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Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Mesopotamia lapbook for you today. Too, I created a few extra minibooks but you decide which ones you want to use. Also, look at my pages Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbook ideas and Ancient Civilization.

Lapbooks are interactive, creative tools that bring history to life.

And when it comes to Mesopotamia, the “Cradle of Civilization,” a lapbook is a fun way to help kids engage with one of the most fascinating early cultures in human history.

Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

And Mesopotamia isn’t just one civilization. It is a series of them.

For example, it includes the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians too.

Too, lapbooks can break information into chunks. They allow your child to focus on what he or she is interested in. Additionally, you can include topics you want covered in this lapbook.

For instance, you can cover topics like the major cities like Ur and Babylon, inventions like the wheel and cuneiform, the code of Hammurabi, ziggurats and geography like the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA BOOKS FOR KIDS

Additionally, look at these books.

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.

Then, look at some hands-on activities to pair with this fun Mesopotamia lapbook.

ACTIVITIES TO PAIR WITH ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA LAPBOOK

In addition, look at more homeschool lapbooks.

MORE HOMESCHOOL LAPBOOKS

Free Mesopotamia Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning

Also, look at what is included in the lapbook.

  • Map of Mesopotamia
  • 1 color cover
  • Learn cuneiform writing
  • Fun facts about Mesopotamia
  • Artifacts and architecture
  • 1 flip book Sargon
  • 1 flip book Hammurabi

HOW TO GET THE FREE MESOPOTAMIA LAPBOOK

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber 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!

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a letter C caterpillar craft to add more fun to our units on letters of the alphabet. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas. Too, grab the free template pattern at the bottom of this post. And look at my post Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping for more ideas.

This colorful, creative project combines early literacy skills with fine motor development.

The Letter C Caterpillar Craft fits beautifully into themes like: alphabet week, insects and bugs, springtime and of course use with the classic book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Plus pairing the craft with a story or a theme strengthens comprehension and keeps learning cohesive.

Also, cutting out shapes, gluing pieces together, and decorating the caterpillar all require careful hand-eye coordination.

Too, children will love learning that a caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.

BOOKS ABOUT INSECTS FOR KIDS

Next, here are some fun books about insects for kids.

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

Then, look at a few facts about caterpillars to share with your little one.

CATERPILLAR FACTS FOR KIDS

  • A caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.
  • This amazing change is called metamorphosis.
  • They eat leaves all day long.
  • Some caterpillars even eat flowers or fruit.
  • Caterpillars go through four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • Caterpillars can have as many as 16 legs.

Additionally, look at more letter crafts for preschoolers.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Finally, look at how to make this fun paper plate caterpillar craft.

DOLLAR STORE PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT

First, look at this list of supplies.

  • Paper Plate – Dollar Store
  • Wiggle Eyes – Dollar Store
  • Chenille Stem, Black and Purple – Dollar Store
  • Pom Poms, Yellow – Dollar Store
  • Cardstock, Bright Green
  • Craft Paint – Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Pink
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors 
  • Ruler
  • Permanent Marker
  • Sponge Dabber
  • PATTERN Paper Plate Caterpillar. Grab the pattern by adding your email at the bottom of this post.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP ONE

First, gather all supplies. Fold the paper plate in half and crease firmly.

Basecoat half of the inside of the paper plate in wedges of red, purple, yellow, blue, and orange acrylic craft paint.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.

STEP TWO

Cut the paper plate in half with scissors, then cut along the curve to remove the center.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This creates the caterpillar body shape.

PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL

STEP THREE

Download and print the Caterpillar Pattern, then cut out with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Trace the head once onto the bright green cardstock.

You could also use colored craft foam or craft felt for this project.

STEP FOUR

Cut out the caterpillar head pattern with scissors making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP FIVE

Attach two wiggle eyes to the caterpillar’s face with a glue gun and glue sticks.

Create cheeks by dipping a sponge dabber in pink acrylic craft paint and stamping on either side of the caterpillar’s face.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

STEP SIX

Cut a purple chenille stem in half with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Bend in half, then attach a yellow pom pom to each end to create antennae.

STEP SEVEN

Cut two black chenille stems into one-inch pieces with scissors. These will become the caterpillar’s legs.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP EIGHT

Flip the caterpillar over on your work surface and attach the chenille stem legs along the bottom edge with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP NINE

Attach the antennae to the head and the head to the body with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP TEN

To finish, draw a smile with a black marker to create the caterpillar’s mouth.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This is a fun activity to keep the kiddos busy with coloring, counting and motor skills.

Make this super cute paper plate caterpillar kids craft in just about 30 minutes! 

HOW TO GET THE FREE CATERPILLAR TEMPLATE PATTERN

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber 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!

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today is day 6 unit study resources that stir the imagination because supplementing is important. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. I’m doing 10 days of diving into unit studies by creating a unit study together.

You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed.  Like all things that are practiced, the more you design a unit study, the better you become at it. 

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together

Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so.

And gathering resources, for me anyway, is a constant factor in my journey. 

All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.  For me, it keeps planning time to a minimal because I already have some basic resources to choose from.

I guess you can call the resources I gather my unit study starters.

You notice how I will change directions on you when we are studying one topic and post my resources that I gather up for another one.

  I just did it this week with the few resources I shared about a human body unit study. 

My secret to planning is to gather as I go and to plan one or many unit studies while I am doing another one.  It really keeps the planning part from being overwhelming when you can spread it out over a period of time.

Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination

Gathering resources is just one aspect.  Also, knowing which resources will help to create the love of hands-on learning and knowing which ones to ditch will keep your unit study moving along and not stagnant.

Look at my list of things that I got to on a regular basis for my unit study starters.

Day 6. Resources that Stir the Imagination. 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.

Choosing resources wisely that will capture your children’s interest is not the only caveat to be aware of.

Hands-on or Drooping Hands

While I do whole heartedly agree with the fact that hands-on learning is an inherent part of any well educated child, I do believe that an overload of them or complicated ones can exhaust both teacher and child.

As new unit study converts, sometimes they tend to go overboard with hands-on learning.

Hands-on projects are like seasonings that we add to our food.  Just a pinch of it enhances our food.  Hands-on projects should not be overwhelming or exhausting.

Planning too many or did other things that made them hard to fit into your day can make unit studies turn to blah quickly.

4 UNIT STUDY MISTAKES

Look at some of these tips for adding hands-on resources that will not exhaust you or your kids.

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.
  1. Avoid insanity by doing one project per child or grade level. Do one project for ALL of your children. Aim for a project that satisfies the middle age range of your children.
  2. Don’t do complicated projects. Choose projects that require normal household items you already have on hand. It is okay to gather supplies you don’t have on hand too, but try to plan ones where you have a majority of supplies on hand.
  3. Weigh doing long term projects carefully.  If you have very little kids {mostly under 8 or 9 years old} choose projects that have an immediate wow factor, i.e. blow up something.  You won’t hook them on hands-on learning if they have to always grow something that takes weeks or months to build.  As they grow older, they develop the love of waiting, watching and observing and then you can choose longer projects.
  4. Avoid doing all the work. If you have older kids, let them gather the supplies, decide some of the projects and lead the projects. Even when kids are young, they can learn by gathering up items on your list.

Unit Study Resources Organized

Key to using your resources is being able to find them after you have gathered them up.

An easy system and one that you can retrieve quickly always works best. 

And though I love Pinterest, the Pinterest boards are not really able to be highly organized at this time.  Pinterest really needs sub-boards. I’ve used  Evernote in the past.  Evernote is free and I find it way more practical than bookmarks because I am able to copy/paste just about anything onto it.  I organize it and type whatever I need to remember.

My very favorite way to organize is my Ultimate Unit Study Planner.

Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.

TOS

Important: READ THIS FIRST.
Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.

• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar

• Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later, etc.

• The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.
• Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com (of course substitute the right symbol for dot) in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam.

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. If you have problems getting your download OR have a question email me my web based email: tinahomeschools at gmail dot com.

Then look at more tips.

10 DAYS OF CREATING A UNIT STUDY TOGETHER

Ocean Unit Study Resources Gathered

Here are a few of the resources that I have for the Ocean Unit Study.

Update: I have since completed this unit study and have all these resources & more on free my Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook page.

Ocean Lapbook Cover Option 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Yum. Edible Ocean Layers @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Vocabulary Words and Wave Pocket @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Message in a Bottle Language Arts Activity @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Lapbook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
How Low Can You Go Ocean Lapbook Starter @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Currents Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
What is the Ocean Minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1
Winter Homeschooling - Look to the Sea. 17 Hands-On Activities for Two to Teens @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Edible Geography Sea Levels
5 Days of Look Alive Winter Homeschooling. Day 1 Look to the Sea. @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured

Though there are volumes of links, I find that by grabbing just a few of the ones that better suit us or the ages of my children keeps me from storing links that we will not use.

Gathering resources is a practiced art no less important than teaching the unit study.  Be selective and choose ones that you think will inspire your unit study.

Do you find it hard to organize your resources or find them for your unit study?

Hugs and love ya,

10 Days of Creating A Unit Study Together

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Day 6 Unit Study Resources that Stir the Imagination 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies by Creating a Unit Study Together.Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies. You don’t have to be creative to create a unit study that sparks your children’s interest. You just have to be committed. Gathering resources plays a large part in whether your unit study is successful or just so so. All teachers plan differently, but I prefer to plan as I go along.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an easy DNA extraction from a banana fun experiment.

DNA might sound like something straight out of a high-tech laboratory. However, you don’t need fancy equipment or even a lab coat to explore it.

For example, you can pull visible strands of DNA from an everyday piece of fruit: a banana.

This simple experiment is safe, kid-friendly, and a great way to spark curiosity about biology.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

If you’re looking to dive deeper into food science The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science) offers an engaging look at their history, growth, and biology.

Combining science experiments like this with reading activities turns a hands-on project into a full learning unit.

Hands-on science like banana DNA extraction makes abstract ideas tangible for kids.Instead of just reading that “bananas have DNA,” they can see it with their own eyes.

THE BIOLOGY OF BANANAS

By pairing experiments with books like The Biology of Bananas, you help kids connect curiosity with deeper knowledge, creating a memorable learning experience.

The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Get ready to play (and learn!) with your food! Discover the truth about yeast, learn how to count calories, conduct experiments with rubbery eggs, and more.

Then look at more kitchen science experiments.

MORE FASCINATING KITCHEN SCIENCE IDEAS

Kitchen Chemistry: Cake Baking Experiment for Kids– Experiment with different ingredients to see the effect it has on the baking process.

Strawberry DNA Extraction – Similar to bananas but even more dramatic since strawberries have extra copies of DNA.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Build a DNA Model – Use candy to construct a delicious double helix you can snack on once you are done.

How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model – Use toppings to represent cell organelles for a tasty biology lesson.

Food Chemistry: Gummy Juice Noodles Kids explore the magic of molecular gastronomy by turning fruit juice into long, colorful gummy noodles using gelatin or agar powder. This tasty activity introduces concepts like gelling agents, polymers, and the difference between liquids and solids.

Turn Milk Into Plastic–Using only warm milk and vinegar, kids can transform a liquid into a moldable substance called casein plastic. Afterward, the plastic can be molded into beads, buttons, or small trinkets.

Popcorn Science Mini Unit Study Which Brand Pops the Best?-This mini investigation compares popcorn brands to see which produces the fewest unpopped kernels. Kids record their observations, measure and graph results, and discuss variables that affect ws,Epopping—like moisture content, kernel size, and cooking method. It’s a perfect blend of snack time and STEM learning.

How to make Fizzing Lemonade. Edible Science for Kids-By mixing lemon juice and baking soda, kids create a fizzy, bubbly drink while learning about acids, bases, and carbon dioxide gas.

5 Facts About Ice Cream | How to Make Ice Cream In A Bag Science– Kids discover cool facts about ice cream and then make their own ice cream using milk, sugar, and ice in a sealed bag. Shaking the mixture chills it quickly while adding a dose of fun and a little arm workout.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Finally, look at how to extract DNA from a banana.

DNA EXTRACTION FROM A BANANA EXPERIMENT

First, you will need:

  • 1 ripe banana (the softer, the better)
  • Ziplock  bag
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dish soap
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Coffee filter or fine mesh strainer
  • Small clear glass or cup
  • Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl, chilled in the freezer)
  • Wooden skewer, toothpick, or popsicle stick
Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Peel your banana and place a chunk into the zip-top bag. Seal it and gently mash until it’s smooth and lump-free, this step breaks apart the banana cells physically.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

To make the extraction solution, mix the water, salt, and dish soap in a small cup. The salt helps release the DNA by breaking up protein chains, and the soap dissolves the cell membranes.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Pour the extraction solution into the bag with the banana mush.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Seal and gently mix for about 1 minute. Avoid shaking too hard—you don’t want to break the DNA into pieces.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Place the coffee filter over your glass and pour the banana mixture through it, letting the liquid drip into the glass. This separates the solids from the cell-rich liquid.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Slowly pour chilled rubbing alcohol down the side of the glass so it forms a layer on top of the banana liquid..

Because DNA is not soluble in alcohol, it will rise into this layer.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

In a few minutes, you’ll see white, stringy, cloudy material in the alcohol layer. That’s the banana’s DNA! Use the skewer or toothpick to gently spool it up.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Continue gathering more and more of the DNA

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

How it works:

Every living thing contains DNA, the genetic instructions for life. In bananas, DNA is stored inside the cell nucleus.

The mashing, salt, and soap help break down the cell walls and membranes, releasing DNA into the liquid.

Adding cold alcohol causes the DNA to clump together, making it visible to the naked eye.

BANANA DNA EXTRACTION EXTENSION ACTIVITY IDEAS

  • Banana Genetics – Learn about the differences between wild bananas and cultivated varieties, and how cloning is used in banana farming.
  • Compare Fruits – Try the experiment with strawberries, kiwis, or grapes. Which fruit gives the most visible DNA?
  • Banana Botany – After reading The Biology of Bananas, explore how banana plants grow, their reproduction process, and why most bananas in grocery stores are seedless.
  • Microscope Investigation – Place a drop of your banana DNA on a microscope slide and view it up close.
  • Banana Life Cycle Chart – Draw and label the stages of banana growth from flower to fruit.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing a taste safe kinetic sand recipe easy for you to do at home. We’re always looking for ways to include our youngest learner in our day.

Plus, I’m always on the lookout for hands-on, sensory-rich activities that are not only fun but also educational and safe.

Kinetic sand is a moldable, squeezable sensory material that feels like wet beach sand but doesn’t dry out.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

However, taste-safe kinetic sand is made from simple, edible household ingredients like flour and food coloring.

And this is a safe alternative for the toddler who is in the everything goes in my mouth stage.

Also, you can incorporate this sensory activity with many themed topics.

For example, you can use a different food coloring when exploring colors at the preschool and toddler ages.

BOOKS ABOUT COLORS FOR KIDS

For example, look at these books about color to add to your home library.

8 Books About Color

Add these books about color to your home library.

Also, look at more posts about sand.

MORE HANDS ON POSTS ABOUT SAND FOR KIDS

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Now, look at how to make this taste safe kinetic sand.

TASTE SAFE KINETIC SAND

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • 1 cup + 4 Tbsp baking soda
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup corn flour
  • 1 Tbsp cream of tartar
  • ¼ cup warm water Orange food coloring Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Spill tray or container with sides Plastic toys and shapes
How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

First, in a bowl, combine the baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, and cream of tartar. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

In a measuring cup, add warm water and orange food coloring.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Stir well to combine the food coloring and water.

How To Make Taste Safe Kinetic Sand Recipe Easy

Pour the water into the dry ingredients. Stir well until all the ingredients are combined.

Add to a container with sides, toys, and shapes.

  • *This can be stored in an airtight container.
  • *If the sand is too wet, add more baking soda.
  • *If the sand is too dry, add more water 1 tsp at a time,
  • *Any food coloring can be used.