Tips for Busy Families on the Go

Is your busy family always on the go? You need tips to make life easier!

We keep busy with lots of academic activities, but we also love to hike, swim, and play outdoors. As homeschoolers, we are involved in a special playgroup that enjoys playtime in local parks, roller skating, jump centers, and educational field trips. It seems, like many other busy families, we are always on the go and looking for tips to make life easier and less hectic.


Visiting an Aquarium
Enjoying learning about different species of fish.


Also, as busy homeschoolers, we search for special activities for physical education and fitness that can be a valuable educational experience. We are always coming up with new ways to learn while having fun. We especially love outdoor activities, but that can lead to cuts, scrapes, and allergies.


Tips for Busy Families on the Go
Dolphin and Manatee hunting in a kayak with Grandpa on the Manatee River.

When you head out for a hike or to go exploring the Manatee River in a kayak, it is important to always have a first aid kit, extra clothes, water bottles, bug spray, and we take allergy meds and Epipens too! Active families need to function like a team and be ready for just about anything. Now, we can take Puracyn® Plus along too. Puracyn® Plus is the first step in first aid. It helps clean wounds and is less irritating than peroxide or alcohol and more effective than soap and water. I find it amazing that it is safe for the eyes, ears, and mouth too! 

Puracyn® Plus is a convenient alternative to the otherwise messy job of cleansing the wound area, can be applied on the spot and on-the-go, and it won’t cause cell damage the way hydrogen peroxide can. It is the perfect addition to your first aid kits saving you the need for several different products.

We needed our Puracyn® Plus during Spring Break. Mayhem was excited about kayaking with Grandpa on the Manatee River. When she ran to the kayak, her clothes got stuck and toppled over a giant, concrete pelican! Then, when she hopped into the kayak, the tear from the pelican incident caught onto something in the kayak and scraped her leg. The pants are beyond repair, but her leg recovered nicely with a little help from Puracyn® Plus.


Getting some swimming in after a long road trip.

Now through March 27th, enter the Play to Win with #TeamPuracynPlus Giveaway on the Puracyn® Plus Facebook page for the chance to be one of three randomly selected winners to receive a Puracyn® Plus Sports Emergency Kit, including a $50 gift card to a sporting goods store of your choice and Puracyn® Plus product. Join us on Pinterest too.


#TeamPuracynPlus Giveaway
Enter to win a Puracyn® Plus Sports Emergency Kit.

New Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care™ Wound and Skin Cleanser is the next generation first step in first aid for cleansing, debriding and hydrating wounds, and is formulated with a pH balanced, hypochlorous solution, designed to improve the most essential part of the wound treatment process – preparation of the wound bed. If you have diabetes, Puracyn® Plus Foot Wash and Skin Cleanser is essential in helping to make foot care part of your daily self-care routine. To learn more about the brand visit www.puracynplus.com
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text, and experiences are my own.”
To learn more about the Puracyn® Plus, LIKE the brand on Facebook and follow the brand on Pinterest. This is a product-sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care™ Wound and Skin Cleanser. The opinions and text are all mine.


Recommended:

Homeschool PE Egg Hunt for Elementary Students: Fun for a Family Get Together Party too!

Get Fit with this Creative Physical Education Easter Egg Hunt for Parties or PE Class

This Egg Hunt isn't just for Easter. Add physical fitness to your family get together, birthday party, gym class, or homeschool PE. Hide the eggs outdoors, and then hide physical fitness activities inside each egg. Make a game out of working out! In the video below, we improvised and had fun turning exercise into a fitness game that got the whole "family" involved. Enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.


PE Games for Easter: Physical Education Activities

15 Resources for Dr. Seuss Lesson Plans Elementary School and Homeschool

Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool Dr. Seuss Curriculum




Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with Dr. Seuss Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool. We've scoured the web, especially our favorite blogs and websites, for companion activities for. Dr. Seuss books. When is Dr. Seuss birthday? March 2. Enjoy!


This post contains affiliate links. Click and make a purchase and we get a commission.


15 teacher resources for dr seuss day birthday bday dr suess
Teacher Resources: Lesson Plans for Elementary and Homeschool Dr. Seuss Curriculum.


Dr Seuss Day Activities Teacher Resources




Recommended Reading:


Bartholomew and the Oobleck: (Caldecott Honor Book) (Classic Seuss)


And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street


Oh, The Places You'll Go!



Cinquain Poetry: Fun Adjective and Adverb Video Lessons and Online Activities for Homeschooling

Cinquain Poem Examples for Students

In this online homeschooling lesson, we explore adjectives and adverbs and then use what we've learned to write a Cinquain poem. We found some fun videos and activities to help teach the difference between an adverb and an adjective. Scroll down for examples of Cinquain poetryEnjoy!



Cinquain Poetry: Fun Adjective and Adverb Video Lessons and Online Activities
Cinquain Poem Examples for Students.

What does an Adverb do?

An adverb modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs answer questions like: How? When? Where?

What does an Adjective do?

An adjective modifies nouns, pronouns, and phrases acting as nouns. Adjectives answer questions like: What kind? How many? Which one?

The adjective and adverb flash card video below is from Maple Leaf Learning. This video is best for preschool and early elementary, though it did help my third and fifth grader remember the difference between an adverb and an adjective.



Now that you are all caught up on adjectives, here is another fun video, which is more appropriate for second to sixth grade.



Here is another video from Grammaropolis. This one is my favorite!




Go old school and learn adverbs and adjectives with this Schoolhouse Rock grammar video.





Now, take what you have learned and use adjectives and adverbs to write a Cinquain. That's just a fancy word for a five line poem. Cinq means five in French.


Arts and Crafts Element

Supplies Needed:

Old Magazines
Construction Paper
Paste or Glue
Marker

Cut out adverbs and adjectives from old magazines.
Draw a line down your paper.
Label one side "Adjectives" and the other side "Adverbs".
Paste the words in the proper column.

Use the words to write a Cinquain poem.


Language Arts Element


How to Write a Cinquain


Line 1:  Use one word to describe the subject.
Line 2:  Choose two words to define the subject.
Line 3:  Pick three words to tell what the subject did.
Line 4:  List four words about how it happened.
Line: 5: Choose one word that restates or summarizes the action in your poem.


Math Element

Did you know there is math in poetry? It is better known as rhythm. If you completed all of the steps above, congratulations! You have written a simple Cinquain. Now, you are ready to plug in some more numbers and write a more complex Cinquain.

Rewrite your poem (or write a new one) using the following method. A true Cinquain is made up of a series of syllables.

Line 1: One word = two syllables.
Line 2: Two words = four syllables.
Line 3: Three words = six syllables.
Line 4: Four words = eight syllables.
Line 5: One Word and/or two syllables.

Once you've crafted the perfect poem, get some handwriting paper. Neatly, write your poem in Cinquain form. Decorate the paper to illustrate the actions and ideas in your poem.

Proudly display your poem for all to see!

Here are our examples of Cinquain poetry:

               Fishes.
      Black and Festive.
They wanted Mosquitoes.
Finally, they ate Mosquitoes.
              Delish!
-Jake

Is fishes a word? Yep.We used creative license to get two syllables in our first word. Jake wanted to write a poem about fish. So, he wrote a poem about various species of fish, or fishes to make the Cinquain work.

                       Kittens.
                 Tiny and Blue.
           Chasing Tiny Critters.
Catches the Fastest, Finest Chicken.
                     Pounces!
- Mayhem



Recommended Reading:


A Is for Angry: An Animal and Adjective Alphabet*

Poetry Patterns and Themes*







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! :)


5 Best Sleepover Games and Activities for Teens

Plan the Best Sleepover Ever with These 5 Cool Games and Activities for Teens

These five, easy party ideas for teenagers will help you plan a fun sleepover or even the best slumber party ever! Click the links to find more great birthday party ideas for both teen boys and girls. Enjoy!

5 Best Sleepover Games and Activities for Teens
5 Best Sleepover Games and Activities for Teens.




plan a backwards birthday party
Have all the guest wear all of their clothes backward.

  • Who's in the Bag?

sleeping bag game:best sleepover activities
Play, "Who's in the Bag?", at your next sleepover.

Before the party, mark straws with the number of party guest minus

one. On the last straw, write "it" with a Sharpie. Have each guest 

choose a straw. Get everyone's sleeping bag and roll them out on 

the floor in a large room. Send "it" into the bathroom or a closet.


Now, everyone else climbs into a random sleeping bag (not their 

own). Pull the bag over your heads so "it" cannot see who is who.


When "it" comes back, he taps the foot of a bag and asks one question. 

For example:  "What is your favorite color?"

The person in the bag, disguises his voice to answer but answers truthfully.

Now, "it" guesses who is in the bag. If he guesses wrong, he moves to the next bag. If he guesses right, the player gets to come out of the bag and watch the fun!

Play continues until all player's identities are revealed.





The guys from One Direction.
The guys from One Direction.

Before the party, find photos of cute guys. Make a Pinterest board

just for the party. Pin as many cute guys as you can find, then pull 

them up on the television screen with Chrome Cast. What would 

you do with him? Make Out, Marry, or Dump?



  • Whip Cream Fingertips


sleepover pranks
Sleepover prank: place whipcream on a sleeping beauty's fingers, then tickle her nose.

Put some whip cream on the fingers of the first one to fall asleep. 

Unlike peanut butter, which is sticky and can be deadly if anyone 

at the party has a peanut allergy, whip cream is an innocent 

slumber party prank. Now, gently tickle sleeping beauty's face. 


Watch what happens! For the record, I hate pranks. I'm opposed. 

If you are the first one to fall asleep, you probably won't be a fan 

of sleepover pranks either, so keep this in mind when choosing 

activities for your party.



  • Cell Phone
Play "Cell Phone", a sleepover game similar to 20 questions, but better!

Gather the party guests and pick one to be "it". Send it to the 
bathroom with loud music or headphones. Now, the rest of the 
group chooses a noun for the game. 

For example: Cat, Car, Flower, Food.

Now, bring "it" back to guess the chosen word.

"It" has to ask questions about the unknown word. So, she replaces 
the unknown word with Cell Phone. She asks each player a 
different question.

For example: "Is the Cell Phone purple?" or "Does the Cell Phone 
breathe?"

Like Twenty Questions, the other players (in on the secret word),

say yes or no until "it" gets the answer correct.


The last player to answer the question before she guesses correctly

becomes the next "it".




Recommended Reading:



Sleepover Party Mad Libs*



Group Games Played in a Circle*



The Everything Girls Ultimate Sleepover Party Book: 100+ Ideas 

for Sleepover Games, Goodies, Makeovers, and More! 

(Everything® Girls)*




The Unofficial ONE DIRECTION Big Sleepover Trivia Party 

Game: Find Out Who Loves One Direction The Most! - Star 

Version (One Direction Trivia Party Game Book 2)*











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! :)


7 Sight Word Games for Preschool and Elementary

Fun Sight Word Activities

Learning sight words can be fun. These 7 sight word games for preschool and elementary incorporate sensory elements and make the letters tangible whenever possible. We rounded up all of our fun sight word activities and letter lessons to help you plan curriculum for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Enjoy!

Sight Word Games for Preschool and Elementary
Sight Word Games for Preschool and Elementary.



Recommended Reading:

Duck and Goose Colors*

Meet the Sight Words *







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! :)


Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Compare and Contrast: President's Day Skit and Lesson

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln Stage Play for President's Day

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were two of America's most beloved presidents. In this compare and contrast lesson for homeschoolers or school enrichment, we answer a popular question, were Washington and Lincoln friends? Find out by performing our stage play for classroom use. The free printable skit imagines what it would be like if they were beamed to a 21st century classroom. Scroll Down for our Presidents Day Classroom SkitEnjoy!


We've included some companion printables for a Presidents Day lesson on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.



Right click and print Abraham Lincoln's Beard.

President's Day Printables
George Washington display printable from Mailbox Magazine.

We found this cute George Washington printable project display holder at Squish Preschool Ideas. I think all the details are at Scholastics.com: Abraham Lincoln Printable.

Though, it was designed to highlight a paper, I think it would make a good president paper bag puppet.


Teachers/Parents:

Download this printable Venn Diagram, and have the students fill it out prior to reading the stage play. As they read the play aloud, let them add details to their Venn Diagram. We've also linked to a fun printable that compares and contrasts facts about Washington and Lincoln.

Free Printables:

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Venn Diagram Printable

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Facts

PRESIDENT'S DAY SKIT

Free Printable President's Day Skit: Were George Washington and Abe Lincoln Friends?


Language Arts Component:

Another popular question... Who would win in a fight between George Washington and Abe Lincoln?

Easy. As a past military hero and soldier, George is the clear choice. Honest Abe wouldn't fight unless it was a battle of wits and then he has our vote, but both men were very intelligent in their own right. 

Grab a journal and write about who you think would win and list reasons why.



Recommended Reading:

Presidents Day Lesson

Jimmy Carter Facts

President Benjamin Harrison Activities

When is President's Day? Barack Obama Pattern

If I Were President

Presidents' Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)

Bald Eagle Paper Bag Puppet Pattern

















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! :)



What Year is 2015 in the Chinese New Year?

What year is it in Chinese New Year?

Wondering, what year is 2015 in Chinese New Year? 2015 is the year of the sheep (also goat and ram). The Chinese New Year, year of the sheep runs from February 19, 2015 to February 7, 2016 or the Lunar New Year. In honor of 2015 Chinese New Year, we are sharing a free printable trace and color, sheep coloring sheetEnjoy!


What Year is 2015 in the Chinese New Year?
2015 is the year of the sheep.


Click the link for textfree Free Sheep Printable Coloring Page.


Year of the Sheep printable coloring page.
Sheep or Lamb printable coloring page.

The sheep is a favorite animal in Chinese culture. It is cute, warm, calm, and gentle. Like the sheep, people born under this sign are kind-hearted, clever, tender, and they are sensitive to art.


Recommended Reading:

Crafts to make for Chinese New Year

Sheep in a Jeep*

Year of the Horse

Sheep Calendar - 2015 Wall calendars*

Year of the Snake

Sheep: Small Scale Sheep Keeping (Hobby Farm)*













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! :)


Social Studies for Kids: Treaty of Paris Free Online Lesson for Homeschoolers

Free Online History Lesson for Homeschoolers: The Treaty of Paris

In this fun Social Studies Lesson for Kids, we delve into the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Like most of our free online lessons for homeschoolers, this lesson can be adapted for children from K-12. We always try to include something for all age groups. Teacher Resources, Curriculum, Free Printable PDFS, and Lesson Plans are included at the bottom of the page. Scroll Down to start the lesson.

Social Studies for Kids: Treaty of Paris Free Online Lesson for Homeschoolers
Social Studies for Kids: Treaty of Paris Free Online Lesson for Homeschoolers. Pictured from top left to right: King George III, George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and General Cornwallis.
We encourage you to use Google Docs for journaling. Our kids work in Google Docs and then share the their work with us. In Google Docs, we can chat, message, and edit at the same time. You can also make slide presentations and forms for free. It is a great way to collaborate or work remotely with others.

First, you will want to learn about the American Revolution. BrainPop Subscribers: What caused the American Revolution? American Revolution Review Quiz. No BrainPop? Click Here: Causes of the American Revolution for Children.

1783 Treaty of Paris recognizes the 13 colonies as free, sovereign, and independent states.

To get a quick overview of the history of The Treaty of Paris, watch this history rap video and then test your knowledge on the interactive american revolution timeline linked below.



Visit the Interactive Timeline for the American Revolution and put your knowledge to the test.

Spelling and Vocabulary Component

Terms to Know
Pick eight of the terms below. Define and describe what role they played leading up to or in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Use your daily journal or a Google Doc.

Townsend Act
First Continental Congress
Revolutionary War 1775
Independence Day 1776
Writs of Assistance
Benedict Arnold
General Cornwallis
George Washington
West Indies
Frigate
Crispus Attucks
Paul Revere
Dicey Langston
French and Indian War
Stamp Act
Boston Massacre 1770
Boston Tea Party 1773
Tea Act 1773
Intolerable Acts
King George III
Coercive Acts 1774
James Otis
Sons of Liberty
Tarred and Feathered
Boycott
Daughters of Liberty

Summary of Liberty Kids Video on Treaty of Paris.








Review SchoolHouse Rock No More Kings from our history lesson on U.S. Capitals. When you click the link, you'll find many SchoolHouse Rock videos that tell the history prior to the Treaty of Paris.

Language Arts Component: Research and Writing Skills

From the vocabulary words to know, choose a famous person from the Revolution. Write a biography including details about the 1783 Treaty of Paris. How did this historical figure affect the Treaty? What role did they play? Do you think the Treaty would have happened without their input? Why or Why not?

Make a video or slideshow about this historical figure. Use this sample as a guide: The Treaty of Paris Video. Use your research paper to write the script for your video.

In Google Docs, start a rough draft for your research paper.

How do you research? What are the main things you need to do? Click here: What you need to know about How to Write a Research Paper. Read the "Research" text window. If you are a Brainpop subscriber, watch the video. Then fill in this Research Graphic Organizer (Save it to your computer). If not, try these outline tips.


Teacher Resources:

Liberty Kids Program Descriptions Printable PDF

Homeschool Lesson Plan for the American Revolution

9 Week Study on Treaty of Paris


Recommended Reading:

U.S. Currency Lesson Plans

Smart About the First Ladies: Smart About History*

Celebrating President's Day Book*

Benedict Arnold: American Hero and Traitor (Graphic Biographies)*

Napoleon: Emperor and Conqueror (Wicked History)*

George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides*







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! :)


Valentine's Day Skit for Kids: Hide and Seek Hearts

Hide and Seek Hearts is a Fun Play for Valentine's Day   

This Valentine's Day, get into the spirit of kindness with this fun play for Valentine's Day. This skit is perfect for elementary kids and can be adapted for preschoolers or junior high. All of our FREE play scripts include a companion craft. Hide and Seek Hearts is a fun activity that kids will love. Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Skit for Kids: Hide and Seek Hearts
Valentine's Day Skit for Kids: Hide and Seek Hearts.

Hide and Seek Hearts is a play for 8 participants. Get other children involved in creating the hearts and props needed to perform the skit.

This skit has a literacy focus. It teaches adjectives, action words, and encourages brainstorming for positive affirmations. Use it as a classroom companion project for language arts. Have the students come up with a kind, descriptive word for every class member and design a heart to share with them. Isn't that so much nicer than candy? We think so.

Free Printable PDF: Valentine's Day Skit for Kids


Recommended Reading:











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! :)



Homeschool Nature Study Ornithology

Homeschool Nature Study: The Science of Ornithology

My kids have been taking a Homeschool Ornithology Class. They love it! The instructors have great ideas for a Nature Study on Birds. So, in today's Free Online Homeschool Lesson, I wanted to share some of the fabulous things they've done to learn about birds! Make sure you click on all the links for fun, educational videos, games, and free printables.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.


If you are in Indiana, discover the world of birds at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center. Meet a Raptor every Wednesday and Friday at 4:00 pm and enjoy special bird programs Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

These lessons are meant to be done over the course of week. If you choose to do a science block, you can complete the projects in one day.


Ornithology Indiana Birds homeschool nature study lesson


Homeschool Nature Study: Ornithology

Define Ornithology: The study of birds, including their behavior, natural history, physiology, ecology, and identification. Can you answer these bird vocabulary questions.

Grab your Journal. Run to a window or go outside on a hike. List 10 birds in your yard or neighborhood. Describe the birds. This free printable is perfect for your bird journal.

For example: 
Small, Red bird with orange beak. Tufted head. 
Seen year round = Cardinal.

If you don't know what type of bird it is, make sure you have a detailed description for your search. If you have access to a camera, snap a photo. If not, draw a simple sketch. It doesn't have to be a work of art. Just good enough to help you remember details about the birds camouflage, beak, size, habit, etc.

Do you know what makes a bird a bird? Is a Platypus a bird? Is a bee a bird? Is an airplane a bird? Is a penguin a bird? Think about why or why not? Then, watch this video.





The Cat in the Hat also knows a lot about that.
Learn to draw: Trace a Bird Printable
(Recommended for ages 2-5 yrs. or everyone who is young at heart.)

Learn about different types of birds. When you click the link, you will see a series of bird videos that include:

Puffins, Eagles, Falcons, Snowy Owls, Snowy Egrets, Condors, Emperor Penguins, and more.

After watching the videos on all of the birds, list the raptors in your journal. What is a raptor? Visit Wordsmyth to find out.

Classify your birds with these Printable Flashcards.

Language Arts Component

Compare and Contrast. Write a paper with 5 paragraphs.
Remember to include a introductory paragraph (tell me what you are going to tell me), 3 detailed paragraphs in the middle (tell me), and a summary paragraph (tell me again).

Topic: Why isn't a Platypus a bird? Why is a Penguin a bird?

In the three middle paragraphs, give supporting details on each animal. You can write more than 3 supporting paragraphs if you need to, but don't forget your summary. Write this in a Google Doc. My kids send these docs to me. 


Arts and Crafts Component

Build a Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder. This is a fun construction project. Use wood glue. School glue may break down when used outdoors.

How to make a Popsicle stick bird feeder.
Popsicle stick bird feeder.

How to Make a Bird Feeder from Popsicle Sticks

First, lay the ten sticks flat, placing glue on the connecting sides.
Then, stack the sticks in a perfect square in layers with glue on the connecting ends. Eight makes the perfect height. Next, cut four pieces of yarn about 2' long. String a piece of yarn under the second stick at each corner as shown. Pull all pieces of yarn evenly and tie a knot in the top. Let dry for 24 hours. After your feeder is dry, paste in some peanut butter and sprinkle in bird seed.

You might also like:

How to Make Origami Birds


Science Lab Component

Try this Fun Science Experiment: How does a bird eat? How does the beak's shape factor in to the equation? Try this fun science experiment.

Graphic Organizer for Science Experiment

You will need the following utensils and supplies:
Eye dropper
Salad Thongs
Nutcracker
Large Serving Spoon
Tweezers

Bag Popcorn (Bugs)
Glass of Water (Nectar)
Raisins and Small Log with holes (Bugs in a Log) You can substitute a cardboard tube for this if necessary.

Click on the link above for the printable companion worksheet.

Start with a Bag of popcorn. Experiment with each utensil. Your goal is to get the popcorn into your mouth or the mouth of your partner using each utensil. Which works best. What type of bird might eat something like popcorn? What does each utensil represent? In other words, imagine a bird with a similar beak. Next, have your science partner toss you some popcorn and try to catch it with each utensil.

Place the raisins in the cardboard tube or log. Use the utensils to remove the raisins. Which works best? Remember, you are a bird. You cannot use your hands. Make a note of your findings on the graphic organizer.

Finally, try to "drink" water from the glass with each of the utensils. Which one allows you easiest access to the drink? Which one takes the longest? Would you get frustrated if you were really thirsty and had to drink water with a nutcracker?


Label the parts of a bird
.


Just for Fun

Flight School Game

Birds of a feather flock together? What does this mean? Where does the phrase originate? _____________________________


Recommended Reading:


United States Capitals Lesson

Leonardo da Vinci Design Wooden Ornithopter Model Kit