As part of our volcano unit, it was important to learn about the layers of the earth. And what better way to cement the learning than to create our own Layers of the Earth Craft! The Layers of the Earth The Earth is comprised of four layers. Most geologists believe that as the earth cooled, the most dense materials sank into the ... Continue Reading
Modeling tectonic plate boundaries with crackers and jam (hands-on geology lessons for kids)
As part of our volcano unit study, we learned a bit about plate tectonics. As you may be aware, the top layer of the earth, called the crust, is covered in plates, called tectonic plates, that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. However, unlike a jigsaw puzzle, the tectonic plates on the earth's surface are in constant motion. The place ... Continue Reading
Hardware-decorated pumpkins for Halloween
Today I've got a cute idea for decorating your pumpkins this year that will also develop kids' fine motor skills. Check out our hardware-decorated Halloween pumpkins for some inspiration! Note: For more kid-friendly Halloween activities, see my Halloween activities for Kids page. CAUTION! As with any activity, you ... Continue Reading
Fun with Fingerprint Animal Art
Fingerprint art is practically a childhood rite of passage. Indeed, I first created fingerprint art with my kids back when they were in preschool. We used red ink and a black marker to make fingerprint ladybugs. Since it has been a few years since we last did fingerprint art, I thought we'd give it another try. This time, I didn't want to limit ... Continue Reading
Fine motor practice with pumpkins
I am of the belief that kids should do lots of fine motor activities in order to strengthen their hands and fingers. Fine motor skills are crucial for kids to master tasks such as buttoning their shirts, tying their shoes, using scissors, and writing well-formed letters and words. But how do you get kids motivated to work their ... Continue Reading
Drip-painted pumpkins: an awesome new way to decorate pumpkins for Halloween!
I love carving pumpkins as much as the next person. But after years of carving pumpkins, carving was starting to feel a little ho-hum. So I was looking for a different way to decorate pumpkins for Halloween. Fortunately, I discovered drip-painted pumpkins as a fun (and less messy!) way of creating some beautiful Halloween ... Continue Reading
Take play dough time from “blah” to “rah” with these fun Halloween play dough ideas!
Play dough is a fun staple activity of childhood. But sometimes, adding a just few twists can take your play dough activity from nice to AH-MAZ-ING! In this post I have compiled more than a dozen Halloween play dough ideas that will bring new life to your play dough time this October. You'll love these ideas that feature pumpkins, spiders, ... Continue Reading
Nail and yarn decorated pumpkins
As much as I enjoy carving pumpkins, I also get a big kick out of finding other creative ways to decorate pumpkins for Halloween. This year we decided to try making nail and yarn decorated pumpkins to create fun and colorful designs. Note: For more pumpkin decorating ideas, see my Halloween activities for ... Continue Reading
Tissue paper-decorated pumpkins
Are you looking for a fun way to decorate pumpkins that does not involve carving? Last week I shared a post featuring our drip painted pumpkins. And this week I'm sharing another kid-friendly and creative way to decorate pumpkins - tissue paper pumpkins! For this activity, I gathered the following materials: I showed my kids two ... Continue Reading
Books about pumpkins for kids: Great read aloud books for fall and Halloween
Sometime around the beginning of October, pumpkins start to appear. In grocery stores, at the hardware store, and, of course, at the pumpkin patch, pumpkins are everywhere in early fall! While pumpkins may be most prized for their ability to be carved into jack-o-lanterns, they are actually rather fascinating fruits to study in ... Continue Reading
