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handson

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

January 26, 2024 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Not only do I have a craft for you, but I also have 6 more Australian Animal craft ideas to add to your unit studies. Also, look at this Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art.

I love an elaborate, involved, detailed craft as much as the next mom now and again but paper bag crafts like this adorable platypus prove that you don’t always need expensive or complicated supplies.

A platypus is an easily identifiable animal with fur.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

It has webbed feet, and a duck-like bill.

It’s like some kind of odd Frankenstein creation of a beaver, otter, and duck.

Luckily even though it’s unusual looking it is still a very basic shape and easy to replicate with a few craft supplies.

With this very simple craft, you are still able to teach about the strange physical characteristics of the Australian platypus and talk about where it makes its home, how it reproduces and so much more.

Let’s start by learning a little bit more about the platypus. Of course, I have more Australian animal craft ideas to do and finally, we will put together that paper bag platypus

Kids’ Books Set In or About Australia

Next, I like to add books to our learning day and I lean toward living books first.

Then I add reference books to round out our learning day.

You may love to add one or two of these books to your home library.

14 Australia Books and Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Australia to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Image for Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids (A Kids' Year)

Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids (A Kids' Year)

Meet Ned, Lily, Zoe, Kirra and Matilda ― Australian children representing a multicultural blend of culture and race that typifies our beautiful country. They are taking you through a year in the life of Australian kids, from celebrations to traditions to events, to our everyday way of life. They are Australia.An Aussie Year is a picture book bursting with national pride. It is a snapshot of who we are as a nation, and covers our modern day culture, lifestyle and traditions. Its pages feature trailing, meandering text, dates and gorgeous illustrations showing our five Aussie children at play, at school, at home, and enjoying their parts of Australia ― from the tropical north out to our rugged west and beautiful Tassie.

Image for D is for Down Under: An Australia Alphabet

D is for Down Under: An Australia Alphabet

What country holds the title as the world's smallest continent and yet the world's largest island? I stands for island, but one that's not too small. Our island is enormous. Just try to see it all! There's no place else quite like it; that is clearly true. Australia is a continent, but it's an island, too. Originally founded as a penal colony, Australia has long been known for its contrasts (think: wild outback and sophisticated Sydney Opera House). Accompanied by vibrant colorful artwork, D is for Down Under: An Australia Alphabet captures the spirit of this proud country and its many treasures, natural and man-made. Visit spectacular Sydney Harbor, try your hand as a jackaroo working a sheep station, or just sit back and enjoy a Vegemite sandwich. Below the starry night glitter of the Southern Cross constellation, Australia's "down under" wonders shine brightly. Devin Scillian is an award-winning author and Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist. His books with Sleeping Bear Press include the national bestseller A is for America: An American Alphabet. Devin lives in Michigan and anchors the news for WDIV-TV in Detroit. Geoff Cook has been illustrating for 35 years. His career began as a graphic designer, after graduating from Prahran College in Melbourne. Soon realizing he wanted to be an illustrator, he became a partner in the illustration studio All Australian Graffiti. He lives in Australia.

Image for Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?

Grace recounts how she, her parents, and her brothers spent an entire winter travelling completely around Australia in a camper.

Image for This is Australia: A Children's Classic

This is Australia: A Children's Classic

Like the other Sasek classics, these are facsimile editions of his original books. The brilliant, vibrant illustrations have been meticulously preserved, remaining true to his vision more than forty years later and, where applicable, facts have been updated for the twenty-first century, appearing on a "This is . . . Today" page at the back of each book. The stylish, charming illustrations, coupled with Sasek’s witty, playful narrative, make these books a perfect souvenir that will delight both children and their parents, many of whom will remember them from their own childhood. In This is Australia, first published in 1970, Sasek swings down under, winging his readers into Sydney, with its famous bridge and space-age Opera House; bustling, modern Melbourne; colonial Adelaide; semitropical Brisbane; the garden city of Canberra; mineral-rich Perth; and Alice Springs, Australia’s most famous outback town.

Image for Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: For the Children of Gunbalanya

Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: For the Children of Gunbalanya

When Ernie leaves the city and goes to live in Arnhem Land in the Australian outback, he sends letters to his old classmates--Rosie, Frank, Tessa, Nicky, Clive, and Celeste--describing the activities of his new friends.

Image for The Pumpkin Runner

The Pumpkin Runner

"Nearly all the sheep ranchers in Blue Gum Valley rode horses or drove jeeps to check on their sheep. But Joshua Summerhayes liked to run...with Yellow Dog trailing behind him." So it's no surprise when Joshua decides to enter a race from Melbourne to Sydney. People laugh when old Joshua shows up in his overalls and gumboots, calmly nibbling a slice of pumpkin for energy. But then he pulls into the lead, and folks are forced to sit up and take notice. Inspired by a true event (and just in time for fall's pumpkin harvest!) a talented team introduces a humble and generous hero who knows that winning isn't always the reason to run a race. Marsha Diane Arnold made "an impressive debut" (School Library Journal) with the multi-award-winning Heart of a Tiger (Dial). Brad Sneed most recently illustrated Smoky Mountain Rose (Dial), an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists that Publishers Weekly said will "make readers 'happy as a pig in a peanut patch.' " Marsha Diane Arnold lives in Sebastopol, California. Brad Sneed lives in Prairie Village, Kansas.

Image for Possum Magic (Voyager Books)

Possum Magic (Voyager Books)

Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more. “Another treat from Mem Fox that is sure to be treasured. The whimsical illustrations are a wonderful complement.

Image for My Place

My Place

Depicts life in Australia at different times in its development by viewing one place in different years while moving backwards from 1988 to 1788.

Image for Thunderbolt the Falcon

Thunderbolt the Falcon

When Joe discovers that his friend David’s grandfather used to train hawks just like in the book he’s reading he wants to try it for himself. After convincing Grandfather Mannering to teach them the art of falconry they set off to capture a juvenile Peregrine Falcon and learn the ancient art. Set in Australia, but relevant everywhere Peregrine Falcons are found, Thunderbolt the Falcon is a fascinating and humorous read. C.K. Thompson weaves many facts about birds and nature seamlessly within the narrative with many events inspired by real life

Image for Larry - The Story of an Australian Seagull

Larry - The Story of an Australian Seagull

Some birds and animals of Australia in natural color
Image for Dreaming Soldiers

Dreaming Soldiers

A powerful and moving story about true mateship. Dreaming Soldiers weaves tales of childhood adventures and battlefield challenges with gentle Dreaming themes.This is a touching friendship story about Jimmy and Johnno, two young Australian boys in the 1900s; mates who do everything together, sharing adventures and growing up side by side in the dusty cattle yards of an Outback South Australian station and later on the muddy WWI battlefields of the Western Front.

Image for The Mostly True Story Of Matthew & Trim,

The Mostly True Story Of Matthew & Trim,

Matthew Flinders and his beloved cat, Trim, circumnavigate and map Australia, travel the oceans, end up shipwrecked, saved, then captured and imprisoned on the Ile de France where Trim is separated from his beloved master. Will they ever meet again?

Image for The Voyages of Matthew Flinders

The Voyages of Matthew Flinders

Captain Matthew Flinders was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his time. He sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia, survived shipwreck and disaster only to be imprisoned for violating the terms of his scientific passport by changing ships and carrying prohibited papers. From an early age, it was his desire to be an explorer. He realised that the ability to make the best use of equipment at hand was a necessary skill of an explorer.

Image for Mini Australian Wildlife Animal Figurines

Mini Australian Wildlife Animal Figurines

The miniature animal figurines playset includes Kangaroo, Koala, Frilled Lizard, Ostrich, Cockatoo, Crocodile, Platypus, African Wild Dog, Oxyuranus scutellatus, Tasmanian devil, Wombat. Totally 11 PCS mini north American animals figurine

Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Platypus

  1. Platypus are only found in eastern Australia from the steamy tropics of far north Queensland down to the freezing snows in Tasmania.
  2. The only place you will see a platypus in America is in a zoo, and currently, the only two platypus outside of Australia are at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
  3. The male platypus is one of the very few venomous mammals in the world.
  4. Rather than giving birth to live young, like most mammals, the platypus lays eggs underwater, and then they hatch 10 days later. They will stick around for another four months to nurse.
  5. Platypus are nocturnal animals and spend up to half the time in the water feeding and about 14 hours sleeping in the nesting boxes along their burrows near river banks.
6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

You can also check out one of my favorite children’s educational shows that features animal life all over the planet, Wild Kratts. This episode is about this duck-billed wonder, Platypus Cafe.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas

  1. For preschoolers learn How To Make A Kangaroo Pocket with my Letter K Craft Preschool Australia Theme.
  2. The 4 species of echidna are the only other mammals that lay eggs and make an adorable Paper Plate Echidna.
  3. Make a Paper Plate Cassowary craft to highlight this very unusual Australian bird.
  4. Check out these 9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft for another cuddly Australian friend.
  5. This sweet little felt Kookaburra Craft idea includes the lyrics to the old campfire song-Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.
  6. Create a cute and cuddly Koala Newspaper Craft with easy supplies and a free template.

Be sure to grab a set of these Australian animals to use in dioramas, sensory bins, sensory trays, with Play-Doh, in the block center, and anywhere else to spark your child’s imagination and see Australian animal replicas up close.

Easy Paper Bag Platypus

You will need:

  • Two paper bags.
  • Black craft foam.
  • Large Googly eyes.
  • Craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Flip your paper bag over so the side with no fold over is facing down on the table. Bend the four corners in about an inch and glue them down into place through both layers.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Next, flip your bag over and open it up.

Stuff the second paper bag crumpled up inside of it to give a little bit of dimension to the body.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Run a line of hot glue inside the opening end of the bag and press it together to seal it closed.

On a large sheet of black craft foam draw two bills, a tail, and four webbed feet. Platypuses have five digits on each foot.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Cut out your foam shapes and use a black marker to make nostrils on the end of one of the bills, and to create Vs for toes and webbing on the feet.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Flip your paper bag back over and glue the Google eyes.

Glue close to the end with the opening leaving enough room to attach the bill.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Use craft glue.

For older children hot glue works well and dries quickly to attach the bills on the top and bottom of the end with the opening below the eyes.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Glue the 4 feet inside the side folds of the bag.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Then add the tail on the back.

Finally, use the black marker to add a little bit of fur detail to the bag.

I promised you it was easy and cute, didn’t I?

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: animals, Australia, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, paper bag, puppets

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

January 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest known sculpture in Egypt. Also, grab the Egypt – Famous Pharaohs and Queens Lapbook on my Ancient Civilizations page.

It stands in front of the pyramids on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt.

And it was created in a quarry to build the pyramids and other structures nearby.

By now you probably know what a fantastic resource LEGO is in your homeschool.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

They can be used for math manipulatives to building iconic treasures like the Great Sphinx of Giza.

We have amassed an astounding number of LEGOs over the years.

Still, I have a tutorial to show you how to build a small replica of the sphinx using basic LEGO pieces that you might find in a basic box except for the face.

But I am also giving you a simpler alternative for that as well.

Ancient Egypt Books for Kids

Next, add some of these books to your learning day.

I lean toward living books to bring a topic to life like history.

Then I add reference books.

17 Ancient Egypt Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these books to your home library and use them for a day of learning or for unit studies.

Image for The Egypt Game

The Egypt Game

The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard, Melanie and April decide it’s the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians, and they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it’s just a game until strange things start happening. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?

Image for Tales of Ancient Egypt (Puffin Classics)

Tales of Ancient Egypt (Puffin Classics)

These stories include the great myths - of Amen-Ra, who created all the creatures in the world; of Isis, seaching the waters for her dead husband Osiris; of the Bennu Bird and the Book of Thoth. But there are also tales told for pleasure about magic, treasure and adventure - even the first ever Cinderella story.

Image for The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt’s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

Image for The Buildings of Ancient Egypt

The Buildings of Ancient Egypt

Uses archeological evidence to describe the construction, decoration, and furnishings of ancient Egyptian tombs, pyramids, and homes

Image for Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past)

Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past)

Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology.

Image for Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself

Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself

From reed boats, papyrus, and amulets, to pyramids, pharaohs, and mummies, Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself explores the fascinating lives of ancient Egyptians through more than25 hands-on building projects and activities. Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself gives readers today a chance to experience how the ancient Egyptians lived, cooked, worked, worshipped, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors through building projects that use common household supplies.Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project are combined with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia for the real-life models of each project. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life in ancient Egypt.

Image for The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Dover Children's Classics)

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Dover Children's Classics)

Chebron, the young son of an Egyptian high priest, and Amuba, a young slave in the boy's household, are close friends; but their lives are greatly altered when Chebron accidentally kills a cat, an animal held sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Forced to flee for their safety, the boys and their companions begin a long and dangerous journey. A thrilling adventure story, this is also a tale packed with historical facts. Among other fascinating details, young readers learn about the Egyptian religion and geography, how the Nile was used for irrigation, and how the Egyptians made war and were prepared for burial. A captivating book that accurately describes life in a once magnificent civilization, this volume will especially appeal to youngsters fascinated by the life and customs of ancient Egypt.

Image for A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (A History of Ancient Egypt, 1)

A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (A History of Ancient Egypt, 1)

The ancient world comes to life in the first volume in a two book series on the history of Egypt, spanning the first farmers to the construction of the pyramids. Famed archaeologist John Romer draws on a lifetime of research to tell one history's greatest stories; how, over more than a thousand years, a society of farmers created a rich, vivid world where one of the most astounding of all human-made landmarks, the Great Pyramid, was built. Immersing the reader in the Egypt of the past, Romer examines and challenges the long-held theories about what archaeological finds mean and what stories they tell about how the Egyptians lived. More than just an account of one of the most fascinating periods of history, this engrossing book asks readers to take a step back and question what they've learned about Egypt in the past. Fans of Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra and history buffs will be captivated by this re-telling of Egyptian history, written by one of the top Egyptologists in the world.

Image for Boy of the Pyramids

Boy of the Pyramids

The pictured wall of an Egyptian tomb supplied the inspiration for this unusual story, which takes place during the building of the Great Pyramid of Khufu more than 4,000 years ago. Kaffe and Sari, an Egyptian noble's son and a slave girl from the nomadic Sand People of the Sinai region, help solve a troublesome mystery and trap its culprit. All told against a colorfully detailed backdrop of ancient Egypt.

Image for The Golden Goblet

The Golden Goblet

Ranofer wants only one thing in the world: to be a master goldsmith like his beloved father was. But how can he when he is all but imprisoned by his evil half brother, Gebu? Ranofer knows the only way he can escape Gebu's abuse is by changing his destiny. But can a poor boy with no skills survive on the cutthroat streets of ancient Thebes? Then Ranofer finds a priceless golden goblet in Gebu's room and he knows his luck−and his destiny−are about to change.

Image for Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

In 1802, Jean-Francois Champollion was eleven years old. That year, he vowed to be the first person to read Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphs. Champollion’s dream was to sail up the Nile in Egypt and uncover the secrets of the past, and he dedicated the next twenty years to the challenge.James Rumford introduces the remarkable man who deciphered the ancient Egyptian script and fulfilled a lifelong dream in the process. Stunning watercolors bring Champollion’s adventure to life in a story that challenges the mind and touches the heart.

Image for The Egyptian Cinderella

The Egyptian Cinderella

This Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo.

Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile.

So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt?

Image for Augustus Caesar's World

Augustus Caesar's World

In her unique approach, Foster weaves a story of the world around her central character; rather than focusing exclusively on geo-political events, as most textbooks do, she includes stories of scientific discovery and invention, music, literature, art, and religion. Her keen intuition for stories will especially delight and amuse youthful readers. In Augustus Caesar's World, Foster traces the seven major civilizations of Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia from 4500 B.C. to the time of Augustus Caesar in 44 B.C. and culminating in 14 A.D. Within this timeframe readers will learn not only the stories of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony, but also the historian Livy and how Virgil came to write the Aeneid. Foster will then take her readers all over the world to learn what was happening at this same time in China, Persia, India and so on. Foster's detailed pen and ink drawings are fresh and appealing, and her illustrated timelines give a clear sense of chronology, enriching the engaging text.

Image for The Lost Queen of Egypt: The Tomb of Nefertiti

The Lost Queen of Egypt: The Tomb of Nefertiti

For professor of Egyptology Henry Markham, this would be the crowning glory of his career: an intact tomb of Nefertiti, the great royal wife of Akhenaten and the heretic pharaoh of eighteenth dynasty Egypt, whose bust of exquisite beauty resides in the Berlin Museum, which he had searched for the last ten years. He had an unspoken passion for her only excelled by his young assistant, Steven Sinclair, whose visions and dreams of her haunted him, much to the annoyance of Helen Carter, the freelance journalist on-site who, with her business partner Mike Mitcham, the digs photographer, saw Nefertiti as a rival for his affections. Thanks to a gambling debt, Mike finds himself the proud owner of a large luxury mobile home that four Mossad agents are interested in, along with Emil Brogini, who did a drug deal with two Mossad rogue agents since deceased. The arrival of Henry's estranged sister, Millicent, with her friend Jane Evesham, a gifted clairvoyant, does nothing to improve his temper, especially when Jane tells him they are in great danger. Can the danger come from four renegade Mossad agents or Emil Bratislav Brogini, Mr. Big in Cairo, into every racket going? Jane discovers that Helen has a latent gift of clairvoyance which, with their combined powers in a séance, sends them back to the eighteenth dynasty with Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and danger around every corner as they try to discover who is trying to kill them all using a large band of Libyan bandits. They survive ambushes, assassin's knives, and chariot chases, finally getting back to their own time with Nefertiti.

Image for Pyramid

Pyramid

Pyramid is a strong resource for readers looking to expand their knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization, history, and architecture.

Award-winning author-illustrator David Macaulay explores the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt through richly detailed black-and-white illustrations and clear, concise text.

Though created with middle grade readers in mind, all with interest in the topic will enjoy this impressive look at what many consider to be one of the most awesome of humankind's creations.

Image for Pharaoh's Boat

Pharaoh's Boat

With poetic language and striking illustrations, Weitzman tells the story of how one of the greatest boats of ancient Egypt came to be built and built again.In the shadow of the Great Pyramid at Giza, the most skilled shipwrights in all of Egypt are building an enormous vessel that will transport Cheops, the mighty pharaoh, across the winding waterway and into a new world. Pharaoh's boat will be a wonder to behold, and well prepared for the voyage ahead. But no one, not even the Egyptian king himself, could have imagined just where the journey of Pharaoh's boat would ultimately lead.

Image for The Winged Cat

The Winged Cat

Merit is a servant girl in the temple of cat goddesses. In a rage, Waha, the High Priest, kills a sacred car, and Merit sees him do it.But when Merit reports the evil deed to Pharaoh, Waha denies that he is guilty.

Also, look at some of these fun facts about the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Uncovering the Mysteries of The Great Sphinx of Giza

  • Who made it? The mythological statue has the head of a human and the body of a lion. It was built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom.
  • What is it made from? It is made with a single piece of bedrock. Repairs have been made over time using limestone. This is a single carved piece, not smaller blocks.
  • Where is it located?  Giza, Egypt
  • When was it carved? It was carved in 2500 BC.
  • How big is it? 240 feet long and 66 feet high, it is an impressive sight!
  • Why was it built? It was made for the pharaoh Khafre, the builder of the Second Pyramid at Giza.
  • What happened to his nose? While there are several theories as to what happened to the nose (and it has never been found) close inspection suggests that it was a deliberate act using rods or chisels.
Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Next, look at some more hands-on activities to learn about Ancient Egypt.

Hands-on Activities for Ancient Egypt

  • 7 Fun Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids
  • Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game
  • Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Ancient Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
  • Fun Hands-On History: Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft

Finally, how to make this fun Lego Great Spinx of Giza.

Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

You can find every piece to create your own Sphinx of Giza in this LEGO Classic Creative Box.

You can make your sphinx with any color of bricks.

I chose a light tan to give it the sand look.

You can also use any mix of brick sizes and make the model as large or as small as you wish.

If you are new to building with LEGO, when i say 1×2, etc…

Here is an example of what I mean.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

In addition, for language arts, history and geography you can assign Where Are The Great Pyramids to learn more about the Sphinx as well as the pyramids.

Rather than a list, I am giving you a photo for reference that you can print and have your child gather the pieces or pieces that are as close as possible.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Lay down your base. This is one of the few pieces that does not come in the basic box except in green, so use that if you like.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place 1×6 pieces on either side, one stud in and one stud away from the edge to create arms.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Fill in a 4×8 area between the “arms” of the monument.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place another layer of bricks starting on the second stud from the back in a 4×4 grouping.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

For the back half of the lion’s body put pieces together like in this photo

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Use these special rounded pieces to give the straight edges some curve. If you don’t have them you can just finish it off with a straight-edged brick.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

To create the head and headpiece (Nemes) of the pharaoh put these pieces together like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Then place them all together.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Put directly in front of the second layer of the body.

If you have the bricks with forward-facing studs this will help create a general face shape.

 If not just use a tall 1×2 brick in its place like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: ancient, ancient civilizations, ancient egypt, egypt, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, historyspine, homeschoolhistory, world history

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

January 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m showing you how to make an Everglades diorama by simply upcycling a cereal box, adding in a few gathered nature items, and a handful of plastic animals. You’ll also love ideas on my post How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama.

This is a fantastic hands-on project to cover the flora and fauna of the Everglades.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

And you research, talk, and learn about this unique biome.

The Everglades are a subtropical wetland ecosystem that spread across much of central and south Florida.

It’s so large it covers over 1.5 million acres.

Sadly, it was twice as large many years ago but has been depleted.

Books about The Everglades

Next, add some of these books set in Florida and about the Everglades.

I lean toward living books first, then like to add reference type books to round out our study of topics.

12 Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read to About the Everglades in Florida

Add a few of these resources about the Everglades to your learning day.

Image for [( Strawberry Girl )] [by: Lois Lenski] [Dec-2008]

[( Strawberry Girl )] [by: Lois Lenski] [Dec-2008]

Birdie and her family are trying to build a farm in Florida. But it’s not easy with the heat, droughts, and cold snaps—and neighbors that don’t believe in fences. But Birdie won’t give up on her dream of strawberries, and her family won’t let those Slaters drive them from their home! This Newberry Medal–winning novel presents a realistic picture of life on the Florida frontier. 

Image for Everglades Adventure

Everglades Adventure

Toby Morgan was sixteen when his doctor father moved the family from New Jersey to Fort Dallas---now known as Miami---just after the Civil War. Florida then was an unexplored tropical wilderness that would have delighted the heart of an active boy---and Toby was no exception. Hunting, fishing, and cruising in his canoe through the watery channels of the Everglades, Toby soon came to know the birds and animals that abound there, as well as the ruthless plume hunters. He also discovered a forgotten tribe of Indians deep in the swampland. One day, in a dangerous encounter with an alligator, Toby's life was saved by Miki-loko, son of the Caloosa chief, and they became close friends. Later, when Professor Evans, a naturalist, arrived to photograph Florida wild life, Toby was well qualified to act as guide for him and his tomboy daughter, Sue. Through a swift and unexpected turn of events, the story builds to an exciting climax, and in the end Toby is launched on a fascinating scientific career. As a writer of thrilling adventure tales for teenagers, Stephen Meader has few equals, and in this book he has not only told a story of action and suspense, but has caught the vivid color of a picturesque era with authenticity and rare skill.

Image for Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

From acclaimed children’s book biographer Sandra Neil Wallace comes the inspiring and little-known story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable journalist who saved the Florida Everglades from development and ruin. Marjory Stoneman Douglas didn’t intend to write about the Everglades but when she returned to Florida from World War I, she hardly recognized the place that was her home. The Florida that Marjory knew was rapidly disappearing—the rare orchids, magnificent birds, and massive trees disappearing with it. Marjory couldn’t sit back and watch her home be destroyed—she had to do something. Thanks to Marjory, a part of the Everglades became a national park and the first park not created for sightseeing, but for the benefit of animals and plants. Without Marjory, the part of her home that she loved so much would have been destroyed instead of the protected wildlife reserve it has become today.

Image for Sea of Grass

Sea of Grass

Charming Children's story of a little Seminole Indian boy and his family life in the Florida Everglades with Color illustrations throughout by Richard Floethe.

Image for The Moon of the Alligators (The Thirteen Moons Series)

The Moon of the Alligators (The Thirteen Moons Series)

Describes an alligator's desperate search for food in the Florida Everglades during the month of October.

Image for Everglades: America's Wetland

Everglades: America's Wetland

From Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, from inside the bone-crushing jaws of an alligator to the storms that race across the blackwater backcountry, award-winning conservation photographer Mac Stone takes us on a visual journey through the Everglades. More than 200 striking photographs showcase the natural beauty of this unique wetland, capturing the amazing depths of its landscapes, the diversity of its wildlife, and the resilience of the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.Aerial views highlight the vast expanse of the River of Grass. Underwater images capture the endless wonders of the Everglades, including sharks darting through mangrove roots. Intimate close-ups showcase awe-inspiring flora and fauna such as the ghost orchid, the Florida panther, the endangered Everglades snail kite, roseate spoonbills, and, of course, the majestic American alligator.

Image for The Talking Earth

The Talking Earth

Billie Wind lives with her Seminole tribe. She follows their customs, but the dangers of pollution and nuclear war she's learned about in school seem much more real to her. How can she believe the
Seminole legends about talking animals and earth spirits? She wants answers, not legends.

"You are a doubter,"say the men of the Seminole Council and so Billie goes out into the Everglades alone, to stay until she can believe. In the wilderness, she discovers that she must listen to the land and animals in order to survive. With an otter, a panther cub, and a turtle as companions and guides, she begins to understand that the world of her people can give her the answers she seeks.

Image for Figurines of Bald Eagle, Beaver, Alligator & More

Figurines of Bald Eagle, Beaver, Alligator & More

Add these fun animals to any hands-on activities to learn about the wetlands.

Image for Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

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.

Image for A Land Remembered

A Land Remembered

In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that emerges is a rich, rugged Florida history featuring a memorable cast of crusty, indomitable Crackers battling wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the swamp. But their most formidable adversary turns out to be greed, including finally their own. Love and tenderness are here too: the hopes and passions of each new generation, friendships with the persecuted blacks and Indians, and respect for the land and its wildlife.

Image for The Wahoo Bobcat

The Wahoo Bobcat

In wildcat country, deep in the Florida water prairie wilderness, a great bobcat reigned supreme. He was called the Tiger by farmers and hunters of the region, some of whom feared or hated him. Only the boy Sammy, who roamed the woods finding all the teeming wildlife thrilling, cared enough to befriend the fierce king of the Wahoo. The boy and the cat established a strange friendship that endured through seasons of drought, forest fire and flood, and through the resolute hunting of the Tiger by his enemies - men and dogs.

Image for The Everglades: River of Grass

The Everglades: River of Grass

Before 1947, when Marjory Stoneman Douglas named The Everglades a "river of grass," most people considered the area worthless. She brought the world's attention to the need to preserve The Everglades. In the Afterword, Michael Grunwald tells us what has happened to them since then. Grunwald points out that in 1947 the government was in the midst of establishing the Everglades National Park and turning loose the Army Corps of Engineers to control floods--both of which seemed like saviors for the Glades. But neither turned out to be the answer. Working from the research he did for his book, The Swamp, Grunwald offers an account of what went wrong and the many attempts to fix it, beginning with Save Our Everglades, which Douglas declared was "not nearly enough." Grunwald then lays out the intricacies (and inanities) of the more recent and ongoing CERP, the hugely expensive Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Amazing Facts about The Everglades

  1. When early explorers first laid eyes on the Everglades long ago, they saw large fields of grass and named it ‘ever’ as a shortened form of forever and ‘glades’ which means a grassy open place in old English.
  2. Most people assume that the Everglades is a swamp, but it is a slow-moving river that flows over an area 40 miles wide by 100 miles long. It is the largest wetland ecosystem in the United States.
  3. While it may look deep the water in the Everglades is very shallow, the majority of it is less than a few feet deep.
  4. The Everglades used to be much bigger, it covered nearly ⅓ of Florida but due to years of draining the wetlands to reclaim land for agriculture and urban development, 50% of its land has been lost.
  5. The Everglades are home to one of the highest concentrations of species that are listed as vulnerable to extinction in the US-39 native species found in the Everglades National Park are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

The Everglades

  1. This is the only place in the entire world where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the wild.
  2. This precious water source is responsible for supplying drinking water for 1 out of every 3 Floridians.
  3. It is home to more than 360 bird species, 300 types of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 different mammal species, 50 species of reptiles, and about 750 native seed-bearing plants in the park, with over 160 plant species making it an extremely diverse and important ecosystem.
  4. Everglades National Park is the 3rd largest National Park, after Wrangell-St. Elias and Gates of The Arctic National Parks in Alaska.
  5. They are the location of the most significant breeding grounds for tropical wading birds in North America.

Everglades Resources and Activities

The first thing you want to do is grab a few great resources for your Everglades study to supplement this hands-on activity I have for you- books, videos, and maybe another craft or two.

  • Nature Anatomy- While the Nature Anatomy series does not have specific information on the Everglades you will be able to find plenty of information on swamps, bogs, and many of the animals that make their home here. It makes a great reference book.
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
  • You can see that you will find plenty of information and inspiration for your diorama.
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
  • Watch Wild Kratts Explore the Everglades to see more about some of the amazing animals of the Everglades.
  • For older kids watch Meet The Residents of Everglades National Park.
  • You can grab this Safari Ltd River Animals Toob to use for your diorama but they are also wonderful used as art inspiration, in sensory bins, and even on the block shelf.
  • Grab this Florida Everglades word search to familiarize your child with related words and phrases.

Some animals you might want to include in your diorama are alligators, otters, beavers, panthers, key deer, raccoons, black bears, red foxes, alligator snapping turtles, snakes, and water birds like Roseate Spoonbills or Herons.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

How to Make An Everglades Diorama

To save money and encourage creativity, I like to use items we already have on hand, reclaiming them from the recycle bin like paper bags, paper plates, and even cereal boxes.

You will need:

  • Plastic animals
  • Cereal Box
  • Craft paints-brown, green, blue
  • Paintbrushes
  • School glue
  • Natural items- pebbles, moss, sticks, etc…
  • Scissors or cutting blade
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

First, tape or hot glue the open end of the box closed.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Take scissors or a box cutter and make a 3-sided cut on the large face of the cereal box.

Leave about a ½” border on the 3 sides but cutting right up to the edge of the 4th.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

To disguise the outside of the box you can either paint it or cover it with green paper.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Begin inside the box by painting a blue background for the sky that is going to peek through our trees.

Paint the inside the top and sides of the box as well. Allow to dry to the touch.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Next, use two or three different shades of green paint to create the dirt and greenery of the ground.

Florida Everglades Diorama Craft with Kids

The more you layer the color the better the final results will be. Leave some area for the water to run through your scene.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Now use the same greens to create trees in the background.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Stir together a couple of tablespoons of school glue and some brown, green and blue paint.

The water in the Everglades is not blue.

And beckons it’s often a murky muddy tea-colored shade and often so deeper in the woodland areas.

And the water is brown but not muddy and is tinted by the cypress and pine trees. 

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Pour the glue mixture where you want it to be on your scene.

Paint it how you would like it to be, the glue gives it a little more thickness and helps define it from the land area.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

While the paint is still wet on the land you can sprinkle moss, a little dirt, etc. or add some glue to help it adhere better.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Allow the paint to dry overnight.

Begin hot gluing on pebbles, and sticks to use as tree trunks, moss, etc…

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Place the Everglades animals you have chosen around the diorama.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, everglades, Florida, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, wetlands

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

January 20, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m showing you how to make a rag doll with strips of fabric for an easy no sew primitive toy. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Little House on The Prairie Unit Study.

This is truly the original rag doll, one of the oldest toys.

And is made with no sewing.

Too, it can be put together with whatever scraps of fabric you have on hand.

Sweet little pioneer girls would have tucked their rag babies into bed, clutched them tight on wagon rides across the country, and had tea with them under the cool afternoon shade.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

They were a treasured toy even though they were made from just scraps of discarded fabric.

If you are a Little House on the Prairie fan or any similar books you would have heard about calico quite a bit.

It was a staple fabric that was worn from the 1700’s on.

Once people began to move westward, they couldn’t go to the store and pick up bolts of fabric from the store so most often their clothing became homespun fabrics, buckskin, or sheep’s wool.

Calico was a fantastic choice for travel clothes.

The cloth was sturdy and held up to long, hard wear which was much needed for their arduous journey, building homes, hunting, and all the work they had to do on the open prairie.

So how did this seemingly simple fabric become such a staple? Let’s learn a bit about the history of calico.

The History of Calico

Calico was originally created in India.

It was named for Calcut, the English word for the state of Kozhikode, India.

Calico referred to the textile itself, not the delicate floral patterns.

It was imported to America in the 1700’s. The name calico came to refer to the tiny floral pattern more than the fabric.

Calico was an unbleached coarse cotton fabric and was very inexpensive and washable.

It was store bought. Cut and sewn at home into dresses.

Calico fabric ranged from fairly fine and sheer to the more coarse, stronger textures that would have been the best option for pioneers.

Even Lewis and Clark had forty-eight calico shirts packed in their bags for their 1804 expedition and it was quite common for men to wear sturdy calico shirts with delicate flower designs.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Early European calicoes were made from a cheap plain weave white cotton fabric, cream unbleached cotton. Then to add a print they were block dyed with single or multiple colors.

Because making clothing in early times was so labor intensive nothing was wasted.

Pieces from worn out clothing that couldn’t be mended would be braided into rugs, rags for cleaning, and dolls for the children.

Next, add some books to the craft how to make a rag doll with strips of fabric.

Little House on the Prairie Unit Study Resources

Add some of these fun resources to ignite a love for learning about the Little House on the Prairie.

Image for The Little House (9 Volumes Set)

The Little House (9 Volumes Set)

The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.

Image for Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Readers around the world know and love Laura, the little girl born in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and raised in covered wagons and on wide open prairies. Now Little House fans can learn more about the remarkable story of the pioneer girl who would one day immortalize her adventures in the beloved Little House books in this, the first picture book biography book of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Image for A Little Prairie House (Little House Picture Book)

A Little Prairie House (Little House Picture Book)

With the My First Little House picture book series, the youngest readers can share in the joy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books in these illustrated adaptations of the beloved series! 

Laura, Pa, Ma, Mary, and baby Carrie have traveled from the Big Woods to the prairie in their covered wagon, driving through tall grass until they found just the right spot for their new home. With the help of their kind neighbor, Mr. Edwards, Pa builds a snug little house for the family in the middle of the wide-open prairie.

Image for Farmer Boy (Little House, 2)

Farmer Boy (Little House, 2)

The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams. 

The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories. The Little House series has captivated millions of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier.

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Here Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Time for fun comes when the jolly tin peddler visits, or best of all, when the fair comes to town.

Almanzo wishes for just one thing—his very own horse—and he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.

Image for The Little House Cookbook

The Little House Cookbook

With this cookbook, you can learn how to make classic frontier dishes like corn dodgers, mincemeat pie, cracklings, and pulled molasses candy. The book also includes excerpts from the Little House books, fascinating and thoroughly researched historical context, and details about the cooking methods that pioneers like Ma Ingalls used, as well as illustrations by beloved artist Garth Williams.

Image for Who Was Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Who Was Laura Ingalls Wilder?

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, based on her own childhood and later life, are still beloved classics almost a century after she began writing them. Now young readers will see just how similar Laura's true-life story was to her books. Born in 1867 in the "Big Woods" in Wisconsin, Laura experienced both the hardship and the adventure of living on the frontier. Her life and times are captured in engaging text and 80 black-and-white illustrations.

Image for Laura Ingalls Dress Up

Laura Ingalls Dress Up

  • Three Piece Set: Kid girls colonial dress, attached apron and bonnet.
Image for Little House Coloring Book: Coloring Book for Adults and Kids

Little House Coloring Book: Coloring Book for Adults and Kids

A beautifully designed coloring book featuring classic artwork by Garth Williams and quotes from all nine original Little House books. Perfect for at-home creative time—return to the world of Little House with your kids...or enjoy on your own!

Join Laura Ingalls, her Ma and Pa, and her sisters, Mary, Carrie, and Grace, on their travels across the frontier as you color in your favorite pioneer characters and scenes and revisit this beloved series.

This 96-page coloring book offers hours of relaxing, stress-reducing pleasure.

Next, add more activities if you’re creating a unit study about frontier living or Little House on the Prairie.

More Resources for Learning about Frontier Living

  • American Frontier Legends and Hero Paul Bunyan Blue Ox Craft
  • Fun Punched Tin Lantern
  • Step Back in Time with These 12 Little House on the Prairie Gift Ideas
  • Fun No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll For Kids Westward Expansion Activity
  • Fun Pioneer Peg Dolls For Kids Westward Expansion Hands On Activities
  • 11 Pioneer Crafts for Kids Who Love Little House On The Prairie Crafts & Rug Craft
How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Finally, look at how to make a rag doll with strips of fabric.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

You will need:

  • White fabric
  • Colorful fabric
  • Cotton balls or pom poms
  • scissors
How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Look for fabric about 20 to 26 in long.

Fat quarters are the perfect length, if you don’t know what that is, it’s the little folded squares of ready to buy fabric at the craft stores.

They are 18”x 22.  I bought most of this fabric at Dollar Tree and those little rolls are also an ideal length.

Cut or tear six strips of white or cream-colored fabric about an inch wide. I made a small starting cut for each one and then ripped the rest of the way down.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Then cut or rip 25-30 1-inch strips of whatever colorful fabric you have chosen for the dress. Cut at least 3 extra pieces to use elsewhere.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Cross 3 of the white strips like this.

Then start crisscrossing the colorful fabric over the top of the white until you have at least 25 more strips, the more you add the fuller your rag strip doll will be.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Once you are done layering fabric, place some pompoms or cotton balls in the very center.

This is the head.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Slip your hand carefully under the strips and flip it over as you squeeze your hand around the pom poms.

Tie it off right under them with another strip of fabric or twine to create the neck and head.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Now let’s make her arms, grab the three remaining strips of white fabric and tie off one end in a knot, trim the length if desired to shorten the arms.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Braid them tightly all the way across and knot off the other end.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Slip the arms up through half of the rag strips up to the knot under the head and then tie a strip just below them to secure in place.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Finally, cut a square scrap of cloth 4”x4” and fold it into a triangle.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Place the triangle over the head and wrap it around, tie it in place with a final strip of fabric and now she has a bonnet.

How To Make A Rag Doll With Strips Of Fabric

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: frontier, handicraft, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, toys

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

January 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

M is for monkey is a lovely theme that can be stretched out to include zoos, rainforests, bananas, trees, or any other direction you would like to go with it. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

It naturally includes science as you learn about different species.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

And you can work in geography by locating places on a map or globe where different monkeys are native.

Use banana manipulatives for simple math, and introduce geography/history concepts like teaching about people in the community such as zookeepers.

I found great ideas to cover all subjects to make your M is for monkey study fun, easy, and a great learning experience.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

  • Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
  • Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
  • Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study
  • How To Make An Alphabet Teeth Cleaning Activity | 5 Preschool Letter T Crafts
  • Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
  • Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study
  • Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
  • W Is For Winter Craft Easy Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study
  • Alphabet Letter N Is For Nest Handprint & Fun Nests Preschool Craft
  • B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study
  • X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Letter M Song -I like to begin with a song that builds on letter recognition, the sound, and words that begin with that letter and it can be repeated throughout the week to reinforce it.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Cut banana shapes out of cardstock or construction paper.

Use a marker to write letters in upper and lowercase letters, or even numbers.

Mix up a few at a time and let your child match the letters.

For children who already know all their letters, you can write out the whole alphabet and let them place the letters in the correct order in a line.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Book- A Book of Monkeys- I just love the illustrations of this book that covers not only monkeys but all other primates breaking each one down with their characteristics.

This is a great opportunity to teach comparison of differences as well as similarities.

Craft/Activity- Start off the week with this Monkey Ears Headband so they can wear them all week as you learn about M and of course monkeys.

Song/Fingerplay- Let’s jump right into the obvious song for this theme-5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,  it’s classic and fun.

Snack-Bake some cupcakes and then decorate them together using this Monkey Cupcake Tutorial, enjoy them with a glass of milk.

Science Focus Day 2

Letter/Sound Recognition- Take this Monkey Sensory Bin activity and add lower and uppercase M’s to it,

You can use magnet letters, letter tiles, flashcards, letters cut from magazines, or whatever you have on hand. These magnetic letters will get a lot of use for all your preschool years.

Book- Use today to learn what a monkey is, before they are ready for more complicated taxonomy preschoolers can still learn to sort and classify.

Primates cover a wide variety of creatures but are not all monkeys. 

The easiest way to learn and remember is that everything that is not an ape is a monkey and monkeys have tails while apes do not. 

Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons all do not have tails, so they are apes.

Wildlife Anatomy contains so much information on different monkeys.

For example, it has Howler Monkey, Squirrel Monkeys, Capuchin, Baboons, and Mandrills, and the illustrations are outstanding you will use this book again and again for different zoology topics.

Here is a great video that teaches different Monkey species.

Craft/Activity- Barrel of Monkeys is a great addition to your homeschool supplies, these monkeys can be used as manipulatives for math, in a sensory bin, or as the game is meant to be played for fine motor work.

Song/Finger Play- Three Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree with finger motions.

Snack- We are going to keep it simple today with this free Printable Monkeys for Banana Treats all you need is a printer and a banana for this treat.

Math Focus Day 3

Letter/Sound Recognition –  These Monkey and Banana Counting cards are a great thematic way to practice number recognition, counting, and sequencing.

I highly suggest laminating them, so they last throughout your unit.

Book- Sometimes the best way to open a dialogue about feelings and how to handle them is through a silly book like Grumpy Monkey.

Emotional intelligence is a very important part of preschool learning.

Craft/Activity- While the Smart Bananas Math Activities may seem simple but children will be getting so much natural math exposure through addition and subtraction, comparison, measuring, weighing, and counting.

Song/Fingerplay– 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree, oh those little monkeys were teasing Mr. Alligator, and this song and fingerplay is really easy to learn and so much fun to act out, teaching through Makaton Signing.

Snack- Kids will go bananas over these adorable Monkey Sandwiches and they are pretty simple to make if you buy premade PBJ sandwiches.

History/Geography/ Day 4

Learn about zookeepers as a simple social studies lesson and what it takes to care for the animals.

In addition, look at my Rainforest Unit Study and Free Lapbook.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Kids Learn About Zookeepers and Taking Care of Animals is a short 3-minute video set to music to keep it engaging.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Use Wikki Stix to create upper and lower case m’s, remember to repeat the /m/ sound often.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Book- How could we do a preschool monkey unit without the classic Curious George?

Craft/Activity- Create a Paper Bag Monkey Craft or create an entire troop of unique monkey puppets.

Song/Finger Play- Itsy Bitsy Monkey – (Sung to the tune of The Itsy Bitsy Spider)

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.

(“Climb” up the tree, alternating cupped hands one on top of the other in the air.)

Down came a coconut & hit him on his knee—OWWW!!!!

(Make a double fist above your head & hit your knee)

Out came a lion a-shaking’ his mighty mane—AND—

(Frame your face with your hands, fanning fingers out for mane.

Shake head & hands. 

The Itsy Bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again!

Repeat motions.

Snack- Make a Monkey Rice Cake Curious George Snack to go along with today’s book selection and it is a relatively healthy snack to boot.

Books for Learning About M is for Monkey

11 M is for Monkey Preschool Books & Resources

Add these fun books and resources about monkey to your preschool theme.

Image for A Book of Monkeys (and other Primates)

A Book of Monkeys (and other Primates)

Can you tell a slow loris from a slender loris? Did you know that when it rains orangutans make umbrellas using leaves? What's the difference between a monkey and an ape? Discover all of this (and many more monkey facts!) in Kate Viggers' humorous, illustrated guide to monkeys and other primates.

Image for Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business

Children will delight in following the peddler’s efforts to outwit the monkeys and will ask to read it again and again. Caps for Sale is an excellent easy-to-read book that includes repetition, patterns, and colors, perfect for early readers.

This tale of a peddler and a band of mischievous monkeys is filled with warmth,
humor, and simplicity and also teaches children about problem and resolution.

Image for Magnetic Alphabet Letters

Magnetic Alphabet Letters

Suitable for preschoolers and young children:EVA foam magnetic letters are an innovative early education toy suitable for preschoolers and young children. They can help children learn English letters, improve spelling abilities, and enhance their oral expression skills.

Image for Winning Moves Games Classic Barrel of Monkeys

Winning Moves Games Classic Barrel of Monkeys

Classic Skill Game

Image for Squirrel Monkey Plush

Squirrel Monkey Plush

These realistic stuffed animals are created with high-quality materials and are surface washable in case you get its luscious fur coat dirty.

Image for Grumpy Monkey

Grumpy Monkey

Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can't understand it--how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day? They have lots of suggestions for how to make him feel better. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Image for Fidget Toy Plus Arts & Crafts for Kids; Non Reusable Hands-on

Fidget Toy Plus Arts & Crafts for Kids; Non Reusable Hands-on

Calming Sensory Fidget Toy: Soft And Pliable, Easy To Have On Hand To Help Tame Those Fidgety Fingers

Image for Curious George

Curious George

In this book, George meets his friend, the man with the yellow hat, and begins the life of mischief and adventure so beloved by generations of readers. The inspiration for television, films, and hundreds of books, Curious George is a mainstay of children's picture books

Image for Monkey Puzzle

Monkey Puzzle

"I've lost my mum!" It's not too much fun being lost in the jungle, and little monkey wants his mummy. A kindly butterfly is keen to help, but they don't seem to be having much luck as the well-meaning butterfly misunderstands monkey's descriptions and leads him to all sorts of unsuitable animals! But eventually, they find... Dad! It's just as well that he knows exactly where mum is, and she's waiting with a well-deserved cuddle.

Image for Hanging Stuffed Monkeys

Hanging Stuffed Monkeys

Soft and Quality: monkey stuffed animals are made of plush, with evenly and full filling, which are skin friendly and comfortable to touch, not easy to deform; They have exquisite workmanship, are sturdy enough for long term use.

Image for Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Julia Rothman's series of Anatomy books are beloved by children and adults alike. In Wildlife Anatomy, Rothman captures the excitement and distinctive attributes of wild animals around the world. The book is packed with hundreds of her charming, original illustrations, detailing the unique features of animals of the rainforest, desert, grasslands, oceans, and much more. From lions, bears, and zebras to monkeys, mongoose, bats, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and much more, Rothman's visual guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion's claw and a wild horse's hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther Not a Panther? and What Makes Aardvarks So Odd? Rothman's characteristic combination of curiosity and an artist's eye makes this wildlife treasury rich and full, and promises new discoveries every time it's opened.

Also, add day 5.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Learning letter recognition and phonics are key facets for a foundation of language arts in the early years. I think that hands-on fun and repetition are key for the mastery of these skills.

Letter/Sound Recognition-I found this cute song- M Monkey, and it’s a cute repetitive song covering many of the simple words that start with M.

Book- Monkey Puzzle is a sweet little book about a little monkey who is missing his mom written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Craft/Activity- Gather up some old magazines and go on a Magazine Letter Hunt and Sort Activity for the letter M not only is it good for letter recognition but cutting and pasting help those fine motor skills by building up hand muscles.

Song/Fingerplay-  Try out the Letter M song by ABCmouse.com, the tune is so much fun even for grown-ups.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Snack- Make this cute little Banana Sushi treat to finish off your week, after all little monkeys love those tasty bananas.

M is for Monkey Handprint 

You will need:

  • Blue construction paper
  • Brown construction paper
  • Google eyes
  • Green craft paint
  • Brown craft paint
  • Paintbrush

First, let your child paint green vines wherever they like on the blue construction paper. Allow to dry.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint your child’s hand brown.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Stamp it down over the vines with the thumb pointing upward. Be sure to press down firmly over the whole hand.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint a circle of brown over the thumb to create the monkey’s head and give him a curling little tail as well.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Paint your child brown and use it like a stamp to create two round ears.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

While the paint is drying, cut out a small brown oval for the mouth and two smaller ones for the inside of the ears.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

After the paint has dried your child can glue on the mouth, inner ears, and some googly eyes with a glue stick.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Finally, use a pen to add a little more detail like a mouth and nostrils.

I like to also write down the upper and lowercase letters on the paper to reinforce what they are learning.

Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, monkeys, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

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