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handson

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

January 6, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Yarn crafts are easy to do and affordable. Not only do they nurture creativity, but they give you a chance to teach a themed lesson without a lesson plan.

And yarn comes in many colors, textures, and thicknesses, inviting kids to experiment and create.

So today, I’m showing you how to make this adorable yarn wrapped craft. Isn’t he adorable? Too, I have a free cat template which you can download at the bottom.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Adding craft and an animal a child loves is a great spin to science and animal husbandry.

In addition, look at these other ideas for a one day or full week unit study about cats. Art is color theory and texture, math is counting yarn or how many times it’s wrapped and discuss symmetry.

Language arts can be as simple as writing about your child’s favorite cat or pet cat. And science can be extended to include older children and discuss domesticated and wild cat habitats.

However, there are many other advantages to meaningful play which is what this craft encourages. For instance, for your younger children, wrapping the yard around the cardboard strengthens fine motor.

BOOKS ABOUT CATS FOR KIDS

First, add some of these fun books to your reading day.

Books About Cats

Add some of these fun books to learn about cats.

Millions of Cats

The book won a Newbery Honor award in 1929, one of the few picture books to do so. It is perhaps the oldest American picture book still in print. The hand-lettered text, done by the author's brother, tells the story of an elderly couple who live comfortably, but realize that they are very lonely. The wife wants a cat to love, so her husband sets off in search of a beautiful one to bring home to her. After traveling far away from home, he finds a hillside covered in "cats here, cats there, Cats and kittens everywhere."

The Catwings Complete Paperback Collection (Boxed Set)

Mrs. Jane Tabby can’t explain why her four kittens—Thelma, Roger, James, and Harriet—were born with wings. Whatever the reason, she’s grateful they can use their flying skills to soar away from the dangerous, busy city where they were born. But once the kittens escape, they learn that country life comes with its own difficulties—just as they learn that help and friendship can be found in even the most unlikely places.

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

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? 

Dick Whittington and His Cat

The well-loved tale of the London waif whose cat's prowess as a ratter results in Dick's becoming a successful merchant and Lord Mayor of London.

Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds

Joy Adamson's story of a lion cub in transition between the captivity in which she is raised and the fearsome wild to which she is returned captures the abilities of both humans and animals to cross the seemingly unbridgeable gap between their radically different worlds. Especially now, at a time when the sanctity of the wild and its inhabitants is increasingly threatened by human development and natural disaster, Adamson's remarkable tale is an idyll, and a model, to return to again and again

Crenshaw

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary

Library Lion

 A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.

Little Bo: The Story of Bonnie Boadicea

After being separated from her brothers and sisters, a very small cat named Bo falls in with a sailor and becomes a ship's cat, having various adventures at sea.

National Geographic Readers: Lions

Roar with lions in this exciting reader. Through beautiful and engaging photos, kids will learn all about these majestic big cats. This level 1 reader is carefully leveled for an early independent reading or read aloud experience, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

Also, look at more yarn crafts for kids.

YARN CRAFTS FOR KIDS

  • 15 Easy Back to School Crafts And Make A Yarn Wrapped Pencil
  • Yarn Wrapped Craft Stick Dolls
  • How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts
  • Yarn butterfly craft
  • Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  • Yarn Wrapped Blossoming Spring Tree Craft

Then look at crafts about cats for kids.

CAT CRAFTS

  • Paper plate curled-up cat
  • Color Your World: Free Romero Britto Cubism Coloring Pages Printable
  • Paper Roll Cat
  • Biology Science Curriculum For Elementary Students They Love & Tiger Craft
  • How to make cute origami cats
  • DIY Jumping cat
  • How to Make Cat Puppet Craft
Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

HOW TO MAKE A YARN WRAPPED CAT CRAFT

List of Supplies

  • Cardboard or thick Cardstock paper
  • Different colored scrap yarns
  • Pencil
  • Craft glue
  • A pair of scissors

Step 1:

Download the free cat template at the bottom of this post by adding your email and you get it instantly.

Select thick cardstock papers of your choice or cardboard like we did and trace the provided template shape on the paper. Cut out the traced shape using scissors.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 2:

Turn the cat cutout to the other side. Select a strand of yarn and glue its open end near the bottom side of the current side of the cardstock cat shape.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 3:

Turn the cat to the front side and start wrapping the yarn around it.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 4:

Wrap the yarn 4-5 times and then draw the yarn to the back side of the cat shape again. Secure the open end with glue.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 5:

Take a different colored yarn strand and glue the yarn strand near the end of the first strand.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 6:

Similarly, turn the cat shape to the front side and wrap the current yarn 4-5 times with adjacent and even wraps.

Start a 3rd strand of different color or repeat the first color, however you like.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 7:

Wrap yarn strands until the body part of the cat shape is covered neatly. Secure the ends of the yarns using glue and allow the glue to dry completely.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 8:

Attach 2 googly eyes to the head part of the cat shape.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Step 9:

Use a black marker to draw the mouth and nose of the cardstock cat to complete the craft.

Fun Yarn Crafts And How To Make A Yarn Wrapped Cat

Now, how to grab the freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE CAT TEMPLATE

It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you click on the link or graphic below you get this template instantly and sign up for my newsletters.

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cats, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, yarn

Free Journal For Farm Loving Kids & Learning Farm Activities

January 5, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing some ways learning farm activities that can be fun and educational. Too, I have a free printable farmyard explorers farm discovery journal.

Paring this farmyard journal with hands-on activities makes learning about a farm meaningful. Let’s face it, many of us love chickens and goats maybe pigs too.

However, not all of us have a small farm outside our backdoor. This journal gives your kids a chance to explore and discover.

Free Journal For Farm Loving Kids & Learning Farm Activities

And one of the best reasons I love doing a farm study is that you can include multiple ages. Although I gear this printable toward the elementary grades, you can include other subjects for multiple ages.

For example, language arts can be a story of animals or a well-researched science paper on animals, plants, life cycles or seasons.

Science can be animal husbandry and math can be graphing, counting eggs or notice and drawing life cycles.

History and geography can include learning about early farming, how products support our community and helping kids understand where our food comes from.

RESOURCE & BOOKS FOR A FARM UNIT STUDY

Next, add some of these resources and books to your day for a fun farm unit study.

Too, I prefer living books when I can find them.

9 Farming Resources and Books

Add some of these fun books and resources to create your own curriculum about farming or for a homeschool unit study topic about farming.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life.

Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

Farmer Boy (Little House, 2)

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.

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they’ve inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse.... And then more of her great-uncle’s unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.

Strawberry Girl

Strawberries—big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. "Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!" her father tells her.

Making the new farm prosper is not easy. There is heat to suffer through, and droughts, and cold snaps. And, perhaps most worrisome of all for the Boyers, there are rowdy neighbors, just itching to start a feud. The land was theirs, but so were its hardships.

The Farm That Feeds Us: A year in the life of an organic farm

Explore the workings of a small-scale, organic family farm and experience the rhythm of farm life. In the spring, visit the chicken coop, till the fields, and tour the farm machinery. When summer comes, plant corn, meet the pollinators, and head to the county fair. In the fall, make pies and preserves, harvest pumpkins, and put the fields to sleep. Winter activities include trimming and pruning the orchard, seed shopping, and baking bread.

In Grandma's Attic

A young girl delights in her grandmother’s stories of days gone by, sparked by keepsakes and simple questions, Grandma shares marvelous stories of mischief , discovery, and laughter, such as the time she accidentally lost the family buggy. Part of the bestselling Grandma’s Attic series, these charming tales—updated with delightful new illustrations—will whisk you away to another time and place.

Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn is a real adventurer. She'd rather hunt than sew and plow than bake, and tries to beat her brother's dares every chance she gets. Caddie is friends with Indians, who scare most of the neighbors—neighbors who, like her mother and sisters, don't understand her at all.

Veggie Farm Sorting Set

Fill bushel baskets with figures representing veggies, from corn and broccoli to onions and pumpkins

Playmat with farm signs includes images of essential colors and shapes

Additionally, look at some of these fun activities about farms.

LEARNING FARM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Fun And Easy Egg Carton Farm Animals: A Crafting Adventure
  • Tot School Milk the Cow..so cute!
  • Fascinating Science: Popcorn And Milk Experiment From Farmer Boy
  • Farmer Boy Unit Study and Make a Fun Hand Loom Craft
  • How to Create Homeschool Farming Curriculum and Adorable Clothespin Sheep Craft
Free Journal For Farm Loving Kids & Learning Farm Activities

Too, I have How To Make An Adorable Rocking Chick Easy Chicken Craft, Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet, and Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity.

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE FARMYARD EXPLORERS FARM DISCOVERY JOURNAL

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

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: farm, farming, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, science

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

January 3, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating a Martin Luther King Jr bottle buddy is a great project to go along with a unit on this key figure in the civil rights movement.

The MLK bottle buddy represents standing tall, just like Dr. King did, even when it was hard.

He stood up for fairness, equality, and kindness during a time when many people were treated unjustly because of the color of their skin.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Through peaceful protest, powerful speeches, and strong faith, Dr. King helped change the laws and hearts of a nation.

As you create your Martin Luther King Jr. bottle buddy, think of it as a reminder that even ordinary people like teachers, pastors, parents, and students can do extraordinary things when they stand up for what is right.

BOOKS ABOUT THE 1960S

Then, add a few of these books about the 1960s.

6 Books About Events of the 1960s

Add a few of these books to your home library if you’re studying events of the 1960s. Use one or two for a unit study.

I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King

From his childhood encounters with racial prejudice to the Montgomery bus boycott and the Voting Rights drive, the private side of Martin Luther King's life and the historical events of the time are revealed

The Wednesday Wars

Seventh grader Holling Hoodhood isn't happy. He is sure his new teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts. Throughout the school year, Holling strives to get a handle on the Shakespeare plays Mrs. Baker assigns him to read on his own time, and to figure out the enigmatic Mrs. Baker. At home, Holling's domineering father is obsessed with his business image and disregards his family.

As the Vietnam War turns lives upside down, Holling comes to admire and respect both Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker, who have more to offer him than he imagined. And when his family is on the verge of coming apart, he also discovers his loyalty to his sister, and his ability to stand up to his father when it matters most.

America and Vietnam: The Elephant and the Tiger

Fought in a small Asian country unfamiliar to most Americans at the time, the Vietnam War became a cause that divided the nation and defined a counter-culture. The first televised war, newscasters became a force creating the greatest anti-war movement in history, while American boys suffered and died in jungles and rice paddies against guerilla soldiers they rarely saw face to face.

Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam

Winner of the Buckeye Children's Book Award (Ohio), the California Young Reader Medal, Emphasis on Reading Book Award (Alabama), North Carolina Children's Book Award, Parents' Choice Award, South Carolina Book Award, and the William Allen White Children's Book Award (Kansas)CRACKER IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S MOST VALUABLE WEAPONS:  a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too.  Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store. When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive. Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German shepherd, Cracker! is an action-packed glimpse into the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a dog and her handler. It's an utterly unique powerhouse of a book by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Kira-Kira.

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover))

Brian Floca explores Apollo 11’s famed moon landing with this newly expanded edition of Moonshot!Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery—a story of leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen whole, from far away.

What Was Woodstock?

On August 15, 1969, a music festival called "Woodstock" transformed one small dairy farm in upstate New York into a gathering place for over 400,000 young music fans. Concert-goers, called "hippies," traveled from all over the country to see their favorite musicians perform. Famous artists like The Grateful Dead played day and night in a celebration of peace, love, and happiness. Although Woodstock lasted only three days, the spirit of the festival has defined a generation and become a symbol of the "hippie life."

it just looks prettier this way

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR FACTS

  • Full name: Michael King Jr. (later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.)
  • Born: January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Died: April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee
  • Occupation: Baptist minister and civil rights leader
  • Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January
How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Next, look at more about the life and achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr.

WHO WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in a loving family and learned early on about the importance of faith, education, and standing up against injustice.

His father was a pastor, and Martin followed in his footsteps, becoming a Baptist minister himself.

As a young man, King noticed how unfairly African Americans were treated, especially in the southern United States. Laws called Jim Crow laws enforced segregation, which meant Black Americans were forced to use separate schools, bathrooms, restaurants, and even drinking fountains.

Dr. King believed these laws were wrong, and he believed change could happen without violence.

One of Martin Luther King Jr.’s greatest beliefs was nonviolence. He taught that people could stand up to injustice without fighting, hurting others, or spreading hatred.

He was inspired by the teachings of Jesus and by Mahatma Gandhi, who used peaceful protest to bring change in India.

MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT

One of the most famous events Dr. King helped lead was the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. After Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus, African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, stopped riding buses for over a year.

Dr. King became a leader of the movement, encouraging people to remain peaceful even when they were threatened or arrested. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated buses were unconstitutional.

“I HAVE A DREAM”

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” during the March on Washington.

Standing before more than 250,000 people, he spoke about his hope for a future where people would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

This speech helped inspire major changes in U.S. law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which worked to end segregation and protect voting rights for African Americans.

MORE MARTIN LUTHER KING CRAFTS AND RESOURCES

  • Stronger Together Handprint Craft for MLK Jr. Day w/ Free Printable
  • Let Freedom Ring Bells l MLK Jr Craft
  • Grab one more of these free Martin Luther King Jr. Worksheets, Civil Rights Activities.
  • Who Was Martin Luther King JR?
  • How to Draw Martin Luther King Jr. – Easy Directed Drawing Lesson for Kids

And here is a post about other things in the 1960s The Vibrant World Of 1960s Tie-Dye: Fun Hands-On History Activities.

HOW TO MAKE A MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BOTTLE BUDDY

You will need:

  • Any size plastic bottle
  • Foam ball
  • Craft felt-white, black, dark blue
  • Hot glue gun, glue sticks
How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Clean and remove the label from a clear 2-liter bottle.

Add a generous amount of brown paint to the inside of the bottle. You can add a small amount of water to help thin the paint out.

 Shake the bottle until the entire inside is coated, place upside down on a cup to drain the excess until it is barely dripping.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Dig enough of the foam ball out to fit it on top of the lid.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Press it firmly down over a generous amount of hot glue and hold in place until the glue sets.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Paint the head with brown paint. Once it dries, you will probably need a second coat. While you are waiting for it to dry, begin working on the clothes.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Make a 1” cut in the center of a sheet of white 8×12” felt.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Cut a tie shape 3”-4” long from black felt.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Fold down the corners of the cut on the white shirt and glue them into place with the tie to create a colored dress shirt.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Glue into place on the bottle, add the glue to the felt, not the plastic, or it will melt.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

You can either trim down two dark blue 8×12 felt pieces or cut down one larger piece into a roughly 8×15 rectangle for his jacket.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Fold down a lapel on either side and secure with hot glue, wrap over the shirt, and glue down.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Paint on black hair.

How to Make a Martin Luther King Jr. Bottle Buddy

Add googly eyes, eyebrows, and a mustache to finish him off.

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

Unique Curiosity Chains Short Questions And Answers Freebie

January 2, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a short questions and answers freebie for young learners. It is a curiosity chain.

Curiosity chains are a series of questions that follow one another. They guide you from one idea to the next so your child can explore, wonder and discover new things.

As homeschool families we want to nurture the natural curiosity kids have. A series of short questions and answers is a fun way to guide their curiosity.

Unique Curiosity Chains Short Questions And Answers Freebie

One of the things I like is that young learners don’t learn in isolation. One question leads to another.

For example, a guided curiosity chain lets learning flow across science, reading, art, and even math subjects.

Too, this encourages children to understand why not just what.

BOOKS FOR A UNIT STUDY SPINE

Next, look at these fun books to use as a unit study spine.

If your child finds a subject he is curious about, then you can use one of these books listed.

17 Favorite Unit Study Science Spines

I love to pair a living book about a topic with a reference book to use as spines. Sometimes, it’s easier to use a reference book as a spine and add living books as we go along. These are some of my favorite science spines.

DK Eyewitness Collection 15 Books Set (Human Body,Ocean,Volcano & Earthquake,Animal,Planets,Periodic Table,Dinosaurs,Mythology,Ancient Egypt,Tudor,Victorians,Ancient Rome,Ancient Greece and More)

(Human Body, Ocean,Volcano & Earthquake, Animal, Planets, Periodic Table, Dinosaurs, Mythology, Ancient Egypt, Tudor, Victorians, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and More)

The Water Cycle!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Drip―Drop―Splash! Water is essential to all forms of life. So let’s learn all about it! The Water Cycle! With 25 Science Projects for Kids captures kids’ imaginations with a deep look at the world of water. Combining hands-on activities with history and science, The Water Cycle! invites kids to have fun learning about the water cycle, water resources, drinking water and sanitation, water pollution and conservation, water use, water folklore and festivals, and the latest in water technology.

Skulls and Skeletons!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

What would happen if you had no bones? You might fall over flat on the floor!

Bones are those hard parts of our bodies that make up our skeletons and skulls, and we need them in lots of different ways. In Skulls and Skeletons! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers learn about the bones in their bodies and why we can’t live without them. And bones aren’t just good for humans―many animals can’t live without them! But do all animals have bones? No, they don’t! And why do fish look so much different from birds, even though both have bones? Organisms use their bodies in different ways to successfully live in different habitats. For example, a bird’s light bones are great for flying, but would not support them deep in the ocean.

Weather and Climate!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

What’s it like outside? Is it a day for building a snowman, constructing a sandcastle, or planting a garden? Weather and Climate! With 25 Science Projects for Kids introduces kids ages 7 to 10 to the fascinating world of meteorology and all of the ways what’s going on in the atmosphere above our heads can affect us here on the earth! Plus, discover how weather and climate change are linked but not the same, and figure out ways to be part of the solution to the problem of global warming.

The activity in our atmosphere plays a critical role in our lives and in the health of our planet. Today’s weather determines what clothes you wear and what you are going to do after school, while the local climate influences what kind of car your parents drive, what kind of house you live in, and―believe it or not―what foods you eat!

Rivers and Streams!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Did you know that without rivers, human life might not have developed as it did? We might be a very difference species if it wasn’t for rivers, as would the other plants and animals who depends on rivers and streams for food, transportation, water, and power!

In Rivers and Streams! With 25 Science Projects for Kids, readers ages 7 to 10 dive in and discover how rivers change the shape of the land while plants, animals, and humans change the shape of
rivers. Through fun facts, engaging content, and essential questions, kids learn about the vital role that rivers and streams have played in human history and explore the ways rivers and streams might affect our future. Science experiments that promote critical thinking and creative problem solving encourage kids to make their own discoveries about the waterways they might pass every day.

Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures with Hands-On Science Activities

Bring chemistry to your kitchen with a book that offers hands-on science activities that can be done with ingredients from your pantry and the refrigerator!

What’s going on when you cook in the kitchen? Science!

In Kitchen Chemistry: Cool Crystals, Rockin’ Reactions, and Magical Mixtures with Hands-On Science Activities, readers ages 9 to 12 discover that the cooking, mixing, and measuring you do in the kitchen all has its roots deep in science―chemistry to be exact!

Explore Rivers and Ponds!: With 25 Great Projects

Explore Rivers and Ponds! with 25 Great Projects, introduces kids to the fascinating world of freshwater habitats and the creatures they contain. Combining hands-on activities with ecology and
science, kids will have fun learning about the freshwater biome, including lakes and ponds, streams and rivers, and wetlands. Entertaining illustrations and fascinating sidebars illuminate the topic and bring it to life, while Words to Know highlighted and defined within the text reinforce new vocabulary. Projects include assembling an ecologist’s field kit, creating a fishless aquarium, pouring casts of animal tracks, and building a watershed replica. Additional materials include a glossary, and a list of current reference works, websites, museums, and science centers.

Robotics!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Where was the last time you saw a robot? Did you read about one in a book or see one in a movie? Maybe you saw one in a video game!

Some people think robots exist only in our imagination, but actually, robots are all around us right now. Robotics! With 25 Science Projects for Kids offers readers ages 7 to 10 an introduction to the history, mechanics, and future use of robots! Readers explore the history of robotics and discover how the first types looked and moved and what people expected they could do. Compare these early robots to those we have today, some of which don’t even have bodies! Kids discover how robots have changed as decades have passed and see how they now look, think, sense, move, and do things.

Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts: With Stem Projects for Kids

Hands-on space science projects help launch kids ages 8 to 11 into learning about fearless female astronauts who broke barriers across space and gender in this full-color book full of real-world connections!

Do you dream of going into space? Do you wonder what it’s like on the moon? In Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Astronauts with STEM Projects for Kids, readers ages 8 through 11 explore the lives of some of the world’s most amazing female astronauts, including Bonnie Dunbar, Sally Ride, Mae Jemison, Sunita Williams, and Serena Auñón-Chancellor―all pioneers in the field of space exploration. Their hard work and dedication to science and experimentation gave the world much new knowledge about space, biology, and more. These brave women took risks and pushed the limits of what we know about life in space.

Energy: 25 Projects Investigate Why We Need Power & How We Get It

Energy is a vital part of our lives. It powers our computer, lights our home, and moves our car. It also costs a lot of money and pollutes our environment. In Energy: 25 Projects Investigate Why We Need Power and How We Get It, kids ages 9–12 learn about the history and science of the world’s energy sources, from nonrenewable fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas to renewable sources such as solar and wind power.

Zoology: Inside the Secret World of Animals (DK Secret World Encyclopedias)

This visual reference book starts with the question "what is an animal?" and takes you through the animal kingdom - mammals, reptiles, birds, and sea creatures. It uses a unique head-to-toe approach that showcases in spectacular detail special features like the flight feathers of a parrot, the antenna of a moth, or the tentacles of coral.This visual encyclopedia is filled with clear and fascinating information on everything about the social lives of animals. Read exciting stories like how animals communicate, defend their territories, and attract mates.

The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth (DK Our World in Pictures)

This inspiring children’s reference guide welcomes you to the animal kingdom where you can meet more than 1,500 species, ranging from ants to zebras and everything in between. Stunning pictures bring you face to face with giant predators you know and love, including polar bears and tigers, as well as mysterious microscopic life, including amoebas and bacteria.

Space A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the Moon, Sun, and planets of our Solar System to space exploration, black holes, and dark matter, this completely revised and updated children’s encyclopedia covers all you need to know about the cosmos. The most up-to-date images from space agencies such as NASA and ESA combine with info panels, timelines, interviews, diagrams, and activities you can do at home to help you understand the majesty and wonder of space. 

Backyard Biology: Investigate Habitats Outside Your Door with 25 Projects

BIOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF LIFE. Life is everywhere, thriving in the city and in the country, teeming in ecosystems around the planet—in deserts, oceans, and even the Arctic. And life is right outside your door! Backyard Biology invites children ages 9 and up to investigate living things —especially in yards, parks, nature areas, and playgrounds. Trivia and fun facts bring animals, plants, and microorganisms to life, in all their wonder.

Inventions: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

This stunning visual guide explores and explains the greatest inventions, ideas, and discoveries throughout the ages, and introduces their inventors. From fire, stone tools, and the wheel to ploughs and paper, discover the first inventions that shaped societies and grew mighty civilizations and empires such as those in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and ancient China.

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the first strokes of paint on prehistoric caves to contemporary street art in the 21st century, every artistic style and movement is explored and explained in stunning detail. Special features celebrate the lives of groundbreaking painters, sculptors, and photographers, from Dutch master Johannes Vermeer to photography pioneer Julia Margaret Cameron. Many best-loved pieces of art are showcased in iconic images. Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci's mysterious Mona Lisa, the most famous painted lady. March alongside China’s statues of the Terracotta Army, and gaze in awe at Barbara Hepworth's stunning Pelagos sculpture.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia (DK Children's Visual Encyclopedias)

From the shimmering surface to the darkest depths, this breathtaking visual encyclopedia presents our blue planet as never before. Stunning photography, accessible information, and fascinating facts are spilling over in this essential guide to the oceans. Take a dip in all the world’s waters to experience their incredible diversity. Make a splash in the icy Arctic waters before warming up in the tropical Indian Ocean. Experience the super size of mighty whales compared to swarms of tiny krill. Cast your eyes to the skies to see circling sea birds before diving down to meet mysterious creatures of the deep. 

Next, look at some fun unit studies to nurture curiosity.

UNIT STUDIES

  • How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
  • Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • 5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops
  • How to Incorporate Subjects into a Fun Homeschool Cooking Unit Study
  • Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
  • North American Robin Bird Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Ocean Lapbook and Homeschool Unit Study
  • Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages
  • Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
  • Fun Dragon Unit Study Ideas and Salt Dough Dragon Craft
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Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

January 1, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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What better way to create a Marco Polo timeline than to turn it into a fun board game? We are going to do just that with a DIY as we learn about the Silk Road. Also, look at my page free Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook 1254 to 1324.

And we set our game up like a Monopoly-style game to follow as a pattern.

Marco Polo’s journey was remarkable not only because of the distance he traveled, but because of what he observed and recorded. Very few Europeans had seen Asia in such detail during the 1200s, making his account one of the most important sources historians still use today.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Marco Polo was born in 1254 in the city of Venice, a powerful trading center. Venice was filled with merchants who traveled by sea and land to trade goods from faraway places. Marco’s father, Niccolò Polo, and his uncle, Maffeo Polo, were successful merchants who had already traveled deep into Asia before Marco joined them.

Marco’s mother likely died when he was young, and he was raised mainly by relatives while his father was traveling. Because of this, Marco did not meet his father again until he was about 15 years old. When Niccolò and Maffeo prepared to return to Asia, they invited Marco to come with them.

Marco Polo helped connect East and West by sharing knowledge at a time when the world felt much larger and more mysterious. His journey shows the importance of curiosity, courage, and cultural exchange.

BOOKS ABOUT MARCO POLO FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about Marco Polo.

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

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

Marco Polo

The amazing story of a Venetian trader who becomes an aide to the great Kublai Khan comes to life in this retelling for students by Manuel Komroff. Follow along as Marco Polo travels through deserts littered with bones, encounters animals previously unknown to Europeans, and comes to serve in the court of one of the greatest kingdoms ever known.Included is a gorgeous new map tracing his journey, and 29 full page illustrations from an early edition written for adults.The text in this edition is a reprint of the original Messner Biography, a series that was created for students. "Well told and with engaging narratives, they unknowingly flow nicely from story to fact. You will find a plethora of information packed between these pages, not only about the title’s subject, but the subject's time and the world they lived in."

The Adventures of Marco Polo

Was Marco Polo the world's greatest explorer -- or the world's greatest liar? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman turns his eagle eye on the enigmatic Marco Polo in his most exciting biography yet.

He claimed to have seen rocks burn, bandits command sandstorms, lions tamed with a look, and sorcerers charm sharks while divers gathered pearls on the ocean floor. Marco Polo shook Europe with descriptions of the world he'd seen on his epic journey to the court of Kublai Khan.

But was Marco Polo the world's most accomplished explorer? Had he really seen the "Roof of the World" in Central Asia, and the "City of Heaven" in far-off China? Or was he a charlatan who saw nothing more than the conjurings of his inventive mind? Join Russell Freedman as he tackles a centuries-old mystery.

The Story of Marco Polo

This is volume number 22 in the Signature Books series for young readers. This series, under the general editorship of Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft, provides easy to read, exciting stories based upon the lives of historical figures. A vivid story of the life and adventures of perhaps the most romantic traveler of all time, a man who returned from the East with tales so fantastic that no one believed him until he was vindicated by later travelers.

Animals Marco Polo Saw (Explorer Series)

A continuation of the Explorers series by award-winning author Sandra Markle, Animals Marco Polo Saw brings to life the amazing, exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia, how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey, and even helped the explorer survive!

Marco Polo (Junior World Explorers)

Examines the political forces and personal ambition that drove Marco Polo in his explorations.

The Travels of Marco Polo

Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kubilai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West, he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. The accounts of his travels provide a fascinating glimpse of the different societies he encountered: their religions, customs, ceremonies and way of life; on the spices and silks of the East; on precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts. He tells the story of the holy shoemaker, the wicked caliph and the three kings, among a great many others, evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy. He found himself traversing the most exotic lands-from the dazzling Mongol empire to Tibet and Burma. This fascinating chronicle still serves as the most vivid depiction of the mysterious East in the Middle Ages.

He Went With Marco Polo

Cathay is a long way from his home in Venice, but when 14-year-old gondolier, Tonio Tumba receives the chance of a lifetime, he doesn’t say no. Leaving behind his only possession, a shabby green gondola, Tonio eagerly joins Marco Polo on his adventure.

As Tonio and the Polo family travel the dangerous silk road to modern-day China, they encounter many fascinating people and dangerous perils. When Tonio rides into Cathay on one of the Khan’s elephants, he says to his friend, Pietro: “Elephants are grand… but give me a horse any time – unless I could have a gondola. When we get back to Venice, I’ll take you out in mine.”

There are many wonderful sights, amazing inventions and great riches to discover, though Tonio looks forward to getting back home - but many years will pass before his chance to see the canals of Venice again. When so much has changed, will Tonio find anything worth returning for?

Louise Andrews Kent is a master storyteller, weaving historical accuracy and immersive adventure into one epic voyage of discovery.

This new edition features all the original illustrations and clean, readable text. It is a fantastic living book teaching about history and geography, recommended for ages 10 and up.

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde (World Landmark Books)

Excellent, historic story well told by Harold Lamb and beautifully illustrated by Elton Fax. Originally published in 1954, this paperback edition was released in 1982.

Marco Polo: Overland to China (In the Footsteps of Explorers)

Relive Italian voyager Marco Polo's adventures in China in1275, including his legendary meeting with Kublai Khan, emperor of the powerful Mongol Empire. This exciting new book separates fact from myth using excerpts from Polo's actual journals and vivid illustrations and photographs to portray Polo himself and his impressions of the unique traditions and customs of the Mongols. A recipe from the period is also included. Topics include - what the Medieval period meant to Europe and exploration - the Silk Road - Marco Polo's service in Kublai Khan's court - life at sea and in the Mongol Empire - Marco Polo's influence on later explorers Teacher's guide available.

Marco Polo: his travels and adventures.

This edition is presented complete and unabridged, with larger text for easier reading by younger readers, and all the original illustrations and decorations.“I have attempted to transform the somewhat dry and monotonous translation of this narrative into an entertaining story, that may engage the attention and the interest of my young readers; for which it certainly presents ample opportunities. If the task is properly done, no one can fail to follow Marco Polo from his Venetian home, across the entire continent of Asia to the court of Kublai Khan, and in his various adventures and journeys while in the far-off Orient, without eager curiosity and ever-deepening interest. The central figure of the story is heroic, for Marco Polo was in all things manly, brave, persevering, intelligent, and chivalrous; and the scenes and incidents in which he was the leading actor were in the highest degree thrilling and dramatic.”-From the Preface by the Author.

A Monopoly-style Marco Polo Silk Road game will allow your child to research Marco Polo and the Silk Road to determine the cities used on property spaces and other themes throughout the board game. 

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

The Usborne World History Book was a great resource.

MARCO POLO’S JOURNEY TO ASIA

The Polos began their journey in 1271, traveling mostly by land. They crossed dangerous terrain, including mountains, deserts, and hostile regions. One of the most difficult parts of the journey was crossing the Gobi Desert, which Marco described as a place of extreme heat, cold, and isolation.

The trip to China took nearly four years. Along the way, Marco learned multiple languages and studied the customs of the people he met. These skills helped him gain the trust of rulers and merchants throughout Asia.

LIFE IN THE COURT OF KUBLAI KHAN

Marco Polo spent many years in the service of Kublai Khan, the Mongol emperor and grandson of Genghis Khan. According to Marco’s account, Kublai Khan was impressed by Marco’s intelligence and honesty and gave him important responsibilities.

Marco claimed that he served as a government official, a tax inspector, and a diplomatic messenger.

Innovations He Recorded

  • Paper money used instead of coins
  • Coal used as fuel
  • Large cities with organized streets and marketplaces
  • Advanced postal systems with relay stations
  • Canals and bridges used for transportation

Some Europeans doubted these stories, but many of Marco Polo’s observations have since been confirmed by historians and archaeologists.

MARCO POLO’S RETURN TO EUROPE

After about 17 years in Asia, the Polo family was permitted to return home in 1291. They traveled by sea, escorting a Mongol princess to Persia as part of a diplomatic marriage agreement.

The journey home was dangerous. Ships faced storms, disease, and shipwrecks. Many travelers did not survive the trip. Marco finally returned to Venice in 1295.

THE BOOK OF MARCO POLO

In 1298, Marco Polo was captured during a war between Venice and Genoa. While imprisoned, he told his travel stories to a fellow prisoner, Rustichello of Pisa, who recorded them.

This book became known as The Travels of Marco Polo. It influenced European trade ambitions, mapmakers, and future Explorers, including Christopher Columbus.

Although some details may be exaggerated, historians agree that the book greatly expanded Europe’s knowledge of Asia.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Some historians have questioned whether Marco Polo actually traveled as far as China because he did not mention certain things like the Great Wall.

However, many details he recorded match Chinese historical records, especially about Mongol rule, government systems, and trade practices.

TIP FOR YOUR DIY MARCO POLO TIMELINE GAME SIMILAR TO MONOPOLY

Before we begin putting our game together, I want to give you some ideas for your adventure cards, board spaces, and other components of the game.

MONEY REPLACEMENT IDEAS:

  • Real bills and coins-this is especially good for younger kids who need the practice.
  • Trade coins/tokens made from gold cardstock or plastic pirate coins.

You decide how much each player begins with, what each property costs, and what penalties and prizes will be set at.

PROPERTIES CAN BE:

  • Major Silk Road cities
  • Trade hubs
  • Caravan stops
  • City Properties (Buy & Trade)

I found this extensive list of cities along the Silk Road on Wikipedia that can be used for your “properties”.

RAILROADS CAN BE:

  • Caravan routes (land routes)
  • Sea routes

CHANCE BECOMES MARCO POLO TRIVIA:

  • Answer a Silk Road or Marco Polo fact question
  • Correct answer = reward
  • Incorrect = penalty

COMMUNITY CHEST CARDS BECOME ADVENTURE CARDS

  • “You run out of water in the Gobi Desert.”  Pay 50 coins OR skip one turn.
  • “A sudden sandstorm slows your caravan.” Move back 3 spaces.
  • “You must cross dangerous mountain terrain.”  Roll the dice. Even number: safe passage. Odd number: lose 25 coins.
  • “Freezing nights and scorching days weaken your caravan.” Skip one turn to recover.
  • “Bandits attack your caravan.” Pay 50 coins OR give up one trade card.
  • “You hire armed guards for protection.”  Pay 25 coins, then ignore the next bandit card.
  • “A trader deserts during the journey.”  Lose one turn reorganizing supplies.
  • “A sickness spreads among travelers.”  Skip one turn OR pay 30 coins for medicine.
  • “Contaminated water slows your journey.”  Move back 2 spaces.
  • “You stop at a city to recover.” Skip one turn but collect 20 coins from the bank.
  • “Local rulers demand taxes to pass.”  Pay 25 coins.
  • “You receive permission to travel through Mongol lands.”  Advance to the next city space.
  • “A cultural mistake offends local officials.” Pay 20 coins OR miss your next turn.
  • “The Khan favors your honesty.” Collect 100 coins.
  • “You carry messages for the Khan.”  Advance to any city space.
  • “You travel under Mongol protection.”  You are immune to danger cards for one full round.

Special Spaces (Replace Jail, Free Parking, etc.)
“Stranded in the Desert” or “ Prison” (Jail Equivalent)
You are lost. To get out: Pay 50 coins, use a “Safe Passage” card, or roll doubles

“Caravan Rest Stop” (Free Parking)
Collect trade tokens or coins placed there as a result of taxes and penalties.

Utilities can be camels or ships.

DIY MARCO POLO TIMELINE BOARD GAME

You will need:

  • A blank game board
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Paint markers
  • Painter’s tape or washi tape
  • Pencil

Here is an entire game kit I found where you can get everything included at once.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

The first thing you want to do is list out what each space will be, either from above or your own ideas. This will help you plan out your design and make sure you have enough

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

If you are going to color the tops of the “properties,” you can tape off the area with painters’ tape or tacky tape.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Paint the area in the chosen colors.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Use a pencil to mark colors or sketch out pictures in the spaces.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Trace your cards onto either side of the board’s center to mark the space.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Count out how many cards you need for each and decorate the back for “Adventure” and “Chance”.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

On the opposite side, write out all your questions and challenges.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

If your board has dried, you can now paint in any further designs, squares, or borders you have chosen. Paint pens are great for the smaller details.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Write the countries on the “property” cards and color-code them by adding a strip of paint to the top of the card that coincides with its spot on the board.

The DIY Marco Polo Timeline Board Game: How to Play

Design the center any way you wish. For us, we added a big swipe of paint, let it dry, and wrote in our game title with a paint marker.

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

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