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!

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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!

Trip Ideas: Terre Haute Indiana 10 Things to Do

Field Trip or Vacation 10 Things to Do in Terre Haute

Planning a trip to Terre Haute, Indiana? Perhaps, you are or have a student attending Indiana State University, Rose Hulman, or Saint Mary of the Woods. Terre Haute is full of secret treasures for your field trip, one tank trip, or vacation to Terre Haute, Indiana. We've compiled a list of 10 trip ideas and things to do while in Terre Haute. Enjoy!

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Here's a list of Trip Ideas Terre Haute

Clabber Girl Baking Company Museum and Bake Shop
This is a great place for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. The museum is free and tours are self-guided. The Hulman Company owned the Clabber Girl Baking Company. You may be familiar with the Hulman name, they own the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They are also the Hulman name behind Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.

Things to do in Indy in May

Clabber Girl  Baking Company Cafe, Terre Haute, Indiana.

Fun photo op at Clabber Girl Museum.

Coffee Bean car in the cafe.

When you sit in the second dining room, you'll see this car decorated with coffee beans. You can also watch coffee grinders at work. The seating areas are full of memorabilia- like a mini-museum.

Clabber Girl Museum, Saloon. 

Smith Labyrinth
The Smith Labyrinth is located in Hawthorn Park. It's a floor plan of an actual labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral in France. This one is surrounded by a wildflower garden and hiking trails. Jake walked the labyrinth while we sat in a swing and watched. 

Be sure to check the time on the sun dial.

Candles Holocaust Museum
Candles Holocaust Museum was founded by Eva Kors, a Holocaust survivor. This is a very small museum tucked away in the heart of Terre Haute. At first glance, it doesn't seem like much but it is full of history! Eva was recently the Grand Marshal of the Indianapolis 500 parade.

Eva Kor's Candles Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute.

During the Holocaust, twins were used in cruel experiments. Eva had a twin sister. The focus of the museum is Eva's experience as an Eugenics Twin. This would make an excellent topic for a homeschool research paper.

Eugenic twins, Eva and Miriam Mozes.

Eva and other holocaust survivors worked with Steven Spielberg to record their story. These stories were filmed at different angles with state of the art technology. This process allows you to talk to a holocaust survivor. You can ask them a question and the computer generated image will answer it as if you were sitting together.

Talk with a Holocaust survivor hologram.

Eva Kors on set, filming her oral history story.

More Field Trip Ideas and Things to do in Terre Haute

Swope Art Museum
See an original Edward Hopper or Grant Wood painting at Swope Art Museum. The museum is also downtown Terre Haute.

Did you know Art helps develop critical thinking?

Indiana State University
ISU is located in downtown Terre Haute. Stop by to get a picture with their most famous Alumnus, Larry Bird. Click for a virtual tour of Indiana State University.

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
Visit the beautiful campus just outside the city limits.

Dobbs Park Nature Center
Learn about Indiana wildlife, and check them out in the wildlife viewing center. There's also a Native American Museum here.

Clark-Lansdbaum Holly Arboretum in Deming Park
When you visit the 177 acre Deming Park, you'll find awesome playgrounds, an Arboretum, a golf-course, and tennis and basketball courts.

Terre Haute Children's Museum
This children's museum is full of interactive exhibits about science and technology.

500 Museum of Wheels
This car museum is located in an old auto parts store in the heart of downtown Terre Haute. Thirty-five cars and other race memorabilia are on display.

Cool Restaurants in Terre Haute.

Field Trip or Vacation Things to Do in Terre Haute.

Recommended:

Things to do in Indiana with Children

Indiana Road Trip Tee

Indiana Historic Trip Guide

Recycle Wax Candle Science Fair: Babybel Wrappers

Science Fair Project: Make Candles from Recycled Wax

Need an idea for a school science experiment worthy of the Science Fair? This recycled wax project makes a cool 4H project too. If you like to tinker and experiment with different ways of doing the same old thing, recycle wax from Babybel Cheese wrappers into candles! Just imagine- the power goes out and you've got plenty of cheese, but no candles. No worries. We've got you covered. You can make candles from scratch at home. Enjoy!

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Teenage Birthday Party Ideas Indianapolis: Tweens Too!

Birthday Party Ideas  for Teens in Indy

Planning a unique birthday party for a tween (soon to be teen) or teenager is difficult. When they're younger, there are so many options- plus they don't even remember most of them! By the time they become teenagers, you're running on empty. Here's a list of Teenage Birthday Party Ideas in Indianapolis, your tween will love them too. Enjoy!

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Best Homeschool Organization Tips

Homeschool Families Get Organized Tips

Homeschooling! Whether you are just starting out, or you've been at it for awhile, you know the importance of getting your homeschool family organized. You've got curriculum to store, ideas to keep track of, assignments, art work, transcripts, oh my! What's a busy homeschool parent to do? Kids, you need to stay organized too! We've scoured the web and our favorite homeschool blogs to find the best homeschool organization tips. Enjoy!

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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! 

Planet Study: Mars

Learn about Mars with Online Lessons and Worksheets

Mars. The planet all ages love. Is there the possibility of life on Mars? Will you have the opportunity to live on mars? In this Mars Planet Study, we've compiled a series of online lessons and activities for kids from preschool to high school. Enjoy!

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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!

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

Quotes About Maple Syrup: Pancakes Make it Socially Acceptable

Pancake Syrup Quote and Maple Syrup Recipes

Do you love pancake syrup? Without pancakes we have little excuse to eat it. Some people dip sausages in syrup, while others mix it in with their oatmeal, but let's face it, pancakes were invented to make eating gallons of maple syrup socially acceptable. We've designed this shareable quote for Facebook- just in time for Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday is February 28, 2017 and IHOP Pancake Day is March 7, 2017). Keep scrolling for related maple syrup breakfast recipes and things to do with maple syrup. Enjoy!

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Editable Printable Curriculum

Free Printables, Free Royalty Free Clipart and Fonts? Yes, you can!

If you are looking for downloadable editable printables for the classroom check out TeacherSherpa. It is similar to Teachers Pay Teachers, but offers so much more. The printable curriculum is editable and fully customizable. Like TPT, there are free printable downloads available every month. Whether you are a teacher, a blogger, or a homeschool parent, you'll find awesome benefits on TeacherSherpa. The most amazing feature is that you can create your own printables to sell on TPT, earn royalties on TeacherSherpa, or even sell or giveaway on your own website. Enjoy!

At TeacherSherpa, you can make your own classroom materials and editable printables for free.

How to Make a Battery Magnet: Solenoid Science

How to Make a Magnet with a Battery Wire and Nail

If you are looking for a fun and slightly dangerous science experiment for your class or homeschool, you've come to the right place! Depending on how you attempt to make a battery magnet with a wire and a nail, this solenoid science project for kids can be a lot of fun or go very wrong. Perfect, now your kids will pay attention. Enjoy!

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Open Letter to Future Homeschoolers: Free Homeschool Lesson Plans Curriculum

Free Homeschool Lesson Plans and Curriculum Resources We've Tried

Disclaimer: This is my homeschooling journey story. To avoid my open letter to future homeschoolers and the homeschool haters, just scroll down to the bottom for the free homeschool lesson plans and curriculum resources. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Enjoy!

Family Movie Night Ideas

School's Out! Celebrate with a Family Movie Nigh in the Backyard

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

Do you still have a landline? We don't. Teens have a phone, but what about tweens? I'm just not ready to let my tweens have their own phone. Since we homeschool, they aren't influenced by other kids with phones. Neither of them want one. They have tablets. I figure they can "call me" in an emergency via G+, but now that they are getting older, it would be plausible to leave at least one of them home while I run errands or go to the dreaded grocery. Remember those days? The days when your kids fit in the cart and you were embarrassed by their squeals and crying fits, but they were stored neatly in the cart? Ahh... perspective, but what does that have to do with family movie night? I'll tell you...

Family Movie Night Ideas.

Anyway, 911 doesn't have a Gmail account. So, I decided to get a "house phone." To celebrate the last day of school, and the purchase of our new Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan, we decided to have a friends and family movie night. Check out our family movie night ideas below. Enjoy!

Your phone is capable of so many things, but did you know it can project movies onto a big screen? I don't mean with an app. Learn how to make your phone into a movie projector, so you can watch movies in the backyard... on a sheet! Now, that is fun! Get the details here: Turn your phone into a movie projector. This is a fun homeschool science project. Translation: have the kids build it for you!

So, I was lazy. Sure, I could have poked holes in the corners of my sheet, looped a rope through, and then strung it from two trees in the backyard. That would have been beautiful. But, all of my trees were too far apart, and I didn't have any rope. A backyard swing made the perfect "stand" for my outdoor movie screen. Think outside the box. You could even drape it over a privacy fence. Whatever works, right?

Family movie night ideas: make an outdoor movie theater with an old sheet and a mobile phone!

Before you invite your guests, you'll need to decide on a movie to stream. Whether you stream inside on a large screen television or outside, Walmart Family Mobile Plus is here for you. The plan features Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data which includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE data PLUS a free movie on VUDU (new release rental $7 value) every month per line for $49.88. Translation: Every month you can stream a movie on the television with your family! This makes family time a no-brainer. With VUDU movies, you can stream on your television with your Roku or even an old sheet in the backyard!

Watch a free, family movie on your tv every month with VUDU and Walmart Family Mobile.

Movie and snacks. Movie and outdoors on the big screen. Movie and indoors on the television. All for a less than $50 bucks a month. With the extra data from the PLUS plan, you can do more with your phone. Watch your free movie from VUDU and then stream as much of YOUTUBE as you want, play mindless games to de-stress, text your Mom. Text your Dad. Text Santa Claus. You can do it because you have plenty of data.

My favorite thing about VUDU? They also offer some movies prior or in conjunction with the theatrical release. That's right, you can watch a box office hit from the comfort of home.

Walmart Family Mobile Starter Kit is on rollback!

I've got more good news, the Starter Kit is on rollback! Get started for only $19.88 and since Family Mobile bills you later, you only have  to pay the $19.88 when you sign up. That's right, the $49.88 is build at the END of the month not the beginning. Woo hoo!

Walmart Family Mobile pricing options.

So, we researched all of the Family Mobile compatible phones. Based on the reviews, our top three choices were the LG G Stylo - $179.00 (Rollback from $199.00), Samsung Galaxy Core Prime - $79.92 (Rollback from $99.92), and the Cool Pad Rogue- $19.88 (Rollback from $39.83). Something for every price point. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime -$129 (Rollback from $149.00) is good too. Based on the price points and the reviews, we decided to go with the middle range Samsung Galaxy Core Prime.

Walmart Family Mobile phones.

Walmart Family Mobile Samsung Galaxy Core Prime phone.

What will you choose? Since we are celebrating the last day of "school" with our homeschool friends, we decided to kick off the summer with a fun, educational movie. Well, sort of, we chose, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy from 2005. Based on the best-selling book of the same name. The book is on many high school's reading lists.


For out next indoor family movie nights, we have plans to watch, Norm of the North, Ninja Turtles, and all of the Kung Fu Panda movies on our big screen tv. What about you? What fun ideas do you have for family movie night?  Now that we have all of these movies at our fingertips, we need movie ideas! In the comments, tell us your family movie night picks.

Recommended:

Sleepover Games

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and Walmart Family Mobile plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/3edbv or your local Walmart for current pricing.


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! 

Science Online Activities: Lessons and Games

Homeschool Science Ideas for Projects, Experiments, and Lessons

Whether you are looking for Homeschool Science Fair Projects or Ideas for Experiments these online science lessons and curriculum are perfect for classroom or homeschoolers. We gather the best games, videos, printables, and science curriculum so you don't have to. Enjoy! 

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Homeschool Science Online Activities: Lessons and Games.

Homeschool Science Projects, Experiments, and Lesson Ideas:

• Science of Bread: Changes in Matter
• Corn Muffin Baking Lesson
• Printable Companion Bread Coloring Page
• Make Bread in a Crockpot
• Albert Einstein: Physics for Kids
• Build-a-tech Kits for Kids 12+
• Celery Science Experiment: How do Plants Drink Water?
• Fun Genetics Lesson with Punnet Squares
• Science Cave Shoebox Diorama
• Cave Study Online Lesson
• Simple Machines Lesson and Experiments
• Science Classifying Plants and Animals 
• Gemstone Identification and Mining
• Ornithology Lesson: Bird Study
• Science Field Trip Idea: Visit a Bird Sanctuary
• Preschool Fish Lesson: Microbiology
• Make a Terrarium in a Jar
• Earth Science: Water Supply and Cycle 
• GMO vs. Non-GMO Lesson
• Science Lesson: Varun's Quest: Homeschool Resources Discount
• Universe Planets Lesson with Games
• Futuristic Printables and Activities
• Take a Field Trip to Outer Space
• Electric Circuit Lesson
• Egg Science Experiments: Make a Rubber Egg
• Ameila Earhart: Airplanes
• Preschool and Early Elementary: Microbiology Fish Study
• Preschool and Early Elementary: Plant Investigating Study
• Online Homeschool Science Resources
• Recycle a Bottle into Something Beautiful
• Experiment: Make your own Play-dough 
• Balloon Science Experiments
• Study Fall Leaves by Collecting to Make a Wreath

Recommended:

Science Books for Kids

Homeschool Lessons

3 Science Things to do with Eggs: Includes Bouncing Egg

3 Fun Science Things to do with Eggs including Bouncing Egg

We've got chickens and ducks, so we've got a lot of eggs! We're always looking for new uses for them. We don't want them to go to waste. Since we homeschool, we decided to try some kid science things to do with eggs. Have you seen the bouncing egg experiment? So, how do you make an egg bounce? Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience*

Which came first the chicken or the egg? Oh, that's not the egg science experiment we're doing..

EXPERIMENT #1

For our first egg science experiment, we tried to find out. Will it float? You'll need two eggs and two glasses of tap water.

Bouncing Egg Experiment with Results.

Drop one egg in each glass.

Do they float? Why or why not? Write down your hypothesis in your journal or a Google Doc.

Slowly add SEA SALT (table salt works, you just need more). Now, what happens? The more sea salt you add what happens?

To find out what is happening, click here: Results.

That was fun! Don't waste those eggs. Keep them for the next experiment! Leave your egg in the cup.

Add enough vinegar to cover the egg.

Check it after 24 hours. Record any changes in the egg in your Science Journal or a Google Doc.


EXPERIMENT #2

Can you make an egg bounce?

Can you make an egg bounce?

Instructions for the next experiment call for a boiled egg, but we tried it with an unboiled egg- Just to be different.

We used a chicken egg and a duck egg. Since the duck egg has a stronger shell, the results were much better.

You can try it with boiled an unboiled eggs, but remember to test it outside. Do an experiment with both types of eggs and record any differences or similarities that you find.

How is the duck egg different from the chicken egg?

So, how does the egg feel after 24 hrs.? 48 hrs.? 72 hrs.?

We tested our egg after 48 hrs. See the results below.


VIDEO: Unboiled Egg Test Results

Here are ten more cool egg science experiments to try.

EXPERIMENT #3

Easter Egg Dye Experiments

What else can you do with eggs? Of course, we dye them for Easter. You might want to try to dye your Easter eggs naturally. We tried it as a Science Experiment. Let me just say, we failed miserably. One reason is we neglected to follow all of the steps.

Duck and chicken eggs from our farm. Use a Sharpie to write the date of collection.

If you want to dye eggs naturally click the links below to follow the instructions, and use these all natural ingredients that are proven to work.

Red Cabbage Eggs

Yellow Tumeric Eggs

We tried Dandelions...

Can you dye eggs with Dandelions? Maybe.

We tried Violets and other purple wildflowers...

Can you dye eggs with Violets? Maybe...

Soaking an egg in Violet juice.

Can you dye an egg with Halloween Candy?

Dye eggs with old Halloween Candy.

Heat the candy slowly over low heat. Green candies turn into a brown, sugary goo.

Orange and Red candies turn into an orange goo. Guess what? It works, sort of...

Beautiful natural shades of our eggs.

Egg soaked in melted orange and red candy.

The results of our egg-periment. For us, only orange and red candy worked.

Recommended:

Free Homeschooling Lessons

Cool Science Experiments Books*


















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! :)