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Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

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Your kids will love this glue and watercolor pumpkin to include in a pumpkin unit study. Too, you can add this activity to my huge fall unit study.

Besides loving unit studies, I love watercolor as a medium for art.

I put the two together to give you a start for your own pumpkin unit study. 

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Watercolor is forgiving. And whether child or adult, you don’t need to be an artist to make wonderful images to display.

If you are hesitant but want to give it a try, then, today’s tutorial is the place to start.

This fall watercolor painting goes great with a pumpkin unit study.

And besides the simple tutorial I have some great ideas for you to create your own study.

Pumpkin Art

This dramatic pumpkin watercolor painting is great on its own as a simple art project.

One easy way to create contrast and drama in a simple watercolor picture is to make the outlines black and raised.

We do this with school glue colored with black craft paint.

The other way to make the watercolor stand out is to cover the entire page and leave no white space.

We are doing both of these today.

First, to make your own pumpkin unit study, always start with a couple of books that draw in your kids.

The Anatomy Series by Julia Rothman is great for so many studies.

They are worth the investment

Here is a beautiful page from Farm Anatomy to research the different varieties of squash.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

They make for great art inspiration as well.

For younger children Pumpkin Jack is a great read aloud, but also teaches about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

Hands-on Activities for a Pumpkin Unit Study

  • Make a pumpkin watercolor
  • Pumpkin Experiments
  • Taste pumpkin in different ways-fresh, canned, seeds, pie, muffins,etc..
  • Bake a pumpkin pie
  • Roast pumpkin seeds

  • Use pumpkin seeds as manipulatives for math.
  • Measure, weigh, and compare pumpkins.
  • Label the parts of a pumpkin-stem, ribs, pulp, tendrils
  • Visit a pumpkin patch and talk to the farmer.
  • Test the density of pumpkins and seeds

  • Draw the pumpkin life cycle
  • Write a poem about a pumpkin
  • Give pumpkin related journaling prompts
  • Make a list of questions for your child to research online or in books
  • Create a fall bucket list – great writing practice

In addition, have your child research about pumpkins. Look at these questions below.

Research Facts about Pumpkins

  • How many different things can be made from pumpkins?
  • What state produces the most pumpkins?
  • How long do pumpkins take to reach maturity?
  • What vitamins do pumpkins contain?

Finally, gather up all your items and enjoy your delicious pumpkin themed unit study.

Begin with this fun watercolor painting.

How to Do A Pumpkin Watercolor Painting

You will need:

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

You can create any pumpkin design you like- an entire patch, a side view of a large pumpkin, or a close up view of the top of a pumpkin.

Today, I’m giving you step by step directions for the top view.

Start by drawing your design in pencil until you like the general shape. 

I started with a stem.

Easy Fall Art

Then drew the ribs of the pumpkin starting from the stem and working my way out all the way to the edge of the page.

Keep the curve moving in the same direction all the way around.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Now we are going to create a dramatic black outline and give it some texture.

You want to start with a bottle of glue that is no more than ⅔ of the way full.

This is a great way to use up those partial bottles.

Add black paint and shake the glue and paint up. If need be use a craft stick to stir it a bit more.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once it is mixed well trace the drawing you made in pencil with the black paint, allow it to dry completely.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Once the glue is dry, lightly spritz the tray of watercolors as well as the entire page with water.

This is a trick I learned that helps the color spread better easier and allows you to layer color. This will create some dimension.

Next, mix orange watercolor and a little brown, black, or red with it.

This will make it a little darker than the rest of the pumpkin.

Go along each of the ribs with this darker color to create shading.

Make sure you do it on the same side of the ribs all the way around so it looks like the light is coming from one direction.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Fill in the rest of your pumpkin with color, adding water as needed.

Once the painting is dry add some more watercolor with less water to deepen the color.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Dry the remaining of your painting and it’s ready to share.

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

What do you think? Are you read to get started on a fall themed unit study?

Kids Fun Glue and Watercolor Fall Pumpkin Unit Study

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

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Today, I have 20 free homeschool science lapbooks to teach hands-on. Because homeschool lapbooks are perfect to pair with unit studies, most of the lapbooks include a unit study.

Too, science requires gathering quite of bit of data at times, but it also should be hands-on. It shouldn’t just be recording data or filling out lab journals.

So, while concentrating on one science topic, a hands-on learner can complete minibooks on each subtopic.

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

Most lapbooks will contain anywhere from 7 to 15 minibooks. Science lapbooks are no different.

You can determine if all the minibooks will be about one science topic or about different subtopics on the main theme.

Homeschool science lapbooks can be so fun to create because of the huge amount of information that may interests your children.

Lapbook Ideas for Science

For example, if you’re wanting to do a lapbook on one topic, here are a few ideas.

  • Look at your reference book and assign one minibook per chapter. Your child now has a quick overview of the topic.
  • However, if you want to dive deeper into one topic, then use the 5Ws – Who, what, when, where and why. This will give you a framework of minibooks and then build from those topics.
  • And if the science topic is about a famous scientist, then divide the minibooks by his or her time periods in life. Then focus more minibooks on what the scientist is known for.

In addition, decide whether you want letter size or legal size file folders. They both have their pros and cons.

While a legal size folder holds more, it’s also harder to store legal size folders for the long term.

Free Printable Lapbooks

The best thing about these lapbooks is that most of them have minibooks which contain some information or facts.

Whether you want your child to do all the research or use some of the premade minibooks, you decide how much time you have to spend on the free printable lapbooks.

Lastly, most of the science lapbooks are in color. And you don’t need an expensive printer to print them.

I still use my small Canon mobile printer.

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

Other Science Lapbooks

Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks

Lapbooks make great hands-on tools and you’ll love these fun lapbook ideas for science

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

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Today, I have three free Amazon rainforest lapbooks which go with our Amazon Rain Forest Unit Study And homeschool lapbooks make great tools for master learning about a unit study topic..

These lapbook about the Amazon Rainforest covers so many subtopics that each of your children can spend time on whatever topics interest them. Besides you can make many or one from the different minibooks.

Take your time putting together this huge lapbook because it has about 35 minibooks.

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Because lapbooks are interactive hands-on tools, you want to take several days to create it.

One tip is to create each minibook while you’re learning about the Amazon Rainforest.

In addition, I’ve created Amazon Rainforest covers that can be used on the outside of the lapbooks or your child can do his own art.

Each of my children were different. My then high school teen didn’t want much art on the outside cover.

However, my younger two kids at the time loved creating the outside of the lapbook.

How to Use the Rainforest Lapbook

Although some parents think the lapbook is a craftsy artsy project, it is far beyond that.

I think of a lapbook as a treasure trove of what interests the child. That can be used to teach your teach and to help him memorize important facts.

However, they’re are other ways to use lapbooks.

Use the lapbook to:

  • store nature things which interest your child
  • hold small paper games
  • illustrate art and drawings
  • showcase your child’s writing
  • keep math facts or rules that your want your child to know
  • contain maps of geographical areas

And because you don’t need a lot of supplies to create a beautiful lapbook each one can be unique.

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Too, the beauty of saving your lapbooks is that you can come back another year and add one more flap.

Then, add more minibooks. So, only fill the lapbook until your child’s interest has piqued.

Come back later that year or years later and add an extension of a file folder and create more minibooks.

30+ Free Minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest

For example, look at the minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest to give you ideas of topics to cover.

I have put them in several groupings so you can see the minibooks. But they are in no particular order.

  • Four things needed in a rainforest.
  • Five Kingdoms of Life.
  • Five Little Monkeys story props.
  • ABC’s of the rainforest.
  • ABC Storage pockets.
  • Animal and Plant cells.

And also remember they are use to for varying levels.

  • Bird pocket.
  • Chocolate.
  • Different colored rivers of the Amazon.
  • Food of the rainforest.
  • Herbivores carnivores omnivores.
  • Jaguars.
  • Jungle art.

I have minibooks for young children to learn the ABCS of the Amazon Rainforest to learning about scientist.

  • Layers of the rainforest older.
  • Layers of the rainforest younger.
  • Layers of the rainforest 4 tab older.
  • Life cycle of kapok tree.
  • Lungs of the world.
  • Photosynthesis.
  • Photosynthesis wheel rain forest.
  • Pioneer microbiologist and father of taxonomy.

:

Also, you can pull out one topic like chocolate or the tropical fruits and focus only on that.

  • Plant label.
  • Products of the rainforest.
  • Rainforest facts.
  • Rain forest measuring.
  • Rainforest opposites.
  • Rain Force plants.
  • Rain forest in danger.
  • Rainforest vocabulary younger.
  • Reptiles insects amphibians of the amazon.
  • Save the rainforest.
  • The Amazon.
  • The canopy a beautiful roof.
  • The rainforest where is it.
  • Water cycle.
  • Why do we need plants younger.

This Amazon Rainforest is a HUGE 108 page download and enough to create more than 3 lapbooks.

Other Amazon Rainforest Resources

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

You’ll love these other Amazon Rainforest unit study resources.

Whether your create one or many you have plenty of minibooks to choose from.

Rainforest Lapbooks

How to Get the Free Rain Forest Amazon Lapbook 108 Pages

Now, how to grab the free download where you can make as many as 3 lapbooks. This is a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

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Sometimes you just need a homeschool science materials checklist to see what your missing in your science supplies. Also, look at my page Homeschool Planner for more free homeschool planner printables.

Besides, part of learning how to homeschool is doing all the fun hands-on science.

However, more than once, I have been caught short at the house with some of the supplies we needed in our home to complete the activities.

And even though we have used laid out science curriculum too, I have learned a lot through the years regarding how to stock my kitchen and home.

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for your 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner by Tina Robertson

So, I have reduced some of the things we have used over and over, year after year and put them in this homeschool science materials checklist.

For example, we love doing science and have used 365 More Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials more than one time through the years because we love to pick activities which interests us.

In addition, we love books like Janice VanCleave’s Big Book of Science Experiments because you can easily obtain other materials not found at home.

Household Products for Science at Home

Now, depending on which area of science, like earth science, chemistry, physical science or life science, you will need to have a few exact materials for a branch of science you focus on.

For instance, we add specific things we need and use Homeschool Science Tools.

In addition, Homeschool Science Tools has just kits if you don’t want to use a full science curriuclum.

Look at their science kits here to see your options.

So this list is a list of general things you will want to stock your home with.

It’s kind of a given too that you will eventually want a microscope and slides, but I noticed year after year I have collected some of the same things in home.

Reducing materials I seem to use year after year into this checklist, I’m hoping to keep you organized.

And not do like us by having to put a fun activity on hold until we make a run to the store.

I hate when that happens.

Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

Also, I have a provided space on the free printable science material checklist so you can add unique items you’ll need for upcoming science lessons.

Too, another tip is to jot beside the product the total number of items you have. Sometimes I think I have more jars than I actually do.

This science checklist will help you to keep those items at home organized.

homeschool-science-materials-checklist-for-the-7-step-homeschool-planner-grab-your-free-copy-over-tinas-dynamic-homeschool-plus

This Homeschool Science Materials Checklist is part of the 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner and you can begin building your own homeschool planner below.

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for your 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner by Tina Robertson

Add Your Science Checklist to Your Homeschool Planner

Be sure to add this science checklist to your homeschool planner each year.

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

How to Get the Free Science Materials Checklist

Now, how to grab this form and 10 other free homeschool planner forms. This is a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for the 7 Step Homeschool Planner @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

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Choosing kindergarten science homeschool curriculum for energetic kids is challenging. Too, check out my other tips and activities on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curiculum should be fun.

Today, I’m sharing solid tips in how to choose science curriculum for your homeschooled kindergartner.

Some take a spiral approach and are very workbook driven while others include many hands-on lessons.

However, before I jump into sharing so many wonderful choices, you need to know the importance of balancing subjects.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

For example, as a seasoned homeschool mom with three grads I know the importance of focusing on the skill subjects first.

The skill subjects are also known as the three Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

How to Balance Kindergarten Homeschool Science with Skills Subjects

And here are three reasons why the skill subjects should stay in the forefront.

  • First, if a child can’t read well, he’ll struggle his whole life
  • Second, when a child does read well, he can study any subject or topic which delights him and
  • Third, math is needed lifelong and without a solid start in math, a child will struggle in science.

However, what some educators tout in the homeschool world is that it must be an either or choice.

Choose skill subjects or content subjects like science to focus on primarily in the younger grades.

Don’t get me wrong. There is some merit to that way of thinking.

Look at Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten: 260 Activities To Do With Your Child From Age 0 to 5 to show how playing and learning are essentially linked.

For instance, some moms of kindergartners can have an unrealistic view of what a learning day looks like for a kindergartner.

In addition, they also have an unrealistic view of how much time their children should spend homeschooling.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Although children are on different learning scales, here are some ways that kindergarten moms may not understand the learning process.

  • They want their kindergartener to write or worst yet write with a pencil.
  • Too, they think that a child should be reading at this age. It’s very normal for children to still be learning letter and blend sounds. Even children reading beginning chapter books is normal.
  • In addition, instead of embracing their energetic child, they think children should sit down for long periods of time to learn.

As you can see, there are a variety of skill levels.

Nevertheless, there are qualities which make homeschooling easier which a lot of young children share.

So, tap into those natural strengths to capitalize on for learning.

How to Match Science Curriculum with Learner

Look below at the strengths you want to tap into.

  • Most are very energetic and eager to learn.
  • Being wiggly and inquisitive, they can tolerate a variety of learning material that meets their needs for hands-on activities,
  • They move and wiggle but they’re paying attention.
  • Playing IS how children this age best learn. It should be hard to separate science fun from playing during the day.
  • And they’re learning with every breath they take.

Now that you have a glimpse of the big learning picture with kindergartners, I want you to choose kindergarten science curriculum meticulously.

Choose one which aligns with your child’s nature desire to learn.

Next, I don’t believe you have to make a choice between teaching science which is a content subject versus a skill subject. You can do both.
But you do need to know what is important to teach when your child is feeling overwhelmed or when life hands you a less than a desirable schedule to homeschool.
Sometimes, you can only teach the skill subjects.

But if you can teach science right along at the beginning it will make your child’s learning experience more enriching.

However, there is one more significant foundational point I want you to know.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides, I can’t help sharing with you points that have helped me succeed in homeschooling for 20+ years.

Two Approaches to Teach Homeschool Kindergarten Science

Thus, there are two ways to teach science at this age

  • One is where you take a beautiful science topic book or story and teach facts through finding easy hands-on activities to go along with the topic; and
  • the second way is using a laid-out curriculum which covers a multiple of topics like earth and science, animal science, plant science or human body.

The important point to remember is that science is not a subject a child can be behind in at this age.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides kindergarten science homeschool curriculum comes in a variety of options.

You want to create a love for science.

So hands-on activities should be abundant and writing about it should not be.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look below at solid science curriculum for kindergarten.

1. Nick and Tesla Series

This first one is Nick and Tesla series. This is a reference story like series more than curriculum.

And this is a perfect example of a fun series for a bit older child, but one that will feed the curiosity of a budding scientist.

If you have an eager science minded child, you can tweak an older resource to meet his needs.

One of the best parts is that you can do this with all your children.

Follow your child’s interests and include hands-on ideas as you child wants to do them.

2.Summer Beach from Sassafras Science Adventures.

Next, Summer Beach is a kindergarten full year program from the same company that makes the The Sassafras Science Adventures.

It includes a Summer’s Lab Teacher Guide, Summer’s Lab Student Lab Manual and a Summer’s Lab Reference Notes. You decide if you want to use the Student Lab Manual or the Reference notes.

Each unit has 4 lessons and is presented in a short story form along with questions for you to ask.

They use the idea of making a sandwich like learning science. You add different parts to build your science topic or sandwich for the week.

And you have two scheduling options.

3.The Sassafras Science Adventures.

Then, this curriculum can be used for multiple ages too. However, it is a curriculum if you want more laid out.

Next, is The Sassafras Science Adventures which is written for grades K to 5. And there are several books each based on a different topic.

There are components for creating a lapbook and it too is written in a story form.

As I mentioned each book is on a different topic.

There is Anatomy, Botany, Zoology, and Earth Science; there are other books in the series but they begin with first grade.

4.The Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library.

Also another fun one which has been around for a while is the Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library. Kids love this series anyway.

Use the science focused books for a fun science program and add in coloring, crafts, and drawing as you child wants to. It’s such a fun introduction to science.

5.The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books 

In addition, another fun keeper and great choice is the The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books.

I loved these too like the other books especially if you have younger children, it’s worth buying to use over and over again as each child comes along.

6. Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together

And although this next one says preschool, it’s for ages 3 to 5.

One of the best parts of Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together is not only presenting science in a story form, but it includes hands-on ideas with items you can find at home.

Another part is the parent’s section where they speak to you in how to use the curriculum as a guide.

7. Funschooling Level A for K- 2

Additionally, the funschooling books for Level A are K – 2. You can use them to cover a couple of years. depending on how much science you want to cover.

Funschooling is such a fun series of books. And they are quite a few choices for science. Remember too although they say K to 2, some books may be a bit more mature in terms of activities.

However, the content is solid and fun. Until your child can do some of the activities, you can try easier ones.

They have space, oceans and a nature study journal to name a few.

8. Be Naturally Curious

Also, Be Naturally Curious is another choice.

I’ve not used them but I have been eyeballing them. They have minicourses as they call them which are downloadable pdfs.

They take a story approach along with games, activities, nature and being outside.

If you lack the room for a ton of books this pdf guide would make a great resource and I love the topics hey have for grades K to 5. So you could use this with your older children too.

9. Christian Liberty Nature Readers

The Christian Liberty Nature Readers I’ve used and are beautiful and packed full of information for your eager learner.

I love the fact that I could just sit and read about spiders to my kids or whatever topic they were interested in and just ponder the beautiful creatures.

As mentioned, they’re readers. So if you want to add in some hands-on activities there is plenty of information to pull from.

I loved reading ahead and finding science activities like insect lore to go with our reading.

10. Science Unlocked

Another one we’re going to do soon is Science Unlocked.

Science Unlocked is everything that you need to teach your child an entire month’s worth of science in one box – complete with detailed teacher guide and student workbook.

The series Wonder is for K to 2. And they have topics like

11. Master Books

Too, Master Books is a curriculum which has a series named Let’s Talk Science.

Master Books has a beautiful Charlotte Mason approach to teaching science. We have not used it, but it has experiments, memory verses and activity pages.

12. The Good and The Beautiful

Furthermore, we’ve been using the other components of The Good and The Beautiful but not the science yet.

They have a science series they want to expand on it and named it Science for Little Hearts and Hands. The first course is for Preschool to 2nd and is Course Set—Fields and Flowers .

13. BookShark

Yet another wonderful science curriculum for kindergarten age is BookShark.

PreK is geared toward ages 4 – 5 and Level A is for ages 5 – 7.

BookShark uses beautiful literature with hands-on projects lined out in a full year program.

14. Christian Liberty

This next one is Christian Liberty which has a sweet 92 page book called The World God Made and is straight up and simple if you’re looking for a faith-based curriculum.

15. Nancy Larson Science

Another solid choice is the Nancy Larson Science programs which are for K to 5. As stated on her site, she believes a hands-on, cross-curricular approach wrapped in a scientific conversation is the best way to teach children.

16. Pandia Press

REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One is geared toward K/1 as it states up to 2nd grade. And it is a secular program which many homeschoolers like as well.

You can find REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One on Home Science Tools where they pair the program with a science kit.

Next, these two choices are some of my favorites we used.

17. Use Subscription Boxes

Something about getting a fun box of surprises every month just adds the excitement to learn science. We really love getting our science boxes.

Look at this Little Passports Science Jr. – Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 5-8.

And here is another one STEM Discovery Boxes – Monthly STEM Science Subscription Box for ages 7 to teen.

18. Use Topical Science Books.

This last choice is to use a topic-based reference science book and explore on your own. Because science should be fun, follow your child’s lead and choose beautifully illustrated books on one topic.

Add in hands-on projects and you have a very unique science curriculum. Add in a few science workbooks but sparingly. This will allow you to not have to create assignments.

Look at some of the choices for topical books.

Other Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum Tips