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hands-on activities

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

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

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

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

Winter Snow Ideas

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

I love this page.

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

Winter Learning Ideas

Look at these ideas below.

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

Next, add in some winter themed books.

Books About Winter

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

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

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

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

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

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

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

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

2. Sneezy the Snowman

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

3. Snowmen at Night

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

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

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

5. Over and Under the Snow

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

A Hat for Minerva Louise

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

6. How to Catch a Snowman

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

The Big Snow

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

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

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

8. Animals in Winter

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

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

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

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

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

Other Winter Craft Ideas

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

You will need:

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

How to Make Fun Toilet Roll Snow People

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

Then paint toilet paper rolls completely white.

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

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts

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

Isn’t this little couple just precious?

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

National STEM Day – Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects

November 8, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for DIY stem projects, you’ll love these ideas for National Stem Day.

What is so great about STEM?

A STEM activity is one that incorporates one or more of its components.

  • Science,
  • technology,
  • engineering, and math in a learning activity.

Stem is hands-on which is always a great method for learning.

National STEM Day - Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects

It teaches children about science and technology, problem solving, critical thinking, curiosity, accepting failure, initiative, flexibility, creativity, innovation, and so much more.

It has its place in your homeschool whether you are an unschooler, Charlotte Mason, classical, or eclectic family.

Careers in STEM

There are many fascinating careers in STEM that your child might be interested in-

  • Computer Sciences
  • Software Developer
  • Web Developer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Statistician
  • Mathematician
  • Actuary
  • Accountant
  • Cartographer
  • Aeronautics-aviation, aerospace, and astronautics
  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Science
National STEM Day - Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects

This isn’t even an exhaustive list just some that jumped out at me.

Popsicle sticks are an amazing homeschool tool.

And you have probably used them for art projects but have you ever considered their many uses as a STEM tool?

They open an amazing world of possibilities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

In addition, they are inexpensive, very versatile and easy to get your hands on.

It’s a great idea to keep a bunch on hand in different sizes for all sorts of projects. 

Jumbo ones are fun and oversized.

    And Rainbow popsicle sticks add a little flair and color to your projects.

    Too, standard popsicle sticks the backbone of most diy stem projects.

    More STEM Resources

    If you want to put together a STEM kit for your young scientists, mathematicians, or  engineers to tinker with these are a few more great items you might want  to add to your supplies.

    First, look at these LED lights.

    Next, add copper tape.

    Too, rubber bands are important.

    Binder clips, rulers, pipe cleaners and lithium batteries.

    National STEM Day - Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects

    Finally, look at these STEM ideas.

    13 Fantastic Popsicle Stick STEM Activities

    1. Medieval Catapult. Try this Medieval catapult using the oversized jumbo craft sticks, catapults are a great lesson in force, mass, and acceleration.
    2. 100 Brilliant STEM Activities Using Everyday Items.
    3. STEM: Build a Da Vinci Parachute Activity
    4. Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction. Teach your child about potential energy turning into kinetic energy and chain reactions by giving them the tools they need to create an exploding chain reaction.
    5. Popsicle Stick Gears. These are a great way to learn about mechanical concepts, simple machines, motion and force. This is a great basic project to use as a springboard for more advanced activities.
    6. Craft Stick Crossbow. Not only is this tiny crossbow fun but it teaches physics lessons in force, energy, motion, trajectory and projectiles.
    7. Rubber Band Powered Boat. Launch this lesson on potential energy on the water. Popsicle sticks and rubber bands are all you need.
    8. STEM and Geography: How to Build an Ancient Viking Ship
    9. Rubber Band Powered Car. Same concept but on firm ground rather than the water. Use the stored potential energy in the tightly round rubber band to launch a car
    10. LED Flashlight. Explore circuits, positive and negative charges,
    11. Newton’s Cradle. What a fun way to learn about kinetic energy with Newton’s Third Law of Motion. “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Kids love that clickety clack perpetual motion
    12. Truss Bridge With Craft Sticks, The STEM activity of building bridges gives your child a hands-on opportunity to learn about engineering through weight distribution, gravity, changing loads, and tension.
    13. STEM Ferris Wheel. Enjoy a turn on a popsicle stick ferris wheel that introduces axles, problem solving, creating symmetrical sides, and engineering with a fun activity.

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool Science Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science, STEM

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

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

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

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

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

    There are even some puny Roman jokes.

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

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

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

    About Ancient Mosaics

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What can you use these cute little figures for?

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

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

    Then, add in more fun Ancient Rome activities.

    Ancient Rome Activities

    Here are a few more fun activities to include.

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

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

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

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

    It is a lot of gluing and arranging.

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

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

    Hands-on History Ancient Rome Mosaic

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

    I used cardstock.

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

    You will need:

    • Cardstock
    • Scissors or paper cutter
    • Glue stick

    Choose what image you want to create.

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

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

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

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

    Next, cut the strips down into ½” pieces.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Other Geronimo Stilton Chapter Book Activities

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

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

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

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    November 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Today is National Bison Day and to celebrate we made some Oregon Trail bison jerky. If you’re looking for a unit study on Westward expansion or Westward Ho Unit Study grab my ideas.

    If you are studying pioneers and westward expansion you’ll have fun with your kids making my Oregon Trail bison jerky.

    Cooking is a great way to learn about the times and work some practical life skills into your lessons.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    Westward expansion, wagon trains, pioneer life, wide open prairies, hopes of new and exciting lands full of game and promise- what a time it must have been.

    It was also hard work, using what you could find, sicknesses on the trail, and eating whatever you could scare up.

    I am still pretty sure I would happily don my bonnet and apron to load up in a wagon for that great adventure.

    Oregon Trail Bison Jerky

    One thing that was a staple for many on the Oregon Trail was bison.

    A great way to preserve it was to turn it into jerky so it could be eaten longer.

    Pioneers used the sun, wind, and smoke from carefully controlled fires to turn fresh meat into jerky.

    The cooking method is very different today as well as the method of obtaining the bison.

    However, it’s still fun to get as close as you can to what the pioneers on the Oregon Trail might have eaten.

    What’s the Difference Between Buffalo and Bison

    Aren’t they the same thing? They are not in fact.

    Bison have large humps at the shoulders and bigger heads than buffalo do.

    They also have beards and thick coats that they shed in warmer weather.

    Cape and water buffalo are native to Africa and Asia. Bison can be found in North America and Europe.

    Oregon Trail Hands-on Activities

    • Make a cute No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll like children might have taken with them on their journey.
    • Watch Sacagawea on Amazon prime for a different perspective on this time period.
    • 10 Westward Expansion Hands-on History Activities
    • Paint some Pioneer Peg Dolls to recreate your family on the Oregon Trail.
    • 7 Educational Movies for Kids About Westward Expansion
    • Free Westward Ho History Cards
    • Print out this Westward Expansion map lesson.
    • Explore the animals of the Wild West with a video that shares over two dozen of the animals that made up the westward area.

    Grab these fun Westward Ho Coloring Pages to add to your fun Westward Expansion activities.

    • 0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

      0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

      $1.75
      Add to cart

    Next, look at these books.

    Westward Expansion Books and Resources

    Add in a few books and one gameboard to your study.

    10 Westward Expansion Resources

    Add in a few books and resources to bring the study of the Oregon Trail to life during the United States expansion of the west.

    Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail (The Way It Was)

    Your Life as a Pioneer on The Oregon Trail, has some funny illustrations and great information for this unit study.

    Little House on the Prairie Series 7 Books Collection

    Of course ALL the Little House Books are some of the best about pioneer life.

    The Ingalls are the most famous pioneers and westward moving families.

    Westward Expansion (A True Book: Westward Expansion)

    A True Book: Westward Expansion takes readers on an amazing journey to a fascinating time in U.S. history when the country was experiencing dynamic change and expanding westward.

    The Oregon Trail 4-Book Paperback Box Set Plus Poster Map

    In this boxed set, choose your own trail and complete the journey to Oregon City with all four paperbacks in this exciting series! It's 1850 and your first goal is to get your family, covered wagon full of supplies, and oxen to Chimney Rock on time. 

    The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley Boardgame

    • It's a race to Willamette Valley as you join the wagon train and seek your fortune in the West!

    Apples to Oregon:

    Apples, ho! When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too.

    Locomotive

    It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to
    ocean

    The California Gold Rush and the '49ers

    Try your luck, and search for your fortune in California! Follow the joy and heartbreak of the '49ers during the California Gold Rush.

    Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

    In 1853, the Larkin family loaded up their wagons and headed west in search of a new life. But how did they do it? What did they eat? How did they survive sickness, and attacks from cattle thieves? Drawing on diaries and letters, and illustrated with photographs of actual object from the past, Daily Life in a Covered Wagon explored what life was really like on the wagon trail.

    Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

    Illustrations and simple rhyming text follow Mother, Father, and Baby John as they make the difficult journey by wagon to a new home across the Rocky Mountains in the fertile Sacramento Valley of California. By the creators of Gold Fever.

    Additionally, here are a few tips about cooking with bison.

    3 Tips on Cooking With Bison

    Then a few final tips about bison before we begin.

    1. I found ground bison at both Walmart and Target. But if you can’t find it or would just don’t care for it you can follow the same recipe with ground beef, choose the lowest fat beef you can find like 90/10.
    2. If you think you will get more use out of it these jerky guns, it comes in handy for making your own out of all sorts of ground meat.
    3. Ground beef jerky is much more brittle than that made from muscle. So you will need to take more care when storing or your pieces will end up as crumbs.

    Finally, let’s make Oregon Trail jerky.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    How to Make Oregon Trail Jerky

    Here is what you need:

    • 1 pound ground bison
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
    • 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon onion flakes
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    First, preheat your oven to 200℉.

    Spray a large baking sheet well with nonstick cooking spray.

    Place all the ingredients in a large bowl.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    Mix well with your hands to completely combine.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    If you have a jerky gun load the ingredients.

    Follow the directions for making flat or tubular jerky, otherwise follow along with the rest of my steps/

    Place the mixture between two large sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper and roll out to about ⅛” thickness.

    Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut into 1”x 4” to 5” strips.

    Transfer carefully to a large pan using a knife or spatula to lift each piece from the parchment paper.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    Leave a little space between each so that the air circulates and they are able to dry evenly.

    National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

    Bake for 2 hours, then flip each piece carefully and bake for another 2 hours or until completely dry.

    Store in an airtight jar for up to a month.

    I served ours up to try in little pockets I made from waxed paper.

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: bison, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

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

    Although we love reading, we also love doing.

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

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

    Freeze extra bottles so that it can be repeated.

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

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

    Fun Winter Ice Facts

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

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

    Interesting Ice Facts:

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

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

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

    So, technically, ice is a rock.

    Ice Vocabulary Words

    Next, add a few science words about ice.

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

    Then move into learning about the science behind instant ice.

    Instant Ice Science

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

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

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

    It is called nucleation. 

    Nucleation is when there is an imperfection in the substance.

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

    Just one molecule forms an ice crystal at the nucleus.

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

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

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

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

    Try these different waters.

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

    Do you get the same results?

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

    Instant Ice Homeschool Science Experiment

    This experiment will amaze your kids.

    You will need:

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

    Open and reclose the caps.

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

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

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

    You want them to be close but not yet frozen.

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

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

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

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

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

    You should see an ice tower begin to grow.

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

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

    Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

    Want to see it in action?

    More Winter Homeschool Science Experiments

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

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

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

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

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