Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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hands-on activities

Make Learning Fun: Free Printable Digestive System Activity

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I have a free printable digestive system activity. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

Every once in a while, we love to add quick activity pages to our unit studies. Plus, learning the digestive system can feel abstract for kids.

And simple activities like dot to dot and word searches help children understand that the digestive system is a process with many parts.

Make Learning Fun: Free Printable Digestive System Activity

Another reason I love using printables at times is it allows kids to work independently while you help another child.

If you keep a science binder add my human body printables and your child can do them on the go.

And one of the best parts is the digestive system activity mats gives a basic introduction to the human body.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY

Next, look at some books and resources we loved during our unit study.

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.

Also, look at this post Basic Steps in the Digestive System and a Fun Digestive System Craft for a fun craft to do.

Also, look at more human body activities.

MORE HUMAN BODY ACTIVITIES FOR HANDS-ON LEARNING

Make Learning Fun: Free Printable Digestive System Activity

Finally, look at how to grab the free printable activities for the digestive system.

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Free Spain Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

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I have a free Spain lapbook for your kids that love to learn hands-on. Also, you’ll love my other Homeschool Lapbook Ideas on my page.

Spain was once part of the Roman Empire and it’s located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

It offers dramatic history, a vibrant culture and has both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Spain is also famous for beautiful architecture, like Moorish influence and bold artistic expression.

Free Spain Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world by native speakers and many U.S. states (like California, Florida, and Texas) have Spanish names due to Spain’s influence.

Also, the capital city is Madrid, which is located near the center of the country. Spain’s history includes explorers, kings and queens, artists, and even civil war in the 1900s.

And it’s also known for lively traditions and celebrations. For example, Flamenco is a dramatic style of dance and music that began in southern Spain. It includes guitar playing, singing, clapping, and powerful dancing.

BOOKS ABOUT SPAIN FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Spain.

We prefer living books when we can find them.

7 Books Set in Spain or About Spain

Grab one or two of these books about Spain to add to your reading day.

Next, here are a few more lapbooks to pair with your unit studies.

MORE HOMESCHOOL LAPBOOKS

KIDS ACTIVITIES ABOUT SPAIN TO PAIR WITH THE SPAIN LAPBOOK

Also, look at what you get in this download of the Spain lapbook.

Free Spain Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History

MINIBOOKS INCLUDED IN THE SPAIN LAPBOOK

  • All About Spain
  • Did You Know
  • Design Your Own Flamenco Dress
  • Words in Spanish
  • Famous Landmarks
  • Tortilla, Churros, Paella
  • Tiles
  • Mosaics

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HOW TO GET THE FREE SPAIN LAPBOOK

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Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

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We’re making sebetu rolls as we learn about Ancient Mesopotamia. Also, look at my page Ancient Mesopotamia Fun Facts For Kids Who Love History for more hands-on history ideas.

Too, you’ll love my Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning. I have a wonderful older book, Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide, which has been one of the best books for fun and easy hands-on history ideas for ancient civilizations.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

It has 4 sections in it: Hittites, Nubians, Mesopotamians and Egyptians.

And today. Ancient Mesopotamia (Hands-on History): Cook Sebetu (seh-BAY-too) Rolls, I’m sharing a fun recipe to do while studying Ancient Mesopotamia.

But first, look at a few interesting facts about this area.

Even though Ancient Mesopotamia is a region, there were several civilizations in this area like the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians to name three of them.

So there was a variety of food grown and cooked throughout each civilization but there were common foods to all of them.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

First, look at these books about Mesopotamia.

7 Books to Read About Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is a region situated within the Tigris–Euphrates River system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia occupies modern Iraq.  In the broader sense, the historical region included present-day Iraq and parts of present-day Iran, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey.

The book Mesopotamian Archaeology states: “Wheat and barley were grown on a large scale, and without doubt formed the staple food of the people, providing them with an ample supply of material for cakes and different kinds of bread, including milk loaves and black bread.

MESOPOTAMIA- IT TRULY IS THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

The principal fruits which were cultivated at this period, were dates, figs, pomegranates and grapes: they were eaten cooked and uncooked, sometimes forming part of a fruit salad, at other times being made into fruit cakes.

As regards vegetables, onions, radishes, cucumbers and beans appear to have been the most favoured.”

So we decided to make a staple from their diet which is bread and tweaking the recipe some from Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide to make Sebetu (seh-BAY-too) Rolls.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

It piqued our interest because supposedly its based on a 3,000 year old recipe. Scholars found recipes written on clay tablets.

This bread or crust was part of bird pie and a few ingredients have been changed. We don’t know what sasku flour is, so we’ll use just regular flour.

I love it when I have all the ingredients already which has to be a great standard for doing hands-on history projects. No fuss and simple are best.

HOW TO MAKE ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA SEBETU ROLLS

Look at this cast of characters that we had our house.

  • 1 c. flour
  • 2 t. olive oil
  • 1 clove fresh garlic (we used minced)
  • 1/4 t. salt
  • 1/4 c milk
  • 2 T water
  • 1-1/2 t. baking powder
  • 2 or 3 green onions (white part only)

Supplies: 1 big mixing bowl, one small bowl, cookie sheet, measuring spoons, 1 cup dry measure and a liquid measuring cup.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

First, oil the cookie sheet and set aside. It doesn’t have to be much. I think we used a couple of teaspoons and wiped it on with a papertowel.

Then mix the flour and baking powder in large bowl and set aside.

In the smaller bowl stir together water and salt.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

Add milk. Stir. And then add the 2 t. olive oil and stir.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

Mix in the garlic and we chopped the white part of the green onion a bit more fine before we added it to the liquid mixture.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

I think Tiny got some green part of the onion, but this isn’t science, so it was all good.

He kneaded the dough as fast as he could and I’m sure not too long as he is not a patient cook.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA SEBETU ROLLS

There’s that cute baker (okay, okay).

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

Then he halved the dough to form 8 balls and baked them on 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

He cooked them a bit longer and checked like every two minutes. So about another 6 minutes or so.

I was shocked! The boys flipped out over how good the rolls were.

They said it reminded them of the biscuits at Red Lobster. They were absolutely delicious with the onion and garlic flavoring added to them.

Day 2. Ancient Mesopotamia (Hands-on History): Cook Sebetu Rolls, I'm sharing a fun recipe to do while studying about Ancient Mesopotamia.

And we were surprised to learn that the ancient recipes seemed so modern.

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

I think your kids will like this! Also, we love, love using Home School in the Woods as they have many hand-on and fun history projects for each time period.

Here are more activities you’ll like:

Ancient Mesopotamia Hands-on History Cook Sebetu Rolls

Go to my Ancient Civilization page for free lapbooks for the civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia, and my Ancient Civilizations II page also has a free Mesopotamia book and Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations.

And here is first day in this series if you missed it:

Ancient Egypt Civilization (Hands-on History): Narmer Crown.

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

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Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

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A nature study for preschoolers should be simple and hands-on. And look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more fun preschool tips and activities.

I have playdough which also makes for a great sensory experience. We’re doing a nature print playdough activity. You can either do this indoors or outdoors.

Besides, at this age, learning happens best through hands-on exploration and play.

Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

Too, preschoolers learn by touching, pressing and squishing so this nature print playdough invites kids to press leaves, flowers, sticks and other things they find into soft dough.

Add some of the books above while they’re playing so they can compare pictures to what they have in their hands.

Comparing the shape of petals, the depth of the print, and texture like bumpy bark makes nature study concrete.

NATURE STUDY INTRODUCTION BOOKS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

Next, look at some of these sweet books about nature study.

Before a child can jump into the skills needed for nature observation they need to understand what it is and how to do it.

10 Nature Study Books for Young Kids

Add these fun books to your home library or to introduce nature study to your little learners.

Then, look at more ways to do a fun nature study with preschoolers.

NATURE STUDY FOR PRESCHOOLERS ACTIVITIES

Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

Finally, look at how to do this nature print playdough activity.

NATURE PRINT PLAYDOUGH ACTIVITY

First, look at this list of supplies.

Supplies

  • Playdough (any color or homemade)
  • Variety of nature items like leaves, different sizes and shapes,flower petals, evergreens, seeds, nuts and cones, sticks and bark, rocks, shells and beach finds, feathers, hay and etc.
Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

Give each child a portion of playdough and a flat work surface or tray.

Arrange the nature items so they are easily accessible.

Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

Encourage children to press, roll, or lightly tap the items into the playdough to create imprints and textures.

Experiment with layering items, pressing with different amounts of pressure, or flipping items for varied patterns.

Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints

Once finished, the playdough can be smoothed out and reused to create new prints.

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

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Grab the full ocean lapbook which include these ocean lapbook printables. This homeschool unit study is a topic that is a fun topic to do with multiple ages. Too, I have more ideas on my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

So today, I have more ocean lapbook printables. The first one is an easy Ocean Resources Scavenger Hunt. I wanted to focus on the resources we get from the Oceans.

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

Besides, I couldn’t hear the moan of anymore writing from my son. 

I think he knows we have been hit and miss lately with school because of our huge move.

Like me, he feels the excitement so he needs easy school from here.  An easy hands-on project is an Ocean Resources Scavenger hunt around the house.

OCEAN BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about the ocean we used.

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

I think any age can do this eazy peazy scavenger hunt. 

EASY OCEAN SCAVENGER HUNT

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

The point of the lesson is to build appreciation for the vast resources and products we depend on from the ocean. For example, we get other things besides fish like carrageenans and alginates that we use in our food. 

Take a look at this website Ocean Facts that I used as a springboard for the ideas. 

I list it at the end of the scavenger hunt so your child can have it for reference and study too.

Also, the Ocean Resources Scavenger Hunt worksheets can be included in the lapbook as minibooks. 

Look at this graphic I created a while back to show how we include worksheets in our lapbooks.

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

The Ocean Resources Scavenger Hunt pages can be glued in the same way in the lapbook.  Staple them together first, then fold them.

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt
Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

The next minibook (minibook 5 on the lapbook layout above) I have ready is 3 Types of Marine Life, which is a 3 lift tab book.  Again, this type of information is easily found on the internet so Tiny can research independently. 

If Tiny is not so inspired or your child either by writing about the marine life in general, then they can choose one to write about, or write about the one I used as a graphic. 

For example, under tab one they can write about plankton, tab two can be about a Blue Whale, a list of animals that swim freely or one animal they choose to focus on. 

Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Follow this same idea for lift tab 3, which is Creatures that Live On Or Near the Ocean Floor.

CREATURES THAT LIVE ON OR NEAR THE OCEAN FLOOR

Because there are choices, hopefully, this avoids writer’s block for our kids and also gives them choice as to what they want to study about in marine life.

Ocean Lapbook Printables & Easy Ocean Scavenger Hunt

Then the last minibook I have is Did You Know, (minibook 6 on the lapbook layout above) which has a few facts on the ocean.  It is an accordion fold minibook. 

Ocean Resources Scavenger Hunt Collage

Be sure to look at the lapbook layout at the top so you can see where we are gluing our minibooks.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE OCEAN LAPBOOK & THIS OCEAN SCAVENGER HUNT

It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!