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13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

November 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There are so many easy LEGOS to build when bored.

Today I have not only gathered 13 of those ideas for you but I also have a simple tutorial for a LEGO prompt jar.

Then I also want to share the limitless benefits of LEGO.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

While they can be quite the investment, I really feel that it is worth it for the quality.

Dare I even call it a “toy” that offers so many ways to use them.

Bricks can also be used as manipulatives, game pieces, uses for sorting, to learn fractions, to create a unique diorama, building landmarks, on and on.

If you still need convincing why LEGO is such a necessary add to your homeschool supplies look at my list.

8 BENEFITS OF USING LEGOS

  1. Creativity and Imagination: LEGO bricks allow children to build whatever they can think up. This encourages their creativity and imagination.
  2. Problem-Solving Skills: Building with LEGO bricks requires problem-solving skills, as kids have to figure out how to connect the bricks together to create their desired structures. This helps them develop logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  3. Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating and building with small LEGO bricks helps children develop their fine motor skills, which is important for tasks such as pre-writing, drawing, and buttoning clothes. 
  4. Patience and Persistence: Building with LEGO bricks can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. Teaching children the importance of patience and persistence, as they have to keep trying until they achieve their desired results.
  5. Social Skills: LEGO bricks are a great way for kids to socialize and learn how to work together. They can build together on collaborative projects or play games with each other using LEGO bricks. They are also just wonderful for parallel play.
  6. Storytelling: LEGO bricks can be used to tell stories and create scenes. This encourages children to use their imagination and develop their storytelling skills.
  7. Relaxation and Stress Relief: Building with LEGO bricks can be a relaxing and stress-relieving activity for kids. It allows them to focus on something creative and enjoyable, which can help them forget about their worries for a while, something we all need now and then right?
  8. Heirloom Potential: LEGO sets can be passed down from generation to generation, making them a cherished heirloom that can be enjoyed by multiple family members. They really do not lose much of their value either for resale later, and some sets skyrocket in value.
13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

DIY EASY LEGOS TO BUILD PROMPT JAR

Next, look at this fun diy easy LEGO jar.

I am giving you two sets of instructions for this.

The first one is a simple tutorial for using your Cricut Machine.

The second is for those who want to simplify it even further using ready-to-go stickers from the store.

You will need:

  • A clean empty jar
  • Paper towels
  • Rubbing alcohol

For Cricut:

  • Cricut machine
  • Cricut software
  • Vinyl
  • Mat
  • Weeding tool
  • Transfer tape
13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Check out this bundle if you have been on the fence about getting a Cricut, they are fantastic for kid made projects, t shirts, signs, and so much more.

Start with a clean dry jar.

You want something that doesn’t have a lot of raised writing on it so that you can decorate the smooth signs easier.

Pasta jars and instant coffee jars work great for this.

Rub the entire outside of your jar down with alcohol or Windex and dry well.

This will help remove any oils or dust left on the outside of the jar so that the stickers will adhere better.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

So that you cut the proper size stickers measure the width of your jar and decide how large you would like your writing to be.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Open up your Cricut design space, choose your font and adjust the size to your needs.

 I also found these fun brick outlines by searching LEGO under the image tab.

LEGO BUILD IDEAS FOR KIDS

I thought “I’m bored! LEGO Prompts” was a fitting title for our jar.

Tip- change the color on design space fore each element and you can do it all at once.

The machine will prompt you to change out vinyl/mat with each different color.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Hit the make button and follow the onscreen prompts to cut out your vinyl lettering.

Carefully peel the excess vinyl from around the cut-out portion, use a weeding tool to pick out the smaller centers of letters and shapes.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Apply transfer tape or clear contact paper, rub it down well with a credit card.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Press letters/shapes where you would like them and rub the design firmly with the edge of a credit card to transfer, peel slowly to be sure that it has adhered.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

To use store bought stickers follow the directions up to wiping the jar down with alcohol and allowing it to dry and then skip down to here.

Simply apply your letters and shapes to the jar.

The next thing you are going to do is print off or handwrite prompts onto paper or cardstock, cut them out in strips.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Fold into small bundles and fill up your jar.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Next time you hear “I’m bored” or “I don’t know what to build!” send them to the jar for an challenge. 

EASY LEGO BUILD PROMPTS

Additionally, look at a few of these prompts to put in your jar.

First, grab this large bucket of LEGOS to keep separate from the others with the jar tucked inside.

  • Blindly choose 20 LEGO pieces, build a tower.
  • Grab 4 wheels and 10 bricks, build a car.
  • Build an animal that you would find in the ocean.
  • Build your favorite book character out of LEGO.
  • Build a replica of any family member (including family pets).
  • Use only 1 color of brick to build something.
  • Create a tic tac toe board out of LEGO and challenge someone to a game or two.
  • Build something to represent the current season you are in.
  • Set up scenes for a minifig or two and practice your photography skills with a camera or smart phone.
  • Roll two dice, choose that many LEGO and build something amazing using just those pieces.
  • Build a robot that moves in some way.
  • Build your name out of LEGO pieces.
  • Make something that floats.
  • Build a Nerf Target and practice knocking it over from further and further away.
  • Design and build a tool that could make your life easier.
  • Create an art piece using only flat LEGO pieces.
  • Recreate a famous landmark…Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Sphinx, etc.
  • Make a LEGO marble maze.
  • Make something with your eyes closed the entire time (or blindfolded) from choosing bricks to building.
  • Build something that is delicious to eat.
  • Make a picture frame to hold a favorite photo.
  • Build the tallest tower you can without it falling over, measure and note it, see if you can beat it with some changes.

And here are a few of our boredom builds.

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Don’t you love our creative picture frame?

13 Easy Legos To Build When Bored & DIY Idea Jar

Finally, look at these easy lego builds.

EASY LEGOS TO BUILD

13 Easy Legos to Build When Kids are Bored

You’ll love these fun LEGO builds for kids.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Create a simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO to commemorate your child’s love of the mouse.

Too, this activity encourages the skills of creativity, fine motor skills, and following directions.

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

How to Build Puppies with LEGO Bricks

Build some LEGO® puppies with their own doggy bed and food bowl! These are such adorable little puppies. You can swap out the bricks in the legs to make them either lying down or standing up.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

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.

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

LEGO Superhero Building Cards - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

We are back with more LEGO® mosaic building cards, and this time they have a superhero theme!

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

Build the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle with LEGO Bricks

Build the 4 stages of the Monarch butterfly life cycle –with LEGO® bricks!

How to Easily Garden Plan With Kids Using LEGO

How to garden plan with kids using LEGO is a way to sneak in some learning. My kids, like so many others, love to create and build with LEGO so it is just a great hands-on natural extension to learning.

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Lego Duck Spring Lego Building Ideas for Kids

Welcome Spring with a cute and easy little LEGO duck building challenge! Make your own pons of LEGO ducks with a simple Spring themed building activity for multiple age and ability levels. Create a whole pond scene too! 

Photo Credit: thesecretlifeofhomeschoolers.com

Lego Balloon Cars A Fantastic Way to Teach STEM

I decided one week for a “Fun Friday Activity” to build Lego balloon cars with my kids. They are simple, fun, and educational. I use this formula when planning our weekly fun activities. Lego balloon cars are a great way to have some STEM fun.

Photo Credit: www.icanteachmychild.com

Simple LEGO Flower

Little Brother loves making creations with LEGOs. He created this flower on his own and then I took it apart and reassembled it for these photos. 🙂  

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

LEGO Marble Run You Can Make

 It is so fun to build a LEGO marble run and it is a perfect example of a STEM activity using basic bricks. Combine design and engineering for a STEM idea that will provide hours of fun and laughs! We love simple LEGO building ideas!

Labeling Parts of a Honey Bee LEGO Fun Activity For Kids

Your kids will love labeling the parts of a honey bee lego activity. Also, look at my Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids.

Bees are fascinating little creatures from how they create their honeycombs to maximize space, to how they know to fan the hive to keep it cool.

Photo Credit: www.instructables.com

Lego Candy Dispenser

The Lego Candy Dispenser is a super simple build and doesn't take a bunch of crazy pieces but still results in an impressive way to share your candy with friends. 

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

LEGO Unicorn Building Instructions

In our boy-heavy house, no one is into unicorns, actually. Janie loves all things girly, but she is not really a fan of unicorns. Maybe she’s too young? She’s 3. We do, however, love the unicorn in Despicable Me, and I thought it would be fun to build a unicorn out of LEGO® bricks!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, LEGO, science

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

November 16, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some cool slime ideas. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

And there are amazing benefits of playing with what otherwise seems like just a fun activity.

But there is more to slime than just the mess and thrill of sensory play.

It can be used in your homeschool to build lots of skills.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Putting together a slime supply kit is fun for rainy days or days when your child just can’t think of something to do.

But it also makes a wonderful gift for them or a friend.

Honestly, making slime is also a great way to teach your child money and entrepreneur skills.

Kids love slime.

And you could set your child up with a small slime business helping to create logos, slime recipes, figure out costs, profit, and reinvesting back into the business.

This would be a fantastic lesson for upper elementary or middle school kids.

BENEFITS OF KIDS PLAYING WITH SLIME

Next, look at some of the benefits of playing with slime.

Stress relief and relaxation- The act of squishing, stretching, and molding slime can be a great way to relieve stress and promote relaxation.

Repetitive motions and tactile sensations can help to calm the mind and body, making slime a popular tool for stress management and mindfulness.

Improved fine motor skills- Playing with slime can help to strengthen fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and bilateral coordination.

As children manipulate and mold the slime, they are exercising the muscles in their hands and fingers, which can lead to improvements in handwriting, drawing, and other fine motor tasks.

Enhanced creativity and imagination- Slime can be a great tool for fostering creativity and imagination.

Children can use slime to create various shapes, objects, and scenes, allowing them to express their artistic abilities and develop their imaginations.

Sensory stimulation: The unique texture and properties of slime can provide sensory stimulation that is enjoyable and calming for many individuals.

The tactile experience of playing with slime can be particularly beneficial for children with sensory processing disorders or autism spectrum disorder.

Improved focus and concentration- The repetitive and calming nature of playing with slime can help to improve focus and concentration.

By engaging in slime play, children can develop better self-control and the ability to stay focused on a single activity for longer periods.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Social interaction and bonding- Slime can be a fun and interactive activity that children can enjoy with friends and family members.

Playing with slime together can help to promote social interaction, cooperation, and bonding.

MUST HAVE SLIME SUPPLIES

Also, if I were to put together an awesome slime kit with various items for making a variety of slimes here is what I would put in it.

  • Sensitive shaving cream
  • School Glue
  • Baking Soda
  • Sensitive Contact Solution
  • Borax
  • Food Coloring
  • Glitter
  • Mix ins
  • Containers
  • Bowls and spoons
  • Measuring utensils

8 COOL SLIME IDEAS

  1. There are plenty of Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun and Snow Slime, give your kids a great hands-on activity to support a unit on winter animals.
  2. The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime is the perfect addition to a winter or bird unit study.
  3. Turn candy into fun with this 2 Ingredient DIY Miniature Skittles Slime, this one is not edible though!
  4. Another yummy slime that IS safe to eat  is this Edible Gummy Bear Slime.
  5. Head on over to find out how to make How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play, perfect for fall and winter.
  6. Make The Best Fluffy Slime Recipe for Kids with a fresh recipe that slightly changes slime texture and gives a new experience.
  7. Good clean fun is ready to be had with a Hand Soap Slime recipe.
  8. For a simple and quick slime recipe try The Best 2 Ingredient Slime here.
How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Finally, look at how to make the cinnamon and icing slime. Yum!

HOW TO CRAFT CINNAMON SLIME

You can make just the cinnamon slime or add a batch of the ‘icing’ slime to vary the texture, it is so fun to drizzle over your ‘cinnamon roll’.

You will need:

Cinnamon Roll Slime:

  • 1 4 oz bottle of school glue ( ½ cup)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon contact solution
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Cinnamon essential oil-optional
How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

HOW TO CRAFT CINNAMON SLIME

Icing Slime:

  • 1 4 oz bottle of school glue ( ½ cup)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon contact solution
  • Generous squirt of sensitive shaving cream
  • Vanilla or marshmallow essential oil

First, mix the glue and water together in a bowl.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Add the cinnamon, baking soda, and contact lens solution to the bowl.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Stir until the mixture is well combined.

Knead the slime for 1-2 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.

Depending on the brands of items used you may need to add a little more contact solution, add just a few drops at a time and stir well with each addition until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Store the slime in an airtight container.

Now if you want to go the extra step and create an ‘icing’ for a cinnamon roll slime, repeat the process of making another batch of slime.

This time omit the cinnamon and instead stir in vanilla or a marshmallow scent.

Then fold in some sensitive shaving cream to give the slime a fluffy different appearance from the cinnamon slime.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

To gift your slime place in two separate containers.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

Stack them and attach with a small dab of hot glue or double sided strong tape.

Tie on a ribbon and tuck a cinnamon stick inside the ribbon. Make a label or tag to identify the scent.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

When added together the slime will of course change color and texture slightly but it is still really fun to make and work them together to create a new one.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cinnamon, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, slime

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

November 15, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

It is the perfect season for a peppermint science experiment. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Besides peppermints are plentiful in the stores and can be found in canes, discs, and even spoon shapes.

This dissolving candy cane experiment is a simple and fun way to demonstrate the process of dissolution.

Dissolution is the process by which a solid substance dissolves into a liquid.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Dissolution is an important process in nature and is responsible for a variety of phenomena, such as the formation of caves and the weathering of rocks.

In this experiment, you will observe how a candy cane dissolves in different liquids over time, record your hypothesis, variables, process, and results in your science notebook.

You can use any shape and size of peppermint candies that you like for your experiment.

But you will want to keep them uniform throughout so that your results are more accurate.

For today’s purpose we used a fun candy cane shape.

Too, I am not just going to show you a single activity and move on.

I have lots of fantastic peppermint science experiment ideas for you as well as some crafts, facts, and videos to make it a fun little unit for you and your child.

5 PEPPERMINT FACTS

  1. Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint and the scientific name for it is Mentha × piperita.
  2. Peppermint grows to a height of 1-3 feet and is native to Europe and Asia but has become cultivated in many parts of the world including North America.
  3. In early history peppermint was mentioned throughout Greek mythology, by Roman philosophers, and Monks in the Middle Ages.
  4. Peppermint is used in a variety of products, including candy, gum, toothpaste, tea, and is also used in traditional and holistic medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as indigestion, nausea, and headaches.
  5. Handmade striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900 while the first machine to make candy canes was invented in 1921 by Brasher O.

PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND ACTIVITIES

  • Candy Canes: How it’s Made shows the process from the first ingredient to the packaging of candy canes.
  • Test out your child’s STEM skills with a Building Peppermint Candy Towers Challenge that encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
  • Prewriting skills are so important and preschoolers love sensory activities, a Peppermint Writing Tray is the perfect fun way to practice letters, numbers, and shapes.
  • Build up the fine motor skills in small growing hands by making and playing with a Peppermint Playdough Recipe to roll, pinch, press, and form.
  • Whether you have tried crystal growing activities or not the Crystal Candy Canes You Can Make
  • The Fizzing Candy Canes Experiment is not only a great science experiment but makes a fun seasonal decoration.
  • For older kids I think these Peppermint Shower Steamers would be a fun and useful hands on science exploration. They can be made to keep or gift to friends and family.
  • While you have candy canes or peppermints on hand make up a batch of Crock Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate to enjoy, cooking is science!
Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Too, look at more candy science.

MORE FUN CANDY SCIENCE

  • Hands-on History: Make Maple Snow Candy – Pioneer Activity
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
  • How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity
  • 5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops
  • Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
  • Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Finally, look at how to do this peppermint science experiment.

PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

The results of the experiment will show which liquid dissolves the candy cane completely the fastest. You can simplify the experiment by simply timing how long it takes for one candy cane to dissolve in water.

You will need:

  • Candy canes
  • Clear glasses
  • Water and at least 3 other liquids
  • Stopwatch or timer
  • Ruler
  • Science notebook
Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

First, have your child make a hypothesis on which liquid they think will melt the candy canes the fastest and record it in their science journal or on a sheet of paper for just this experiment.

Fill the glasses with water, and your other liquids.

Some ideas are milk, vinegar, hot water, cold water, room temperature water, rubbing alcohol, clear soda, oil, etc.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

List each of your liquids in the science journal as well.

Measure the length of the candy cane, record it.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Place each of the  candy canes into different liquids. Make a label for each one so similar ones don’t get confused.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Start the stopwatch or timer.

Observe the candy canes as they dissolve. You will notice almost immediately the red begins to dissolve and your liquid turns pink.

The hot water especially creates changes so quickly.

Every minute or two, measure the length of the candy canes and record your observations.

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Continue observing the candy canes until they are completely dissolved. Don’t forget to record your findings.

As the candy canes dissolves, you will observe the following changes:

Explore The Science Of Candy: Easy Peppermint Science Experiment
  • The candy canes will become smaller in size.
  • The water will become colored.
  • The candy canes  will become softer and more pliable.
  • The candy canes will eventually disappear completely.

By varying the conditions of the experiment- using different brands of peppermint, different liquids, and various shapes you can learn more about the process of dissolution and the idea of variables in an experiment.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: candy, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, peppermint, science

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

November 14, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some inexpensive preschool winter activities and a simple winter busy book. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

When teaching preschoolers about winter it’s important to incorporate hands-on activities.

Even add stories, music, and playing.

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

Play learning is essential for preschoolers.

It allows them to use their imagination and creativity.

And if snow is available, play snowball toss game. Games that require steps nurtures focus and self-regulation.

Too, although I don’t like the word busy book, it does describe activities that enhance eye-hand coordination.

WINTER BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL

Next, look at these fun books about winter.

W is for Winter Preschool Theme

Teach your child the sound of the Letter W and add in these fun books and resources about winter.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow. Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

The Snowy Day

The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal - winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child’s bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season.

Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”. Hilarity chills the air with playful mixed-media illustrations by Stephen Gilpin as Sneezy attempts to warm himself with some silly results.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow!

The old lady is swallowing everything from snow to a pipe, some coal, a hat, and more! With rollicking, rhyming text and funny illustrations, this lively version will appeal to young readers with every turn of the page. And this time, there's a surprise at the end no reader will be able to guess!

Also, look at the benefits of busy books.

8 BENEFITS OF BUSY BOOKS

  1. It encourages independent play.
  2. Puzzles, sorting tasks, or cause-and-effect activities encourage children to think critically.
  3. Open-ended activities like drawing sections give preschoolers a chance to create.
  4. One of the best reasons to use them is that they lay the foundation for early literacy skills.
  5. For example, tracing letters and recognizing numbers keeps learning hands-on.
  6. By exploring emotions helps preschoolers develop sympathy.
  7. And busy books are great alternatives to digital tablets. Limit screen time with hands-on learning.
  8. Cutting and gluing strengthens fine motor skills.
Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

Additionally, look at these preschool winter activities.

PRESCHOOL WINTER ACTIVITIES

  • How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers
  • Hot Cocoa Craft Preschool | How to Make a Cocoa Name Craft
  • Polar Bear Science Activities Preschool | How To Make A Fun Dessert
  • Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity

Next, look at this simple winter busy book.

ABOUT THE WINTER BUSY BOOK

This is a 45 page .pdf download.

It covers the following skills.

  • Match the months
  • Spell winter
  • Sequence puzzles
  • Picture puzzle
  • Count and match
  • Match the pair
  • Match the letters
  • Sort by size
  • Trace the letters
  • Match opposites
  • Polar animals
  • Northern lights
  • Fun in the winter
  • In the winter I wear
  • Counting snowglobes
  • Matching emotions
  • Penguin shapes
  • Match halves
  • Match the pattern
  • Match by color
  • Match the shadows

It has 29 pages of activities and 15 pages of cut-out.

For example, print the 29 pages and place them in a small binder.

Then print the cut out pages.

Have your child cut and glue the cutout on the correct activity.

Inexpensive Preschool Winter Activities & Simple Winter Busy Book

By keeping the busy book in a binder, your child can return to it again to play and learn.

HOW TO GET THE WINTER BUSY BOOK

You can get it now!

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.
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Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

November 13, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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I like to find unusual homeschool history ideas to mix up everyday topics and studying the history of henna in India fits the bill.

Henna is a special plant that grows in hot, dry places like India.

Leaves are dried and turned into powder. Then the powder is mixed with water to create a paste.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

This paste is used to create beautiful designs on the skin.

In India, henna is a big part of celebrations like weddings and festivals.

People decorate their hands and feet with intricate patterns, and it’s a fun way to express their creativity.

But it is more than just a decoration; it’s a symbol of joy, celebration, and cultural heritage in India.

It’s a beautiful way to connect with tradition and add a touch of color to special occasions.

Beyond henna, let’s dive into the Taj Mahal that is over 400 years old, some traditional Indian foods, crafts highlighting the amazing animals of the country, and more.

Of course I have plenty of facts, hands-on ideas,  books, and more to help you create a wonderful unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT OR SET IN INDIA FOR KIDS

Next, living books bring to life the period or area we’re studying about.

When I can find them, I list them. Then add reference books too.

11 Books About or Set in India for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Grab some of these books about India for your unit study or learning day.

The Lost Kingdom

Thirteen-year-old Rodmika is well acquainted with the crystal-clear rivers and tangled vines of the Green Jungle. So when his family moves to the other side of the jungle, leaving behind his chance for an education, Rodmika is perfectly suited to find a way to return. As Rodmika searches for a way back to the place of his schooling, he uncovers much more than a path.Set against the backdrop of a lush, untamed Indian rainforest, The Lost Kingdom weaves adventure and mystery into a thrilling tale that will resonate with readers who have a love for exploration and excitement.

Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India

A vibrant collection of Indian myths and legends illustrated in beautiful watercolors and told by one of India's sparkling personalities, Madhur Jaffrey.Seasons of Splendour is a richly illustrated treasury of stories about Indian gods and goddesses, kings and queens, princes and demons. Here are engaging and beautifully told tales of Krishna, Ram, and Sita, along with stories based on the Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as others of ancient origin with no known source. When Madhur Jaffrey was a young girl growing up in her grandfather’s house in Delhi, storytelling was an integral part of life. After dinner, she would huddle with her cousins and siblings around a seated aunt, grandmother, or mother and listen.

Burying the Moon

In Latika’s village in rural India, there are no toilets. No toilets mean that the women have to wait until night to do their business in a field. There are scorpions and snakes in the field, and germs that make people sick. For the girls in the village, no toilets mean leaving school when they reach puberty.

No one in the village wants to talk about this shameful problem. But Latika has had enough. When a government representative visits their village, she sees her chance to make one of her dreams come true: the construction of public toilets, which would be safer for everybody in her village. 

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (Illustrated)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the tale of a courageous young mongoose who saves a boy and his family from the evil snakes lurking in the garden.

Aru Shah Series Books 1 - 5 Collection by Roshani Chokshi

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. Whilst her classmates are jetting off to exotic locales, she'll be at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture where her mother works. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty.

Malgudi Days

Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

Tiger Boy

"One of the new tiger cubs has escaped from the reserve!"When a tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve near Neel's island village, the rangers and villagers hurry to find her before the cub's anxious mother follows suit and endangers them all. Mr. Gupta, a rich newcomer to the island, is also searching--he wants to sell the cub's body parts on the black market. Neel and his sister, Rupa, resolve to find the cub first and bring her back to the reserve where she belongs.The hunt for the cub interrupts Neel's preparations for an exam to win a prestigious scholarship at a boarding school far from home. Neel doesn't mind--he dreads the exam and would rather stay on his beloved island in the Sunderbans of West Bengal with his family and friends.

Boys without Names

For eleven-year-old Gopal and his family, life in their rural Indian village is over: We stay, we starve, his baba has warned. They flee to the big city of Mumbai in hopes of finding work and a brighter future. Gopal is eager to help support his struggling family, so when a stranger approaches him with the promise of a factory job, he jumps at the offer.

?But there is no factory, just a stuffy sweatshop where he and five other boys are forced to work for no money and little food. The boys are forbidden to talk or even to call one another by their real names. Locked away in a rundown building, Gopal despairs of ever seeing his family again.

Homeless Bird: A National Book Award Winner

Like many girls her age in India, thirteen-year-old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled—her life has been sold for a dowry. Can she forge her own future, even in the face of time-worn tradition? 

Perfect for schools and classrooms, this universally acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning novel by master of historical fiction Gloria Whelan is a gripping tale of hope that will transport readers of all ages.

India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z

Kids love learning about food, they need to learn their ABC's, and this mouth-watering alphabet book covers both in the most delicious way! From spicy achaar to sweet zafrani pulao, flip through food from every corner of India, for all kinds of occasions.

Where Is the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal may look like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields. When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound visitors today.

Next, learn about henna.

  1. Henna is derived from the henna plant Lawsonia inermis. It is a natural dye that has been used in India and other parts of the world for centuries. The henna plant is a small shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The plant cultivated for its leaves, which are dried and ground into a fine powder.
  2. Henna is traditionally applied to the hands and feet of brides and grooms during Indian wedding ceremonies. It is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness to the couple. The intricate designs created with henna are often passed down through generations and hold deep cultural significance.
  3. Paste is applied to the skin using a cone and left on for several hours. Once the paste is dry, it is then peeled off leaving behind the beautiful orange or brown design on the skin.
  4. Henna is also used in India for its cooling properties and stress-relieving effects. Henna paste is believed to have a calming effect on the body and mind, and it is often applied to the forehead during meditation or relaxation practices.
  5. Henna is a versatile plant with various uses beyond body art. The leaves of the henna plant have medicinal properties. They are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as skin conditions and headaches.
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

In addition, look at more homeschool history ideas.

INDIA HOMESCHOOL HISTORY IDEAS

  • Find India on a map or globe, then locate the capital, New Delhi.
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India
  • Art Around the World: India (Taj Mahal Bleeding Tissue Paper Art)
  • Create beautiful Paper Plate Dandiya Dolls that display the clothing used in the traditional Indian folk dance.
  • Watch India: The Harappans – Ancient World History for Kids! To learn more about the people of the Indus Valley and more.
  • Take a trip to a local Indian restaurant and try a unique dish or two like centuries old Khichuri, a dish made of rice, moong lentils, ghee (clarified butter), cumin seeds, ginger and asafoetida.
  • Celebrate the National Bird of India with this fun and simple How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock.

ASIA ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • 5 Asia Activities For Kids & Free Color by Number Camel
  • Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Finally, look at how to make this fun Indian handprint henna craft.

INDIA HANDPRINT HENNA CRAFT

This is really a fun hands-on activity for the whole family and is a great way to build fine motor skills and spend some time in a calming activity as you create intricate designs on the hand.

You will need:

  • Cardstock/construction paper
  • Brown fine line pens/markers
  • A willing hand
  • Scissors
Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Trace the entire hand and include the wrist and some of the arm with a pencil, give yourself as much canvas to work on as possible.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Cut out around the outline of the hand carefully.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

Use fine line pens or markers to create designs.

Take your time creating intricate designs on the hand, wrist, and fingers. Look to Google for some beautiful design inspiration.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

The more small and detailed design you create the more amazing the final outcome will be.

Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India

If you want to test out henna designs on your actual hand you can grab a tattoo kit.

Look at this Body Mark Temporary Tattoo Markers for Skin, Henna Vibes, Flexible Brush Tip, 3-Count to try out your own designs on the skin.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, India

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