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homeschoolinginwinter

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

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

Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

December 8, 2023 | 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Northern Cardinal lapbook today. The cardinal is a fun colorful winter bird easy to study. Also, look for more lapbooks on my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning.

It’s easy to see why young and old fall in love with studying the Cardinal for nature.

Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

It’s such a beautiful and bright bird during winter and because it doesn’t migrate, it’s a great bird to study really at anytime.

Colorful Winter Bird Northern Cardinal

Here are some things you’ll love to enhance your unit study.

  • Grab this one page pdf with helpful information to study about the cardinal.
  • Grab this four page pdf with facts and information.
  • Northern Cardinal coloring page.
  • Upcycled Hanging Bird Feeder.
  • Life in a Nest.
  • Free printable cardinal craft.
  • Yarn wrapped cardinal.
  • Cardinal in the winter hand art.
  • Free bird nature study printables.
  • Step by step easy tutorial to draw a cardinal.
The Northern Cardinal bird is such a beautiful and bright bird during winter and because it doesn't migrate, it's a great bird to study really anytime. Click here to grab this free Northern Cardinal Bird Lapbook and Unit Study!

Free coloring page of a Northern Cardinal that would make a great cover for your lapbook or just for fun.

Northern Cardinal Lapbook

  • Black and white clip art to add to the outside flaps of your lapbook or to add to your notebooking page.
  • Craft – make a cardinal in a pine shadow box.
  • Northern Cardinal Field Guide.
  • Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder Craft.
  • Birds Printables. Bird communication 22 page pdf download.
Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study
Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

Also, we have been using this Beautiful Birds Unit Study. I know you’ll love it.

More Northern Cardinal Hands-on Learning Activities

  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • How to Make a Chalk Pastel Bird Nest Easy Drawing
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests
  • How to Paint a Cardinal Bird With Kids
Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

Finally, add some of these books to your reading list.

Books for Kids About Northern Cardinals

I lean toward living books first, then add in reference type books when assisting my kids to learn.

12 Northern Cardinal Bird Books and Resources For Children

Add a book or two to your unit study or to your learning day. Cardinals are fun to study anytime of the year.

Wild Bird Guide: Northern Cardinal

Packed with information, the writing is clear and direct and accessible to bird watchers at every level.

Backyard Birding for Kids

With bird facts, an identification guide, and how-to instructions, this is a perfect children’s introduction to bird-watching.

Albert

The morning begins like any other. Albert reaches out the window to check the weather. But from the moment a twig lands in the palm of his hand, life is never the same

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

One of my go tos for nature study.

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

Toy Bird Figures Kids

Because children's thinking is more visualized, the intuitive demonstration of the model can better help children construct in the brain. This birds playset can help children get a more direct understanding of real birds world and stimulate their interest in exploring nature.

Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves

One autumn evening, Little Redbird settled down for one last sleep before flying south for winter. As he slept, a strong gust of wind shook him from his cozy nest . . .

. . . Little Redbird hurts his wing and misses his chance to fly south for the winter. As he searches for a new home amongst the trees, he begins to realize that not all trees are fit for the winter cold. As more and more trees refuse him shelter, too preoccupied with their preparations for the frost, Little Redbird fears the worst. That is, until he comes across a friendly bunch of evergreens.

In the spirit of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves is a timeless story of kindness and why the fir, spruce, and juniper trees are evergreen all winter long. 

Backyard Birding Flashcards: 100 Common Birds

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds is now transformed into 100 easy-to-reference cards housed in one handsome pull-drawer gift box. Divided into one stack of 50 common Western and Eastern North American birds, and one stack of 50 common birds found across North America, each card features precise illustrations and text concerning habitat, behavior, and voice description necessary for easy identification.

Attracting & Feeding Cardinals

The vibrant red of the male Northern Cardinal is stunning any time of year—and nothing is more beautiful than the early spring duets of cardinals singing their hearts out. You love these beloved birds, and you want to see them visiting your backyard or garden. Professional naturalist and award-winning author Stan Tekiela teaches you all that you need to know about cardinals.

Cardinals (Backyard Bird Feeding Guides)

The vibrant red of the male Northern Cardinal is stunning any time of year. And nothing is more beautiful than the early spring duets of cardinals singing their hearts out.

Authentic Bird Sounds, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Chickadee

Kids and adults of all ages love these birds, and are captivated by their sounds. They also make great baby toys, and sensory toys for kids any age.

Includes 3 Realistically designed bird toys that produce authentic bird calls from the Cornell lab of ornithology archives of bird recordings.

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

The Burgess Bird Book for Children (1919) is a classic nature book by Thornton Burgess, who introduces young listeners to the subject of bird life by means of a series of interviews within a story. Peter Rabbit and Jenny Wren interview Slaty the Junco, Redwing the Blackbird, Melody the Wood Thrush, Spooky the Screech Owl, and many other common birds to learn about their appearance, their eating, mating and nesting habits, and their songs and calls. The text remains popular as an exceptional combination of information and entertainment.

Cardinals (Backyard Birds)

Whos that singing in the backyard? Its a cardinal! Find out where cardinals live, what they eat, and how to identify the birds and their eggs.

Minibooks Included in the Free Cardinal Lapbook

  • Pieces to glue on the front outside cover
  • Do Northern Cardinals Migrate in the Winter
  • Cardinal Facts
  • Seeds, Grains, and Legumes
  • What is the difference between Song and a Call?
  • Eggs
  • Chicks
  • Juveniles
  • Range and Habitat
  • Did You Know
  • About nest building
  • John James Audubon quote

How to Download the Lapbook

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The Nature Book Club is brought to you by these nature loving bloggers which are your co-hosts! Are you following them? If you don’t want to miss anything, be sure to follow each one.

The Northern Cardinal bird is such a beautiful and bright bird during winter and because it doesn't migrate, it's a great bird to study really anytime. Click here to grab this free Northern Cardinal Bird Lapbook and Unit Study!

Here are the co-hosts, their choices of books, and activities for the month.

Something 2 Offer
Birds, Nests, and Eggs Nest Scavenger Hunt

Hide The Chocolate
Those Darn Squirrels Fly South – Free online book club.

The Homeschool Scientist
Birds, Nests, and Eggs – Make a Suet Feeder

Forgetful Momma
Snowy Owls Snowy Owl Craft

Table Life Blog
A Nest is Noisy – Art Project.

Eva Varga
Ravens in Winter: Nature Study Activities and Lessons for Teens –  Winter Bird ID

Rainy Day Mum
Coming Home – Needle Felted Robin

6 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Lapbooks, Science, Science Based Tagged With: birds, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, lapbook, life science, nature study, The Nature Book Club Link Up, winter season

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

November 30, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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Welcome in those chilly winter temperatures with an indoor project, an easy mitten wreath that is perfect for preschoolers and kids through lower elementary. Also, look at my page Winter Season Unit Study and Free Lapbook, for more winter fun ideas.

When we think of winter, we think of winter animals, snow, ice, snowflakes, and of course, how we bundle up for the cold weather.

That brings to mind adorable little knitted mittens to cover tiny fingers.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

This is a slightly different take on the classic hand print craft.

However, it still makes a lovely keepsake when it is finished, and you can see through the years how much their little hands have grown.

Make this mitten wreath with your preschooler.

As you do, talk about winter weather and all the fun things they can still do while bundled up in hats, coats, mittens, and boots.

But in case just one mitten craft is not enough I have a list of 7 more creative and fun winter hat and mitten crafts.

Also, I have some interesting facts that you might not have known about finger-warming mittens.

4 Marvelous Facts About The Mitten

Grab a copy of The Mitten by Jan Brett to go along with your mitten craft, it is a sweet story that revolves around a mitten of course.

  1. The earliest mittens found are believed to date back to 1000 A.D. in Latvia, and mittens are still part of Latvian national costume today.
  2. Mittens are warmer than gloves because your fingers generate more heat when bundled together rather than individually.
  3. Surprisingly, mittens were very common in medieval Europe. But, since they were difficult to make, they were usually only worn by the wealthy for fashion. 
  4. Sources say that the word ‘mittens’ comes from ‘medietana’, which means “divided in the middle” in Vulgar Latin.
Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Next, look at some of these books about the winter season that I know you’ll love.

You’re sure to find one for a fun read aloud or just as literature.

26 Winter Books to Read to Kids and For Kids Who Love to Read

Add in a few books to make your winter unit study complete. Add books for all ages.

Winter Is Coming

Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter.

As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins.

Hanna's Cold Winter

Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living 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 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. 

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.

The Snow Day

A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow.

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.

Breadcrumbs

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen,"

Brave Irene: A Picture Book

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene.

Moominland Midwinter

Everyone knows the Moomins sleep through the winter. But this year, Moomintroll has woken up early.

So while the rest of the family slumber, he decides to visit his favorite summer haunts. But all he finds is this strange white stuff. Even the sun is gone! Moomintroll is angry: whoever Winter is, she has some nerve.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Blessed--or cursed--with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been seen as strange.

And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants

If Polar Bears Disappeared

The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals.

They can be Strong, like a walrus Tough, like a lemming Resilient, like an arctic fox.

But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear.

The Very, Very Far North

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making

The Longest Night

It is the longest night of the year, and the snow lies deep. All through the forest, animals long for dawn's warmth.

Strong and clever creatures boast that only they can bring back the sun. But the wind knows better.

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage

Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says.

The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig.

Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life.

Wolf in the Snow

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

The Snowflake Sisters

Crystal and Ivory snowflake take full advantage of this beautiful snowy evening in New York City as they travel to the park, fly through Time Square, journey past the Statue of Liberty, and more before coming in for their final landing of the day.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.

One Snowy Night (Percy the Park Keeper)

Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives.

But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.

Dog Driven

From the author of Ice Dogs comes a riveting adventure about a musher who sets out to prove her impaired vision won't hold her back from competing in a rigorous sled race through the Canadian wilderness. Perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy (Nature)

Forest animals, awakened by the birds' warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise.

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.

Here Comes Jack Frost

One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south.

When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!

Twelve Kinds of Ice

With the first ice—a skim on a sheep pail so thin it breaks when touched—one family’s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streambed, through sleeping orchards and beyond.

Blizzard

With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow.

Grandmother Winter

Grandmother Winter lives all alone with her snow-white flock of geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why?

To bring snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. To the woodland and all of its creatures, the arrival of winter is a gift.

Wild Child

Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed.

And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve.

Then, look at some more crafts about mittens.

7 Winter Hat and Mitten Crafts

  1. This type of hands-off art project is fun and especially nice for children who don’t like getting their hands too messy –Marble Painted Mitten Craft.
  2. These pompoms popping off the Kids Winter Hat Art Project With DIY Pom Poms are just too adorable.
  3. Turn a basic paper plate into an Easy Paper Plate Winter Hat Craft for Kids, or maybe a bunch of fun and colorful hats strung together to create a swag.
  4. The Symmetrical Mitten Craft for Preschoolers is a simple art lesson but also one in symmetry.
  5. This Winter Hat Color Sort is a great fine motor and color sorting activity that is loads of fun. I love inexpensive crafts and activities that are great for development.
  6. Make a Mitten-Inspired DIY Lacing Card to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
  7. I remember making scratch art years ago as a child, this Make  A Colorful Winter Hat Craft With Scratch Art feels so retro but fresh at the same time.
Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Finally, look at how to make this adorable mitten wreath craft.

Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Other than the tracing and cutting out the wreath form this is a very simple craft that even 2 and 3-year-olds can do mostly on their own.

Older children can even cut out the mittens for their younger siblings.

You will need:

  • A cute little hand to trace
  • 3-4 colors of construction paper
  • Markers or crayons
  • Small piece of yarn
  • White paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

First, trace your child’s hand four or five times on one piece of construction paper.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

You will want to trace around the thumb but all around the four fingers as one unit to make it look like a mitten.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Lay the page with traced mittens on top of a couple more sheets of colored construction paper.

And cut out the mittens all at once. This gives your child plenty to work with.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Trace a sturdy piece of cardboard with two circular objects.

Don’t make the wreath form to be wider than 2”- 3” so that the mitten will completely cover it.


Otherwise, they can make 2 or 3 rows of mittens to create a fuller wreath.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Cut out the cardboard wreath form.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Allow your child to paint white all over the wreath on one side, in case it peeks out from behind the mitten.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

While you’re waiting for the paint to dry, your child can decorate their mittens with markers, paint, or crayons.

Encourage them to create whatever designs they want all over them or you can just leave them plain.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Once the paint on the wreath form is dry give your child a glue stick and let them add their mittens around the wreath, help only as needed.

If you’d like, for the next step, they can paint on some “snow” with white paint in a paintbrush.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

Allow this paint to dry as well.

Flip over the wreath form and hot glue on a loop of yarn or twine for a hanger.

Don’t forget to add your child’s name and date to the back.

I can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to do this and was not sure where the project came from.

Welcome December Weather By Making an Easy Mitten Wreath With Kids

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

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