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5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

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I have some fun candy science experiments and candy unit study. Also, look at more Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

Also, I have everything you need below including my homemade lollipop recipe for you to try.

Candy is defined as “A confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling.” by Merriam-Webster. 

That covers everything from chocolate to caramels, rock candy, peppermints, and everything in between.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Sticky, sweet, sour, crunchy, chewy, in stick form, chocolatey, syrupy candy.

Too, the science of candy can be very complex and fun to learn.

Very few people don’t love candy in one form or another and I happen to think it makes a great subject for a unique unit study.

Candy Science Experiments

First, look at some of these fun science ideas using candy.

5 Candy Experiments for Kids

Add some of these candy science experiments to your science day to add some fun.

Photo Credit: abcsofliteracy.com

Peppermint Science Experiment

Try this Peppermint Science Experiment! It is an easy and fun way to teach your children about how sugar dissolves when mixed with warm water.

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Candy Science

Candy Science: What could be better than an interesting science lesson, with lots of hands-on learning? Then, at the end of all your studies, not only are you smarter but you also get a delicious, sweet candy treat?

Photo Credit: hessunacademy.com

Rock Candy Science Experiment: Step-by-Step How-To Guide

Are you on the lookout for exciting and educational activities to enjoy with your curious little ones? Are your kids looking for a fun indoor activity that couples the wonders of science with the joys of eating?

Photo Credit: homeschoolpreschool.net

Ocean-Themed Skittles Candy Science Experiment for Summer

Summer science at its finest! You don’t want to miss this ocean-themed Skittles candy science experiment. Your kids will beg to do it again and again.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

I have two fun candy cane hands-on winter experiments today. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Candy canes are plentiful right now and did you know that they make for a tasty, easy, and inexpensive item for science experiments? 

Also, look at some of these facts about candy.

8 Candy Facts

  1. The average person in the United States eats roughly 24 pounds of candy per year.
  2. National Smarties Day is celebrated on October 2 each year.
  3. The first candy was created in ancient Egypt over 2,000 years ago. Honey and fruit were used to make a type of hard candy.
  4. The world’s oldest candy company, founded in 1847, is NECCO (New England Confectionery Company) and is still in business today under the umbrella of Spangler Candy Co.
  5. The two M’s in M&M stand for Mars and Murrie, Forrest Mars, and Bruce Murrie. They financed and developed the candy-coated goodness that is still popular today.
  6. There are 64 million Tootsie Rolls made each day.
  7. Saltwater taffy is not watery, salty, or even made with salt water. Rather it was so named after a flood hit the Atlantic City Boardwalk and a candy store owner said the only thing left was her “saltwater taffy” and it stuck as the name.
  8. In 1897 dentist William Morrison invented cotton candy along with confectioner John C. Wharton. It was originally called “Fairy Floss” and did not get its current name until the 1920s.
5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

I was inspired to create a fun Candy Science Unit study by Julia Rothman’s Food Anatomy.

Books About Candy

Her series not only has beautiful illustrations but is filled with fun facts, recipes, and inspiration. 

It has a nice spread on how candy is made, the different states of sugar, and some classic candy illustrations and info.

There is also a great two-page spread on chocolate as well.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Every good unit study starts with books, in my opinion, not textbooks but good living books like Food Anatomy I listed above, but also fun chapter books for read-aloud or independent reading.

In this case, even candy cookbooks are a great learning tool to use for science and math and sharpening those following directions skills.

Candy Hands-on Activities

Don’t forget to keep it fun and very hands-on to keep them interested, learning, and trying new things. Choose a few of the activities below for your unit study.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

MORE CANDY SCIENCE

Finally, look how to make these homemade lollipops.

Candy Science Experiments How to Make Homemade Lollipops

I highly recommend that for your first try, you make all your lollipops the same.

The candy mixture hardens fast, and you must work quickly once it reaches the hard crack stage to get it into the mold.

You will need:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ cup water
  • Lollipop mold
  • Lollipop sticks
  • Candy thermometer
  • ½ teaspoon of extract/ few drops of candy flavoring oil
  • Food coloring-optional
  • sprinkles-optional
5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

First, spritz silicone mold lightly with nonstick cooking spray, use a paper towel to wipe out excess.

If using sprinkles add those now to your mold and place sticks in as well, you want to make sure that at least ¼” of the stick is inside the mold.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Place sugar, water, and corn syrup in a small saucepan and place over medium-high heat.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Stir until sugar dissolves.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Make a large bowl of ice water and set to the side, it needs to be large enough to fit your pan.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Insert the candy thermometer on the side of the pan.

Bring mixture to a boil, do not stir at this time.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

When the candy thermometer indicates it has reached 310° f (hard crack stage) remove from heat and set the bottom of the pan in the ice bath to stop cooking for just 15-20 seconds.

 Be careful to not get water inside the candy mixture.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

At this time quickly stir in flavorings and coloring if using any.

Immediately spoon the mixture into the lollipop mold, be sure that it covers the stick.

Allow to completely cool and harden before removing from the mold.

5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

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I have a popsicle stick flashlight activity and some fun facts about Nikola Tesla. Also, your kids will love this Electricity Hands-On Homeschool Science Activity.

Also, you’ll love learning about Nikola Tesla’s life and inventions.

Tesla harnessed the power of the alternating current but worked with Edison to further develop his work on the direct current (which is what our popsicle stick flashlight is).

As a matter of fact, due to their working together and disagreements, they had a rather large falling out. Tesla went on to do so much more work in the field of science and technology.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Tesla went on to do so much more work in the field of science and technology.

Did you know that Tesla has 112 U.S. patents, 17 British and six Canadian patents?

Or that he was good friends with Mark Twain?

And that Nikola developed an idea that would later be used in smartphone technology?

The War of The Electrical Currents

Edison developed the (DC) direct current, which is the current that runs continually in a single direction, like in a battery or a fuel cell.

It was originally the U.S. standard, but it had limitations, as the direct current is not easily converted to higher or lower voltages.

Tesla, on the other hand, believed that alternating current (or AC) was the solution to this problem.

AC reverses direction a certain number of times per second, 60 in the U.S.

It can be converted to different voltages using a transformer giving it far wider applications.

Edison did not want to have his early work with DC tossed aside or lose the royalties from it and so he began to try and discredit Tesla’s alternating current.

Some say he even went as far as spreading falsehoods about Tesla and his work.

The popsicle flashlight, though it uses DC current, is a great way to demonstrate how simple electric current and switches work.

I don’t care that they stole my idea… I care that they don’t have any of their own.”
-Nikola Tesla
Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Next, look at these facts about Nikola Tesla and his inventions.

5 Amazing Nikola Tesla Inventions

  1. AC Power (alternating current)- is an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies. This power system provides electricity for homes and other buildings.
  2. Tesla Coil-The coil uses polyphase alternating currents — another of Tesla’s discoveries to allow a transmitter the ability to produce very high voltages. It’s still used today in radios, televisions, and wireless transmission.
  3. Radio-While Tesla invented everything we associate with the radio — antennas, tuners, etc., an inventor named Guglielmo Marconi got the credit for the invention.
  4. Hydroelectric Power-This is when the natural flow of water is used to generate electricity. Tesla and industrialist George Westinghouse developed the first hydroelectric power plant using the power of Niagara Falls.
  5. Induction Motor-With its rotating magnetic field that made unit drives for machines and AC power transmissions possible. They still power up simple household items such as vacuums, hairdryers, compressors, fans, toys, and power tools.
Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Also, look at more hands-on ideas about electricity.

More Popsicle Sticks and Electricity Activities

Then look at some more hands-on activities.

Next, there are two great books below.

Nikola Tesla

Books about Nikola Tesla.

Who Was Nikola Tesla?

When Nikola Tesla arrived in the United States in 1884, he didn't have much money, but he did have a letter of introduction to renowned inventor Thomas Edison. The working relationship between the two men was short lived, though, and the two scientist-inventors became harsh competitors. One of the most influential scientists of all time, Nikola Tesla is celebrated for his experiments in electricity, X-rays, remote controls, and wireless communications. His invention of the Tesla coil was instrumental in the development of radio technology.

Great Lives in Graphics: Nikola Tesla

Great Lives in Graphics; Nikola Tesla is a graphic retelling of Nikola’s story which gives children a colorful snapshot of his life and the world he grew up in, while educating them on everything from alternating current to the power of the imagination.

You may already know that Nikola Tesla was an electrical engineer, but did you know that he was born during a lightning storm? Or that he had a phobia of pearls?

Great Lives in Graphics reimagines the lives of extraordinary people in vivid technicolor, presenting 250+ fascinating facts in a new and exciting way. It takes the essential dates and achievements of each person’s life, mixes them with lesser-known facts and trivia, and uses infographics to show them in a fresh visual way that is genuinely engaging for children and young adults. The result is a colorful, fascinating and often surprising representation of that person’s life, work and legacy. Using timelines, maps, repeated motifs and many more beautiful and informative illustrations, readers learn not just about the main subject of the book but also about the cultural background of the time they lived i

Finally, look at how to make this fun popsicle stick flashlight.

How to Make A Popsicle Stick Flashlight

You will need:

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

First, cut two pieces of copper tape a little shorter than your craft stick.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Place one of your LED lights at the end of the stick with the metal prongs on either side.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Peel off the backing a little at a time and tape over the prongs on the front and back, not quite touching the plastic tip. Run the tape all the way down.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Place the binder clip on the end and make a mark on the tape where the black touches.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

Remove the binder clip and cut tape ¼” above it so that the plastic does not interfere with the connection at all.

Replace the binder clip and place the button battery writing side up where the metal of the binder clip touches the bottom half of the battery when opened.

Tape the battery in place only covering above where the clip hits, the metal of the binder clip will serve as your “switch”.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

When you are done, flip the switch so that it makes contact with the battery and your light should begin to glow.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

If your light doesn’t light up, check all your connections, be sure that the metal hits the copper tape, that the tape covers the LED prongs, and finally, be sure your battery is fresh.

Here is a labeled photo to show you what each of the components are to help your child understand the electrical path and process.

Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

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

Today, I have some fun and simple rainforest science activities. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

If you really want your kids to get excited about science, make it a fun hands-on activity that they can’t resist.

Preschoolers to middle schoolers love the sensory experience of slime.

You can use it for several interactive rainforest science activities starting with learning about viscosity, polymers, and non-Newtonian fluids which are neither a liquid nor a solid.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Add some rainforest creatures and a little color to turn your basic slime recipe into a rainforest floor creation that is a beautiful way to explore the creatures that make their home there.

Use it as a foundation for a sensory bin for dramatic play and to learn about everything from snakes to sloths.

I always like to add a good-themed book to any activity for inspiration and reference, for our rainforest science activities we grabbed Over and Under in the Rainforest.

It takes place as a young boy and his uncle (Tito) walk through the Costa Rican rainforest exploring the biome from top to bottom.

 It introduces many rainforest creatures that live throughout all the layers of the rainforest with beautiful illustrations and an easy-to-read and follow story.

5 Rainforest Science Activities Facts

Then add some of these rainforest science activities to your study.

  1. Sloths have algae growing on their fur and it serves two purposes 1) camouflage and it is believed 2) sloths consume the algae, which is rich in fatty compounds and gives them energy. 
  2. Tropical rainforests cover less than 3% of the planet, but amazingly they are home to more than half our planet’s terrestrial animal species.
  3. A chunk of the rainforest equal to 40 football fields disappears each minute.
  4. Rainforests get at least 100 inches of rain each year, sometimes nearly double that. 
  5. There are two different types of rainforests, temperate and tropical. Tropical rainforests are the ones that are most found.

So how is slime science?

Learning how to make slime introduces younger children to textures.

And while younger kids may not be ready for the vocabularly yet, they will be amazed at how it stretches (elasticity), flows like a liquid (viscosity) but not quite.

They will explore what happens when you mix different matters together to create a new one (a chemical change).

Then, look at these books about the Amazon Rainforest.

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.

Next, look at these rainforest science activities to try.

7 Fantastic Rainforest Science Activities

  1. Investigate How do Plants Breathe?
  2. Scroll down a bit and you will find these Rainforest Animal Matching Cards.
  3. Littles will love studying animals with this Rainforest Animal File Folder Game.
  4. If you have a child who enjoys or learns better with paperwork check out the Animals of the Rainforest Worksheet.
  5. Dive into the flora and fauna with Plants and Animals in The Tropical Rainforest Biome Cards.
  6. Learn about the two different types of Rainforests in this YouTube video.
  7. These adorable Sloth Life Cycle Printables are a great way to learn more about these slow-moving creatures.
7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Then, look at more rainforest activities for kids below.

More Rainforest Activities for Kids

Also, add some fun vocabulary to learn about slime.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Rainforest Floor Slime Vocabulary

Challenge older children to define the following slime-related vocabulary words and phrases.

  • Slime- A thick, viscous matter.
  • Elasticity-The tendency of a body to return to its shape after being pulled or stretched.
  • Viscosity- The thickness of a liquid.
  • Polymer-A large, chain-like molecule made up of monomers, which are small molecules.
  • Non-Newtonian fluid-A fluid that does not follow Newton’s law of viscosity, meaning that it has variable viscosity dependent on stress. Viscosity can change under force to either more liquid or more solid.
  • Chemical change-When a new substance is formed through a chemical reaction.

Finally, look at how to make this fun rainforest floor slime activity.

Rainforest Floor Slime Activity

You will need:

  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 8-10 oz. white or clear glue
  • ½ teaspoon borax
  • Green food coloring
  • Green glitter (optional)
7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Warm 1 cup of water in the microwave until it’s hot and stir in borax until dissolved.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

In a separate container mix together glue and ½ cup of water.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Once mixed, stir in food coloring and glitter if desired to get the shade you want.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Pour the colored glue mixture into the borax mixture and stir until it starts to cling together and is no longer sticky.

You may find it easiest to mix with your hands but some people do find borax to be a skin irritant.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Once the mixture is no longer sticky you can remove it from the water mixture, and it is ready for play.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

To add a little more texture and interest to it you can cut small leaf shapes and vines out of craft foam and mix into the slime.

Additionally, you could also stir in a few drops of your favorite essential oil to introduce another sensory input with a soothing or invigorating scent.

7 Cool Rainforest Science Activities and Create Rainforest Floor Slime

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

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

I have 100 free unit study resources. Unit studies have a way of taking any topic from drab to fab. Grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies pages

They can bring life to the most seeming lifeless topic.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

So today in sharing toddler to teen 100 free unit study resources, I hope you find something that inspires you and your kids.

A good amount of the work has been started for you already with the resources I have listed below. And no, I just couldn’t stop at 100 resources!

Free Unit Study Resources

General Information & Unit Study How-Tos

Free Unit Studies

A

B

C

Also, look at Beautiful Feet literature for some fun literature, history and geography unit studies.

Homeschool Unit Studies

D

F

Unit Studies for Multiple Ages

G

H

I

J

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

K

L

100 Unit Studies

M

N

In addition, look at the Holling C. Holling Geography Unit Study Using Living Books.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

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P

R

S

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

Free Unit Study Printables

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U

V

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

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Z

Don’t forget that I have the Ultimate Unit Study Planner. Having an eye for detail and creating many unit studies with multiple levels of kids, I know you’ll love it.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources. I have 100 free unit study resources. Unit studies have a way of taking any topic from drab to fab. Grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies pages. They can bring life to the most seeming lifeless topic. So today in sharing toddler to teen 100 free unit study resources, I hope you find something that inspires you and your kids.
  • This is a DIY printable Ultimate Unit Study Planner in COLOR.
  • Undated pages, so it is a 1 Time Purchase
  • You do not pay for “Fluff” pages like calendars found freely on the internet and provided here on my blog. Only unique working forms are part of your comprehensive download.
  • Lesson Pages are divided by lower, middle and higher grades.
  • Learning Objective Forms & Assessment Forms
  • Brainstorming Maps

Feel inspired to try one or two or . . .?  You’ll be hooked!

You’ll love these other posts and tips too:

100 FREE Toddler to Teen Homeschool Unit Studies. Your kids will love these ideas and you’ll find plenty of topics to keep homeschool planning easy. CLICK HERE to grab one or two!
100 FREE Toddler to Teen Homeschool Unit Studies. Your kids will love these ideas and you’ll find plenty of topics to keep homeschool planning easy. CLICK HERE to grab one or two!
Ultimate Homeschool Unit Study Planner - Comparing Two Different Lesson Planning Pages @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus


This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Toddler to Teen 100 Popular Free Homeschool Unit Study Resources

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

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

If you’re looking for more winter craft ideas for kids, you’ll love this snow slime inspired by the book Animals in Winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Slime has been a hot sensory activity for years and it shows no signs of slowing down.

So, when I looked for a fun winter craft idea for kids, I looked no further than the box of borax to turn it into a wonderful stretchy slime as a base for winter animal play.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Even older kids love the relaxing and appealing texture of slime sliding through their fingers.

Playing with slime is a great way to take up some time on a long winter afternoon when you are stuck indoors.

In addition, it can be very calming as well.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn it into a simple lesson by adding a book and some winter animals.

This slime as I mentioned was inspired by Animals in Winter, Let’s Read and Find Out.

These books are great for younger elementary and teach concept in simple way without talking down to kids.

Winter Books and Snow Resources

When you add in more hands-on activities learning sticks.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

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

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Then, add in ideas for studying about animals in the winter.

You can focus on one animal or just ask general questions about animals survive in the winter.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Animal Themed Questions

Talk about and explore the answers to some winter themed questions using books or the internet while your child plays with their snow slime

  • Why are some animal coats white?
  • What is hibernation?
  • Which types of animals hibernate?
  • How do animals get ready for winter?
  • How do animals not freeze in winter?
  • What is adaptation?
  • What is migration?
  • Do animals in your area hibernate or migrate?
  • What makes it snow? Does it snow where you live?

Besides the craft aspect of snow slime this is a great opportunity to talk about the science behind slime.

Slime is simple chemistry, and it is made through a chemical reaction between two main ingredients which are polyvinyl alcohol (glue) and borate ion (baking soda or borax).

Try dividing your mixture and adding more and less borax to it.

Then ask, what happens to the texture of the slime.

Additionally, here are more winter unit study resources.

More Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Finally, let’s make some fun snow slime.

How to Make Snow Slime

Here is a list of supplies:

  • 8 oz bottle school glue
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1-2 teaspoons borax
  • Blue glitter
  • Craft paint-optional
  • Bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon for stirring
Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

First, pour the school glue and half of the water into a large bowl and stir to combine thoroughly.

In a second container dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of borax into the other ½ cup of warm water.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Mix in as much glitter as you like, you could also add a little paint at this point if you wanted to color it. Blue would be so pretty.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Add the borax mixture to the glue mixture just a teaspoon or two at a time until your slime has the right consistency.

It may take a minute for each addition to mix in well and reduce the stickiness.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

You want it just a bit sticky but not enough to make it hard to get it off your hands.

Two to three tablespoons seemed about right for us and you can always add more borax but once you add too much it’s hard to fix it.

Now, add bowls, plastic animals, winter themed cookie cutters, craft sticks for cutting, and other small play items to your slime to keep the fun going for hours.

Store slime in an airtight container between uses.

Remove slime from bowl and knead for 1 minute to combine. Heads up: Children should wash hands well after each use.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime