Hands-On Activities

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

October 30, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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We’re making an easy cave diorama shoebox exploring stalactites & stalagmites and to demonstrate how they’re made. Also, look at my pages Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode and Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

Who says science can’t be creative, hands-on, and a little messy? Today, we’re exploring the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

How to Make an Easy Cave Diorama Shoebox

We’re turning an upcycled soda box into our very own cave full of these amazing formations.

We’ll paint the inside, create stalactites and stalagmites using hot glue drips, and transform recycled materials into a 3D science model.

It’s a fun way to combine earth science, creativity, fine motor skills, and recycling into one memorable learning experience.

First, look at this list of books.

CAVE BOOKS FOR KIDS

We prefer living books and like reference books too especially when doing a science unit study.

Add one or two of these living books about caves to your home library.

5 Living Books About Caves for Kids

Explore the fascinating world of caves and the incredible formations found inside them.

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

Journey to the Bottomless Pit: The Story of Stephen Bishop and Mammoth Cave

Tells the story of the seventeen-year-old slave whose interest in the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky led him to become the tour guide for many to this natural wonder, helping him escape the grueling work of his fellow slaves on the plantations above.

Caves and their mysteries

Excellent illustrations and beautiful page turner.

The Secret of the Caves: The Hardy Boys ~ Book 7

Strange lights flickering along the coastline. Priceless artifacts vanishing without a trace. Whispers of pirate treasure hidden for centuries.Frank and Joe Hardy thought they were investigating simple museum thefts—until their search led them into a labyrinth of seaside caves where smugglers operate under cover of darkness. What begins as an intriguing puzzle quickly becomes an exciting adventure in the challenging underground passages.

Caves: The Underground Wilderness

Stepping into a cave is like entering an unfamiliar world. These majestic underground spaces are full of breathtaking sights, from columns of glowing ice and fantastic rock formations to vast networks of underwater caverns. In this book you'll learn about different types of caves and the strange and beautiful creatures that live inside them as well as how to safely and responsibly explore the subterranean world.

Let’s learn more about caves and the stalactites and stalagmites that form in them.

WHAT IS A CAVE

A cave is a natural opening in the ground that is large enough for a person to enter.
Many caves form when slightly acidic water slowly dissolves limestone, creating openings, cracks, and underground passages.
Limestone caves are among the most common places to find stalactites and stalagmites. Limestone contains a mineral called calcite, which is made of calcium carbonate.
Caves can form over thousands or millions of years.
Caves provide habitats for bats, cave crickets, salamanders, spiders, and other animals. Some cave animals have special adaptations for living in darkness.

WHAT ARE STALACTITES

Stalactites are mineral formations that hang down from the ceilings of caves. They form when water containing dissolved minerals, especially calcium carbonate, drips from the cave ceiling.

As the water loses carbon dioxide and evaporates, it leaves behind tiny deposits of minerals.

Over thousands of years, these deposits can grow into long, icicle-like formations!

WHAT ARE STALAGMITES

Stalagmites grow upward from the floors of caves. When mineral-rich water drips from stalactites or cave ceilings onto the ground, it leaves behind mineral deposits.

Over time, these deposits slowly build upward into cone-shaped or mound-like formations.

Remember StalacTite’s, T means they form on the top, while stalagMites grow from the bottom up.

HOW ARE THEY FORMED

Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide as it moves through soil, forming a weak acid. This slightly acidic water dissolves minerals from limestone as it travels through cracks in the rock.

When the water enters a cave, it releases carbon dioxide and deposits calcium carbonate.

These tiny mineral deposits gradually build up, forming stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor.

Most natural formations grow incredibly slowly, often taking hundreds or thousands of years to become noticeable.

Stalactites- Formations that hang from cave ceilings as mineral deposits accumulate from dripping water.
Stalagmites- Formations that grow upward from cave floors as mineral-rich water drips onto the ground.
Cave Columns- When a stalactite and a stalagmite eventually join, they can form a column connecting the ceiling and floor.

5 STALACTITE AND STALAGMITE FACTS

Stalactites and stalagmites are both types of speleothems, which are mineral formations found in caves.
They often form in limestone caves, but cave formations can develop from other minerals, too.
Some cave formations are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years old.
Not every cave has stalactites and stalagmites; the right rock, water chemistry, and environmental conditions are needed.
Real formations grow through mineral deposition. Your hot glue formations are a model of the shapes, not the actual mineral-forming process.

MORE EASY CAVE DIORAMA SHOEBOX IDEAS

HOW TO MAKE A SHOEBOX CAVE PROJECT

While a shoebox is the perfect size and shape for this kind of project, you don’t have to use one; you can use any box you have on hand, be it an Amazon box or part of a soda box, as we used here.

You will need:

A cardboard box
Black Craft paint
A hot glue gun
glue sticks
Additional paint if desired

Start by cutting the box down to size.

Paint the entire inside of the box black.

You can also add various shades of tan and gray to make it look like different rocks and formations inside the cave; set aside to dry.

Paint or cover the outside with black paper.

Once the inside has dried, you can begin to create your stalactites and stalagmites with hot glue.

This can be a little tricky.

Start at the back of the cave and make a few blobs of hot glue, let it cool until it just starts to scab over, then flip the box and let your hot glue drip.

You can let it create different lengths and widths, including columns where they connect from top to bottom.

Flip the box and repeat in the other direction. If you see they are moving too fast, just allow your blobs to dry a little bit more before you flip it.

Continue to add more paint and repeat the process, letting it cool a bit, then flipping to create drips.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

October 25, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks.

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book. Back when I started my Ancient Greece unit study I began with science. Now, I have numerous hands-on Ancient Greece activities and two free lapbooks. Go here to Fun Ancient Greece Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook and Free Awesome Ancient Greece Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Activities to grab both free lapbooks. I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece.

I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hands-On History) and so Tiny quickly opened it to find something he wanted to try.

He was reading about Ancient Greeks studying refraction. We did this when the boys were little, but as is the case when you have younger children, they don’t remember what you did with the older kids.

First, look at some of the books I gathered for our Ancient Greece unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT ANCIENT GREECE FOR KIDS

8 Living History Books about Ancient Greece

You'll love this roundup of living history books about Ancient Greece.

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths

In print for over fifty years, D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths has introduced generations to Greek mythology—and continues to enthrall young readers. Here are the greats of ancient Greece—gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters—as freshly described in words and pictures as if they were alive today. No other volume of Greek mythology has inspired as many young readers as this timeless classic. Both adults and children alike will find this book a treasure for years to come. “For any child fortunate enough to have this generous book . . . the kings and heroes of ancient legend will remain forever matter-of-fact; the pictures interpret the text literally and are full of detail and witty observation.”—The Horn Book

Ancient Greece for Kids Through the Lives of its Philosophers, Lawmakers, and Heroes (History for Kids - Traditional, Story-Based Format)

The suggested reader age for this book is 8 to 14 years old. To write this book, I went back to Herodotus, Plutarch, Diogenes Laertius, and other ancient sources of biographical anecdotes, and extracted from them the stories that will be most memorable to a modern kid. I retold them without adding any fictional color. I have omitted some things, however. Anything gruesome or seriously cruel is not included. Anything off-color, or outside traditional-family-friendly morality is not included. I have included only accounts of the most major battles, and without much detail. Battles are important, but as a kid - maybe as a girl - I was falling asleep over the ancient battles. Politics: Again, I have included only major turns of events.

I wove the information about the social order and geography of Ancient Greece into the stories of the era's historical figures. So, no worries, the kid will learn about the Agora and Acropolis of Athens, the city-states of Corinth and Sparta, daily life in an Ancient Greek household, the major Greek temples, and the three orders of Ancient Greek architecture. This book is richly illustrated. I don't agree that if you are 13 or 16 you should be content with pages and pages of text and no pictures. Illustrations help both kids and grownups to visualize - and therefore to remember - events and descriptions. I have illustrated the book mostly with paintings portraying historical figures or everyday life in classical Greece. Whenever I could, I chose late 19th century and early 20th century art over the older neoclassical paintings for a more accurate representation of the Ancient Greek costume and environment.

The Iliad for Boys and Girls

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time. Set during the Trojan War, this timeless poem vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amid devastation and destruction. Homer's tale is a compassionate view of human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death in the face of an often uncaring divinity.

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

The Great Philosophers: Socrates, Plato & Aristotle - Ancient Greece - 5th Grade Biography - Children's Biographies

You have probably heard about Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. When it comes to ancient minds who created foundations in philosophy, science, and math, these three names would automatically come up. But what exactly did they do to warrant immense respect and admiration? Well, your fifth grader will soon find out from this biography book.

Marathon Looks on the Sea

Illustrated by Erwin Schachner. The story of the Battle of Marathon and how it determined the future of Athens.

Life in Ancient Athens (Picture the Past)

What was it like to live in Ancient Athens? All the people who lived in ancient Greece spoke the same language and worshipped the same gods and goddesses. But they all lived in different city states a city and the land around it that it controlled. These city states were all run differently, and there were often fights between them. Despite their differences, there were things that united the city states. Find out more in this exciting title.

Growing Up In Ancient Greece (Growing Up In series)

Describes daily life in ancient Greece, discussing life in the city, life in the country, school, ceremonies and festivals, food, and other aspects

However, when you include your older kids this just means double fun because I get to do easy science activities again.

As the book brought out refraction is the way rays of light change when they pass from one thing to another that’s made of different material. That is what it means to have materials made of different density.

Ancient Greece Unit Study refraction activity and Ancient Greeks Pull Tab book @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So this activity was super easy but cool and I love the fact that all 3 things were found in my house.

ANCIENT GREEKS STUDY REFRACTION – EASY HANDS-ON SCIENCE ABOUT LIGHT

Here is the really short list of what you need:

Fun Ancient Greece Unit Study Ideas | Refraction Science | Free Pull Tab Book

Pie or cake pan (dark coated, not glass or clear)
Coin
Pitcher of water

The activity is really easy. Tiny rounded up Mr. Awesome to help us. Mr. Awesome placed the coin right next to the side.

And Tiny stood a distance away so that the coin is hidden by the side.

Then Mr. Awesome poured the water slowly into the container.

As Mr. Awesome poured the water, it appeared to move to the center of the pan.

Of course the coin doesn’t move, it’s just that the light rays were distorted or bent as they passed through the water.

A bit of easy and quick science was enough to pique Tiny’s interest for the unit study.

In summary, refraction is the bending of light as it travels from one transparent material into another, such as from air into water or glass. It’s an important part of science because it helps explain many things we see in everyday life.

For example, light changes speed. When light travels from air into water or glass, its speed changes. If it enters at an angle, this causes the light to bend.

Since that is the activity he chose to do first, we focused on reading about some Greeks and what they were famous for.

I created a giant pull tab book which is Famous Greeks and their Contributions.

Though there are many famous Greeks to focus on, I used the ones below and listed a bit of information about them.

It’s pretty easy to find information on the internet, but I am listing a few facts here for you too.

Aesop – storyteller; author of Aesop’s fables
Eratosthenes – geographer; first to describe the world as a globe
Euclid – mathematician; “Father of Geometry”
Aristotle – philosopher; student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great.
Archimedes – mathematician and inventor; calculated value of Pi; invented the lever; Archimedes Screw

For the giant pull tab book, just cut out all the pieces and write about each Greek on the box provided.

Ancient Greece Pull Tab 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have instructions on the minibook, but you will form a pocket with the two pieces and place the pull tab book inside.

I hope you like the first “little” giant pull tab book I have for our new unit study.

The lapbook is now complete. And I have two Ancient Greece lapbook.

Below, download the Ancient Greece lapbook which has this famous Ancient Greek pull tab book.

Look at the books included in this lapbook.

ANCIENT GREECE MINIBOOKS INCLUDED IN THIS LAPBOOK 2

Why Study About Ancient Greece
Go Fish pocket
Different Lives Athens and Sparta
Ancient Greeks About Greek (Life , Politics, History and gods)
Famous Greeks and their Contributions
Greek & Latin Root Words
Greece is Called the Birthplace of Civilizations
Can You Answer True or False

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE ANCIENT GREECE LAPBOOK NUMBER 2

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

5 Easy Ways to Make Y is For Yellow Craft Hands-on

October 23, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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Turn a simple Y is for yellow craft into a full day or week of learning built around one color: yellow. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more preschool learning ideas.

This is a wonderful way to explore their world while working on colors and letters and so many other skills like fine motor, visual discrimination, vocabulary building, exploring senses, and categories.

5 Easy Ways to Make Y is For Yellow Craft Hands-on

Besides teaching preschoolers the alphabet can be so much fun when you combine letter recognition with colorful, hands-on activities.

The letter Y is especially fun to teach because it introduces children to the bright, cheerful color yellow.

I have 5 ideas below to do just that, and you can use these ideas to highlight every color and reinforce learning through repetition and a rainbow full of fun.

First, look at these fun books for preschoolers.

BOOKS ABOUT COLORS FOR PRESCHOOL

These books will make learning the concept of colors a fun thing to explore.

8 Books About Color

Add these books about color to your home library.

The Days The Crayons Quit

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?

Mix It Up!: Board Book Edition

Follow the artist's simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear . . . mix . . . splatter . . . and vanish in a vivid world powered only by the reader's imagination. The result is not only enchantment and giggles, but a real and deeper understanding of colors brought by a true master of his craft.

Mouse Paint

One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors, mixing the
red and blue? Or dance in the blue and yellow? This playful introduction
to colors will appeal to any budding artist or curious preschooler.

Green

Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"―an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation.How many kinds of green are there? There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. In her newest book, Caldecott and Geisel Honor Book author Laura Vaccaro Seeger fashions an homage to a single color and, in doing so, creates a book that will delight and, quite possibly astonish you.

White Rabbit's Colors

White Rabbit finds three pots of paint―and discovers the magic of color!Young children will enjoy following Alan Baker's inquisitive LITTLE RABBITS as they make new discoveries. Simple storylines and playful artwork offer a fresh approach to learning early concepts.

Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color

Ruby flowers, violet quilts, lime frosting ― colors are all around us. How many colors can you find in the pages of this book?

Edible Colors: See, Learn, Eat

With a combination of unusual foods and a kaleidoscope of colors, this concept book shows that not all foods have to look the same way. A banana can be red, broccoli can be purple, and cherries can be yellow and still taste just as delicious.

Colors

A red fire truck races, orange pumpkins glow, and purple flowers bloom.Vivid pictures of familiar scenes, animals, and objects introduce future readers to color words and inspire them to look carefully at the world around them. Full of striking close-ups on fruits, flowers, and animals, as well as striking portraits of kids from diverse backgrounds, Colors is a bright, brilliant concept book from the creator of the award-winning Shades of People.

Next, look at these other fun activities to teach about color.

HANDS-ON IDEAS FOR TEACHING COLORS

Then look at these hands-on ideas for teaching weeklong about the color yellow.

5 DAYS OF LEARNING Y IS FOR YELLOW CRAFT

Turn your regular grocery trip into a scavenger hunt.

THE YELLOW HUNT THROUGH THE GROCERY STORE DAY 1

Have your child keep an eye out for as many things as they can find in the color yellow.

Better yet, before you even leave home, give your child a piece of paper the color that you are searching for and let them start the hunt on the way there to keep them busy on the drive.

An observant preschooler will notice every yellow light, stop sign, and curb before they ever make it to the lemons in the produce section!

Things to look for:

Bananas
Lemons
Yellow bell pepper
Corn
Pineapple
Butter or a yellow cheese
A yellow box or bag (cereal, chips, etc.)
Yellow squash
Mustard
Something yellow that isn’t food (a sign, a shopping basket, a shirt)
Road signs
Yellow lines on the road.

Make it richer: As your child spots each item, ask “what shade of yellow is that?” (pale, golden, bright) to start building descriptive vocabulary, not just color-naming.

COLOR MIXING: YELLOW MEETS BLUE AND RED DAY 2

Back home, set up a simple color-mixing station. Liquid watercolors, food coloring in water, or finger paint all work well; washable paint on a paper plate is the easiest cleanup.

Yellow + Blue = Green. Put a blob of yellow and a blob of blue on a plate, or for a mess-free option, put it in a zip-top bag and let your child mix them with a finger, brush, or by squishing the bag.

Talk through it as it happens: “Watch what happens when yellow and blue bump into each other!”

Yellow + Red = Orange. Same process. This is a great moment to connect back to the grocery hunt: “Remember the yellow pepper? What if we mixed it with red?”

Extension idea: Give them three small cups of colored water (yellow, blue, red) and an empty egg carton or ice cube tray, and let them experiment mixing combinations themselves with a dropper or spoon. Great fine motor practice too.

Using plastic letters (bath letters, magnetic letters, or letter tiles), have your child find the letters Y-E-L-L-O-W and lay them out in order, tracing over them with a finger while you say each letter aloud.

SPELL IT OUT – “YELLOW” DAY 3

For older preschoolers, hide the letters around the room or in a sensory bin and have them find and assemble the word as a hunt.

I didn’t have all yellow letters, but this opened up a great opportunity to talk about which letters were NOT yellow and introduce or reinforce other colors.

Bonus twist: Do this activity with the letters standing in a shallow tray of yellow-dyed rice or dry cornmeal; it adds a sensory element and turns letter recognition into a mini sensory bin at the same time.

YELLOW SNACK PLATE DAY 4

Make a simple snack plate with all the yellow foods you can find, even if it’s just a taste, this color focus might also help your young child try things they otherwise might not.

Some ideas for food are:

Banana slices
Corn
Pineapple chunks
Yellow bell pepper strips
Mustard
Butter
Yellow Sprinkles
Crackers
Yellow Frosting
Golden Oreos
Yellow Rice
Yellow candy

CREATE A YELLOW COLLAGE DAY 5

This is the “keep them busy and creative for 30+ minutes” project. Gather a tray of yellow (and yellow-adjacent) materials:

Yellow yarn scraps
Yellow and gold buttons
Yellow tissue paper, cut or torn into pieces
Magazine or catalog cutouts of yellow things
Yellow pom-poms
Yellow construction paper scraps
Yellow Post-it notes
Yellow beads or sequins

Include yellow markers, crayons, chalk, paint, and stamps as well, so they can see it in different media, textures, and shades.

Write Y is for yellow ” in the center of your white construction paper or cardstock to help reinforce that the letters also mean something, and you can also help them identify each letter, focusing on Y, of course.

Give your child the paper, yellow items, and a glue stick or squeeze bottle of paint, and let them build a free-form yellow collage.

There is no “right” way to do it; the goal is texture exploration and color reinforcement, not a tidy final product.

How To Make A Mayflower Craft With Kids

October 22, 2026 | Leave a Comment
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A fun Mayflower craft can make learning about early American history much more meaningful when children create something with their hands.

One fun way to explore the Pilgrim journey is by making a simple model of the ship they sailed on, the Mayflower. This easy craft I have for you uses everyday supplies like an egg carton, skewers, and cardstock to build a small version of the famous ship.

As children work on the craft, it is a great opportunity to talk about the long and difficult voyage the Pilgrims took across the Atlantic Ocean in 1620. Their journey eventually led to the founding of Plymouth Colony, one of the first permanent English settlements in North America.

This simple project helps children visualize the ship and understand the bravery and faith it took for families to leave their homes and travel to a new land.

BOOKS ABOUT THE MAYFLOWER FOR KIDS

You can extend the lesson by discussing what supplies the Pilgrims would have brought, how they survived the voyage, and what life was like once they arrived in the New World.

First, look at these fun books to add to your study.

6 Books About the Mayflower Journey & Early Colonial Life

Grab some of these books and resources. You can use a book as a unit study spine to learn about the journey on the Mayflower.

A Lion to Guard Us

Featuring a heroine with faith, courage, and a great deal of grit, this acclaimed historical fiction novel portrays the realities faced by three children hoping to find a new home in an unknown land.

Amanda Freebold doesn't know what to do. Her father left three years ago for the new colony of Jamestown in America, thousands of miles away. But now that her mother has died, Amanda is left to take care of her younger brother and sister all alone back in England.

Early Family Home (Early Settler Life)

Describes the life of early settlers, including the construction of a home, the clearing of land, folk medicine, candle making, quilting bees, weaving, and wedding parties

Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower's Young Mary Chilton

Several of the characters in the story—Mary Chilton, Constance Hopkins, and Elizabeth Tilley—were actual passengers on the Mayflower. Mary Chilton was a young girl when she left her home in Holland and traveled to America onboard the Mayflower with her parents. The journey was filled with trials, joys, and some surprises, but when she reached the New World, she experienced a new life, new freedom, and new home.

Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth

Runner-up for the National Book Award for Children's Literature in 1969, Constance is a classic of historical young adult fiction, recounting the daily life, hardships, romances, and marriage of a young girl during the early years of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth.

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl (Scholastic Bookshelf)

At sunup when the cockerel crows, young Sarah Morton's day begins. Come and join her as she goes about her work and play in an early American settlement in the year 1627.There's a fire to build, breakfast to cook, chickens to feed, goats to milk, and letters and scripture to learn. Between the chores, there is her best friend, Elizabeth, with whom she shares her hopes and dreams. But Sarah is worried about her new stepfather. Will she ever earn his love and learn to call him father?

If You Were a Kid on the Mayflower (If You Were a Kid)

Learn what living conditions were like aboard The Mayflower, what dangers the Pilgrims faced at sea, and much more.

In 1620, a group of Pilgrims left Europe aboard a ship called the Mayflower. They sailed toward North America, hoping to make a new home where they could practice their religion freely. Readers (Ages 7-9) will join Hope and Theodore as their set sail on a 66-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

This craft also pairs well with lessons about early American settlements and colonial life.

By combining creativity and history, children gain a deeper understanding of the courage and determination it took for these families to cross the ocean and begin a new life.

FACTS ABOUT THE MAYFLOWER

The Mayflower sailed in 1620. The ship left England in September 1620 and carried 102 passengers along with a crew of about 30 sailors.

The voyage took about 66 days. Traveling across the Atlantic Ocean was slow and dangerous. Storms often tossed the ship violently.

The passengers included Pilgrims and other settlers. Some travelers were religious Separatists seeking freedom to worship. Others were craftsmen, laborers, and families hoping for a new life.

The ship first aimed for Virginia. The settlers originally planned to land in the Virginia Colony, but strong winds pushed them farther north.

They arrived near Cape Cod. The Mayflower eventually anchored there in November 1620.

The Mayflower Compact was written on board. Before leaving the ship, many of the men signed it, promising to create fair laws and work together for the good of the colony.

The ship was originally a cargo vessel. The Mayflower was normally used to transport goods like wine, cloth, and fish before it carried the Pilgrims.

Life on the ship was crowded. Passengers lived in a small space below the deck for more than two months.

Only one baby was born during the voyage. A baby named Oceanus Hopkins was born while the ship was at sea.

The Mayflower eventually returned to England. After delivering the settlers, the ship sailed back to England in 1621.

LIFE ON THE MAYFLOWER

Life aboard the Mayflower was difficult and uncomfortable for the passengers. The ship was only about 100 feet long, yet more than 100 people lived in the small space below deck during the voyage.

Families slept on simple mattresses or blankets placed on wooden boards. Fresh air and sunlight were limited because most passengers stayed below deck during storms.

Food was simple and often unpleasant by the end of the journey. The Pilgrims ate salted meat, dried peas, biscuits called hardtack, cheese, and sometimes fish.

As the weeks passed, much of the food became damp or spoiled. Clean drinking water was also limited.

Despite the hardships, the passengers relied on their faith and determination as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new beginning.

MORE MAYFLOWER CRAFT IDEAS AND COLONIAL LIFE ACTIVITIES

HOW TO MAKE A MAYFLOWER CRAFT

You will need:

Empty cardboard egg carton
White cardstock
Skewers/dowel rods
Hot glue gun/sticks
Scissors
Markers or crayons

Cut off the lid and the closing flap of the egg carton; this will become the hull (body) of your ship.

Encourage your child to paint the egg carton brown inside and out to resemble the wooden ship used by the pilgrims.

Glue 2-3 skewers/dowel rods into the points in the egg carton that are the tallest. These will be the ship’s masts.

Cut 4 sail shapes from cardstock or craft foam; you want something more sturdy than copy paper. You can make simple rectangles or curved sails.

Glue the sails onto the masts with hot glue and hold into place until set.

Give your child markers and reference photos to create the cross of St. George and the Union Jack flags on small cardstock rectangles.

Finally, glue them to the top of the masts.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

October 20, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, for book Number 52 the Geronimo Stilton theme is Mouse in Space and we’re making a fun puffy paint moon craft. The Geronimo Stilton books were written by Elisabetta Dami an Italian children’s book writer.

The Geronimo Stilton series is an absolute delight for children ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure. Today, Geronimo Stilton theme is about space.

Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)

So instead of going back in time like his adventures take him, Geronimo Stilton is headed to space.

Geronimo blasts off on a top-secret mission full of space training, interaction with Dr. Wicked Whiskers, satellites, and a spacewalk.

This book is perfect for diving into some fun science.

Space Unit Study Craft

And today we are going to learn about and create a puffy paint moon that glows in the dark.

This spacecraft has a lot of texture, is fun to make and the fun continues when you turn out the light.

Once charged a bit in the light it will glow brightly, and you have a fun moon to hang up in your bedroom or classroom.

Choose a few activities, crafts, and other books and you have yourself the makings of a space unit study.

I have some ideas to get you started below.

Don’t forget to use the words in different colors, font sizes, and types in the Geronimo Stilton books for spelling and vocabulary.

They make it easy to turn a simple book into a mini unit study.

There are many topics they cover and the layout of the words on the pages makes it fun.

The Space themed Safari Ltd. Toob is a great place to start and can be used in dioramas, sensory bins, or just fun dramatic play situations.

You could also use them to tell a story about space or they can be used as inspiration for a drawing.

Then Basher Space Exploration and Basher Astronomy take big topics and break them down with silly pictures.

This makes topics easy to understand for any grade.

Four Space Hands-on Craft Ideas

Next, add in more hands-on ideas to make this unit study longer.

Create 4 different puffy paintings to show all 4 phases of the moon.
Try astronaut ice cream or other freeze-dried food for the true astronaut experience.
Enjoy Homeschool Pop’s Planets of Our Solar System video on YouTube.

And this last one is my HUGE Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

Don’t forget to grab Mouse in Space! (Geronimo Stilton #52).

Then grab the free unit study.

Also, add more Geronimo Stilton book resources for a fun literature slant to space.

Other Geronimo Stilton

Most of the hands-on activities below can be done with multiple ages.

Finally, let’s make this fun glow in the dark moon craft.

Now off to the moon!

You can trace a plate or bowl to create the outline of your moon.

But this makes for a great opportunity to introduce your child to a compass to create circles.

How to Make A Glow in the Dark Puffy Paint Moon Craft

Glow in the dark paint
Shaving cream
White school glue
Artist canvas or thick paper
A couple small plastic caps, different sizes
Geometry compass
watercolors
Paintbrush

You can make your glow in the dark puffy paint moon craft on paper.

However, we had some flat canvases already and I wanted to create something a little more permanent.

So we used our canvases. Trace your moon either with a round plate or demonstrate how to use a compass to draw a circle as large as your canvas.

Next, combine 1 part glue to 3 parts shaving cream.
How much you mix will depend on how large of a moon you are going to make or if you want extra for more than one.

For a 8 1/2 x12 canvas I used about 1 cup shaving cream, ¼ cup of glue, and 1 heaping Tablespoon glow in the dark paint.

Once mixed, paint in your moon with very thick blobs of paint. Cover the entire circle well.

While the paint is still wet, stamp in it a few times with different size caps to create craters.

Your kids can also use their fingers. Add a few blobs of your glow in the dark paint here and there around the canvas to be stars or asteroids.

Allow paint to dry overnight so it is completely dry throughout.

Once it is dry your child can add very wet watercolor around your moon.

Add watercolor right up to the edges of your puffy paint. Then, sprinkle with a bit of salt to create some texture.

Once dry brush away your salt and it will take some of the watercolor with it leaving a unique texture to the night sky.

You can grab a flat canvas at Dollar Tree to keep it very low cost. Look how great it looks at night!

What do you think? Are you ready for this fun science activity go with your literature study?