homeschool unit studies Archives

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!

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!

Dolphin Facts for Kids

July 22, 2016 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

Remember Flipper? That was the first time I found out that dolphins are super intelligent, which made me want to learn more about them. 🙂

My kids love dolphins too! We’ve gotten to see them up close a few times in the past and they really are smart and sociable. But there’s more to dolphins than that! So I put together a few resources for a dolphin unit study. Use the resources below to learn even more dolphin facts for kids!

Dolphin Facts for Kids

Watch the YouTube video about dolphins and have your kids answer the following questions.

Are dolphins fish? (Answer: No, dolphins are mammals.)
How do dolphins breathe? (Answer: Through a blowhole on the top of their head)
How many species of dolphin are there? (Answer: Over 40 worldwide)
What do dolphins eat? (Answer: Fish and squid)
What kind of personality do dolphins have? (Answer: They are friendly and extremely playful.)
How long do dolphins live? (Answer: Some have lived for over a hundred years.)

Dolphin Crafts for Kids

Share these fun dolphin crafts and activities with your kids!

Dolphin Books for Kids

These dolphin books are fun for kids to read during your dolphin unit!

Get to know other marine animals with my free Sea Monster Notebooking Pages!

And don’t miss these beach books for kids!

Plus, get more ideas for unit studies on my Homeschool Unit Studies board on Pinterest!

This post is part of the Dolphin Unit Study roundup! Read more fun dolphin posts below!

Ocean Animals Letter Find Worksheets from 3 Boys and a Dog

10 Awesome Children’s Books about Ocean Animals from Crafty Mama in ME

Dolphin Facts for Kids from Look! We’re Learning!

Ocean Creatures Sight Word Puzzles from Simple Fun for Kids

Jellyfish Discovery Bottle from Schooling a Monkey

Picture Books about Ocean Animals from The Jenny Evolution

Sea Turtle Unit from Bambini Travel

Free Ocean Coloring Pages from Something 2 Offer

Ocean Sticker Art – Erasable Wall Decal from Artsy Momma

Ocean Animals Shadow Matching Cards from Preschool Powol Packets

Meet the Real Ocean Animals in Finding Dory from FrogMom

The Best Ocean Animals Preschool Fun from Natural Beach Living

Simple Early Solar System Unit for Kids

July 8, 2016 by Selena Robinson 6 Comments

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. Like pretty much every kid in the 80s.

We’re from Florida originally and I really, really, really wanted to go to space camp.

But, alas, it never happened. I did ride one of those anti-gravity swings at Church Street Station in Orlando, though. Not quite the same somehow.

Outer space is still a fun early learning theme for kids, so I thought I’d put together a few resources for learning the solar system.

There are videos, books, and activities below that make learning about the solar system even more fun!

You can use some or all of these solar system unit resources to introduce your students to our neighbor planets.

If you like this unit, take a look at our Spanish and English Solar System Learning Cards too!

Learn about outer space with this fun solar system unit for early grades!

Learning the Solar System for Kids

Watch the following YouTube video and discuss the following questions with your class:

(Note: The last two minutes of this video includes a hypothesis that states the solar system will cease to exist in 500 million years, which might frighten some students. Giving you a heads-up in case you want to skip it. None of the questions below are about that part of the video.)

How old do scientists think the solar system is? Answer: 4.5 billion years old
How often does the solar system circle the galactic center? Answer: Once every 250 million years
Name the four terrestrial planets in our solar system: Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Name the four gas giants in our solar system: Answer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Why does Mercury experience large temperature fluctuations? Answer: Because a Mercury year is shorter than a Mercury day.
How hot does temperature get on Venus? Answer: Up to 497 degrees Celsius
Why is Earth able to sustain life? Answer: Because temperatures are moderate enough to retain a water supply.
Name the largest mountain on Mars: Answer: Olympus Mons (It’s also the largest mountain on any planet in the solar system.)
What two gases comprise most of Jupiter? Answer: Hydrogen and Helium
How many moons does Saturn have? Answer: 62
What makes Uranus unique? Answer: Its axis of rotation is tilted sideways.
How long is a Neptune year? Answer: 164 Earth years
How much of the solar system’s mass is made up by the sun? Answer: 99.86%
Where is Pluto located? Answer: In the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the solar system

Solar System Outer Space Binoculars Craft

Make a simple solar system craft with this outer space binoculars activity!

Little learners can use them to “stargaze” on their own!

Supplies: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Wrap the tissue paper around each toilet paper roll. Use scissors to cut off the excess.

Stick glue circles onto the side of one of the toilet rolls. Press the other roll onto it to stick them together.

Let students decorate the tubes with the outer space stickers.

Cut the elastic cord and thread it inside both of the paper rolls.

Tie the ends of the cord around the rubber necklace to make a lanyard.

All done!

Solar System Flashcards for Kids

Teach your students about each member of the solar system, including the sun, moon, and stars, with these printable solar system flashcards!

Solar System Flashcards for Early Learners

These cards feature colorful illustrations and vocabulary words for early learners to memorize the planets in our solar system.

A full blackline version is included too.

How to Use Solar System Flashcards with Kids

Best of all – you can get these solar system printables for free!

Click the image or the link below to have these solar system flashcards sent directly to your inbox! You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

Click here to get your printable resource

>>> Solar System Flashcards <<<

25 Books about the Solar System:

There are so many great picture books about the solar system for kids to read. Many of them have beautiful illustrations and, sometimes, even pictures from space.

I’ve put together a list of 25 selections that are excellent for early grades.

Take a look at the collection below!

25 Awesome Books about the Solar System

Solar System Crafts and Activities for Kids:

Try some of these hands-on ways to learn about the solar system for kids!

Solar System Edible Playdough – Look! We’re Learning!
10 Fun Children’s Books about Space – Crafty Mama in ME
Children’s Astronaut Books – The Jenny Evolution
Solar System Coloring Pages – Look! We’re Learning!
Melted Bead Planet Mobile – Schooling a Monkey
Stargazing Apps for Kids – iGameMom
Coffee Filter Solar Eclipse Craft – Look! We’re Learning!
Space sensory salt tray activities – The Usual Mayhem
How to Spot Meteors When Camping – FrogMom

I hope you love using this simple solar system unit with your students! If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know in the comments!

Simple Turtles Unit Study for Kids

June 21, 2016 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Today, we’re talking turtles!

Turtles are super cute animals, but they are also wonderfully designed. They come in several species, including box turtles, sea turtles, and loggerhead turtles.

There’s a lot more to learn about turtles and we’re sharing plenty of books, crafts, and learning ideas in this simple turtles unit study.

If you’re looking for a simple way to turn turtles into a simple unit study for homeschool or for early grades, you’ll love the turtle activities and lessons below.

Plus, there’s a printable collective animal nouns matching activity you can score for free!

Read on to see the full list of turtle learning ideas.

And, for more ways to learn about animals, take a look at our printable Animal Diets and Habitats Sorting Activity!

This simple turtles unit study is a fun way to teach kids about these shelled creatures!

Turtles Unit Study for Kids

Sea Turtle Facts for Kids

Watch this video about sea turtles and ask your kids to answer the following questions.

Where do sea turtles like to live? Answer: In warm, shallow water
What is the only reason female turtles go onto land? Answer: To lay eggs
How do sea turtles use their shells? Answer: As protection
How much do leatherback sea turtles weigh when fully grown? Answer: As much as a small car!
Why do we need to be careful where we throw garbage? Answer: Sea turtles can confuse plastic bags with food

Fun Kids’ Books about Turtles

Read these books about turtles with kids of all ages! (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

See even more books about turtles for kids to read at the link below!

>>> 10 Children’s Books about Turtles <<<

Fun Turtle Crafts for Kids to Make

These turtle crafts are so adorable and fun to make.

They make a wonderful addition to your turtles unit study, especially if you’re looking to add an arts and crafts project.

Collective Animal Nouns Matching Activity

Turtles in a group are called a “bale”. Did you know that?

I sure didn’t.

And that got us curious about other names for groups of animals.

Animal Collective Nouns Sorting Activity

This printable collective animal noun matching activity is an easy way to learn about plural nouns and animals at the same time!

It would make a super addition to this turtles unit study too.

An answer key is also included for easy grading!

To get your copy, just click the link or the image below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday.

>>> Animal Collective Noun Matching Activity <<<

Don’t miss these other fun ways to learn about animals!

Help early learners recognize animals with these printable zoo animal flashcards!

Use the print or digital version of this nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity to teach students about animal sleep habits!

Teach students about animals with this animal diets and habitats sorting activity! Such an easy way to learn about animal science with young learners!

This post is part of the A to Z Animals Blog Hop! Click the image below to see plenty of other animal learning posts!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Unit Study

May 14, 2016 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Springtime is an excellent season to talk about weather. Spring pretty much has it all: cold weather in the beginning, windy days, thunderstorms, light drizzles, rainbows, sunshine, and (down here in the South) high temperatures!

Since one of our family movie night features last year was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, we made it into a weather unit featuring the story and weather activities! Check out our Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs unit study – one of our fun homeschool unit studies!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Unit Study

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

Of course, we started by reading the story Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.

As you probably know, the book features a tall tale told by a grandpa about a town called Chewandswallow – where food literally rained down from the sky. At first, everything was nice and predictable, but something awful happened and the town became deluged with food that drowned, crushed, and ruined everything. People had to escape on stale pieces of bread. It was pretty rough. 🙂

Since the book centers on the concept of weather, we decided to start our unit with some simple weather charting. I got this simple weather observation chart from the Notebooking Nook. (It’s free!)

On the chart, you can note the forecast for each day of the upcoming week.

Then you do a comparison to see if the actual weather is close to the forecast.

Ours ended up being pretty close. What I really like about this chart is that you can use actual temperature readings, weather words, or just let the kids draw pictures. It’s easy to adapt it for everyone’s level.

We also started talking about some common weather phenomena. These resources are super handy:

After our discussion about weather, we watched the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

And that sparked a lively discussion about how books often differ from their movie versions. The movie was wayyyy different, but still good. Plus, it featured a wonderful message for young girls to be comfortable with themselves, even if they’re “nerdy”. I loved it.

Of course, you can always make spaghetti and meatballs with your kids. 🙂

For more weather learning fun, check out these weather lessons for kids!

And to learn more about what makes up a town, grab our Spanish community word flashcards!

Don’t miss all of our other unit study resources on Pinterest!

Get more ideas for learning about weather from these great bloggers!

DIY Weather Binoculars – Adventures of Adam

Books about Weather for Kids – Craft Create Calm

Cloud Formations Tracking Log – Teach Beside Me

Free Weather Chart – Kiddy Charts

Traveling to Countries with Tropical Weather with a Toddler – Maria Magdalena Living Ideas

This post is part of the Movie and a Big Idea linkup from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read more movie-themed activities for kids!

Homeschool Unit Studies: Firefighter Unit Study

November 5, 2015 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Pooh has been saying that he wants to be a firefighter for the last few months. We went to a community helper event at our local library over the summer and he got the chance to shoot a fire hose (with help). He’s been on a firefighter kick ever since.

So, it was a good time to really learn about what firefighters do. I got the idea by reading an excellent kids’ magazine with Pooh, which I’ll be sharing next week. After we read an article about firefighters, we used what we learned to springboard into a firefighter unit study! Check out some of these resources below!

Firefighter Unit Study

What Do Firefighters Do?

Learning about firefighters involves getting a look at what they do all day. Watch the video below with your kids and then ask them to answer the questions that follow.

1. Name at least two things firefighters do at the start of each day. ( Possible answers: Check the outriggers to make sure the ladder comes up, start the equipment to make sure it runs properly, check the lights and sirens, clean the kitchens and bathrooms, mop floors.)

2. How high does the fire truck ladder extend? (Answer: 115 feet)

3. How heavy is the rescue dummy used in the fire training exercise? (Answer: 125 pounds)

4. What is the difference between a pumper truck and a ladder truck? (Answer: A pumper truck is used for EMS calls, fire attacks, and car accidents. A ladder truck is used for roof operations.)

5. How long does a firefighter’s air supply last? (Answer: About 30 minutes, depending on how fast he or she breathes)

6. Why do firefighters need to connect to fire hydrants? (Answer: Fire trucks carry 500 gallons of water, which only lasts 2 1/2 minutes. The firefighters need to connect to fire hydrants to get more water.)

7. What color helmet does a battalion chief wear? (Answer: White.)

8. Name at least two pieces of personal protective equipment that firefighters use. (Possible answers: Steel-toed boots, suspenders, Nomex hood, helmet, mask, oxygen pack, heat-safe gloves, heat-safe jacket.)

Firefighter Activities and Crafts for Kids:

Make learning about firefighters into a hands-on activity with these fun firefighter crafts!

1. Fire Ladder Learning Activities – JDaniel4’s Mom: Little ones can learn how fire ladders work with this adorable list of math, reading, and pretend play activities!

2. Fire Safety Smart! Printable Pack – Look! We’re Learning!: Help your kids learn about fire safety and how to plan an escape route for your home with this hands-on printable pack!

3. What Puts Out a Fire? Experiment – I Can Teach My Child: This is a super simple science experiment that demonstrates how firefighters put fires out!

4. Spanish Fire Safety Resources – Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes: Great resources here for learning about fire safety and Spanish at the same time!

Kids’ Books about Firefighters:

If you want to learn more about what firefighters do, check out these great kids’ books about firefighters! (P.S.: We’ll be sharing even more great firefighter books in an upcoming post!)

1. A Day in the Life of a Firefighter by Heather Adamson

2. Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms by Christine Kole MacLean

3. Fly Guy Presents: Firefighters by Tedd Arnold

4. Curious George and the Firefighters by H.A. Rey

Free Butterfly Unit Study

May 26, 2015 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do you have butterflies fluttering around your neighborhood? This is a great time of year to study them with your kids!

Recently, I got to share a free butterfly unit study over at Year Round Homeschooling that’s got videos, books, printables, and butterfly crafts for all ages!

Today is also Tuesday, which means it’s time for another Laugh and Learn linkup! Read on to see our favorites from last week’s party and get some new parenting and homeschooling inspiration!

Free Butterfly Unit Study

I’m not a fan of caterpillars, but I love butterflies. They’re so fragile and graceful and pretty. One of the things I didn’t know, though, was that butterflies cannot fly immediately after emerging from their cocoons.

It takes about 30 minutes for their wings to fully extend upon release. Their bodies pump fluid into the wing membranes to make them stand up. Then, they’re ready to fly! Cool, right?

Learn even more fascinating details about butterflies along with your kids with the free butterfly unit study over at Year Round Homeschooling!

Free Butterfly Unit Study – Year Round Homeschooling

Linky time! 🙂

Welcome to our 34th week of Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup!

Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup will be open by 6 am every Tuesday morning. We will pick our five favorite posts and feature them on the following weeks linkup. Be sure to link your best content and maybe we will pick you! When you link your post with us it will be featured on five blogs.

We pin our favorites to a special Pinterest board for #laughlearnlinkup – homeschool and parenting posts. Check the board out here: #LaughLearnLinkup {Featured Favorites}. It’s added exposure for your awesome content!

Your Fabulous Hosts 😉

Tina

Tina lives abroad in Latin America with her husband and four children. Currently in Mexico, Tina is active in homeschool, travel, and her Bible ministry. She blogs about all of their adventures and more at Los Gringos Locos.

Find Tina at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
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Linkedin
Tsu

Selena

Selena is a writer and a homeschooling mom to four kids, including three with ADHD/SPD. Selena and her husband, Jay, are committed to teaching their children at home and loving every minute of it! You can read about the family’s homeschooling experiences at Look! We’re Learning, written by Selena!

Find Selena at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
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Pinterest
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Sarah

Sarah lives in Kentucky, USA, where she and her husband homeschool three children. Sarah writes for and about, families with special needs. She hopes to provide support and encouragement to all special needs parents in the homeschool community. Visit Sarah at Dedicated Homeschooler.

Find Sarah at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
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Haley

Haley hopes to encourage stay at home moms. She wants to help moms learn how to make an extra income, to stretch a budget, to make crafts, and other useful information. Haley always has updates on the kids and funny things that happen. Visit Haley at Haley’s Vintage Finds & Deals.

Find Haley at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
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Facebook
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Lindsey

Lindsey is a joyful mother, happy homeschooler, scatterbrained housewife, and passionate blogger. She writes about the joys and challenges of home educating, conscientious parenting, and “loving the simple life”. Get inspired with Lindsey at Simply LindseyLoo.

Find Lindsey at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
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Pinterest

Our Favorite Posts for the Week of May 25th:

Written by Emily at Mom on the Move

Written by Tina at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Written by Heather on Learning 2 Walk

Written by Yanique at Kiddie Matters

Written by Tara at Embark on the Journey

Thanks to everyone who submitted a post. Please check out the posts above by clicking on the image.

[bctt tweet=”Come join the #laughlearnlinkup and share your favorite #parenting or #homeschooling post!”]

Now, let’s see your best posts for this week so we can share them as next week’s favorites!

An InLinkz Link-up

Homeschool Unit Studies: Grand Canyon Unit Study

February 17, 2015 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Recently, the kids and I got to go to the Grand Canyon! Well, it was on YouTube, but still… 🙂

Actually, I’d love to take them one day, but for now we’ll have to “see” it by learning about it! Since I’ve never visited this natural wonder myself, I was amazed to learn more about it: how large it is, how it was formed, and what kinds of animals live there.

We collected some of the best resources we’ve found into this Grand Canyon unit study! I hope you and your kids love it as much as we did!

If you enjoy this, check out some of our other homeschool unit studies!

Grand Canyon Unit Study

The kids first started getting interested in the Grand Canyon as we read the book “Geronimo Stilton: The Race Across America“. The book talked a bit about the canyon, but the picture didn’t really do the canyon justice. So I had to look up some great resources to share with them. Here are some of the learning ideas we’ve found:

Books about the Grand Canyon:

Read about the Grand Canyon with these lovely children’s books!

Grand Canyon Crafts and Printables:

Try these printables and activities to turn this Grand Canyon unit study into a hands-on lesson!

Did you love these resources? We’ve put more together at Year Round Homeschooling, which is perfect if you’re planning a Grand Canyon unit soon!

Stop over at Year Round Homeschooling to read our Grand Canyon Unit Study!

Grand Canyon Unit Study – Year Round Homeschooling

Don’t miss these other geography learning ideas!

Get more tips for teaching geography on my Geography for Homeschoolers Pinterest board!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Unit Study

November 12, 2013 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Remember the first time you read the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Or the first time you saw the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Those were basically life-changing experiences for me. So when it was time to introduce our kids to Charlie Bucket, Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, and all the others, I wanted to make it memorable for them too.

And that’s why we put together this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory unit study! There are crafts, printables, and activities here that relate to both the story and the movie. If you love this one, don’t miss our other homeschool unit studies, including our Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs unit!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Unit Study

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

We began by reading the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. We split the reading up into three chapters per school day and both Jay and I took turns reading it aloud. The kids were fascinated with it right from the beginning. Probably because of all the talk about candy. 🙂

Tigger looked up some of the unusual vocabulary words along the way and she completed a character map all about Charlie – what kind of personality he had, his family’s living situation, and the way he looked. Charlie is probably one of the most sympathetic characters in all of children’s literature. You really root for him through the whole book.

These free chocolate notebooking pages are a fun way to help kids keep track of their vocabulary words through the book! To get your copy, just click the image or the link below.

>>>>> Chocolate Notebooking Pages <<<<<

Once we finished the book, we did a Willy Wonka toilet paper roll craft using a circusmaster toilet roll craft from DLTK Crafts.

We just printed out three copies – one for each child.

Then we cut out the pieces and slowly began assembling them. I liked this project because there weren’t a lot of pieces and the kids only had to glue a few of them together.

We also found out that liquid glue is much better for this than glue sticks. Just so you know.

Three Wonkas!

We decided to finish the unit by watching the original movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Of course, we couldn’t enter the factory without finding a golden ticket in a Wonka bar.

The problem is that we couldn’t find any Wonka bars for sale. (I remember seeing them when I was younger, but I guess they stopped making them.) Amazon.com to the rescue!

We bought a super cute Willy Wonka Chocolate Bar wrapper with a copy of the Golden Ticket and used a regular 4.3 ounce chocolate bar as the candy.

The golden ticket actually uses the exact wording from the story. Awww…

We wrapped the chocolate bar and placed the golden ticket inside. Then we opened it as a family and shared the chocolate. The kids don’t eat a lot of candy, so that was a real treat for them.

Time to watch the movie! We rented it through Amazon Instant Video. Took about 30 seconds.

I literally get nostalgic whenever I see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I watched it along with my third grade class and it just instantly transports me back to my childhood when imagination was truly the most important thing I had.

We had so much fun with this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory unit study! Why not give it a try with your kids?

And be sure to try some of these super Charlie and the Chocolate Factory activities to round out your unit!

Don’t miss these other fun unit studies for children!

Plus, see more awesome unit studies for homeschoolers on my Unit Studies Pinterest board!

This post is part of the Movie and a Big Idea linkup from iHomeschool Network! Click over to read more great movie-themed learning ideas for kids!