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Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft

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.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

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Today, for book Number 52 the Geronimo Stilton theme is Mouse in Space and we’re making a fun puffy paint moon craft. The Geronimo Stilton books were written by Elisabetta Dami an Italian children’s book writer.

The Geronimo Stilton series is an absolute delight for children ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

Today, Geronimo Stilton theme is about space.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

So instead of going back in time like his adventures take him, Geronimo Stilton is headed to space.

Geronimo blasts off on a top-secret mission full of space training, interaction with Dr. Wicked Whiskers, satellites, and a spacewalk.

This book is perfect for diving into some fun science.

Space Unit Study Craft

And today we are going to learn about and create a puffy paint moon that glows in the dark.

This spacecraft has a lot of texture, is fun to make and the fun continues when you turn out the light.

Once charged a bit in the light it will glow brightly, and you have a fun moon to hang up in your bedroom or classroom.

Choose a few activities, crafts, and other books and you have yourself the makings of a space unit study.

I have some ideas to get you started below.

Don’t forget to use the words in different colors, font sizes, and types in the Geronimo Stilton books for spelling and vocabulary.

They make it easy to turn a simple book into a mini unit study.

There are many topics they cover and the layout of the words on the pages makes it fun.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

The Space themed Safari Ltd. Toob is a great place to start and can be used in dioramas, sensory bins, or just fun dramatic play situations.

You could also use them to tell a story about space or they can be used as inspiration for a drawing.

Then Basher Space Exploration and Basher Astronomy take big topics and break them down with silly pictures.

This makes topics easy to understand for any grade.

Four Space Hands-on Craft Ideas

Next, add in more hands-on ideas to make this unit study longer.

And this last one is my HUGE Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

Don’t forget to grab Mouse in Space! (Geronimo Stilton #52).

Then grab the free unit study.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

Also, add more Geronimo Stilton book resources for a fun literature slant to space.

Other Geronimo Stilton

Most of the hands-on activities below can be done with multiple ages.

Finally, let’s make this fun glow in the dark moon craft.

Now off to the moon!

You can trace a plate or bowl to create the outline of your moon.

But this makes for a great opportunity to introduce your child to a compass to create circles.

How to Make A Glow in the Dark Puffy Paint Moon Craft

You will need:

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

You can make your glow in the dark puffy paint moon craft on paper.

However, we had some flat canvases already and I wanted to create something a little more permanent.

So we used our canvases. Trace your moon either with a round plate or demonstrate how to use a compass to draw a circle as large as your canvas.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

Next, combine 1 part glue to 3 parts shaving cream.
How much you mix will depend on how large of a moon you are going to make or if you want extra for more than one.

For a 8 1/2 x12 canvas I used about 1 cup shaving cream, ¼ cup of glue, and 1 heaping Tablespoon glow in the dark paint.

Once mixed, paint in your moon with very thick blobs of paint. Cover the entire circle well.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

While the paint is still wet, stamp in it a few times with different size caps to create craters.

Your kids can also use their fingers. Add a few blobs of your glow in the dark paint here and there around the canvas to be stars or asteroids.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

Allow paint to dry overnight so it is completely dry throughout.

Once it is dry your child can add very wet watercolor around your moon.

Add watercolor right up to the edges of your puffy paint. Then, sprinkle with a bit of salt to create some texture.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

Once dry brush away your salt and it will take some of the watercolor with it leaving a unique texture to the night sky.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

You can grab a flat canvas at Dollar Tree to keep it very low cost. Look how great it looks at night!

What do you think? Are you ready for this fun science activity go with your literature study?

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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I have 19 hands-on rainforest activities for kindergarten. Too, grab more kindergarten activities on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

And learning about the rainforest is a fun subject to cover for any grade including kindergarten.

Too, teaching children at the kindergarten age should include hands-on activities and should be play-based.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Kindergarten learners can discover the rainforest through their senses. And the word “rain forest” denotes the fact that these are the some of the world’s wettest ecosystems.

While exploring nature, they learn through the sense of smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

So, you’ll want to include learning through the senses and a full immersion into the world of nature.

If you have room in your learning space, create a play-based Amazon theme area. Make the jungle come alive through music and props.

Amazon Rainforest Animals

First, begin with what kids this age love and that is animals.

There are many Amazon rainforest animals which your child can focus on.

A few animals which can ignite your child’s love for the wealth of the life that lives in the rainforest are:

  • Jaguars
  • Toucans
  • Iguanas
  • Giant Ant Eaters
  • Kinkajou also called honey bears
  • Harpy Eagles
  • Piranhas
  • Sloth and
  • Butterflies
  • Red and Green Macaw

Besides the animals are really what excites your kids when learning about the rainforest.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

You’ll love the page I have here Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon where your children can see more pictures.

Rainforest Activities

Next, I have many rainforest activities for kids of all ages, but your kindergarten aged children will love putting together this fun lapbook.

Actually, my lapbooks are for multiple ages and are mix and match. Not all kids, especially kindergarten are on at the same level. That is perfectly normal.

Kids this age can be reading beginning chapter books, and some are still learning letter sounds. All of this is well within the range of normal for this age.

The point is kids love learning and this is the time for projects.

For example, look at these free Amazon rainforest lapbooks.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look here to read about my free Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks.

Other Kindergarten Resources

Look at some of these other kindergarten resources.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look at the 19 crafts below. I know you’ll find one or two that will add some fun to your child’s learning day.

Rainforest Activities

Kindergarten learning should be about hands-on crafts, moving, singing and learning that is play- based or crafts.

These rainforest crafts can be done by all your kids but especially your kindergarten aged children.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

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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.

  1. Lapbooks are a powerful way to wrap up what is learned and to pull it together in one place.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

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.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

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.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

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.

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

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Rainforest crafts for kindergarten encourages creativity, fosters imagination, and strengthens fine motor skills. Crafts are part of kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

And learning about the rainforest with a unit study approach is one of the best ways to teach kindergarten aged children.

Rainforest crafts for kindergarteners introduces young children to one of the most important ecosystems in the world.

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

And a fun paper plate monkey craft encourages young children to understand the diversity of the rainforest.

Not only can you help your child understand the difference between plants and animals, but your child can use their sense of hearing.

Howler Monkey Facts

First, help your child know how the animals of the rainforest depend on the trees (canopy) and even the understory (layer of vegetation under the canopy) to survive.

The understory is where tree trunks, vines, and bushes grow. Animals who live here in this section can climb very well.

But the emergent layer or the layer above the canopy is bright and sunny and animals with good balance like howler monkeys live here.

Then, look at a few facts about the howler monkeys.

  • Howler monkeys are one of the loudest animals in the rainforest.
  • Their howls sound like a strong wind blowing through a tunnel. Have you child stand up and see how loud he or she can howl. Watch the video above and listen to the male howler monkey.
  • Monkeys live in the trees and eat only vegetation like fruit and flowers.

However, more than just the howler monkey makes its home in the Amazon Rainforest.

What Monkeys Live in the Amazon Rainforest

Squirrel monkeys also live there and are very intelligent animals.

Squirrel Monkey Facts

Look at a few fun facts about squirrel monkeys to share with your child.

  • They are not the same color all over which makes it harder for predators to see.
  • Long tails are used for balance.
  • Also, they have hands with thumbs and can grip branches and food.
  • Squirrel Monkeys live in large groups like 100 in a group and this way they can warn each other of predators.

However, besides the howler monkey and squirrel monkey there are many species which live in the rainforest.

Some other monkeys are

  • Pygmy marmoset
  • Gray woolly
  • Emperor tamarin
  • Peruvian spider
  • Dusky titi

Your child will love the book Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme.

In this book there is not only rhyming language to share with your child but it about the Manú National Park in Peru where an amazing fourteen different species of monkeys live together.

Add in some sweet lovable friends, and you can study the rainforest a couple of days or even extend it to a week.

Make a Rainforest Paper Plate Monkey

Next encourage your child to make this easy rainforest paper plate monkey.

We simply followed the instructions at the adorable paper plate monkey at Easy Peasy and Fun.

Look at this list of things we used.

  • two paper plates
  • beige paper
  • glue
  • scissors
  • pencil
  • black marker
Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

This was such a fun and easy rainforest activity. We traced Mr. MunchKing’s hands on light brown paper.

Then we pained the paper plates.

And cut out the legs, arms and face on lighter paper we already had.

Following the instructions for the craft on Easy Peasy and Fun we outlined a face.

We cut out the ears and tails separately and glued on.

Mr. Munchking loved his craft.

More Rainforest Crafts

If you’re looking for more rainforest crafts for kindergarten, you’ll love my huge Amazon Rainforest Unit Study and Lapbooks.

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

Also look at:

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

Look at these other posts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum