a long piece of embroidery thread through the needle.

Even though it is a bit harder to push through the felt I recommend using the dull embroidery needle with young or first-time sewers.

Kids DIY Gun Holster

Otherwise, you can just pull out 1 or 2 threads from the floss and put on a regular needle.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Be sure that both sides are lined up perfectly, you can hold it in place with a few pins if you like.

We are going to use a whipstitch to sew all the way around.

Don’t worry about perfection, this is a great beginning handicraft for young children to learn how to hold a needle and sew.

While they are running around the yard playing Wyatt Earp, they won’t notice their imperfect stitches.

Stitch from one corner all the way around, rethreading as you need, knotting, and cutting off excess each time.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Slide the belt through the loops you made in the back to secure it and it’s ready for action.

This activity could also be done with older children using a thin piece of leather, a piercing tool, and leather cording following the same directions but “threading” the cording through the holes by hand.

7 Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys Facts And Kids Gun Holster Handicraft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cowboy, handicraft, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschoolhistory, Wyatt Earp

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