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letter sounds

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

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

Our letter L handprint craft today focuses on the lobster and is made from adorable little hands as well as footprints. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more learning and playing ideas.

Too, look at my free Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more ideas to include your older learners in an ocean themed study.

To teach letters, start with familiar objects.

Begin by associating letters with objects that preschoolers are familiar with, such as their names, favorite toys, or animals.

This helps them make meaningful connections and understand the purpose of letters.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Use multi-sensory activities and engage preschoolers in hands-on activities that involve different senses.

This could include tracing letters with their fingers, building letters with blocks, or creating letter crafts.

Incorporate letter songs and rhymes using catchy tunes and rhymes that focus on specific letters and their sounds.

Read aloud to preschoolers- it exposes them to a variety of letters and words.

Point out letters as you read and encourage preschoolers to identify them.

Provide opportunities for preschoolers to practice letter recognition through games and activities.

Also, writing letters by tracing letters in sand, using dry-erase boards, or writing letters with markers or crayons.

There is no reason why while you’re teaching the phonics of the letter L you can’t also include a science lesson for your child and teach them all about the lobster.

I have some wonderful facts and activities to help you do just that, enjoy a general letter L lesson or teach lobster facts and expand your child’s learning experience.

PRESCHOOL LOBSTER LESSON IDEAS

Start simple with a few facts and build on as your child indicates they understand and are ready for more.

Lobsters are crustaceans, invertebrate arthropods with a hard protective exoskeleton and no backbone.

They have two large pincher claws and 8 smaller walking legs, if they lose a claw they can grow a new one back.

Lobsters live in the mud at the bottom of the ocean and dine on bottom dwellers like clams and crabs.

They can grow to be 4 feet long and 40 lbs which is slightly larger than the average 4-year-old. Take out a measuring tape and demonstrate to your child what this looks like in comparison to their own body.

Finally, a really cool factoid is that lobsters have blue blood. Other invertebrates like octopuses, spiders, snails, crabs, and horseshoe crabs also have blue blood.

If you have an adventurous eater you can try a lobster dinner for a unique dining experience that fits right in with the lesson.

One of my favorite resources for any kind of nature activities is the series by Julia Rothman and there is a lovely spread on lobsters in the Ocean Anatomy book.

For fine motor skills and practice in following directions you can build a LEGO-ish lobster creation together to put on display.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Also, look at more letter L handprint crafts.

LETTER L HANDPRINT AND MORE CRAFT IDEAS

  • For starters here is a Free Uppercase L Printable that you can use in many ways throughout your letter L lessons as a template.
  • Lollipops not only make a great example for the letter L but also a sweet treat to reward learning throughout the week and reinforce the sound.
  • L is For Ladybug Hand Art
  • Turn those cute little hands into the cutest Lion Handprint paper craft.
  • A unique take on the letter but wonderful because it is an everyday item found in every home is L is for Lamp: A Letter of the Week Preschool Craft.
  • Sensory bins are always a big hit with toddlers and preschoolers, learn How to Make a Letter L Sensory Bin from L objects around the house.
  • How precious is this Lion Toilet Roll Craft, anything that uses basic craft items like this is always a winner in my book.
  • Here I show you How to Make Fluffy Lemonade Summer Slime With Kids
  • Make this Easy Lemonade Recipe For Kids as a delicious way to learn about the letter L together.
  • L is for laundry. This is a great time to teach your child about the basic life skills of sorting, how to add laundry soap, and maybe even some simple folding like towels or pairing socks together.

Next, look at more ideas and crafts to help your little learners learn the letters and their sounds.

LETTERS OF THE ALPHABET CRAFTS AND THEMES

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton

Finally, look at how to make this adorable lobster craft with precious hands and feet.

L IS FOR LOBSTER- LETTER L HANDPRINT CRAFT

You will need:

  • Craft paper
  • Red craft paint
  • Google eyes
  • Black marker for details
  • A cute little foot and hand

First, begin by painting the bottom of your child’s foot red.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Press carefully onto thick paper, be sure to push gently all over their foot or have them carefully stand and put pressure to get a good impression.

You want the toes pointed downward.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Next paint both hands red

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Press them down near the top of the paper above and on either side of the body like this.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Paint lines for crawling legs and to connect the body and “claws”

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Set aside and allow the paint to dry completely.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Once dry, use markers to finish off the details for your lobster like drawing lines to give it a hint of a tail.

Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint

Finally, glue on googly eyes to complete it.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, letter sounds, lobster, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

March 3, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We are going to start with a lovely round of letter Q crafts for preschoolers and end with a unique felt craft that I have put together for you. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Every queen needs a crown right?

We are going to fashion the easiest one from felt that will hold up nicely for daily playtime long after the lessons are over.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

This simple no sew felt crown is to represent Q is for queen and uses letter beads to help your become familiar with the letter through fun repetition.

Also, you want learning to be interactive and hands-on.

There are lots of fun ways to practice letters with your preschoolers including crafts, songs, games, and more.

LEARN THE ALPHABET AND LETTER Q

Letter Q and Alphabet Books & Resources

Add these fun books about the letter Q to your preschool or kindergarten day.

Quite Quirky With Q | A Silly Book For Children

Quite Quirky is a delightful watercolor picture book that introduces young readers to the whimsical world of Letter Q, who celebrates the joy of being quirky in many silly and entertaining ways. Through playful rhymes and enchanting illustrations, this book encourages children to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate their quirks.

The Queen's Question: The Letter Q Book

This is the seventeenth 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 The Queen’s Question, young readers will explore the letter Q with bright colors, adorable pictures and an arty challenge you can enjoy together. They will also encounter the important sight words WHAT, HAS, A, DOES, ON, IN and OF to help build their fluency and literacy along the journey. Charming, captivating and lots of fun, each AlphaBOX Alphabet Reader has a lovingly created twist. For example, all illustrations in this book were created using Q-for-Quill pens! Classroom and bedtime tested – guaranteed to enchant, educate and entertain your little learners.

Creature ABC

An elegant addition to any library, this deluxe alphabet book features 120 pages of Andrew Zuckerman's breathtaking wildlife photography. From alligator to zebra, each featured animal boasts two striking studio portraits against a clean white background, offering a unique up-close view of the animal kingdom. Readers can flip to a helpful glossary in the back for extra information. From the sleek beauty of a smiling hippo to the powerful majesty of a roaring lion, this gorgeous new book is both a stunning work of art and a ferociously fun way for young animal-lovers to learn their ABCs.

Animalia by Graeme Base

More than three million copies of Animalia have been sold around the world, making Graeme Base’s amazing alliterative alphabet book one of the most beloved titles of the past quarter century. To celebrate thirty years, Abrams is proud to publish a special anniversary edition. Animalia’s incredible imaginary world intrigues all readers. Each page includes hidden objects and ideas: start with “A is for An Armoured Armadillo Avoiding an Angry Alligator” and you’ll find aprons, ants, aces, Atom-brand anchovies, and much more. The rest of the alphabet is just as much fun!

Next, look at ways to teach the letter Q for preschoolers

HOW TO TEACH LETTERS TO PRESCHOOLERS: THE LETTER Q

Introduce the letter Q-Show your child the letter Q and say its name. Point out the different parts of the letter, such as the circle and the tail.

Start with a story– read a story to your child that features the letter Q. For example, you could read “The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog” or “Quacky Quack Goes the Duck.”

Practice writing the letter Q-Have your child practice writing the letter Q in the air, on paper, or on a whiteboard. You can also use playdough or clay to make the letter Q.

Point out the letter Q in everyday objects- Signs, books, and toys. You can also make a game of finding the letter Q on a walk or in a magazine.

Make a letter Q craft-Make a Q out of construction paper, pom-poms, or beads. Or make our Q for queen crown below.

Sing a letter Q song– For example, you could sing “The ABC Song” or “The Letter Q Song.”

Play a letter Q game-There are many different letter Q games that you can play with your child. For example, you could play a matching game with letter Q cards or a memory game with letter Q pictures.

Next, look at crafts for the letter Q.

LETTER Q CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

  • To build fine motor skills and reinforce familiarity with the letter Paint With Q Tips.
  • Here is a pretty extensive list of foods that start with Q to not only practice identifying and using the sound for Q but to also introduce your child to a variety of unique foods.
  • Simple craft feathers help add a sensory aspect to the Q is for Quail crafts.
  • Make a magazine clipping Q is for Quilt Project.
  • Not only does Quarter Stamping help your child become more familiar with the letter but I also introduces the coin as well.
  • Edible Q-Tips- Kinda gross but it works for a fun ewww kinda snack to go along with your Q study.
  • What starts with the letter Q sensory bin and other hands on ideas will make your letter of the week fun and memorable.
  • This Q is for Quack paper plate is just precious isn’t it?
  • Grab the free printable Q is for Queen Handprint Craft and Free Letter Q Worksheets.
  • Learn How to Make A Quill Pen that beginning writers can use to draw or even begin to form letters like Q while learning words that begin with it.
How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Additionally, look at more alphabet letter activities.

MORE LEARNING YOUR LETTERS ACTIVITIES

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton

Now, onto my tutorial for the Q is for Queen crown to top off your letter q crafts for preschoolers.

HOW TO MAKE A QUEENS CROWN- NO SEW FELT

You will need:

  • Craft felt
  • String
  • Jewel beads
  • Letter beads
  • Tacky glue
How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

First, measure your child’s head approximately where you would like the crown to sit with a piece of string.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Cut out two strips of felt about 3” tall, you may need a piece of a third to make it long enough depending on the size of your child’s head.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Use the string to measure out the length of felt that you need.

Lay one piece over top of the other and cut triangular points along the length.

Use letter beads to spell out QUEEN on the front of the crown, repeat each letter as you help your child place it.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Let your child lay their beads in whatever pattern they like around the crown as well as some additional Q letter beads, the more they see and handle the letter the more familiar with it they will become.

Use tacky glue to attach each bead to the felt, you could also use hot glue but this glue allows your child to have ownership in the craft from beginning to end.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Glue the ends of the crown together and allow all the glue to dry completely.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Once ready your child can wear it and practice finding the Q’s on their queen crown.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, letter sounds, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

January 23, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Do you want a fun way to teach the letter i pre-k level? Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Jump into this multi-sensory lesson that is part early literacy, part math, part science, and all fun just like preschool should be.

The “i” in “inch” makes a short “i” sound, like in the word ‘bit’ and ‘hit’.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Typically, it is recommended that you begin teaching your child the short vowel sounds first because they are easier for them to master.

Next, once your child can identify the numbers 1-12, they can be casually introduced to a ruler and the concepts of measurement. 

We are going to explain a ruler over all but for now just focus on measuring 1 inch.

MATH BOOKS FOR KIDS

Also, look at these math books to add to your reading day.

Books About Math Concepts Measuring, Counting

Add these fun books to help kids learn about standard and non-standard ways to learn about measurement.

Inch by Inch

A small green inchworm is proud of his skill at measuring anything—a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak. Then one day a nightingale threatens to eat him if he cannot measure his song. Children will enjoy the clever inchworm’s solution and delight in finding the tiny hero on every page.

Anno's Math Games 2

Pictures, puzzles, games, and simple activities introduce the mathematical concepts of counting, comparison, and measurement

Sir Cumference Series 12 Books Set

This Sir Cumference Series 12 Books Set includes: 1. Sir Cumference and the First Round Table 9781570911521 2. Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi 9781570911644 3. Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland 9781570911699 4. Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone 9781570916014 5. Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter 9780439025805 6. Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens 9781570917288 7. Sir Cumference and the Viking's Map 9781570917929 8. Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts Dessert 9781570911996 9. Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle 9781570917660 10. Sir Cumference and the Fracton Faire 9781570917721 11. Sir Cumference Gets Decima's Point 9781570918452 12. Sir Cumference and the 100 PerCent Goose Chase 9781623543211

The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat

Penrose, a cat with a knack for math, takes children on an adventurous tour of mathematical concepts from fractals to infinity.

A Place for Zero (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)

Join Zero on his math adventure as he discovers his place through multiplication. Zero is lonely in Digitaria. He can't play Addemup with the other numbers because he has nothing to add. All the other numbers seem to belong and they all have a place, but when zero discovers multiplication he thinks he might have a place there. He sets out to find King Multiplus who also is curious about what will happen when Zero gets thrown in the mix. With math and wordplay A Place for Zero is the perfect introduction to multiplication and number placement. A playful way to make math less intimidating and more fun to explore.

The Boy Who Loved Math- The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos

Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.

Equal Shmequal (Charlesbridge Math Adventures)

Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war, but they’ll need to use some everyday math to figure out how to make teams that are equal. As Mouse looks at various solutions she is not sure what it means to be equal. Nothing works until Mouse starts to think about it mathematically
and divides the teams based on weight. Wonderful illustrations capture
Mouse and her animal friends from whiskers to tails as they work to measure and equalize their teams based on size, weight, and effort. A
perfect addition to any STEM/STEAM collection that shows readers how
math can be used in everyday problem solving.

Mouse Count

Count the mice from 1 to 10 and back again as they outsmart a hungry snake! A companion to Mouse Paint and Mouse Shapes. This suspenseful story features bold collage art and a touch of mischief that's sure to appeal to preschoolers who have mastered counting from 1 to 10 and causing some mischief of their own.

Next, let’s wiggle into learning about the adorable inchworm with a little science lesson on the creature itself.

After you have introduced the letter ‘I’ and its sounds to your child you go further in by talking about things that start with the letter I like inch and inchworm of course.

If your child is not yet ready to write with a pencil and paper they can practice copying your I/i.

For instance they can use their finger to write in shaving cream, sand, finger paints, or even bubbles in the bathtub.

ALL ABOUT INCHWORMS

Inch worms are typically about 1 inch long, but the exact size depends on the species and how mature they are.

They are also called measuring worms or loopers and are the larvae of certain species of moths.

They are called inchworms because of their unique way of moving, which involves arching their body and then bringing their rear end forward to meet their front end. This creates a looping motion that gives them their name.

Inchworms have long, slender bodies that are typically green or brown in color. They have six pairs of legs, with the first three pairs located near the front of their body and the last three pairs located near the rear.

They also have a pair of prolegs, which are fleshy appendages that help them grip onto surfaces.

Inchworms eat a variety of plants, including leaves, flowers, and fruits. They can be a nuisance in gardens and orchards, as they can cause significant damage to plants.

When an inchworm is ready to pupate, it will spin a cocoon around itself. Inside the cocoon, the inchworm will transform into a moth. The moth will then emerge from the cocoon and fly away.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Make this adorable Inchworm Easy Paper Plate as you learn about its characteristics.

Let this video teach them How to Do an Inchworm For Kids to get some gross motor movements in for the day through simple yoga.

INTRODUCING INCHES

Introduce the concept of a ruler and measurement to a preschooler first.

Start with a simple ruler– because it is the one most used and seen I would start with a standard 12” ruler. Compare different rulers if you have them to show whether they are wood, plastic, pink or green the standard measurement stays the same.

Show your preschooler how to hold the ruler– The ruler should be held with the zero end at the bottom and the numbers increasing as you move up the ruler.

Explain the numbers and markings on the ruler- Tell them that each number and longer line represents an inch and there are 12 inches in a 1 foot ruler.

Each short line is showing part of an inch, have them count each of the 16 lines in an inch.

Don’t worry about them memorizing all of the measurement words, this is just a gentle introduction to measurement so that when you teach it more in depth later, they are already familiar with it.

Help your preschooler measure objects around the house- Choose objects that are different sizes and shapes.

MORE LETTER ACTIVITIES

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton

Now let’s focus on learning about an inch.

LETTER I PRE-K MEASURING INCHES IN A FUN WAY

You will need:

  • A ruler
  • Sturdy cardstock
  • Ink pad
  • Fine line pen
  • Scissors
Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

First, use the ruler to help your child draw a one inch line on sturdy paper, draw a line along both sides of the ruler.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Change the direction of the ruler and draw lines down both ends to create a 1 inch rectangle.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Cut it out of the paper and again demonstrate that what you made is 1 inch long.

Press your child’s finger into ink.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Then press it onto the paper a few times. Fill in the length of your little handmade 1 inch ruler.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Use a fine line marker to add eyes and antennae. Let dry for a few minutes until it no longer smears.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Challenge your child to go around the house and measure things that are shorter, longer, and equal to one inch.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

This is a great time to introduce these concepts to your child if they don’t already know them.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

For example, use toys, fruits, vegetables, manipulatives and cabinet knobs.

Everything can be used to identify things that are bigger or smaller than 1 inch.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, letter sounds, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

August 16, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You may have seen a flat handprint letter V for volcano. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more letter activities. And look at my page Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano.

But have you ever seen a standing model one? I can’t wait to show you how to make your own today.

When teaching letters to younger children, incorporating fun hands-on activities goes a long way in helping them remember what they have learned.

This one is inexpensive and easier than you might think.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

You can make a handprint volcano model to help your child identify the different parts of the volcano.

Also, use it as an art project and for a neat keepsake.

But don’t stop there with just one activity.

Check out my volcano facts and activity ideas to create a simple study for your child while they learn about V with a science theme.

There are volcanoes all over the world, and they come in all different shapes and sizes.

Some volcanoes are tall and pointy, while others are short and wide.

Some volcanoes are covered in snow and ice, while others are surrounded by lush forests.

Kids love to learn about the powerful volcanoes and there is so much to learn about them, no matter what they look like, volcanoes are amazing natural wonders. 

Books for Kids About Volcanoes

First, look at some of these volcano books.

12 Volcano Books & Resources

Add one or two of these books to learn about volcanoes and add some hands-on ideas to learn about the types of volcanoes.

Volcanoes

Did you know there are four main types of volcanoes? Or that volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or extinct? The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is an extinct volcano. It’s about 40.5 million years old!

Birth Of an Island

Simple explanation of how an island is formed. B/ W sketch illustrations.

R&R Games The Table is Lava Family Game

As Dawn breaks, mount kahlualualuau is spewing its fiery lava down onto meepleville. The natives are frantically trying to escape the rivers of lava and remain on safe ground. Whoever’s tribe survives the eruption with the most Meeples shall be the winner!

Volcano: Eruption and Healing of Mt. St Helen's

In this extraordinary photographic essay, Patricia Lauber details the Mount St. Helens eruption and the years following in Volcano: Eruption and Healing of Mt. St. Helen's.Through this clear accurate account, readers of all ages will share the awe of the scientists who witnessed both the power of the volcano and the resiliency of life.

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.

All About Volcanoes (A True Book: Natural Disasters) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Conditions on Earth are becoming more and more extreme and kids want to learn about it!

Is it true that, at any given time, about 20 volcanoes are erupting somewhere on Earth? Yes! Sometimes volcanoes erupt with a big, dangerous bang. Other times they spit out lava so slowly that you could walk faster than it flows.

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World

‘[An] irresistible account of a child’s imaginary 8,000-mile journey through the earth to discover what’s inside. Facts about the composition of the earth are conveyed painlessly and memorably.’ —SLJ. ‘An exciting adventure. . . . Illustrations [by Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont] explode with color and action.’ —CS.

Volcanoes! (National Geographic Readers)

The cool story of volcanoes will intrigue kids and adults alike. Hot melted rock from the middle of our planet forces its way up through cracks in the Earth’s crusts, exploding violently and sometimes unexpectedly in volcanic fury that can terrorize populations for months, even years.

National Geographic Readers: Erupt! 100 Fun Facts About Volcanoes (L3)

Kids will burst with excitement as they learn all about the science and wonder of volcanoes in this new National Geographic Kids Reader.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Ultimate Volcano Kit – Erupting Volcano Science

UNFORGETTABLE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS – This is a great hands-on experiment kit for any science fair; the updated mold and instructions make it easy to assemble a sturdy volcano form and realistic paint colors give the volcano a lifelike look.

Natural and Earth Science Educational Flash Card

This set of 48 cards features a colorful illustration on one side and informational facts on the other side.

The Magic School Bus: Blasting off with Erupting Volcanoes

MIX YOUR OWN LAVA: Use the included mixture to form your own “lava” and experiment with explosions by making your own volcano erupt!

Volcano Facts

  • Volcanoes are like big mountains, but they’re special because they have a secret inside. Deep down, volcanoes are filled with hot, melted rock called magma.
  • Sometimes, the magma gets too hot and it has to find a way to escape. It bursts out of the top of the volcano and flows down the sides, just like when you squeeze toothpaste out of a tube and it has to come out and flow over.
  • When magma comes out of a volcano, it’s called lava. Lava is really hot, so it can be dangerous. It can burn things and even destroy houses. But volcanoes can also be beautiful. When lava flows out at night, it can look just like a river of fire.
  • Volcanoes can also make loud noises and sometimes they even shake the ground. That’s because when magma comes out of the volcano, it can create a lot of pressure. The pressure can cause the ground to shake and make a loud boom.
How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Volcanoes are a part of nature, and they’re not always dangerous.

In fact, they can even be helpful. The lava from volcanoes can make new land, and it also helps to fertilize the soil.

Letter V For Volcano Activities

  • Practice pre-writing skills by giving your child a couple of craft sticks and teaching them to form it into the letter ‘V’.
How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Of course reading a great science book about Volcanoes like Gail Gibbons’ books is a wonderful activity for developing language skills, listening skills, and learning science facts

Take some of the ideas from my Celebrate National Vinegar Day With A Hands-on Study of Volcanoes and create your own mini unit perfect for a younger child.

Recreate this Volcano Blow Art page at home for a unique project that turns out different every time you do it

Watch Volcanoes for Kids| How Volcanoes Work as an entertaining way to teach volcano facts.

Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

We are going to create a volcano handprint craft that is out of the ordinary and will really capture your child’s imagination.

 Once they make it, they can continue to enjoy it by using it alongside their dinosaur toys, as a display on the shelf, or use it to create a larger scene from craft foam.

You will need:

  • Craft foam in assorted colors
  • Craft paint- red, yellow, and/or orange
  • Hot glue gun/glue sticks
  • Little willing hands
How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

First, twist brown craft foam into a funnel shape.

It needs to be narrow on one end and wide at the other, overlapping it about ¼”

Run hot glue down the inside seam and hold in place until it hardens.

Be sure you leave the opening at the top about 1 ½” in diameter so your ‘lava’ will fit inside.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Use scissors to trim the top and bottom off to make it straighter.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Trace a small hand onto at least two colors of craft foam, like red and orange.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Cut the handprints out.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Glue the bottom of the hands inside the volcano so it looks like lava spewing out the top.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Secure the base of the volcano on a square of green craft foam to help it stay up, use hot glue and hold it in place until set.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

To really give it a flowing colorful effect and some texture you can also drip some paint down the volcano as well to create lava flow rather than just explosion.

How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, earth science, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, kindergarten, letter sounds, phonics, volcano

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

January 14, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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X is for X Ray craft and this is a wonderful way to introduce a doctor’s office, doctors, hospitals and other workers in the medical field. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

And introduce your preschooler to concepts like X-rays and what to expect if they ever need one.

It lends itself nicely to many subjects and subtopics to create a rich and well-balanced unit for preschoolers.

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

I have found that many children already begin preschool lessons identifying this letter right off the bat from X marks the spot in books and TV shows.

So, your focus can just be heavy on the fun theme and more of a review of the letter itself.

There are no shortage of ideas around the x-ray theme and you can keep it simple or expand on it as much as you like.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

  • Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
  • Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
  • Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study
  • How To Make An Alphabet Teeth Cleaning Activity | 5 Preschool Letter T Crafts
  • Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
  • Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study
  • Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
  • W Is For Winter Craft Easy Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study
  • Alphabet Letter N Is For Nest Handprint & Fun Nests Preschool Craft
  • B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study
  • X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Language Arts Focus Day 1

I try not to incorporate much writing in preschool.

But in my opinion, as x is so easily identifiable by young children it becomes a somewhat easy one to recreate.

Let your child practice making Xs with crayons on scrap paper.

Letter/Sound Recognition- X is a fun one because it is so easy to make and can be practiced with any kind of lines, even your arms.

Practice making Xs with your arms and repeating the sound it makes together.

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Book- X-Ray Me! Is a cute board book showing a wonderful example of X-rays, inside the human body.

It helps create a simple connection between concepts like the skull and skeleton.

Craft/Activity- This Preschool Alphabet X-Ray Game is just darling! I was so excited when I found it for you.

It goes along perfectly with our theme and can be used as a learning tool as well as part of their dramatic play (which is still good for social-emotional learning)

Song/Fingerplay- Do You Know The X-Ray Man? (Tune of Do you know the muffin man?)

Snack- Ease into your unit and use whatever stick-shaped snack foods you have on hand to practice making X’s .

And enjoy them as a treat. Use pretzel sticks, carrot or celery sticks, breadsticks, line raisins up in an X shape, cut-out strips of tortillas and have them create X’s. No need for special ingredients.

Science Focus Day 2

X is for x-ray is the perfect setup for an all-about-my-body study.

Children are fascinated with skeletons and the fact that they are inside their skin giving everything its shape and protecting more delicate organs.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Create Touch & Feel Letter X for your child to practice. Too, use it as a review of letters he is already familiar with.

Add to it as you cover each letter in the alphabet and you will have a full set in no time.

This type of multi-sensory activity is phenomenal for letter recognition.

Book- Andy’s X-Ray talks about what happens when a bone breaks, who takes care of it, and how it is taken care of.

Craft/Activity- Grab an empty roll from recycling and create this Toilet Paper Roll X-Ray Fish Craft.

Song/Fingerplay- I like to throw in a Jack Hartmann Letter X song every time because it is just good stuff for learning letter sounds, recognition, and teaching words that begin with the letter.

His songs are always danceable, catchy, and repetitive fun.

Snack- Here are ideas for 5 snacks that start with the letter x to choose from.

Math Focus Day 3

What is your preschooler learning for math? Recognizing and applying numbers? Basic addition and subtraction? More or fewer? Start there with simple activities and build on those skills as they learn.

Letter/Sound Recognition-  This X is for X-Ray activity is low prep but high impact and reuses items that we are using for other activities in a different way so you get the most bang for your buck and time.

Book- Check out X is for X-Ray Fish that will give your child a whole new look on x-ray images and a few other words that start with X.

Craft/Activity- X-Ray Math.

For this activity, you only need a black sheet of construction paper, a white crayon, a handful of cotton swabs, and a couple of dice.

Make a + and = sign on one side and a – and = sign on the other with a white crayon leaving plenty of space for cotton swabs.

Have your child roll two dice and work on one side at a time using the cotton swab bones as counters/manipulatives.

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Song/Fingerplay- Where is X ? (Tune of Thumbkin)

Where is X? Where is X?
Here I am. Here I am. (make an x with pointer fingers)
How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you. (wiggle fingers)
Run away. Run away. (hide fingers behind the back)

Snack- Reinforce learning about different X sounds with this How to Make a Musical Xylophone Snack in Five Minutes! Not only is it cute but healthy too.

History/Geography Focus Day 4

For social studies learn about doctors, nurses, and even specialists like surgeons and x-ray technicians.

Grab a set of these true-life X-rays for dramatic play and learning.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Make an X-ray with those sweet tiny hands and forearms painted white and demonstrate the shape uniquely.

Book- Going To The Doctor is a great opportunity to talk about the real-world experience of visiting a doctor and what to expect.

Even though at this age your child is familiar with doctor visits you can go a little more in-depth about what happens there, what tools they use (including an x-ray machine), and the names of the different people there- receptionist, doctor, nurse, etc.

Craft/Activity-Put together the items for this easy peasy X-Ray Playdough to teach simple bones and where they are located in the body.

Song/Fingerplay- The Be a Doctor Song is just right for today’s focus on doctors and is fun to move to.

Snack- Here is a Berenstain Bears Go to The Doctor Unit Study Snack plus a whole list of more fun doctor-themed snack ideas that you could use to fit perfectly in with the theme

X is for X Ray Craft Books & Resources for Preschoolers

Have fun with your preschool theme X is for x-ray and grab some of these resources.

True to Life Human X-Rays

Hold these life-size human x-rays up to the light or use them on a light table (sold separately) and see details of a real skeleton. Arrange them together to reproduce the entire body of a 5' Adult.

X-Ray Me!: Look Inside Your Body

“X-ray” the inside of your body from head to toe with this irresistible, interactive, large-format board book!

Two die-cut handles allow readers to hold the book up to their bodies and visualize various body parts and organs—including bones, the brain, lungs, heart, and many more. This unique book is perfect for sharing with friends and sharing in the classroom!

The bright, bold illustrations are clearly labeled and offer an introduction to the way the body works. The unique format encourages interaction, both in the classroom and at home. A great choice for learning together. X-Ray Me! features ten images of what’s inside your body and includes basic information about organs, systems, and your skeleton.

Andy's X-ray: Mediwonderland

Find out what happens when Andy isn’t careful whilst cycling and ends up in the hospital with a broken leg. Andy’s X-ray is a book in a series of children’s books designed to make medical procedures less frightening by presenting them through enjoyable stories with brightly colored illustrations. The evolving series covers common medical procedures from minor ones like blood tests to serious ones such as major surgery and chemotherapy. Inspiration to write it came from my own experience with a sick young child and being unable to find anything to help make the procedures less daunting or answer all the “how” and “why” questions. Happily, after two surgeries and a year in and out of hospital, my daughter is now in remission.I hope these books can help many children and their families all over the world.

X is for X-Ray Fish (The Animal Alphabet Library)

Introduce your little one to the exciting lives of x-ray fishes! This gorgeously illustrated children’s book teaches kids x-ray fish-related first words beginning with the letter X.Explore with x-ray fishes! The friendly, read-aloud text and exciting illustrations will capture the attention of young nature-lovers in no time. Babies and toddlers will love learning new words about x-ray fishes while practicing their X letter sound. This baby book is ideal for promoting early learning and language development.X is for xylophone! Did you know that x-ray fishes live in rivers in South America? Packed with bright pictures and short text, this engaging animal book provides curious kids with lots to talk about and look at!

Going to the Doctor: A Toddler Prep Book

A simple and effective approach to preparing your child for a visit to the doctor Going to the doctor can be stressful for anyone – especially young children
who don’t know what to expect. Help your little one learn what they’ll actually see, hear, and experience with Going to the Doctor, a Toddler Prep Book featuring actual photos and simple, easy-to-understand language.

Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body

Join the Cat in the Hat, Sally and Dick for a ride through the human body where they visit the right and left sides of the brain, meet the Feletons from far off Fadin (when they stand in the sun you can see through their skin), scuba dive through the blood system, follow food and water through the digestive tract, and a whole lot more! Perfect for readers who are curious about the body and for any kid who loves learning and science.Featuring beloved characters from Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat, the Learning Library are unjacketed hardcover picture books that explore a range of nonfiction topics about the world we live in and include an index, glossary, and suggestions for further reading.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Today’s craft incorporates a surprise reveal of an x-ray as well as the letter X, naturally building letter recognition into a nifty activity.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Create a very easy x-ray-themed letter writing tray by placing a piece of white paper in the bottom of a shallow container.

Cover with a very thin layer of black sand or dyed rice, or I used these tiny little black aquarium pebbles for the child to run their finger through to practice.

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Book-  Classic Dr. Seuss, Inside Your Outside and learn all about the insides and outsides bout the amazing human body.

Craft/Activity- Crayon Resist Skeleton- See Below for instructions

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Song/Fingerplay-  This version of the  Letter X Song is definitely a dance-worthy song and teaches X is a consonant, the sound, and lots of words that make the x sound, in the beginning, middle, and ending sound.

While this is a trickier concept to teach it doesn’t hurt to introduce it to your child.

Snack-What an adorable way to finish off your unit and (possibly) get your child to eat their veggies.

Look at this X Is for X-citing X-ray Skeleton made of fresh sliced veggies.

X is for X Ray Craft Crayon Resist Skeleton

You will need:

  • Cardstock/watercolor paper
  • White crayon
  • Black watercolor paint
  • Paintbrush
  • A cup of water
X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

First, use a white crayon to draw a simple skeleton shape on a piece of white paper. If it helps you can very lightly trace one first with a pencil.

X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton

Make an upper and lowercase x in the corner as well to reinforce the letter knowledge.

Next. set your child up with watercolor paint, a paintbrush, and a clean cup of water.

Have your child cover the entire page in black watercolor to create a look like that of an x-ray.

Allow it to dry.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Teach Homeschool Preschool Tagged With: homeschool preschool, homeschoolreading, human body, human body crafts, letter sounds, phonics, preschool, preschool skills, reading

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