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Free Sleuths Calendar Daily Challenge For Your Science Lover

December 31, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun freebie for your science lover. It is a science sleuths’ calendar daily challenge with answers.

A daily science challenge is a nice change to laid out science curriculum. And your child can do this independently or with you.

For example, kids can learn without burnout because there is no pressure. Too, it nurtures natural curiosity.

Free Sleuths Calendar Daily Challenge For Your Science Lover

Also, everyday turns to unforced learning moments.

In addition, I provided answers so it can be self-checking. Add this printable to a student’s notebook so your student can do it anytime and take it on the go.

So this science sleuth challenge invites students to observe, ask questions and make predictions. Besides, one of the questions and answers may spark a topic that can turn unit study.

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books that you can use for multiple ages or to spark an investigation, activity or experiment.

10 Science Books for Middle School

While not an exhaustive list, here is a good start on all three types of books to fill your bookshelves and offer your 6-8th graders brain food.

Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject’s key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all.

The Science Chef: 100 Fun Food Experiments and Recipes for Kids

What melts in your mouth and not in your hands, plumps when youcook it, and comes in more than forty-eight scrumptious flavors?Give up? The correct answer is: Science!With The Science Chef you'll learn loads of basic science by doingfun, easy-to-perform cooking projects. And you get to eat theresults when you're finished!Why do onions make you cry? How does yeast make bread rise? Whatmakes popcorn pop, whipped cream frothy, and angel food cakefluffy? You'll discover the scientific answers to these and dozensof other tasty mysteries when you prepare kid-tested recipes foreverything from Cinnamon Toast and Basic Baked Potatoes toStromboli Pizzoli and Monkey Bread.Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, you can become agreat Science Chef. All 100 experiments and recipes require onlycommon ingredients and standard kitchen utensils. And The ScienceChef includes rules for kitchen safety and cleanup, plus a completenutrition guide.

The Physics of Popcorn (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Learn how the microwave oven works, conduct experiments with static electricity, and discover the truth about toast!

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.Fully updated for this new 4th edition with the very latest facts and data; clear text and more than 1000 photos and illustrations will inform and amaze.

How to Survive Middle School: Science: A Do-It-Yourself Study Guide

Learning is an adventure both inside and outside of the classroom with the How to Survive Middle School study guide series!These colorful, highly visual books cover all the essential info kids need to ace important middle school classes. Large topics are broken down into easy-to-digest chunks, and reflective questions help kids check understanding and become critical thinkers.Written by middle school teachers and vetted by curriculum experts, thisseries is the perfect school supplement or homeschool resource—and a great way to help create independent learners.

The Chemistry of Cola

Get ready to play (and learn) with your food! Discover the truth about the problems with plastic and recycling, learn how to read the periodic table, conduct experiments with soda rockets, and more.The Chemistry of Cola uses applied science for a fun and interactive approach to learning for the whole family.

7 Subject Science Portfolio - Minecraft & The Real World: Ages 10 to 17 - Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, Physics, Technology and Zoology ... Homeschooling Workbooks by Thinking Tree)

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Young Explorer Series)

Science Comics: The Digestive System: A Tour Through Your Guts

Your guide to the gut is a friendly bacterium who will take you on a journey beyond imagination. Uncover how food is transformed into nutrients! Explore strange and dangerous glands! Behold the wonders of saliva, mucus, and vomit! Writer Jason Viola and illustrator Andy Ristaino provide a trip to the toilet you will never forget!Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic―dinosaurs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, robots, and more! Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these graphic novels are for you!

Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.

Understand how the eye works to enhance your views of the night sky
Study the 150 stunning, full-color star charts to learn the names and placement of constellations
Discover how to observe the galaxies with the naked eye
Learn how to choose and use a telescope
Investigate the celestial motions and events
Learn best practices for astrophotography

These simple tips and tricks from Dr. Lisle will make your stargazing sessions go from mediocre to spectacular. The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky is the size of a hardcover textbook, boasting 240 glossy pages of education for the hobby astronomer or science student. This resource is excellent for the family, couples, or individuals who like to learn and explore

Then, look at these activities to pair with this free printable challenge.

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR SCIENCE LOVER

This is a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE SCIENCE SLEUTHS CALENDAR DAILY CHALLENGE & ANSWERS

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

July 30, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Sometimes you just need a homeschool science materials checklist to see what your missing in your science supplies. Also, look at my page Homeschool Planner for more free homeschool planner printables.

Besides, part of learning how to homeschool is doing all the fun hands-on science.

However, more than once, I have been caught short at the house with some of the supplies we needed in our home to complete the activities.

And even though we have used laid out science curriculum too, I have learned a lot through the years regarding how to stock my kitchen and home.

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for your 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner by Tina Robertson

So, I have reduced some of the things we have used over and over, year after year and put them in this homeschool science materials checklist.

For example, we love doing science and have used 365 More Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials more than one time through the years because we love to pick activities which interests us.

In addition, we love books like Janice VanCleave’s Big Book of Science Experiments because you can easily obtain other materials not found at home.

Household Products for Science at Home

Now, depending on which area of science, like earth science, chemistry, physical science or life science, you will need to have a few exact materials for a branch of science you focus on.

For instance, we add specific things we need and use Homeschool Science Tools.

In addition, Homeschool Science Tools has just kits if you don’t want to use a full science curriuclum.

Look at their science kits here to see your options.

So this list is a list of general things you will want to stock your home with.

It’s kind of a given too that you will eventually want a microscope and slides, but I noticed year after year I have collected some of the same things in home.

Reducing materials I seem to use year after year into this checklist, I’m hoping to keep you organized.

And not do like us by having to put a fun activity on hold until we make a run to the store.

I hate when that happens.

Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

Also, I have a provided space on the free printable science material checklist so you can add unique items you’ll need for upcoming science lessons.

Too, another tip is to jot beside the product the total number of items you have. Sometimes I think I have more jars than I actually do.

This science checklist will help you to keep those items at home organized.

homeschool-science-materials-checklist-for-the-7-step-homeschool-planner-grab-your-free-copy-over-tinas-dynamic-homeschool-plus

This Homeschool Science Materials Checklist is part of the 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner and you can begin building your own homeschool planner below.

Add Your Science Checklist to Your Homeschool Planner

Be sure to add this science checklist to your homeschool planner each year.

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

How to Get the Free Science Materials Checklist

Now, how to grab this form and 10 other free homeschool planner forms. This is a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for the 7 Step Homeschool Planner @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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Homeschool Planning 2019 to 2023 Major Holidays Form (5 Years One Page)

December 21, 2018 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Each year, I update my very unique 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner. The form I have today is for homeschool planning 2019 to 2023. It has Major U.S. holidays on one page for easy reference. It is a nifty hard-working tool because I use it for both short-term and long-term planning.

These forms are used to help you plan not just your homeschool year, but vacations and days off in your school year.

This form is for homeschool planning 2019 to 2023. It has Major U.S. holidays on one page for easy reference. It is a nifty hard-working tool because I use it for both short-term and long-term planning.It goes along with this 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner! CLICK here to grab BOTH free AWESOME colorful choices!

By looking this far ahead, it helps me to decide when I want to take a family vacation. And I use it with my homeschool planning calendar.

5 Years of Major U.S. Holidays One Page

I generally print several of these for my home management binder and my free homeschool planner.

Grab your color choices below or grab both of them.

Click here to grab the Purple-licious 2019 to 2023 Holiday Reference Page.

Click here to grab the Aquazoom 2019 to 2023 Holiday Reference Page.

If you’re ready to start putting together your homeschool planner, be sure to grab one or both of these updated holiday reference pages.

And if you’re ready to begin building your free homeschool planner, click below.

Look at these other products that I know you’ll love!

7 Easy Steps – “Tons of Options & Pretty Color” Begin building your planner

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectivesur

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

Step 7. Bind it! Love itD

5 Simple Ways to Enhance a Homeschool Unit Study

August 1, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Unit studies can be intimidating. The same things that make unit studies captivating can be the same things that make them tough to teach. Sharing 5 simple ways to enhance a homeschool unit study, I’m hoping that you won’t be afraid to take the plunge and try a unit study or two.

Do You Struggle with Homeschool Unit Studies?

One/ Always include a simple hands-on activity or two.

I use to be very judgmental and critical of homeschoolers (I know, doesn’t sound like me at all does it) who did a lot of hands-on activities until I started actually teaching.

What I learned along the way was that activities don’t have to be expensive or time-consuming to have a wow factor.

What is more important is that hands-on learning brings your topic alive and those are the teaching points your kids remember for life.

I’ve tried to do simple things through my many years of homeschooling.

Two/ Include living books.

Sometimes you can pull information from a textbook.

I’ve done it several times because that is what I had on hand and there was no need to purchase something else.

Look at how I did that at From Textbook to Homeschool Unit Study Starter.

However, if you’re wanting the best ways to enhance a unit study, living books beat the boring blahs when it comes to introducing or learning a unit study.

We love using the books by Beautiful Feet, but we also love using reference books.

Though some can be dry, we find they still have a story like appeal which is the hallmark of living books.

Look at my tips at my post Day 3. Selecting Superior Sub-Topics. 10 Days of Diving Into Unit Studies By Creating A Unit Study Together.

Are Your Unit Studies Boring Your Kids to Sleep?

Three/ Use movies as part of your unit study or as a kick starter.

Many times, I’ve used a documentary, musical, or movie to kick off a unit study. It adds flavor to a time period especially if it’s a history related topic.

Not all kids have good imaginations for a past time period. A movie has a way of adding facts about a time period without a child having to slave over period details.

Look at my post Homeschool History Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix.

Four/ Include just one or two other homeschool families.

You don’t have to join a co-op if you want to cover topics specifically geared toward your kids.

By homeschooling with another family, you still add the element of fun that is found in a co-op, share the lesson planning with another homeschool mom but still control what you want to teach.

Plus, it was great to see my kids interact with another homeschool educator. We did a study about the Vikings with another family and between the two of us, we had so many ideas for our kids.

Some of our best times were by including another homeschool family or two.

**Five/ One of the best ways is to focus on one subtopic within your unit study or enhance it with a focused subtopic.**

A huge mistake in unit studies is covering way too much material.

But too another point is not being able to hone in one of the subtopics in a unit study.

Whether you purchase a unit study or find one that is free, a problem has always been that you’re not able to cover a subtopic deeply within a theme which interests your kids.

Today, I’m over the top excited to announce a new series which will be in my shop and that is Unit Study Enhancers.

What exactly are they? Well they are printables (minibooks and/or notebooking pages) to use for those times when you can’t find a unit study which hones in specifically on a subtopic that you want to cover.

My unit study enhancers will enhance your teaching points.

It’s meant to bring up close a subtopic or topic that you want to highlight within a theme.

Add them to a notebook, lapbook, use with a workbook or include them as a subtopic in a free or purchased unit study because the printables are not a complete unit study, but enhance one.

Too, by giving you options within the product download, they are designed to relieve teacher prep time and to use with multiple ages of children. For instance, some downloads have simple researched printed material to glue onto pages. This allows you to move forward teaching when your time is limited.

Or, you can have your student research his own information and write it in. Where possible, I give one link or more for reference while using the printables.

Unless a topic is specifically geared toward young learners, quality photos and not babyish images are chosen so that older learners can be engaged.

Color and the highest quality graphics I can find are used to diminish the blah of boring printables.

My first Unit Study Enhancer focuses on one of my biggest free unit studies here on my blog and that is The Amazon Rain Forest. The Unit Study Enhancer is about the temperate rain forest. You can read more about it here at my shop.

But you can download it today for only $2.25.