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Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

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This ice for kids frozen nature sensory play makes a great activity to keep toddlers to preschoolers learning. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more learning and playing ideas.

This is an easy nature sensory play activity to do at home.

With just a few items and thinking ahead (freeze water) your child will have as much fun as the ice lasts.

And if you have a theme such as nature, transportation, or even animals with each of your trays, you can teach your preschooler right along with play.

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

This ice for kids activity provides children with a unique way to explore different textures and temperatures.

This type of play can enhance their fine motor skills as they manipulate small objects.

Also, it can improve your child’s cognitive development by encouraging curiosity and experimentation.

Additionally, it can foster a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world.

First, grab some of these nature books.

Even non-readers can appreciate the quality of well-written literature as you read aloud.

Nature Books for Kids

In addition, I try to pick quality literature for our home library.

For example, I choose living books first then add science or reference books to our collection.

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

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.

Handbook of Nature Study

The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.

Botanicum

Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)

Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.

Next, look at more frozen nature sensory play.

More Ice for Kids Nature Sensory Activities

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

In addition, look at these ideas for sensory play.

More Sensory Play Ideas for Homeschooled Kids

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

Finally, look how easy and fun this frozen nature sensory play activity is.

How to Make A Frozen Nature Sensory Play Activity

Here is what you need:

  • Silicone mold
  • Flowers, leaves, pinecones, etc. whatever nature items you have in your yard or find at the park
  • Water
  • Add a magnifying glass, spoons and see what affect salt has on the ice.

And the prep couldn’t be any easier.

Add the nature items into your mold.

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

Fill with water.

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

Freeze overnight.

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

Remove from mold and enjoy!  

Fun Ice For Kids Inexpensive & Easy Nature Sensory Activity

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

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Creating this letter s handprint craft, you can’t get any more hands-on. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more letter fun and handprint crafts. Too, check out my page Strawberry Unit Study.

It is a fun and simple craft to do when learning about delicious bright red strawberries, their life cycle, and of course a taste test in their different forms.

Of course, you can absolutely create this craft on a piece of paper instead.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

But I think it makes for a really cute piece of kitchen decor with sweet little hands to remember.

Or save space and add different fruit handprints as you learn about them to create a wonderful fruit collage to display.

Strawberries are not only delicious but are a great science lesson for kids learning about the life cycle of a plant.

They learn geography when they locate the largest grower of them on the map, and math as they measure out ingredients for a tasty recipe.

Books About Strawberries for Kids

Next, look at some of these adorable resources to add to your learning day.

Grab a book or two for your home library.

11 Strawberry Unit Study Resources & Books

Add one or two of these strawberry unit study resources to make your fun spring unit study come to life.

1000+ Red Strawberry Seeds for Planting

Big pack: 1000+ Non-GMO red strawberry seeds by Monique939-002..

Interesting: Whether they are spotted in your yard or as part of a tasty treat, strawberries are sure to spark attention! Liven up a fruit salad, muesli or trifle.

From Seed to Strawberry

How does a tiny seed grow into a sweet, juicy strawberry? Follow each step in the cycle from planting seeds to eating yummy strawberries in this fascinating book!

Strawberry Girl

Strawberries—big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. "Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!" her father tells her.

Strawberry Night Light

How fun.. What an adorable gift or to use in your school area.

Strawberry Shortcake

Your child will quickly fall in love with this Strawberry Shortcake pillow and be excited to jump into bed. Great for playtime, naptime, or bedtime this will make the perfect gift for your loved one. 

Saving Strawberry Farm

One penny.

In the hot, mean summer of 1933, a penny is enough to buy caramels or red hots or peppermint sticks or licorice strings. Is it enough to buy Miss Elsie's Strawberry Farm?

There's only one way to find out. Davey takes a deep breath and shouts, "One penny for trawberry Farm!"

Set during the Great Depression, and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Rachel Isadora, Saving Strawberry Farm brings Davey's Midwestern town to life as friends and neighbors plan to
save the farm the only way they can -- with a secret penny auction!

Strawberry Shortcake Coloring Book Super Set/ Over 100 Stickers

Delight your Strawberry Shortcake fan with this Strawberry Shortcake Giant Coloring Book Bundle with 144 coloring pages and 50 stickers.

This giant Strawberry Shortcake sticker activity book set features Strawberry Shortcake and her friends.

Includes two premium Strawberry Shortcake coloring books filled with coloring activities and games. Includes 50 stickers!

National Geographic Readers: Plants (Level 1 Co-reader)

Adult and child readers will learn all about plants together in this new Co-reader from National Geographic Kids. Find out how plants grow as well as the different parts of plants, seeds, and flowers.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the big hungry bear . . .

How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red ripe strawberry?

This classic story is beloved for its humor, expressive illustrations, and surprise ending—pure read-aloud fun!

Watch a Strawberry Grow (Bullfrog Books: Watch It Grow)

In Watch a Strawberry Grow, early fluent readers learn how strawberries grow. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn about how this delicious berry is grown and harvested. An infographic illustrates the life cycle of a strawberry. Children can learn more about how strawberries grow using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites

The Strawberry Garden

Grandfather Ethan planted strawberry seedlings in the garden bed, and when they grew big strawberries that were all shiny and red - everybody wanted to taste them: the cow, the crow, and even the cat. It's a good thing that the scarecrow was there to scare them away! But what happens when little Nora, the granddaughter, wants to collect the shiny red strawberries?

Also, look at these facts about strawberries.

6 Sweet Strawberry Facts

  • There are over 200 seeds on the surface of a single strawberry.
  • Strawberries are one of the first fruits to become ripe in spring and they only have about a 3-week harvest period, so pick ’em while they are ready!
  • They come in more than just the color red; by crossing wild strawberries and using the seeds we can get white, pink, yellow, and golden-hued shades.
  • Technically strawberries are part of the rose family, they are in the Rosaceae family and the subfamily Rosoideae, which also includes roses.
  • Strawberries have more vitamin c than an orange, well 7 strawberries do.
How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

While strawberries are grown in every state, 80% of the strawberries produced in the US are from California.

More Letter S Handprint Craft Ideas

If you need a handful of more ideas to teach the letter S to your child, I found some great themes to recreate from handprints for anytime of the year.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

I know this is a foot craft not a hand, but it deserves honorable mention.

Just look how ‘stinking’ cute this Footprint Skunk is (and two bonus letters turned woodland creatures).

More Hands-on Strawberry Activities for Kids

Also, if you want to include your older children with a study of strawberries, look at my activities below.

Finally, look at how to make this strawberry letter s handprint craft.

Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

Is it art, homeschool, or kitchen decor?

It can be all 3 and it is a wonderful keepsake that is fun for little learners to make as well.

You will need:

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

First, paint the top portion of both palms green for the stem and hull/calyx (the leafy greens at the top).

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

Paint the remainder of the palm and the 4 fingers red, overlapping the color just a bit.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

Press firmly onto the canvas with the fingers closed.

Be sure to press it down all over with your own hand to transfer as much of the paint as possible.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

Carefully lift the hands straight up off the canvas.

Repaint and repeat as many times as you like.

Use a paintbrush to extend the green top a little more.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

Let your child add seeds with either a sharpie marker or a cotton swab dipped in black craft paint.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

While that is drying, grab letter tiles or stickers and adhere them to the bottom of the canvas, going over each letter and the sound it makes as you add them.

For younger children you could even just add a variety of S’s to concentrate on the s is for strawberry lesson.

How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

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I have some great cloud crafts for preschoolers for you. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Use this craft if you’re teaching about clouds or weather in general, springtime, summer skies, or need something with the letter C.

There are 4 basic types of clouds – cumulus, cirrus, stratus, and nimbus.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

I’m giving you a simple explanation on two more but these four are plenty to focus on for preschoolers.

To help your preschooler understand the different types of clouds I recommend using several approaches.

Of course, the obvious is getting outside and observing clouds firsthand.

Books About Clouds

First, look at these resources about clouds.

Cloud Books & Resources for Kids

Add these cloud books and resources to your unit study.

Clouds (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Read and find out about how to forecast a change in weather by looking at the clouds in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

At any given time, more than half the earth is covered with different types of clouds. Some are dark and scary rain clouds, and some are just big white puffs. What kind of cloud is in the sky above you, and what can you expect the weather to be? Instead of turning on the TV to find out what the weather will be, you can look out your window at the clouds.

This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades

Little Cloud board book

At last! Here's a brand-new board book edition of an Eric Carle picture book that's a favorite with littlest cloud gazers everywhere! Little Cloud likes to stand out from the crowd. When all the other clouds drift up, he goes his own way, changing shapes to become a sheep, an airplane, a shark and a funny clown. It?s all lots of fun, but so is playing with friends. So this time, Little Cloud joins the crowd, gathering with his pals into one giant cloud. And then they rain!In Little Cloud, Eric Carle celebrates the possibilities of imagination with textured collages of sky-blue and white in a story that will encourage the youngest child to "read" clouds.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

Types Of Clouds - The Dr. Binocs Show

Hey kids, did you know that clouds have different types too? Well, after watching this video, you'd be able to identify most of them.

Next, look at these types of clouds.

Types of Clouds

For an older child you may also go into additional cloud types but the first three are great basic starts.

Cumulus Clouds

  • Look like cotton balls in the sky.
  • Usually brings fair weather.
  • Can grow tall and puffy, like mountains.

Cirrus Clouds

  • Thin, wispy clouds that look like feathers.
  • Made of ice crystals.
  • Often called “mare’s tails”.

Stratus Clouds

  • Gray, flat clouds that cover the entire sky.
  • Often brings drizzle or light rain.
  • Can make the day seem gloomy.

Nimbostratus Clouds

  • Dark, thick clouds that bring rain or snow.
  • Often covers the entire sky.
  • Can make the day seem very dark.

Altocumulus Clouds

  • Gray or white clouds that look like small balls of cotton.
  • Often brings fair weather.
  • Can sometimes indicate that rain or snow is coming.

Altostratus Clouds

  • Can make the day seem gloomy.
  • Gray or blue-gray clouds that cover the entire sky.
  • Often brings drizzle or light rain.
7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

Also, look at more crafts for preschoolers.

More Crafts for Preschoolers

Types of Clouds Activity

For younger preschoolers you may choose to only do a few basic clouds or only do them one at a time each day as you talk about each type.

Older preschoolers and even kindergarteners you could do all of them on the same day and then compare them.

You will need:

  • Cotton balls/pillow stuffing
  • Blue card stock
  • Craft sticks
  • Glue
  • Marker
  • Craft paint/paintbrush.
7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

Take a sheet of card stock or construction paper and cut it into 4 equal squares.

If you choose to create all 6 types listed above simply cut more paper squares.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

Write the name of each of the types of clouds you are choosing to do across the bottom of each piece.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

I find the easiest way to get the glue onto the strips is to put a little bit in a dish and let your child paint it on thickly with a paintbrush.

It is best to go ahead and ‘paint’ the shape of the cloud on with the glue.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

Using a book or pictures on the internet as a reference helps them to create each type of cloud.

Press the cotton onto the glue and add or remove pieces as needed to achieve the shape.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

For nimbus, stratocumulus, and cumulonimbus clouds you can have your child add a bit of gray/blue craft paint to darken the cotton.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

Allow the paint and glue to dry completely on the cards then flip them over and attach a craft stick to create a handle.

Now you can use these cards as a game where you call out a cloud and they hold up the one that correctly matches.

7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity

The Best Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

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Choosing the best homeschool preschool curriculum can be really easily. Also, you’ll love my page Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum. And my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

You don’t need to buy a box or prepared curriculum but rather learn through play. 

Learning through play can be easily directed by the parent (but not forced) to create a rich learning environment.

It should be more like fun and naturally being introduced to math, science, history, language arts, and more.

The Best Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

Preschoolers don’t need to worry about writing yet.

It is more important to build up their fine motor skills.

And this is easily done by building with blocks, playing with playdough, buttoning and unbuttoning their clothing, and digging in the dirt.

This can be as simple as putting letters in a sensory bin and asking them to find the letter that their name starts with or counting out crackers for a snack.

Common Household Items for Play Based Learning

You can use much of what you already have in your own home to teach preschoolers.

For example look at these items:

  • inexpensive craft supplies,
  • blunt scissors,
  • measuring cups/spoons,
  • beans for manipulatives,
  • toys for practicing beginning letter sounds,
  • cooking utensils for pouring and measuring,
  • mini scale,
  • crayons,
  • seeds,
  • analog clocks with hands and minutes,
  • maps, and anything else you can think of.

But for some structure that is still enjoyable, I have recommendations for each subject to help you facilitate a wonderful early learning environment.

Themes are especially fun in preschool and can be used to create a homeschool preschool curriculum with all the subjects.

Some favorites for us were farm, construction, space, dinosaurs, winter, and pets.

Focus on letter and number recognition, simple counting, read-aloud, and lots of play for little ones. 

The Best Homeschool Preschool Curriculum | Tips And Recommendations

Also, look at more tips for teaching preschoolers.

More Homeschool Preschool Curriculum Tips

Best Homeschool Curriculum By Grade

Finally, look at these recommendations.

14 Preschool Homeschool Curriculum Options

Look at what your homeschool preschool curriculum might look like with some suggestions for activities, books, and learning ideas.

Preschool Math at Home: Simple Activities to Build the Best Possible Foundation for Your Child (Math with Confidence)

Preschool Math at Home will guide you step-by-step as you introduce your preschooler to the world of numbers. Your child will develop a thorough understanding of the numbers up to ten, including:
counting comparing and ordering numbers recognizing written numerals beginning addition and subtraction.

Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study

Use my Preschool Phonics units for teaching letter of the week, there are currently 13 and counting letters available to start with, full of activities, ideas, crafts, and more.

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten: 260 Activities To Do With Your Child From Age 0 to 5

Looking for quick, engaging activities to prepare your child for kindergarten? Spend a few minutes a day with your child in productive, interactive play with Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten!

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten abounds with hands-on developmental activities that parents can do with their children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old to get them prepared for kindergarten. June R. Oberlander, a 19-year veteran kindergarten teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, first published this book in 1988. Now her granddaughter, Hannah Oberlander, a current teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia, has updated and enhanced these classic activities for today's parents of the next generation.

Developing the Early Learner: Level 1 by Simone Bibeau (1982) Paperback

BOOK 1 of 4 (AGES 2-6) Book 1 is a pre-reading experience designed to provide your child with a complete program in perceptual readiness. Here are some of the unique qualities that you will find within these pages. We include all four major areas of perception: visual, auditory, motor, and comprehension skills. Each major category is then broken down into specific sub-skills so that you can understand just what type of learning is taking place. Every page develops only ONE sub-skill to avoid confusion when the child is working the page. A target score on each page quickly gives you a score as well as an incentive for the child to work toward a certain goal.

My First Book of Patterns: Pencil Control

A perfect fun activity book designed for early learners to develop pencil control and motor skills. By following the arrows and tracing the dotted lines, the little scholars can complete the tracing exercises and creative activities leading to development of their early writing skills. The child will also learn to identify, write and revise straight, curvy, zig zag lines and multiple patterns. The book is also an excellent first step to prepare for school.

Before Five in a Row: Second Edition

Designed to be used with children ages 2 through 4, Before Five in a Row is a rich treasury of creative ideas that help you gently, consistently prepare your children for the lifelong adventure of
learning. Now in a revised second edition, this bestselling volume is the foundation for inspired learning through great books and future studies with the entire Five in a Row curriculum.

408 Pcs Lacing Letters Alphabet

Rich Numbers: you will get 2 buckets of lowercase letter beads, including 384 lowercase letters and 24 ropes, a total of 408 items, and the equipped storage buckets are easy to storage and protect these accessories; And the quantity is very large, which can meet the needs of daily learning and playing

A Unique Flexible and Beautiful Preschool Homeschool Planner

This unique flexible and beautiful preschool homeschool planner is the perfect homeschool planner to use for early learners. While creating this 47-page early learner planner I included flexible planning pages.

Forms like 21 thematic planning pages, a year at a glance page, and 12 months of planning your theme are a few included.

Adding in an editable lesson planning template and 4 colorful
attendance sheets helps you to easily meet record keeping guidelines if
necessary

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

Science books for your preschooler's curriculum should be simple and colorful but contain rich information in small bites. Nature Anatomy and The Big Book of series are perfect resources to keep on your shelves for preschoolers as they will grow with them for years.

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library Favorites: There's No Place Like Space!; Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?; Inside Your Outside!; Hark! A Shark!

This sturdy boxed set of four bestselling Cat in the Hat's Learning Library books includes something to pique the interest of every child! Beginning readers will learn all about our solar system in There's No Place Like Space!; all about dinosaurs in Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?; all about the human body in Inside Your Outside; and all about sharks in Hark! A Shark!

Preschool Exploring Creation Together Science

At the preschool level, science is all about exposure, not memorization of facts. It’s helping the youngest explorers understand that their world is discoverable. Through guided exploration of their world, young children learn how to naturally incorporate all aspects of language (expanding vocabulary), math (counting and recording), science (observing and experimenting), and art (drawing out ideas) into their understanding of how their world works. Most importantly, children will come to understand that their world is wonder-full, peace-full, and beauty-full because God created it full of His love and wisdom. Preschool Exploring Creation Together is a spiral-bound curriculum with 2 distinct sections included

Fun-Schooling for Beginners - Do-It-Myself Journal: Letters, Numbers, Animals, Coloring, Tracing, Mazes, Logic and Drawing (Full-Sized Activity Book for Preschool & Kindergarten)

Fun-Schooling for Beginners - Do-It-Myself Journal: Letters, Numbers, Animals, Coloring, Tracing, Mazes, Logic and Drawing (Full-Sized Activity Book for Preschool & Kindergarten) (Volume 1

A1 & A2, ideal for ages 2-6 (Preschool & Kindergarten) A beginners journal full of 100 educational and fun activities. This secular journal can be used by children of any religious background
Includes colors, numbers, letters, feelings, early reading & writing, and more.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

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

This teacher guide contains gentle Socratic questions designed to prompt discussion and discovery. Beautiful drawings of indigenous animals are also included which will familiarize students with some remarkable creatures, their habitat and habits, cultivating respect and wonder for the natural world.

Photo Credit: www.bfbooks.com

Early American History K-3rd - Homeschooling History Pack

Sure to ignite curiosity about our nation's history, this Early American History Through Literature study will take you and your K-3 homeschooling students through the first Indigenous people of the Americas, the Vikings discovery of America, the exploration, colonization, settlement, and establishment of the United States. Spanning 1000 AD to the mid-1800's this course makes teaching this literature-rich curriculum easy and fun!

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun

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If you need an adorable letter c handprint craft to teach your child in a fun and creative way, I have some crafty crab fun for you made with their own two little precious hands. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

This makes for a wonderful summer learning project for preschoolers as you discover all the amazing animals in and around the ocean.

This sounds like a great reason for multiple field trips to the beach don’t you think?

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun

Crabs are fascinating creatures as they make their home in all oceans as well as fresh water.

Some crabs live on land, some live several miles from water. Some species, such as the fiddler crab live in burrows in the sand or mud.

Crabs all have a hard exoskeleton to protect and support their more delicate insides yet some, like the hermit crab, choose to also hide inside of shells for additional protection.

Most crabs have a total of 10 appendages, two pincers/claws at the front, 6 walking legs, and 2 swimming legs in the very back.

They can vary in size from just ¾ “, the Pea Crab, to an up to 13’ leg span of the Japanese Spider Crab.

That is a pretty big size spread for one creature!

Let’s fiddle around and see what fun activities we can do with our littles to learn all about these crustaceans.

First, look at these beautiful books about the ocean.

Ocean Books

I love living books when we study.

Then I love to add in reference books when we’re learning.

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet! 

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

More Letter C Handprint Craft Ideas

  • Another C handprint craft is this cute crawling Caterpillar Handprint Craft and it would go along wonderfully with The Very Hungry Caterpillar book.
  • You could also go a farm route and create C is For Carrot handprint art.
  • This Handprint Art- C is For Car is ideal for a transportation unit with preschoolers who love things that go.
  • Dig into the desert with C is for Camel handprint craft as well as some other fabulous ideas for the theme.
  • Make a quick and easy Cactus Handprint without messy paint to clean up.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun

Ocean Crab Vocabulary Words

If you are going to create a crab handprint with your little you may as well turn it into a learning session as you do. Here are a few basic vocabulary words to teach the various anatomy of a crab.

  • Crustaceans- They live mostly in water, have a hard shell, a segmented body, and jointed appendages.
  • Exoskeleton- An outside skeleton that helps protect and support a crabs softer body.
  • Cheliped-The front arm of a crab that supports the claw, also known as a pincer.
  • Crawling Legs- These are the 8 other smaller legs on either side of a crab used to move around.
  • Antennae- In general crabs have two pairs, they are also known as feelers. Crabs use them to eat, navigate, smell, and for movement.

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft

You will need:

  • Blue cardstock paper
  • Tan cardstock paper
  • Red paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Google eyes
  • Glue stick
Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun

First, start with a blue background to look like the sky/water so that your crab is not just floating in white.

Tear a few strips of tan cardstock and use a glue stick to attach it along the bottom of the paper for sand layers.

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun

Now you want to coat those little hands in a good thick layer of red and stamp them one at a time so the palms just touch at the wrist area.

Be sure to press the palm and each finger down so the paint transfers well. Thumbs pointing upwards make great antennae.

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun

Allow the paint to dry completely then have them glue on googly eyes.

Whenever working on a project with preschool and younger children I like to write the letter on the paper as well or even ‘C is for Crab’ to help them make the connection that letters and words have meaning.

Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft - Crafty Crab Fun