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homeschool

Free Printable: For the Love of Homeschooling Nature Study Year-Round

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

I have a free printable for the love of homeschooling nature study all year. And of course, my nature unit studies and free lapbooks can be paired with this printable for year long nature school exploration.

Too, it’s true we love homeschooling because not only can we have a nature school approach but we also choose to homeschool year round (by choice).

And nature studies are something you will never regret doing more of.

Free Printable: For the Love of Homeschooling Nature Study Year-Round

When I first started homeschooling, I wasn’t sure if nature studies were enough of an academic approach. Now, more than 20 years later, I’ve learned that is not any subject that can be explored through nature.

One of the best things about doing nature school year-round is that you don’t need a large backyard, a nearby forest, or an expensive nature curriculum to get started.

Don’t get me wrong, having access to the natural world is preferred but even visiting a park for the day is something most all of us have access to.

Plus, I kept my supplies together in a small backpack and a box in the car so when we had an opportunity for nature study we could seize the moment.

LIVING BOOKS FOR A NATURE STUDIES YEAR ROUND

First, look at these nature books that can be used as a spine or main text. There is no need to purchase an expensive curriculum.

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

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

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.

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Image for Handbook of Nature Study

Handbook of Nature Study

The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.

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Image for The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.

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Image for Botanicum

Botanicum

Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.

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Image for Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

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Image for Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)

Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.

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If you live in a place that has 4 true seasons, it’s easier to follow my nature study topic ideas below.

But if you live in a state like I have in Texas where it’s warm and then hot, it’s still doable to do nature studies.

We just make our own snow.

NATURE STUDY TOPIC IDEAS BY SEASON FOR YEAR ROUND NATURE STUDIES

In addition, look at this suggested schedule of topics we did one year to coordinate with the seasons.

My year of nature school freebie had ideas ready for you. I am giving you another choice here.

JANUARY NATURE TOPIC

Winter wildlife.

Then look at these hands-on activities.

  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
  • Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources

FEBRUARY NATURE TOPIC

Sky and space.

Also, here are some of my activities.

  • Discovering the Stars: The Astronomy of Mesopotamia and How to Make a Clay Star Pattern Tablet
  • About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study
  • Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages
  • Galileo Discovery of Jupiter Moons and Fun Hands-On Moon Crater Experiment
  • Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today And Make a Fun Windsock

MARCH NATURE TOPIC

Life cycles.

Add in my hands-on activities.

  • Learning Through Art: The Life Cycle Of A Sea Star Stages & Survival
  • Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

APRIL NATURE TOPIC

Migration.

Too, add activities.

  • 4 Weeks Free Zoology Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas
  • Hibernation and migration books

MAY NATURE TOPIC

Amphibians and reptiles.

Then a few activities.

  • Toads – Amphibians
  • Free Printable Colorful Frog Diorama: Cool Frog Life Cycle Facts
  • Why Is a Toad An Amphibian And Pondlife Facts & Make a Fun Toad House
  • Fascinating Reptiles That Start with the Letter D | Turtle Craft
  • Free Reptiles Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning
  • Do Geckos Live in the Rainforest and 10 Facts About Reptiles

JUNE NATURE TOPIC

Garden theme.

In addition, here are a few ideas.

  • How To Make A Dynamic Herb Garden Potion Sensory Bin
  • 8 Peter Rabbit Garden Ideas | How To Make A Preschool Garden Box
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study.
  • Fun Mr Mcgregor’s Vegetable Garden Simple Frugal Math Activity
  • Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)
  • Gardening Projects For Homeschool Easy Composting With the Amazing Dr. George Carver (Free Printable About Compost)

JULY NATURE TOPIC

Pollinators.

And some activities are

  • 8 Facts About Moths and a Fun Nature Elephant Hawk Moth Craft,
  • Free Butterfly Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-On Learning,
  • Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping and
  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids.

AUGUST NATURE TOPIC

Biomes, ecosystems and habitats.

Also, look at How to Make an Easy Rainforest Triorama With Kids, How To Make Plastic Bottle Little Greenhouses | 5 Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas, How to Make a Biome Triorama That Explores Alaska’s Amazing Features, Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity,

SEPTEMBER NATURE TOPIC

Rocks, gems and fossils.

Too, look at these activities.

  • Rock and Mineral Project Ideas for Kids Who Love Hands-on
  • How To Make Crystals | Facts About Crystals For Kids
  • Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study
  • Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages
  • Rock Activities For Kindergarten And Fun Edible Rock Cycle

OCTOBER NATURE TOPIC

Storms and weather.

Then, my activities are:

  • Weather Activities For Early Years and Free Printable Flashcards
  •  Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning 
  • 7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity
  • Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids
  • Fun Felt Weather Chart & Free The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm Worksheet
  • Weather In A Bottle | How To Make An Amazing Tornado In A Jar
  • 9 Hands on Weather Activities for Kids and Awesome Weather Sensory Tray
  • 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer
  • T Is For Simple Fun Thunderstorm Activities For Kindergarten

NOVEMBER NATURE TOPIC

Birds of prey.

And look at my posts Peregrine Falcon Unit Study and Lapbook and Fun Facts About Peregrine Falcons & How To Paint Them In Watercolor.

DECEMBER NATURE TOPIC

Animal tracks and signs.

Also, here are some activities.

  • 10 Easy Nature Tips for Reading Nature’s Signs Freebie
  • 10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat
  • Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop.

Again, this is just one easy schedule you can follow. I’ve added hands-on ideas with each one to help get you started.

Free Printable: For the Love of Homeschooling Nature Study Year-Round

Then look at more nature study activities and printables.

MORE NATURE STUDY PRINTABLES AND ACTIVITIES

  • Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints
  • Fun Nature Study Ideas and a Free Nature Tracker
  • 26 Fun Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • 7 Super Easy Nature Lapbooks Guaranteed to Beat Boredom
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook
  • Seashore Beach Watching Unit Study and Seashore Lapbook
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Fun Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft

My free year of nature school printable is also organized by month.

For example, each month has the following parts to help you plan your year of nature studies, hands-on activities and topics.

  • Driving Question
  • Suggested Exploration Activities
  • Learning Goals
  • Materials & Resources
  • Real Word Connection
  • Reflection & Insights
  • Next Steps & Continued Exploration

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE YEAR ROUND NATURE SCHOOL PRINTABLE

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic} Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, nature, nature study

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

November 1, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Pipe cleaner fall crafts are a great activity to incorporate art projects into any fall unit, with the changing leaves, beautiful autumn colors, and cooler weather, there are so many opportunities to enjoy seasonal crafts with kids. Also, you’ll love my pages Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More} and Fall Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study for more ideas.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Today, we’re making a beautiful pipe cleaner sunflower together. This is a fun fall craft for kids that combines creativity with hands-on learning.

Whether you’re looking for a simple afternoon activity, a homeschool art project, or a way to celebrate the beauty of the season, this sunflower craft is a lovely place to start.

One of our favorite inexpensive craft supplies is pipe cleaners (also known as chenille stems). Pipe cleaners are soft, colorful, and easy for little hands to bend, twist, and shape.

They are perfect for creating everything from flowers to fall leaves and adorable seasonal decorations.

First, add some of these living books to your fall day.

LIVING BOOKS ABOUT THE FALL SEASON FOR KIDS

And we prefer living books when we can find them.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Image for Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

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Image for Autumn Harvest

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

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Image for Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

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Image for The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

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Image for Sophie's Squash

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash! On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

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Image for Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

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Image for Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

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Image for Dance Like a Leaf

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

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Image for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

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Image for Down Buttermilk Lane

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

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Image for Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

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Image for Hooray for Fall!

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

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Image for Hopefully the Scarecrow

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

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Image for Maple & Willow Apart

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

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Image for Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

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Next, here are 5 reasons why I love using pipe cleaners for daily crafts and activities.

5 GREAT REASONS TO USE PIPE CLEANERS

1. They Help Develop Fine Motor Skills- Bending, twisting, wrapping, and shaping pipe cleaners gives children opportunities to strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers.

These seemingly simple movements help develop fine motor skills that are important for everyday activities like writing, cutting, drawing, and buttoning clothes.

2. They Encourage Creativity and Imagination- One of the best things about pipe cleaners is that there isn’t just one way to use them. Children can experiment with different shapes, colors, and designs to create something entirely their own.

From flowers and animals to seasonal decorations, the possibilities are endless.

3. They’re Easy for Little Hands to Use- Unlike some craft materials that require complicated tools or techniques, pipe cleaners are lightweight and flexible. Kids can bend and twist them into shapes without needing much assistance.

This makes them a great choice for hands-on crafting at home with or without hot glue.

4. They Make Learning Hands-On: Crafting with pipe cleaners can also become a fun learning opportunity. Children can practice counting, sorting colors, identifying shapes, and exploring patterns while they create.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

You can even incorporate a little nature study by talking about sunflowers, flower parts, and the changing seasons.

5. They’re Inexpensive and Versatile- A package of pipe cleaners can go a long way. You can use them for countless crafts throughout the year, making them a budget-friendly addition to your homeschool art supplies. 

Now here are a few more fun ways to use your pipe cleaners this fall.

MORE PIPE CLEANER FALL CRAFTS FOR KIDS

  1. How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree
  2. DIY: Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins – Myriam Mejia
  3. Cute Felt Turkey Craft
  4. DIY Pipe Cleaner Maple Leaf For Fall
  5. Video Tutorial to Make Purple and Black Googly Bat Plushie Hive

Finally, look at how to make a sunflower pipe cleaner for a fall craft.

You can buy each pipe cleaner separately or grab this kit; it includes all the colors you need, sticks for making the stem, and floral tape ( I set this aside for another project)

HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL SUNFLOWER

You will need:

  • 18-24 yellow pipe cleaners
  • 2-3 brown pipe cleaners
  • 6-8 green pipe cleaners
  • A skinny dowel rod, skewer, or sturdy stick
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
  • Scissors
  • Finger protectors
Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

First, cut your pipe cleaners in half.

Then fold each one in half.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Next, you’re going to loop the bend of one side through the other like this.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

 Twist the centers together just two or three times.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Fold one side over to the other, leaving two of the pipe cleaners in the center and two on the outside.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Twist the ends and work them a little bit to form a petal shape. I suggest using at least 12 to 18 of these petals for each sunflower so that it’s full.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

For the center, coil a brown pipe cleaner and use a little hot glue to make it go, then use hot glue later to make it lay flat

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Flip the glued side up; here is where you will attach the petals.

Hot glue each petal down to the center by the cut end so that the ends that are showing are cleaner.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Continue gluing, filling, and layering until it is full.

Grab a long, sturdy stick or dowel rod for the stem; you need something to support the weight of your sunflower.

Wrap it tightly with 2-3 green pipe cleaners.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

Finish off the end with a coil of green pipe cleaner hot-glued in place to create more surface area for the back of the flower.

Put plenty of hot glue on it and press it into the back of the flower; hold until the glue has cooled.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

We can create a few leaves with the same process we use to make the petals.

Cut your pipe cleaner in half, fold each one in half, loop together, and twist the ends to make a leaf shape.

Pipe Cleaner Fall Crafts for Kids: Make a Beautiful Sunflower

 You can see the finished product is larger than my hand, how pretty would a few of these be in a vase?

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

2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

October 31, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have the free 2027 New Year Printable Get it Together Girl Homeschool Goals form ready. Grab other gorgeous planning pages on my Homeschool Planner and 7 Step Curriculum Planner page.

Now well past my 20th year of supporting homeschoolers, I still feel in our harried world full of digital devices, a simple written plan brings wellness, harmony, clarity and peace to your year.

2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

That may sound like a tall order, but homeschooling is such a different pace than when I started. This generation needs to know you’re in control.

Stepping back and stepping off means as the main educator, we have the power to be dragged by life or make a FULL stop.

Stop to ALLOW MORE of what we want or envision our homeschool to be.

Next, look at more homeschool planner products.

OTHER HOMESCHOOL PLANNER PRODUCTS YOU’LL LOVE

  • Glam It Up Package

    Glam It Up Package

    $4.99
    Add to cart
  • 2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    2. Ultimate DIY Homeschool Unit Study Planner

    $5.99
    Add to cart
  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $5.00
    Add to cart
  • Editable Homeschool Lesson Planning Pages - Mink Over You

    Editable Homeschool Lesson Planning Pages – Mink Over You

    $2.50
    Add to cart
  • Editable Weekly General Planning Page

    Editable Weekly General Planning Page

    $1.99
    Add to cart
  • Doodle Curriculum Planner Cover Store 1 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus 600x

    Doodle Coloring Curriculum Planner Cover

    $1.75
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  • 0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    0. Westward Expansion History Fun 10 Coloring Pages

    $1.75
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  • Sunkissed Curriculum Planner Cover

    Sunkissed Curriculum Planner Cover

    $1.75
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  • 00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    00. Ancient Civilization History 20 Coloring Pages

    $3.50
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  • 1. The Best Undated Dynamic Daily Homeschool Planner

    1. The Best Undated Dynamic Daily Homeschool Planner

    $8.25
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  • Dynamic Renaissance Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Renaissance Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
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  • Dynamic Lewis and Clark Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Lewis and Clark Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

And how do we allow time for more.

Simply saying it may work but for most of us we need a visual reminder. And that reminder is something physical we can see.

I love my phone but having a printable where I’ve taken time to vision how I want my life or school has been essential to my successful homeschooling.

HOMESCHOOL GOALS FREE PRINTABLE FORM

Sometimes, I have more broad goals and not something that fits into exact educational objectives. I just like having the options each year. 

Too, sometimes I tend to write down all that I want to do and have few reminders of what not to do for the year. 

2027 New Year Printable (Get It Together Girl) Homeschool Goals

So the section I call “less of this” is just as important to me as I want to keep setting realistic goals each year.

MORE HOMESCHOOL PLANNER FORMS

  • 2027 to 2031 Years Colorful Free Printable List Of Holidays
  • 2027-2028 Year Beautiful Two Pages Per Month Printable Monthly Calendar
  • 2027-2028 Two Pages Per Month Calendar – Chartreuse Color
  • 2027-2028 Two Pages Per Month Calendar – Tempest Color
  • Beautiful 2027 to 2028 Monthly Calendar on Two Pages
  • Free Homeschool Planner Inside Title Page
  • Free Student Planner Undated Calendar {Girly Girl Set}
  • Curriculum Planner for Homeschool Day At a Glance Form
  • Free Printable Homeschool Life Skills Checklist for Your Homeschool Planner
  • Free Pre-Homeschool Year Planning Checklist For Your Homeschool Planner

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE 2027 NEW YEAR HOMESCHOOL GOALS PRINTABLE

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Homeschool Planner Tagged With: curriculum planner, goals, homeschool, homeschool anxiety, homeschool curriculum planner, homeschool planner, homeschool planning, homeschoolplanner, homeschoolplanning, planner, planning

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

October 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an easy cave diorama shoebox exploring stalactites & stalagmites and to demonstrate how they’re made. Also, look at my pages Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode and Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

Who says science can’t be creative, hands-on, and a little messy? Today, we’re exploring the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

We’re turning an upcycled soda box into our very own cave full of these amazing formations.

We’ll paint the inside, create stalactites and stalagmites using hot glue drips, and transform recycled materials into a 3D science model.

It’s a fun way to combine earth science, creativity, fine motor skills, and recycling into one memorable learning experience.

First, look at this list of books.

CAVE BOOKS FOR KIDS

We prefer living books and like reference books too especially when doing a science unit study.

Add one or two of these living books about caves to your home library.

5 Living Books About Caves for Kids

Explore the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

Image for The First Book of Caves

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

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Image for Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave

Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave

Tells the story of the seventeen-year-old slave whose interest in the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky led him to become the tour guide for many to this natural wonder, helping him escape the grueling work of his fellow slaves on the plantations above.

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Image for Caves and their mysteries

Caves and their mysteries

Excellent illustrations and beautiful page turner.

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Image for The Secret of the Caves: The Hardy Boys ~ Book 7

The Secret of the Caves: The Hardy Boys ~ Book 7

Strange lights flickering along the coastline. Priceless artifacts vanishing without a trace. Whispers of pirate treasure hidden for centuries.Frank and Joe Hardy thought they were investigating simple museum thefts—until their search led them into a labyrinth of seaside caves where smugglers operate under cover of darkness. What begins as an intriguing puzzle quickly becomes an exciting adventure in the challenging underground passages.

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Image for Caves: The Underground Wilderness

Caves: The Underground Wilderness

Stepping into a cave is like entering an unfamiliar world. These majestic underground spaces are full of breathtaking sights, from columns of glowing ice and fantastic rock formations to vast networks of underwater caverns. In this book you'll learn about different types of caves and the strange and beautiful creatures that live inside them as well as how to safely and responsibly explore the subterranean world.

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Let’s learn more about caves and the stalactites and stalagmites that form in them.

WHAT IS A CAVE

  • A cave is a natural opening in the ground that is large enough for a person to enter.
  • Many caves form when slightly acidic water slowly dissolves limestone, creating openings, cracks, and underground passages.
  • Limestone caves are among the most common places to find stalactites and stalagmites. Limestone contains a mineral called calcite, which is made of calcium carbonate.
  • Caves can form over thousands or millions of years.
  • Caves provide habitats for bats, cave crickets, salamanders, spiders, and other animals. Some cave animals have special adaptations for living in darkness.

WHAT ARE STALACTITES

Stalactites are mineral formations that hang down from the ceilings of caves. They form when water containing dissolved minerals, especially calcium carbonate, drips from the cave ceiling.

As the water loses carbon dioxide and evaporates, it leaves behind tiny deposits of minerals.

Over thousands of years, these deposits can grow into long, icicle-like formations!

WHAT ARE STALAGMITES

Stalagmites grow upward from the floors of caves. When mineral-rich water drips from stalactites or cave ceilings onto the ground, it leaves behind mineral deposits.

Over time, these deposits slowly build upward into cone-shaped or mound-like formations.

Remember StalacTite’s, T means they form on the top, while stalagMites grow from the bottom up.

HOW ARE THEY FORMED

Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide as it moves through soil, forming a weak acid. This slightly acidic water dissolves minerals from limestone as it travels through cracks in the rock.

When the water enters a cave, it releases carbon dioxide and deposits calcium carbonate.

These tiny mineral deposits gradually build up, forming stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Most natural formations grow incredibly slowly, often taking hundreds or thousands of years to become noticeable.

  •  Stalactites- Formations that hang from cave ceilings as mineral deposits accumulate from dripping water.
  • Stalagmites- Formations that grow upward from cave floors as mineral-rich water drips onto the ground.
  • Cave Columns- When a stalactite and a stalagmite eventually join, they can form a column connecting the ceiling and floor.

5 STALACTITE AND STALAGMITE FACTS

  1. Stalactites and stalagmites are both types of speleothems, which are mineral formations found in caves.
  2. They often form in limestone caves, but cave formations can develop from other minerals, too.
  3. Some cave formations are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years old.
  4. Not every cave has stalactites and stalagmites; the right rock, water chemistry, and environmental conditions are needed.
  5. Real formations grow through mineral deposition. Your hot glue formations are a model of the shapes, not the actual mineral-forming process.

MORE EASY CAVE DIORAMA SHOEBOX IDEAS

  • Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity
  • Diorama, Bat in the Cave
  • 5 Easy Bat Stem Activities and Create a STEM Bat Habitat
  • Cave Diorama

HOW TO MAKE A SHOEBOX CAVE PROJECT

While a shoebox is the perfect size and shape for this kind of project, you don’t have to use one; you can use any box you have on hand, be it an Amazon box or part of a soda box, as we used here.

You will need:

  • A cardboard box
  •  Black Craft paint
  •  A hot glue gun
  •  glue sticks
  •  Additional paint if desired
How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Start by cutting the box down to size.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 Paint the entire inside of the box black.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

You can also add various shades of tan and gray to make it look like different rocks and formations inside the cave; set aside to dry.

 Paint or cover the outside with black paper.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 Once the inside has dried, you can begin to create your stalactites and stalagmites with hot glue.

This can be a little tricky.

Start at the back of the cave and make a few blobs of hot glue, let it cool until it just starts to scab over, then flip the box and let your hot glue drip.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

 You can let it create different lengths and widths, including columns where they connect from top to bottom.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

Flip the box and repeat in the other direction. If you see they are moving too fast, just allow your blobs to dry a little bit more before you flip it.

Continue to add more paint and repeat the process, letting it cool a bit, then flipping to create drips.

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

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

October 29, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some sound facts for kids if you’re putting together an energy unit study or just learning about the sound around us and how it’s made. Also, I have a free sound lapbook.

And look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbooks.

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

Because sound is all around us, a fun way we started our unit was by closing our eyes and listening for sounds. For example, listen for clapping hands, a drum or a bird singing. We can identify objects by the sound they make.

Sound is a form of energy traveling through various materials created through the vibrations of matter. And when we change the vibrations, we change the pitch or sounds and create new sounds.

The best part learning about the topic of sound is that it’s something kids can explore through simple experiments, music, nature, and hands-on activities.

Next, look at some of these fun books about sound.

BOOKS ABOUT SOUND FOR KIDS

You can use them to ignite your discussion for the day or to create a sound unit study.

3 Books About Sounds

Learn about the science of sounds, vibrations, sound waves and pitch.

Image for The First Book of Sound

The First Book of Sound

What causes the rumble of thunder? How does music travel to our ears? In The First Book of Sound, David C. Knight unravels the mysteries of acoustics, guiding young readers through the science of how sound is produced, transmitted, and heard. This accessible introduction covers the fundamentals of sound waves, vibration, pitch, and volume, making complex concepts easy to grasp. 

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Image for Sound: Loud, Soft, High, and Low (Amazing Science)

Sound: Loud, Soft, High, and Low (Amazing Science)

Sound is created through vibrations that vary in pitch and volume. This creates sound-waves that you can hear. Includes experiments.

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Image for Waves: A Very Short Introduction

Waves: A Very Short Introduction

We live in a world of waves. The Earth shakes to its foundations, the seas and oceans tremble incessantly, sounds reverberate through land, sea, and air. Beneath the skin, our brains and bodies are awash with waves of their own, and the Universe is filled by a vast spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, of which visible light is the narrowest sliver. Casting the net even wider, there are mechanical waves, quantum wave phenomena, and the now clearly detected gravitational waves. Look closer and deeper and more kinds of waves appear, down to the most fundamental level of reality.

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Then, look at these fun facts about sound.

SOUND FACTS FOR KIDS

  • Sound is the movement of air in the form of sound waves.
  • Sound is caused by vibrations.
  • A sound wave is a chain of vibrating molecules.
  • Sound needs a medium to travel. Unlike light, sound cannot travel through a vacuum. It needs matter, such as air, water, or solids.
  • Amplitude is the size of the vibration, which relates to sound intensity and perceived loudness.
  • Frequency is the number of times that a sound wave vibrates in a second.
  • Sound waves are affected by its frequency and pitch.
  • Frequency is the number of vibrations or wave cycles per second, measured in hertz (Hz).
  • Humans cannot hear every sound. Most young people with healthy hearing can detect frequencies of approximately 20 to 20,000 hertz.

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

Sound Facts For Kids Who Love Science & Free Sound Lapbook

FREE SOUND LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS

  • Sound needs a medium
  • Frequency
  • Did You Know
  • How We Hear the World Around Us
  • What is Sound
  • Resonance of Sound Waves
  • How is Sound Made

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SOUND LAPBOOK

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

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science, sound

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