9 Owl Back to School Decorations Thematic Unit

Back to School Owl Theme Lesson and Decor 

Whether you homeschool, teach in a brick and mortar school, or operate an after school or day care program, you should decorate the environment to make it inviting and soothing for your students. Back to school decorations are abundant. What fall classroom theme you choose likely depends on the age of your students. We've found nine fun owl ideas and themes to decorate your classroom like a pro. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links.

A popular fall theme for school is always the wise old owl. If you are planning an owl themed classroom to welcome the kids back to school, here are some great options to decorate your learning spaces and then start learning with owl curriculum.

Owl Classroom Decorations and Themes

• Owl Theme Classroom Decor from Oriental Trading. This "Owl About Me" poster makes a nice icebreaker for those early getting to know you days at the beginning of the school year. At 20" x 17," it is poster size and is great for back to school night display for parents or a fun writing lesson for homeschoolers.

• Another way to decorate with an owl theme, is to create your own owl classroom banner. Have each child make a cute paper owl in several color combinations and then string them up on the walls! Get details here: How to Make Owl Garland Banner.

Paper Owl Banner Craft  for Classroom.

• Birthdays at school can be fun, be sure to let everyone know who's birthday is coming up next with this owl theme birthday bulletin board set from Amazon.

• Pair it with these 6" X 7.88" Owl cut outs buddies from Target.

• While you're at it, you can open with owl them curriculum. Below, we found owl coloring pages, owl unit studies, and more from TeacherSherpa. Check it out!

Owl Coloring Page from Raising Our Kids found at TeacherSherpa.

• This unit about Owls tells about the two owl families and various species of owls. Learn about common features, where they live, and their habitats. Mentioned owls are; elf, great gray, screech, great horned, burrowing, and snowy. Activity worksheets include; word find, word unscramble, criss-cross, spelling. Ideal for second through fifth grade science.

Owl Thematic Unit from SchoolExpress found on TeacherSherpa.

• We have a homeschool Ornithology lesson that teaches all about birds and works for older elementary and middle school students alike. If you are close to Indianapolis, take a field trip to Eagle Creek Park and visit the Earth Discovery Center and Ornithology Center.

• If you run an after school program or daycare or just want to do something extra fun with the class, try some edible art with an owl theme. This edible owl craft is easy to make and the biscuits are cute and yummy too!

• One of our all time most popular posts is this torn paper owl craft for preschoolers and early elementary. Do it with older school age kids as an owl art mosaic lesson. Older kids will enjoy this cupcake liner owl craft.

Watch the paper owl art video.

How's that for an owl classroom thematic unit? You're all set for a  back to school theme and lesson on owls. Hope you have a great year!

Recommended:

Decorate Door with Adorable Owl Wreath Craft

Books about Owls

More Owl Craft Projects for Kids

Owl Decorative Halloween Stickers

Have you seen the owl cough medicine for kids?

Pin it!

Easter Party Favors: Peeps Dirt Pudding Dessert Cups

Easter Peeps Dirt Dessert Place Setting Table Display

This post is sponsored by DollarTree.com. I received the products mentioned here for free from Dollar Tree. This post also contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on the links.

Planning an Easter Dinner? We love all things Edible Art for Easter, especially when they serve double duty as a decorative place setting display for the table. These Peeps Dirt Dessert Cups will brighten up your Easter Holiday table. Everything you need is available at the Dollar Tree online where you can buy Easter decor in bulk. So, make a bunch of Easter Dirt Pudding Cups Party Favors for the entire family. Scroll down for more Easter Activities and Ideas to make your Easter holiday get together unforgettable. Enjoy! 

50 Things to do for St. Patrick's Day

50 Saint Patrick's Day Activities for Kids and Seniors

Are you in charge of the Saint Patrick's Day festivities? Maybe you plan group activities for a church group, after-school program, nursing home, or a retirement home. If you are planning things to do for a St. Patrick's Day event, you've come to the right place. Whether you need nifty refreshments or fun food to make with the group, we've got a recipe. Play Leprechaun games, make a rainbow craft, or decorate with shamrocks- no matter what you choose be sure to make it fun with these 50 fun things to do. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

50 Things to do for St. Patrick's Day.

10 Paper Bag Thanksgiving Crafts: Turkey

Easy Paper Bag Turkey Craft and More

These paper bag Thanksgiving crafts are easy to make. Whether you make a cute turkey with preschoolers or carve up a roast turkey paper bag, you'll find a simple turkey craft to decorate your holiday table or use as an invitation to craft at the kids' table. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

10 Paper Bag Thanksgiving Crafts: Turkey.

Baby Chick Crafts Projects: Companion Book

Learn Prepositions with Baby Chick Project

Looking for Chick Craftivities? These baby chick activities for toddlers and kindergartners are perfect companion book projects for the lift-the-flap- book, In Over and On the Farm, by Ethan Long. In need of baby chick craft ideas for Easter? This little chick is cute enough to give as an Easter card too. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

Handprint Turkey Craft Thanksgiving 8

8 Easy Handprint Turkeys

Looking for an easy, quick Thanksgiving activity to do with the little ones? Try a Handprint Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving. We're sharing Eight of our favorites from Kid Bloggers and Pinterest. Enjoy!

8 Easy Handprint Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving.

• We like how this handprint turkey from Meet the Dubiens used the entire hand for the feathers. It allows for lots of fun, messy handprints!

Easy Handprint Turkey for Preschoolers from Meet the Dubiens.

• How cool is this unique handprint turkey? They are thinking outside of the box at floortjetekent blog? But, maybe their turkeys look different than ours? Turkeys don't have combs... do they?

Unique handprint turkey or is it a rooster?

• Easy Paper Footprint Turkey Craft

• Over at 123Peppy, they spruced up their colorful handprint turkey by pasting it to a plate and adding a decorative border.

Colorful handprint turkey from 123 Peppy.

• It isn't a handprint, but this footprint, turkey feather Native American Headdress is a cute activity for Thanksgiving.

• Dress your handprint turkey for the occassion, by giving him a pilgrim hat for Thanksgiving, like this one from Lonestar Knits.

Paper Handprint Turkey with Pilgrim Hat.

• These felt handprint roosters are stuffed, and they stand up. Just add a gobbler, colorful feathers, and drop the comb to make a felt handprint turkey craft. 

Make felt handprint turkeys for the Thanksgiving table.

• Mayhem designed this paper and pipecleaner turkey craft all by herself. She twisted the yellow pipecleaner into feet and then looped the orange one through the middle in the shape of a J. Then, she traced her handprint, cut it out, and attached it to the pipecleaner with hot glue. She twisted a loop in the top and hot glued the head to the orange pipecleaner.

Paper and pipecleaner handprint turkey.

To make him even more special, have your child write what they are thankful for on each feather!


Recommended:

Turkey Song for Thanksgiving

Jumbo Pack of Pipecleaners*

Edible Marshmallow Turkeys

Turkey Trouble Thanksgiving Book*

Over the River and Through the Woods Thanksgiving Poem

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Styrofoam Cup Turkey Craft

Easy Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving

This styrofoam cup turkey craft is an easy turkey craft for Thanksgiving. He is cute enough to become your Thanksgiving table centerpiece, and simple enough for little hands to manipulate. Include this cute, turkey craft as a sensory fine motor project for preschool and kindergarten class. Enjoy!

Cute Styrofoam Cup Turkey Craft.

To make Styrofoam Turkey Craft

Styrofoam Cup

Orange or Brown Paint

Pipecleaners in Fall Colors

Mini Pom Poms

Assorted Construction Paper

Glue Stick

Hot Glue Gun

Easy Turkey Craft for Thanksgiving with styrofoam cup.

Prep: Cut cardboard toilet tube in half.

Flatten the top, and fold a flap approximately 1".

Fold a small piece of paper in half, draw a circle, and cut out for the eyes. Draw pupils at different levels to give the turkey a loopy look.

Cut a gobbler from red paper and attach just below his mini pom pom beak.

Paint the styrofoam cup with tempera paint. Allow to dry.

Parent or Teacher: Make a bead of hot glue all around the bottom of the styrofoam cup (Top of the bird), quickly connect the cardboard tube head.

Bend the pipecleaners in half. Twists halves together at the bottom.

Insert pipecleaners by poking the ends into the back of the cup as shown below.

Back of Turkey: Poke pipecleaners just below the turkey's head.

Recommended:

Watch this Torn Paper Owl Craft and make a Turkey Instead.

Turkey Trouble Thanksgiving Book for Kids*

Edible Turkey Craft

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Grands!® Halloween Recipe Easy Edible Art Bento

Grands!® Biscuits Easy Recipes for Halloween

Halloween is our favorite time of year! We love carving pumpkins and creating fun, edible art or Bento lunches with a Halloween, holiday theme. So, when Pillsbury Grands!® asked us to come up with a Halloween recipe, we were happy to oblige. Enjoy!

Hooty owl biscuits for Halloween.

The Hooty Owls are our favorite Halloween biscuits. Before baking, we made a slice in each side of the biscuit and pulled them out to look like wings. Then, we cut a sausage triangle for a nose. Snack pepperoni makes perfect owl eyes. Bake according to package directions.

Grands!® Halloween Recipe Easy Edible Art Bento.

This easy Grands!® Bisuit Halloween recipe is fun for toddlers or preschoolers to make, and it makes a great after school snack for elementary age students. They can choose their favorite Halloween character. We made Jack-o-lanterns, Jack the Pumpkin King, creepy monsters, and little hooty owls!

Creepy monster Halloween biscuit with pepperoni and sausage.

For this creepy monster, we sliced the pepperonis in half. Then, we sliced the sausage lengthwise cutting out pieces for a long nose and two eyes. Just push into the raw dough. They will bake in place.

Below, we made Jack the Pumpkin King with just sliced sausages. As you can see, these are easy for little ones to make. Just pre-cut the meats for them, and let them stick into the biscuit for some sensory, fine motor skill practice.

Skeleton biscuit is easy edible art for Halloween.

Easy Jack-o-lantern pumpkin biscuit is fun to make for Halloween.

Owl edible art craft for preschoolers or toddlers.

Cute, baby owl edible craft for Halloween.

Grands!® Halloween Recipe Easy Edible Art Bento ideas.

You can share our photos with the kids to inspire them, but let them make their own edible creations.

• Set out several small cups, each with a different ingredient.
• Remember, pepperoni, sausage, hotdogs, Zucchinni, Summer Squash, and peppers work best.
• Give each child a paper plate with a raw biscuit.
• Let them create!
• Bake according to package directions.
• Enjoy with milk or apple juice for a fun snack.

Grands!® Biscuits Easy Recipe for Halloween.

Be sure to share your creations with us! We love to see your creative ideas.

Recommended:

Cool Lunchbox Ideas

Owl Paper Crafts for Halloween

Halloween Cupcake Pans*

Plan a Make Believe Bakery Companion Activity




*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury. The opinions and text are all mine.

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Chitika, Google Adsense, and Social Spark ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning

Menu Planning for After School: Try These Snack Ideas

After School Snack Ideas don't have to be just chips or apples. There are a variety of easy to prepare items intended for breakfast that are ideal for after school snacking. Check your local Walmart freezer isle to find snacks kids will like that are easy to prepare and affordable. We're sharing weekly menu ideas that we used in our day care. Scroll down for a Free Weekly Menu Planner Printable.  Enjoy!

After School Snack Ideas: Weekly Menu Planning Free Printable.

Walmart is your place for Back to School prep.

#fuelforschool

When prepping the menus each week, we made sure that the menu included a dairy item, a fruit or vegetable, and a good source of protein. Often times, we combined a craft activity with the snack making edible art. All of the items in our menus are available at Walmart where you get great value for your money.

Sample Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: 
Jimmy Dean Pancake and Sausage on a Stick, Apple Slices, Milk

Tuesday:
Yogurt Ice Cubes, Grapes, Cranberry Apple Juice


Wednesday:
State Fair Corn Dogs, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, White Grape Juice

The original corn dog of the Texas State Fair.

Thursday:
Rainbow Pudding Graham Sandwiches, Bananas, Milk


Friday:
Jimmy Dean Sausage Egg and Cheese Croissant Sandwiches with Apple Juice

Kids go all day with very little to eat. School lunches don't fill them up, and a lot of kids don't eat them anyway. When you can have a quick filling snack after school, your kids will be happier at homework time. Some kids may eat less at dinner, but you'll know they had a good source of protein after school- so you won't worry as much. A lot of kids are hungrier after a good quality snack, so they'll be ready for a healthy dinner.

Free Printable PDF Weekly Menu Planner

Recommended:


Easy Breakfast Solutions

The Night Before Kindergarten*

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jimmy Dean®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Have a Spooky Sleepover and Pajama Reading Party with Halloween Books from Scholastics

Have a Spooky Sleepover: Pajama Reading Party with Candy Corn S'mores Recipe

It's easy to plan a spooky sleepover with a Scholastics story and EVEREADY® Gold batteries in your flashlights! We decided to plan our spooky pajama party around fun Halloween books for kids! "We picked some fun spooky books and decided on a Candy Corn S'more Recipe as the perfect companion snack! There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat" by Jared Lee, "Splat the Cat" by Rob Scotton, and "Ten Timid Ghosts" by Jennifer O'Connell. Read on to learn more about the best sleepover ever!

*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine. It contains affiliate links.

Have a pajama sleepover with spooky Scholastic Books and EVEREADY® Gold.

Spooky Book for early readers, Scholastics, Ten Timid Ghosts.

Before the party, we gathered supplies for our craft, snack, and pajama party tent. The kitchen nook worked best, because it has room for a large, family-size tent. We used the walls and bench to construct a tent from one of our favorite blankets. Mommy filled a basket with books, juice packs, popcorn, and flashlights. Then, we created some, super cute edible crafts- with a ghost theme of course. Candy Corn S'mores!

Candy Corn Smores Recipe: Make S'mores with candy corn and candy corn marshmallows.

For our Candy Corn S'mores recipe, we used graham crackers, candy corn marshmallows, candy corn, and chocolate chips to make our S'mores. They were the best S'mores we ever had! Messy, but delicious.

While our sleepover snacks were baking in the toaster oven, we started the spooky ghost craft. We used cheesecloth, Styrofoam cups, and buttons to make a Halloween Ghost craft.

Spooky ghosts from Styrofoam cups.

After reading the story, Mayhem wanted to make a bat too. So, we cut out a pattern that looks like the bat on the cover of the book. To make our bat you only need scissors, construction paper, and glue. If you want to make an outdoor Halloween decoration, before cutting, cover your paper with Duct Tape in coordinating colors. The duct tape will make a durable Halloween decoration for your door.

While we enjoyed reading stories to each other and making shadow puppets on the walls, we had some surprise guests! They wanted to hear about Splat the Cat, and they wanted to chase the lights from our EVEREADY® Flashlights!

Curious cats crash our pajama party!

Educational Element for Homeschooling

We wanted to count this experience as school, so we found a free printable story starter and Lesson Plans for, There Was an Old Lady, on Scholastic's website. From the list of lesson plans, we also chose to try the edible estimations. This is a fun math lesson for kids where you compare the things the old lady ate with similar weighing objects around the house or classroom and then calculate the grand total of everything she ate. The EVEREADY® website has free printables to help plan for a disaster.

Grab your favorite Scholastic books, and EVEREADY® flashlights and get reading! When you purchase 2 special marked packs of EVEREADY® Gold Batteries or EVEREADY® flashlights, you can redeem them for a free book. How fun is that?

It must be time to go to sleep, our guests are yawning!

Hey lady, don't shine that light in my eyes!
Where are my pajamas? Those stories made me sleepy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine.


Recommended Reading:



There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!


Splat the Cat Storybook Collection