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What is the Swiss Family Robinson About | Simple Jeopardy Style Game

April 10, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

One way to learn about what is the Swiss Family Robinson about is through a fun and simple Jeopardy Style Game. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

I have gathered some great questions for different categories to use for your game, enough for a full round as well as the big final question.

What is the Swiss Family Robinson About | Simple Jeopardy Style Game

And I have simple directions for putting your reusable board together.

Truly nothing fancy, just a quick trip to the dollar store for 2 items if you don’t already have them on hand and less than 30 minutes to put it all together.

This method of creating a Jeopardy game makes it a great reusable activity that can be used for any topic.

You can create a fun and unique way to reinforce what you have learned.

Too, you can even recreate the game for each chapter of the book using your own questions, make it as large or as small a game as you need.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Also, look at some of these books and resources.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Become a nature detective with this illustrative, engaging and fun Take-Along-Guide. You may not know where to look, or what to look for, but animal signs are everywhere and this guide will help you learn how to read them. You'll learn how to spot and identify common clues that 17 wildlife species leave behind in the woods, in the fields and along ponds.

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

The heroic tale of the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community.

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set: Titles In This Set: The Blizzard Challenge The Desert Challenge The Jungle Challenge The Sea Challenge The River Challenge The Earthquake Challenge The Volcano Challenge The Safari Challenge The Cave Challenge The Mountain Challenge The Arctic Challenge The Sailing Challenge

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

By Pro-Knot, the number one trusted name in Knots with over 7,000 5 Star reviews! This complete knot tying KIT includes everything you need to learn and practice how to tie 23 essential rope knots. The six card/twelve page waterproof plastic card set contains 23 best all purpose rope knots
clearly illustrated and described, bound together with a no-rust brass grommet in the corner!

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Edible wild plants are nature’s natural food source, growing along roadsides, sprouting in backyards, and blooming in country fields. North America’s diverse geography overflows with edible plant species.

Next, look at some questions jeopardy style.

Jeopardy Questions

People

This child was the youngest of the Robinson clan. Who is Franz?
The girl who was discovered on the islands is named this.Who is Emily Montrose ?
This couple revealed their engagement near the end of the book. Who are Jenny and Fritz?
The last words the family heard from the crew before they hit the rocks. What is Abandon ship!
These people decide to stay on the island with the family instead of returning with the ship. Who are Mr. Wolston and some of his family.

Animals

The marine arthropod attacked Jack. What is a lobster?
Name 3 different animals that the Robinsons brought to the island from the boat. What is cow, donkey, goats,sheep, ram, pig, or dogs?
The two names of the dogs they rescued. Who are Turk and Juno?
The method that the family used to trick the monkeys into helping. What is throwing rocks at them so they would throw coconuts in return.
The type of animal the family attempted to train to help with hunting. What is a bald eagle?

About The Book/Author

This author wrote the Swiss Family Robinson. Who is Johan David Wyss?
The country that the author was born in. What is Switzerland?
The year that Swiss Family was originally published. What is 1812?
This person served as narrator of the book. Who is ‘father’?
Besides author, Wyss held this position. What is a pastor?

Island Life Skills

The objects that were used to build a raft to get off the boat to land? What are barrels and rope?
This name is what the family dubbed their initial beach home. What is Tentholm?
Oyster shells were used for this purpose. What is making spoons and bowls?
The type of tree the family makes their tree home in. What is a Mangrove Fig Tree?
The subject father used to figure out how to build their treehouse? What is geometry?

Hodge Podge Facts

Fritz initially thought that the ostriches were this. What are men on horseback?
The original destination of the shipwrecked boat. Where is Port Jackson, Australia?
The reason the ship did not completely sink. What is because it was stuck between two rocks.
The number of years the Robinsons were on the island before they were discovered. What is 10 years?
The two sons that decided to leave the island. Who were Fritz and Franz?

Final Jeopardy

On the last visit to the ship father does this at the end. What is blowing it up with gunpowder?

Or keep it simple with a free printable Word Search.

Simple Jeopardy Style Game

You will need:

Foam Board
55 colored post-it notes
Sharpie marker
Letter stickers
List of questions
Buzzer (s) Optional but really fun and adds to the game, especially with multiple kids.
Notebook and pen to keep score.

First, start by making a Jeopardy heading across the top of your board with letter stickers, print off the computer, or draw it on by hand.

Next write your category headings on 5 sticky notes with a black marker.

Animals,
Island Life Skills,
People,
About The Author, and
Hodge Podge.

Now, add 5 rows of posts beneath each heading and write your questions for each category down the row,

You can write your questions down before placing them instead if you like. Write the answer (in the form of a question) on the back of it.

Use the black marker and write 100,200, 300,400,500 on each set of colors.

And then place them over top of the questions in descending order.

To play:

Just like the TV game, your child picks a category and amount.

Pull off the number layer and read the question.

Correct answers are awarded points, but they are deducted from the total for incorrect answers.

While the buzzers are not necessary, they are fun and make it feel more like a real game.

How to Make Adorable Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters Bookmarks

April 9, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let me show you how to make Swiss Family Robinson book characters bookmarks. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, these are easy. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

I am not by any means an artist, especially a portrait artist.

How to Make Adorable Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters Bookmarks

But I thought it would be easy enough to create fun bookmarks.

Draw simple clothing and add in identifiable items from the story.

This hands-on idea is a great way to express yourself a bit.

Imagine what the characters might have worn, or held in their hands, etc while you dive into a character study one each one.

Mother and Father are unnamed in the book but still make an impression on the readers for their strength, faith, and determination to make the best of their lot in life.

The boys each have their own strengths and weaknesses as they grow up on the island.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Next, look at some of these resources to go with the Swiss Family Robinson unit study and be sure to grab the book too.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Moreover, look at some of these facts about the characters.

Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters

The characters in the book are unique and contribute to life on the island in their own way.

A character study on a favorite is a great activity while you are reading or after you have completed the book.

Father – Father is not only the head of the family but he is the narrator of the story and the one who leads the family to the safety of the island.

He is well read, kind, and pious, spending much time teaching the boys life lessons as well as botany, animal husbandry, and keeping them civilized even while living in the wilds of the island.

Mother- Mother provides a wealth of knowledge as well as encouragement, life lessons, nurturing, and a feminine touch to their island homes.

She is hardworking and has a vast education of typical feminine skills that are invaluable on the island like cooking, gardening, keeping house, and sewing.

Fritz-Fritz is the oldest son and his father’s right hand man from the very beginning, starting the story at .

About The Characters in Swiss Family Robinson Book

He matures throughout the 10 years on the island into a man the family is proud of years old. Fritz is the one who finds, rescues, and falls in love with Jenny, and ultimately decides to leave the families happy new home on “New Switzerland” to make a life with Jenny in England.

Ernest- Ernest is the second oldest at 12 and loves to read and learn.

He has a knowledge of plants and animals that serves the family well. He has a very scientific analytical mind and loves the island and its possibilities.

Jack- Jack, 10 years old at the start, is flighty and headstrong, not thinking before he runs into situations.

But he is also the one who most enjoys the activities like fishing and hunting and contributes much to the family like when he came up with the harpoon for catching fish.

By the time the story ends Jack has grown up and matured into a fine young man.

Franz-Franz is the baby of the family and just 6 years old at the start of the story and spends his time playing, exploring, and helping mother with duties around the home.

He is happy, sweet, and even tempered.

By the story’s end Franz is a young man of 16 and decides to leave the island for England with the oldest brother.

How to Make Bookmarks

You can create one or all of the characters from the book to mark your spot as you read and learn about the family.

Supplies:

Cardstock
markers/colored pencils
Single hole punch
Paper slicer
Twine and yarn

First, cut your cardstock into 2’x6” strips, using a paper slicer is such an easy way to make multiple uniform cuts.

Use a single hole punch to make a hole in the center of one end about ¼” in from the edge.

Draw your character’s clothes lightly in pencil until you are satisfied with how they look.

Use markers, colored pencils, or even watercolors to color in your designs. Obviously the boys will be in pants and button down tops, you can add vests, rope belts, and suspenders to give a bit more detail.

To make your characters more unique you can add small details like the lobster that Jack caught or a curling tail coming off of Fritz’s shoulder for Knips the monkey he adopted.

To make a tassel wrap the string or yarn around your 4 fingers 10 to 20 times and slip off carefully.

Knot another piece of string close to one end and cut the loops at the other end.

Loop a long piece of string through the hole at the top and pull the two ends through the loop and tighten.

Tie the piece looped through the bookmark through the looped ends of the tassel and knot several times.

For my mother I used a soft pink thread to make it a bit more feminine.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

April 6, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

One of the ways that the Swiss Family Robinson survived besides the provisions they gathered from the boat was by gathering what they could from the land. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

They were able to find lobster, strawberries, mulberries, pomegranates, pistachio nuts, sugar cane, palm cabbage, as well as many kinds of fish, birds, and animals to eat.

One of the first things they were able to gather by tricking the monkeys into helping was coconuts.

Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson

Not only did they enjoy the liquid inside but were able to eat the meat inside and even use the emptied out half shell as a bowl.

If you have never tried a fresh whole coconut with your kids, this is a great opportunity to examine and try one straight from the shell.

I’m showing you how to open a coconut carefully and properly, harvesting both the water and the meat of the coconut. Use all 5 senses to explore the coconut. Research where they are native to and find the locations on a map.

Find other uses for coconut shells, learn how to properly open and eat a coconut from the grocery store.

You could also use this as a chance to introduce more exotic fruits like papaya, mango, dragon fruit, kiwi, pomegranates and figs, many of which were foods that were also consumed by the Swiss Family Robinson.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Next, add some living books to your activity today.

Books Like Swiss Family Robinson

After adding living books, I add reference books to our unit study.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

I also have 7 more fun ways that you can use tropical foods for learning besides eating, like making mini explosions and a tropical fruit sensory bin.

7 Ways to Play With Your Tropical Food

Dive deeper into learning about tropical foods with my 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl that is delicious and easy to make.
This simple tutorial will show you How to Eat a Starfruit, another delicious exotic treat..
Set up a fun science experiment inside of a pineapple (after you harvest the fruit to eat first of course) with the Pineapple Volcano and a few basic household supplies.
You can also Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities and make a tasty Mango Smoothie too.
Here is a recipe you can make with the meat of the coconut you harvest that sounds so tasty- Coconut Banana Smoothie.
For your younger learners here is an adorable Sensory Activities for Kids : Tropical Fruits sensory rice recipe that goes along great with this read aloud and learn about more tropical fruits with this multi-sensory experience.
If you live in a warmer climate zone (5 and above) try your hand at growing Passion Fruit with these 5 tips that will have you enjoying this tropical treat anytime you want it.

Finally, look how to open and eat a fresh coconut.

How to Open and Eat a Fresh Coconut

You will need:

A coconut
Wooden cutting board
Corkscrew
Large sturdy kitchen knife
Large bowl
Cup to collect coconut water
Small sieve

First, to choose a coconut you want one that feels heavy for the size it is.

It should be dark brown with hairy fibers all over it.

It should make a nice sloshing noise when you shake it around to show it’s got water inside and is fresh.

Soak the coconut in a bowl of water for about 5 minutes to help soften the shell a bit.

Turn the coconut so that the 3 eyes are facing up and poke each until you find the one that is soft.

Then use the corkscrew to open the hole up.

If you do not have a corkscrew, you can push through with a screwdriver and a little hammer.

Work the hole open a little larger if you need to.

Drain the coconut water into the cup, going through a sieve to collect bits of shell and set aside while you open the coconut.

We got a whole cup of coconut water out of our small coconut.

You can see three ridges very well that mark weak spots on the coconut.

With the back of the knife, tap very firmly on them and then all around the “equator: ” of the coconut until you see a crack form.

Alternatively, you can use a kitchen mallet if you have one on hand.

Continue tapping with force until it cracks all the way around.

To remove the meat from the coconut you can use thin sharp knives to cut it out or a vegetable peeler (great for little hands).

Break the pieces of coconut up into smaller pieces and then use a vegetable peeler to scrape off the shell.

Try the small bits of coconut and talk about the taste and texture.

Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Parrot Craft

April 5, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There was a menagerie of animals in The Swiss Family Robinson book, making it a great topic for a zoology study. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

The Robinsons used many items to help them survive, the least of which is the animals they brought from the wrecked ship.

And they used animals found on the island.

For example, they were used for meat, milk, companionship, and to lighten the workload.

Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Parrot Craft

The land where the Robinsons ended up was thought to have been the East Indies which back at that time, in 1812, would have been the region of Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and New Guinea.

No doubt it is a very diverse location for flora and fauna.

They were surrounded by exotic creatures they had never seen and only some read about.

One of the creatures on the island that the Robinsons turned into a pet was a parrot. In honor of that parrot, we are going to create an adorable no sew felt version of our own.

Parrots are incredibly smart creatures, who also live long lives, especially in captivity.

You can use this felt parrot craft as part of your Swiss Family Robinson animal study, with a pirate unit, or a tropical bird unit.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Books for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Next, add some of these books and resources to your unit study.

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book

Also, here are some of the animals mentioned in the classic story that you could use to springboard a science lesson from a literature study.

Moreover, you can have your child write about, paint, make out of LEGO, make a minecraft collection of exotic animals, make one from playdough and learn a few facts, or even create our fun felt parrot below.

Jackal
Buffalo
Ostrich
Monkey – Look at my post Preschool Fun Monkey Study
Peccaries
Muskrat
Lions – 6 Facts About Mountain Lions and How to Make a Fun Mountain Lion Diorama
Bears – Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
Hippo
Condor
Flamingos – Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial
Onager
Cuscus
Eagle – Beautiful Bald Eagle Fun Facts And Torn Paper Bird Craft
Parrot
Lobster
Kangaroo
Green Iguana – 10 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts and How to Make A Fun Iguana
Oceanic White tip Shark
Capybara
Civet Cat

Additionally, here are more learning about parrot resources.

Parrot Resources

Our felt parrot craft is the easily identifiable and popular Scarlet Maw.

And so that you know, macaws are parrots, but not all parrots are macaws.

The Scarlet Macaw are the largest parrots in the world and can reach up to 33” from beak to tail.

You can use this gorgeous collection of birds to create a diorama, create a tropical sensory bin, as models for drawing and painting or just for dramatic play.
Littles will enjoy these Macaw and Toucan Paper Plate Crafts.
If you want to dive deeper into parrots grab a wonderful book to support your literature unit like About Parrots: A Guide for Children.
For middle and highschool you could include the challenge of building a Parrot LEGO set.

Finally, look at how to make this easy parrot craft.

How to Make an Easy Parrot Craft With Kids

You will need:

Red, green, blue, yellow, black felt
Cotton stuffing.
Hot glue
Scissors
Pinking shears
Googly eyes

First, use a pencil to trace a large circle for your parrot’s head and then a leaf shape overlapping the head for the body of the parrot.

You can make it as large or as small as you like but if you make it too small it’s difficult to stuff with the wider hot glue seam.

Lay it over a second felt sheet and cut out the body shape twice.

Easy Parrot Craft

Run hot glue along the edge of one piece all the way around except the head and press the second piece into it firmly, allowing it to cool and harden.

Stuff the body with cotton, using a pencil to push it all the way in and fill it out.

Glue the head all the way around except for about 1” where you would like the beak to be and fill the head with more cotton stuffing the same way.

Glue and pinch the final opening closed.

Draw and cut out a pair of eyes-white and smaller black circles, as well as 2 beak halves.

Glue the two halves of the beak together over the edge of the parrot’s face, you can use them to cover up your final seam.

Glue the eyes into place, layering black circles over white.

To create wings, stack the colors you would like to use and cut them into a rectangle the width and length of the parrot’s body.

Stack and spread them out vertically so that a little of each color shows at the bottom. Repeat with a second stack.

Now use pinking shears to round them and give them a bit more featherlike shape.

Do the same technique to create the tail but make it narrower, stack colors so that you can see all and use pinking shears to trim and round the edges.

Glue and pinch over the back end. Be sure to glue every layer together one by one.

He is a cutie, isn’t he?

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

April 3, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making our own Lego Swiss Family Robinson stem challenge and encourage kids to use critical thinking, planning, engineering skills, problem-solving, as well as creativity to create their unique treehouse. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

A wonderful thing about homeschooling is that you can take a book like Swiss Family Robinson and go as in-depth as you like.

For example, you can create learning experiences and activities for this literature.

However, you can also cover everything from math to geography to science.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

The Robinsons built their island treehouse using simply what they found around them.

Too, they got parts and pieces scavenged from the shipwreck.

Challenge your child to do the same with LEGO.

Beyond just creating a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson treehouse let’s look at some other fabulous STEM projects.

When I think of Swiss Family Robinson stem, I think of survival skills.

This book is the perfect time to dive deeply into some basic life skills.

They can be learned to be used in survival situations but also can be applied to day-to-day life.

More Resources for Learning About Swiss Family Robinson & Survival Activities

Next, look at these books and resources.

Books to Learn About How The Swiss Family Robinson Lived

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Head outdoors and take the Survival Skills Challenge: Building a Shelter to see if you can create a shelter using just a few basic items.
In my Homeschool Literature The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Raft Craft you can learn about terms like buoyancy and challenge your student to build a raft that not only floats but bears weight.
Try the Survival Skills for Kids – FIRE STARTING CHALLENGE, while you may not need it for a shipwreck it will come in handy.
Father was even able to construct a water wheel, check out this Water Wheel STEM Activity to make one on a smaller scale and learn how it works.

Throughout the building ask questions to encourage critical thinking and assess their comprehension and retention.

Of course, answers will vary.

But here are a few questions that you might ask and some of the possible answers.

What materials did they use? Trees, sailcloth, bamboo, rope, wood planks. They even used geometry to determine how high it needed to be.

Why did they build their treehouse where they did? Proximity to water, food, good trees for building at the right height, etc.

How did they get materials up the tree? They fashioned a pulley to move materials up and down the tree easily.

LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge

For this challenge, you don’t need to follow instructions, rather this is a great time to encourage your child to use their critical thinking skills to build a structure that holds up, bears weight, and fits the needs of the “family”.

But just to give you a framework I’m giving you simple steps to have them follow and the way that I did it.

Allow them to build and learn.

For instance, decide whether it’s best to build on top of the tree base or to build the structure first and then place it on top, etc

You will need:

LEGO Baseplate
LEGO Bricks

Start with a big base plate and add a little “sand and water” with smaller flat blue and tan plates.

Start with a smaller base plate as the base of your treehouse.

To make it a little easier or let your child completely fashion one from smaller pieces for more of a challenge for older children.

Add a bit of border for walls and 4 corners.

Make the corners the height that you would like the treehouse to be.

For the next part, they will want to build trunks of the tree.

They need to support the treehouse and figure out where they should be placed to support it best.

For the roof, we found it easiest to build one that was a little larger than the size of the base floor of the structure.

Then, place it on top.

And then came the fun part, adding greenery.

Use it all over the roof.

And show it coming out of the sides of the structure to make it look more like it was inside of a tree.

Now you can put your treehouse on top of the “tree trunks”.

Don’t forget to create a ladder for going up and down.

You can stop there, or you can continue to challenge your child’s creativity.

For example, have your kids add flora and fauna to the base, build structures for the animals, or recreate a scene from the story.

handsonhomeschooling

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Jeopardy Questions

People

Animals

About The Book/Author

Island Life Skills

Hodge Podge Facts

Final Jeopardy

Simple Jeopardy Style Game

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters

About The Characters in Swiss Family Robinson Book

How to Make Bookmarks

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Books Like Swiss Family Robinson

7 Ways to Play With Your Tropical Food

How to Open and Eat a Fresh Coconut

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Books for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book

Parrot Resources

How to Make an Easy Parrot Craft With Kids

Easy Parrot Craft

More Resources for Learning About Swiss Family Robinson & Survival Activities

Books to Learn About How The Swiss Family Robinson Lived

Swiss Family Robinson STEM Ideas

LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge

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