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How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

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

You want to create the perfect kindergarten homeschool set up. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Then figure out your child’s learning style and pick your curriculum, or at least the style of learning you are going to begin following.

You may have a dedicated homeschool room or you may just enjoy school together snuggled up on the couch.

How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

Either way you will want to create a setup that works well for you.

I can guarantee a few things.

You will probably change curriculum at least a handful of times before you are done.

Next, your needs as a homeschool family will change over the years.

What works now may not work next year, or even later this year and that’s okay.

I am going to give you some tips to help keep it flexible.

So that whatever you choose for a set up will always fit into your homeschool life with a little adjustment here and there.

4 Ways to Begin Your Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

Do you have an empty extra room already to be a blank canvas as your learning area?

Will you be starting on the couch then moving to a table for penmanship and crafts?

 Get an idea of where you will have your homeschool base so you can set it up properly.

There are benefits for a dedicated room despite what some homeschooler tout.

For example, it helps you and your child to focus with less distraction.

Also, it sets the mood for learning, and gives you a defined place to display posters, your child’s artwork, and more.

At the end of the day, you can close the door and keep the school supplies contained to one room.

The drawback to a room is that learning shouldn’t be stifled and takes place everywhere and all day long.

Crayons and paper scattered on the coffee table might inspire your little Picasso to create art.

A stack of animal books on the kitchen table along with some plastic creatures will invite a curious child to create a diorama.

Or add some popsicle sticks and playdough in to make enclosures for each animal.

How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

You will probably find that somewhere in the middle works best, but it is up to you and your family.

You may need just a bookshelf in a corner and a basket in the living room.

1. Choose Your Kindergarten Furniture Wisely

Smaller children need smaller furniture.

While they can sit at a big family table for meals you will find that younger kids have a much easier time sitting at a table or desk that is scaled just for them.

To master fine motor skills such as handwriting they really need to be able to use the correct posture.

Search for something that is great for multipurpose uses to get the best bang for your buck like a little table and chair setup.

This is wonderful for writing but also painting, playing with playdough, sorting math manipulatives, and even enjoying a snack.

A good sturdy bookshelf is a must have as well no matter where you find a home for it.

It could be beside your recliner or in a dedicated school space.

You want a home for the majority of your materials to keep them organized and ready to go.

2. Gather up all your mom/teacher materials

Start with your own supplies for planning, even if you are doing a very relaxed homeschool a planner can help keep you organized and also serves as part of your homeschool record. 

Check out some of my very favorite planners here on my site.

I create the 7 Step DIY Unique Homeschool Planner that is free. Let me walk you through step by step to create your own unique planner.

And I have a planner which is specifically designed with teaching little ones from preschool to about first grade.

One of my favorite materials is good mom encouraging books.

Grab My Book on How to Homeschool

Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling.

Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops.When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.

I have learned so much from other homeschooling moms and if you didn’t already know I am a veteran of 20 years and have written my own book that you can grab right here to help you navigate your first-year homeschooling.

3. Collect your child’s books, supplies, and games

Gather up some basic school supplies like pencils, paper, crayons, markers, a couple types of paper scissors, and glue.

You can add as you go but these are a good place to start.

Check here for a more exhaustive list of my 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten. Invest in educational toys, manipulatives, and games that align with your child’s interests and learning goals

You want to choose things that can be used in multiple ways and for more than just one year. Here are just a few of my favorites.

How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up
  • Magnetic tiles can be used to make letters and numbers, create roads, to teach shapes, they can be measured, weighed, and as a part of all important make believe play.
  • Letters/Numbers will be used for years to learn not only letters but eventually they can be used as spelling word practice.
  • Dry erase, chalkboards, or LCD tablets are wonderful for beginning writing practice, doing simple math problems, and so much more.
  • Add in a few neat games. Playing board games may seem like all fun but they teach your child how to follow directions, develop critical thinking skills, improve attention span, learn cooperation, and how to be a good winner/loser.

There is much more than this I could recommend.

These are just a few basics beyond crayons and paper that will round out your child’s kindergarten education.

MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

4. Create a Simple Storage System

To contain your daily materials, you can use a large basket or a bookshelf,

One thing that I really like to utilize throughout all levels of homeschooling- a tiered cart that can be rolled from the kitchen table to the couch, because you will find out that homeschooling takes place everywhere.

A 3-tier cart is a great option because it gives you a place to keep your materials and books, a shelf for their curriculum and supplies, and a section for fun games, puzzles, and manipulatives to use throughout the day.

How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

The top level is a good place to keep your planner, teacher manuals, books, and special items for yourself.

A few final tips before I let you get to putting together your kindergarten homeschool set up.

Utilize your local library, thrift store, and yard sales to build an amazing library full of living books, picture books, and chapter books for read alouds.

How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up

Enjoy this year, it will be over before you know it and there is nothing like watching your child light up as they learn new things.

Don’t go crazy buying too much right away, you can always add things as you go but start small with just the basics.

This space will not only be a place for your child to learn but also a haven where creativity and curiosity can flourish.

4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

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

I have a free 4-week hands-on Alaska unit study. Also, grab more ideas on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies page. Too, look at my Arctic Region and Arctic and Inuit Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas.

Alaska is the largest state in the United States and is a land of breathtaking natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Furthermore, from the towering mountains and sparkling glaciers to the vast forests and abundant wildlife, Alaska offers a wide range of opportunities for exploration and learning.

4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

We will explore the state’s diverse ecosystems, learn about its indigenous peoples, and discover its unique place in American history.

Too, I prepared this 4-week unit study with multiple ages in mind.

Further, this study will foster a deep appreciation for Alaska’s unique culture, history, and environment.

We’ll include geography, science, history, art and a bit of math.

BOOKS ABOUT ALASKA FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about Alaska.

When I can find them, I include living books.

Then I add reference books.

13 Alaska Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read to and Love to Read

Add some of these books about the beautiful state of Alaska to your learning day or to your unit study about Alaska.

One Man's Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition: An Alaskan Odyssey

To live in a pristine land unchanged by man...to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed...to choose an idyllic site, cut trees, and build a log cabin...to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available...to be not at odds with the world, but content with one’s own thoughts and company...

Thousands have had such dreams, but Dick Proenneke lived them. He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. One Man’s Wilderness is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature’s events that kept him company. From Dick’s journals, and with firsthand knowledge of his subject and the setting, Sam Keith has woven a tribute to a man who carved his masterpiece out of the beyond.

The Year of Miss Agnes (Aladdin Historical Fiction)

Ten-year-old Frederika (Fred for short) doesn't have much faith that the new teacher in town will last very long. After all, they never do. Most teachers who come to their one-room schoolhouse in remote, Alaska leave at the first smell of fish, claiming that life there is just too hard.But Miss Agnes is different -- she doesn't get frustrated with her students, and she throws away old textbooks and reads Robin Hood instead! For the first time, Fred and her classmates begin to enjoy their lessons and learn to read and write -- but will Miss Agnes be like all the rest and leave as quickly as she came?

Gentle Ben

The Alaskan wilderness is a lonely place for Mark Andersen, especially after the death of his older brother, Jamie. But in time Mark finds someone else to love--Ben, an Alaskan brown bear so huge that no one else dares come near him. Gentle Ben has been a favorite of readers of all ages for 25 years, and is a timeless story of a rare friendship.

Sweet Home Alaska

 It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

Touching Spirit Bear (Spirit Bear, 1)

After severely injuring Peter Driscal in an empty parking lot, mischief-maker Cole Matthews is in major trouble. But instead of jail time, Cole is given another option: attend Circle Justice, an alternative program that sends juvenile offenders to a remote Alaskan Island to focus on changing their ways. Desperate to avoid prison, Cole fakes humility and agrees to go.

While there, Cole is mauled by a mysterious white bear and left for dead. Thoughts of his abusive parents, helpless Peter, and his own anger cause him to examine his actions and seek redemption—from the spirit bear that attacked him, from his victims, and, most importantly, from himself.

Home Is the North (Walter Morey Adventure Library)

Set in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

The Snow Child: A Novel

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart -- he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone -- but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

The Moon of the Gray Wolves: The Thirteen Moons Series

It is November, and for the gray wolves of the Toklat Pass in Alaska, the hunt is on. It is time to harvest the sickly, weak, or old caribou as the herd migrates through the pass. It is also a time to test the survival skills of the young wolf pups.

In Thirteen Moons - a spellbinding wildlife series - Newbery Award-winning author Jean Craighead George has captured 13 North American animals in their natural environments and chronicled their fight for survival. From the lush Florida Everglades to the fertile Canadian east, this series explores the intricate relationships among animals, plants, and the ever-changing environment in which they live. A favorite of adults and children alike, George's entertaining and educational tales of nature alive and in action - Julie, Shark Beneath the Reef, and Julie of the Wolves - have thrilled listeners for a generation. Barbara Caruso's inspired narration captures the vitality and harsh reality of life on the hunt.

Mama, Do You Love Me?

Mama, do you love me? Yes I do Dear One. How much? In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent's love is unconditional and everlasting. The story is made all the more captivating by its unusual Arctic setting. The lyrical text introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time showing that the special love that exists between parent and child transcends all boundaries of time and place. The story is beautifully complemented by graphically stunning illustrations that are filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs, and a carefully researched glossary provides additional information on Arctic life. This tender and reassuring book is one that both parents and children will turn to again and again.

Under Alaska's Midnight Sun

In the far northern parts of the world, near and above the Arctic Circle, summer days are very long. In Barrow, Alaska, for example, the sun rises in May and sets 83 days later, in early August. During this time, the sun shines all through the night. People call it the midnight sun. When the midnight sun is shining, people and animals stay active even at night. This sweet poetic narrative, illustrated by award-winner Jeremiah Trammell, showcases the many pleasures of this unique time as a little girl dances, fishes, plays games, watches moose and fox, and communes with family and nature.

Big Jim and the White-legged Moose

Based on an actual real-life encounter with a bull mouse, author-illustrator Jim Arnosky provides music for read-aloud rhymes and entertaining illustrations of his adventure in the woods.

This Place Is Cold (Imagine Living Here)

Focuses on the land, animals, plants, and climate of Alaska, presenting it as an example of a place where it is so cold your hair can freeze and break off.

Togo

Based on the true story of the heroic dogs who saved countless lives in Alaska in 1925, this classic tale is a thrilling adventure and a history lesson all in one.Togo wasn't meant to be a sled dog. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. But Togo is determined, and when his trainer, Leonhard Seppala, gives him a chance, he soon becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history! His skills are put to the ultimate test, though, when Seppala and his team are called on to make the now-famous run across the frozen Arctic to deliver the serum that will save Alaska from a life-threatening outbreak of diphtheria.

Then, here are some amazing facts you can use to introduce Alaska.

8 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ALASKA

  1. Dog mushing is the official state sport of Alaska and has roots in the state reaching all the way back to sled dog use which dates back to 1000 AD.
  2. Alaska is the largest state in the US, it is double the size of Texas at almost 600,000 square miles.
  3. The state flag was designed by a 13-year-old boy as part of a contest held in 1926 and was voted on unanimously by the panel of judges. His design of eight stars to represent the Big Dipper, placed on a blue background to represent the sky, and the forget-me-not flower (Alaska state flower).
  4.  More than half of the glaciers in the world are located in Alaska. These glaciers cover 10 times more Alaskan land than people do.
  5. The name Alaska comes from the Aleut, an Indigenous people of Alaska, and means “the great land”.
  6. Alaska is the only US state that has coastlines on the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Bering Sea.
  7. There are over 130 volcanoes, including 90 that have been active in the last 10,000 years located in Alaska.
  8. Alaska has over 12,000 rivers, streams, and creeks, including seven of the 20 largest rivers located in the US with the Yukon River being the largest.

Keep in mind that not all school subjects may fit naturally into a unit study. Don’t force a fit with a subject.

However, it is a chance to tie concepts in and fit as many ideas as you can in a fun way.

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS ALASKA UNIT STUDY WEEK 1

Many math themes can tie in naturally which will force math concepts.

For instance, look at this list of ideas

  • If you’re working on measurement then measure the distances between cities. Use a ruler and string.
  • Talk about the time zones in Alaska and understand what are time zones. Use a chart to show times in the different time zones in cities
  • Create a bar graph to show animals found in the ocean, tundra and forests
  • Plan a sled dog race and calculate speeds and times of travel based on various speeds
  • Research fish populations and graph the ones you learned about

4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

In addition, If you are looking for a read aloud that the entire family will love Sweet Home Alaska is the sweetest story.

For example, it is Little House on the Prairie meets American Girl and is about a family who makes their way from their home in Wisconsin to Alaska as part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.

Besides, that deal gave a couple hundred destitute Midwestern farm families a chance to start over in Alaska, which was then just a U.S. territory.

SCIENCE ALASKA UNIT STUDY WEEK 2

Next, look at some of these ideas to learn about science.

4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

Too, compare sled dogs to house dogs and learn about the differences.

Of course, the study of Alaska makes for a great geography unit study and include history.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY ALASKA UNIT STUDY WEEK 3

The geography is unique with towering mountains, glaciers and coastlines.

Too, Alaska is located in the far northwest of North America. And it’s bordered by Canada to the east and the Arctic and Pacific Oceans to the north and south.

  • In Northern Alaska there is a tundra. It is a unique ecosystem. Learn about the low growing plants there and the caribou and arctic fox who make the tundra their home. How to Make an Easy 3D Tundra Biome Poster Project
  • The Yukon River is one of the largest rivers in the United States. Learn how the river is important to wildlife and life in Alaska.
  • Then gold was discovered in Alaska in the 1890s. The Klondike Gold Rush attracted thousands hoping to strike it rich.
  • Investigate Denali. It is the highest peak in North America.
  • Then the southern part of Alaska includes lush forests including the boreal forest. It is filled with spruce, evergreen and fir trees.
  • Native groups like Inupiat, Yupik, Tlingit, and Athabascan have lived in Alaska for many years.
  • Russian explorers arrived in Alaska for the fur trade in the 1700s.
  • Arctic Region Salt Dough Map and Free Map Flag Printables
4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

Also, for a phenomenal reference book that you can use for more than one theme grab the beautiful and fact filled The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A.

4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

ARTS & CRAFTS ALASKA UNIT STUDY WEEK 4

Finally, study and learn about the beautiful arts, crafts and culture of Alaska.

These activities will foster your children’s love of Alaska while tying in important concepts.

What other ideas have you done?

10 Easy Resources About The French And Indian War For Kids

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

Try some of these 10 fun ideas for learning about the French and Indian war for kids instead of reaching for a dry textbook. Look at my page French and Indian War 1754 -1763.

We are going to embark on a journey through time to explore the French and Indian War.

It was a conflict that shook the foundations of North America from 1754 to 1763 prior to the Revolutionary War.

10 Easy Resources About The French And Indian War For Kids

We can do that with games, interesting books, facts, lapbooks, dioramas, and attention grabbing videos.

But first let me tell you a little bit more about the who, what, and why of it.

The French and Indian War was very important because it shifted the dynamic of power in North America.

It gave Britain control over a huge territory and removed French influence.

This in turn led to growing tensions between the British and the American colonies, which eventually led to the American Revolution.

The Native American people of the Algonquin, Lenape, Wyandot, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Shawnee, and the Mi’kmaq tribes sided with the French.

The Iroquois Confederacy, especially the Mohawk and Oneida, sided with the British.

 It all started with a small skirmish at Fort Duquesne in 1754.

Little did anyone know that this would escalate into a full-blown war between France and Great Britain.

Let’s take a little peek at the timeline.

TIMELINE OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR

1754- Tensions begin to simmer in the Ohio Valley. The French and British both claim ownership of the land, and neither side is willing to back down. The first shot is fired at Fort Duquesne, marking the beginning of the French and Indian War.

1755- The Battle of the Monongahela took place, and things didn’t go very well for the British. General Edward Braddock led his troops right into an ambush, and they suffered a brutal defeat.

1758- The tide begins to turn in favor of the British. They captured Fort Frontenac which was an important French stronghold on Lake Ontario.

1759- The pivotal moment of the war: the capture of Quebec City. This victory was a major blow to the French, and it pretty much sealed their fate.

1763- the Treaty of Paris was signed which officially ended the French and Indian War. Under the terms of the treaty, France had to give up a huge chunk of its land in North America to Britain.

10 Easy Resources About The French And Indian War For Kids

As you teach your child about this important history, a way to make sure that everything sticks is by utilizing resources that appeal to their learning styles and are just plain fun for their hands and minds.

MORE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR CRAFTS FOR KIDS

Finally, at this roundup of activities about the French and Indian War.

10 Easy Resources About The French And Indian War

One of these 10 amazing and easy resources are sure to be just what you need to give a fun hands-on aspect to your study on the French and Indian War for kids!

French and Indian War 1754 -1763

The French and Indian War was part of wider conflict between the European Powers.

It was called the Seven Years War and began in North American and spread to Europe.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Watch this quick video of the French and Indian War on Youtube together to learn more about the causes, people, and outcome.

The Matchlock Gun

In 1756, New York State was still a British colony, and the French and the Indians were constant threats to Edward and his family. When his father was called away to watch for a raid from the north, only Edward was left to protect Mama and little Trudy. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old Spanish gun that was twice as long as he was, but would Edward be able to handle it if trouble actually came? This classic, first published in 1941, has an updated, kid-friendly format that includes the original black-and-white illustrations.

The French and Indian War American History for Kids: Prelude to Revolution

The French and Indian War was, like, a major deal in American history, and it’s the backdrop for this totally lit short story made just for young readers. This book takes kids on a wild ride through the tricky stuff of early American government, all wrapped up in a cool narrative that really captures the vibe of that chaotic time.So, imagine this: it’s the mid-1700s, and the British and French armies, plus their Native American homies, are totally going at it over land and resources in North America. Readers are gonna meet some brave characters who deal with the craziness of war, showing off some mad courage, teamwork, and why it’s important to see things from different angles. As kids dive into the action, they’ll learn about major battles, alliances, and how this war shaped America forever, no cap.Every chapter is like, crafted not just to tell a story but also to drop some serious knowledge

Revolutionary War British Army Designe

You could also add in these British Soldier figures to create a diorama and in a pitch could use the only Native American tribe they carry, the Powhatan.

Photo Credit: mybeautifulmess.net

Hoecakes: a Revolutionary War Recipe

Hoe cakes were described as George Washington’s favorite breakfast in which he ate them slathered in “butter and honey.” Over the next century, hoecakes eventually became a dish of regional pride and a staple on the Southern colonial table.

Bayonets & Tomahawks: The French and Indian War

  • Bayonets & Tomahawks is a two-player grand strategic game depicting the French & Indian War, which raged from 1755 to 1760 and in which France's North American empire was conquered.
  • Take command of either the French or British to fight all facets of the conflict: army maneuvering, diplomacy with indigenous nations, raids, battles, construction, naval operations, sieges, and more.
  • With scenarios varying from a single year to the whole war, as well as rules for team play, Bayonets & Tomahawks is perfect for new and experienced wargamers alike.
Photo Credit: www.historyunboxed.com

French and Indian War Unboxed (U.S. History)

History Unboxed is a cool subscription box (or a la carte) that contains supplies for three different activities to match the period as well as information cards.  They even have one for the French and Indian War that includes beeswax candle making, a flageolet, and supplies for a Native American Game.

Free Homeschool History Cards - French and Indian War

Use these Free Homeschool History Cards – French and Indian War cards to practice facts and important dates surrounding this period of history.

Photo Credit: theresjustonemommy.com

Simple and Fun Spy Activities Your Child Will Love

Both the British and French heavily used Native American tribes to gather intelligence; their knowledge of the terrain and enemy movement was very helpful to their cause. Employ some of their tricks with Kids Spy Activities: Invisible Ink & Secret Code.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

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

If you have never tried this art medium, a pumpkin salt painting is a fun and beautiful way to create a piece for display. Look at my pages How to Turn a Pumpkin Lapbook into a Fun Unit Study and Fall Season Unit Study and Free Lapbook for more ideas!

And learn about the big round squash that signals fall is here.

Dig into pumpkins literally and figuratively by studying them through lapbooks, crafts, activities, recipes and more.

Look no further than down the page to find lots of ideas to do just that.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Pumpkins are a vibrant and versatile member of the squash family that hold a special place in North American culture and cuisine.

Originally from this region, they’ve become a symbol of the fall season and are celebrated for their plump, round shape and vibrant orange hue.

However, pumpkins come in a variety of other colors, including white, green, and yellow, each with its own unique charm.

Interestingly, pumpkins aren’t even vegetables as many people believe.

Botanically speaking, they’re classified as fruits because they develop from the ovary of a flowering plant and contain seeds.

Pumpkins have inspired art for centuries.

They have been used in everything from folklore and fairy tales to paintings and sculptures. 

The iconic shape and vibrant colors have made them a popular subject in both traditional and contemporary art.

But today I want to show you how to create your own special little pumpkin art piece using glue, salt, and watercolor paints.

It really is a great activity for all ages and can run the gamut from a simple round pumpkin to a field full of more detailed pumpkins for older kids.

PUMPKIN BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about pumpkins.

Read aloud or have fun reading together before or after this fun pumpkin salt painting.

8 Pumpkin Books

Grab some of these fun books about pumpkins, fall and fall harvest.

Too Many Pumpkins

Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins ever since she was a girl when pumpkins were often the only food her family had. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in autumn, and Rebecca Estelle finds a sea of pumpkins in her garden. A heartwarming classic for more than twenty years, this story shows what happens when one thrifty gardener figures out how to make other people happy with the squash she can't stomach.

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons)

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie follows Apples for Everyone in the Picture the Seasons series. This beautifully photographed picture book about everybody’s favorite fall treat is sure to please kids both young and old. The glossy, festive images and lively text are sure to get your family in the mood to celebrate the season.Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field?

How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow?

Every year, giant pumpkin contests take place at fairs across the country—the 2012 record-holder weighed over a ton! The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big? Award-winning artist Wendell Minor does just that as he imagines larger-than-life pumpkins decorating some of America’s favorite places—as immense as the Capitol dome, Mount Rushmore, the Brooklyn Bridge, even the Grand Canyon! This celebration of famous landmarks and landscapes plays with concepts of size and scale and is full of fun facts.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess.

Pumpkins (First Step Nonfiction ― Plant Life Cycles)

Plant Life Cycles

From Seed to Pumpkin: A Fall Book for Kids

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Plus it includes a find out more section with activities such as an experiment to show how plants use roots to drink water from the ground and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.

Autumn Harvest

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

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.

Next, look at some of these fun pumpkin activities.

12 PUMPKIN CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR FALL

  1. Learn How To Make A Paper Popper Pumpkin Treat Bag to gift to friends and family.
  2. Make these  beautiful DIY Pumpkin Beeswax Candles and add a special touch to your home while your child learns a new skill in candle making.
  3. Fill your home with a wonderful fall fragrance while you use DIY Pumpkin Spice Salt Dough to make little decor pieces to place all around.
  4. How To Do An Easy Science Pumpkin Study By A Rotting Pumpkin Experiment.
  5. Kids who love sensory experiences will enjoy this ooey gooey Pumpkin Guts Slime Recipe while they learn about our favorite squash.
  6. Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  7. Recipes are such a wonderful way to teach your child reading, following directions, life skills, and of course science, give this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread a try.
  8. For a different style of pumpkin art I also have a tutorial for a Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study, see which method you prefer.
  9. Kids Fun Pumpkin Catapult Stem Challenge for Medieval Unit Study
  10. Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art
  11. Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Printables
Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Check out my Dynamic and Fun Pumpkin Lapbook for Multiple Ages and learn everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins from life cycle to fun facts.

PUMPKIN SALT PAINTING

This cool art project once dried gives your pumpkin outlines a cool crystalized look that is unique.

Encourage your kids to get creative and use colors other than basic orange to fill in the lines.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Because this activity can be quite messy you will want to put a plastic tablecloth or a silicone mat beneath the paper.

You will need:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Table salt
  • School glue
  • Watercolor paint 
  • Water
  • Paintbrush
Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

First use a pencil to draw out your pumpkin(pumpkins).

 Keep it simple but add as much detail as you like including vines, leaves, and ground cover.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

When you are satisfied with your pumpkin drawing, use the tip of a bottle of school glue to ‘draw’ over.

Draw over the top of the pencil lines with a nice thick line of glue.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

While the glue is still very wet, cover it completely in salt, you want to use plenty to make sure the glue is coated.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Pour off all the excess salt (Keep it for another art piece).

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Load up a small paintbrush with water and saturate your colors.

Dip the paintbrush in watercolor and then lightly tap it along the salt lines. 

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Watch how it grabs the color and begins to spread it along the lines.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

You could also use liquid watercolors if you prefer.

Continue adding paint and gently tapping the salt lines until you have colored in your entire salt pumpkins and any other details you have.

Easy Pumpkin Salt Painting: A Creative Fall Activity For All Ages

Set aside and allow to dry completely.

To preserve your piece for longer you can spray it with a clear sealer.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

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Let’s mix glow in the dark slime ingredients to make an incredible ocean themed slime with a special feature bioluminescence. Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more ocean animals and activities.

Have you ever marveled at the sight of a glowing animal in the darkness?

If so, you’ve witnessed the captivating phenomenon known as bioluminescence.

It is a natural light show performed by a diverse variety of creatures, from deep-sea fish to fireflies.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

For this activity we are going to focus on those living in the ocean, particularly plankton blooms.

The light from plankton can be red, yellow, green, blue, or even violet.

But in the ocean, it’s usually blue green in color.

And they use this feature to defend themselves, attract prey, and lure mates.

Bioluminescence serves a variety of purposes for different organisms.

It’s like a secret language that lets them communicate with each other through intricate patterns of light.

For example, some deep-sea fish create mesmerizing light displays to attract mates, while others use bioluminescence to ward off predators.

But some predators also use bioluminescence as a cunning hunting strategy.

The anglerfish, a deep-sea dweller, dangles a glowing lure, luring unsuspecting prey closer before launching a swift attack.

Even if you have never seen it in person, you have likely seen the images of the ocean that seem to be twinkling and glowing like a mass of stars.

This is the phenomenon known as “blue tide,” and it occurs due to bioluminescent plankton blooms in the water.

I thought this made a perfect subject for creating a glow in the dark slime.

This slime demonstrates bioluminescence giving your child a fun sensory activity that comes with a surprise when they take it into the dark.

Playing with sensory slime can provide numerous benefits.

For example, it includes stress relief, improved fine motor skills, and enhanced creativity as it serves as a great demonstration on this science topic.

Books About Oceans for Kids

Next, looks at some of these living books about the ocean.

Your children will have fun as you read aloud or have your children pick a couple to read.

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.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

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

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

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet! 

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Next, look at a list of glow in the dark bioluminescence organisms.

10 GLOW IN THE DARK BIOLUMINESCENCE ORGANISMS

Here are 10 amazing organisms that use this ‘power’ in one way or another whether as predator, prey, or just communication.

  • Cookie Cutter Shark
  • Anglerfish
  • Jellyfish
  • Bacteria
  • Glowworm
  • Fireflies
  • Lantern Fish
  • Plankton
  • Fungi
  • Vampire Squid

MORE BIOLUMINESCENCE GLOW IN THE DARK FUN

Watch this video from Ocean Today and learn facts like -as many as 90% of creatures in the deep ocean produce light for various reasons.

Create this neat Glowing Dough for a different type of sensory experience.

No fireflies in your area? No problem, create your own Firefly Glow Jars.

Learn How To Make Glowing Bubbles and take them outdoors at night to see your bright creation floating through the air.

This Glow in The Dark Rice makes a neat base for sensory bins, in bottles, or layered in jars.

If you want to park here in this topic of bioluminescence for a while this book, All About Bioluminescence, is full of information and activity ideas.

We have been able to get quite a bit of use out of these eeBoo science cards over the years as they cover a great variety of topics like bioluminescence.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Additionally, look at some of these fun ocean hands-on activities.

OCEAN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Finally, look at how to mix glow in the dark slime ingredients to learn about bioluminescence.

MIX GLOW IN THE DARK SLIME INGREDIENTS TO DEMONSTRATE BIOLUMINESCENCE

I love how this slime seems like your basic slime recipe but holds a surprise that only comes to light in the dark, just like the creatures that have this characteristic.

You will need:

  • 1 Tablespoon Glow in the dark paint
  • Contact solution
  • ½ Tablespoon baking soda
  • 4 oz. white school glue
  • A few drops blue food coloring
  • Optional- glitter
How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

First, combine baking soda, glue, and glow in the dark paint and mix well with a rubber spatula.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Mix in a drop or two food coloring and some glitter if you like.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Add the contact solution just a teaspoon at a time, stirring between each addition.

 Add and stir until the slime begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl and it is no longer sticky.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

If you add too much it will harden and not give you that nice elasticity that slime should have.

Once the consistency is right you can add some sea creatures to your ocean slime.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Now, at first it may not look like much, just pretty blue slime but take it into a dark space like a closet and look at how much this mixture glows!

Just like the organisms in the ocean.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

When not in use keep your slime in an airtight container or plastic zip top bag and it will last for a week or more.