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homeschoolinginwinter

How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

January 14, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a build a snowman free printable game. Also, look at my pages Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas. 

Whether you’re looking for a fun activity to do indoors to keep you the kids from going stir crazy or looking for an easy activity to go with a winter unit study, you’ll love this build a snowman kid’s game.

How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid's Game (free printable cube)

Also, reading aloud while your kids play is a great way to add in some facts about winter.

For example, we love living books.

When possible, we prefer to read them over how to books.

And for this theme of snowman, you’ll want to add a few story books.

BOOKS ABOUT WINTER FOR KIDS

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Next, look at ways to play the snowman game.

BUILD A SNOWMAN GAME PLAYING IDEAS

This game can actually be done many different ways depending on the ages of your kids.

Look at these suggestions below on how to do this latest fun activity I have for you.

  • Roll the cube, and have an older child cut out cardboard and draw, color or paint each piece as he builds the snowman.
  • Roll the cube, and have a younger child cut out card stock and draw, color or paint each piece as he builds the snowman.
  • Print two pictures of the cube or die on card stock. Have your child cut out the pictures on one cube and glue the pictures on cardboard or paper. Use another cube for game playing.
  • To teach a preschooler shapes, make the snowman parts different shapes. Octagon for the body, circles for the buttons and cone for the nose will have him practicing geometry skills.
  • Of course, you can just have the child color the picture as he rolls that part of the snowman on the cube.
  • Another easy tip is to cut out the snowman on the download below and put him back together as your child rolls the cube.
Grab this FUN and FREE How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid's Game (with free printable cube). It’s a great activity for a winter unit study to keep the kids busy.

Next look at more snowman fun.

MORE SNOWMAN ACTIVITIES

  • W Is For Winter Craft Easy Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
  • How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman
  • 8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace
  • Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter
  • How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts
  • Snow and Snowflake Facts for Kids and Fun Hands-on Exploding Snowman

Snowman Kid’s Game

Although a game like this is fun, it also teaches many skills. 

Preschoolers strengthen fine motor skills by both coloring and cutting.

In addition, you can expand this game by writing down words that correspond to the pictures on the cube.

And children learn to take turns as they play together.

Another way to make this game fun for your artsy kids is to have them roll the cube and draw their own parts for the snowman and build it as they go along. 

Designing their own snowman builds creativity and strengthens the imagination.

A game like building a snowman is also a fun activity to do with a group of kids in a homeschool co-op.

Each kid can design their own snowman and learn to play together.

One more idea is to have your children work together to build a giant snowman on butcher block paper.

Collaboration is a skill that a child uses on to high school.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SNOWMAN PRINTABLE PAGE AND CUBE

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

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!

What ideas do you have for building a snowman?

Grab this FUN and FREE How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid's Game (with free printable cube). It’s a great activity for a winter unit study to keep the kids busy.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Hands-On Activities, Teach Homeschool Preschool Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, homeschoolinginwinter, preschool, preschool skills, winter season

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

December 11, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have some fun winter slime ideas and a fun recipe for making marshmallow slime. Be sure you grab more ideas and a free lapbook for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Marshmallow slime is a fun sensory experience.

Unlike other slime recipes which offer a stretchy experience, this is a unique slime that is a fluffy and soft experience.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

And with just a few key ingredients you normally have on hand during winter, you can make for a fun leaning day.

Add this activity to your science day or to my winter unit study.

What’s more is that this marshmallow slime can be enjoyed by all ages.

The way the marshmallow squishes and kneads through your fingers makes it so addictive and enticing.

It’s sure to keep kids entertained for a while.

MORE WINTER SLIME IDEAS

Next, add a few more activities to your winter day.

10 Winter Slime Ideas

Whether you’re looking to entertain kids through the long cold days of winter or are wanting to enjoy the winter season, grab these ideas.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

In honor of National Slime Day December 7th, I have 9 food-themed slime craft ideas as well as my recipe for gingerbread slime. Also, look at this cocoa slime at my post 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities.

Photo Credit: blissfuldomestication.com

Winter Slime Recipe and How to Host a Slime Station!

Kid’s love slime, and my children are no exception. They love the tactile nature of it, and it can provide hours of entertainment. We have made very basic slime before, but for this project I was looking for a simple Winter Slime recipe that could be replicated on a large scale. I also wanted to allow the children at the fair to personalise their slime and watch the magic as it turns from a bowl of liquid to the squidgy slime we all know and love.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

If you’re looking for more winter craft ideas for kids, you’ll love this snow slime inspired by the book Animals in Winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

I have some cool slime ideas. And there are amazing benefits of playing with what otherwise seems like just a fun activity. But there is more to slime than just the mess and thrill of sensory play.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Learn what insects do in the winter and make this fun insect slime.

Photo Credit: kimspireddiy.com

DIY Candy Cane Slime – How To Make Homemade Fluffy Peppermint Candy Cane Slime

SLIME Lovers & CANDY CANE Lovers – here is an AMAZING slime recipe you are going to love. This fun DIY candy cane slime is super fun and fluffy.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

We’re making a fun stretchy batch of seed slime as we learn all about the colorful blue jay and his winter food. Also, look at my Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

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

Wintertime is a great time to study about the ocean.

Add this fun slime activity to your day.

Photo Credit: www.messforless.net

How to Make Snow Slime

But the slime I am going to share today is a winner. If you have been wondering How to Make Snow Slime or Cloud Slime as some call it, wonder no more. It is easy once you add a secret ingredient that will totally transform traditional slime.

3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities

Your kids will love doing three different cocoa winter hands-on science activities to go with my winter season unit study.

Additionally, sensory play is an important part of a child learning.

SENSORY PLAY BENEFITS

Sensory playing teaches many things.

For instance, it helps children organize information.

When a child uses one of the five senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste it nurtures exploration.

Basically, instead of telling, we’re encouraging children to explore and investigate.

Furthermore, sensory play builds fine motor activities.

Children are strengthening their fine motor activities while having fun.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

And when you discuss with your child what he feels, sees, hears, smells or tastes his language development is boosted.

Finally, look at how to make this fun marshmallow slime.

HOW TO MAKE MARSHMALLOW SLIME

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • 5 jumbo marshmallows
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 5 Tbsp cornstarch
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon or spatula
10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

First, in a microwave-safe bowl add marshmallows and coconut oil.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time until the marshmallow slime is no longer sticky

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Microwave for 45 seconds.

Stir to combine the melted marshmallows and oil.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Have fun!

Too, look at these suggestions if you don’t have some of these ingredients.

  • The recipe can be made with 10 regular-size marshmallows.
  • You can make it edible by replacing the cornstarch with powdered sugar. However, this mixture does tend to stay sticky.
  • Cooking oil can be used instead of coconut oil in this recipe.
  • One-time use. Discard it after playing with this slime.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolinginwinter, slime, winter crafts, winter season

Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

December 4, 2024 | 9 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some free winter copywork. Also, grab more ideas on my pages Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas and Homeschool Middle School.

I’ll share soon all that I have been up to, but today I wanted to kick off the winter months by sharing some beautiful poetry or free winter copywork.

I wouldn’t want you to think that copywork is only for the younger grades because middle and high school kids still benefit from copywork and especially when it’s poetry.

Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

So today, I have a free download for winter copywork which is Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost.

It’s such a beautiful poem that can be deciphered many ways if you want to, but there is no denying the lure of the cold, snow and long wintry days.

Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

I just thought it would be a great way to kick off the change in the season. It is three pages and it is in cursive.

It is not babyish, so it can be used for a variety of ages.

It is one of Robert Frost’s most famous poems and was first published in 1923.

What we loved about it is that it described a peaceful winter scene in the countryside.

Also, reading the poem together allows time with your middle school to explain his feelings.

For example, you can discuss the serenity of winter, taking time to be in the moment and observe nature.

Even talking about how the winter season can make some feel lonely.

Next, look at some of these books to read during winter and chase away the doldrums.

7 Books for Middle School Students to Read in the Winter

These books also make for a great read aloud, even older kids would enjoy piling up on the couch in the morning for a good story together.

Julie of the Wolves (HarperClassics)

Julie of the Wolves is a staple in the canon of children’s literature and the first in the Julie trilogy. The survival theme makes it a good pick for readers of wilderness adventures such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, or Island of the Blue Dolphins.

This edition, perfect for classroom or home use, includes John Schoenherr’s original scratchboard illustrations throughout, as well as bonus materials such as an introduction written by Jean Craighead George’s children, the author’s Newbery acceptance speech, selections from her field notebooks, a discussion guide, and a further reading guide.

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he learns the ways of the wilderness.

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?

The Winter King

Ever since Cora's father disappeared through the ice, whispers about her family's "curse" have grown increasingly louder. Desperate to help her mother and siblings survive another bleak season in the Winter King's frozen grasp, Cora begins to bend (and even break) the rules she has kept since she was a little girl. But when she discovers a secret that's much bigger than herself, she realizes too late that she has put herself--and those she loves--in even greater peril.

Winterhouse (Winterhouse, 1)

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Northwind

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.” With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

Beat Winter Homeschooling Burnout

The benefits of copywork go beyond learning how to write, which is why it’s a great tool to use for older kids too.

Copywork is a super way of rekindling the love for language arts for either a middle or high school kid.

I feel it’s an underused tool for the older kids because we think of using copywork to teach writing. However, for older kids copywork is a way for older kids to learn how to organize their ideas and thoughts.

Sometimes, even our older kids need a visual model for writing and copywork can be one solution.

MORE WINTER ACTIVITIES

  • Homeschooling – Activities and Free Downloads. 5 Days of Look Alive. Day 1- Look to the Sea.
  • Homeschooling – Look to the Sea. 17 Hands-on Activities for Two to Teens.
  • Fun Winter Craft Ideas for Middle School Homeschool
  • 50 Keep Me Homeschooling Activities During the Long Cold Winter Days
  • Put A Little Spring In Your Winter Weary Homeschool Step
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
  • Winter Season Unit Study. Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas
Free Winter Unit Study and Lapbook for homeschooled kids @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus-1

Finally, look at how to grab the free winter copywork.

HOW TO GET THE FREE WINTER COPYWORK FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL: STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

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

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!

Did you see these other posts about copywork?

Free History Copywork
French Revolution Copywork

Also, if you’re looking for more winter hands-on ideas, check out the ideas below:

5 Days of Look Alive Winter Homeschooling. Day 1 Look to the Sea. @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus featured
Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Free Winter Copywork for Middle School: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Follow Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s board Winter ♥ on Pinterest.

 

9 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Middle School Homeschool Tagged With: copywork, freecopywork, homeschoolinginwinter, language arts, middle school, middleschool, winter season

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

November 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re doing some winter easy crafts. Also look at my Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas.

Winter is such a special time for crafts and activities.

From winter solstice to snow, winter foods and traditions, and polar animals there are a wide variety of topics to learn about that you can choose from.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

For this activity today I wanted to focus on the larger-than-life cold weather loving moose through a simple and sweet craft activity.

Use it as a base for a whole moose unit study or just a quick and simple winter craft on its own.

Popsicle sticks have to be up there in my top 5 favorite inexpensive craft items for their versatility.

And of course they are so easy to get and cost just pennies.

MOOSE BOOKS FOR KIDS

MOOSE BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO LOVE TO READ AND BE READ TO

Grab a book or two to add to your home library or for a unit study.

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

If a big hungry moose comes to visit, you might give him a muffin to make him feel at home. If you give him a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it. When he's eaten all your muffins, he'll want to go to the store to get some more muffin mix.

In this hilarious sequel to the beloved If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the young host is again run ragged by a surprise guest. Young readers will delight in the comic complications that follow when a little boy entertains a gregarious moose.

This classic book is the perfect gift for young readers who like to giggle.

Deneki: An Alaskan Moose

Child's nature picture book.

Honk the Moose (Nature) by Phil Stong (2001) Hardcover

What do you do when a moose takes over your town?

Three young boys try to save a moose through the cold Minnesota winter.

Grab some fascinating facts as well as more ideas for winter crafts to keep hands and mines busy through the season.

MOOSE FACTS

  • Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They are found in North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • Moose are gentle animals, but they can be dangerous if they feel threatened. They will charge at anything they perceive to be a threat, including humans.
  • They are herbivores, which means they eat plants. They are also ruminants, which means they have a four-chambered stomach that helps them digest their food.
  • Moose are very tall animals. They can grow up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,800 pounds. Moose have long, gangly legs and a large, humped back. They also have a long, droopy nose and big, floppy ears.
  • They are covered in a thick coat of fur that helps them stay warm in the cold winter months. They have dark brown fur on their backs and sides and lighter brown fur on their bellies. Moose also have a white patch on their rump.
  • These cold weather loving creatures are solitary animals. They only come together to mate. Moose calves are born in the spring and stay with their mothers for about a year.
Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Now here are 8 easy but really cool winter crafts for kids from winter lights to the cutest abominable snowman you’ve ever seen.

8 WINTER EASY CRAFTS

  1. Learn Why Evergreen Trees Are the Ultimate Winter Wonder & Tree Craft from dyed pasta turned into pretty pine trees.
  2. Make beautiful Mason Jar Snow Globes to create a suspended winter scene that will never melt away.
  3. Make these super easy DIY Luminaries For Winter Solstice celebrations to light up the night indoors or out.
  4. The Snowflake Art Project is so pretty and while it is simple the impact is far above your basic snowflake craft.
  5. This Abominable Snowman Fork Painted Craft is just absolutely adorable and would be precious framed and hanging up.
  6. Not only are these Arctic Winter Animal Craft Ideas: Make Your Own Felt Puppets a fun craft but they provide an activity that keeps the kids entertained for hours.
  7. For a craft that encourages a little more movement, try this Pom Pom Popper Snowman to get your kids up and running on a wintery day.
  8. Check out these 10 Toilet Paper Roll Winter Crafts and Make An Adorable Toilet Roll Winter Village, I just love a basically free craft especially when it’s this cute.

ADORABLE MOOSE HEAD CRAFT FOR KIDS

You will need:

  • 6 wooden popsicle sticks
  • Black felt
  • Google eyes
  • Brown paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Tacky glue or hot glue
Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Use scissors or a straight edge to cut down 1” on either side of one popsicle stick for ears, discard the remaining piece or save it for another craft.

Spread out 5 popsicle sticks, I like to use silicone mats like these to contain the mess and make cleaning up easy.

Paint at least one side of all the popsicle sticks brown, including the ears and set aside to dry.

To keep it a little neater you could also let your child color them with markers instead.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut two small ovals out of black felt for nostrils, two antlers,

Also, cut a rectangle piece just wide enough to cover the width of your popsicle sticks and long enough to cover ¾ of the height.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Flip the dry popsicle sticks over and line them up evenly, glue the rectangle to the back to stabilize and keep them all in place.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Add ears and antlers, secure with hot glue or strong tacky glue.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Turn over and glue the nostrils onto the face.

Winter Easy Crafts with An Adorable Moose Head Craft

Add large googly eyes to finish off your cute moose and allow the glue to dry.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, life science, moose, popsicle sticks, science, winter crafts, winter season

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

December 17, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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I have a fantastic candy cane maze STEM activity. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Besides, this is a great activity to do to celebrate December 26th as National Candy Cane Day.

Simple themed STEM activities like this are great for developing your child’s critical thinking skills.

Also, they develop innovation, creativity, curiosity, persistence, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership, entrepreneurship, and acceptance of failure.

It is so much fun to add a simple twist.

Incorporate a seasonal theme into STEM projects like this maze.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Did you know that candy canes have been around since 1672?

This candy cane maze requires planning and critical thinking to map it out as well as solve the ‘puzzle’.

Siblings can try to create a maze for each other to figure out.

Additionally, I have an exciting list of 10 more candy cane stem ideas.

It will be a minty fun day of learning.

So be sure to stock up on a lot of candy canes.

They come in various sizes this season and don’t forget to enjoy a few as well.

Candy canes have a long history.

And besides being a tasty winter treat they are used for decorations, and we can even find a wealth of ways to use them for learning, like these STEM activities.

Fun Books to Read in Wintertime

Next, add some of these fun books about winter.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Next, look at these other candy cane stem activities.

10 Candy Cane STEM Activities

Try one or more of these very hands-on activities from math to engineering and even cooking to develop important STEM skills for the future with a lot of fun for now.

  1. Try growing Crystal Candy Canes to learn about chemical changes that take place in supersaturated liquids.
  2. Here you can try out Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments, dissolving and melting candy canes.
  3. For older kids Learn How to Make Candy Canes, cooking incorporates both science and math so it fits nicely into the activities.
  4. Learn about building sturdy structures with the STEM: Candy Cane STEM Building Challenge and test out those engineering skills.
  5. Do different colors of candy canes dissolve faster than others? Find out with this simple Colored Candy Canes Science Experiment.
  6. Does your child like or want to learn about coding? This Candy Cane Coding for Kids is a great way to get started and make a fun craft in the process.
  7. Experiment with Dancing Candy Canes to learn about chemical reactions, baking soda and vinegar are must-haves in your science supplies.
  8. How much weight can you hold on a candy cane bridge? The steps are here in the Candy Cane Bridge STEM Challenge.
  9. Since math is a very important part of the stem, here is a Candy Cane math counting activity perfect for preschoolers.
  10. I also found these free printables for 3 different candy cane math ideas-counting, pattern grids, and a counting grid.
How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Finally, look at how to make this candy cane STEM activity.

Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Your child’s maze doesn’t have to be complicated, challenge them based on their age and ability.

They are learning critical skills for life even if they don’t go into a STEM field it is used in many real-life situations.

If you would rather use fake candy canes so you can create a maze that can be used without attracting pests and put away for next year grab a set of these.

You will need:

  • Candy canes
  • Cardboard
  • Marbles
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

First, determine the outside measurements of your maze and cut out a piece of cardboard accordingly.

I made mine 12×12 and I wouldn’t recommend going any smaller because you want to make sure that there is enough room to work with but you can go larger.

To make it look a little nicer I covered the bottom with a sheet of 12×12 vinyl I got at Dollar Tree, but you can use contact paper, construction paper, or paint it if you want.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Cut 1” tall strips of cardboard to make the sides so that your marble stays inside.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Hot glue the strips all the way around the outside to create a wall.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Depending on the age and ability of your child help them lay out a maze with their candy canes, you can leave them whole as well as break some to remove the curve or shorten them. The more variety the better.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Have them trace the path with their finger to make sure there is at least 1 path through the maze before gluing.

To create a candy cane maze that is more challenging and therefore fun you will want to create some trickier wrong turns, traps, and dead ends.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Once the design is laid out pick them up one at a time and run a little hot glue along the back, then press them back into position.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Add sticker dots in red and green to mark the starting line and finish line, you could also use a permanent marker.

How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: candy, candy cane, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, winter crafts, winter season

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