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8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

September 26, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have sweet Johnny Appleseed cookies and some facts about Johnny Appleseed. Also, you’ll love some facts on my page Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study.

Besides, National Johnny Appleseed Day is September 26th to honor the contributions he made.

The recipe is a semi-homemade one that starts with a basic sugar cookie mix and uses fresh apples.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Cooking teaches fantastic life skills like following directions, measurements, creativity, and math skills. It can also be used to give kids a glimpse into other people, places, and times.

Cook a little, read a little, make a craft or two, learn some new facts about Johnny Appleseed, and enjoy celebrating this simple day with your child.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed

  1. Unlike a lot of other legends, Johnny Appleseed is a real person, his given name was John Chapman.
  2. He loved nature, insects, and animals, and later in his life became a vegetarian.
  3. Besides planting apple trees, he also planted medicinal plants and herbs, like -mullein, motherwort, mayweed pennyroyal, and several others.
  4. The image that comes to mind of Johnny planting apple trees may be of him randomly tossing seeds out of a sack here and there as he went but he actually planted orchards on unclaimed lands. By planting there it was a way of legally claiming ownership in parts of the west. He went back later and sold the trees at a profit and would comeback years later and sell the trees at a profit.
  5. John was very wealthy when he died, he then left his 1200 acres of apple orchards and other land to his sister.
  6. The apples that he planted were not sweet, delicious apples, instead, they were small, tart apples used to make Applejack and hard cider, two very popular drinks at the time.
  7. You can still see one of the trees he planted in Nova, Ohio, here is a 176-year-old tree, the last known tree to be planted by Johnny Appleseed.
  8. He traveled through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, parts of northern West Virginia, and Ontario planting mostly barefoot, sometimes via canoe.

Next, look at some of these resources and books to learn about Apples and Johnny Appleseed.

8 Fun Learning About Apples Books and Resources

You will of course need a few great books that not only teach but that your kids will enjoy, a fun game or two, and maybe a few other items to make a fun apple unit.

Image for Apples (New & Updated Edition)

Apples (New & Updated Edition)

Discover the well-loved tradition of growing and picking apples - a fruit that has been in existence for about two million years. Explore the history of the apple but also the way that families and farmers grow and care for apple trees today, from planting to selling, to turning them into delicious treats and using them for classic games like "bobbing for apples" .

Image for How Do Apples Grow?

How Do Apples Grow?

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.

Questions addressed in this book include:

  • Did you know that when you bite into an apple, you're eating part of a flower?
  • Why do apple trees need bees to make apples?
  • How does the tree feed the growing apples and make them ready to eat?

Read and find out in the proven winner How Do Apples Grow!

Image for My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

In this simple yet lively book, preschoolers will be introduced to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lyrical text and bright, appealing artwork capture the essence of this important American and early conservationist who traveled the country planting apple trees. Little ones will enjoy engaging anecdotes about Johnny Appleseed, beginning with the young John, who liked to walk barefoot in the cool, quiet woods.

Image for Ten Apples Up On Top!

Ten Apples Up On Top!

Don't let the apples drop! Three animal friends practice balancing apples on their heads in this hilarious introduction to counting, illustrated by Roy Mckie. The sturdy board book teaches all about numbers, with a dose of signature Seuss charm. Kids will learn to count to ten--and want to start all over again!

Image for SmartGames Apple Twist Travel Puzzle Game with 60 Challenges

SmartGames Apple Twist Travel Puzzle Game with 60 Challenges

  • An "apple" game board with five twisting levels to create different puzzles!
  • Includes 60 challenges and is great for on the go fun.
  • Helps develop Spatial Insight, Problem Solving, Planning and Logic Skills
  • All SmartGames are made with the highest quality materials to ensure long product life
  • Set Includes twisting apple game board, 3 caterpillar puzzle pieces and challenge booklet
Image for How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)

Bake a delicious apple pie--and take a trip with this culinary global adventure!An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This picture book takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients for a delicious apple pie. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.

Image for LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

Choose a level and push the letter tiles into the letter slot to reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills
Magnetic back makes it great for fridge play in the kitchen
26 magnetic letter tiles stick to the fridge and help kids learn the shape of each letter
Three photo tiles can be customized with your own photos for a unique, personalized play experience.

Image for Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Get your recommended daily allowance of facts and fun with Food Anatomy, the third book in Julia Rothman’s best-selling Anatomy series. She starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes — and what we dip them in. Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings. Everyday diners and seasoned foodies alike are sure to eat it up. 

Also, look at these Johnny Appleseed resources to enjoy with your Johnny Appleseed cookies.

More Johnny Appleseed Resources

  • Make Johnny Appleseed No-cook Apple Pie Play Dough for a fun sensory experience.
  • Create this Fizzy Paint Apple Craft  

You can find out more about apples like planting an orchard, apple varieties, and how a flower becomes a fruit using Food and Farm Anatomy, a favorite resource of mine.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies
  • Watch the video Who Was Johnny Appleseed?
  • Learn all about the Parts of an apple with this activity.

Additionally, look at these apple activities for kids.

More Fall Apple Activities for Kids

  • Apple Themed Back to School Crafts & Fun Calming Apple Jar Craft
  • Free Homeschool Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages
  • Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft
  • Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids
  • Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices
8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Finally, look at how to make the fun Johnny Appleseed cookies.

Johnny Appleseed Cookies

You will need:

  • Sugar Cookie Mix
  • (whatever supplies your mix calls for)
  • 2 large apples
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
  • ½ cup of water
8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

First, coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

Prepare your packaged cookie mix according to the directions, mine called for softened butter and water.

To give your cookies a little extra flavor you can also add a little cinnamon to your mix.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Place the prepared dough in the refrigerator to chill while you work on the next step.

Peel, slice, and finely chop the apples.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Put brown sugar, lemon juice, water, spices, and cornstarch in a small shallow pan.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Add diced apples and stir, simmer the mixture over medium heat for 5-6 minutes or until the apples are soft and tender.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

The mixture should be darker and have thickened up.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Set aside and remove the dough from the refrigerator.

Roll pieces of dough into little balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Press down in the center with your fingers or the back of a spoon to create a shallow well in the center.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Spoon in a little of the cooked apple mixture, maybe a teaspoon worth.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Top with another small piece of dough to create a “stuffed” cookie.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before enjoying.

8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: apples, cookies, fall, fall crafts, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources, homeschool, Johnny Appleseed

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

September 25, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Learning about fruits around the world fun with food activities that are not only delicious but can be used to learn all about the exotic places they come from. Also, you’ll love the tips I have here at 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Take a trip to your local grocery store and look for exotic fruits.

A good grocery store will have a wide variety from around the world that look and taste so different from your average bananas and apples.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Exotic fruits have unusual shapes, colors, textures, and flavors and can introduce your child to new cultures without leaving your own town.

So besides learning to identify and taste exotic fruits, what else can your child do to turn this into more than just a snack?

Here are a few ideas to get you going as well as resources to round it out.

Fun With Food Activities

  • These Tropical Fruit Fractions are a great way to include math in your study.
  • Create this cute Pineapple Craft For Kids with colored paper and glue.
  • If you are going to try dragon fruit don’t just toss out those beautiful peels, make these DIY Dragon Fruit Candles first.

Read up on tropical fruits in Food Anatomy, look how beautiful these illustrations are and the fantastic snippets of information it includes.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities
  • Make a felt sheet Stuffed Mango.
  • Making Mango Butter is an especially good craft for middle and high school students.
  • Buy several tropical fruits and have a delicious taste test with them, have your child describe the appearance, flavor, and texture of each. Create a graph to show each family member’s preference.
  • Here is an adorable Easy Paper Plate Kiwi Fruit Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers.
  • Conserve some of the seeds from your fruits purchased and try to sprout them, if you live in a warm climate, you may be able to grow your own.
Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Use a Map to Locate Where Each Fruit is Native To

I have found that this World Scrunch Map has come in handy time after time to teach geography without a curriculum or in addition to a favorite curriculum.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Research The Health Benefits

Tropical/Exotic fruits have a ton of health benefits like high amounts of antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. Challenge your child to research the benefits of each and how they can be used.

These fruits are often used in medicines and supplements to treat various ailments and diseases.

You will find them in a host of foods and drinks at grocery and health food stores.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Make a Recipe

Incorporate math skills, direction following, reading, and skills by creating recipes using these unique fruits. I have gathered up a selection of recipes for some of the most popular tropical/exotic fruits.

Acai

  • Native to: Amazonian Rainforest
  • Recipe: 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl.

Mangosteen
● Native to: Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Mainland Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.
● Recipe: Mangosteen Sorbet

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Dragon fruit

● Native to: Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador
● Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Dragon Fruit Refresher

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Rambutan

● Native to: Malaysia, Indonesia
● Recipe: Rambutan Apple Pie

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Starfruit

● Native to: India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
● Recipe: Carambola Iced Tea Cooler Recipe

Passion Fruit
● Native to: Paraguay, Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina.
● Recipe: Hawaiian Passion Fruit Bars

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Papaya

● Native to: Chiapas and Veracruz, Mesoamerica (Southern Mexico and Central America)
● Recipe: Yummy Homemade Papaya Jam

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Pomegranate

Native to: Iran to Himalayas in Northern India
Recipe: Healthy Pomegranate Lemonade

Mango
● Native to: Myanmar and Assam state of India
● Recipe: Check out my smoothie recipe below

Other incredible exotic fruits you can learn about are Jackfruit, Pomegranates, Durian, Lychee, Guava, Fig, and Kiwi to name a few.

Fun With Food Activities How to Make a Mango Smoothie Recipe

Here is a recipe where you can use any and all of the tropical fruits you can find Tropical Fruit Yogurt Parfait.

  • Mango chunks – 2 Cups
  • Greek yogurt – 1 Cup
  • Milk – 1/2 Cup
  • Honey – 2 Tablespoons
  • Ice – 1 Cup
Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Before we jump into the recipe let me show you how to properly cut open a mango.

How to Properly Cut A Mango

Cut mango lengthwise, off center.

The mango has a large seed pod inside and it is impossible to cut through. If you hit resistance, move the knife further over.

Repeat on the opposite side of the pod.

You can also cut off any extra fruit around the pod once you slice off “the cheeks” which is the flesh on either side of the pit.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Score each mango piece, vertically and then horizontally, almost but not quite to the peel.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Slide the knife between the skin and the orange flesh of the mango to release the pieces.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Place all of the ingredients into a blender.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Mix on high until smooth and creamy.

Pour into a glass, add a straw, and enjoy.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: biology, elementary science, fruits, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

September 24, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a cute Wilbur paper plate Charlotte’s Web craft that you and your little ones are going to love. Also, I have more ideas at my post Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas.

Paper plates are a must-have on hand art supply.

They are inexpensive, take up little room, and can be used in so many ways like creating this craft.

Wilbur is a beloved childhood character from a favorite book that you probably read over and over as a child and couldn’t wait to read to your own children. Am I right?

How cute was that pig and how sweet was the relationship between him and Charlotte?

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Charlotte’s Web is a wonderful read-aloud that everyone will enjoy, it shows an imaginary side of a working farm as the animals converse and plan together. 

It is also a beautiful story about the love between a girl and a tiny helpless runt as well as a growing lonely pig and a sweet spider.

Once you have read the book or had your child read it on their own you will enjoy the movie adaptation as well.

Resources for Learning About Charlotte’s Web

Next, look at these fun resources for studying about Charlotte’s Web.

Charlotte's Web Unit Study Resources

Add some of these books to flesh out your unit study if you're studying about farm animals, geography of Main or spiders.

Image for Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books.

Image for The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

This handsome box set provides hours of enlightening entertainment for those curious about farm life, the natural world, and food. Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Rothman presents Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy in a specially designed slipcase with 10 framable prints. Rothman’s popular line drawings offer a whimsical and educational guide to life on a farm, nature’s hidden wonders, and delectable tidbits from kitchens and pantries around the globe.

Image for Insects and Spiders (Nature Explorers)

Insects and Spiders (Nature Explorers)

With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations, Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these bewildering bugs. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.

Image for Pigs

Pigs

With clear, simple text and bright, well-labeled watercolors, Gail Gibbons explores the truth about pigs. Digging up truffles, competing in county fairs, grunting and squealing to communicate-- these flat-snouted farm animals are complex and surprisingly talented.

Image for DK Super Readers Level 1 A Day on the Farm

DK Super Readers Level 1 A Day on the Farm

A Day on the Farm is a beautifully designed reader all about a day in the life of a farm, with eggs hatching, milking time for the cows, sheep shearing and lots of hungry baby animals!

Image for I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I’m Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from heir awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you’re sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there’s heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears .

Image for National Geographic Readers: Spiders

National Geographic Readers: Spiders

You don’t have to look far to see a spider’s web—in the corner of the window, on a fence, or in a bush—spiders make their homes everywhere. And there are so many kinds of spiders! Some red, some blue, yellow, and more…all fascinating. Amazing photography and easy-to-understand text make Spiders a hit in this National Geographic Kids series.

Image for Assorted Farm Animals Toys

Assorted Farm Animals Toys

Teach your child about the different farm animals and the sounds they make; Set up an interactive playtime to collaborate with your child to count and sort the animals.

Image for Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.... Doreen ronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.

Image for On the Farm

On the Farm

From the bull to the barn cat to the wild bunny, the farmyard bustles with life. The rooster crows, the rams clash, the bees buzz, and over there in the garden, a snake — silent and alone — winds and
watches. David Elliott’s graceful, simple verse and Holly Meade’s exquisite woodcut and watercolor illustrations capture a world that is at once timeless yet disappearing from view — the world of the family farm.

Also, look at these facts about pigs.

8 Pig Facts

  1. Pigs are not dirty at all, they are very clean animals, one of the cleanest. Pigs will not poop where they sleep, even the babies leave the bed to use the potty.
  2. Mother pigs are known to sing to their babies while they eat, it is a low rhythmic grunting that reminds me of a cat purr.
  3. If you are looking for a smart pet, a pig might be the way to go, pigs are even more intelligent and trainable than any breed of dog.
  4. Pigs do roll around in mud but not because they love to be filthy. Pigs don’t have many sweat glands so to keep cool they roll around in the mud. It also acts as a sunblock to help keep a pig’s skin from getting sunburned.
  5. Surprisingly, though a piglet weighs only 2.5 pounds at birth a full-grown pig can weigh anywhere from 300 to 700 pounds.
  6. Male pigs at any age are called boars while female pigs are called sows, and babies are called piglets.
  7. Pigs’ snouts are more than just cute, they are very powerful. A pig’s sense of smell is around 2000 times more sensitive than a human’s. They are powerful in another way too-pigs have a round disk of cartilage at the tip of their snout that is connected to the muscle to give it flexibility and strength for rooting in the ground.
  8. Wild pigs get a bad rap sometimes, but they are actually very important to the ecosystem, they root around and loosen up the soil which helps create room for new plants to grow and spread plants around with their droppings.
8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

If you are looking for a great reference on pigs you will want to pick up Farm Anatomy by Julia Rothman.

There are 5 full-color pages.

They are pig terminology, breeds, and pig anatomy as well as lots of other great farm animals, crops, buildings, and machinery.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

These adorable pig figures make a great feature for a diorama.

Or use them in a pig sensory bin for dramatic play.

Finally, look at this cute Wilbur paper plate Charlotte’s Web craft

Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web craft

You will need:

  • 2 paper plates
  • 2 googly eyes
  • 1 pink pipe cleaner
  • Light pink craft paint
  • Dark Pink Marker
  • Black Marker
  • Glue
  • Scissors
8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

First, paint both paper plates completely in light pink, just squirt the paint right on the paper plate to paint, no need for a palette.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

After the paint is dry you want to take one of the plates and cut out pieces.

Like this, cut two triangles for ears, a round snout, two elongated trapezoids, and the bottom pieces that are shaped like an inverted V.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Glue the inverted V shape to the back of the other plate so that most of it is hanging out the bottom to create his back legs.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Color nostrils on the round snout piece and the center of the triangles to make the inner ears and glue into place on the full plate.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Add googly eyes securely with glue as well.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Take the two small trapezoid-shaped pieces and glue them on the back of the plate on either side of the larger leg piece to add on his front legs.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Use the black marker to draw on a mouth.

Cut a piece of twine about 2” long and untwist one end, glue it to the back of the plate at the top to give him a little sprig of hair.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Finally, coil a pink pipe cleaner around your finger or a marker to make a little pigtail.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Glue it to the back of the back leg piece and twist it to the side or down so that it peeps out the bottom.

Wilbur is now ready to reenact all the scenes from the book or hang around on the fridge while you read it aloud.

8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Charlotte's Web, crafts, farm, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, paper plate activity, pigs, unit studies

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

September 23, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re learning about life during colonial times and making a New England craft. Besides, life after the voyage of the Mayflower was not easy. Grab more ideas about the colonists here at Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids’ Games (DIY Button Whirligig).

September 16, 1620, marks the day that the Mayflower set sail with 102 passengers for America.

While they left for a variety of reasons, some for a fresh start and some for adventures in a new land, one thing was true both in England and America, life was hard.

Too when they landed, they didn’t have the modern amenities that we take for granted today.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Many of the men who came were gentlemen.

They were not used to the back-breaking work of breaking up the land for farming and keeping a working farm going.

Colonial Life For Men and Women

Men had to:

  • build houses,
  • work fields,
  • hunt for food, and hold the positions of
  • coopers, tailors, tanners, etc.

Women were responsible:

  • for the tedious work of housekeeping,
  • taking care of children,
  • cooking,
  • gathering,
  • and tasks like gardening,
  • mending clothes,
  • grinding corn,
  • making butter,
  • cheese,
  • soap, and
  • candles as well as many other tasks.

5 Facts about Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage

  1. The Pilgrims spent the first month and a half once they landed exploring Cape Cod, but most of them stayed onboard the ship while trying to decide where they would finally build their new colony- choosing what is now known as Plymouth.
  2. In the first winter in Plymouth 45 of the original 102 passengers of the crew died of sickness and harsh conditions.
  3. Plymouth is most famously known for being the site of the first feast in 1621 shared between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag peoples that lasted over 3 days. 
  4. For 30 years William Bradford served as governor of Plymouth and documented his experiences living there in a historic book that is considered the authority on pilgrim life in those times.
  5. The name Plymouth was chosen because it was the name of the port of departure- Plymouth, England.  The Plymouth Rock, which was merely a granite boulder, was placed at the location where they first stepped foot on land.
Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Additionally, add some of these resources to your study of the Pilgrims.

19 Colonial America Books to Read and to Be Read To

Grab some of these books and resources. You can use a book as a unit study spine to learn about Life During the Colonial Times.

Image for Blood on the River: James Town, 1607

Blood on the River: James Town, 1607

Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of James Town is both beautiful and forbidding, and it’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe. As he learns the language of the Algonquian Indians and observes Captain Smith’s wise diplomacy, Samuel begins to see that he can be whomever he wants to be in this new land.

Image for Paul Revere's Ride

Paul Revere's Ride

 Longfellow's tribute to the famous revolutionary hero begins with the stirring cadence that American schoolchildren have committed to memory for over a century. Now illustrator Ted Rand brings these vivid and beautiful lines to life as dramatically as the poet's immortal message inspires."The clatter of hooves seems to echo in Rand's evocative paintings of that famed midnight ride...."

Image for Daughter of Liberty (The American Patriot Series, Book 1)

Daughter of Liberty (The American Patriot Series, Book 1)

The thrilling saga of a nation's founding begins...Eastertide, April 1775. In the blockaded port of Boston the conflict between the British Regulars and the Sons of Liberty rapidly escalates toward a fateful confrontation. Caught in the deepening rift that divides Whig and Tory, Elizabeth Howard is torn between her love for her prominent parents, who have strong ties to the British establishment, and her secret adherence to the cause of liberty. By night she plays a dangerous game as the infamous courier Oriole, hunted by the British for smuggling intelligence and munitions to the patriot leaders. And by day she treads increasingly perilous ground as she flirts ever more boldly with British officers close to her parents to gain access to information the rebels desperately need.Elizabeth’s assignment is to pin down the exact time the Redcoats will march to capture the patriots’ hoarded munitions. But she hasn’t counted on the arrival of Jonathan Carleton, an officer in the Seventeenth Light Dragoons. To her dismay, the attraction between them is immediate, powerful--and fought on both sides in a war of wits and words. When Carleton wins the assignment to ferret out Oriole, Elizabeth can no longer deny that he is her most dangerous foe--and the possessor of her heart.

Image for Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation

While much has been written about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, battled the British, and framed the Constitution, the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters they left behind have been little noticed by history. The late #1 New York Times bestselling author Cokie Roberts brings us women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, often defending their very doorsteps.

Drawing upon personal correspondence, private journals, and even favored recipes, Roberts reveals the often surprising stories of these fascinating women, bringing to life the everyday trials and extraordinary triumphs of individuals like Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Read Franklin, Eliza Pinckney Catherine Littlefield Green, Esther DeBerdt Reed, and Martha Washington—proving that without our exemplary women, the new country might have never survived.

Image for Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross

 Folk-art style paintings and a simple text mark a retelling of the life story of Betsy Ross, including her work running an upholstery business and, according to legend, her designing of the first American flag at the request of George Washington.

Image for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch:

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch:

Readers today are still fascinated by “Nat, an eighteenth-century nautical wonder and mathematical wizard. Nathaniel Bowditch grew up in a sailor's world—Salem in the early days, when tall-masted ships from foreign ports crowded the wharves. But Nat didn't promise to have the makings of a sailor; he was too physically small. Nat may have been slight of build, but no one guessed that he had the persistence and determination to master sea navigation in the days when men sailed only by “log, lead, and lookout. Nat's long hours of study and observation, collected in his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the “Sailors Bible"), stunned the sailing community and made him a New England hero.

Image for A Lion to Guard Us

A Lion to Guard Us

Featuring a heroine with faith, courage, and a great deal of grit, this acclaimed historical fiction novel portrays the realities faced by three children hoping to find a new home in an unknown land.

Amanda Freebold doesn't know what to do. Her father left three years ago for the new colony of Jamestown in America, thousands of miles away. But now that her mother has died, Amanda is left to take care of her younger brother and sister all alone back in England.

As the new head of the family, Amanda finally decides to take her brother and sister to America to find Father. The ocean crossing is long and hard, and the children don't know whom to trust. But with her father's little brass lion's head to guard them, Amanda knows that somehow everything will work out.

Image for Colonial Craftsmen: And the Beginnings of American Industry

Colonial Craftsmen: And the Beginnings of American Industry

The vanished ways of colonial America's skilled craftsmen are vividly reconstructed in this superb book by Edwin Tunis. With incomparable wit and learning, and in over 450 meticulous drawings, the author describes the working methods and products, houses and shops, town and country trades, and individual and group enterprises by which the early Americans forged the economy of the New World.

In the tiny coastal settlements, which usually sprang up around a mill or near a tanyard, the first craftsmen set up their trades. The blacksmith, cooper, joiner, weaver, cordwainer, and housewright, working alone or with several assistants, invented their own tools and devised their own methods. Soon they were making products that far surpassed their early models: the American ax was so popular that English ironmongers often labeled their own axes "American" to sell them more readily. In the town squares a colonist could have his bread baked to order, bring in his wig to be curled, have his eyeglasses ground, his medicine prescription filled, or buy snuff for his many pocket boxes. With the thriving trade in "bespoke" or made-to-order work, fine American styles evolved; many of these are priceless heirlooms now―the silverware of Paul Revere and John Coney, redware and Queensware pottery, Poyntell hand-blocked wallpaper, the Kentucky rifle, Conestoga wagon, and the iron grillework still seen in some parts of the South. The author discusses in detail many of the trades which have since developed into important industries, like papermaking, glassmaking, shipbuilding, printing, and metalworking, often reconstructing from his own careful research the complex equipment used in these enterprises.

Image for African-Americans in the Thirteen Colonies

African-Americans in the Thirteen Colonies

Using many photographs, this is a simple overview of the part played by African Americans during the formative years of the colonial period. The freedom sought by so many Europeans who came to America was not shared with many Africans & their descendants. The brief descriptions in this book tell of slavery as well as the limited freedoms of free blacks. Phillis Wheatley, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, & Benjamin Banneker are among those briefly profiled. Index. Part of the Cornerstones of Freedom series.Bowker Authored Title code. Using many photographs, this is a simple overview of the part played by African Americans during the formative years of the colonial period. Presents a brief history of Afro-Americans and of slavery in seventeenth and eighteenth century America.

Image for Seventh and Walnut: Life in Colonial Philadelphia (Adventures in Colonial America)

Seventh and Walnut: Life in Colonial Philadelphia (Adventures in Colonial America)

A native of colonial Philadelphia describes the famous citizens, landmarks, and daily life of his town

Image for The Farm: Life in Colonial Pennsylvania (Adventures in Colonial America)

The Farm: Life in Colonial Pennsylvania (Adventures in Colonial America)

An indentured servant looks back on his five years of service on the farm of a Pennsylvania German family in the 1760's.

Image for The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America (Life in the American Colonies)

The Dish on Food and Farming in Colonial America (Life in the American Colonies)

Travel back to a time when: People believed vegetables made you sick. Slaves were forced to grow and harvest crops for masters. Step into the lives of the colonists, and get the dish on food and farming in Colonial America.

Image for Early Family Home (Early Settler Life)

Early Family Home (Early Settler Life)

Describes the life of early settlers, including the construction of a home, the clearing of land, folk medicine, candle making, quilting bees, weaving, and wedding parties

Image for An Algonquian Year : The Year According to the Full Moon

An Algonquian Year : The Year According to the Full Moon

Brings to life the seasonal cycles of work, play, and survival as experienced by the Northern Algonquians of pre-colonial America, from the icy cold of January's Hard Times Moon through the fertile autumn harvest moons.

Image for The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit’s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.

Image for Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Young Mary Chilton

Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Young Mary Chilton

Several of the characters in the story—Mary Chilton, Constance Hopkins, and Elizabeth Tilley—were actual passengers on the Mayflower. Mary Chilton was a young girl when she left her home in Holland and traveled to America onboard the Mayflower with her parents. The journey was filled with trials, joys, and some surprises, but when she reached the New World, she experienced a new life, new freedom, and new home.

Wendy Lawton has taken the facts of the pilgrims’ journey to the New World, and from this information filled in personal details to create a genuine and heart-warming story.

Image for Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth

Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth

Runner-up for the National Book Award for Children's Literature in 1969, Constance is a classic of historical young adult fiction, recounting the daily life, hardships, romances, and marriage of a young girl during the early years of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth.

Image for Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl (Scholastic Bookshelf)

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl (Scholastic Bookshelf)

At sunup when the cockerel crows, young Sarah Morton's day begins. Come and join her as she goes about her work and play in an early American settlement in the year 1627.There's a fire to build, breakfast to cook, chickens to feed, goats to milk, and letters and scripture to learn. Between the chores, there is her best friend, Elizabeth, with whom she shares her hopes and dreams. But Sarah is worried about her new stepfather. Will she ever earn his love and learn to call him father?

Image for If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower (If You Were a Kid)

If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower (If You Were a Kid)

Learn what living conditions were like aboard The Mayflower, what dangers the Pilgrims faced at sea, and much more.

In 1620, a group of Pilgrims left Europe aboard a ship called the Mayflower. They sailed toward North America, hoping to make a new home where they could practice their religion freely. Readers (Ages 7-9) will join Hope and Theodore as their set sail on a 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Next, look at some England craft resources.

New England Craft Resources

  • Fold a paper Mayflower for decoration and to discover more about the ship itself.
  • Watch The Pilgrims and The Mayflower Compact to learn more about the journey and settling a new colony.
  • For older kids, The Pilgrims on PBS is a more in-depth video.
  • How To Make An Easy Ink pot & Quill Pen with Berry Ink.
  • Make soap.
  • No sew rag doll.
  • Mayflower Craft And Science Activity
  • Cardboard Tube Pilgrim Hat Craft

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Finally, look at how to make these hand dipped candles.

How to Make Hand Dipped Candles

You will want to designate two containers for these candles, you won’t want to use them again for anything else.

Also, instead of purchasing beeswax pellets you could melt down old candles or pick up cheap ones from Dollar Tree

You will need:

  • 2-4 cups beeswax pellets
  • 2 tall glass heat-safe containers
  • Candle wicking
  • Stick or clothespin
  • Ice water
Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

First, cut a piece of candle wicking about 15 “in long, wrap it around a stick a couple of times, and let each end hang down, about 4”-5” apart.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Melt beeswax pastilles in a microwave-safe container, heat for one minute, stirring, and then continuing in 30-second increments until completely melted.

Colonial Times Hand Dipped Candles

It helps to use a container with a pour spout, a glass 4-cup measuring cup works well.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

The height of your jar filled with wax will determine the height of your candle.

If you have two tall, narrow containers you can get a longer candle but you don’t need special supplies, you can use quart mason jars.

Pour melted wax into one of your containers.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Fill the other with cold water, you can add a couple of ice cubes to help chill it quicker.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Place jars right next to each other.

Dip the first inch of wicking into the wax, let it drip a few times, and then dip into the cold water.

This will help the wax harden up quicker, so you do not have to wait between dips.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Turn and dip the other hanging wick into the wax and then the water. Repeat a couple of times, this will give the end a little weight.

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

This is the quickest way I have found to dip these candles, doing two at once- dip one end in the wax as tall as you want to make your candle and the other into the water.

Pull them up, allow them to drip for a few seconds, and twist and drop them into the other jar.

Continue to do this over and over until it is as thick as you would like.

As the wax cools it may need to be remelted by placing it back in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Once the wax has hardened and dried, cut the wicking in the middle, leaving the wick at the end of the candle about ¼” long.

Are you working on a New England craft?

Colonial Life After the Mayflower Voyage & Fun and Simple Candle New England Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: american history, candles, colonial times, early American history, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, history resources

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

September 21, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun The Hobbit unit study and a hobbit door craft. Also, grab more ideas on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies page.

Besides Hobbit Day is September 22nd, and I rounded up the best resources to create a hobbit unit study to celebrate.

I love all of Tolkien’s book series and the movies as well.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Too, they lend themselves very well to becoming a unit study.

From character analysis to vocabulary, and research to artwork I have enough to fill a day or a few weeks.

I am also showing you how to create this cute little hobbit door that makes for a great decoration for your celebration as well as to adorn your shelf or table.

The Hobbit Unit Study Resources

Of course, you will want to begin your study with the book itself or maybe the whole series.

The Hobbit Resources

Add some of these books and fun resources to celebrate Hobbit Day or do a fun unit study.

Image for The Hobbit: Illustrated Edition

The Hobbit: Illustrated Edition

In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling farther than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep to whisk him away on a journey to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon....

“A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible.

Image for J.R.R. Tolkien 4-Book Boxed Set: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien 4-Book Boxed Set: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim the hoard of gold stolen from them by the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit dwelling in peaceful Hobbiton.Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and worse. But as they journey from the wonders of Rivendell to the terrors of Mirkwood and beyond, Bilbo will find that there is more to him than anyone—himself included—ever dreamed. Unexpected qualities of courage and cunning, and a love of adventure, propel Bilbo toward his great destiny . . . a destiny that waits in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, where a twisted creature known as Gollum jealously guards a precious ring.

Image for Who Was J. R. R. Tolkien?

Who Was J. R. R. Tolkien?

Best known for his epic Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien was born in British-occupied South Africa. His early life was full of action and adventure. Tolkien spent his childhood roaming the British countryside with his family and could read and write by age four. He was naturally gifted with languages and used this skill as a signals officer in World War I as well as in his fantasy writing. By creating alternate universes and inventing languages in his work he demonstrated that imaginary realms were not just for children. Fondly remembered as the “Father of High Fantasy,” Tolkien’s books have inspired blockbuster movies and legions of fans.

Image for An Unexpected Cookbook: The Unofficial Book of Hobbit Cookery

An Unexpected Cookbook: The Unofficial Book of Hobbit Cookery

When a second generation geek with multiple degrees in history grows up to be a professional cookbook writer, it s no surprise you end up with a lovingly researched book of Hobbit cookery.Inside these pages you ll find one chapter for each traditional Hobbit meal. In addition to being based on historic recipes revised to fit Tolkien's specific vision of the Shire, the dishes have the following themes.- Breakfast - hot, fast, traditional morning food - Second Breakfast - cold, sturdy pies full of meat, veg and fruit to fuel a small adventure- Elevenses - a hearty selection of breads to tide you over until Luncheon- Luncheon - lighter fare appropriate for a pub- Afternoon Tea - sweet biscuits, cakes and buns to accompany a caffeinated pick-me-up- Supper - a hot meal of meat, veg, and mushrooms with a sweet finish- Dinner - slow cooked roasts and puddings that take hours to make, but are well worth the wait.

Image for Little People Collector the Lord of the Rings: Hobbits

Little People Collector the Lord of the Rings: Hobbits

Includes Frodo Baggins with the One Ring around his neck and holding Sting, Samwise Gamgee and his frying pan, Peregrin “Pippin” Took and Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck with their swords

Image for LEGO The Lord of The Rings: Rivendell Building Kit Construct and Display a Middle-Earth Valley

LEGO The Lord of The Rings: Rivendell Building Kit Construct and Display a Middle-Earth Valley

While it's in the higher price range the Rivendell LEGO Set is going to appeal to both the LEGO lover and the Hobbit fan. As you know LEGO is fantastic for fine motor skills, direction following, hand eye coordination, problem solving, planning and attention span.

Next, look at these hands-on activities for your The Hobbit unit study.

Hands-on Activities for the Hobbit Unit Study

Be sure to enjoy breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper. Make Lembas Bread and wrap it up with this recipe and free template for the leaves.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Create a Lord of The Rings Welcome Mat. This is a great art project for older fans like teens.

Use these free pages of Hobbit themed copywork to practice handwriting, focus, and even spelling.

Make these tiny clay door charms to show off your love of the Shire.

Welcome to the study with a chalk drawing or a painting on canvas like I did here for our celebration.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Add in ideas about dragons on my Fun Dragon Unit Study Ideas and Salt Dough Dragon Craft.

And make fun dragon eggs.

In addition, create a map based on Thror’s Map.

You could also challenge your child to create it on their own, using the tutorial from Chalk Pastels The Hobbit Art Lesson – You ARE an ARTiST!

You could also take your creativity outdoors and make a Hobbit Hole Fairy Garden  in a container.

Literature Analysis

And literature analysis should start in middle school although your child can be introduced to these concepts prior to middle school.

First, explain what is literature analysis.

It means understanding what the techniques are, then identify the techniques in the books your child reads and then doling a brief essay explaining what he identified.

Look at these easy helps for literature analysis to help your child understand that every book has these elements.

  • Theme
  • Plot
  • Setting
  • Character
  • Point of View
  • Mood

Each person has their reasons for loving the story. Try to draw out the reasons your child loves it.

For example, we love it because not only is it strong fantasy, but it has elements of fairy tale and even a medieval time period feel.

List of Characters in the Hobbit Novel

Additionally, look at a list of the characters in the novel.

Your child can focus on writing about each one or comparing character traits.

  • Bilbo Baggins
  • Thorin Oakenshield
  • Gandalf
  • Gollum
  • Smaug
  • Bard

About J.R.R.Tolkien

Also, look at these few facts about J.R.R. Tolkien if you want to do an author study.

  • He was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
  • In addition, he was born on January 3rd 1892 in Bloemfontein, England.
  • Too, he was recognized as one of the finest philologists (study of literature) in the world.
  • However, he is best known as the creator of Middle-earth.

Then, although Tolkien created Middle Earth, his stories draw from myths, fables, and fairy tales.

For example, look at some of these elements and ask your child if some of these same concepts are developed in other literature.

  • dwarves, elves, and trolls
  • talking animals
  • riddles and runes. Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching on wood
  • dragon
  • the treasure trove
How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

(Although this Rivendell LEGO Set is set is expensive, it is a beautiful keepsake and gift to treasure for years. Just had to let you know)

Too, look at some of these other best homeschool unit studies.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

  • Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity
  • Fun Renaissance Unit Study Ideas for Kids and Lapbook Renaissance
  • Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
  • Free The Trail Of Tears For Kids Fun Unit Study Ideas And Lapbook
  • Free World War II Unit Study Ideas and Fun Lapbook
  • Free Carnivorous Plants Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Free Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study And Easy DIY Water Filter
  • Free Peregrine Falcon Lapbook And Fun Unit Study Ideas
  • Fun Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages
  • Free Lapbook Maya and Fun Hands-on Meso-America Unit Study Ideas
  • Free Quick France Unit Study and Make Easy French Bread
  • Free Greek Mythology Unit Study and Greece Lapbook & Fun Hands on LEGO Zeus
  • Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources
How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Finally, make this hobbit door craft.

Hobbit Door Craft

You will need:

  • Thin balsa wood round
  • Cardboard
  • Green craft paint
  • gold/yellow craft paint
  • Brick red craft paint
  • Small wood bead
  • Artificial greenery
  • Small artificial flowers
  • Black Sharpie
  • 2 Jenga blocks or other thick pieces of wood
  • White paint pen
  • Paintbrush
  • Unfinished mushrooms
  • ruler
How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

First, paint the wood round as well as the jenga blocks a deep green and set aside to dry.

You can paint one or both sides.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Once dry use a ruler and permanent marker to make lines in the round to look as if it is made of planks.

 Add a few lines and knots to give it more of a wood look.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Paint your unfinished mushrooms however you like, or you could use small pre-decorated ones.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Cut a round of cardboard 1” to 1 ½” larger than the wooden round. Paint brick red and allow it to dry.

Once dry use a white chalk marker to make lines all the way around, a few inches in from the edge.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Glue the green wood round into place in the center of the brick red circle.

Paint the small wooden bead gold or yellow and attach to the center of the round.

Hot glue a layer of greenery and moss around the outside edge.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Continue layering on flowers, mushrooms, and more greenery as you like.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Finally, hot glue the two painted Jenga blocks along the back to stabilize and hold the door upright.

You will want to hold it in place until the glue is cold and set.

How to Make a Hobbit Door Craft and Fun The Hobbit Unit Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fantasy, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, middle school, middleschool, unit studies, unit study, unit study approach

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