The Chaos and the Clutter

Homeschooling

Lego Challenge for Kids

a pile of building blocks with some in a small bowl and printed instruction cards

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Lego offers so many learning opportunities. Playing with building blocks helps kids with math concepts, engineering, communication, as well as simpler things such as colours and shapes. Using Lego Challenge Cards is a great way to encourage this learning.building blocks scattered on the floor with a printed card. Text reads "LEGO Challenge Cards"Lego is something that I often incorporated in our homeschooling. Whether is was a tool for teaching how earthquakes work, practising letter recognition, including it in a sensory bottle, or just having the kids build and create with it while I read them their history lessons, it was a regular learning tool. We even occasionally had Lego shaped snacks!

My own kids’ enjoyment and learning thanks to creating with blocks is what led me to want to create this activity for other families to enjoy. These can be used as a boredom buster at home or to enhance skills in the classroom.

Lego Challenge Cards:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Download and print off the Lego Challenge Cards. 
  2. Cut them out.
  3. Kids can then follow the prompts on the cards to create things using the building blocks. collage of photos of building blocks and creations made with those blocks

I kept some of the cards open ended in order to inspire creativity. There are also ideas included to foster team work and communication and to encourage thinking outside the box.

Examples of some of the challenges:

  • Build a boat that floats.
  • Build your name in LEGO.
  • Build something blindfolded.
  • Build something in one minute.
  • Build something using 5 different sized LEGO.
  • Build a LEGO pizza.
  • Build a small tower and balance it on your head.
  • Build something by following the instructions of a partner.
  • Build something with just one hand.

There are a total of 24 challenge cards in this printable set. Each one is designed to keep kids engaged and thinking. green tower built of Lego with other coloured building blocks in the background

Learning Opportunities from using Lego Challenge Cards:

    • following instructions
    • reading comprehension
    • colours 
    • shapes
    • geometry
    • building
    • math
    • engineering concepts (balance, gravity, weight distribution)
    • fine motor
    • hand eye coordination
    • cooperation and communication (if playing with others)

a pile of building blocks with some in a small bowl and printed instruction cardsSign up to receive the complete set of LEGO Challenge Cards free and be entered in our 5 Secrets to Powerful Connection email series.

Check out some of our other LEGO themed activities:

LEGO Sensory Bottle

Earthquake Science Experiment

LEGO Letter Practise Activity

Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin and Activities

a hand holds a small toy frog on a plastic lily pad set on blue water beads

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A frog life cycle sensory bin is a great addition to your child or students’ science studies. Kids can explore and discover using their sense of touch and sight.blue water beads with foam lily pads, rocks, and frogs. Text reads "Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin"

When you can add a hands-on component to any unit study, it increases retention of the information and interest in the topic. 

Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

little hands holding a frog in a sensory binDirections:

  1. Place the water beads in a plastic container.
  2. Add water. 
  3. Allow time for the water beads to expand.
  4. Make an area in a corner of the bin by pushing away some of the water beads and set out the rocks. This will be the land where frogs can sit.
  5. Add in the frogs, lily pads, and leaves.
  6. Invite kids to explore.

collage of photos of a frog sensory bin using water beads

Life Stages of the Frog:

  1. A frog lays eggs. It takes one to three weeks for the eggs to hatch.
  2. A tadpole hatches from each egg. Tadpoles live exclusively in water. They use gills to breathe. This stage lasts 9-12 weeks.
  3. The tadpole then grows into a froglet that looks more like a frog but has a tail. It has legs and lungs, so it is able to walk and hop on land. 
  4. 12-16 weeks after the egg first hatched, the frog is fully formed and is an adult. 

small green toy frog on rocks and water beads

Ideas to Expand Your Frog Life Cycle Unit Study:

a hand holds a small toy frog on a plastic lily pad set on blue water beads

Resources for Learning about Frogs:

Insect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesInsect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesInsect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesFrog Emotions Printable PackFrog Emotions Printable PackBUY NOWLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsFrom Tadpole to FrogFrom Tadpole to FrogFrom Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to Frog

 

This sensory bin contains small parts and water beads. Adult supervision should be used at all times when kids are participating in sensory play. 

Download your free printable Frog Life Cycle Hat. You’ll also be entered in our email series 5 Days to Better Family Connection. 

Check out our other life cycle sensory bins:

Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Praying Mantis Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Chicken Life Cycle Sensory Bin

My Winter Feelings Mini Book for Kids

colouring pages depicting winter scenes on a wood floor

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This mini book allows kids the opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings about different winter happenings. When children practise talking about and writing about their emotions, they are better able to manage them. 

a coloured page sits on a wood floor. Text reads "Winter My Emotions Mini Book"The pages include some common winter things such as drinking hot chocolate, going sledding, ice skating, building a snowman, and experiencing winter weather.

It also gives students the chance to express what they like about winter and what they don’t like about winter. colouring pages depicting winter scenes on a wood floorFor some students, it may be easy to think of things they like about winter and they may need some prompting. For others, it may be their favourite season and they may need help to come up with things they don’t like!

My Winter Feelings Mini Book:

Supplies needed:

    • My Winter Feelings mini book printable pages. (download here)
    • scissors
    • pencil or pen
    • markers, crayons, or pencil crayons
    • stapler and staples

Instructions:

  1. Download the My Winter Feelings mini book.
  2. Print the pages.
  3. Cut apart the booklet pages.
  4. Let your student decide how he or she feels about each winter activity and draw a corresponding face on the child on that page. Your student can use the Emotions Word Bank for ideas (for words to use and for faces to draw).
  5. When your student has completed the book, stack the pages together with the cover on top and staple on the left side to create a little book.

collage of different printed winter mini book pagesOnce your child or student has filled out their booklet, you can also sit with them and debrief. If there are some winter scenarios that seem to have potential to cause them some distress, brainstorm ways to help them manage those feelings or better navigate those scenarios if they arise. 

Download your free printable mini book for kids and be signed up for our sensory solutions and activities emails. 

Check out these other emotions printables for kids:

Pirate Emotions Playdough MatsPumpkin Emotions Gamepaper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on top

October Emotions Printables for Kids

collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

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Fall is in full swing where I live. In fact, there is a frost warning for tonight. No more denying that summer is over. But fall is full of great consolation prizes like colourful leaves, crisp fresh air, and candy corn! 

I like candy corn so I thought they would be the perfect visual to help kids talk about their emotions this October. This month’s free emotions printables include copywork pages, sheets to consider thoughts on trick or treating, and a feelings log. collage of printed pages with candy corn theme. Text reads "October Emotions printables"

Now I know that trick or treating is something that may be up in the air this year, so if it’s not happening in your area or your household, you can slip the word “not” in there and allow kids to express how they feel about not trick or treating this year. 

October Printables for Kids about Emotions:

October Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.a printed page in a plastic sleeve with four pieces of candy corn on top

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.

October My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

Use the Feelings Log as a jumping off point for discussions about the different feelings your child is experiencing and what is underneath those emotions. This is also a good way to help them manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Enter your email in the box below to download your free October Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students.

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Pumpkin Emotions Game

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on top

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This bingo style five in a row pumpkin emotions game provides a fun way for kids to learn about emotions. Because of the pumpkin theme, it is good for using in the Fall, around Hallowe’en, or even Thanksgiving. 

printed page with pumpkin faces and orange buttons. Text reads "Pumpkin Emotions Five in a Row Game"

As kids roll the different emotions, they can name what they are. They can then think of a time when they may have felt that emotion themselves. This will help children be able to better identify their feelings.

Pumpkin Emotions Game:

Two to four people can play this game at one time.

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Print the pages. Print as many game sheets as needed for the number of people playing.
  2. Colour the game die (optional).
  3. Assemble the game die with instructions (provided on the die page). 

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on topGame Play:

  1. Colour in the “Free Space.”
  2. Roll the die.
  3. Look at the emotion the die landed on. Give an example of when you feel that emotion. For example, if you roll “excited,” you can say, “I feel excited when I am going to go swimming!”
  4. After you call out your example, colour in or cover the corresponding spot on your board. The first person to cover or colour five pictures in a row, wins.

collage of printed pumpkin game for kidsSome children may find it more challenging than others to think of scenarios when they have felt a particular emotion. It’s okay for you to step in and give them verbal prompts to help them or to share one of your own examples.

To get a free printable copy of this game to use with your child or students, enter your email in the box below. 

You may also be interested in reading:

Thankfulness Game for Kids

Spider Emotions Matching Game

Activities to Teach Kids About Emotions

September Emotions Printables for Kids

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Back to school is a time full of emotions. Even for kids who love school, there is a lot of nervous anticipation in light of all the upcoming changes. Will they like their new teacher? Will their best friend be in their homeroom? What is this year going to be like?

And of course for some kids, school or change can cause anxiety. With this year in particular and all the changes, they may be feeling particularly concerned.a collage of printed apple themed emotion pages for kids to fill in. The text reads "September Emotions printables"Whether your child is going to school, homeschooling, or learning online, a new school year can bring with it a flood of emotions. Help your child sort through their feelings and be better able to express them with these helpful free printable packs.

September Printables for Kids about Emotions:

September Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.

a paper with a sentence to copy "This red apple is worried." and a picture of a red apple.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.a collage of copywork pages of emotion sentences for kids

September My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

printed page on table with glue stick, scissors, and coloured apple pictures on topThe September Feelings Log explores emotions associated with going back to school. Once your child is better able to identify what their feelings are, you can then work with them on strategies for managing their emotions. 

Plus, the apples are darn cute!
September My Feelings Log collage of printed pagesEnter your email in the box below to download your free September Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students. 

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