hands-on activities

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

September 18, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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This fun apple lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is another one to add to your lineup of lapbooks for the fall season. Don’t forge to look at my apple unit study and lapbook here too.

Besides, studying about apples doesn’t have to be a lapbook just for young children.

When we studied apples the first time, I included my middle and high school kids.

So when deciding what to include in your multiple ages apple lapbook, you can decide if it is one lapbook for multiple ages or one lapbook per child.

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

And include a fun field trip like apple picking or do apple activities like baking applesauce, make apple pie or make apple butter.

It makes for such a fun and memorable time.

Add in a few apple books too like Farm Anatomy and Food Anatomy which have a couple of pages on apples to learn from.

Apple Unit Study Ideas

Next, add some topics to make this apple unit come alive for multiple ages.

Look at these ideas for a science apple unit study.

Science about Apples

For ideas on science cover these topics.

Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples
Is it a Deciduous or Conifer Tree
Important to the Apple Tree label page
Isaac Newton and His Apple
3 Laws of Motion
Life cycle of an apple
Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

History and Geography Apple Themed

Also, include some geography and history ideas.

Learn about Johnny Appleseed and the states he toured.

John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
Johnny Appleseed Minibook

Too, include some fun language arts.

Language Arts Apple Themed

I have some gorgeous pages for your Prek kids to learn the alphabet on how to make an apple pie
Do acrostic for older kids
Write about Jonny Chapman’s life and contribution as a nurseryman and define what it means to be an American Pioneer.
Understand what it means an Apple a Day Minibook
Read and do copywork for Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook

Also, I created some notebooking pages for writing prompts

Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Lastly, besides crafts add in learning about apple themed art and artists.

Art about Apples

Here are some art ideas and artists

Apples and Oranges {Paul Cézanne}
Apple Tree {Gustav Klimt}
Portrait of young man with apple or Portrait of Maria della Rovere – {Raphael}
Virgin and Child under an Apple Tree {Lucas Cranach the Elder}

For math ideas, cooking is a great life skill to do here.

In addition, notebook pages can be used by older children.

Notebooking Pages About Apples

In addition, not all kids love lapbooks.

For your older kids, use my free notebooking pages which I include in this one free huge download.

Remember that any worksheet can be turned into a fun minibook printable.

So if you find a worksheet your child wants to include in this apple lapbook or apple unit study, look at how to do it below.

Easily turn any minibook into a treasured keepsake by following the 4 steps above and glue the back of the minibook anywhere on your file folder.

Other Apple Resources

Adding more hands-on ideas will round out your apple unit study and lapbook.

Too, gardening ideas can be added if you make this lapbook more science based.

Lastly, ALL of the above topics have been turned into ONE 48 page download with the following minibooks and notebooking pages.

Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples Minibooks
An Apple a Day Minibook
Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook
Apple Art/Artists W/Pocket
Apple Pie Alphabet Sheets
Deciduous or Conifer Tree minbook
Important to the Apple Tree label
Isaac Newton and His Apple/3 Laws of Motion Minibook
John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
Johnny Appleseed Minibook
Life Cycle of Apple Tree Minibooks
Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Free Apple Lapbook and Notebooking Pages

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

September 16, 2022 | 1 Comment
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If you’re doing an apples unit, your kids will love making this fall garland craft. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study for a study for multiple ages.

Bring some nature into your learning space or for home decor while your child works on fine motor skills.

Too for an apple unit your child can work on artistic expression and just have fun learning about apples and all of fall’s wonderful aromas.

Apples, cinnamon, and pinecones are some of the warmest and coziest symbols of fall.

They make you immediately think of cooler temperatures, crunchy leaves, and nature walks.

The natures colors are a perfect way to usher in fall.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

Incorporate the fall garland apple craft into a simple fall unit study or create it as a stand-alone fall craft with your kids.

Middle schoolers will easily be able to do the entire craft on their own.

Younger kids will need a bit more help with the oven, knife, and hot glue gun.

Add other fall items like leaves, acorns, twigs, or similar items from your fall nature walks if you like.

12 Things to Make From Apples

While making your fall garland apple craft, talk about all the various things that you can make from apples.

Here are 12 things to make from apples. You can easily stretch this unit study to a full cooking unit.

Apple cider vinegar
Apple pie
Apple dumplings
Candied apples
Dried apple rings
Apple crisp
Apple turnovers
Apple Sauce
Apple Butter
Apple juice
Apple cider
Apple muffins

Expand learning by having a taste test and try as many of the above apple forms as you can.

Have your child rate the flavor of each one, take a poll of the family, friends, and neighbors to see what is their favorite apple treat.

Then, create an apple graph for a bit of math.

Also use both Farm Anatomy and Nature Anatomy have a couple of pages on apples and make great books to keep in your home library for many topics.

They are known for their pretty illustrations and fantastic information on a wide variety of themes within a topic.

How to Make a Fall Garland

Next, make a fun fall garland. Here are some supplies:

Apples. Gala and Granny Smiths are a favorite for baking.
Pinecones. If you aren’t able to harvest them locally you can get a bag at the craft store.
Unfinished wood beads.
Cinnamon Sticks- in the grocery or seasonal aisle at craft stores.
Twine.
Lemon juice.
Salt.

Even using some fall colorful wooden beads would be pretty to add to it.

First, dry your apples.

Preheat your oven to 200℉.

First, you are going to want to slice your apples.

Instead of cutting them horizontally across the apple the way we did in our dried apple slice recipe we are going to cut these vertically down through the top.

Start on either side of the stem so you get a good cross section view.

Fill a bowl with cold water, add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of table salt.

And soak your slices for 10 minutes.

Lay the apple slices on a metal rack then place it on a baking sheet.

Bake for 2-4 hours or longer until completely dried.

Once your apples are dried you can begin to create a pattern on your twine.

Decide how long you want it to be.

Place your first piece all the way to the end of this length by sliding it over the twine through a hole, hot glue in place, or tie a knot around it.

Continue the pattern all the way to the end until your garland is as long as you like it to be.

Other Fall and Apple Unit Study Crafts

Then, add some more fun fall and apple unit study crafts.

What do you think? Add a few of them to your learning area and you’ll have the smell of fall year long.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

September 15, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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If your kids love dried apple crafts, they’ll love this fun fall shrunken head apple activity. Add this hands-on craft to my fall unit apple study or to my BEST Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook.

Fall immediately turns my mind to cooler temps, pumpkins, and of course apples.

It is a great time of year to talk about harvest.

Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids

You can ask your kids what fruit is in season during the fall season, where it’s grown and even gather a list of uses for it.

Today it’s apples. They’re yummy to eat but also great for a wide variety of crafts like this fun shrunken apple head.

Do you remember making shrunken heads as a child? It’s such a fun activity to do and you don’t have to necessarily set aside a few weeks to do one.

Also, you can use this dried apple craft to supplement a Johnny Appleseed, Pioneer study or a Colonial study.

In addition, you can turn it into a cute mini scarecrow.

Provide your child some yarn, fur, fabric, and other craft items.

Then encourage them to make period appropriate clothes for whatever topic you choose. Give them total free rein to create.

Other Ways to Use the Dried Shrunken Apple Head

Our shrunken apple head is a replica of Johnny Appleseed wearing the tin pot hat.

He is often depicted as wearing a tin pot hat.

We made a quick hat with some tin foil out of the pantry.

Here is one fun fact about Johnny Appleseed.

He didn’t wear a pot on his head. Look at the book Who Was Johnny Appleseed?

But he did prefer a tin hat believed to look like a baseball cap with a very long front brim to protect his eyes while working which likely doubled as his cookpot.

Also, we made a Daniel Boone apple head complete with a fur hat made with some scrap craft fur we had.

And here is a fun fact about Daniel Boone. He is also often pictured wearing a hat which he didn’t actually wear.

Although Daniel Boone is shown in a furry raccoon hat, he preferred a wide brimmed beaver hat Quaker-style.

How to Make a Shrunken Apple Head

Now, make your own fun apple head craft.

Look at these materials you’ll need:

Apples
Apple peeler
Paring or other small knife
Assorted craft items for decorating

First, fill a bowl with cold water, add several tablespoons of lemon juice and a tablespoon of salt. Stir well.

Peel your apples right up to the stem and then cut out the stem.

Pop the apples into the water mixture and let them sit until you are ready to carve.

Take a small knife and carve out your features.

I found it easier to outline everything with a shallow groove.

And then begin in the middle at the nose and work my way outward to get a face shape, thinning out cheeks, forehead, etc. as I went.

You don’t have to spend too much time on the details as the shrinking will take most of the detail away.

Just give it a noticeable nose, eyes, and mouth.

For younger children you can give them a plastic knife or even a spoon to carve safely

You may even outline the features for them and let them scoop it out.

Once you are done place your apple head back in the water bath and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

There are a couple of ways you can dry your apple head.

First, let it air dry by placing them in a dry area.

Too much humidity will cause them to mold. This method takes the longest- 3 to 4 weeks to fully dry out.

Second, the oven dry method is easier. This method is much quicker and lessens the chances of mold if dried all the way through.

But it requires you to run the oven all day, it may take a full 24 hours to dry it out.

Preheat oven to 200℉. Place your apples on a shallow baking pan with a rack.

This allows the air to circulate all the way around, drying it faster and more evenly.

Other Fall and Apple Unit Study Ideas

Next, look at these other resources and crafts for a fall unit study or apple unit study.

Continue on with your craft.

Once fully dry, it will have shrunk to less than half its original size.

You can add a bit more character with paint, markers, fabric, yarn, or other craft items.

Set out a bunch of craft items and let your child go crazy with their imagination.

You can decorate just the head or add some sticks and wire to form a body. I love the character that the shriveled little faces have.

To make a tin foil hat I just wrapped a piece around the end of the roll to form it and then adjusted it when I added it to the apple, twisting one corner into a handle.

We also made a redheaded lady with a little bit of yarn. Who do you think she is? Lucille Ball? Queen Elizabeth?

What will you use your shrunken apple head craft to create? A famous hero from history? A scary scarecrow?

Share yours with me. I’d love to see what your kids create.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

September 11, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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I have 15 lapbook materials ideas besides glue and paper which can be added to your homeschool lapbooks.

Homeschool lapbooks are more than a set of minibooks inside a file folder.

In addition because lapbooks are products of your child’s work each lapbook can be as individual as the child.

When I started lapbooks I didn’t realize the impact a hands-on tool would have on my children’s learning journey.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

And materials for the lapbooks should be things which help the topic the lapbook is about to be memorable.

Unlike worksheets, lapbooks are interactive and if you create them in the right way they can be a timeless learning tool.

For example, flaps can be added anytime to your lapbook and that can continue as long as your child is interested in the topic.

3 Powerful Advantages to Homeschool Lapbooks

First, before you decide what type of lapbook materials you want to include in your child’s lapbook, look at these three advantages.

Lapbooks are a powerful way to wrap up what is learned and to pull it together in one place.
And because families can have a wide span of grades to cover, only one lapbook can be made with parts contributed by each child. Also, you have the option of each child making their own. There are no rules to how to use lapbooks to nurture a love of learning.
The value of lapbooks comes from the interaction or collaboration within the family, by self-motivated research, or research assigned by you. Flexibility is key to creating the hands-on tool.

Also, lapbooks should be designed in a way that fits the topics your child will want to include.

For example, when my kids were younger, I decided whether the lapbook should be multiple file folders folded book like, to be letter sized or even legal sized.

Even if the file folder will be folded horizontal or vertical are things I help my kids to think about.

For instance, the first American Civil War lapbook we made, shown above, was book like with file folders put together instead of having flaps.

As my kids got older, they decided what type of design they would like based on their previous experience doing them.

If they needed help of course I would give suggestions.

Other Lapbook Resources

Whether your child wants his or her lapbook to be a study guide or a creative expression there is no lack of materials.

Aren’t the miniature pocket sized coloring books perfect for a lapbook?

Materials to Add to a Homeschool Lapbook

Here area few ideas of fun things or materials to add to your lapbook.

One.
Print a board game on paper and fold it smartly into your lapbook.

Two.
Create a mini or expandable timeline.

Three.
Your child’s handprint craft like a rainforest parrot not only makes fun art but is a memory keeper craft.

Four.
Add printed photos.

Not all photos have to stay on your phone. Add photos of your child’s field trip or a fun co-op to his or her lapbook. This way your child can cherish the moments too.

Five.
Printed mini flashcards.

Some of the materials you can make and others you can buy.

Look at these other 10 fun materials to include.

Other Materials to Add to Your Lapbook

Again, lapbooks are so much more than paper and glues. Add these solid things to your lapbook as you need them.

Mushroom Stickers

Then another really fun way to help kids get excited about a topic is to use themed stickers.

Stickers are not just for young kids.

Even older kids love using stickers to decorate outside flaps or decorate inside minibooks.

Rolls Washi Tape

Also, washi tape can be used to make decorate pouches and pockets in your child's lapbook.

Whether you have a crafty child or not, they'll love using the tape for creating mini pouches and pockets.

Basics Sheet Protectors

As my kids got older, we needed ways to hold writing so that it could easily be retrieved.

The best thing about page protectors is that you can cut them down as needed.

Arts and Crafts for Kids

Feathers, googly eyes and poms poms as well as popsicle sticks can be added to your lapbook.

For example, popsicle sticks can make great puppets or math manipulative to store in pockets.

Feathers can be use for writing materials or to decorate any nature or Native American unit.

Cone Coffee Filters

I've used cone filters for several art projects using pastel chalk.

If your child wants to stamp or paint a story, these coffee filters hold up well.

They are still thin enough but not as thick as cardstock so they can be added easily to the lapbook.

Lined Index Cards

Index cards are timeless for kids who want to learn how to study.

Lapbooks are a great way for your child to display what he or she knows by adding cards throughout the lapbook.

Mini Notebooks

I haven't used these yet but oh so cute.

These could easily be added to a pocket if your child was writing an ongoing story or doing copywork.

Small Envelopes Library Card

If you don't want to print your own pockets to store materials or collections, just add these.

I always have pockets ready to go unless we decide to make one.

People Paper Cut Outs

If I had these when we did the Gingerbread Man it would have saved me tons of time.

These paper cut outs can be used for adding math problems on, adding precious thumb and finger prints and even to act out a story for your littles.

Mosaic Squares - Bright Cardstock Squares

Then I'm loving these mosaic squares.

Sure you can could cut your own or get assorted ones which can be used for a variety of purposes.

We cut out out ones to make a mosiac craft for our Marco Polo Lapbook, but this would have saved us some time.

Some things are just worth it to have around.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

September 10, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, for book Number 29 Down and Out Down Under of the Geronimo Stilton series, we’re making an edible coral reef. The Geronimo Stilton books are for ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

In the Geronimo Stilton series book Down and Out Down Under, Geronimo is off to learn on adventure to Australia.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And when you think of Australia you may immediately picture cute koalas and terrifying crocodiles but another famous and very important part of Australia is The Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for creating this fun hands-on coral reef is from our latest read which is Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29).

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is teeming with incredible life, color, and beauty.

The story covers a lot of topics of interest in Australia.

This fun book mentions land animals, Uluru, Aborigines, topography, and the Great Barrier Reef .

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Today’s hands-on activity is fun, colorful, and a great way to teach all ages about the life that is in the Great Barrier Reef.

If you want to make an impact, hands-on activities are always the best way to fully immerse your kids into your topic.

This hands-on fun activity also appeals to all 5 senses and will make certain that your kids do not forget while they learned anytime soon.

Besides Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29) here are a few beautifully illustrated spines you may want to add to your library.

They are great basics that give great bites of information about the ocean, reefs, ocean animals and plants, and more.

Ocean Anatomy . I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic. This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically!

I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic.

This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

:Next, here are a few facts to share about the The Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef, located off of the eastern coast of Australia, is the longest coral reef in the world.
It is home to 1500 species of tropical fish and 400 finds of hard and soft coral
The reef serves as a protective habitat for many other forms of marine life.
One of the threats to reefs is coral bleaching.
Crown-of-thorns starfish is one of the predators to the reef which feeds on the soft coral polyps.
A coral reef is a fragile ecosystem which requires very specific conditions. The water must be warm (between 69-84 F) and relatively shallow (to depths of 60-100 ft).
Coral reefs exist in shallow waters because they depend on photosynthesis for food production. Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants capture sunlight and convert it, along with water and carbon dioxide into energy.

While your child designs their own little slice of sea life you can talk about the various life that lives here, what is being done to preserve it and where its located.

Next, look at how to make this fun hands-on edible coral reef.

How to Make an Edible Reef

Here is a list of some things we used. Your list can vary depending on what you use for plants and animals

One half sheet cake or a boxed cake mix
Vanilla wafers
Assorted candy – airheads, licorice whips, swedish fish, cookies, sprinkles and white chocolate pretzels
Icing in various colors or food coloring for your own icing

Bake your cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

Flip pan to carefully remove cake and cut ⅓ of the cake off.

Flip over the two pieces and stack the smaller one on top of the other.

And because reefs have overhangs and caves, you can make some nooks and caves by digging out some of the cake.

Add a little food coloring to the frosting and stir. Use any shade you like to create your base.

Carefully ice all over the cake making different blobs and creating different textures creating the base mound of your coral.

You want it to look like big rocks.

Cut up airheads, licorice ropes and other candies to create colorful coral and push in all over the cake.

Broken white chocolate pretzels make nice coral.

Use the heat from your hands to soften Airheads or other taffy and make some fan coral for your reef.

Also, you could create a makeshift piping bag by putting warm wax into a sandwich bag, cut off a small corner and squeeze to make coral shapes onto wax paper.

Allow to cool and harden then remove carefully from waxed paper.

Finally, add in some fun sea creatures and you can add some fun decorations.

These are from obviously these are not edible.

Be sure to wash them well before using to disinfect them and keep your cake safe.

And you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Too, you’ll love the ocean and coral reef resources I have here.