handsonhomeschooling

Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft

August 12, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This clever diy Dollar Tree desk organizer back to school craft is just the perfect idea to organize your homeschool places. Besides the dynamics of The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter means organizing learning areas.

Do you need something simple and inexpensive to help get you or the kids (maybe both) organized for your first day of school?

This craft idea help you to get your workspace tidied up and make everything a little easier to find.

Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft

It looks cute with any decor, is fun to make, and it’s only $6.25 in Dollar Tree items.

This simple craft corrals crayons, pencils, sharpeners, glue, paper clips, whatever you need tidied up.

Join two or three together to make a larger organizing station for your desk, the kids space, or use it elsewhere in the house.

We could all use a little help getting our routine running smoothly.

12 Ways to Use A DIY Desk Organizer

What better way to accomplish this than organizing your most used supplies in a pretty and functional way.

Look at the ways to use your diy desk organizer school craft.

You can store:

Craft paints and brushes
A glue gun and glue sticks
Flashcards
Post it Notes
Needles and thread
Essential oils
Small sticker packs or treats for rewards
In the bathroom for makeup or hair supplies
Scrapbook supplies
Tea Bags and Coffee Pod
Science supplies
Individually wrapped snacks:

And since they’re so cute and easy to make, you’ll want to make several.

You’ll love this list of easy supplies from the Dollar Tree.

Easy Dollar Tree Supplies

Let’s get started on this simple craft.

You will need:

3 unfinished wood crates from Dollar Tree
2 unfinished wood slats -17”x 2” Dollar Tree)
Brown craft paint
Foam brush
E6000 glue
Small clamps from the car department at Dollar Tree
Water
ruler
Paper towels

My unfinished wood pieces were pretty smooth.

But if you find that yours have a few rough spots smooth them down really quick with a small piece of fine sandpaper or a sanding block to keep splinters or scratches form happening.

How to Make a DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer

If you already have a stain on hand you can use that.

But you can easily made tour own faux stain by watering down brown paint and add just a smidge of black paint..

The brown pain wasn’t dark enough for the stain finish I wanted to achieve so I added a bit of black.

Paint on your homemade stain, coating all the areas.

Be sure to get in the corners and cracks thoroughly.

I like to work in small sections and immediately wipe off the excess with a paper towel to get that transparent stained look.

Repeat this process with all of your wood pieces on all the sides and bottoms because it will all show in the final except for a few small spots. I used less than ¼ of a 2 .z bottle of craft paint to do all of this.

Allow the paint to dry completely for at least and hour.

It should dry up rather quickly since its a thin coat.

Use a ruler to measure the center of each of your side slats and crates.

Apply a generous amount of e600 glue to one side of the slat at the base and press into the center of the side of the crate.

Make it level across the bottom and this will be your base.

Repeat this step, doing only one side slat with the other two crates, one in the middle and one at the top.

Be generous with the glue and wipe off any excess that squeezes out right away. Attach the slat on the opposite side of the crates.

You can use a hot glue if that is all you have on hand. But I find that it’s thicker and you don’t get as much working time to make adjustments as you do with the e6000. Hold it in place with clamps.

Organization Tips for Your Homeschool Room

I also grabbed these clamps at Dollar Tree in the car/home improvement section to use on crafts.

Let your glue dry completely overnight to be sure that it is set well the remove the clamps.

Additionally, add stickers if you like to personalize it for each child or label what is going into each bin.

You could also make it a totally fun kids craft by letting them paint their own wood pieces whatever color they like.

Finally, look at some other fun back to school crafts.

More Back to School Craft Ideas

13 Amazing and Fun Gifts for Kids Who Love History

August 11, 2022 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have thirteen amazing ideas for fun gifts for kids who love history. Whether you’re looking for one to go with ancient civilizations or current history, you’ll love these gift ideas.

Do you have a child or adult in your life who can’t get enough history in their life? Maybe it’s you?

Whether it be ancient history, modern history, world or local, you’re sure to find an idea on this list.

I have curated a list of 13 history related items for you to make gift giving to your favorite historian a little bit easier.

13 Amazing and Fun Gifts for Kids Who Love History

Too, if you have a hands-on learner, then history games, stories, and even old letters bring history to life.

Besides gifts, you can use these ideas in your every day homeschool.

History Gifts for Kids

Before I had hands-on learners, I used only worksheets to learn about history.

However, I quickly learned that my kids were not remembering what we were learning.

So, not only did I switch my curriculum to Story of the World starting in first grade, I also added in history games.

For example, I added in Professor Noggin’s Ancient Civilizations Trivia Card Game.

It was my first time using games to learn history.

Little did I know then that one game could create a lifelong love for history.

Since then I’ve been adding history gifts for my kids to feed their love for learning.

So, I know you’ll find an idea or two here for your kids or for the history lover in your life.

Other Fun History Resources

Add these to your first of the year homeschool supply list.

13 Gifts for History Buffs

You'll love these ideas for a history lover of any age. Add them in your curriculum too.

Encyclopedia of World History

Colorful and full of information this has been a staple for history reference in our homeschool but it makes a great gift for any kid that loves delving into the past!

You can find info on the first humans, dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, the Aztec Empire, the First World War, Medieval times, and a whole lot more.

Tea Sampler, 6 Assorted Loose Leaf Teas, American History Set with all the Teas Thrown in the Boston Harbor in 1773

I love a hot cup of tea with honey and think the fact that these 6 loose leaf teas that come in pretty tins were actually researched and are teas that were found to have been dumped into the Boston Harbor in 1773.

They make a thoughtful gift that will be enjoyed for its historical reference and its delicious flavor and aroma as well. Pair with a historically patterned tea cup and you have an amazing and winning gift.

Photo Credit: www.letterjoy.co

The #1 Historic Mail Gift

If you or your favorite history buff are like me and miss getting real mail, besides bills, this subscription letter service makes opening the mailbox a lot more fun-at least once a week.

You can opt for 3 months, 6 months, or a full year of it. They cover historical events from 1600 to 1960, everything from presidents to voting rights, the Civil War to American Expansion.

They are real letters, written by a variety of famous historical figures and some eyewitnesses to histories greatest events on beautiful parchment paper or fine cotton paper. I love a gift that keeps on giving and doesn’t end right after its opened.

History of the World

If your history person loves history and board games this gift was tailor made for them.

It covers from the start of civilization right up the 20th century.

Use strategy, cunning, and your civilizations best attributes to defeat the opponent.

I would recommend this for adults or older precocious teenage history lovers as the rules are bit harder to master then some games. My teen loves complicated role playing games so I know he could handle this one and it is definitely on our gameschooling wish list!

Documents of Freedom Bundle. Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

These replicas of historical documents make a great framed gift to adorn office walls, hallways, homeschool spaces, or living rooms. Place them in a pretty wooden frame to protect and enhance the display and they make a great gift for anyone.

This set is less than $15 and includes the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.

We are studying Government this year in our homeschool and I just ordered a set and some frames to hang them in our homeschool space ( the living room).

Don't Make Me Repeat Myself. - History Teacher/Student Cup

As an avid coffee drinker and a history loving homeschool mom this one appeals to me on several levels- practicality, history reference, and funny mom humor.

Gift it on its own or add it to the Boston Tea Party bundle above and tickle someone's historical funny bone and warm their heart!

History of the World in 1,000 Objects

I am always a big fan of DK books and of course anything from the Smithsonian is going to be chock full of great artifacts with amazing photos and loads of information.

It covers from 20,000 BC to present times and highlights well known and not so well known pieces from history.

Great coffee table book for your home and makes an inviting read for your homeschooler!

Around the World TOOB, 10 Figurines

Now for the much younger historians in your life. These have been a favorite in my household for years. Since Pre K days we have used them in sensory bins and dramatic play.

I have used them when strewing and learning about a particular topic, and they have been wonderful additions to dioramas and even in fairy gardens with a historical theme.

We have created our own board games using the figurines from everything from the civil war theme to the wild west.

Wild West TOOB - 11 Hand Painted Toy Figurines

Give these wild west hands on figures for any modern unit study.

Knights & Dragons Toob Hand Painted Toy Miniature Figurines

What kind doesn't love to learn about dragons ? They'll love this fun kit.

White Mountain American History - Jigsaw Puzzle

There is just something so relaxing about working alone or with company on a jigsaw puzzle spread across the table.

I know for me jigsaw puzzles are even better if they are geared to something you are interested in.

Grab this American History themed one to gift on its own or pair it with a coffee mug or tea cup to enjoy while putting it together.

Children's War. World War 2 Replica Memorabilia Pack.

What better way to learn about World War II than a hands-on history pack.

Timeline Inventions Card Game Fun Educational Trivia

FAMILY TRIVIA GAME: Was the light bulb invented before or after glasses? In Timeline Inventions, you can learn the answer to this question and many more all while having fun! Each card has a different invention and on the opposite side of the card is the date it was invented. It's up to you to figure out when each even takes place

FUN EDUCATIONAL GAME: Players start with one randomly drawn card in the middle of the table to form the timeline. On your turn, you place a card before or after it depending on when you think this happened. Leave the card in place if you are correct or discard it and draw a new one if you’re wrong. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins

DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft

August 8, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This diy easy duct tape pencil pouch back to school craft is a great way to start your year. Before you jump into learning how to homeschool or a full schedule, have some fun first.

As homeschoolers sometimes we don’t really get the full traditional back to school shopping experience, so I like to work in some fun activities to freshen things up and get them excited.

Even though we school year-round we take breaks and this is the perfect activity to jump back into a new unit.

DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft

It would also make a great craft to do with your co-op or just a couple friends.

Offer a few duct tapes and bag sizes. And put them on a table with an example to invite them to create.

Fill it with pencils yes but it is sturdy enough to hold scissors, pencil sharpeners, protractors, calculators and more.

Just because you are not heading off to school outside the house doesn’t mean you don’t need somewhere to gather and hold all your small supplies.

How to Use the Duct Tape Pencil Pouch

We are going to make a full sized pouch to carry our watercolor palette and brushes in our backpack for nature hikes.

Upper elementary to high school will be able to complete this project on their own. However, younger kids might need a little help with the steps.

It is very user friendly for all ages.

Let your child pick up their favorite pattern on Amazon.

I have linked several of our favorites below or you can find some at Hobby Lobby near the art supplies like canvasses and artist paints.

I have even found a good variety of solid tapes at Dollar Tree, making it a very economical craft.

You can use duct tape for a great number of projects.

For example, you can make pouches in different sizes for different uses.

Besides pencils turn it into a makeup bag or for collecting specimens on a nature walk.

Cover a jar or can for a desk pencil holder, make a custom composition notebook, wrap around pens and pencils to coordinate with your pouch, or cover a plain phone case with it to jazz it up some.

Your pouch should last you the school year with normal wear and tear but should it not last it is very economical to make a new one.

Duct Tape Options and Patterns

Here are a few of our favorites duct tape patterns. I love this wave blue.

And I also love this checkered one.

And it’s so easy to make with only 3 components.

duct tape
gallon bag slider top
scissors

You probably have all three things in your home now.

How to Make an Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch

You can make your pouch the full size of the bag or adjust it to any size you like by cutting off the bottom at the measurement you prefer.

We made ours just slightly larger than half the bag.

If you want one that is not so wide you could use a quart, sandwich, or snack size bag too. Just make sure you grab the slider top.

Once you have cut your bag down to size lay a piece of your patterned duct tape on the bottom so that half adheres to the very bottom.

Fold it over and press into place to seal the bottom well.

You can repeat the process if you think you need the extra strength, but it is pretty strong with just one.

Next, rather than work your way up the bag you are going to want to put the next piece right up under then zipper portion of the bag.

This makes for less cutting. And depending on your pattern makes it easier to match them up.

Leave just a bit on each end to trim at the end.

Work your way down the bag by adding another two rows of duct tape.

The final row will cover up the folded tape of the bottom of the bag and cover half of the center row.

Flip and repeat on the other side.

Then, trim the excess to even with the plastic bag. Try not to cut into it, just right at the edge.

To finish off and reinforce the sides, overlap the tape so that half covers each side.

Trim off excess.

You can go a step further by adding names or other words with stickers, mix up patterns and solids.

Hole punch the bottom and it can be added to a 3 ring binder to keep everything together.

Other Back to School Craft Fun

What do you think? Are you ready for not back to homeschool?

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

August 7, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have three free Amazon rainforest lapbooks which go with our Amazon Rain Forest Unit Study And homeschool lapbooks make great tools for master learning about a unit study topic..

These lapbook about the Amazon Rainforest covers so many subtopics that each of your children can spend time on whatever topics interest them. Besides you can make many or one from the different minibooks.

Take your time putting together this huge lapbook because it has about 35 minibooks.

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Because lapbooks are interactive hands-on tools, you want to take several days to create it.

One tip is to create each minibook while you’re learning about the Amazon Rainforest.

In addition, I’ve created Amazon Rainforest covers that can be used on the outside of the lapbooks or your child can do his own art.

Each of my children were different. My then high school teen didn’t want much art on the outside cover.

However, my younger two kids at the time loved creating the outside of the lapbook.

How to Use the Rainforest Lapbook

Although some parents think the lapbook is a craftsy artsy project, it is far beyond that.

I think of a lapbook as a treasure trove of what interests the child. That can be used to teach your teach and to help him memorize important facts.

However, they’re are other ways to use lapbooks.

Use the lapbook to:

store nature things which interest your child
hold small paper games
illustrate art and drawings
showcase your child’s writing
keep math facts or rules that your want your child to know
contain maps of geographical areas

And because you don’t need a lot of supplies to create a beautiful lapbook each one can be unique.

Too, the beauty of saving your lapbooks is that you can come back another year and add one more flap.

Then, add more minibooks. So, only fill the lapbook until your child’s interest has piqued.

Come back later that year or years later and add an extension of a file folder and create more minibooks.

30+ Free Minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest

For example, look at the minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest to give you ideas of topics to cover.

I have put them in several groupings so you can see the minibooks. But they are in no particular order.

Four things needed in a rainforest.
Five Kingdoms of Life.
Five Little Monkeys story props.
ABC’s of the rainforest.
ABC Storage pockets.
Animal and Plant cells.

And also remember they are use to for varying levels.

Bird pocket.
Chocolate.
Different colored rivers of the Amazon.
Food of the rainforest.
Herbivores carnivores omnivores.
Jaguars.
Jungle art.

I have minibooks for young children to learn the ABCS of the Amazon Rainforest to learning about scientist.

Layers of the rainforest older.
Layers of the rainforest younger.
Layers of the rainforest 4 tab older.
Life cycle of kapok tree.
Lungs of the world.
Photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis wheel rain forest.
Pioneer microbiologist and father of taxonomy.

Also, you can pull out one topic like chocolate or the tropical fruits and focus only on that.

Plant label.
Products of the rainforest.
Rainforest facts.
Rain forest measuring.
Rainforest opposites.
Rain Force plants.
Rain forest in danger.
Rainforest vocabulary younger.
Reptiles insects amphibians of the amazon.
Save the rainforest.
The Amazon.
The canopy a beautiful roof.
The rainforest where is it.
Water cycle.
Why do we need plants younger.

This Amazon Rainforest is a HUGE 108 page download and enough to create more than 3 lapbooks.

Other Amazon Rainforest Resources

You’ll love these other Amazon Rainforest unit study resources.

Whether your create one or many you have plenty of minibooks to choose from.

Rainforest Lapbooks

How to Get the Free Rain Forest Amazon Lapbook 108 Pages

Now, how to grab the free download where you can make as many as 3 lapbooks. This is a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids

August 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

These cute clay pencil earrings for back to school crafts are plain fun. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more fun ideas and tips.

So, don’t miss out on all the fun back to school craft ideas just because your child won’t be headed off to traditional school.

Have some hands on craft time with your kids and make a pair or several school themed earrings to wear to kick off your new year.

Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids

We school year-round but take a lot of breaks so these were great to welcome in our new unit!

Clay is great for creativity.

So, invest a little in these supplies and give your kids another creative outlet.

Also, making crafts is therapeutic and works those fine motor skill and appeals to the senses.

Additionally this is a great way to encourage your budding entrepreneurs.

A great little business idea is creating earrings for friends, family, co-op mates, and even to setup on facebook.

Clay – A Versatile Craft Material

Your child can sell handmade creations for a bit of money and learn about supply vs. demand, how to set prices for profit, the cost of supplies, and so much more.

Get creative and don’t just stop at making pencil earrings.

Use your clay to create paper, crayons, globes, beakers and more.

But they don’t have to just be for back to school craft ideas.

Add this idea to any of your unit studies.

For example, look at some of these ideas.

If you’re looking for an idea for a hands-on project for the Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages, then create a replica of a plant.
When studying China, create a map to wear on your child’s ears. How fun.
Are you studying about botany next? Then make some cute mushrooms or succulents.

Look at this Polymer Clay Starter kit, Oven Bake Clay, DIY Molding Clay kit.

Let’s dive into making these adorable clay back to school earrings.

This list is easy but too some of it you may not have around the house.

Easy DIY Fun Earrings Supplies

Earring Kit
Variety Clay Pack
Clay Roller Machine or a hand roller
Small craft stick
Skewer

Once you get all your supplies gathered remember you can make several pairs.

First, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to Make Back to School Pencil Earrings

Then, pinch off a piece of yellow clay and roll it through your clay roller a few times on the second to last thickness setting.

We really just eyeballed the amount.

There wasn’t enough the first time,vso we just pinched off a bit more and added it before we went through again.

You can also use a simple roller. But we love our clay machine and use it every time we create with clay to get uniform thickness.

I set most of my earrings at the thicker of the two settings on our clay roller.

Use a small wooden craft stick as a template to get straight sides and an even width for your two pencils,

Cut on either side with a thin sharp knife and repeat for the next one.

Remember though that they don’t have to be perfect, they are kid and handmade after all.

Cut the top and bottom at the same time to get your desired length.

Repeat with a small amount of pink after rolling it flat. Use the craft stick vertically and horizontally to cut two squares for the erasers.

Again, use some tan to make the wood of your pencil and repeat with the sides. Cut the length off at the same time so they are uniform.

Then, cut a point on your pencil tips.

Get a bit of texture by using the sharp end of the skewer to draw up the top of the tan and create the shaved section of the pencil.

Add a tiny piece of black clay to the bottom as a pencil led, shape a point with your fingers.

Connect your 3 pieces, pressing them gently together.

Wet your finger and smooth the joints together.

More Back to School Craft Ideas

We ran each of our entire put together pieces through the roller one more time to help the colors cling to each other.

Draw a few lines in the yellow to create some pencil detail.

Take the flat end of your skewer and pierce a whole through the eraser close to the top.

But leave enough room that it doesn’t break because its too thin.

Carefully pick up the clay pieces and transfer to a baking sheet.

A think scraper or even a knife make it easy to slide up and transfer.

We use our little toaster oven for crafts like this rather than heat up the big oven.

Bake at 200℉ for 20 minutes. Check and make sure that they are hard and no more moisture remains in the clay.

Bake for 5 more minutes if needed to bake completely through. Allow to cool fully before removing.

Use a needle nose plier to open a jump ring and thread it through the hole you made on the eraser.

Place a French hook earring loop through the jump ring as well and close completely the jump ring with needle nose pliers.

Be sure that the hook faces away from the front of the pencil earrings

If you prefer you can skip creating a hole in the earrings and use e6000 glue to affix a standard post earring to the back instead.

If you’re like us you want dangly earrings so we went with fish hooks.

What do you think, are you ready for back to school and look cool?

handsonhomeschooling

12 Ways to Use A DIY Desk Organizer

Easy Dollar Tree Supplies

How to Make a DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer

Organization Tips for Your Homeschool Room

More Back to School Craft Ideas

History Gifts for Kids

Other Fun History Resources

How to Use the Duct Tape Pencil Pouch

Duct Tape Options and Patterns

How to Make an Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch

Other Back to School Craft Fun

How to Use the Rainforest Lapbook

30+ Free Minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest

Other Amazon Rainforest Resources

Rainforest Lapbooks

How to Get the Free Rain Forest Amazon Lapbook 108 Pages

Clay – A Versatile Craft Material

Easy DIY Fun Earrings Supplies

How to Make Back to School Pencil Earrings

More Back to School Craft Ideas

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