Creative Family Fun

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Learning Activities for Kids

Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books

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Sometimes, all it takes to get a kid interested in writing is a special book to hold their thoughts.

My daughter spends a lot of her time at school writing in spiral notebooks or composition books. So, I thought I’d spark her interest at home with some special fall-themed mini books for creative writing.

These Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books are little, so they’re not too intimidating. Plus, they’re filled with lined paper to make writing easier.

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

Supplies Needed

Red and orange card stock (1 sheet for each mini book)

*Note: You can also use construction paper. It just won’t be as durable as the card stock.

Lined notebook paper

Cardboard for templates

Scissors

Stapler

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

How to make your pumpkin and apple mini books

Before beginning, create a pumpkin and an apple template from your cardboard.

Make it small enough that you can cut two apples (or pumpkins) on each sheet of paper. If you use a template, it will be easy to make sure all of your pages are the same shape and size.

If you are unsure of your drawing abilities, search for simple clip art or coloring pages. You should be able to find something online to serve as your template.

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

Trace two apples on your red card stock and two pumpkins on your orange card stock. Cut each one out.

Next, take 3 sheets of notebook paper per mini book. Fold the pieces of paper in half and trace one apple (or one pumpkin) on one side of your folded paper. Now you can cut all 6 pages of your mini book at once. I used this method to save myself some cutting time.

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

Stack all of your cut-out pieces so that you have a piece of card stock on the top, 6 pieces of notebook paper in the middle, and another piece of card stock on the back.

Attach all the pages together with your stapler. I found that one staple on the side of each book did the trick.

These mini books are very simple to make and an older child should be able to do the process from start to finish on their own. I made the books myself because I wanted to surprise my second grader with a fun writing invitation.

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

Create a writing invitation

To set up the writing invitation, I added the pumpkin and apple mini books to a small basket with a pencil holder full of a variety of pencils.

I also added a couple of index cards with some pumpkin- and apple-themed writing prompts to the basket. I love writing prompts because sometimes the most overwhelming thing about writing is choosing the topic. Writing prompts help narrow down the topics and spark your kid’s imagination.

Apple Writing Prompts:

My day at the apple orchard…

My favorite things made from apples are…

I planted an apple seed one day and…

Pumpkin Writing Prompts:

How do you carve a jack-o-lantern?

I grew the biggest pumpkin and I took it to the fair…

My jack-o-lantern came alive tonight…

What stories will your kids come up with? Happy writing!
Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

If you enjoyed these Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books, the above photo is perfect for sharing on Facebook. Or, you can share the photo below on Pinterest.

Make these simple DIY Pumpkin and Apple Mini Books to encourage writing. If you're stuck for ideas, try one of the seasonal writing prompts in the post.

You may also like one of these writing projects:

Handprint Poems

I Am a Super Hero! Writing Prompt

Flower Personification ~ For After School Writing Fun

Making Lists – After School Writing Practice

Punctuation Game: Cut & Graph Sentence Strips

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Punctuation can be fun.

Seriously. Don’t laugh.

It can be fun with you make into a game and when you add a hands-on element.

This simple punctuation game with printable cut and graph sentence strips is a great way to add the element of fun.

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate  and other affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

Supplies Needed:

Printable Cut and Graph Punctuation Strips. (Click here to download and print.)
Printer Paper
Scissors
Glue Stick
Large paper (Just cut off a piece from a roll of paper)

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

Set up your punctuation game

Download and print your sentence strips. They’ll print on two pages of paper.

Cut apart each sentence strip.

Next, set up your graph. Use a piece of large paper to draw three columns. You’ll want one column for periods (.), one column for question marks (?), and one column for exclamation marks (!).

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

It’s time to play

This punctuation game is easy. Each strip has a sentence on it that is missing its end punctuation.

Choose a sentence strip, determine the correct end punctuation, and glue the strip in the correct column.

It couldn’t be easier (or more fun)!

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

Try one of these fun variations

Don’t have any large paper? Take three sheets of printer paper, one for each end punctuation mark. Glue your strip onto the correct sheet of paper.

Or, you can make an impromptu graph anywhere. Make a graph on the floor with painters tape or on a table. You don’t have to glue the strips down, just lay them in the correct column.

Play with a large group of kids. Hand each kid a strip and have them stand in groups for each punctuation mark.

Can you come up with a fun variation?

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

If you enjoyed this fun punctuation game, the above photo is perfect for sharing on Facebook. Or you can save the photo below on Pinterest.

Practice end punctuation with this simple, printable punctuation game. Cut out the sentence strips and add them to the punctuation graph.

You may also enjoy one of these fun reading activities:

Punctuation Stickers: A Fun Punctuation Activity

Stacking Rhyming Words

10 Fun Ways to Practice Spelling Words

Sentence Sticks at Teach-Me-Mommy


Awesome Apple Science Experiments

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Apples, apples, everywhere.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t go anywhere in September without finding fun apple stuff, from apple desserts to apple games, and even fun apple science projects.

That’s right, we’re going to take those apples, have some fun, and do a little apple science.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

You’ll find fun chemistry experiments and a few physics experiments. Plus, you’ll even try a few kitchen science experiments.

These fun projects are all great ways to have fun and learn at home.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

Awesome Apple Science Experiments

Combine science and art when you make this fun Fizzing Apple Art Project at Kids Play Box.

Do a twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano when you experiment with Apple Volcanoes at The Resourceful Mama.

Explore gravity when you try this Apple Races physics project from Little Bins for Little Hands.

How many pennies does it take to get an apple up an inclined plane? Answer the question when you try this fun experiment at Kid Minds.

Find out what happens to an apple under various conditions when you try this simple Apple Rotting Experiment from Gift of Curiosity.

Can you make an apple lose weight? Explore weight with this fun Apple STEM Weight Loss Experiment from JDaniel4’s Mom.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

More Fun Apple Science Projects

Can you turn an apple into a boat? Little Bins for Little Hands shows you in this fun STEM challenge.

Use acids and bases from your kitchen to see how they effect apples with this simple science experiment from Coffee Cups and Crayons.

Turn an apple into a shrunken head with this spooky science project from Teach Beside Me.

Can you keep an apple from browning? Test your theories with this fun experiment from Kitchen Counter Chronicles.

How does heat change an apple? Answer this question in the kitchen when you make up a batch of Slow Cooker Applesauce from Creative Family Fun.

Don’t these all sound like fun? Grab some apples, put on your thinking cap, and try one (or all) of these fun apple science experiments.

Learn and have fun with one of these awesome Apple Science experiments for kids. This fun fall science is always fun to do!

You may also like one of these fun science ideas:

Jack Be Nimble Science Experiment

Fun Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Little House Inspired Science – Making Butter

Chemical Reactions with Pennies at Creative Family Fun


Salt Tray Spelling Words

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You know what’s more fun than writing your spelling words with pencil and paper? Writing them in a salt tray!

A salt tray is easy to set up and fun to use. I’ve seen it used often in a preschool setting for kids that are just learning to write.

But, it’s just as appealing to older kids. My third grader loves the chance to practice Salt Tray Spelling Words.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

How to set up

You will need a container that is large and flat. You’ll want the sides to be high enough to help contain the mess.

I used a wooden box that we happened to have. The container isn’t important. Just grab a cake pan or baking dish from the kitchen. They work great!

Fill your container with salt so that it makes a thick covering over bottom of your dish.

Tip: Put your container on top of a towel for easy clean-up. No matter how carefully we use this, we always get salt outside of the container. The towel will help trap the salt before it gets on the floor and makes clean up a breeze.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

Practice Salt Tray Spelling Words

Once your salt tray is ready, it’s time to practice spelling words.

Have your child use their fingers to write each word. To erase, just shake the container a bit and the salt evens out.

When you’re done, just pour the salt in a storage container and reuse it for another salt tray. We use the same salt time and time again.

Put down the pencil and practice spelling words in a sensory tray. Salt Tray Spelling Words is a great hands-on way to practice.

You may also like one of these fun spelling ideas:

Write Spelling Words with Cotton Swabs

Spell with a Driveway Letter Grid

Write Spelling Words in Shaving Cream

Writing with Paint in a Bag

Buy the 31 Ways to Practice Spelling Words Ebook

You can purchase a printable form of this book for $7.50 The book is designed to print and turn into a half-page size booklet. It’s perfect to keep at your homework station. Your kids can flip through and find a fun way to practice their spelling words.

The ideas will be convenient and ready to use. No need to turn on the computer every day for ideas.

Most activities require little to no prep time. And, if you make sure you have all the supplies on the Master Supply List (included in the book) on hand, you’ll be able to do any of these fun spelling word ideas any time.

Practice Spelling Words with Sticky Notes

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Oh, spelling words. They’re so necessary, but can be so uninspiring.

My daughter has been bringing them home all year and has been stuck taking practice tests or writing them over and over. That gets boring really quick.

I’m always trying to make learning at home interesting. My girls don’t need a repeat of school once they get home.

So I got to thinking about spelling words. What are some creative ways to practice spelling words?

If you're looking for a creative way to practice spelling words, you'll want to try this activity. Grab a pack of sticky notes and use them to build words.

After a few days of brainstorming, I came up with 31 Ways to Practice Spelling Words. They’re hands-on and fun. These are not your normal ways to practice.

I’ll be sharing one idea a day for the next 31 days. Are you ready? Let’s have fun with spelling!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

If you're looking for a creative way to practice spelling words, you'll want to try this activity. Grab a pack of sticky notes and use them to build words.

How to set-up

Do you have a stack of colorful sticky notes? Let’s grab them and practice some spelling words!

Write the individual letters for each spelling word on sticky notes. Mix them all up on a table and get started spelling.

How to practice spelling words with sticky notes

If your child is just learning their spelling words, let them use a list for reference.

If they’re trying to master the words, call out a word and have your child try to build the word with the sticky notes.

Easy and fun!

If you're looking for a creative way to practice spelling words, you'll want to try this activity. Grab a pack of sticky notes and use them to build words.

Let’s think out of the box with some of these day-to-day homework assignments and teach our kids that we can use creativity anytime.

Have fun practicing spelling words and your kids will probably learn them much more easily.

You may also like one of these fun ways to practice spelling words:

Make Words with Alphabet Beads

Rainbow Spelling Words

Write Spelling Words with LEGO Letters

Finger Painting Spelling Words

Buy the 31 Ways to Practice Spelling Words Ebook

You can purchase a printable form of this book for $7.50 The book is designed to print and turn into a half-page size booklet. It’s perfect to keep at your homework station. Your kids can flip through and find a fun way to practice their spelling words.

The ideas will be convenient and ready to use. No need to turn on the computer every day for ideas.

Most activities require little to no prep time. And, if you make sure you have all the supplies on the Master Supply List (included in the book) on hand, you’ll be able to do any of these fun spelling word ideas any time.