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Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free toad and frog lapbook today. Be sure to look at my page Toads – Amphibians for more fun ideas and my lapbook ideas and best homeschool unit studies pages.

Amphibians include three major groups: 1. Salamanders, newts and sirens; and 2. Frogs and toads; and 3. Caecilians pronounced  (see-SIL-ee-ans).

Herpetology comes from the Greek word which means to creep. Some say herpetology is a jargon word and not even in the dictionary.

Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Today, I have a fun frog lapbook which also includes facts about the differences between toads and frogs.

We did this unit study about frogs because we wanted to know the difference between a frog and toad.

The World Book Encyclopedia answers: “Most true toads have a broader, flatter body and darker, drier skin than do most true frogs. True toads are commonly covered with warts, but true frogs have smooth skin. Unlike most true frogs, the majority of true toads live on land. The adults go to water only to breed.”

But also look at more facts below about frogs.

10 Fun Frog Facts

  1. Frogs absorb water through their skin,
  2. Frogs can lay as many as 4,000 eggs.
  3. The eyes and nose of a frog are on top of its head so it can breathe and see when most of its body is under the water.
  4. Frogs need both water and land to live.
  5. A frog can change the color of its skin depending on its surroundings.
  6. Frogs have long back legs and webbed feet for jumping and swimming.
  7. Certain frogs can jump up to 20 times their own body length in a single leap.
  8. Frogs usually eat meat (bugs and worms) and swallow their food whole.
  9. Frogs and toads make our lives more bearable and reduce disease transmission because they consume large numbers of insects.
  10. Metamorphosis is a change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism.

Too, look at some of these fun frog books.

Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Books about Frogs

11 Frog & Toad Unit Study Resources

Add a book or two or some fun hands-on resources to your unit study.

Also, add in some fun hands-on ideas.

More Resources for a Frog Unit Study

Whether you’re wanting language arts or more science focused, look at these hands-on frog unit study ideas.

    And then this is a fun page filled with downloads like activity sheets go to Lifecycles – From spawn to frog

    Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

    HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE FROG LAPBOOK

    It’s a subscriber freebie.

     1) Sign up on my list.
     2) Grab your download.
    3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me by email.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids’ Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    I’m sharing Daniel Boone facts for kids about colonial life as he grew up. And grab my unit study on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.

    Daniel Boone was born on November 2, 1794.

    Although resources vary on how long the colonial period lasted, Daniel Boone was born during it and was raised during the period of the American Revolution.

    However, life was very hard for colonial children.

    While their parents came seeking religious freedom, more space, or a chance for prosperity, colonists did not know how to survive the harsh winters of the wilderness.

    Many fell sick or died. Daniel Boone was a child of the early colonial days and proved his strength, endurance, and ingenuity as he forged a path westward.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    In colonial times, children never saw the four walls of a schoolhouse.

    Like today’s homeschooled children, they were taught the basics by their parents and then whatever they needed to know as an apprentice to a trade.

    If you were a girl you were taught to manage a house and get married young, maybe even by 16.

    Boys would learn their fathers trade or would leave home to learn a trade as an apprentice by 14 years old.

    Children During Colonial Times

    They had to share in their families hard chores like chopping wood, preserving food, caring for animals, scrubbing laundry, carrying water, tending to the fire, gardening, churning butter, and etc.

    It was a very hard life, but children still played games.

    They had their own simple toys and pastimes.

    And they played with dolls, simple carved figures, went fishing, played games with one another, took care of their pets, and did riddles and tongue twisters.

    Instead of turning to their local Target or Walmart, natural objects were turned into playthings.

    A dried apple might become a doll’s head, seashells made lovely little dishes, the pits from fruits could be used as counters in games, and flowers were braided together for a crown.

    Nothing ran on batteries, just imagination.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    More Colonial Life Activities

    Also, if you want to add more Daniel Boone resources to your study, look at these books.

    Daniel Boone Books

    10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study

    Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.

    Moreover, look at some of the games colonial children played.

    5 Colonial Games to Try With Your Kids

    1. Marbles

    In colonial times, marbles were made from smooth stones or were rolled from natural clay.

    There was a cluster of marbles at the center of the circle and children would take turns shooting larger marbles at the center out of the ring.

    If they were playing for keepsies then they got to keep any marbles they knocked out and if playing for funsies everyone kept their own marbles and just played for the fun of it.

    2. Blindman’s Bluff

    This is a version of tag.

    The person who is “it” is blindfolded and tries to reach out and find the other players. If they can touch someone, that person is then “it”.

    3. Hoop Rolling

    In this game children would take a large hoop and a stick and keep the hoop rolling as long as they could by pushing it along with the stick.

    They might also toss the hoop back and forth to each other using their stick to catch and toss it.

    4. Cat’s Cradle

    A long piece of string with the ends tied together would be twisted into a certain formation with your hands

    The second player would then take it by twisting it into a different formation.

    And it would go back and forth into more and more complex patterns until a mistake was made or it could not be turned into anything further.

    5. Button Whirligig/BuzzSaw

    I am showing you how to make one below but for now here are the basic instructions.

    A button, or some other item for weight was placed on a string and held between the hands.

    Then you wind it up, much like you would a towel for popping and pull your hands away from each other and it would spin.

    Sometimes it would making a whirl or buzzing noise depending on the item

    More Daniel Boone Facts for Kids Activities

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    Finally, look at how to make a button whirligig.

    How to Make A Button Whirligig

    You will need:

    • String or twine
    • Large button

    Directions:

    First, cut a string about 36” long.

    Thread the string through your button.

    If it has 4 holes you will want to thread it diagonally through two holes, If only two holes then just go through one.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    Tie a knot in the loose ends and slide the button to the center opposite the knot.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    Tie knots in either end and create a loop like this to hold onto.

    Daniel Boone Facts For Kids About Colonial Life and Fun Kids' Games (DIY Button Whirligig)

    Hold each end and wind it by rotating both ends to wrap it up, much like you would wind up a towel to pop it.

    Pull the ends apart and watch it spin, if you get it going fast enough your whirligig may make a low buzzing sound ( hence the name buzz saw).

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    You’ll love these 9 fun facts about Jello and a playdough activity. Be sure to also check out my Edible Skin Project and Free Homeschool Human Body Unit Study that uses Jello as well.

    Too, February 13th through 19th is National Jello Week.

    So, I decided to pull out a favorite recipe of homemade playdough.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    And to give it some color and a wonderful scent I’m using Jello.

    Also, I’m giving list of ways you can use it in your homeschool for learning.

    You probably already know that playdough is an amazing tool for building up fine motor skills and strengthening the hand.

    Shaping, rolling, pinching, forming, and flattening are great prewriting exercises and they are just loads of fun for kids.

    But that is just one aspect of the benefits of playdough.

    Homemade playdough is so easy to make and has a much better smell and texture than store bought.

    This yummy scented version made with Jello is nontoxic and totally taste safe for little ones but I would try to keep them from eating much of it.

    9 Jello Facts You May Not Have Known

    1. There are 22 official JELLO Flavors.
    2. The powdered mixture is made up of about 90% sugar.
    3. Jello was served to immigrants at Ellis Island to welcome them with a yummy treat.
    4. Some of the weird and not surprisingly unpopular flavors that they have tried are- tomato, celery, chocolate, and coffee.
    5. Utah is the state that loves Jello the most. They consume more Jello than any other state.
    6. Jello is 136 years old this year.
    7. Strawberry is the most popular flavor.
    8. There is a Jell-o museum in LeRoy, New York.
    9. You can find a box of Jell-o in 3 out of 4 pantries in America.

    Here are some great ways I have compiled to extend the playdough learning beyond exercising just their imagination and fine motor skills.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    Here are some great ways I have compiled to extend the playdough learning beyond exercising just their imagination and fine motor skills.

    Math Jello Playdough Activities

    • Roll out small balls and have your child count them.

    Use them as counters for addition and subtraction.

    Practice for skip counting. Having a sensory activity for teaching often helps the information click in your child’s brain better.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity
    • You can have your child make 2d shapes to learn their names and how many sides and points they have.

    But also 3d shapes like cubes, spheres, and cones as well.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity
    • Use a simple scale or balance to weigh different amounts of gelatin.
    • Roll out various snake shapes and measure with a ruler.

    Literacy Craft Ideas Using Jello

    • Use playdough to roll out snake shapes and have your child use it to form upper- and lower-case letters for practice. Too, have them say they sound or tell you something that starts with that letter once they make it as well to reinforce what they are learning.
    • Roll out small balls and call out simple words for your child to spell, put out the matching number of playdough balls and have your child smash one flat with each letter they call out.
    • Use letter shaped beads or stamps to press out simple CVC words into rolled out dough for practice.
    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    Science Ideas Using Jello Playdough

    • Let your child make the playdough with you and note how the ingredients transform and take on a different structure and states of matter when heat is applied.
    • Use playdough to create insects and labels like head, thorax, abdomen, wings, etc.
    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity
    • Make multiple colors of playdough and break it down into smaller pieces. Let your child explore color mixing by working the various colors together.
    • Press animals into playdough to create “fossils”.

    More Playdough Activities

    Finally, look how to make this playdough activity.

    How to Make Jello Playdough

    You will need:

    • 1 cup of all-purpose flour
    • ½ cup table salt
    • 1 packet Jello – any flavor
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice

    Place all ingredients in a large saucepan.

    Place the pan over medium heat and stir often until mixture begins to pull away from the side of the pan, this usually only takes a few minutes.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    Flip dough out onto a lightly floured surface and allow it to cool until it is comfortable to the touch.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    Knead for a minute or two to continue mixing.

    Once fully cooled your jello playdough is ready for all those fantastic ideas.

    If you love this playdough activity, add cookie cutters, a rolling pin, and other items to extend the playdough activities and stretch your child’s imagination.

    9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

    Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    This free ocean lapbook and homeschool unit study is a topic that is a fun topic to do with multiple ages. Too, I have more ideas on my pages Oceans and Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

    Whether your children want to focus on exploring the ocean, marine life, or wrecked ships, there are no shortage of topics to learn about.

    Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

    I’ve gathered some of the best resources and I have a free ocean lapbook to add more hands-on ideas to your study.

    The oceans cover more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface.

    Though the waters on the earth are really one world ocean, they are referred to by many names: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.

    Ocean Themed Resources

    Add some of these books to your study which can also be used as a spine if you’re not wanting to purchase curriculum or a textbook.

    16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

    Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

    Too, look at RMS Titanic Unit Study and Free Lapbook and Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook.

    Marine Life Resources and Crafts

    Next, look at some of these ocean life resources.

    And here are a few more:

    Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

    Additionally, look at these hands-on ideas.

    Hands-on Ocean Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

    The best way to learn any topic is hands-on. So, I’ve gathered some hands-on ideas for multiple ages below.

    Yum. Edible Ocean Layers @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
    Edible Ocean Layers Activity

    Moreover, add these other ideas.

    Videos Ocean Resources

    Also, you’ll love these other activities.

    Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
    Free Ocean Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

    Finally, look below how to grab the free lapbook.

    HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE OCEAN LAPBOOK

    It’s a subscriber freebie.

     1) Sign up on my list and get this freebie NOW and my emails .

     2) Grab your freebie.

    3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you as a follower of me by email updates.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Today, I have fun 10 facts about Daniel Boone and 10 popular jobs of the colonial times when Daniel Boone made his contributions. And grab my unit study on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.

    This hands-on activity is learning how to create a useful medicinal item from a plant source just like an apothecary in colonial times.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Many people today, even modern science, still use plants and plant based products to treat illnesses inside and outside of the body.

    At home essential oils are a favorite of many for treating simple things topically.

    We are going to utilize the essential oil made from the lavender plant to create a salve that can safely be used for many ailments.

    For example, ailments include:

    • rashes
    • bug bites
    • burns
    • sunburn
    • acne
    • psoriasis
    • scrapes
    • eczema
    • stings
    • scars
    • diaper rash, and
    • dry itchy skin.

    Your child will enjoy creating their very own “medicine” like the apothecary of long ago.

    With this craft you could also easily dive into a study on flowers and plants and their medicinal uses.

    10 Facts About Daniel Boone

    1. He was born October 22, 1734 in Pennsylvania when it was still a colony.
    2. Daniel grew up in a Quaker home in Pennsylvania.
    3. He was best known as an American explorer and frontiersman, but he was also a surveyor, land spectator, and a militia officer.
    4. Daniel Boone was a Shawnee chief’s adopted son after he and his party were captured.
    5. He did NOT in fact wear a coonskin cap even though he is often portrayed in illustrations wearing on but preferred a classic flat, broad-brimmed hat.
    6. While Boones grammar and spelling were poor, he could sign his name unlike other frontiersmen who just marked it with an X.
    7. Boone married Rebecca Bryan on August 14, 1756. They had ten children together- six sons and four daughters.
    8. Boone was described as being about 5 foot 8 or 9 inches tall. He had blonde hair and blue eyes.
    9. The Shawnee, during his capture, named him Sheltowee (Big Turtle).
    10. He died September 26, 1820, in Missouri of natural causes.

    Next, many professions of the colonial times were learned by being passed down from parent to child or through apprenticeships rather than at schools.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Colonists would often trade goods and services as payment as they began to specialize in specific areas.

    Moreover, here are 10 trades of the colonial times that you can dive deeper into.

    Colonial Period Jobs

    1. Apothecary- An apothecary was basically the equivalent of today’s pharmacist.  They created medicines from plants, minerals, and herbs from the area and then sold them. They would often prescribe medicines and sometimes even perform minor surgeries. Much like today’s pharmacies they would also offer other items like tobacco, spices, candles, etc.
    2. Blacksmith- The Blacksmith held a very important position in the community. They used a forge to create as well as fix  iron items like:  horseshoes, tools, nails, ax heads, hinges and kitchen utensils to name a few.
    3. Chandler (Candlemaker)- Earliest settlers made their own candles but eventually there were candlemakers who had shops where candles were usually made and sold using tallow by dipping the wick repeatedly until the desired thickness was reached. Bayberry and myrtle could also be used for wax in addition to tallow.
    4. Cobbler (Shoemaker)- This trade was another very important one as people spent a lot of time walking, cobblers made and repaired shoes for the colonists. Some specialized in making men’s boots, or maybe just women’s or children’s shoes.
    5. Cooper-The cooper was in charge of making watertight containers such as vats, tubs, troughs, barrels and buckets. These containers might store everything from wine, flour, and gunpowder as well as tobacco.

    5 More Colonial Jobs

    1. Wheelwright- This profession was responsible for making and repairing wheels used on carriages and wagons. They needed to have the skills to make and fix wheels that were strong enough to be used on rough, new colonial roads.
    2. Gunsmith- This job took care of repairing and making firearms for the community, for the most part they worked on repairing existing guns from England. They needed to be skilled in working with metal as well as wood.
    3. Milliner – One of the few businesses that could be owned and operated by women at the time this was where you went to get items for sewing such as needle, thread, or cloth or purchase already made clothing items like bonnets, aprons, and cloaks.
    4. Printer- A colonial printer was responsible for printing many items, including things like newspapers, legal documents, books, proclamations, and pamphlets. Rather than just typing and printing with benefit of a spell check, setting up the type for each printing was done by hand and might take hours to do
    5. General Storekeeper- This profession was an important one as they carried many basic goods that people needed, everything from coffee to gunpowder and sugar to buttons. This was a hub for the community and often people would gather here to talk politics as well as trade goods.

    Books About Daniel Boone

    Also, look at some of these fun books.

    10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study

    Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.

    More Daniel Boone North American Explorer Activities

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Finally, look at this fun hands-on lavender salve.

    How to Make an All Purpose Lavender Salve

    You will need:

    How cute is this little mason jar I had on hand?

    It made the perfect size container for our little “recipe” today.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Directions:

    Combine beeswax and coconut oil in a microwave safe container. I like to use a measuring cup with a spout because it is easy to pour into the container when ready.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Heat in 30 second increments until completely melted.

    Add vitamin e and essential oil and stir well with a craft stick.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Pour carefully into your container.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    Set it aside undisturbed. Allow it to set.

    It should be a little thicker than store bought Neosporin once set.

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve

    To use, simply scoop out a small amount and rub onto the affected area.

    The heat from your body will help it melt into your skin. What do you think? Ready to give it a try?

    10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve