kindergarten

Creating Fun Red Eyed Tree Frog Manipulatives for Rain Forest Math

May 21, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Look how to make these fun red eyed tree frog manipulatives to use for rain forest math. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids

Besides, creating these adorable red eyed tree frogs can be used for a multitude of fun rain forest math activities.

This is a wonderful way to incorporate math with a matching theme into your rainforest unit study.

Also, you sneak in some science, fine motor skills, art, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

Creating Fun Red Eyed Tree Frog Manipulatives for Rain Forest Math

For example, if you are having your child create the frog manipulatives take a moment to research Amazon lily pads.

Rather than the typical small lily pad with a notch in the side, the Victoria Amazonica is the largest member of the water lily family.

And is a massive round shape with upturned edges which can reach up to 8 feet in width.

This is why we are going to create a perfectly round shape for our lily pads to go along with our red-eyed tree frogs.

Before jumping to some fun rain forest math, look at a few fun facts about red eye tree frogs.

7 Facts about Red Eyed Tree Frogs

They are nocturnal.
A red-eyed tree frog will change its skin color to blend in with surroundings.
The big red eyes are a defense mechanism.
Red eyed tree frogs are in the Hylidae family of frogs known as tree frogs.
They have bright leaf green bodies.
They are small, about 1 inch and have sticky pads on their toes and fingers.
The red-eyed tree frog has three eyelids.

9 Rain Forest Math Concepts

Next, look at some rain forest math ideas to add to your study for the day or your rainforest unit study.

1. Addition/Subtraction Rain Forest Math

The obvious way to use them for addition is to count them but there are many ways to mix it up to keep it from becoming boring.

Take the green circles you cut out and write numbers or use dots to represent the numbers then have your child place the matching number of button frogs on the lily pad.

Write simple addition or subtraction problems on the lily pads and have your child use the frogs as manipulatives to solve the problem.

Roll dice to get your two numbers and use them to create addition or subtraction problems.

2. One-to-One Correspondence Rain Forest Math

Your youngest learners will first need to learn this skill to help them grasp the value of objects. Have them point to each one as they count-1,2,3, etc.

3. Number Line

Grab a piece of blue paper (for your Amazon River of course), cut it out in a strip and write out your number line 1-10 or make it higher by taping strips end to end if you need to. This is yet another way to practice addition and subtraction.

Have them start their frog on a particular number and have them add/or subtract by another smaller number.

For older children, you could even make negative numbers on the left side of the number line.

4. Sorting

Have your child sort from

largest to smallest or small, medium, large, or even just small and large.

They can even simply sort by color shade if you have a mix of light and dark green buttons, sorting colors is an important early math skill.

5. Arrays

Use your button tree frogs for multiplication. One of the ways we can teach the concept of multiplication is through arrays. Arrays are simply an arrangement of evenly spaced columns and rows to demonstrate a number.

For example, show 2×3 by placing two rows and three columns of buttons to equal 6.

6. Fractions

Create fractions with the frogs.

Lay out 4 frogs and have your child show you what ½ or ¼ of the frogs are.

Write fractions on the lily pads and use the frogs to figure them out.

7. Skip Counting

Lay out as many frog manipulatives as you like and have your child skip by 2’s or any other number by pointing to the objects, this helps make it a concrete rather than an abstract process.

8. Number Chart

Use the frog manipulatives to move around on a 100’s chart to count, skip count, or find 1 less and 1 more.

9. Greater Than/Less Than

Draw an Inequality symbol on one of the lily pads and create problems by placing various amounts of frogs on either side.

Then, have your child turn the symbol to so that it is in the correct orientation.

Also, look at this list if you want to add a few rain forest books or resources to your study.

21 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Resources

Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.

Wildlife Animal Model Toy Red Eye Tree Frog Figure

It is a great way to expand the growth with children through physical science.

All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.

Over and Under the Rainforest

Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow!Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:

Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.

The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.

Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.

Wild Animal Jungle Sloth Toy Figurine

Sloth Toy Figurine

In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species. Some animals live high up in the trees, some crawl across the forest floor, and some tunnel underground, but they all depend on one another and the rain to survive. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet.

Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

This book introduces readers to the largest snake in the world: the anaconda. Readers learn about the life cycle, behavior, physical characteristics, and habitat of anacondas

Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

Expanding the popular collection of animal books in the Learn to Draw Series, Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals will teach kids how easy it is to draw a variety of exciting and exotic creatures from around the world. Each project starts with a basic shape and progresses with simple-to-follow steps to a finished realistic final colored artwork. While they’re learning, kids will also discover fun facts about each featured animal.

The Rainforest Grew All Around

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

While it covers more than just the rainforest this is a fabulous resource to have on your shelves. You will find plenty of great pictures and information on many animals that live there- crocodiles, harpy eagles, monkeys, tapir , sloths,Jaguarundi, and the food web.

Rainforest Glow-in-The-Dark Puzzle, Rainforest Animals, Birds, Plants and More

COLORFUL ARTWORK: Kids will love the colorful puzzle artwork showing the animals, plants, trees and birds that call the rainforest home. The storage box shows the completed puzzle artwork and is an ideal place to keep pieces safe and free from damage.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

Tells a story of a man who came to cut down a kapok tree and encounters many of the beautiful and exotic native creatures who make their home in the Amazon Rainforest.

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?! That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game. Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!

Rainforest Gummi Frogs Candy

How fun!

FRESH & FRUITY: Fruidles single-flavor gummies pack giant taste into one delicious flavor. After one bite of these fruity gummies, you'll taste the difference of giant fresh fruit flavors & a deliciously soft chew you won't find with other gummy candies.

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.

Where Is the Amazon?

Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike.

Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.

LEGO Creator Rainforest Animals

Features a frog, a fly and a parrot with articulated wings and tail, opening mouth and rotatable eyes 3-in-1 model: rebuilds into a chameleon or a tropical fish

Afternoon on the Amazon

Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

NatureI n a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

Explores the richness of the Amazon rainforest, how humans have damaged it, and efforts being taken to protect it. Clear text, vibrant photos, and helpful infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.

More Rainforest Activities for Kids

Finally, look how to make cute red-eyed tree frogs to use to teach rain forest math.

Rain Forest Math Red Eyed Tree Frog Manipulatives

You will need:

Green buttons in various sizes
Red cardstock/construction paper
Hole punch
Craft glue

Additional items for activities:

Dice
Blue construction paper
Pipe cleaners
Gallon zippered bag

Gather as many green buttons as you think you will need. For younger children start with 10 for simple math problems. Once you get going the process is quick and you can have dozens made in no time.

Hole punch red paper two times for each button you have.

Add a small slit down the center of each dot with a pen. You may find it easier to do this step after they are glued in place but either way is fine.

Add two dots of glue and attach the eyes.

Set aside to dry.

While the glue is drying on the eyes, trace a circle object about 3”-4” wide onto green construction paper to make lily pads. It’s up to you how many you cut but I recommend starting with 10. There are so many ways you can use these.

Now, once your frogs are dry you can use them for math for multiple ages from toddlers up to kids working on multiplication and fractions.

You could also grab these cute and colorful Amazon frogs to use as manipulatives if you wanted to skip making them and still use the additional items we create with them.

Pop all your supplies in a gallon ziploc bag to keep them together and then you also have a math pack that you can take on the go and practice with anywhere.

Waiting at the doctor’s office, or at a restaurant, or take them on a trip to the park for homeschool on a blanket.

12 Easy Pick Up And Go Homeschool Kindergarten History Curriculum

April 29, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have 12 pick up and go homeschool kindergarten history curriculum. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Teaching history to a young child can be daunting.

And sometimes we may not have a handle on what is and isn’t important to teach in kindergarten.

12 Easy Pick Up And Go Homeschool Kindergarten History Curriculum

Additionally, you want to understand what pick up and go means. It can mean different things for each person.

For me it means the resource gives me in a capsule the important parts to teach.

Day-to-day lesson plans are what some families thinks of pick up and go.

With the resources I’ve listed, you’ll have a chance at both of those approaches along with others.

First, you need to determine what is the best way for you to teach history to your kindergartner.

For example, kids this age do best by hands-on learning.

That lesson was a hard one for me to learn because I felt comfortable with worksheets.

3 Ways to Make Homeschool Kindergarten History Relatable

And was comfortable thinking that completing a worksheet equated with understanding. It does not as I learned.

Worksheets do not teach anything, but they can guide you as the educator.

For instance, worksheets can condense important parts into smaller parts, and you can use them to construct a lesson plan for the day.

Or you can use the worksheet question and answers to summarize important points from the curriculum.

However, beyond choosing homeschool kindergarten history curriculum it’s more important to make history relatable to your child.

Look at these 3 ways to make history relatable to your young child.

1. Use a story telling method.

Because young kids don’t really have a significant grasp of time like the past other than the day they were born, a story is a fun and relatable way to bring history to life.

For example, Story of the World uses a reader to tell the story.

The rest of the work in the activity guides can be saved for next year when a child can write.

However, the activities can guide you how to flesh out the topic.

Too, living books are some of the best stories.

The Geronimo Stilton series of books is about a scaredy mouse Geronimo who goes on many adventures through history.

He’s a timid single guy afraid of new adventures yet finds himself reluctantly traveling the globe with his friends and family solving mysteries and completing research for his next big story.

They bring history to life without too many details which can be distracting to young learners.

2. Do Hands-on Activities.

This next point is hard for new parents to accept. It was for me.

I didn’t have enough experience to know that hands-on activities makes learning stick.

True I was quite judgmental thinking crafts was fluff learning.

But when you know better you do better. My kids showed me the way.

When we did hands-on activities, points in history stuck.

Also, we would do coloring, lapbooks, and use these hands-on lap packs.

Next, is one of the most important ways although I didn’t fully appreciate it in the beginning.

3. Through play learning.

Play is how children use their imagination to connect information.

Simply, children are learning about the world around them when they engage in play.

Use a diorama like Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids to teach kids about the early pioneers, learn about Daniel Boone through creating an edible cabin, and learn the difference between myth and true happenings by making the lost city of Atlantis diorama.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Resources

Finally, look at some resources for teaching kindergarten homeschool history.

12 Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

12 History Curriculum for Kindergarten

You can get as much help as you need or as little with these resources. Sometimes we want lesson plans laid out and other times we want just a framework.

Story of the World

Available in paperback, this four-volume narrative world history tells the story of the entire globe, from the earliest nomadic humans all the way to the Persian Gulf war at the end of the twentieth century. It now includes the Revised Edition of Volume 4. Told in an entertaining, engaging style, The Story of the World uses the stories of women and men, countries and empires, rebels and rulers, peasants and presidents, to walk young readers through a continuous, chronological account of human events.

A Child's First Book of American History

This is America! And this is its glowing, epic story, from the days of the Viking expeditions to the birth of the Atomic age. Here are the explorers, the Indians, the settlers and fur trappers, the soldiers, the statesmen, the men and women who have shaped our country and its destiny. It is a continuous take of adventure, of wars, of industry and invention, of hardship and growth; it is an unparalleled tale of courage, high ideals, hard work--and a precious thing called Freedom.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Teacher Guide Around the World Part 1 - Homeschool Teacher's Guide

AROUND THE WORLD WITH PICTURE BOOKS PACK PART 2

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Early American History K-3rd - Homeschooling History Curriculum

Sure to ignite curiosity about our nation's history, this Early American History Through Literature study will take you and your K-3 homeschooling students through the first Indigenous people of the Americas, the Vikings discovery of America, the exploration, colonization, settlement, and establishment of the United States

Social Studies, New Edition - Grade K5

A simple and fun introduction to American history.

Photo Credit: store.homeschoolinthewoods.com

Hands-on History Lap-Paks

Each Lap-Pak contains projects on a topic for one complete lap book, as well as a text booklet, making this a complete topic study.

History Pockets: Native Americans, Grades 1-3

Bring history alive as students explore the fascinating past by making the interactive projects in History Pockets. Students store the projects in easy-to-make construction paper pockets
that are wonderful portfolios for assessment and display!

What's Inside History Pockets-Native Americans, Grades 1–3, contains nine memorable discovery pockets. The introduction pocket gives an overview of the tribes in North America that are featured. The other pockets focus on food, clothing, shelter, and family life of eight Native American tribes.

Who Was? and What Is? America Collection Boxed Set 25 books

Explore short biographies of historical figures so you can read aloud or if your child is already a fluent reader, he will short these engaging storeis about people and events.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition Coloring Book (Dover American History Coloring Books)

On April 30, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase Agreement between France and the United States was formally signed. President Thomas Jefferson paid the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte approximately 18 cents per square mile for a vast wilderness territory (more than 825,000 square miles) stretching from New Orleans to the Canadian border and west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The Purchase effectively doubled the size of the young United States.

180 Days of Social Studies: Grade K

Supplement your social studies curriculum with 180 days of daily practice! This essential classroom resource provides teachers with weekly social studies units that build students' content-area iteracy, and are easy to incorporate into the classroom. Students will analyze primary sources, answer text-dependent questions, and improve their grade-level social studies knowledge.

My Story K: My Family My Life

This is a unique kindergarten social studies course, introducing you to family and culture, what it is to be a good citizen, basic geography, and basic economics.

History Quest Study Guide Early Times Pre-History to 8th Century CE

History Quest Study Guide contains everything you need for a full year’s history curriculum for elementary-age children. Each weekly unit takes a chapter of History Quest: Early Times, the narrative history series, and turns it into a robust unit study with a week’s worth of engaging activities. Your student will gain a broad and deep understanding of early civilizations through readings, geography activities, discussions, writing assignments, coloring pages, crafts, and more. Also included throughout the curriculum are four weeks of warm and cozy ancient literature study, where parents and students snuggle up together to enjoy time-honored tales from four ancient civilizations across the world.

How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations

April 15, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing tried and true tips for how to determine the best beginner reading books for kindergarten while homeschooling. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Besides, reading is one of the most important subjects to teach well.

Teaching other subjects in kindergarten is important.

How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations

However, if a child doesn’t read well, he could struggle lifelong in all subjects.

Also, I have a free reading journal you can download below to help you track reading time.

As he grows and has interests in other subjects, like history or science, he may struggle with comprehension.

So, what we do in the beginning or while homeschooling kindergarten matters.

For example, beginner books for children should not only meet them where they’re at but be engaging and delightful.

3 Questions About Beginner Reading Books for Kindergarten

With that being said, look at these ways you can meet your child where he is in understanding phonics and growing in reading.

Some kindergarten aged children are ready for beginner chapter books or higher and others are still very much finding delight in repeated texts and phonics readers.

Being at either level is very much normal as well as anywhere in between.

Now, look at these 3 questions to see if your child needs more prereading help or if he is ready to tackle beginner chapter books.

1. How well does your child understand or master rhyming?

Rhyming is not just a fun childhood pastime, but learning to rhyme helps him to see patterns in reading.

After that when you point out the similarities in the word pattern, he learns to make other words quickly.

For example, if you print CAT on a card, then write FAT.

After you show him how the first letter is different, but the end is the same, he sees and hears the pattern.

This is an effective and simple way to have a strong foundation in reading.

Next, identify his knowledge of letter sounds.

2. How well does he know letter sounds?

That is more important than the shape of the letter or knowing the name of the letter.

While recognizing the shape of the letter is important, your child will need to grasp that it represents or stands for a sound.

Thereafter, you want to be sure of his print awareness.

3. What is his understanding of print concept?

For example, does he hold the book right way up, looks at the pictures and knows we read from left to right?

Even if he doesn’t understand his left from his right (even as adults we get confused) does he point with this finger or lead with his eyes and track left to right to read?

If you can answer yes to these prereading concepts, then barring any special needs he is ready for beginner reading books.

Additionally, if your child is still mastering some of the concepts listed above, then keep his reading diet steady with phonics readers and mixing in easy chapter books.

The books listed below will help him to not only reinforce basic reading concepts but challenge him to continue moving on in reading levels.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum And Crafts

Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten

A homeschooled kindergarten child’s reading diet should still be a mix of repeated texts or phonics readers and beginner readers.

This way your child’s basic reading skills continue to be strengthened while your child’s reading level is advancing.

Starfall Short-Vowel Pals 16 Decodable Phonics Books

These decodable primer books provide beginner readers with practice connecting letter sounds. Set of 16 Short-Vowel Pals: Zac and Cat Zac and the Hat Peg Helps Zac Peg's Egg Hen Mox Jogs Hop, Bend, Stomp Pop! Pop! Pop! Tin Man Sits Fix the Jet Fish and Me Bug in a Jug Get Up, Cub Gus and His Dog Peg and the Box Zig-Zag

Meg and Greg: A Duck in a Sock (Orca Two Read, 1)

Great books for parents to share with kids. Parents read then child reads.

A Duck in a Sock is the first book in the Orca Two Read series designed for shared reading
between a child learning to read and an experienced reader. Inside you'll find four stories that introduce one new phonogram (a letter or combination of letters that represent a sound) in each story: the ck, sh, ch and th phonograms. Each story builds on the previous ones by including words
with the phonograms already introduced. In addition, the series has special features to help a child with dyslexia or another language-based learning difficulty achieve reading success.

Usborne My First Phonics Reading Library Collection 12 Books Box Set

Usborne My First Phonics Reading Library Collection 12 Books Box Set (Phonics Readers) (WITH FREE AUDIO ONLINE)

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

From #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems!
Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! The Pigeon WILL be ready. Will YOU!

Bob Books - Set 1: Beginning Readers Box Set |

Many early reader books contain words that are too difficult for a child who has just learned the sounds of the alphabet. Not these books! With only four letter sounds in the first story (M, A, T, and S), children can read a whole book and their confidence grows. Kids love the stories and funny pictures, and can’t wait to read these books to everyone they know!

Biscuit Flies a Kite (My First I Can Read)

For fans of Clifford and Spot, welcome everybody’s favorite little yellow puppy, Biscuit, in an I Can Read adventure!

It seems like the perfect day to fly a kite, until—oh, no!—the wind begins to blow the kite away!

Join Biscuit, that sweet puppy, and his friend Puddles as they put their furry heads together to save the day. Woof woof! Bow wow!

The gentle and appealing Biscuit books are a wonderful first introduction to reading for little pups, and this My First I Can Read friendship tale is perfect for shared reading in a classroom or at home. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

25 Irresistible Books That Are Just the Right Level for Beginning Readers

Jumpstart reading success with this big collection of 25 motivating storybooks correlated with Guided Reading Level D. The books features simple text, decodable words, strong picture cues, and two to four lines of text per page to support readers with just a little experience under their belts. Children will laugh, learn, and build confidence with these funny books on their favorite topics—from dogs to dinosaurs, princesses to pizza! Includes a 4-page parent guide.

Apples and Apricots: The Letter A Book (AlphaBOX Alphabet Readers collection)

This is the first book in the highly acclaimed AlphaBOX Alphabet Readers collection – a gorgeously illustrated series that teaches each letter of the alphabet and its phonetic sound. With Apples and Apricots, young readers will explore the letter A with bright colours, adorable pictures and an arty challenge you can enjoy together

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)

Books in this boxed set include:The Cat in the HatOne Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue FishGreen Eggs and HamHop on PopFox in Socks Originally created by Dr. Seuss himself, Beginner Books are fun, funny, and easy to read.

Usborne Beginners History 10 Books Collection Box Set (Stone Age, Iron Age, Egyptians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Vikings, Castles & MORE!)

Great history set of books that an advanced kindergartener could tackle.

(Usborne Beginners Series) Usborne Beginners Science Collection Box Set (10 Books)

This box set includes: Living in Space, Planet Earth, Storms and Hurricanes, Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, The Solar System, Weather, Your Body, Sun, Moon and Stars and Astronomy.

However, I also have a way for you to track your reading time, or help your child track his time in 15 minute increments.

Free Reading Journal Tracking Reading Time by 15 Minute Increments

Free Reading Logs by tracking reading time in 15 minute increments.

How to Get the Free 7 page Reading Logs With Journal Cover

Now, how to grab the freebie. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list to get my emails.
2) Get your freebie instantly.
3) Last step. Look for my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following..

9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

February 17, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love these 9 fun facts about Jello and a playdough activity. Be sure to also check out my Edible Skin Project and Free Homeschool Human Body Unit Study that uses Jello as well.

Too, February 13th through 19th is National Jello Week.

So, I decided to pull out a favorite recipe of homemade playdough.

9 Fun Facts about Jello and Playdough Activity

And to give it some color and a wonderful scent I’m using Jello.

Also, I’m giving list of ways you can use it in your homeschool for learning.

You probably already know that playdough is an amazing tool for building up fine motor skills and strengthening the hand.

Shaping, rolling, pinching, forming, and flattening are great prewriting exercises and they are just loads of fun for kids.

But that is just one aspect of the benefits of playdough.

Homemade playdough is so easy to make and has a much better smell and texture than store bought.

This yummy scented version made with Jello is nontoxic and totally taste safe for little ones but I would try to keep them from eating much of it.

9 Jello Facts You May Not Have Known

There are 22 official JELLO Flavors.
The powdered mixture is made up of about 90% sugar.
Jello was served to immigrants at Ellis Island to welcome them with a yummy treat.
Some of the weird and not surprisingly unpopular flavors that they have tried are- tomato, celery, chocolate, and coffee.
Utah is the state that loves Jello the most. They consume more Jello than any other state.
Jello is 136 years old this year.
Strawberry is the most popular flavor.
There is a Jell-o museum in LeRoy, New York.
You can find a box of Jell-o in 3 out of 4 pantries in America.

Here are some great ways I have compiled to extend the playdough learning beyond exercising just their imagination and fine motor skills.

Math Jello Playdough Activities

Roll out small balls and have your child count them.

Use them as counters for addition and subtraction.

Practice for skip counting. Having a sensory activity for teaching often helps the information click in your child’s brain better.

You can have your child make 2d shapes to learn their names and how many sides and points they have.

But also 3d shapes like cubes, spheres, and cones as well.

Use a simple scale or balance to weigh different amounts of gelatin.
Roll out various snake shapes and measure with a ruler.

Literacy Craft Ideas Using Jello

Use playdough to roll out snake shapes and have your child use it to form upper- and lower-case letters for practice. Too, have them say they sound or tell you something that starts with that letter once they make it as well to reinforce what they are learning.
Roll out small balls and call out simple words for your child to spell, put out the matching number of playdough balls and have your child smash one flat with each letter they call out.
Use letter shaped beads or stamps to press out simple CVC words into rolled out dough for practice.

Science Ideas Using Jello Playdough

Let your child make the playdough with you and note how the ingredients transform and take on a different structure and states of matter when heat is applied.
Use playdough to create insects and labels like head, thorax, abdomen, wings, etc.

Make multiple colors of playdough and break it down into smaller pieces. Let your child explore color mixing by working the various colors together.
Press animals into playdough to create “fossils”.

More Playdough Activities

Roll out playdough and press random objects from around the house into playdough. See if your child can identify them from the mold it made.
Create “baked goods” from playdough and encourage your child to describe their creations to help build vocabulary and of course imagination.
Use playdough as a base for a sensory bin or tray.
Roll playdough flat and use a toothpick or craft stick to draw or write on it.
Easy Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity
Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map
Fun Selfie Salt Dough Gingerbread Kids Activity for Long Winter Nights

Finally, look how to make this playdough activity.

How to Make Jello Playdough

You will need:

1 cup of all-purpose flour
½ cup table salt
1 packet Jello – any flavor
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice

Place all ingredients in a large saucepan.

Place the pan over medium heat and stir often until mixture begins to pull away from the side of the pan, this usually only takes a few minutes.

Flip dough out onto a lightly floured surface and allow it to cool until it is comfortable to the touch.

Knead for a minute or two to continue mixing.

Once fully cooled your jello playdough is ready for all those fantastic ideas.

If you love this playdough activity, add cookie cutters, a rolling pin, and other items to extend the playdough activities and stretch your child’s imagination.

Kindergarten Paper Crafts and a Fun Tissue Paper Painting

January 31, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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Kindergarten paper crafts are not just fun but build fine motor skills. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Kindergarten is such a fun age to teach.

Like little sponges their minds are wide open and soak up all the knowledge that you and the world have to offer them.

It is exciting to introduce them to new art mediums, fresh techniques, and art styles.

Kindergarten Paper Crafts and a Fun Tissue Paper Painting

Watching a budding artist is one of the great joys of this homeschooling life we chose.

Letting them linger over something they are really enjoying and perhaps cutting short those things they don’t.

Simple kindergarten paper crafts are low prep, inexpensive, easy, and can be open ended for countless opportunities to use their imagination.

But first look at these fun must have art supplies.

Kindergarten Art Supplies

9 Must Have Tissue Paper Art Supplies for Kindergarten

Add these supplies to your craft list.

Crayola Ultimate Crayon Box Collection (152ct), Classic & Glitter Crayons

CRAYOLA CRAYON CADDY: Choose from 152 unique crayons, housed in a fun Crayon Storage Caddy.
PORTABLE CRAYON CADDY: Take this bulk crayon collection with you wherever you go with a unique crayon storage caddy that makes carrying your art supplies fun and easy.

Watercolor Paint Set

Various colors: Watercolor paint set, with 48 different bright and beautiful colors, very soluble in water, to meet your strong demand for color.

High Quality Brushes: This watercolor set contains a high quality refillable water brush and a high quality oil painting brush. You can use the brush to describe the details of your paintings.

Bleeding Tissue Assortment

PERFECT FOR ARTISTS: Hygloss bleeding art tissue paper is great for making backgrounds and much more.

ART IN THE CLASSROOM: Teachers love the versatility of bleed art tissue paper for a variety of creative and fun art projects that have texture and color.

GREAT FOR DIY CRAFTS: Crafters love using this bleed tissue paper to enhance their craft projects and exercise their own creativity.

24 Colors Small Block Polymer Clay Starter kit

Best Gift for Kids: Each block weight 0.39 oz (11g), Size: 1.5" x 0.7" x 0.2". Every one was wrapped in a plastic pouch, Total weight: 9.31 oz (264g). Get it to develop your kids imagination and Creativity.

Safety Material: Non-toxic, Eco-friendly, Brightly-Colored Polymer Clay. Strictly Complies with the ASTM D-4236 Standards and Requirements.

WikkiStix Sensory Fidget Toy, Arts and Crafts for Kids

Calming Sensory Fidget Toy: Soft And Pliable

Small Compact Tube With 24 Wikki Stix ! Convenient Take-Along Size For Those Moments Of "Down Time".

Easy And Fun To Use, Wikki Stix: Adhere With Just Fingertip Pressure To Most Smooth Surfaces. No Glue, No Paste, No Mess!

Tru-Ray Construction Paper

Heavyweight 100% vat-dyed sulphite paper is perfect for any arts and crafts project

Durable enough to take scoring, folding and curling without cracking and tearing

Superior fade resistance for brighter, longer-lasting projects

The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia

The entire history of the greatest works in painting, sculpture, and photography are included on this comprehensive and colourful tour through time.  From the first strokes of paint on prehistoric caves to contemporary street art in the 21st century, every artistic style and movement is explored and explained in stunning detail. Special features celebrate the lives of groundbreaking painters, sculptors, and photographers, from Dutch master Johannes Vermeer to photography pioneer Julia Margaret Cameron. Many best-loved pieces of art are showcased in iconic images. Marvel at Leonardo da Vinci's mysterious Mona Lisa, the most famous painted lady. March alongside China’s statues of the Terracotta Army, and gaze in awe at Barbara Hepworth's stunning Pelagos sculpture.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

If you want to do a crayon craft with tissue paper how can we leave out this book?

The Day the Crayons Quit

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Blue crayon needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. Black crayon wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Also, grab some of these other kindergarten homeschool curriculum and crafts ideas.

Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum And Crafts

Finally, look at how to make this tissue painting

For this art activity you can let your child completely free hand their “painting”.

Or encourage your child to make something related to what you are learning, like a rainbow for a weather unit.

How to Tissue Paint

You will need:

Tissue paper
Spray bottle with water
Art Canvas
Masking or painters tape

First, give your canvas a clean edge and make it look like it has been matted for a museum showing.

Tape off a border all the way around the edge with masking tap.

Be sure to press it firmly into the texture of the canvas all the way around.

Cut or tear the tissue paper into small pieces, the more variety of sizes and shapes you have for them the better.

Kids really enjoy tearing the paper up themselves.

Use the spray bottle to spritz canvas with water until it is soaked.

Have your child create their picture by placing the tissue paper onto the wet canvas to form it.

Simple shapes or patterns will obviously be the easiest for them to create.

Remind them to spray the canvas often to keep it wet while they work.

Once they have covered the canvas as much as they like, give it one final spray with the water bottle to soak it again.

Allow the water to dry completely.

Carefully peel off the tissue paper and admire the beautiful color that seeped out of the tissue paper to create their design.

Peel off the tape for a crisp white edge.