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4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

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

I have a 4 weeks free Galileo unit study and a fun telescope craft. Look at my other pages Best Homeschool Unit Studies and Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.

To make a Galileo unit study exciting we are crafting our own refracting telescope and look at some other great ideas to build it up.

A refracting telescope is a type of optical telescope that uses lenses to focus light and create an image of a distant object.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

It is the oldest and most common type of telescope.

And was first developed in the 17th century by Galileo Galilei.

Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, philosopher, and mathematician who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries.

He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of science.

His work laid the foundation for modern physics as well as the development of calculus.

He was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1564 and he showed an early interest in science and mathematics, and he studied at the University of Pisa.

After graduating, Galileo taught mathematics at the University of Padua for the next 18 years.

While he was there, he made a number of important discoveries.

He developed a new theory of motion, which showed that objects fall at the same rate regardless of their weight.

Also, he also invented the telescope, which allowed him to make detailed observations of the planets and stars.

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT GALILEO

First, look at these fun books

4 Books About Galileo

Add these books to our home library. Use for a unit study or reading for the day.

Then look at these history and geography Galileo unit study ideas.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY GALILEO UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

He was the first person to observe the four largest moons of Jupiter and discovered the phases of Venus.

Galileo published his book “The Starry Messenger” in 1610 and described his observations of the solar system. His book provided strong evidence in support of the Copernican theory, which said that the Earth revolves around the Sun.

This important work has been translated into more than 100 languages.

Grab a map or atlas and help your child locate different NASA space center locations throughout the US and the world.

  • White Sands Test Facility-Cruces, NM
  • Ames Research Center-Moffett Field, CA
  • Armstrong Flight Research Center-Edwards, CA
  • Glenn Research Center-Cleveland, OH
  • Goddard Space Flight Center-Greenbelt, MD
  • Goddard Institute of Space Studies-New York, NY
  • IV and V Facility-Fairmont, WV
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)-Pasadena, CA
  • Johnson Space Center-Houston, TX
  • Kennedy Space Center-FL
  • Langley Research Center-Hampton, VA
  • Marshall Space Flight Center-Huntsville, AL
  • NASA HQ-Washington, D.C.
  • Stennis Space Center-MS
  • Wallops Flight Facility-Wallops Island, VA

Then look at more hands-on ideas.

NATURE & SCIENCE GALILEO UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS GALILEO UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

  • Simple Space Themed Addition and Subtraction is a solid way to learn basic math facts while keeping with the unit.
  • These Find The Letter Worksheets with a space theme are perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
  • Learn about time and motion. Galileo famously discovered that objects fall at the same rate regardless of weight.
  • These Space Counting Mats can be laminated and used over and over with small treats like candies or crackers as well as other non edible manipulatives.
  • Teach kids about angles.
  • Learn about planetary distances.
  • Write a short biography about Galileo.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

Additionally, look at arts and crafts ideas for learning about Galileo.

ARTS & CRAFTS GALILEO UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 4

Next, look at more best homeschool unit studies.

MORE BEST HOMESCHOOL UNIT STUDIES

HOW TO MAKE A TELESCOPE CRAFT

Finally, look at how to make a telescope craft.

You will need:

  • An empty paper towel roll
  • Masking, duct, packing tape
  • Markers, crayons, stickers
  • Old pair of reading glasses (can be purchased at Dollar Tree)
  • Scissors
4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

First, cut lengthwise down one of the paper towel tubes.

Squeeze it lightly together and slide it inside of the uncut tube.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

Before moving on let your child decorate the outside of their “telescope” with crayons or markers, you could also use space themed stickers like these.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

Pop the lenses carefully out of the glasses.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

Place one lens with the concave (curved outward) side face away from the tube, use duct tape or masking tape to secure it to the end, covering as little of the glass as possible.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

On the other end of the telescope tape the second lens with the curve facing the inside of the tube.

4 Weeks Free Galileo Unit Study & How to Make a Telescope Craft

To focus, slide the inner paper towel tube in and out as you look through the end.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

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

Today, I have a cool rising water with a candle easy hands-on science experiment. Also, look at my page 4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas for more activities.

I think this hands-on experiment is great for showing science principles such as fire, oxygen and air pressure for kids in k- 6th grade.

This is one of my favorite simple science experiments because it is easy to pull together with common household items and has a dramatic effect.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

The rising water experiment involves a burning candle in a jar with water and demonstrates the concept of air pressure difference.

So, this experiment demonstrates principles of air pressure and temperature change.

And it shows how the temperature of air inside the jar affects its volume and the surrounding air pressure

PHYSICAL SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about physical science for kids.

When possible, I prefer to use living books if we can find them. It’s not always easy.

10 Books About Physical Science

Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.

Also, look at a few more physical science hands-on experiments.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

Finally, look at the rising water with a candle science activity.

RISING WATER WITH A CANDLE HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Just a quick recap, as the candle burns it heats up the air inside the container, causing it to expand and escape. 

When the candle goes out the air cools rapidly and creates a lowered pressure inside the jar compared to the outside air, which results in the water rising to equalize the pressure.

You will need:

  • Mason jar or clear glass
  • A small candle.
  • Clay, Play-Doh
  • Lighter or matches
  • Water
  • small saucer
  • Food coloring – optional
Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

First, roll up a little bit of Play-Doh or clay and place in the center of your plate then press the candle into it.

This will hold your candle up in position for the experiment.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

Now you can use plain water, but if you add a drop or two of food coloring, you can really see what happens with the water a lot better.

Carefully pour your water into the saucer.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

Light the candle and make sure that it has caught on well.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

Slowly lower the mason jar over the candle until it is resting on the plate in the water.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

Watch what happens as the candle burns for just a bit and then burns out.

Kids find this absolutely amazing.

Rising Water with a Candle Easy Hands-On Science Experiment

We let the jar stay for a while in the water that remained inside the jar.

Once we moved the jar a bit and released the pressure, the water quickly flooded out.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

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Making puppets for a Goodnight Gorilla craft is a wonderful way to introduce learning through play for favorite stories.

Goodnight Gorilla is written by Peggy Rathmann and tells the story of a zookeeper who says goodnight to the animals in his care before going to bed.

He makes his way through the gorillas, giraffes, elephants, lions, and even an armadillo but a mischievous gorilla grabs the keys and decides to play a trick on the zookeeper.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

The gorilla quietly follows the zookeeper, unlocking the cages of the other animals and letting them out.

Kids just think this is so hilarious and love being part of the joke.

GOODNIGHT GORILLA BOOK

Good Night Gorilla

 Picture books bring stories to life for the littles. Add this picture book to your home library.

The zookeeper makes his way home and crawls into bed only for his wife to find that all the animals followed him home.

So she leads them all back and puts them all away, except for one.

HOW TO USE THE STORY TIME PUPPETS

These fun little craft stick puppets that go with a book allow your child to recreate the story or make a new one.

Use them for new vocabulary and language skills, develop fine motor skills as they help make the puppets, and foster their imagination.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

From a mom’s point of view, it is fun trying to recreate their favorite characters into a learning toy with simple drawings.

We are going to turn Good Night Gorilla and some of its most memorable characters into puppets using craft sticks and markers or crayons.

MORE GOODNIGHT GORILLA CRAFT IDEAS

If you want to make it more than just a simple craft you can include some simple facts and look at pictures of the animals in the story.

Wildlife Anatomy is a wonderful reference for a variety of ages and includes gorilla, lion, and elephant.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

Think about taking a trip to a local zoo to see if you can find all the animals mentioned in the story.

And as well as a zookeeper or two to make it come even more alive for your child.

It will be a fun scavenger hunt mixed in with a simple science activity. It is a great way to bond with your child.

Grab a container of zoo animals and let your child build their own zoo with LEGO, wood blocks, pipe cleaners, or sticks gathered from the yard.

HOW TO MAKE GOODNIGHT GORILLA CRAFT PUPPETS

You will need:

  • Jumbo craft sticks
  • Cardstock
  • A pencil with eraser
  • Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

First, the illustrations in Goodnight Gorilla are very simple.

And that makes them easy to recreate with pencil and a little color. 

Draw very simple outlines in pencil of the zookeeper and the animals you wish to include on thick cardstock.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

If you do just their heads it is easier than drawing the entire body if you are intimidated by drawing.

Next, make your drawings pop by coloring them in, keep it simple with just a couple colors.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

Add details like hair, eyes, etc… to give your drawings a little depth.

And if you outline everything in black they really pop.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

Cut each one out of the cardstock.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

Use a glue stick to attach them to the back of the craft stick.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

Store in a cup or sandwich bag when not in use.

How to Make Goodnight Gorilla Craft Puppets for Storytime

If you want to make them more durable for longer play, laminate them before gluing them to the craft sticks.

You can do this for whatever your toddler or preschoolers favorite books are and get quite a fun collection going.

Picture a set of Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and more on their bookshelves promoting imagination and literacy skills.

4 Weeks Free Physical Science 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.

Here is a free 4-weeks physical science unit study that covers 4 of the main branches of physical science and covers a wide variety of ages. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more unit studies.

Physical science is an exciting field of study that explores the fundamental properties of matter and energy and their interactions.

It is an important part of your child’s science education.

It encompasses various branches and covers topics like physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science (including geology and meteorology).

4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

And other subtopics are considered physical science like energy, forces, motion, electricity, magnetism, sound, light, and the study of matter.

One of the best overall resources for our bookshelf is The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia as it is a great reference for a wide variety of science topics.

For our 4-weeks physical science unit I am going to give you fun resources as well as plenty of hands-on activities for each of the 4 main branches of physical science.

BOOKS ABOUT PHYSICAL SCIENCE FOR KIDS

First, look at these books to pair with the topics in physical science.

10 Books About Physical Science

Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.

Then we’re moving on to the 4 main areas.

First, start with chemistry.

CHEMISTRY PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

Chemistry is about the science of matter.

Too, chemistry deals with the composition, structure, properties, and behavior of matter and the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions.

Then look at these hands-on ideas.

ASTRONOMY PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

Next, astronomy focuses on celestial objects and phenomena beyond Earth, such as stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae.

EARTH PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

 Earth science investigates the Earth’s systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

PHYSICS PHYSICAL SCIENCE UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 4

Then, physics studies the fundamental laws and properties of the universe, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies.

And physics is the study of motion, energy, and forces, Too, it helps us understand how and why things move or stay still.

4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

And then look at these other best homeschool unit studies.

MORE BEST HOMESCHOOL UNIT STUDIES

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

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

I have a free alphabet frog lily pad game to help your child with letter recognition. Look at my pages How to Homeschool Preschool for more alphabet ideas and Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas for more ideas to go along with a frog unit study.

This engaging game gives your child an opportunity to develop his letter recognition skills.

Besides recognizing upper and lower case alphabet letters is a skill needed for writing.

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

Too, as the child understands the sounds, it nurtures early phonics.

Some children tend to focus only on letter names and others don’t mind learning letter names and sounds simultaneously.

The important point is to keep it fun and go your child’s pace.

Do not force learning.

Activities about learning the alphabet letters upper and lower case and their sounds should be repeated constantly through the early ages.

BOOKS ABOUT THE ALPHABET FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun books to help your child learn the alphabet.

You can bring some of them to life through a fun unit study about animals, food or even dolls.

10 Books For Learning the Alphabet

Preschool and kindergarten learners retain information through hands-on and reading aloud. Add one or two of these resources to your learning day.

Next, look at some of these other activities to go with alphabet frog lily pad game.

We made our way through the alphabet by doing unit studies for the letters of the alphabet

MORE ALPHABET LETTER ACTIVITIES

Next, look at ways to use the frog lily pad game.

HOW TO USE THE ALPHABET FROG LILY PAD GAME

First laminate the lower case letters, then cut out each lower case letter. Place the uppercase letters in alphabet order and have your child match them.

Next, move the upper case letters out of alphabet order. Mix up the pages and have your child do it again.

Too, flip over all but 1 page of the uppercase letters and have your child choose which lower case goes on it. Add the next two gradually. In contrast, have you child flip over all uppercase letters and choose which page to turn over and have your child remember which one.

In addition, glue the lowercase letter on to a small used bottle lids and have them pitch them on the correct letter. This is to encourage movement too and the emphasis is on fun.

Additionally, you can laminate the upper case letters and cut them out too and mix the upper case and lower case letters over all mixed up on the table or floor. Have your child try to make pairs.

One more idea is to have your child match and say the sound not letter name.

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

Finally, look at how to get the game.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE ALPHABET FROG LILY PAD GAME

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list to follow me and get this freebie and many others.
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