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Simple Elementary Hurricane Unit for Kids

July 13, 2021 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Hurricane Unit Study
Learn about extreme weather in this hurricane unit study for kids!
Hurricane Unit Study for Kids

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!

Simple Hurricane Unit for Kids

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!)

  1. Where do hurricanes form? (Answer: They form in the warm ocean waters near the Equator.)
  2. 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.)
  3. How large can hurricanes become? (Answer: Up to 300 miles wide.)
  4. What is the eye of a hurricane? (Answer: The calm center of the storm.)
  5. 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.)
  6. What are the rainbands? (Answer: The rain clouds that surround the eye wall. These can be up to 300 miles in width.)
  7. Which hurricane categories are the most dangerous? (Answer: Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5)
  8. How powerful is the energy released by a large hurricane? (Answer: Energy equal to the blast of 10 atomic bombs per second.)
  9. 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

>>>> 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!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> Hurricane Categories Matching Activity <<<

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

Learn about extreme summer weather with these amazing hurricane books for kids!
These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!
Teach children how to fingerspell common weather words in sign language with this ASL weather fingerspelling lesson!

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, hurricanes, science, unit studies, weather

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.

Penguins Unit Study for Kids

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!

Learn about the cuddly babies and caring parents that make up penguin colonies in this penguins unit study! There are penguin facts for kids, penguin books, penguin crafts, and more to explore!

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!

Printable Penguin Notebooking Pages

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

Penguin Notebooking Pages

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!

Winter Playdough Mats for Kids

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 Homeschool Unit Study

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!

10 Kids' Books about Penguins

And check out even more penguin crafts for kids too!

Make winter a fun crafting season with these adorable penguin crafts for kids!

Penguins Unit Study

See more ways to learn about winter animals!

This hibernation unit study is full of fun hibernation crafts and activities for kids!

Learn how to pronounce Arctic animal names in Spanish with these Spanish winter animal flashcards!

Use these printable polar animal notebooking pages to learn about winter animals and the regions where they live!

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

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, penguins, unit studies

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!

Animal Homes Unit Study for Homeschoolers

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.
Learn about the different animal habitats on Earth with this animal homes unit study!

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).

Exploring Animal Homes Unit Study with BookShark

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

Animal Homes Unit Study for Kids

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

Exploring Insect Animal Homes

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.

Learning about Animal Homes with Kids

There were birds living in trees…

Learning about Animal Habitats Unit Study

…in ponds…

Exploring Animal Habitats Unit Study

…and in the Arctic!

Learning about Animal Habitats with Kids

We saw elephants living on the savanna.

Discovering Animal Habitats Unit Study

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!

Animal Homes Worksheet

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!

Animal Homes Unit Activity

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

Click here to get your free printable!

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

Homeschool Unit Studies: Animal Homes Unit Study

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

Learn about the science of beaches, plus get fun math, language, and geography practice, in this printable beach unit study!
This hibernation unit study is full of fun hibernation crafts and activities for kids!
This fun bears unit study for kids features printables, activities, and videos for learning about these furry friends!

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: animals, homeschool unit studies, science, unit studies

All About Snowflakes Unit Study for Kids

December 7, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Learn about the science and art of snow with this printable snowflake unit study for kids!
Build a winter unit with this printable snowflake unit study featuring math, science, language, and more for kids!
All About Snowflakes Unit Study - Look! We're Learning!
Snowflake Unit Study for Kids

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 Early Elementary Unit

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

All About Snowflakes Printable Unit for Early Elementary

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!

This printable early elementary snowflake unit is perfect for teaching students about snow during the winter!

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
Learning about Snowflakes with Early Elementary Students

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!

Snowflake Symmetry Lesson for Early Elementary

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

Snowman Themed ELA Comprehension Activity

Snowy-themed ELA and writing practice is also inside.

Snowflake Themed Addition Practice for Kids

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

Winter Coloring Pages for Kids

As well as art activities for early ages!

Using Snow Themed ELA Activities with Early Elementary Students

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.

Printable Snowflake Themed Early Elementary Unit

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

Learning How Snowflakes Form in Early Grades

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.

Printable Winter Symmetry Activity for Early Grades

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

Snowflake Math Addends Activity

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

Using Snowflake Math Addition Practice with Kids

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

Roll A Snowman Art Game

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!

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

Don’t miss these other winter learning ideas!

These hot cocoa 1-10 counting cards are perfect for winter counting practice with early learners!
Get into the spirit of the winter season with this list of 15 adorable snowman books for kids!
These winter literacy mats are perfect for building literacy and fine motor skills during winter!
Early Elementary Snowflake Thematic Unit

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

Filed Under: Homeschooling Printables, Unit Studies Tagged With: all about snowflakes, all about snowflakes unit study, homeschool unit studies, printable snowflake unit study, snowflake unit study, winter unit studies

Simple Hibernation Unit Study for Elementary

November 9, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Hibernation Unit for Homeschoolers
Homeschool Unit Studies: Hibernation Unit - Look! We're Learning!
Share the fun hibernation crafts and activities in this hibernation unit study with the kids this winter!

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.)

Printable Hibernation Unit Sorting Activity

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.

Elementary Hibernation Sorting Activity

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!

This hibernation unit study is full of fun hibernation crafts and activities for kids!

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)

These hibernation books for kids are awesome for studying how animals prepare for winter!

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
This fun hibernation sorting activity is a great way to teach students about animals that hibernate!

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!

Printable Hibernation Unit Sorting Activity for Kids

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.

Hibernation Sorting Activity for Elementary

And an answer key is included!

Printable Hibernation Activity for Kids

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.

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

Hibernation Crafts and Printables:

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

  1. Printable Early Reader Hibernation Books – The Measured Mom
  2. Hibernation Sensory Bag – School Time Snippets
  3. Paper Bag Chipmunk Craft – I Heart Crafty Things
  4. Animals in Winter Printable – 3 Boys and a Dog
  5. Hibernating Bear Craft – Apples and ABCs
  6. Hibernation Vs Migration: Animal Sorting Activity – Totschooling
  7. Hibernating Bear Paper Bag Craft – Almost Unschoolers
  8. H is for Hibernation Craft – Teaching Mama
  9. Hibernating Bear Paper Plate Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect
  10. Hibernating Animal Puppets – Love to Teach

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

These easy kid crafts for winter are a perfect way to pass a cold winter's day!
These owl books for kids feature gorgeous pictures and illustrations for learning about these nocturnal flyers!
These winter books for kids are great for sharing as a family!

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: bears, fall, hibernation, hibernation unit, hibernation unit study, homeschool unit studies, science, unit studies, unit study, winter

Homeschool Unit Studies: Owl Unit Study

October 31, 2017 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Owl Unit Study - Look! We're Learning!

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!

This simple owl unit study for kids is a fun way to learn about nocturnal animals!

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.

Owl Notebooking Pages for Kids

>>> 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.

  1. Where do spotted owls live? (Answer: Along the west coast of North America)
  2. What is a spotted owl father’s job? (Answer: To hunt food for the owlets)
  3. How far can a spotted owl turn its head? (Answer: 180 degrees)
  4. Why don’t spotted owls make any noise as they fly? (Answer: Their feathers are so light and thin they make no sound.)
  5. How long can a spotted owl live? (Answer: Up to 16 years)
  6. 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.

  1. Where do snowy owls live? (Answer: In the Arctic)
  2. What do snowy owls eat? (Answer: Lemmings)
  3. How long can snowy owls go without eating? (Answer: Up to 40 days)
  4. How do snowy owls adapt when food is scarce? (Answer: They may have fewer owlets.)

Fall Playdough Mats

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

Owl Crafts for Kids

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!

These owl books for kids feature gorgeous pictures and illustrations for learning about these nocturnal flyers!

20 Beautiful Owl Books for Kids

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

This harvest unit study is a fun way to learn about harvesting during autumn!

This list of over 50 free fall printables for kids is perfect for educational fall fun!

Practice number recognition and counting skills with this simple preschool fall concentration game!

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!

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, unit studies

Free Homeschool Unit Studies: Fall Leaves Unit Study

August 31, 2017 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Free Homeschool Unit Studies: Fall Leaves

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!

This fall leaves unit study for kids is a great way to study autumn together this year!

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

>>>>>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

Leaf Concentration Game - Fall Leaves Unit Study

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!

Fall Leaves Math Concentration Game - Fall Leaves Unit Study

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

Leaf Concentration Game

>>>> 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!

Baby Food Jar Fall Snow Globe - Look! We're Learning!

Fall Leaf Snow Globe Craft

Threading a Fall Leaf Garland

DIY Fall Leaf Garland

Leaf Painting with Kids

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!

These kids' books about leaves are packed with gorgeous illustrations - perfect for reading this fall!

Fall Leaf Activities and Printables for Kids

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

Free Printable Flashcards: Leaf Identification - Look! We're Learning!

Fun Fall Leaf Activities for Kids @ Look! We're Learning!

Leaves Even and Odd Practice for Second Grade - Look! We're Learning!

All About Leaves Printable Pack - Look! We're Learning!

Fall Leaves Unit Study for Kids

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

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Unit Studies Tagged With: fall, homeschool unit studies, unit studies

Homeschool Unit Studies: Ice Cream Unit Study

July 6, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Ice Cream Unit Study
This ice cream unit study is a perfect way to keep kids excited about learning over the summer!

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!

This ice cream unit study is a perfect way to keep kids excited about learning over the summer!

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 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!

Make summer a fun time for learning with these neat ice cream activities for kids!

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

Ice Cream Activities for Kids

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!

Read some of these fun books about ice cream for kids to share with your children over the summer!

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

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!Ice Cream Unit Study for Kids

Don’t miss these other fun summer learning ideas!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

Summer Books for Kids

Get your early reader some fun in the sun reading practice with these printable summer printable sight word flashcards!

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

Fun Science Experiements Every Month

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, ice cream, ice cream unit, ice cream unit study, summer, unit studies

Unit Studies for Kids: Beach Unit for Kids

June 15, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Beach Unit Study
Use this fun beach unit study for kids to learn about this amazing sandy ecosystem!

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.

Fun Beach Unit Study for Kids

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!

Learn about geography, science, and more with this fun beach unit study for kids!

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.

Beach Notebooking Pages

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!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> 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!

This free printable beach scavenger hunt is a fun way to help the kids spot what they can at the beach!

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!

Fun Beach Scavenger Hunt for Kids

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!

Printable Beach Scavenger Hunt for Kids

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!

Sand Spotting Beach Scavenger Hunt

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!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> Printable Beach Scavenger Hunt <<<

I hope you enjoy using this fun beach unit!

Try some of these other beach ideas for kids!

Share some of these lovely beach books for kids this summer!
Try some of these easy and fun prek beach crafts with early learners this summer!
Make this easy sea animal suncatcher craft for a simple summer art project this year!

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: beach, beach unit study, geography, homeschool unit studies, unit studies

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!

Learn about the science of these weather wonders with this fun rainbow unit study for homeschoolers! Rainbow crafts, rainbow books for kids, and rainbow activities to try!

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.)

Learn about rainbows with these lovely rainbow books for kids!

  1. A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
  2. The Rainbow Book by Kate Ohrt
  3. What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Ann Schartz
  4. Rainbow (Weather Ready-to-Reads) by Marion Dane Bauer
  5. How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow by Monica Sweeney
  6. All the Colors of the Rainbow (Rookie Read-About Science) by Allan Fowler
  7. Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell
  8. Chasing Rainbows (Cat in the Hat) by Tish Rabe
  9. Peek-A-Boo Rainbow (Little Learners) by Parragon Books
  10. Ruby’s Rainbow (Max and Ruby) by Grosset & Dunlap

Rainbow Activities for Kids

Add these fun rainbow activities to your unit!

  1. Rainbow Tally Marks Worksheets – Look! We’re Learning!
  2. Rainbow Paper Science Activity – Science Kiddo
  3. Rainbow Playdough Mats – Look! We’re Learning!
  4. Crystal Rainbow Growing Activity – Little Bins for Little Hands
  5. Gorgeously Colorful Rainbow Crafts for Kids – Look! We’re Learning!

Rainbow Unit Study - Look! We're Learning!

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

Pick up these free Rainbow Tally Marks worksheets - great math practice with fun spring worksheets for kids!

These gorgeously colorful rainbow crafts for kids are a wonderful way to add art to a spring unit study!

Pick up these free Rainbow Tally Marks worksheets - great math practice with fun spring worksheets for kids!

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


Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, how rainbows are made, rainbow, rainbow activities, rainbow homeschool unit study, rainbow unit, rainbow unit study, rainbows, spring, spring activities, spring unit studies, unit studies

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