Unit Studies Archives

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Grades

March 1, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

As the weather warms, we start to see frogs in our neighborhood.

Since we live in the South, we have fairly wet springs and humid summers. So we always have frogs sticking to the back of our patio door from April to September.

If you’ll be studying animals with your class during spring, this simple frog unit is an easy way to introduce your students to these amphibians!

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Students

Below you’ll see a frog facts video, frog activities for kids, and a few frog books to read as well.

Be sure to check out our printable Frog Life Cycle Sequencing Activity too!

Get to know these fun amphibians with this simple frog unit for early elementary grades!

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Students

Get to know more about frogs with this simple frog facts for kids video from the San Diego Zoo!

After watching it with your students, ask the questions that follow and see if they can recall the answers.

What does the word amphibian mean? (Answer: double life)
How do frogs breathe in the water? (Answer: Through their skin.)
Where do most frogs live? (Answer: In the tropical rainforest.)
What is camouflage? (Answer: Colors and markings that help frogs blend in to their surroundings.)
How do frogs move around? (Answer: By hopping and climbing)
How do frogs’ feet stick? (Answer: The mucus between the bumps on their toes helps them stick to surfaces.)
Why do frogs have webbed feet? (Answer: It helps them swim.)
What do frogs eat? (Answer: Insects, snails, worms, and spiders)

Fun Frog Activities for Early Elementary Students

Extend your lesson about frogs with these early elementary frog activities for kids!

Frog Books for Early Elementary Learners

When you’re ready to teach your class some frog facts for kids, these books can help!

Fun Frog Books for Early Elementary Students

They’re filled with colorful pictures that make learning about these animals engaging for young readers.

Note: Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

See even more frog books for early learners in our roundup of preschool books about frogs!

When you’re preparing to teach your students about amphibians, this unit about frogs can help make your lesson planning a breeze.

Did you enjoy this simple frog unit for early elementary? Take a look at these other spring learning ideas!

Use this printable plant growing journal to help early learners document the ways plants grow at home or in the classroom!

This spring counting to ten math center is excellent for kindergartners to use during spring months!

These spring sight words learning cards are great for building reading skills!

A Simple Homes Unit for Preschool

October 12, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Types of homes are one of the most popular themes in early childhood education.

We all live in different types of homes with different types of families. Learning about those differences is a key way to broaden a child’s knowledge of the world.

This simple homes unit preschool learners will enjoy is an easy way to introduce this topic!

In this easy preschool unit, you’ll find a video discussion, books, and printable coloring pages about homes.

And the coloring pages are free!

Read on to get the full details. Be sure to take a look at our list of community helpers books for kids too!

Use this simple homes unit for preschool to teach early learners about types of homes!

A Simple Homes Unit Preschool Students Will Enjoy

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

Talking about types of homes is a great way to get early learners to open up in class.

When we ask questions about the home each child lives in, we give them a chance to tell us something they know.

And, they get to hear how their classmates live every day too.

Take a look at the video below for a fun introduction to different types of homes!

After you watch the video together, ask your students the following questions:

What are some kinds of homes? Answer: One-family homes, apartment houses, houseboats, igloos

Where would people live in igloos? Answer: In places where it’s cold and snowy

Where would people live in houseboats? Answer: On the water

Who lives in a barn? Answer: Farm animals

Need a simple house craft for preschoolers? Try this easy one from The Crafting Chicks!

15 Great Books for a Homes Unit Preschool Kids Will Love

When it’s time to share a story about houses, choose one from this list of excellent children’s books about types of homes.

In this list, you’ll find stories about homes around the world, different types of families, life after moving, and what makes a family.

These selections are perfect for students from different kinds of backgrounds.

15 Great Books about Homes for Kids

Learn about different types of homes, how homes are built, and what makes a home with these lovely children's books!

These make excellent additions to an early learning unit about homes or family.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan & Jan Berenstain

How Does My Home Work? by Chris Butterworth

Moving to the Neighborhood (Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood) by Alexandra Cassel

A Place Called Home: Look Inside Houses Around the World (Lonely Planet Kids)

How a House Is Built by Gail Gibbons

New House, Same Underwear: by Brenda Li (Pig In Jeans)

Tani's New Home: A Refugee Finds Hope and Kindness in America by Tanitoluwa Adewumi

Where's My House?: Sierra National Forest by Susie A. Harder

A Home Again by Colleen Rowan Kosinski

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche

Home For a While by Lauren Kerstein

Murphy's Three Homes: A Story for Children in Foster Care by Jan Levinson Gilman

Printable House Coloring Pages for Kids

Add to your preschool homes unit with these printable house coloring pages!

Each page features a different looking house for children to color.

You can use them as in-class art activities.

Or send them with students as take-home assignments!

To get your set of printable House Coloring Pages, click the image or the link below to have them sent to your inbox!

Our weekly newsletter will be coming this Sunday too!

Click here to get your printable resource

>>> Printable House Coloring Pages <<<

I hope you love using this simple homes unit for preschool with your students!

Looking for more early learning resources? Take a look at these!

Share some of these fun snow books for kids with little ones this winter!

Use these printable farm animal flashcards to help early learners recognize barnyard animals!

This printable ice cream lesson plan for preschool is a perfect way to plan an ice cream theme!

Simple Elementary Hurricane Unit for Kids

July 13, 2021 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

It’s the beginning of summer and that’s usually the time that the Atlantic Hurricane Season kicks into high gear.

We’ve been learning about hurricanes for a few weeks, so I thought I’d share a simple hurricane unit for kids that helps students learn about these weather phenomena.

If you like using unit studies, this is a perfect way to talk about wild summer weather!

Read on to see the list of videos, activities, and resources you can use to teach early elementary students about hurricanes and cyclones. Plus, grab two free printable activities for studying hurricanes too!

For more weather learning, take a look at our list of 15 Weather STEM Activities for kids to try!

This hurricane unit for kids is a perfect way to talk about extreme weather over summer!

How to Use a Hurricane Unit for Kids

I’ve always been fascinated by hurricanes. They’re basically cyclones over water, which is amazing in itself.

They’re incredibly destructive, but the weather phenomena they produce is breathtaking, especially in satellite images.

We had to evacuate a couple of times when I was a kid and I thought it was exciting. As a child, you don’t understand that the possibility of your house being destroyed is not a fun thing.

But I still find the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, to be an interesting time of year for studying extreme weather.

What is a Hurricane for Kids

Watch the video below to learn about hurricanes form. Have your students answer the questions that follow and record their answers on paper.

(The note taking pages at the bottom of this page are perfect for this!)

Where do hurricanes form? (Answer: They form in the warm ocean waters near the Equator.)
How do hurricanes form? (Answer: Warm air above the ocean rises, creating low pressure under the water. Surrounding air rushes into the low pressure area, forming an area of warm, moist low pressure that rises above the water. As air continues to rush in, clouds form. The ocean’s warmth and water vapor causes the clouds and wind to spin.)
How large can hurricanes become? (Answer: Up to 300 miles wide.)
What is the eye of a hurricane? (Answer: The calm center of the storm.)
What is the eye wall of a hurricane? (Answer: The wall of winds that surround the eye. These winds are the most damaging. The eye wall can be up to 30 miles in width.)
What are the rainbands? (Answer: The rain clouds that surround the eye wall. These can be up to 300 miles in width.)
Which hurricane categories are the most dangerous? (Answer: Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5)
How powerful is the energy released by a large hurricane? (Answer: Energy equal to the blast of 10 atomic bombs per second.)
What are hurricanes that form in the Pacific Ocean called? (Answer: Typhoons)

Hurricane Activities for Kids

These are plenty of ways to learn about summer storms! Try some of these elementary hurricane learning activities in your hurricane unit for kids.

Label the Hurricane Activity – A printable diagram that displays the parts of a hurricane
Hurricane In a Jar – An easy science experiment that demonstrates how hurricanes form
Hurricane Comprehension Worksheet – Printable summary of facts about hurricanes
Free Printable Hurricane Booklet – A great tool for tracking hurricanes that develop during the season
Ridiculous Weather Report – Fun activity for kids who want to create their own weather forecast
Hurricane Fill-In-the-Blank Worksheet – A printable report that helps kids understand more about hurricanes
Hurricane Tracking Activity – Printable tracking map for hurricanes
Hurricane Printable Mini Unit – 16-page printable pack with facts and activities about hurricanes
5th Grade Hurricane Worksheets – Excellent hurricane printables for upper elementary kids with answer key

Hurricane Note Taking Pages

Round out your hurricane unit study with these printable note taking pages! They’re super handy for writing down some of the facts students will learn in this unit.

Just click the image or the link below to get your set free!

>>>> Tropical Storm Notebooking Pages <<<<

Hurricane Facts Matching Activity

Ready to learn more about different kinds of hurricanes?

This printable hurricane categories matching activity is perfect for introducing students to the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength.

Along with a brief summary of hurricanes, this activity shows students how to classify each storm’s strength based on its sustained wind speed per hour.

An answer key is also included for easy grading!

To get your copy of this Hurricane Categories Matching Activity, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

>>> Hurricane Categories Matching Activity <<<

Want to learn more about weather with kids? Don’t miss these other ideas!

All About Flowers! Printable Flower Early Elementary Unit

February 16, 2021 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Is anyone else ready for spring?

I know I am. Winter is always a struggle for me. I don’t like gray skies and I don’t like cold air.

I literally count down the days until spring returns every year.

So I’m excited to start using some spring-themed activities in lessons. And what better way to jump into spring than by learning about flowers?

Today I’m sharing “All About Flowers” – a set of early elementary flower printables for kids that are perfect for spring learning!

This unit is filled with flower-themed learning activities for students in kindergarten through second grade!

Take a look at the full resource and how to get your copy below!

And if you love these, check out some of our spring math activities, including our Rainbow Number Word Matching Activity and our Flower Repeated Addition Worksheets!

All About Flowers! Printable Flower Early Elementary Unit

This resource would make an excellent addition to science lessons in primary grades!

The short lessons are good for in-class discussions and you can use the activities for reinforcement after class or for homework.

To use this flowers printable elementary unit, you’ll need a few supplies. (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer paper
Scissors
Laminator (optional – for the flashcards)
Pencils
Colored pencils or crayons

This 33-page flower unit includes several lessons and activities for students to test their understanding and review what they’ve learned about flowers.

Use the brief lesson about how flowers grow and the sequencing activity to introduce students to the growth process of flowering plants.

Then get to know the different parts of a flower with a lesson and a labeling activity.

Identification flashcards for twelve common flower varieties are included.

Plus, there are blank label cards with printable labels. These would be great for matching up at centers!

Help students remember each flower’s name with a matching activity afterward.

Challenge them to remember the name and spelling of each variety with a flower naming activity.

They can have a little fun with a few flower activity and coloring pages!

Instructions for each activity are included. And there’s a full answer key for easy grading!

Get a look at the complete product in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of these flower printables for kids!

Don’t miss these other spring learning resources!

To get your copy of All About Flowers Printable Unit Study – our flower printables for kids, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

We Got Jazz! – A Jazz Black History Unit Study

January 21, 2021 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

As the kids and I have been studying black history, we’ve found so many incredible stories of great jazz musicians.

I knew of all of these music pioneers, but learning about their lives and experiences has been so enlightening and it’s been a wonderful lesson for our children.

So I thought it would be nice to put what we’ve learned together into a printable black history unit study that’s all about jazz, bebop, and scat!

We are very proud to announce the release of We Got Jazz! – Exploring the Pioneers of Scat, Bebop, and Swing!

We Got Jazz! is a jazz unit study packed with jazz history, comprehension reviews, and listening activities for kids in grades 1-3!

Read on to see how to get your copy! And, if you need a digital version for distance learning – there’s one of those too.

If you’re looking for more black history lessons for kids, don’t miss our African Kingdoms unit study for elementary students!

We Got Jazz! Black History Unit Study

We have always enjoyed the sounds of jazz.

While we knew about all of these famous musicians, we didn’t know much about how they got started making music or the challenges they faced during their careers.

As we started exploring these figures with the kids, we found out so many interesting things.

Which is why I hope that your students find this black history unit enjoyable too!

We Got Jazz! features five biography units of jazz greats:

Dizzy Gillespie
Nat King Cole
Ella Fitzgerald
Miles Davis
and Duke Ellington

The section for each artist includes a comprehensive, age-appropriate biography of their life and career.

This is followed by a question and answer review activity to see what students have learned from the biography.

Then there’s a crossword puzzle, a timeline sequencing activity, and a listening activity (with a link to where to find each artist’s music) to help students learn even more about each artist.

Depending on what your lesson plan includes, you could take one artist a week.

You might try covering the biography with the class. Then students can complete the activities on their own.

Or you could spend a week discussing them all!

Read the biography with the class and then assign them to complete the review activities for homework or independent work.

Plus, a full answer key is included for easy grading!

See the full product flip through below!

Digital We Got Jazz Black History Unit

Are you distance learning this year? Or just looking to save on printer ink?

We Got Jazz! is also available in a digital version!

The digital version, which is compatible with Google Slides, contains all of the information and just as many activities as the print version.

After reading about each artist, students can type their answers to the review questions – directly on the slides.

They can drag and drop the events in each artist’s life into the correct sequence.

Instead of a crossword puzzle, there is a word unscramble activity for each person.

And you can use the digital answer key (which is delivered in a separate file) to grade student submissions in no time!

See the video preview of the digital version of We Got Jazz below!

Scroll down to get the print or digital version of We Got Jazz for your students!

Check out more black history learning activities below!

Looking for the digital version of We Got Jazz? Pick it up in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

>>> Digital We Got Jazz Unit for Elementary <<<

To get the print version of We Got Jazz!, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Penguins Unit Study

January 17, 2019 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

We’re sharing a brand new edition of our homeschool unit studies today with a free penguins unit study! Just in time to cover it this winter!

Penguins are super fun animals. If you get a chance to watch them interact, they’re playful and intelligent and incredibly considerate of one another. Whenever I see pictures of emperor penguins standing together to fight off the cold air, my heart practically explodes.

Read on to see some incredible facts you can learn about penguins – right along with the kids. And for more winter learning, don’t miss our All About Snowflakes unit study! It’s loaded with 30 pages of winter lessons for grades 1-4!

Penguins Unit Study

It’s not just adults. Kids love penguins too! So they’ll love learning about them this winter in this free penguins unit study! There are videos, crafts, books, and more for learning about how these incredible birds live and play!

Penguins Notebooking Pages

Start by collecting a set of printable penguin notebooking pages!

They’re perfect for jotting down facts, organizing ideas for a report, or writing a story about these cool birds!

To get your set free, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll receive these and lots of other learning printables in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

Penguins Facts for Kids

On to learning about what makes a penguin a penguin! Watch the video below with the kids and then see if they can answer the questions that follow.

1. Are penguins warm-blooded or cold-blooded? (Answer: Warm-blooded)
2. How are penguins different from most birds? (Answer: They do not fly.)
3. Where do penguins lives? (Answer: Antarctica, Africa, South America, Australia, and the Galapagos Islands)
4. How many different species of penguins are there? (Answer: 17)
5. What is the smallest species of penguin? (Answer: Little Penguin/Blue Penguin)
6. What is the largest species of penguin? (Answer: Emperor Penguin)
7. How do penguins stay warm? (Answer: Thick layers of blubber and tightly packed feathers)
8. What do penguins eat? (Answer: Krill, fish, squid, and other small aquatic animals)
9. How many eggs do penguins lay each year? (Answer: One to two)
10. Why are penguins endangered? (Answer: Bad weather, habitat destruction, and overfishing by humans)

Penguins Books and Activities for Kids

Add these penguin books for kids and penguin activities for kids to your penguin unit study for a complete lesson! (This section contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

1. Coffee Filter Penguin Craft – Look! We’re Learning!
2. Penny Penguin Finds Her Way Home by Philip J. Damiani
3. Marshmallow Penguin Snack – Eats Amazing
4. Penguin in Peril by Helen Hancocks
5. A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
6. No-Sew Sock Penguin Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun
7. Be Brave, Little Penguin by Giles Andreae
8. Penguin Says “Please” by Michael Dahl
9. Waddling Penguin Craft – Buggy and Buddy
10. Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon

For more penguin learning fun, don’t miss our roundup of even more Kids’ Books about Penguins!

And check out even more penguin crafts for kids too!

See more ways to learn about winter animals!

Plus get more ideas for winter learning on my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Animal Homes Unit Study

October 15, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Today we’re sharing another one of our homeschool unit studies!

We’ve already talked about hibernation and this time I wanted to share some information we’ve found about how animals make their homes in various environments.

Read on to check out our Animal Homes Unit Study!

Kids love to learn about where animals live.

And, really, it is fascinating to study how different kinds of animals adapt to their environments and manage to raise their young, no matter the climate in which they live.

Personally, I don’t think I could get by without heating and air conditioning, but that’s another story…

This simple animal homes unit is a fun way to introduce habitats and ecosystems to early elementary students. Plus, there’s a free animal homes worksheet for you to use with your class!

Want to see more of our homeschool unit studies for kids? Don’t miss our beach unit study or our penguins unit study!
Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Homeschool Unit Studies: Animal Homes Unit Study

We started by learning about different animal homes in The Usborne World of Animals (part of our BookShark Level 1 curriculum).

As our lesson plan suggested, we went out to explore animal homes in our local area.

We saw this eight-legged guy living in a tree.

We even found insects living under a fallen tree branch on the ground.

Naturally, we couldn’t leave it there. So we went to the zoo to see even more animal habitats.

There were birds living in trees…

…in ponds…

…and in the Arctic!

We saw elephants living on the savanna.

And alligators living in swamps.

The kids thought it was cool that animal homes look so different from one place to another. And, as we learned, the homes vary by region and by species.

So one animal in the rainforest has a certain kind of home, while a different animal has a different kind of home that suits its needs.

But an animal that lives in the rainforest may have a very different home than a related animal that lives in our area.

As our BookShark lesson pointed out, this is no different than people. Different people have different kinds of homes based on where they live and their specific needs.

Printable Animal Homes Worksheet for Kids

Learn about the types of homes that different animals live in with this free printable animal homes worksheet for kids!

This is a simple but educational activity to help early elementary students practice matching animals with the names of their homes!

Plus, an answer key is included!

Get your free copy of this printable Animal Homes worksheet by clicking the image below!

Animal Homes Unit Study Video

To learn more about animal habitats, check out this video and see if the kids can answer the questions that follow!

1. What is a habitat? (Answer: The area where something lives)

2. What do animals need to live? (Answer: Food, water, shelter, and space to live)

3. What is the food chain? (Answer: The model that describes the flow of energy between living things)

4. What is a food web? (Answer: Tangled system that includes every plant and animal in a habitat)

5. Do food webs and food chains look the same all over the world? (Answer: No, they are different, depending on the conditions in each habitat.)

Animal Homes Books and Activities for Kids

Try the following affiliate animal habitat books and animal habitat activities to add to your Animal Homes unit study!

1. Sea Monster Notebooking Pages – Look! We’re Learning!

2. National Geographic Wild Animal Atlas: Earth’s Astonishing Animals and Where They Live

3. Habitat Sensory Bins – Mama’s Happy Hive

4. Welcome Home, Bear: A Book of Animal Habitats by Il Sung Na

5. Animal Habitat Mural – True Aim Education

6. I See a Kookaburra!: Discovering Animal Habitats Around the World by Steve Jenkins

7. Farm Shoebox Diorama – Look! We’re Learning!

8. Scholastic: Matching Animals & Habitats Lace-Up Cards by Maria Chang

Don’t miss these other science-based unit studies for kids!

Printable Beach Unit Study: All About Beaches

May 17, 2018 by Selena Robinson 10 Comments

Who loves a trip to the beach?

*ducks as everyone raises their hand*

While we’re waiting for our family trip to the shore this year, I thought we’d try a fun printable beach unit study with the kids.

Which is how this All About Beaches early elementary unit was born!

There’s so much more to the beach than sand and surf!

There are animals that live on the beach, scientific principles that explain how sand is formed, ways to learn about notable beaches around the world, and more that kids can discover in this printable unit study.

This unit is full of beach-themed activities that you can use with young learners and early elementary students.

Read on to see how to get your copy!

Looking for more beach-themed fun for the summer? Don’t miss our list of beach books for kids and our beach play sand you can make at home!

Printable Beach Unit Study: All About Beaches

To use this printable beach unit study, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer Paper
Pencils
Crayons
Laminator (optional)
Scissors (for separating the flashcards)

All About Beaches begins with a two-page lesson about how sand is formed.

Then we’re on to geography with an activity that helps kids place the locations of beaches around the U.S. and around the world.

A full answer key is located at the back.

Complete a fun unscramble activity to spot the names of animals that live on the beach!

And kids who love word games will have fun with a printable beach word search!

There’s a two-page story about a day at the beach, followed by a grammar exercise to help kids review parts of speech.

Several beach-themed coloring pages are also included!

And little ones can practice counting to ten with beach ball flashcards in English…

…and Spanish too! You might want to laminate these for durability, by the way.

Scroll down to get your copy of our Printable Beach Unit Study: All About Beaches!

Don’t miss these other beach activities for kids!

To get your copy of our printable beach unit study: All About Beaches, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Harlem Renaissance Unit Study

January 16, 2018 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

We’ve always been passionate about teaching our kids black history. There are so many wonderful stories, people, and events to share. And one of our very favorite periods to discuss is the Harlem Renaissance.

So this year, we wanted to develop a Harlem Renaissance unit study we could cover with the kids to help them learn even more about the people, movements, and ideas that sprang up in Harlem during the 1920s. I hope you and your kids love the books and activities about the Harlem Renaissance below too!

Don’t forget to check out our printable jazz unit study “We Got Jazz” to learn about the pioneers of jazz and bebop!

Harlem Renaissance Unit Study

This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Policy for details.

Harlem Renaissance Notebooking Pages

I wanted to have some printables that the kids could use to write down what they learn about the Harlem Renaissance, so I created these Jazz Journaling notebooking pages! Click the image or the link below to download yours free!

>>> Jazz Journaling Printable Notebooking Pages <<<

What Was the Harlem Renaissance?

Watch the video below to get an overview of the Harlem Renaissance and then let your kids answer the following questions.

1. What was the Harlem Renaissance? (Answer: A cultural and intellectual movement that occurred in Harlem, New York during the 1920s)

2. How did Harlem come to be a major African-American cultural center? (Answer: During the Great Migration, many African-Americans moved up north and settled in Harlem.)

3. What branches of thought and entertainment were included in the Harlem Renaissance? (Answer: Music, poetry, writing, art, and philosophy)

4. How did African-American fashion change during the Harlem Renaissance? (Answer: Men started to wear zoot suits, women wore low-slung dresses. Both men and women wore hats. Leopard-print became a popular trend, because of its connection to ancient African culture.)

5. How did the Harlem Renaissance affect the musical culture of the United States? (Answer: African-American art and music became popular with white audiences. White musicians began incorporating African-American musical rhythms and styles into their music.)

6. How did the Harlem Renaissance change the perception of African-Americans in the United States? (Answer: Prior to the 1920s, black people were often thought of as uneducated farmers. During the Renaissance, people came to see that black people were sophisticated, intelligent, and accomplished.)

Among the prominent writers of the movement was Langston Hughes (one of my personal writing heroes). This video is a good introduction to his work.

Books About the Harlem Renaissance:

Share these books about the Harlem Renaissance to bring this historical period to life!

1. The Harlem Renaissance: An Interactive History Adventure

2. The Great Migration: An American Story

3. Louis Armstrong: Jazz Legend

4. The Harlem Renaissance (We The People)

5. Harlem Stomp! A Cultural History of The Harlem Renaissance

6. Black Stars of the Harlem Renaissance

7. Sugar Hill: Harlem’s Historic Neighborhood

8. Schomburg: The Man Who Built A Library

9. Celeste’s Harlem Renaissance

10. Take A Picture of Me, James VanDerZee!

11. Coming Home: From the Life of Langston Hughes

12. Fire!! The Zora Neale Hurston Story

13. Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills

14. One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance

15. Harlem Renaissance Party

16. A Song for Harlem (Scraps of Time)

17. W.E.B. DuBois (Great African-Americans)

18. Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

19. Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes

20. The Harlem Renaissance: Profiles in Creativity

Be sure to let the kids dress up in period clothing to match the style of the Harlem Renaissance! We hit up a local thrift store to find an outfit for our oldest daughter.

Many of the African-American jazz musicians who became famous during the 20th century either got their start during the Renaissance or grew up during that time and developed styles based on the modern jazz that came out of the movement.

Check out our unit study We Got Jazz for over 130 pages of activities about some of these artists!

Stop by to check out these other learning ideas!

And see more ideas for teaching history at home on my Living History for Kids Pinterest board!

Want to get exclusive learning resources and printables? Sign up for our email newsletter!

Teach Kids to Bake with a Cooking Lapbook

December 19, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

I have to admit: I’ve been super lax about getting my kids into the kitchen. Tigger knows how to prepare breakfast and lunch for us all, but the boys….not so much.

Since our kids have ADHD, it’s hard to help them exercise caution and take their time, which are two of the MOST important skills you need to learn if you’re going to cook.

So I was glad to get a chance to review this adorable Cooking Lapbook from Knowledge Box Central! With it, our boys got a lesson in kitchen safety and a chance to make their very first dessert!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this resource in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Learning to Bake with a Cooking Lapbook

First of all, we needed to assemble the lapbook, which did take some time.

Here’s the list of supplies you’ll need: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Colored file folders

Hot glue gun with glue sticks (for gluing the folders together)

Colored paper

Stapler with staples

Metal brad fasteners

Tacky glue (for gluing the minibooks into the folders)

But look how pretty it is!

Here’s the inside of the first folder.

Then the second…

and the third.

We decided to begin at the beginning with the activity “What is the first thing you should do BEFORE cooking?” Anyone have an idea what it is?

*hums Jeopardy thinking music*

It’s “Wash Your Hands”! The lesson plan included in the Cooking Lapbook described how children should be washing their hands before they cook. So we all got up, used warm water, lathered for 20 seconds, and rinsed well. 😉

See the lapbook in action on the next page!

Pages: 1 2

All About Snowflakes Unit Study for Kids

December 7, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Winter is coming! And what better way to get excited for snowy weather than by learning about it with your students!

Since we don’t get a lot of snow down here in the South, we’re always fascinated by snowflakes.

The few times we see them are basically national events, at least in our family.

So I thought we’d learn a bit more about how snowflakes form, what makes them special, and toss in some other school subjects while we were at it.

All About Snowflakes is a printable early snowflakes unit study featuring math, language, writing, and science activities for students in grades K-2!

Read on to see how to get your copy!

And, if you enjoy this unit, be sure to check out our list of 50 free winter printables for kids!

Printable All About Snowflakes Unit Study

To use this All About Snowflakes unit, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer paper
Scissors
Pencils
Crayons or Colored pencils
Glue stick

This unit study is a fun, hands-on way to add math, ELA, and science into a winter unit you can do with almost no prep at all!

This resource includes a two-page lesson on how snowflakes form, along with a symmetry practice activity.

Snowy-themed ELA and writing practice is also inside.

There’s also a snowflake-themed addition practice activity.

As well as art activities for early ages!

Answer keys are also included for each activity.

How to Use the All About Snowflakes Unit Study with Students

A good way to use this early elementary snow unit is to review the lessons together as a group.

Then you can decide which of the activities you’d like students to complete in class.

The activities are well suited to in-class work. But they can also be used as take-home assignments, particularly if you’re running short on time.

The snowflake math addends activity can be adapted for use at math centers.

With a little prep, you can include the answer key squares on a ring for self-checking!

And the Roll A Snowman art game is a fun activity for small groups!

Get a look at this resource in action below!

Scroll down to get your copy of our All About Snowflakes Unit Study!

Books about Snowflakes:

Add to your winter unit with these children’s books about snowflakes!

Snowflakes: A Pop-Up Book by Jennifer Preston Chushcoff
The Lonely Snowflake by Patrick S. Stemp
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story by Neil Waldman

Don’t miss these other winter learning ideas!

To get your copy of All About Snowflakes!, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Simple Hibernation Unit Study for Elementary

November 9, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

We’re sharing another entry in our unit studies series today: a fun hibernation unit study!

Since winter time is fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to look at hibernation – how it works, what it is, and which animals do it every year.

Plus, it’s a great excuse for talking about sleep, which I desperately need more of these days. (I’m sure I’m not alone there.)

Even if your students are always on the move and rarely want to sleep (like mine), learning about hibernation is just plain fun!

It’s really amazing to learn about mammals that sleep most of the winter season and what they do to prepare for that time of year.

And that’s what this hibernation unit is designed to help kids do. Plus, there’s a printable hibernation sorting activity you can pick up for free!

Read on to see how to get your copy.

If you enjoy this unit, don’t miss our bears unit study and our list of children’s books about owls!

Hibernation Unit Study for Elementary Kids

When we put together a unit study, we typically include books, crafts, printables, and more.

While I don’t always use every resource, I like to have as many as I can. That way, we can always stretch a topic out if the kids are super interested.

In this hibernation unit, you’ll find books about hibernation, crafts and activities for learning about hibernation, and a printable hibernation animals sorting activity.

There’s also a super cool hibernation facts video that explains this process in kid-friendly terms.

What is Hibernation?

Watch this video and see if students can answer the questions that follow!

1. What is hibernation? (Answer: The long sleep that some animals take during winter.)
2. Why do animals hibernate? (Answer: Because the weather gets cold and food becomes hard to find.)
3. How do animals prepare for hibernation? (Answer: As winter gets closer, they eat a lot of food to store fat that will keep them alive during winter.)
4. Why do some animals store food before winter? (Answer: These animals wake up from their hibernation to eat a little.)
5. Name a few animals that hibernate. (Answer: Bats, snakes, bears, hedgehogs, ground squirrels, groundhogs, and marmots)
6. Where do animals hibernate? (Answer: Wherever they feel safe from predators. Some hibernate in caves and some hibernate under the ground.)
7. What is the difference between sleep and hibernation? (Answer: During hibernation, the animal’s body temperature drops and its heart rate slows down. These things don’t happen during regular sleep.)
8. What is it called when animals hibernate during summer? (Answer: Aestivation)

Hibernation Books for Kids

Share a cozy storytime session with these kids’ books about hibernation! (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Don’t Wake Mr. Bear! by Jill Newton
Scholastic Reader Level 2: Hibernation by Tori Kosara
Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows
Hibernation (Patterns in Nature Series) by Margaret Hall
What is Hibernation? (Science of Living Things) by John Crossingham
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear by Monica Carnesi
National Geographic Kids: Sleep, Bear! by Shelby Alinsky
When It Starts to Snow (An Owlet Book) by Phillis Gershator
Baxter’s Hibernation by Michelle M. Birkenstock

Which Animals Hibernate? Sorting Activity

Once we learn about what hibernation is, it’s natural for students to wonder which animals hibernate and which animals don’t hibernate.

Teach them about some of the species that do with this free printable animal sorting activity!

This is a very simple resource to use for teaching hibernation in early grades.

Students can cut out the animal picture cards and then paste them into the correct column.

And an answer key is included!

To get your copy of these Arctic Animals flashcards, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday!

IMPORTANT: If you have a pop-up blocker installed in your web browser, you will need to disable it in order to fill out the email request form.

>>> Which Animals Hibernate? Sorting Activity <<<

Hibernation Crafts and Printables:

Try these crafts and printables about hibernation for more learning fun during your hibernation unit!

Printable Early Reader Hibernation Books – The Measured Mom

Hibernation Sensory Bag – School Time Snippets

Paper Bag Chipmunk Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

Animals in Winter Printable – 3 Boys and a Dog

Hibernating Bear Craft – Apples and ABCs

Hibernation Vs Migration: Animal Sorting Activity – Totschooling

Hibernating Bear Paper Bag Craft – Almost Unschoolers

H is for Hibernation Craft – Teaching Mama

Hibernating Bear Paper Plate Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect

Hibernating Animal Puppets – Love to Teach

Did you enjoy this hibernation unit study? Check out these other winter learning ideas!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Owl Unit Study

October 31, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Fall is a great time of year to learn about nocturnal animals and owls are no exception.

We don’t see a lot of owls down here in the South, but we sure hear them after dark. When I was a kid, owls were kind of scary to me. But now that I’ve learned more about them, they are truly fascinating, incredible animals. I mean, the head rotating alone marks them as one of the coolest animals around.

Which is why I wanted to share this owl unit study as one of our homeschool unit studies! Read on to learn more about these incredible creatures! And be sure to check out our fun coffee filter owl craft for a cool art project!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Owl Unit Study

Owl Notebooking Pages

Grab these free printable owl notebooking pages to help kids organize the facts they learn about owls! You can use these for copywork, report writing, or handwriting!

To download them, just click the image or the link below.

>>> Printable Owl Notebooking Pages <<<

Facts About Owls

Watch the video below about spotted owls and see if the kids can answer the questions that follow.

Where do spotted owls live? (Answer: Along the west coast of North America)

What is a spotted owl father’s job? (Answer: To hunt food for the owlets)

How far can a spotted owl turn its head? (Answer: 180 degrees)

Why don’t spotted owls make any noise as they fly? (Answer: Their feathers are so light and thin they make no sound.)

How long can a spotted owl live? (Answer: Up to 16 years)

How long is the wingspan of a spotted owl? (Answer: Up to four feet)

Learn about the snowy owl with the video below and try to answer the questions.

Where do snowy owls live? (Answer: In the Arctic)

What do snowy owls eat? (Answer: Lemmings)

How long can snowy owls go without eating? (Answer: Up to 40 days)

How do snowy owls adapt when food is scarce? (Answer: They may have fewer owlets.)

Owl Crafts and Activities for Kids:

These fun owl crafts and activities are a cool way to make learning about these creatures into a hands-on experience!

1. Coffee Filter Owl Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Paper Plate Owls – Happy Hooligans

3. Owl Skip Counting Craft – Kids Activities Blog

4. Owl Eyesight STEM Exploration for Kids – J Daniel 4’s Mom

5. Simple Origami Owl – Easy Peasy and Fun

6. Sponge Painted Owls – Buggy and Buddy

7. Feathery Owls Color Matching Activity – To Be A Kid Again

8. Autumn Owl Black Glue Art – Artsy Momma

9. Paper Bag Snowy Owl Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

10. Owl Painted Rocks – Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

11. Potato Print Owl Craft – Crafty Morning

12. Cupcake Liner Owl Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect

13. Pinecone Owls – Fireflies and Mudpies

14. Stone and Shell Owl Craft – Rhythms of Play

15. LEGO Owl Building – Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

16. Owl Addition 1-10 Printable – Simple Fun for Kids

17. Printable Owl-Themed Alphabet Game – The Educators’ Spin On It

18. Owl Mini Eraser Math Worksheets – Royal Baloo

19. Dissecting Owl Pellets Science Experiment – Kid World Citizen

20. Montessori-Inspired Owl Printables – Living Montessori Now

Books about Owls for Kids:

Check out this list of lovely children’s books about owls with the kids for read-aloud time!

20 Beautiful Owl Books for Kids

Ready to share more fall learning activities? Try these ideas!

Get more ideas for learning about autumn on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Plus, you can subscribe to our email newsletter for plenty of fun homeschooling lessons and ideas!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Harvest Unit Study

October 16, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Down here in the South, it’s pretty common to see farms and farming equipment. My youngest boy is smack dab in the middle of the “I love everything mechanical” phase, so he was excited about learning how farm equipment works.

I made this harvest unit study with him in mind. But it would be a great one of our homeschool unit studies for any kid, especially during fall!

Be sure to try some of our other fun fall activities, including our list of fall books for kids and our list of 50 fall crafts to make this year!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Harvest Unit Study

Harvest Notebooking Pages

Pick up these free harvest notebooking pages to use with this unit! Kids can use these printables to organize the facts they learn about harvest time from the video below or from the books you share together.

>>> Free Printable Harvest Notebooking Pages <<<

What Happens At Harvest Time?

Watch the wheat harvesting video and let the kids try to the answer the questions that follow.

What does the rotating wheel on the front of the combine do? (Answer: It pulls the wheat toward the sharp blades. The blades cut the wheat.)

What happens inside the combine? (Answer: The wheat heads are cut from the stalks. Then the heads are sifted to remove the chaff, leaving grains of wheat.)

How is the wheat chaff reused? (Answer: The chaff is tossed out of the combine back onto the ground. It will be reused to make straw bales.)

What happens once the combine’s storage tank is full of wheat? (Answer: The driver turns on a flashing light to call a tractor. The driver dumps the wheat out of the storage tank into the tractor’s trailer.)

What happens to the wheat inside the storehouse? (Answer: Drivers use trucks to collect all of the wheat into a neat pile.)

How much wheat can the combine harvest in one hour? (Answer: Enough to make over 70,000 loaves of bread)

What does the baler do? (Answer: Collects the wheat straw from the ground and forms it into blocks. This straw will be used for animal bedding during winter.)

What is a Harvest Moon?

Ever heard of the “harvest moon”? What is one and how did it get its name? This video is a neat (and brief!) explanation!

Harvest Activities for Kids:

These fun harvest activities for kids are a wonderful way to add some hands-on learning to this unit study!

1. Apple Harvest Scissor Skills Printables – Toddler to K

2. Harvest Play Fall Sensory Bin – Toddler to K

3. Alphabet Letter Harvest Game – Toddler to K

4. Apple Harvest Pom-Pom Tree Craft – Toddler to K

5. Coffee Filter Pumpkin Craft – Toddler to K

6. Paper Plate Corn Craft – Toddler to K

7. Apple Tree Playdough Counting Mat – Toddler to K

8. The Little Red Hen Retelling Sensory Activity – Toddler to K

9. DIY Pumpkin Slime – Toddler to K

10. Coffee Filter Apple Craft – Toddler to K

11. Apple Tree Circle Game – Toddler to K

12. Cardboard Apple Tree Craft – Toddler to K

13. Apple Counting Puzzles – Preschool

14. Pumpkin Measuring Math Activity – Preschool

15. Pumpkin Ordinal Number Worksheets – Preschool to Grade 1

16. Printable Corn Counting Book – Preschool to Grade 1

17. Apple Array Math Practice Worksheets – Grade 2

18. Pinecone Apple Necklace – Elementary

19. Colored Corn Mosaic Art – ALL AGES

20. Corncob Harvest Craft – ALL AGES

21. Harvest Pumpkin Watercolor Art Project – ALL AGES

And don’t miss our list of harvest books for kids to read!

Check out these other resources for fall learning!

Get exclusive learning tips and printables when you sign up for our email newsletter! Just use the widget below to get started.

And see more fun fall ideas on my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

All About Leaves Printable Pack

October 2, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Happy fall, ya’ll!

The air is cooler and the leaves in our neighborhood are just starting to turn colors.

Down here in the South, the warm weather keeps the leaves from changing colors completely until about November, but we’ll take what we can get for now.

We’re welcoming the autumn season with our All About Leaves Printable Pack for fall!

If you love this set (and I hope you do!), be sure to check out our list of 50 Fall Printables for Kids!

By the way, if you’ve been following our site for some time, you may already know that we have a printable pack for each season.

For winter, we have All About Snowflakes. For spring, we have All About Flowers. For summer, we have All About Beaches.

Stop by to see them all!

All About Leaves Printable Pack

To use this leaves printable unit study, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Printer (with ink)
Printer paper
Scissors
Colored pencils or crayons
Pencils
Laminator (helpful if you want to reuse the leaf identification flashcards)

In “All About Leaves”, you’ll find 30 pages of activities for grades K-2!

There’s a printable activity explaining why leaves change color in the fall.

Plus a quiz to test kids’ knowledge afterward!

Learn about types of trees and which ones lose leaves in the autumn.

Kids can practice art and math with this fun leaf symmetry activity!

There are several fall leaf coloring pages inside.

Plus, our Leaf Identification Flashcards, as well as a full answer key.

If you love fall and you’re studying it with your kids this year, All About Leaves is a fun way to discuss autumn leaves with elementary-aged students!

Scroll down to get your copy of All About Leaves Printable Pack!

Kids’ Books about Leaves:

Planning to read about fall leaves with your kids? Try these super cute kids’ books about leaves!

Leaves Fall Down: Learning about Autumn Leaves by Lisa Bullard
Leaves by David Ezra Stein
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Want even more leaf learning fun? Check out my other fall leaf-themed posts!

To get your copy of our All About Leaves Printable Pack, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or check it out below!

Free Homeschool Unit Studies: Fall Leaves Unit Study

August 31, 2017 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Once the air starts to turn crisp, we know to watch for leaves to start changing color and falling. Down here in the South, this actually happens about a month after fall officially begins. But that doesn’t matter. I start getting into the fall spirit around September 1.

To help our kids learn more about this time of year, we put together a fun fall leaves unit study – one of our easy homeschool unit studies that you can use to discuss themes with your kids! Below you’ll find fall leaf books, leaf arts and crafts for kids, and leaf printables and activities that will be fun to use with your children!

If you enjoy this unit, don’t miss some of our other fall activities, including our leaf identification flashcards and our easy coffee filter apple craft!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Leaves Unit Study

Leaf Notebooking Pages

Pick up these free leaf notebooking pages for the kids to use as you cover this unit study! These are great for copywork exercises, handwriting practice, or for collecting the facts they learn along the way! You might even use them to answer the questions in the video section that follows!

To download the free leaf notebooking pages, just click the image or the link below!

>>>>>Leaf Notebooking Pages<<<<<

Why Do Trees Shed Their Leaves?

Watch the following video to find out why leaves fall off trees during autumn. See if the kids can answer the questions below afterward.

1. What is photosynthesis? (Answer: The process plants use to turn light, water, and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen.)

2. What is chlorophyll? (Answer: A colored pigment that plays a role in the process of photosynthesis.)

3. What are carotenoids? (Answer: Yellow and orange pigments that provide color to some plants)

4. What are anthocyanins? (Answer: The red and purple pigments that provide color to some plants)

5. Why do plants have more chlorophyll than other pigments? (Answer: Because chlorophyll is involved in photosynthesis, the plant’s primary job.)

6. Why do trees need less chlorophyll during winter months? (Answer: Because they spend less of their energy doing the word of photosynthesis during these months.)

7. Why do leaves fall off of trees? (Answer: Trees form a thin layer of weak cells near the base of the leaves. In addition, trees form another layer of cells at the base that gradually pushes the leaves away.)

So leaves aren’t just falling off of trees. They’re being nudged off by the trees themselves. Neat!

Fall Leaves Concentration Game

Add some math practice to your fall leaves unit study with this fun concentration game! Kids can take turns matching numbers and dots while keeping with the leaves theme!

To get your copy of our fall leaves math concentration game, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

>>>> Fall Leaf Math Concentration Game <<<<

Fall Leaf Arts & Crafts

Share some of these easy fall leaf arts and crafts with the kids as part of your unit study!

Fall Leaf Snow Globe Craft

DIY Fall Leaf Garland

Fall Leaf Painting

Fall Leaf Books for Kids

Fall is a wonderful time for family reading! Share some of these fall leaf books for kids this autumn! And be sure to pick up our free fall reading journal printables to check comprehension for older kids!

Fall Leaf Activities and Printables for Kids

Add even more educational fun to your fall leaves unit study with these activities and printables!

Want even more awesome fall leaves fun for kids? Follow my Fall Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Ice Cream Unit Study

July 6, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

What kid doesn’t love ice cream? And there’s no way to make summer learning more fun than to learn about dessert, right?

So that’s why I put together a this Ice Cream unit study. Believe it or not, there are actually educational topics related to ice cream, especially chemistry. Of course, you can always make a taste-test graphing activity if you want to include math. (Totally going to do that one, I think.)

Read on to find some fun ice cream books, ice cream activities for kids, and easy ice cream recipes that you can use to make a fun ice cream unit kids will love! And if this unit study is a hit, don’t miss our beach unit study for even more summer fun!

Ice Cream Unit Study

This ice cream unit study is full of neat facts about ice cream history, fun ice cream activities for kids, and cool kids’ books about ice cream that your kids will go “bananas” for!

Ice Cream Notebooking Pages

Start this unit by picking up these free ice cream notebooking pages! They’re perfect for writing down the answers to the questions in the section below. Kids can also use them to write reports or come up with their own ice cream recipes to try!

Just click the image or the link below to get your copy of these free ice cream notebooking pages!

>>>>> Ice Cream Dreams! Ice Cream Notebooking Pages <<<<<

Ice Cream Facts for Kids

Watch this video featuring facts about ice cream with your kids and see if they can answer the questions below:

1. What is the most popular flavor of ice cream? Answer: Vanilla

2. Which U.S. president was a big fan of ice cream? Answer: George Washington

3. How much money did George Washington spend on ice cream during the summer of 1790? Answer: $200 (worth $5000 today!)

4. Why was the bendy straw invented? Answer: To make drinking milkshakes easier

5. Name one kind of frozen treat served during ancient times. Answer: Ancient Grecians and Persians mixed snow with fruit; Ancient Chinese mixed rice with frozen milk

I had no idea that people have been enjoying frozen treats for so long! Super cool!

Ice Cream Activities for Kids:

After you and the kids learn about the history of ice cream, try some hands-on crafts, learning ideas, and recipes in your ice cream unit study with the following ice cream activities!

1. Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Ice Cream Math Activity – Fun-A-Day

3. Ice Cream Shop Play – Pre-K Pages

4. Melted Ice Cream Play Dough – Kids Activities Blog

5. Pass the Ice Cream Sharing Activity – Sunny Day Family

6. Ice Cream in a Bag – I Can Teach My Child

7. Ice Cream Dough Science Experiment – Lemon Lime Adventures

8. Ice Cream Letter Sounds Sorting – This Reading Mama

9. Puffy Paint Ice Cream Cone Craft – Crafty Morning

10. Make Ice Cream in a Coffee Can – Coffee Cups and Crayons

11. Ice Cream Number and Ten Frame Matching – Playdough to Plato

12. One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream – Happy Hooligans

13. Ice Cream Do-A-Dot Printables – Gift of Curiosity

14. Ice Cream Beginning Digraph Sort – The Letters of Literacy

15. Ice Cream Pattern Cards – Simply Learning Kids

16. Ice Cream Sundae Cupcakes – Frugal Mom Eh

17. Mad Scientist Ice Cream Lab – Left Brain Craft Brain

18. Sense of Sight Ice Cream Color Grading Activity – Gift of Curiosity

19. Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

20. Ice Cream Count and Match Game – The Measured Mom

21. Ice Cream Blend Puzzles – Playdough to Plato

22. No-Churn Funfetti Cake Batter Ice Cream – Spaceships and Laser Beams

23. Five Senses Ice Cream Taste Test – No Time for Flashcards

24. Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Play Dough – Kids Activities Blog

25. Painting on Ice Cream – Tinkerlab

Add some reading practice to your ice cream unit study with these super cool ice cream books for kids!

And make your own creamy treats using these super fun cookbooks featuring easy ice cream recipes for kids!

This ice cream unit study is sure to be a big hit with your kids! Don’t forget to stock up on their favorite flavors before you get started!

Don’t miss these other fun summer learning ideas!

And follow my Unit Studies Pinterest board for even more awesome homeschool unit studies to try with the kids!

Unit Studies for Kids: Beach Unit for Kids

June 15, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

If you like using unit studies with your students, I’m sharing a fun beach unit for kids that’s a perfect way to learn about these natural wonders!

I absolutely adore the beach.

What can I say? I’m from Florida.

It turns out that beaches actually provide lots of educational opportunities.

You can learn about animals that live near or on the beach, how beach sand is formed, and weather that frequently occurs near shorelines – just to name a few.

This unit study features plenty of beach activities for kids!

Below, you’ll find beach books for kids, as well as beach crafts and activities kids can try.

You’ll also see educational videos that teach students about how beaches are formed, how waves develop, and what kinds of cool creatures live near the beach!

Read on to see the full list of beach learning ideas. And, check out a free beach scavenger hunt you can pick up too!

Want more beach-y ways to learn over the summer? Don’t miss our printable Beach Ball Counting to Ten Cards!

How to Use This Beach Unit for Kids

If you feel a little overwhelmed by all of the information in this unit, don’t worry. You can determine how many of the resources to use with your students.

Here’s a suggestion: Take this theme and break it up over a week or two. On one day, you might watch a video and answer the questions.

Then, you can choose a beach learning activity or craft to try. Repeat until you’ve covered the material you wanted from this unit.

Feel free to add any other awesome beach activities you find! I’m sure your students will love them.

Printable Beach Writing Pages

Pick up these free beach writing pages to get started on this beach unit study! They’re perfect for writing down the answers to the questions in the next section.

You can also let students use them to write a report on what they learn or to practice handwriting!

Just the click the image or the link below to have them sent directly to your inbox. You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday!

>>> Printable Beach Writing Pages <<<

How are Beaches Formed?

It takes many, many years for beaches to form. What makes up a beach anyway?

Watch the short video below and see if your kids can answer the questions that follow.

1. What landform do beaches start from? (Answer: Mountains)

2. How do mountains lose particles? (Answer: Particles from mountains are eroded away and washed down rivers.)

3. How do particles from mountains end up on the beach? (Answer: They sink to the bottom of the river floor and are transported to the shore over time, forming beaches.)

4. Why don’t plants grow on the beach? (Answer: The salty air prevents plants from growing.)

How Do Ocean Waves Form?

Waves also contribute to the shape of beaches.

As they break onshore, waves wash particles away from the beach, eroding sand off the shore and down to the ocean floor.

Watch the following video to learn about how waves form and see if your students can answer the questions below.

1. What causes waves? (Answer: Weather events happening far away from the shore)

2. What determines how big waves are? (Answer: 1) How strong the winds offshore are blowing, 2) How long the winds have been blowing, and 3) How large an area the winds have been blowing over)

3. How do localized winds affect waves? (Answer: Localized winds are winds that blow just a few miles offshore. These winds can cause smaller waves near the beach.)

What Animals Live on the Beach?

Did you know that there are animals hiding in tide pools near the beach?

They hide under rocks when the tide goes out, but they’re there!

Watch this video to find out which animals live in ocean tide pools and challenge your kids to answer the questions that follow.

1. What is the correct name for a starfish? (Answer: Sea star)

2. How did the Leather Star get its name? (Answer: It feels like wet leather when touched.)

3. What animals are sea anemones related to? (Answer: Coral and jellyfish)

4. How long can a nereid worm grow? (Answer: Up to 2 feet in length)

5. Name three types of crabs found on the beach. (Answer: Purple Shore Crab, Striped Shore Crab, Pacific Rock Crab)

6. How are prickleback fish different from most fish? (Answer: They can breathe air.)

7. How long can prickleback fish get? (Answer: Up to 2 1/2 feet in length.)

Beach Activities and Crafts for Kids

Try some of these fun beach-y activities during your beach unit for kids!

Fun Beach Activities for Kids

Share some of these fun beach theme activities for kids!

1

DIY Beach Play Sand Sensory Activity for Kids

Make up a batch of this DIY play beach sand for beach fun, even when you can't get to the shore!

2

All About Beaches! Printable Unit Study

Learn about the science of sand, the geography of beaches, and even get some counting practice with this printable beach unit study!

3

Beach 0-9 Number Playdough Mats

Help early learners practice forming and reading numbers 0 to 9 with these beach themed playdough number mats!

4

Counting Beach Balls to Ten Learning Cards

These beach ball-themed counting to ten cards are perfect for counting objects and reading number words!

5

Beach Shoebox Diorama Craft for Kids

Take an old shoebox and turn it into an ecosystem with this easy beach shoebox diorama craft! Printable template is included!

6

Coffee Filter Crab Craft for Kids

Use just a few supplies you already have to make this beach-dwelling crab craft with kids!

Printable Beach Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Want to have some simple fun at the beach with the kids?

Pick up this printable beach scavenger hunt and let the kids mark off the things they find!

This is just a suggestion, but it might help: Consider laminating this scavenger hunt and using a dry-erase marker.

Then you can reuse it afterwards!

You can also use this virtually!

Let students watch videos about the beach and challenge them to spot as many of these items as they can in the background!

To get this printable beach scavenger hunt, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll get even more fun learning ideas in this week’s newsletter!

>>> Printable Beach Scavenger Hunt <<<

I hope you enjoy using this fun beach unit!

Try some of these other beach ideas for kids!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Rainbow Unit Study

February 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Spring is a wonderful time of year for spotting rainbows! With pop-up showers happening regularly, the conditions are perfect for rainbows to form.

How exactly do rainbows form anyway? That and a lot of other questions are answered in this fun rainbow unit study – one of our homeschool unit studies you can use at home with your kids! Read on to see fun rainbow activities, rainbow books for kids, and rainbow facts you can learn together!

If you love this post, don’t miss our Rainbow Tally Marks Worksheets – a rainbow-themed math activity for elementary students!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Rainbow Unit Study

How Are Rainbows Formed?

Watch the YouTube video below and then have your child answer the following questions.

1. What are the three ingredients needed to form a rainbow? (Answer: sunlight, water, and you)

2. What is the process called when light enters water and exits at a different angle? (Answer: refraction)

3. Why do rainbows display various colors? (Answer: Because colors have different wavelengths and light produces them at different degrees.)

4. At what degree measurement does red light exit the water droplet? (Answer: 42 degrees)

5. At what degree measurement does blue light exit the water droplet? (Answer: 40 degrees)

6. Why do rainbows always appear in an arc? (Answer: They actually form complete circles, but the bottom half disappears into the ground and is invisible to us.)

7. BONUS QUESTION: What does the abbreviation ROY G BIV stand for? (Answer: The colors of the rainbow – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet)

Rainbow Books for Kids

These books about rainbows are wonderful for learning more about these scientific wonders! (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman

The Rainbow Book by Kate Ohrt

What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Ann Schartz

Rainbow (Weather Ready-to-Reads) by Marion Dane Bauer

How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney

All the Colors of the Rainbow (Rookie Read-About Science) by Allan Fowler

Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell

Chasing Rainbows (Cat in the Hat) by Tish Rabe

Peek-A-Boo Rainbow (Little Learners) by Parragon Books

Ruby’s Rainbow (Max and Ruby) by Grosset & Dunlap

Rainbow Activities for Kids

Add these fun rainbow activities to your unit!

Rainbow Tally Marks Worksheets – Look! We’re Learning!

Rainbow Paper Science Activity – Science Kiddo

Rainbow Playdough Mats – Look! We’re Learning!

Crystal Rainbow Growing Activity – Little Bins for Little Hands

Gorgeously Colorful Rainbow Crafts for Kids – Look! We’re Learning!

Want more ideas for this rainbow unit study? Don’t miss these activities!

Check out more spring learning resources for kids on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Monster Truck Unit Study

December 6, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’re back with another one of our homeschool unit studies – this time it’s a fun monster truck unit study that boys and girls will love!

My children are fascinated with monster trucks, and why not? They’re big, seemingly indestructible, and they get to run over things all the time. Pretty awesome. Below we’ve gathered a fun educational video about how to drive monster trucks, as well as monster truck books for kids, crafts about monster trucks, and more!

If your kids enjoy this unit, don’t miss our Monster Truck Measurement printable pack – a perfect math activity for this topic!

Monster Truck Unit Study

Watch the following video and challenge your kids to answer the questions below.

How tall does a monster truck stand? (Answer: 12 feet high)

How much does a monster truck weigh? (Answer: 10,000 pounds)

How much damage does a monster truck cause in a single night’s performance? (Answer: $100,000 worth)

How does a monster truck driver steer both sets of wheels? (Answer: The driver uses the steering wheel to steer the front two wheels and a hydraulic switch to steer the back two wheels.)

How many speeds does the monster truck’s transmission have? (Answer: Just two – first and second.)

What keeps parts from flying off the trucks when they crash? (Answer: The truck’s parts are secured onto the body with tethers.)

How fast can the pit crew repair damage to the fiberglass truck body? (Answer: Within four hours)

Books about Monster Trucks:

These kids’ books about monster trucks are an awesome way to add reading into this unit! (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

1. Monster Trucks (Mighty Machines) by Ian Graham

2. Monster Mega Trucks…and Other Four-Wheeled Creatures by Tim Kane

3. Monster Trucks on the Move (Lightning Bolt Books) by Kristin L. Nelson

4. Monster Jam: The Amazing Guide by DK Publishing

Plus, see even more great kids’ books about monster trucks below!

Monster Truck Books for Kids – Look! We’re Learning!

Monster Truck Crafts and Activities:

Try some of these fun activities and crafts to keep the learning going!

1. Monster Truck Measurement Printable Pack – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Monster Truck Sensory Bin – Crayon Box Chronicles

3. Blaze Monster Truck Craft – Kids Activities Blog

4. Monster Truck Phonics Jump – Growing Book by Book

Stop by to see some of our other learning ideas!

Get more ideas on how to use unit studies in your homeschool on my Unit Studies Pinterest board!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Bears Unit Study for Kids

November 1, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

The days are getting shorter and shorter, which means that many of our forest friends are starting to gather food for winter. And that got me to thinking about bears, one of my favorite animals.

We have bears here in Georgia, but (fortunately) I have never seen one near my house. So I put together another one of our homeschool unit studies: a simple bears unit study for kids who want to learn more about these amazing mammals! There are videos, printables, and crafts below that you and your kids can use to study our furry friends!

If you like these, be sure to check out our list of bear books for kids to go along with this unit!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Bears Unit Study for Kids

Start your unit by learning about some of the most common bears around: The brown bear, the grizzly bear, and the black bear.

Brown Bear Facts for Kids:

Watch the following video and then ask your child to answer a few questions about brown bears.

Name three ecosystems in which brown bears live. (Answer: Rivers, meadows, and forests)

What else do brown bears use their sense of smell for besides sensing danger? (Answer: Communicating with other bears)

List three of the things brown bears eat. (Answer: Sedge grass, flies, salmon)

What skills do brown bear parents teach cubs? (Answer: Survival, hunting, and how to find shelter)

What animals often live in the same ecosystems with brown bears? (Answers include: Squirrels, wolves, deer, fish, bald eagles)

Grizzly Bear Facts for Kids:

To learn about the grizzly bear, watch this video and try to answer the questions that follow.

How did the grizzly bear gets its name? (Answer: Because the silver tips on its fur give it a “grizzled” appearance.)

What features set a grizzly bear apart from a black bear? (Answer: Grizzly bears have a large hump on their shoulders right behind their heads. Grizzly bears have claws that are twice as large as the black bear’s. Grizzly bears have curved profiles, while black bears have straighter profiles.)

What does a grizzly bear use its muscular shoulder hump for? (Answer: For help in digging up their food.)

How fast can a grizzly bear run? (Answer: Between 35 and 40 miles an hour.)

How much can a grizzly bear weigh? (Answer: Up to 700 pounds.)

Does a grizzly bear eat a lot of meat? (Answer: No, 85% of its diet consists of vegetables.)

How much distance does a grizzly bear travel in a day? (Answer: Up to 20 or 30 miles.)

Black Bear Facts for Kids

Now it’s time to learn a bit about black bears! Watch this video and then discuss the following questions. Just to be technical: This video refers to pandas as bears, which they are not. Other than that, it’s okay. 🙂

Where do black bears live? (Answer: In the forests of North America, Mexico, and Canada)

How do black bears keep themselves fed during hibernation? (Answer: They live off the energy from stored body fat.)

Is a black bear an omnivore, herbivore, or carnivore? (Answer: Omnivores, because they eat almost anything, including berries, fruit, and other animals.)

Do black bears live alone or in groups? (Answer: Black bears are solitary animals, typically living alone.)

Bear Printables for Kids

These bear printables for kids include activities for each elementary grade level!

Grade Tot/PK: Printable Bear Snores On Pack – 3 Dinosaurs

Grade PK: Printable Bear Math Patterns – Fun-A-Day

Grade PK: Brown Bear, Brown Bear Printable Activity – Growing Book by Book

Grade 1: Black Bear Reading Comprehension Worksheet – Comprehension Worksheets

Grades 1-2: Bear Essentials Lesson Plan – National Park Service

Grade 2: Grizzly Bear Printable – Enchanted Learning

Grade 3: Black Bear Worksheet – Education.com

Grade 3: Grizzly Bears Facts Worksheet – Education.com

Grade 4: Bear Essentials Lesson Plan – National Park Service

Grades 4-6:Grizzly Bears and Wolves Curriculum – U.S. Forest Service

Bear Activities and Crafts for Kids

Add some hands-on fun with these adorable bear activities and crafts!

Hiberating Bear Paper Plate Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect

Paper Bag Bear Puppet – Crafty Morning

Cupcake Liner Bear Craft – Glued to My Crafts

Fuzzy Brown Bear Craft – Cutting Tiny Bites

B is for Bear Craft – I Can Teach My Child

Recycled CD Bear Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

Simple Pom Pom Bear Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

Paddington Bear Toilet Paper Roll Craft – Red Ted Art

Potato Stamped Bears Craft – Glued to My Crafts

Brown Bear, Brown Bear Color Matching Activity – No Time for Flashcards

Books about Bears:

Read about these lovable mammals with these fun bear books for kids!

Children’s Books about Bears – Look! We’re Learning!

And don’t miss these other fun posts!

See more science learning ideas on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

2

3

Next Page »