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How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

December 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A bottle biography project is a fun hands-on way for your child to represent whoever they are learning more about.

We are learning about Albert Einstein who was born in Germany in 1879 and wasn’t always seen as a genius. In fact, he struggled in school and some teachers even thought he was slow.

But young Albert had a secret weapon, he had an insatiable curiosity about the world around him.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

He loved to tinker with things, build models, and ask “why” about everything.

This curiosity would eventually lead him to become one of the most famous scientists of all time.

His most famous discovery is the theory of relativity. It’s an idea that changed the way we understand space, time, and gravity.

Imagine space and time as a stretchy fabric, and massive objects like planets and stars create curves in this fabric. That’s gravity!

Einstein also showed that time isn’t the same for everyone – it can speed up or slow down depending on how fast you’re moving!

BOOK SERIES TO USE WITH BOTTLE BIOGRAPHY PROJECTS

Too, look at some of these series.

They make creating a bottle biography project easy.

5 Amazing Book Series for Biography Projects

Add these fun books to your home library if you’re wanting to read biographies.

Image for Jane Goodall: A Little Golden Book Biography

Jane Goodall: A Little Golden Book Biography

A classic series that has been beloved for ages has moved into stories about famous people in the Little Golden Book Biographies.

Image for The Story of Albert Einstein: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers (The Story of Biographies)

The Story of Albert Einstein: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers (The Story of Biographies)

 From Frida Kahlo to Jane Goodall you will find many interesting famous people in The Story of Biographies.

Image for Ordinary People Change the World Collection 10 books

Ordinary People Change the World Collection 10 books

Learn about the "ordinary people" who have done big things to change the world in this exclusive, collectible boxed set! Dive into these 10 books to explore everything from George Washington to Martin Luther King Jr. to Gandhi and more. The perfect gift to introduce young readers to key figures or for educational family reading .

Image for Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman (Childhood of Famous Americans)

Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman (Childhood of Famous Americans)

Check out The Childhood of Famous Americans for inspirational stories that encourage children to strive for greatness even at a young age

Image for Who Was...? Children’s Biography Series

Who Was...? Children’s Biography Series

This set includes the following 12 books: Who Was Albert Einstein? Who Was King Tut? Who Was Sacagawea? Who Was Claude Monet?, Who Was Walt Disney?, Who Was Amelia Earhart?, Who Was Neil Armstrong?, Who Was Marco Polo?, Who Was William Shakespeare?, Who Was Abraham Lincoln? Who Was Mark Twain?, and Who Was Ronald Reagan? This is a series of illustrated biographies for young readers featuring significant historical figures, including artists, scientists, and world leaders.

And look at a few more fun facts about Einstein.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ALBERT EINSTEIN

E=mc²– It’s the world’s most famous equation, and you’ve probably seen this equation before, even if you don’t know what it means.

This little equation has had a huge impact on everything from nuclear power to our understanding of the universe.

Einstein didn’t just think about big things like the universe; he also studied tiny things like light.

He discovered that light behaves like both a wave and a particle, which was a revolutionary idea at the time.

This discovery, called the photoelectric effect, earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.

But he wasn’t just a brilliant scientist; he was also a passionate humanitarian-he spoke out against war and violence.

He believed in the importance of education and social justice. He was also a talented musician and loved to play the violin.

Einstein had dyslexia, which can cause problems with reading out loud, retrieving language, and getting thoughts down.

He was famous for his wild hair and his rumpled clothes and he loved to sail, but he wasn’t very good at it and often needed to be rescued.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

He was offered the presidency of Israel, but he turned it down and he had a pet parrot named Polly who he taught to say “relativity.”

Finally, look at how to make this Einstein bottle biography project.

HOW TO CREATE AN EINSTEIN BOTTLE BIOGRAPHY PROJECT

First, you can take this same idea and turn it into anyone.

For example, look at the one I shared How to Make a Fun Bottle Buddy of the Trailblazing Pilot Amelia Earhart Craft.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

You will need:

  • Empty 2-liter bottle
  • Black, blue, white, tan craft felt
  • Craft fur
  • Google eyes
  • 4” half round foam or a foam ball
  • Flesh colored craft paint
  • White paint
  • glue
How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

First remove the label off your 2-liter bottle and rinse it out, drain well.

Press your half round foam into the bottle cap to get an idea of the size, you can then take a knife or scissors and dig it out to make it fit on top.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Secure the foam on top with hot glue and then paint the foam with a flesh-colored paint and down the neck of the bottle.

You only need to go about a third of the way down, beyond that his felt clothes will cover everything up.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Cut a vest from blue felt by cutting a notch in the top and cutting it down to approximately 6”x 8”.

Cut out a small piece of white to be his shirt beneath the vest, a black tie, and some slacks about 4”x 8”.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Now make arms from strips of white felt with a bit of flesh color at the end for hands.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Begin gluing and layering the pieces onto the bottle, put the hot glue on the felt rather than the bottle to keep it from melting.

Press into place.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

To create his lab coat fold back two corners and secure it into place with glue for lapels.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Glue and attach around the body.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Glue on googly eyes and use white paint to draw on bushy eyebrows and a mustache, add craft fur to create his famous wild mop of hair.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

Finally attach the arms to the side.

You can leave them hanging down or put them forward like we did here.

How to Create a Fun Einstein Bottle Biography Project

We couldn’t resist giving him a ‘chalkboard’ made out of cardstock and a white gel pen with his famous equation.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: biography, einstein, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, plastic bottle

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

December 22, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m showing you how to make a toilet roll owl and sharing some fun elf owl facts. Also, look at more ideas on my pages Free Kids Owl Unit Study Ideas | How to Dissect Pellets.

Too, I have a free owl template you can download which makes this toilet roll owl easy peazy.

This easy craft turns an ordinary household item into an adorable little bird.

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

And it’s a fantastic way to recycle materials while making something both cute and useful learning manipulative.

Too, while you’re studying about owls with your older kids, include your little kids by doing this craft.

It’s a way to include your littles in a fun owl unit study.

First, look at these owl books.

FUN OWL BOOKS FOR KIDS

We prefer living books in our reading diet.

They bring any subject to life in a fun narrative form.

Look at some of the ones I’ve rounded up.

13 Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read to About Owls

Add some of these books about owls to your home library or for your unit study.

Image for Owls in the Family

Owls in the Family

Every child needs to have a pet. No one could argue with that.   But what happens when your pet is an owl, and your owl is terrorizing the neighbourhood?  

In Farley Mowat’s exciting children’s story, a young boy’s pet menagerie—which includes crows, magpies, gophers and a dog—grows out of control with the addition of two cantankerous pet owls. The story of how Wol and Weeps turn the whole town upside down s warm, funny, and bursting with adventure and suspense.

Image for An owl and three pussycats

An owl and three pussycats

A baby owl and three kittens receive a bit of extra help in growing up on Maple Hill Farm.

Image for Owl Moon

Owl Moon

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind's close relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading around and sharing at bedtime.

Image for The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark

Plop, the baby barn owl, is like every barn owl there ever was, except for one thing—he is afraid of the dark! Mrs. Barn Owl sends him down from the nest-hole to find out more about the dark, and it's not long before Plop finds out that DARK IS SUPER! This comforting story filled with gentle humor and warm and soothing illustrations has been enjoyed for decades by parents and children who want to snuggle down with a good read.

Image for Little Owl's Night

Little Owl's Night

Little Owl enjoys a lovely night in the forest visiting his friend the raccoon, listening to the frogs croak and the crickets chirp, and watching the fog that hovers overhead.

Image for Owls

Owls

On silent wings a bird sweeps down in the moonlight...   With their striking appearance and distinctive hoot, hoot, owls are one of the most recognizable birds in the world.  But did you know there are more than 140 types of owls living in the world?   Gail Gibbons' Owls celebrates the similarities and differences in the many species of owls, from large to small, living in diverse environments and making many different kinds of nests.  The book covers basics of owl behavior, information on how they hunt, and the many factors that have led some types of owls to become endangered.   The boldly colored illustrations feature clear labeling, and all new words are defined and reinforced with clear, simple language, appropriate for young readers.  The book also features a page of intriguing owl trivia.

Image for Barn Owl (Science I Can Read Book)

Barn Owl (Science I Can Read Book)

Easy-to-read text and illustrations trace the life of a barn owl from his birth until he leaves the nest and finds a mate of his own.

Image for The Book of North American Owls

The Book of North American Owls

Everything you ever wanted to know about owls on the North American continent. Features the twenty-one species of owls and all their vital statistics. Includes a detailed, illustrated glossary with maps showing residence and breeding ranges.

Image for There's an Owl in the Shower

There's an Owl in the Shower

It’s people versus owls in this laugh-out-loud story about one family’s love for a special little owl, from bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George!

Borden Watson’s father is out of job, and it’s all the spotted owls’ fault. The birds are endangered, which means loggers, like Mr. Watson, are no longer allowed to cut down trees.

It doesn’t make sense to Borden. Why are owls being put first over the citizens?

But when Borden finds an owlet in the forest who needs his care, he brings it back home—much to Mr. Watson’s displeasure. Hilarious chaos soon ensues, as the tiny owl makes big changes in this logging family’s home, and makes his way into their hearts.

This heartwarming story is a great way for young readers to learn about important topics, like endangered species, conservation, and environmentalism.

Image for Knight Owl (Caldecott Honor Book) (The Knight Owl Series, 1)

Knight Owl (Caldecott Honor Book) (The Knight Owl Series, 1)

A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart.  Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas. Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn. 

Image for A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

One winter, as food gets scarce, a snowy owl finds himself forced to look in new and unfamiliar spots in order to find food and a place to call home. Based on a true story, A Snowy Owl Story describes, through the tale of one particular owl, the recent irruption of snowy owls all across the United States. Through this simple narrative, youngsters will learn about migration, adaptation, and respectful human interaction with nature. This unique title (first in a projected series of four board books) is written and designed specifically for a preschool market; few board books exist that tell conservation stories for this age range. Published in cooperation with Maine Audubon.

Image for Reggie The Burrowing Owl: The True Story Of How A Family Found And Raised A Burrowing Owl

Reggie The Burrowing Owl: The True Story Of How A Family Found And Raised A Burrowing Owl

This is the true story about how one, little orphaned burrowing owl brought five children and their parents together on a mission to care for him as best they could back in 1967. While taking care of, Reggie, we learned that—there’s no such thing as an ordinary day with a burrowing owl around. This is not just a story for children, but the whole family and though our days revolved around Reggie, it was the unique way Reggie impacted ours and those around us ordinary lives which makes this story so special. We hope you will find it so as well."Populations of burrowing owls are declining in some areas due to pesticide use, poisoning of prairie dog colonies, and automobile collisions. Conservation concerns differ by region, and in various states they are listed as endangered, threatened, or as a species of concern.

Image for Owl at Home (I Can Read Level 2)

Owl at Home (I Can Read Level 2)

Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. But whether Owl is inviting Winter in on a snowy night or welcoming a new friend he meets while on a stroll, Owl always has room for visitors!

Arnold Lobel's beloved Level 2 I Can Read classic was created for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

Also, look at these hands on owl activities.

MORE OWL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Free Kids Owl Unit Study Ideas | How to Dissect Pellets
  • Owl and Mouse Food Chain Worksheet
  • Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
  • OWL VISION – Recycled paper roll OWL binocular STEM Craft!
  • 6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft
  • Paper Weaving Owl Craft
How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Also, look at these fun facts about the elf owl.

Have you ever heard of it?

FACTS ABOUT ELF OWLS

The elf owl is the smallest owl in the world.

It’s only about 5 or 6 inches.

  • Although small in stature, it’s a skilled hunter.
  • And it weighs only about one ounce.
  • Listen to the puppylike call.
  • The are nocturnal.
  • They live in the deserts of the United States and Mexico.
  • They eat insects like moths, grasshoppers, and beetles.
  • And they have huge eyes.
  • Baby Elf owls stay with their parents for a while. They’re family oriented.
  • Because of their incredible camouflage with tree trunks and cactus they are protected from predators like hawks.
  • And they have very sharp hearing ability.

Finally, look at how to make this toilet roll owl.

HOW TO MAKE A TOILET ROLL OWL

Look at this list of supplies.

  • Toilet Paper Roll.
  • Construction Papers.
  • Pencil.
  • Scissors.
  • Glue.
  • Ruler.

Step 1:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Select the toilet paper roll you want to use for your toilet paper roll boat craft.

Step 2:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Slightly press down the toilet paper roll and use the templates to trace and cut the toilet paper roll to shape it.

Step 3:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Press the top part of the toilet paper roll inwards. This will create two pointed edges on two corners.

Step 4:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Now once again use the templates and colorful craft papers to cut out the rest of the patterns for the owl. 

Step 5:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Use a brown marker pen to draw wavy patterns on the half oval-shaped pattern.

Step 6:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Glue the half oval-shaped pattern on the bottom middle part of the toilet paper roll owl base.

Step 7:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Glue the two wings on two sides of the toilet paper roll base.

Step 8:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Then glue the two paper eye cutouts on the top part of the toilet paper roll owl base.

Step 9:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Glue the beak right bow the two eyes.

Step 10:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Now glue the cheeks on two sides of the beak.

Step 11:

How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts

Finally, glue both feet on the bottom part of the toilet paper roll owl base to finish making your toilet paper roll owl craft. 

GRAB THE FREE OWL TEMPLATE FOR THE CRAFT

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, owl, toilet paper roll

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

December 21, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you are studying coral reefs, you will need a host of wonderful books about the Great Barrier Reef for kids to make a rich and full study. Also, grab more ideas on my Coral Reef page.

Also, I have plenty of fun and exciting hands-on activities to do for all ages that will make this one of your best units yet.

The Great Barrier reef is in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

And it is the world’s largest coral reef system.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,400 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles.

The Great Barrier Reef is important for many reasons.

For example, it’s biodiversity is important, its impact on tourism, the protection it gives the coastline from storms and erosion, and the food and medicine that can be found there as well.

In addition to sharing books about the Great Barrier Reef, I have a faux coral reef craft project that will add a beautiful touch to any room.

BOOKS ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these books about the reef.

When possible, I add living books to our reading list.

5 Great Barrier Reef Books

Add some of these fun books about the Great Barrier Reef to your home library.

Image for The Great Barrier Reef (Earth's Incredible Places)

The Great Barrier Reef (Earth's Incredible Places)

Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the peoples who have embraced it as a centerpiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!

Image for The World of Coral Reefs: Explore and Protect the Natural Wonders of the Sea

The World of Coral Reefs: Explore and Protect the Natural Wonders of the Sea

Coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, but they support 25% of all marine species with food and shelter. In this lavishly illustrated book for ages 7 to 10, marine ecologist and underwater explorer Erin Spencer provides fascinating, scientific information in a highly accessible format, including details about the types of coral, their anatomy and life cycle, where they live, how reefs develop, and the incredible diversity of marine animals that live among them, including aquarium favorites like clownfish, royal blue tangs, and sea turtles. Kids learn about the interdependent relationships of people and reefs and how human behavior puts reefs in danger, promising conservation work that scientists are undertaking, and solution-oriented ways kids and families can help in the effort. 

Image for Where Is the Great Barrier Reef?

Where Is the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system. Stretching more than 1,400 miles, it provides a home to a wide diversity of creatures. Designated a World Heritage Site, the reef is suffering from the effects of climate change but this fascinating book shows this spectacular part of our planet.

Image for The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef

The Mystery on the Great Barrier Reef

It's a trip Down Under for Christina, 10, Grant, 7, and their mystery-writing grandmother Mimi! Lots of surprises and mysterious activities unfold as the group travels through the Outback, Queensland, and finally to the Great Barrier Reef. During a glass-bottom boat ride, they discover more than coral and fish under the water-scuba divers and flesh-tearing moray eel lurk beneath their boat! They shudder at the eerie screech of the Tasmanian devil and brave the awesome Australian Outback (and Aborigines!) at night. Watch and wonder as Grant ends up in the Camel Cup camel race- will he make it to the finish line? Don't miss a moment of excitement in Christina and Grant's Australian adventure! Download free activities for this book!

Image for Coral Reef

Coral Reef

Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time. "Science education at its best." ― Science Books and Films

We are going to use hot glue and paint.

Then transforming them into unique coral pieces while we learn about the different types and specifically about The Great Barrier Reef and its inhabitants.

GREAT BARRIER REEF FACTS

The Great Barrier Reef has an abundance of life with:

  • Fish: Over 1,600 species of fish, including clownfish, angelfish, and parrotfish.
  • Corals: Over 600 species of hard and soft corals.
  • Sea Turtles: Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles.
  • Sharks and Rays: Over 30 species of sharks and rays.
  • Marine Mammals: Whales, dolphins, and dugongs.
  • Seabirds: Over 200 species of seabirds.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms.

It is so big that it can be seen from space.

The reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish – that’s more than in the entire Caribbean Sea.

Some of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef are over 1,000 years old, coral of the Great Barrier Reef has gradually been destroyed in recent years by a pest known as the Crown of Thorns Seastar, a marine organism that eats Coral Polyps.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it is recognized as a place of outstanding universal value and is recognized as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

HANDS ON GREAT BARRIER REEF ACTIVITIES

  • Fun Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
  • How To Make Your Own Magic Crystal Coral Reef
  • Free Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity
  • Egg Carton Coral Reef Craft
Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Finally, look at how to make this coral reef hot glue art.

HOW TO MAKE CORAL REEF HOT GLUE ART

You will need:

  • Wooden plaque
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Paint
  • paintbrushes
  • Silicone mat
Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

First, paint your wooden plaque piece blue for the ocean or any color you like.

I found this one along with glue sticks and paint at Dollar Tree, making for a very frugal craft. Set aside to dry.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

If you do not have a silicone mat I cannot recommend one highly enough. They are a fantastic item for painting, slime, and any other messy craft.

On to our beautiful faux coral pieces.

To begin with, use a light marker like a highlighter or even a dry erase marker to draw out your design.

Make any kind of coral you want here.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

I tried some fan coral, a brain coral and some basic branch pieces.

Be mindful of the size wooden plaque that you have chosen to use. You want to make at least 4 or 5 of varying widths, heights, and types to layer on the background.

You want to gather a lot of hot glue for this activity, depending on how many pieces and how large you want to make them.

CORAL REEF HOT GLUE ART

Now you’re going to take your hot glue, gun and draw along the lines that you made with a nice thick line,

You can allow it to cool while you work on another piece and add additional layers of thickness if you like.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Here is a gorgeous example of fan coral that had been washed up on the beach after a hurricane.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Allow your designs to dry completely until the glue is hard and it will peel right up off the silicone mat.  I peeled it back just to be sure my lines were thick enough and laid it right back down.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Now you are going to paint each piece in whatever color combination you like.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Let the paint dry completely, then begin testing out how you will layer and place your pieces on the plaque.

Exciting Books About the Great Barrier Reef| Faux Coral Craft

Once you’re satisfied, add a little bit of hot glue to the back of each piece and press it into place.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: coral reef, great barrier reef, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science

Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

December 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free roll-a-gingerbread house game for your littles. Also, grab more ideas and a free lapbook for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

When winter sets in, it can be hard to keep the littles learning.

Games breathe life into the part of the day when your littles are not feeling independent play.

Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

And what I love about this roll-a-gingerbread house game is that it promotes independent learning.

Besides getting a bit of math and color recognition, your child will have created a fun piece of art.

All you need is a die and a plate full of treats that are your preschooler’s favorite.

BOOKS ABOUT GINGERBREAD FOR KIDS

Also, I have some fun books and activities if you want to do a gingerbread theme.

We choose to read living books when I can find them.

8 Books and Resources Studying About Gingerbread

Add some of these books and resources for a gun Gingerbread theme.

Image for The Plan for the Gingerbread House: A STEM Engineering Story

The Plan for the Gingerbread House: A STEM Engineering Story

The gingerbread man and woman need a new home! A team of kids struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.Sounds easy?But creating is hard. Cookie burn, the icing it too thin, the house caves-in, someone is eating the candy decorations, and—Oh!—they forgot about putting the gingerbread boy and girl inside the house. Engineering is a creative process. That means you must learn to

  • overcome problems
  • and persevere.

Inspire budding engineers to think about the classic gingerbread house in new ways.

Image for Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set

Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set

SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR YOUR FAMILY - The simple stainless steel Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set design is easy to clean, the folded edges are kind to hands, and the welded seam won’t come unstuck

Image for The Gingerbread Man Padded

The Gingerbread Man Padded

"Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" Follow the gingerbread man as he runs from the old woman, the old man, pig, cow, and horse, and meets a sly fox. This padded storybook of the classic fairy tale features engaging text and delightful, colorful illustrations by Gail Yerrill. Designed to encourage vocabulary development and help children read aloud, this story uses large font types and vibrant, contemporary illustrations to help early learning skills. It's a perfect addition to any children's library.

Image for The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone Nursery Classic)

The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone Nursery Classic)

The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and ‘at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!’ A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone’s broadly humorous color wash drawings.

Image for Gingerbread Baby

Gingerbread Baby

Fairy tale about the Gingerbread Baby. Full-color illustrations.

Image for 12PCS Measuring Cups, Little Cook Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

12PCS Measuring Cups, Little Cook Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

The 12 different spoon sizes in this measuring cup set make it versatile for measuring a wide range of ingredients. The measuring spoons range from 1/8 tsp teaspoon up to 1 cup tablespoon, allowing you to measure small or large quantities with ease. This makes the measuring spoons set perfect for home cooks and professional chefs alike, as it can be used for a variety of recipes, from baking to cooking and more.

Image for Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Set (Gingerbread Man 3 Piece)

Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Set (Gingerbread Man 3 Piece)

Gingerbread Man 3 Piece

Image for How to Catch a Gingerbread Man

How to Catch a Gingerbread Man

Do you have what it takes to catch the Gingerbread Man? The famous storybook character has magically come to life and leapt from the pages during story time! Follow along as the Gingerbread Man runs loose in a bookstore with the help of Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Peter Rabbit, nursery rhyme characters, and more! If you set the right traps, you might…just might be able to catch this wily cookie and finish the fairy tale!

Also, games are not just fun.

Look at some of the benefits of games for preschoolers.

WHY PRESCHOOLERS LEARN THROUGH GAMES

  • Problem solving boosts cognitive skills
  • And they promote short term and long term memory.
  • Most games children learn to take turns.
  • When children play independently they are learning self-regulation.
  • This game promotes creativity. For example, your child can place more than 1 piece of candy on a circle.
  • Also, mix textures like green hard candy with green jelly beans.
  • Because games are fun, preschoolers do not feel pressured to learn. It should never be that way.
  • In this game early math skills like counting is introduced without the need for a worksheet.

Also, look at more hands on fun for kids about gingerbread.

MORE GINGERBREAD ACTIVITIES

  • How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas
  • DIY Adorable Salt Dough Gingerbread House To Make With Kids
  • Fun Selfie Salt Dough Gingerbread Kids Activity for Long Winter Nights
Free Roll-A-Gingerbread House Game For Kids Who Love Games

Finally, look at how to grab this free printable game.

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE PRINTABLE

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 now.

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: games, gingerbread, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, printablegames, winter season

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

December 17, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free 4-week penguin study unit for kids. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.

Also, I have a fun study packet if you want to dive deeper into studying penguins.

With their upright stance and short legs, penguins are recognized by their waddle.

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

But what makes them unique is that they are actually birds.

They have wings and are covered with feathers. They lay eggs and are warm-blooded animals.

Too, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. But they don’t all live in cold climates.

Several species live in tropical areas. For example, the Galápagos penguin is a penguin native to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.

It is the only penguin found north of the equator.

Additionally, there are many different kinds of penguins.

Emperor penguins are the largest species of penguin and can grow to be about four feet tall. Some other well known penguins are the King, the Macaroni, and the Adelie.

PENGUIN BOOKS FOR KIDS

Also, grab one or more of these books to your learning day.

I prefer living books when I can find them.

11 Penguin Books & Resources for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books and resources about penguins to your learning day.

Image for Penguin's Way

Penguin's Way

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating Antarctic species. Originally published in 1962, Penguin’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard. In Penguin’s Way, a playful colony of emperor penguins lives on the edge of a faraway secret sea. During the summers, the penguins are content to fish and swim in the icy waters. But, when the seasons change, they must travel more than one hundred miles to the snowy lands surrounding the South Pole. All across the snow plain, the penguins sing songs to welcome newly hatched chicks into the world, but how will the fluffy newborns survive the freezing winter? Few things pique children’s curiosity about the world around them better than a good book. Brought back for a new generation of young readers, Penguin’s Way offers a fun and creative introduction to these fascinating animals.

Image for Mr. Popper's Penguins: All-Time Popular Children Book

Mr. Popper's Penguins: All-Time Popular Children Book

Charming Characters: Meet the endearing Mr. Popper and his comical penguins, each with their distinct personalities and quirks, creating a delightful and memorable cast of characters.

Whimsical Adventures: Follow Mr. Popper and his penguins on a series of whimsical escapades, as they navigate unexpected challenges and create joyous chaos in their small town.

Heartwarming Message: Experience the heartwarming message of friendship, family, and the importance of embracing the unexpected, as Mr. Popper's life is transformed by the presence of his unusual feathered companions.

Image for Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World

Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World

Whiteblack the Penguin is worried. He has run out of stories for his radio show, a dire situation for the Chief Storyteller of Penguinland. So Whiteblack decides to travel in search of new tales to share. The result is a journey that spans the globe and not only introduces the precocious penguin to a host of colorful characters but teaches him about the power of friendship and what it means to be a hero. Originally created in 1937, while the Reys lived in Paris, this delightful story is being published for the first time, and is sure to enchant readers young and old. From the creators of Curious George, Whiteblack the Penguin Sees The World is a timeless tale with all the hilarity and childlike sense of adventure characteristic of the Reys’ previous work.

Image for The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder

The Emperor's Egg: Read and Wonder

Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch. Welcome to the story of the world’s most devoted dad!

Image for Penguins!: Strange and Wonderful

Penguins!: Strange and Wonderful

A new edition to the acclaimed Strange and Wonderful series. The seventeen species of penguins come in all sizes and are fascinating in many other ways. The little blue penguin, the smallest, stands about sixteen inches high, and the emperor penguin, the largest, stands almost four feet tall. Some penguins are named for how they look, such as the black-footed penguin, while others are named for where they live, such as the Galapagos penguin. Laurence Pringle's informative book, with stunning illustrations by Meryl Henderson, introduces young readers to the life and behavior of one of nature's most remarkable birds.

Image for 12PCS Realistic Penguin Figurines

12PCS Realistic Penguin Figurines

This penguin figures set was made by hand painted with high realistically detailed appearance, cute face and childish eyes. Their uniquely molded textures and richly painted details make the animals vivid. And all the animal figures stands up very well, they do not fall over. Children would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

Image for The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins

The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins

African penguins waddle around nesting colonies in lower numbers than ever before. Despite South African government efforts to protect the penguin colonies and their ocean fish supply, young penguins still struggle to survive. Fuzzy chicks waiting for food in open nests may overheat in the sun or become prey. Others simply may not get enough food to survive on their own once their parents leave. But new conservation methods, including rescuing and hand-feeding vulnerable chicks, are giving experts hope. Can volunteers and scientists help save Africa's only penguins before it's too late?

Image for March of the Penguins

March of the Penguins

This documentary chronicles the heroic and harrowing journey that emperor penguins make amid subfreezing temperatures and violent snowstorms at the South Pole in order to mate.

Image for 365 Penguins (Reissue)

365 Penguins (Reissue)

A family finds a penguin mysteriously delivered to their door every day for a year. At first they’re cute, but with every passing day, the penguins pile up—along with the family’s problems. Feeding, cleaning, and housing the penguins becomes a monumental task. They’re noisy and smelly, and they always hog the bathroom! And who on earth is sending these kwak-ing critters? Bright, striking illustrations with lots of opportunity for counting (and lots of laughs), 365 Penguins has become a perennial wintertime favorite.

Image for Penguin: A Season in the Life of the Adélie Penguin

Penguin: A Season in the Life of the Adélie Penguin

Beautiful, full-color photographs and an engaging first-person narrative introduce young readers to an Adelie penguin family's first view of the harsh, wild Antarctic environment.

Image for Penguins!

Penguins!

An illustrated introduction to those wonderful waddling water birds!Living only in the southern hemisphere, there are seventeen different kinds of penguins.  With bright watercolor illustrations and kid-friendly language, Gail Gibbons introduces these black and white birds, describing where and how they live, what they eat, and how they hatch their young.   An exploration of the egg-laying and chick-raising habits of the emperor penguin is also included, describing how these large penguins take care of their babies in extremely cold temperatures, working together to look after one large egg at a time. Readers will also learn about threats to penguin populations, and what conservation efforts have been made to help preserve them.  A collection of penguin facts is also included.

Next, look at history and geography penguin unit study ideas.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 1

This is the perfect time to explain the differences between the Arctic and Antarctica.

I still see pictures where penguins are in the Arctic. They are not with the Eskimo.

Penguins live in the Antarctica where there are no people albeit researchers and their teams.

  • Locate the area where penguins live. Antarctica, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands.
  • Create a penguin timeline for their life cycle
  • Investigate the Galapagos Penguin near the equator. Go here to my free South America Unit Study to learn about the Galapagos.
  • Explore penguin migration. Look at this video Over a million penguins gather to migrate from Argentine peninsula.
  • Learn about their Antarctica habit and look at How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids.

NATURE & SCIENCE PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 2

Then, this penguin unit study is obviously a strong slant toward nature and science.

Penguins or marine birds are adapted to living at sea. Some penguins spend as much as 80% of their lives in the ocean.

  • Discuss the waddle or how penguins walk on land
  • Penguin camouflage activity Learn how black and white protect them from prey
  • Slippery Penguins on Ice Experiment
  • Penguins eat mostly squid, fishes, and krill. Krill are small crustaceans—relatives of shrimps, crabs, and lobsters.
  • Read how deep penguins can dive
  • Baby Emperor Penguins Emerge from Their Shells 
  • How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity

There are 18 different species of penguins. Look at this list of the names and where they live.

  • Galápagos – Galapagos Islands
  • Humboldt- Coasts of Chili and Peru
  • Southern Rockhopper  -Southern Chili and Southern Argentina
  • Northern Rockhopper-Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island – South Atlantic Ocean
  • Emperor -Antarctica
  • Adélie-Antarctica
  • Chinstrap-Antarctic Peninsula
  • Fiordland-Southwest coasts of the South Island in New Zealand.
  • Snares- Snares Islands south of New Zealand
  • Macaroni-Antarctic Peninsula
  • Gentoo  -Antarctic Peninsula
  • Erect-Crested-New Zealand sub-antarctic- mostly Antipodes and Bounty Islands
  • Royal-Macquarie Island, near Bishop and Clerk Islands in Australia
  • African-Southwest coast of Africa- Namibia to Port Elizabeth
  • Little- Australia and New Zealand
  • Yellow-Eyed-New Zealand
  • King- Antarctic Peninsula
  • Magellanic- Southern coasts-Argentina, Chile, and Falkland Islands.

And baby penguins are called chicks. (Sometimes they are called fledglings.) And learn how penguins care for their chicks.

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

Some penguins never build nests. A king or emperor penguin incubates a single egg on the top of its feet. A featherless patch of abdominal skin keeps the egg warm.

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 3

  • Penguin Facts for Kids Printable
  • Penguins Addition with 100 Chart 
  • Penguins Math Pack (PreK-Middle School)
  • How long can a penguin hold its breath under water? 20 minutes. Time how long that is.
  • Penguins Emergent Readers
  • Magnetic Ice Skating Penguin Letter Writing Activity
  • How cute! Grab these Free Penguin Math Puzzles for Preschoolers.

Also, look at these vocabulary words.

predator — an animal that eats other animals
preen — to clean, arrange, and oil feathers
down — the covering of fine, soft feathers of a young bird; also the soft underfeathers of adult birds.

ARTS & CRAFTS PENGUIN UNIT STUDY IDEAS WEEK 4

Finally, look at these fun penguin arts and crafts ideas.

  • How to Make an Egg Carton Bobblehead Penguin Preschool Craft
  • No-Sew Sock Penguin Craft 
  • Emperor Penguin Craft: Step-by-Step Guide To Make Your Own Penguin
  •  Popsicle stick penguin craft
  • How To Create Toilet Paper Roll Penguins For A Bowling Game
  • Free Color By Number Penguin And Penguins Antarctica Habitat
  • Marble-Painted Penguin Craft 
  • Salt Dough Handprint

Next, look at this fun printable themed informational packet.

ABOUT THE PENGUIN STUDY GUIDE FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

This printable packet is a 75 page printable pdf download.

Here are some of the topics included.

  • What are penguins
  • Penguin anatomy
  • Socialization
  • Mating for life
  • Life Cycle
  • Survival
  • Diet
  • Habitat
  • Predator
  • Species
  • Emperor Penguin
  • Adélie Penguin
  • King Penguin
  • Chinstrap Penguin
  • Gentoo Penguin
  • Macaroni Penguin
  • African Penguin
  • Rockhopper Penguin
  • Little Blue Penguin
  • Galápagos Penguin
  • Penguin Quiz fill in the blanks activity
  • Penguin Quiz True or False activity
  • Penguin Quiz Multiple Choice activity
  • Anatomy Game activity
  • Sound Matching activity
  • Conservation Matching Game activity
  • Life Cycle Game activity
  • Penguin Diet Sorting Game activity
  • Penguin Word Search activity
  • Penguin Adventure activity

HOW TO GET THE PENGUIN PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

TOS
Important: READ THIS FIRST.
Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.

• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar.
• Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later,etc.
• The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.
• Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com (of course substitute the right symbol for dot) in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam

Best Free 4 Week Penguin Study Unit | Fun Study Packet

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant.

  • Dynamic and Amazing Penguin Study Guide For Young Learners

    Dynamic and Amazing Penguin Study Guide For Young Learners

    $5.95
    Add to cart

Leave a CommentFiled Under: My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, penguin, science

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