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Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

December 8, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free 4-week Minn of the Mississippi unit study for kids. Look at these other Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas and topics for hands-on learning.

I can’t wait to share this free 4-week Minn of the Mississippi unit study with you.

It is full of wonderful geography, science, language arts and more.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

This children’s book by Holling C. Holling follows the journey of a snapping turtle named Minn as she makes her way down the Mississippi River.

First, Minn’s journey starts at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Lake Itasca, Minnesota.

Then, her travels continue onto the Gulf of Mexico and she is eventually set free in Bayou Barataria near New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Mississippi River has the third largest drainage basin in the world, exceeded in size only by the watersheds of the Amazon and Congo Rivers.

It drains 41 percent of the 48 contiguous states of the United States.

Another point is that it allows for a great unit study that covers geography like map work and science topics such as animal study, environments like the river basin, ecology, and of course plenty of opportunity for language arts activities. 

Too, you can easily use it as inspiration for art lessons as well.

Also, the book is recommended for ages 8-12 but I think it is very adaptable for a little younger or a little older with a few adjustments.

Living books are still a fantastic resource for your middle school kid, don’t exclude that age just yet.

First, you’ll need to grab your own copy.

Minn of the Mississippi

The book teaches geography, history, and earth sciences through an engaging story.

Minn of the Mississippi

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream.

Then, look at these math and language arts activities.

MATH & LANGUAGE ARTS MINN OF THE MISSISSIPPI UNIT STUDY WEEK 1

Next, this language arts activity is naturally built into the unit, it is simply to read aloud or have your child read the book independently.

Let’s work on print or cursive writing, wherever your child is and practice writing lines from the book.

Additionally, let your child choose a few sentences and use it as copywork.

In addition, review those vocabulary words!

It takes approximately 25 years for the story of Minn from the headwaters to the bayou in a Louisiana swamp.

 For younger children, talk about seasons, how many days in a week, month, year? Weeks in a year, etc…

Have your child look up the definition and copy it down for each of the following vocabulary words below.

  • Suspense
  • Rapids
  • Shimmering
  • Shallow
  • Deserted
  • Have students use the scale on a map to measure distances between key locations along the river. For example, calculate the distance between cities like Minneapolis and New Orleans.
  • For your young learners, have them keep a tally sheet of animals found along Minn’s journey.
  • Learn about speed, rate and time. Look at this activity Exploring a Stream’s Flow Rate. Discuss how rivers can have different flow speeds.
  • Here is an easy activity for learning about water volume.
  • 31-Page Free Lakes & Rivers Vocabulary Copywork

SCIENCE MINN OF THE MISSISSIPPI UNIT STUDY WEEK 2

Play Professor Noggins Reptiles and Amphibians, this game is amazing for families to play together as each card offers questions of varying difficulties.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Learn more about the Mississippi River by building a river model that includes characteristics unique to the mighty Mississippi.

This activity can be done over the course of a day or the whole week.

Have your child choose a river creature, like one mentioned in the book and research it. They can show you what they have learned via paper, or a diorama like this one about the Everglades.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Create a reusable felt food pyramid that can be pulled out and used to demonstrate the food chain in any habitat. For this one we will focus on river creatures. See below for the full instructions.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Food chain pyramids are five levels, known as trophic levels.  

SCIENCE WEEK 2

  • Producers: First level, at the bottom which includes pond plants and trees that drop their leaves that break down into the water. For example, trees, lily pads, and underwater plants.
  • Primary consumers:Second level from the bottom is made up of herbivores that eat mainly plants. River primary consumers are freshwater crabs, snails, and insects.
  • Secondary consumers: The third level from the bottom is  carnivores that eat herbivores, in our case frogs, fish, snakes, turtles.
  • Tertiary consumers: The fourth level up, made up of carnivores that eat other carnivores-raccoons and river otters.
  • Quaternary consumers: The fifth and final level at the top is made up of apex predators with no natural predators. For example this includes large predatory fish, alligators, and large birds like Herons.
  • Lewis & Clark – Mighty Mississippi book & Sediment Activity
  • Explore a snapping turtles diet
  • Understand how locks works. Watch this cool time lapse video.
  • Watch Snapping Turtles: Everything You Need to Know to see a real snapping turtle up close and learn more about them including the dangers they face.
  • 20 Fish Species in the Mississippi River

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY MINN OF THE MISSISSIPPI UNIT STUDY WEEK 3

Have your child locate and trace the Mississippi River on a map with their finger or a marker. This map of the river with town names gives a great overview of the path.

Or you can trace it along a scrunch map, these come in handy for a simple portable geography resource.

  • Then Build a River Model with the help of this video that demonstrates how water moves along the river system
  • In the story Minn is picked up and looked after by a Chipewa (Ojibwe) child, learn more about them with this book and recreate a wigwam, the style of homes that they lived in.
  • Label the Mississippi River states free worksheet
  • Research the Native American tribes that lived along the Mississippi River, such as the Ojibwe, Sioux, and Choctaw.

The headwaters of the Mississippi River start at Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park in Minnesota.

Find Minnesota on the map and have your child research some basic geographical facts about it using books or Google.

  • Abbreviation:MN
  • Capital:St. Paul
  • Biggest City: Minneapolis
  • Nickname:The North Star State
  • State Bird: Common Loon

Learn about what a river is and the parts of a river. A river is a body of water that flows across the land, usually starting from a high point, such as a mountain, and ending at a lower point, such as a lake or the ocean.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY STUDY WEEK 3

  • Riverbanks-Riverbanks are the sides of a river. Riverbanks can be made of different materials, such as sand, gravel, or rock.
  • Source-The source of a river is the place where it begins. This could be a spring, a glacier, or a lake. The source is often located at a high point, such as a mountain.
  • Tributaries-Tributaries are smaller rivers or streams that flow into a larger river. Tributaries help to increase the flow of water in the river and can also bring in sediment and nutrients.
  • Main Channel-The main channel of a river is the deepest and widest part of the river. This is where the water flows the fastest.
  • Floodplain-The floodplain is the area of land that is next to a river. The floodplain is often flooded during heavy rains or when the river overflows its banks.
  • Meanders-Meanders are bends in a river. Meanders are formed when the water in a river flows around obstacles, such as rocks or trees.
  • Oxbow Lakes-Oxbow lakes are crescent-shaped lakes that are formed when a meander is cut off from the main channel of a river.
  • Delta-A delta is a fan-shaped area of land that is formed at the mouth of a river. Deltas are formed when the sediment that is carried by the river is deposited in the ocean.
  • Estuary-An estuary is a wide, often funnel-shaped, mouth of a river where the seawater mixes with the freshwater from the river.
Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

ARTS & CRAFTS MINN OF THE MISSISSIPPI UNIT STUDY WEEK 4

Draw or paint  a model of a river system with watercolor, markers, or crayons.

A great art and geography as well as science lesson all rolled into one.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study
  • Younger children will enjoy Building a PlayDough River Habitat that will keep them busy for a long time as you read aloud.
  • I think kids of all ages would love this Fun Preschool Beaver Craft: Simple Projects for Little Hands.
  • River Painting Process Art for Preschoolers
  • While this is a life skill as well I am going to say this counts as a super cute art project as well, make Beaver Dam Cookies
  • Mississippi Crafts for Kids

OTHER BEST UNIT STUDIES

  • 4 Week Free China Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas
  • 4 Week Free Shakespeare Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas
  • 4 Week Free Middle Ages Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas
  • Free 4-Week Kid’s Australia Unit Study Who Love Hands-on Learning
  • Free 4-Week Kid’s Paddle To The Sea Unit Study
  • Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports

Felt River Food Pyramid

You will need:

  • 5 sheets of felt-various colors
  • Plastic river animals
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun/sticks
  • Ruler
Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

First, for the main piece that will serve as a base I recommend using a larger piece of felt , like  the 12×18 sheets.

Measure a triangle 12 in across by 16 to 18 in tall using a ruler and pencil.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Cut out the triangle.

To create the different levels of the pyramid layer smaller pieces of felt behind it line them up where you would like them to be in Trace with a pencil.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Cut each level out leaving them slightly wider than the base piece.

Hot glue each strip down into its proper position.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Flip the entire thing over and trim everything up nicely and evenly with your scissors.

Free 4 Week Minn of the Mississippi Unit Study

Now have your child layer each of the river animals where they fall on the food pyramid using whatever plastic animals you have on hand or you can print animals off the internet, cut out magazines, or use flashcards.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool geography, homeschoolgeography, literature, unit studies, unit study, unit study approach

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

November 28, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fun mythical stories for kids from Asia and a fun Abominable Snowman or Yeti cupcake recipe.

And teaching about myths, lore and legends have educational value.

For example, myths and legends often reflect the values and cultures in different parts of the world.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

And the Abominable Snowman, also known as the Yeti, is a mythical creature that was said to live in the mountains of the Himalayas.

The Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world.

Too, they span across many countries.

For instance they stretch across 5 countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan.

ASIAN MYTHICAL STORIES

Next, look at a few of these fun books about myths.

Asian Mythical Stories

Add one or two of these books to your home library. They introduce children to the rich and diverse mythology from various parts of Asia.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

This stunning fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore is a companion novel to Starry River of the Sky and the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer. Grace Lin, author of the beloved Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat returns with a wondrous story of adventure, faith, and friendship. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon.
Her beautiful illustrations, printed in full-color, accompany the text throughout. Once again, she has created a charming, engaging book for young readers.

The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven

Every child in China grows up listening to stories of the irrepressible Monkey King. Smart, brave, powerful, and most of all mischievous, Monkey King finds himself in the midst of adventure at every turn. Join Monkey as he wins his title as King of the Monkeys, studies with a great sage to learn the secrets of immortality, and even takes on the job as a royal gardener in the Kingdom of Heaven. With Monkey, be prepared for surprises!

Red Scarf Girl author Ji-Li Jiang's retelling of these stories about the legendary Monkey King are accompanied by brand-new illustrations by Youshan Tang, using Chinese brush painting and pen drawings.

Strange Creatures of the Snow and Other Great Mysteries

A collection of short stories.

The Abominable Snowman (Choose Your Own Adventure #1)

Your best friend Carlos goes missing from base camp on Mt. Everest while in search of the fabled Yeti. Will you help find him amidst the dangerous crevasses and icefalls of the Himalaya? A monsoon is moving in and you must decide quickly!

The Abominable Snowman by R. A. Montgomery takes YOU on a mountaineering adventure in search of the fabled Yeti, or Abominable Snowman! 9-12 year old readers will travel to Kathmandu and explore the Himalaya Mountains, negotiating harsh weather conditions, facing down a band of violent smugglers, following mysterious footprints in the snow, and maybe even finding the Yeti!

Then look at a few of these fun Asian hands-on myth activities.

HANDS ON ACTIVITIES FOR MYTHICAL STORIES FOR KIDS

  • How fun is this free Build a Yeti Printable.
  • This popsicle stick Yeti craft is adorable.
  • And this is too cute Fun Yeti No-Bake Coconut Bites Recipe.
  • Too, use this post FREE Animals of the Himalaya Mountains Printables to talk about some of the animals of the Himalaya Mountains which are not mythical.
  • Then look at Cardboard Abominable Yeti Scissor Cutting Activity.

And look at a few more activities about Asia.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ABOUT ASIA

  • 5 Asia Activities For Kids & Free Color by Number Camel
  • Quick and Easy Ancient Chinese Paper making for Kids
  • Free Ancient China Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on History
  • 4 Week Free China Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas
  • Unique Homeschool History Ideas With Handprint Henna For India
  • Marco Polo Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Medieval Japan Unit Study and Lapbook
  • How to Make an Easy Bird Craft Fun Paper Plate Peacock
  • Explore the World: Free Continent Printables to Color by Number

Finally, look at how to make these adorable Yeti cupcakes.

HOW TO MAKE YETI CUPCAKES WITH YOUR KIDS

You will need:

Equipment

  • Small bowls
  • Spatula
  • Ice Cream Scooper
  • Piping Bag
  • Piping Tip 233

Ingredients

  • 6 Cupcakes
  • 12 Ounce of Buttercream
  • Blue Food Gel Color
  • Black Food Gel Color
  • Sprinkle Candy Eyeballs
  • Red Strip Candy
Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

First, separate 2 ounces of buttercream into a small bowl.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Put 2 drops of black food color in the bowl and mix until all the buttercream is black.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Then place the icing in a piping bag and tie the end.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Place 6 ounces of buttercream in a new bowl.

Put 2 drops of the blue gel color in buttercream and use a spatula to mix the icing until its all one color.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Cover it and put it to the side for later.

Next, place the piping tip inside of a piping bag.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Cut the the tip of the bag so the piping tip can fit through.

Next, put the remaining white icing in the piping bag and secure the end. Place it to the side for later.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Get the blue icing, use the ice cream scoop to scoop up some of the blue icing and place it on the cupcake.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

If the scoop is too small then add another scoop.

Place the candy eyeballs on the front of the buttercream mound.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN CUPCAKES

Next, place the black buttercream to pipe on a mouth below the eyes, but leave a little space in between.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

After that, grab your bag of white icing and pipe the fur all over the top, sides and back of the cupcake.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Pipe some of the white buttercream in between the eyes and mouth. This is abominable snowman fur.

Cut the red strip candy into a long half circle shape and attach it to the black buttercream.

This is the tongue.

Mythical Stories For Kids From Asia | Amazing Yeti Cupcakes

Place the cupcakes on a flat surface and don’t wait another minute to read a great book and eat your delicious cupcakes.

Lastly, here are some tried and true tips when preparing the cupcakes!

  • You can make any flavor cupcakes you like.
  • Another time saving tips with kids is to use the first half circle cutout to lay on top of the candy stripe as a template so all the cutouts look the same.
  • And don’t  add a lot of black gel color to your buttercream if it doesn’t turn a deep black right away. The buttercream will get darker as it sits in the piping back and while it sits on the cupcake.
  • The cupcakes can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 4 days. Be sure to remove the candy because the color may fade and the texture may change as the cupcakes come to room temperature. And any left over buttercream can be stored in a freezer bag or air tight container in the freezer for 10 days.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Asia, book lists, cupcakes, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, legends, literature, myths

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

October 29, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m showing you how to make a Winnie The Pooh craft using paper plates.

And if you love children’s books, I have a treat for you.

I have a list of 10 old and ‘new’ classics that should be on your shelves.

Winnie the Pooh is one of those classic children’s books which has stayed popular through generations.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

According to the definition “A children’s book is considered a classic when it has been around for many decades, has influenced multiple generations of readers, and is still as interesting and exciting to read today as it was when it was written.”

There are so many rich, wonderful books out there that you probably read as a child that you can read with your children.

And I want to share some of my favorite classics as well as a few that I think have become new classics.

In addition to that I pulled together some fantastic crafts to go along with some of the books to extend the learning past the wonderful experience of reading the book.

Engage their imaginations, fine motor skills, and so much more.

CLASSIC CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS

Next, look at some of our favorite picture books.

10 CLASSIC CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION

Add some of these beautiful classic children’s book to your home library to be loved and read over and over again.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

One evening Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Armed only with an oversize purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of wonder and excitement.

Harold and his trusty crayon travel through woods and across seas and past dragons before returning to bed, safe and sound. Full of funny twists and surprises, this charming story shows just how far your imagination can take you.

The Wonky Donkey

Kids will love this cumulative and hysterical read-aloud!

"I was walking down the road and I saw . . .A donkey,Hee Haw!And he only had three legs!He was a wonky donkey."

Children will be in fits of laughter with this perfect read-aloud tale of an endearing donkey. By the book's final page, readers end up with a spunky, hanky-panky, cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky-tonky, winky wonky donkey!

The Gruffalo

When Mouse takes a stroll through the woods, he meets a fox, an owl, and a snake who all want to eat him! So Mouse invents a gruffalo, a monster with "terrible tusks and terrible claws, terrible teeth, and terrible jaws." But will Mouse's frightful description be enough to scare off his foes? After all, there's no such thing as a gruffalo . . . is there? Sturdy pages and a cozy trim make this rhyming read-aloud perfect for preschoolers. Winner of the prestigious British Smarties Prize.

Make Way for Ducklings 75th Anniversary Edition

Seventy-five years ago, a family of ducks waddled off the page and into the hearts of readers everywhere. The brilliantly illustrated tale of mallards on the move received the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of the year, and has been a favorite of generations of readers.

Where the Wild Things Are

This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations. When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes havoc in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him. But then from far away across the world, Max smells good things to eat...

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?

Dragons Love Tacos

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

A Color of His Own

Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own. He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger! Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon. When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than
having a color of his own. No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike.

Corduroy

Don Freeman's classic character, Corduroy, is even more popular
today then he was when he first came on the scene in 1968. This story of
a small teddy bear waiting on a department store shelf for a child’s
friendship has appealed to young readers generation after generation.

Also, look at some fun facts about Winnie The Pooh.

4 WONDERFUL WINNIE THE POOH FACTS

  1. Pooh was based on a real bear, a black bear named Winnie who lived at London Zoo from 1915 until her death in 1934. Milne gave his son a stuffed bear. It was first called Edward and then changed to Winnie the Pooh which was inspired by a swan he met.
  2. The original Winnie the Pooh stories were written by A.A Milne. It was illustrated by E.H. Shepard. Milne was a British author and playwright, and Shepard was a British illustrator. The first Winnie the Pooh story was published in 1926, and the stories were later collected into two books: Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) and The House at Pooh Corner (1928).
  3. The story of Winnie the Pooh has been translated into over 50 languages. Too, it has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and other media.
  4. Before writing the classic beloved Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne was already a moderately successful humorist, playwright and mystery author.
How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Also, look at my post 10 Creative Mason Jar Crafts | How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft.

HOW TO MAKE A WINNIE THE POOH CRAFT USING PAPER PLATES

You will need:

  • Two paper plates
  • One black pom-pom
  • Two large yellow pom-poms
  • One black pipe cleaner
  • Red craft paint
  • Yellow craft paint
  • Blue craft paint
  • Scissors
  • Paint brushes
  • Craft glue
How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

First, cut one plate in half to make the upper part of his body and as you can see in my picture here on the other half cut the center out into the rough shape of a honeypot.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Cut out little bear hands like these far enough inward that they reach the honeypot on either side so that they can hold it.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Flip your plates so that the bowl is facing downward and paint the uncut plate yellow all over. Also paint the little bear hands you cut out yellow as well.  

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Paint the rest of the plate red all over, except where you painted the yellow paws (to keep them from getting painted you can fold them upward or inward).

Set aside to dry.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Paint the honey pot light blue and then set it aside to dry as well.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Cut 1/3 of your pipe cleaner off and fashion a slight curved grin with a little bend on to get Winnie the Pooh’s classic smile.

Then cut 1 inch pieces and arch them slightly for eyebrows.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Once the honeypot has dried, write ‘hunny’ using a black marker, make it with a backwards N, if you like, just like in the storybook using a permanent marker.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Now it’s time to assemble your creation.

Use a black marker to first color in little oval eyes.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Glue the pipe cleaner eyebrows down and Pooh’s grin.

Glue the black pom-pom to the center of the plate for his nose and the two yellow pom-poms on either side of the top of the head for ears.

How to Make a Winnie the Pooh Craft Using Paper Plates

Attach the red half plate to the back of his head and slip the honeypot between his hands and glue that into place.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, literature, literature crafts, Winnie the Pooh

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

August 28, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This is a more unique take on a Paul Bunyan craft that recreates that wildly popular Minecraft pixel art style.

Grab your crayons or colored pencils and some graph paper.

And let’s recreate this larger-than-life folk hero as if he were lurking about online in the Minecraft world.

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

Essentially, we are going to create our own color by number type craft to color in.

If you are somehow unfamiliar with Minecraft it is very simply a video game where players can explore, build, and create anything they can imagine.

The game is set in a world made up of blocks, and players can use these blocks to create structures, tools, and even entire worlds.

Minecraft has two main modes: Survival and Creative.

In Survival mode, players must gather resources, build shelters, and defend themselves from hostile mobs.

In Creative mode, players have unlimited resources and the ability to fly, which allows them to focus on building and creating without having to worry about survival.

What I like about Minecraft is its creativity, educational value, and the social aspects as kids can play together in each other’s worlds.

Fun Books for Kids About American Folk Tales

First, look at some of these fun books to grab when learning about American folk tales.

7 American Frontier Legends Books & Resources

Choose a favorite American frontier legends movie and book.

Bunyan & Babe

Travis falls through a magical portal which transports him to the world of American hero Paul Bunyan and his big, blue, talking ox, Babe

Kit Carson and the Wild Frontier

In 1826 an undersized sixteen-year-old apprentice ran away from a saddle maker in Franklin, Missouri, to join one of the first wagon trains crossing the prairie on the Santa Fe Trail. Kit Carson (1809–68) wanted to be a mountain man, and he spent his next sixteen years learning the paths of the West, the ways of its Native inhabitants, and the habits of the beaver, becoming the most successful and respected fur trapper of his time.

Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill

A young boy's imagination summons cowboy legend Pecos Bill; who helps him save the family farm from a greedy land-grabber.

Who Was Annie Oakley?

You want girl power? Meet Annie Oakley! Born in 1860, she became one of the best-loved and most famous women of her generation. She amazed audiences all over the world with her sharpshooting, horse-riding, action-packed performances. In an age when most women stayed home, she traveled the world and forged a new image for American women.

Daniel Boone: Season 1

Fess Parker stars as one of the West's most iconic figures in Season One of Daniel Boone. 

Davy Crockett, King Of The Wild Frontier

Climb aboard for a rip-roaring adventure with Davy Crockett.

Buffalo Bill: Showman of the West: Host: Jack Perkins

The real-life adventures of William F. Cody, alias Buffalo Bill, whose exploits as a frontiersman were exaggerated and immortalized by writer Ned Buntline in his pulp stories.

Also, look at some facts about Paul Bunyan.

Paul Bunyan is a mythical American Folk Tale hero of epic proportions.

Who Was Paul Bunyan

Legend says that he was born in Maine in the 1830s.

He was the son of a logger and a giantess.

Paul grew up to be even bigger than his parents, and he soon became known for his strength and skill with an ax.

Paul Bunyan worked as a lumberjack in the forests of the Midwest.

It was said that he was so strong that he could fell an entire forest in a single day.

Additionally, he was so skilled with an ax that he could cut down a tree with just one swing.

Paul Bunyan was a kind and helpful giant.

Bunyan often used his strength to help others, such as building bridges and roads, and clearing land for farms. He was also a great friend to animals, and he often rescued them from danger.

He represents the American pioneer spirit of hard work, ingenuity, and helpfulness.

Also, he is also a reminder that even the biggest and strongest among us can be kind and gentle.

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

Paul Bunyan’s legend has been told and retold for generations. He has appeared in books, movies, and even video games.

He is a beloved figure who represents the best of what America has to offer.

In addition, look at these other Paul Bunyan crafts.

Paul Bunyan Craft Ideas and Resources

  • Check out my American Frontier Legends and Hero Paul Bunyan Blue Ox Craft.
  • Kids will love this DIY No Sew Axes For Ax Toss Game and it can be counted as physical education.
  • Another craft idea is this Easy How to Draw Paul Bunyan Tutorial and Paul Bunyan Coloring Page with step-by-step instructions.
  • Make a lumberjack breakfast for sensory play, it goes along perfectly with a Paul Bunyan theme and can even be a great starter for talking about the importance of food as fuel.
  • Keep it simple with a Tall Tales:Paul Bunyan coloring sheet.

Finally, look at how to make this Paul Bunyan craft with graph paper.

Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

If you are doing this craft with younger children, you can go with 1×1” graph paper and keep it simpler.

Challenge older kids to put more detail in there and use a smaller grid like ½”.

The smaller grid you go with the more detail that you will be able to put in it.

You will need:

  • Graph paper
  • Crayons or colored pencils
How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

First, figure out your design, will you do a full body portrait or just his face.

With this design you are going to keep it very simple.

We went with an almost full picture and included his cute ox friend blue peeking in as well.

To give it a real Paul Bunyan look you want to include some features like a beard and a flannel shirt of course- think the bounty paper towel guy.

After you have decided on a general design choose your colors and lightly mark with a letter or a dot where each should go.

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

We did a few half boxes from corner to corner to create a little shape, but you can stick with the squares if you like.

Start simply by creating the body shape first.

And work your way out from there.

Once you have all your boxes marked, color them in completely.

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

Once your basic figure has been colored in you can go back and add a few details like eyes.

How to Create a Minecraft-Like Paul Bunyan Craft With Graph Paper

Now don’t let this be just an art or history lesson.

Use your design to figure out the perimeter and area of the space used and work in some math as well.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, literature, Paul Bunyan, tall tales

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

July 19, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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There are so many fun back to school crafts for middle schoolers to get them excited about a new year of incredible learning. Also, look at my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter for more fun ideas and tips. And my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School.

An avid reader will love recreating the pages of their favorite book onto a pair of slip-on shoes for the cutest literature themed shoes.

I chose Anne of Green Gables.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

But your child can opt for any book they choose.

For example, Little Women, The Secret Garden, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, The Hobbit, or any other novel.

You just need white canvas shoes.

 I found a pair at Hobby Lobby for just $7.

Also, you’ll need a variety of sharpie markers or fabric paints and some inspiration found in a treasured book.

We have kind of become addicted.

And will probably be creating several fun pairs of these shoes to highlight our favorite books and characters.

If that is not enough back to school fun, I have 8 more intriguing back to school crafts for middle schoolers.

From notebooks to organization ideas, grab one or more ideas create a memorable first day or week of the new school year.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers

  1. Isn’t this the COOLEST COLOR CHANGING NOTEBOOK | DIY NOTEBOOK COVER | SCHOOL SUPPLIES_CRAFTS? What a unique craft for keeping your daily journaling or copywork
  2. Check out this Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft that is inexpensive and can help tidy up your desk quickly and easily.
  3. Never lose your place with cute and easy Washi Tape Bookmarks to mark your spot.
  4. Make an DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft that can also be used to store journaling supplies, makeup, or even jewelry.
  5. Create a Fidget Spinner DIY to keep hands busy while they listen to an educational podcast, read aloud, or watch a history video.
  6. Keep appointments, field trips, and more organized on this dry erase Paint Sample Calendar.
  7. Your middle schooler can say goodbye to boring #2 pencils when they DIY School Supplies into their favorite colors.
  8. This no sew Kindle Cover video creates a great place to store your small tablet for books and web surfing using the box that it came in.
  9. Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids

Now let’s move onto creating these fun themed shoes that will make a splash at the grocery store, co-op, or on your next visit to the library.

How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

You will need:

  • Slip on white canvas sneakers
  • Sharpie Markers
  • Pigma Micron 1.0 or larger
  • Pencil
  • Optional- Water Proofing Spray
8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

To begin, I recommend sketching out your designs with a pencil on copy paper until you get them just the way you like.

Choose characters, scenes and items that stand out to you and will easily identify your theme.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

Now take your pencil and lightly draw the designs onto your shoes all the way around.

Do this carefully as the pencil erases somewhat but not completely.

Make sure to cover all pencil with outline or marker fill in.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

Once you have your designs all sketched out on the shoe and you like it, trace the outline of each with the Micron pen.

This does not bleed like a Sharpie does.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

Carefully color in each of your designs.

Stay slightly inside the black outlines as it will spread slightly.

You can always go back and add more color where needed.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

Of course, Green Gables and Anne had to feature front and center.

To tidy up your drawings you can go back over the lines where the sharpie has bled onto them.

Place shoes in a pillowcase and tie a knot in it.

Throw in the dryer with towels or something else and run on high heat for 20 minutes to set color.

You can also run a hot iron or a blow dryer over each part to help set the ink.

If desired to protect your design more you can spray with a water based waterproof spray.

Sharpie is not waterproof and will likely smear if you get these shoes wet.

Here is a peek at the other 3 sides to the shoes.

Let’s see if you are a big fan of Green Gables and how much you recognize from the story.

The book itself, and of course cherry cordial

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

The broken satchel Anne came with and a cup for tea time.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

A bundle of her beloved schoolbooks and a bouquet of the flowers she cherished so much.

8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

More Back to School Craft Ideas

  • Fun Upcycled T Shirt Library Tote Back to School Kids Craft
  • Clever DIY Dollar Tree Desk Organizer Back to School Craft
  • DIY Easy Duct Tape Pencil Pouch Back to School Kids Craft
  • How to Make a Boys Duct Tape Wallet Back to School Craft
  • Cute Clay Pencil Earrings for Back to School Crafts For Kids
  • 15 Easy Back to School Crafts And Make A Yarn Wrapped Pencil
  • Back To Homeschool Student Notebook Covers
  • How to Create Easy Back to School Basket Ideas for Middle School (Anatomy)
  • Apple Themed Back to School Crafts & Fun Calming Apple Jar Craft
  • 8 Back To School Crafts For Middle Schoolers | How To Make Fun Literature Themed Shoes

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: back to school crafts, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, literature

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