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Explore National Parks - Elementary Homeschool Unit Study | Knowledge Crates

$124.99
$124.99
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THIS UNIT SHIPS 3.1.26

Explore National Parks is a hands-on national parks unit study for elementary homeschoolers (ages 7–11) that turns U.S. geography into an experience your child can actually remember. Instead of memorizing landforms from a worksheet, students explore volcanoes, mountains, coastlines, glaciers, canyons, deserts, prairies, and plateaus through reading, experiments, art, games, and ongoing writing in a National Parks Passport. The unit is designed to feel immersive but doable: your child learns the “why” behind national parks, studies real places across the U.S., and builds skills across science, geography, literacy, and art in one cohesive theme.

This unit is built around a simple, flexible rhythm. Families can use the included 6-week plan, or move faster or slower depending on your schedule, attention span, and how deep your child wants to go. Each topic pairs nonfiction reading and journaling with a hands-on activity, so kids get both the knowledge and the “I tried it” experience. Throughout the unit, children keep a National Parks Passport with 20 prompts—stamping “visits,” sketching landforms, recording observations, and writing short reflections that become a keepsake of their learning. The unit also includes a conservation and civic component through Theodore Roosevelt and the early National Park System, helping kids understand why these places were protected and why conservation still matters today.

The learning is intentionally varied to keep motivation high. Students model weathering and erosion (including a coastal erosion experiment and a sugar cube weathering lab), complete a volcano experiment, build spatial reasoning with a wooden 3D hot air balloon puzzle, and create multiple park-inspired art projects (paint-by-number landscapes of Arches, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, and Glacier; plus 12 sticker painting animal projects). There’s also a strategy-style Top Trumps National Parks card game for review and comparison, and the unit wraps with a culminating National Parks brochure project where students choose a park and synthesize what they learned about landforms, wildlife, geography, and conservation.

Additional Information: Items may vary based on availability. This unit study crate contains products not manufactured by the seller. Some items may not be suitable for children under 3 years. Crate contents are not for consumption.

What's Included in your Crate:

  • National Parks Passport (20 prompts)
  • Meet the National Park System reading & journaling
  • National Parks word scramble
  • Landforms + park-topic reading & journaling sections:
  1. Explore Volcanoes
  2. Explore Mountains
  3. Explore the Coast
  4. Explore Glaciers and Fjords
  5. Explore Valleys, Canyons, and Gorges
  6. Explore Plains, Prairies, and Plateaus
  7. Explore Cold & Hot Deserts
  • Volcano experiment
  • Coastal erosion experiment
  • Sugar cube weathering experiment
  • Paint-by-number National Parks set (5 projects: Arches, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier)
  • National Parks Amazing Animals sticker painting book (12 projects)
  • Desert scene air-dry clay painting
  • 3D watercolor landscape
  • Sequoia perspective drawing
  • Hot Air Balloon 3D puzzle
  • National Parks I Spy
  • Top Trumps National Parks game
  • National Parks brochure project

Books Included with Your Crate:

  • Eyewitness: National Parks (DK)
  • DK Super Planet: Look at These Landforms! (DK)
  • A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #11: Grand Canyon Grab (Ron Roy)
  • Who Was Theodore Roosevelt? (Michael Burgan)

Who Is This Unit Study Perfect For? Grades 2-5

  • Kids ages 7–11 (grades 2–5) who like facts, maps, and “real place” learning
  • Hands-on learners who retain more through building, experimenting, and creating
  • Families who want geography and science to feel connected (not like random worksheets)
  • Kids who enjoy art projects, puzzles, and game-style review
  • Homeschoolers who want independent work with clear structure and a meaningful final project
  • Families planning a national parks trip (or wishing they were)

THIS UNIT SHIPS 3.1.26

We work hard to process and ship all in-stock orders as quickly as possible! While we strive to ship same day, but please allow up to three business days for processing. As a small business, we appreciate your patience and are committed to getting your order out the door as fast as we can.

  • For out-of-stock items, please contact us for a more specific timeline on when the item will be restocked, we're happy to help!
  • For new releases, including our upcoming unit crates, will ship after the product's official release date. Crates are released on September 1st, December 1st, March 1st, and June 1st.

Shipping Methods & Tracking

  • We ship via UPS and USPS, with shipping costs calculated at checkout based on your location. 
  • Once your order ships, you’ll receive a tracking notification to keep you updated on its journey. While we can’t control what happens to packages once they leave our hands, we want to ensure they arrive safely. 
  • If there’s an issue with your shipment, please contact us—we’ll do our best to assist. If your tracking shows the package was delivered but you haven't received it, you'll need to follow up with the shipping carrier for further assistance.

At this time, we only ship within the U.S. Thank you for your understanding and for supporting our small business! 

🎯 Why You’ll Love This

  • It teaches landforms and U.S. geography through national parks, so information sticks to real places.
  • The National Parks Passport builds writing skills and creates a keepsake your child will be proud of.
  • Science concepts like erosion and weathering are modeled with hands-on experiments, not just explained.
  • Art is built into the learning (paint-by-number landscapes, sticker painting animals, watercolor, clay, drawing).
  • A strategy-based card game reinforces park facts through comparison and review.
  • The final brochure project ties everything together with research, writing, and presentation skills.
  • Designed to be manageable: follow the 6-week plan or adjust the pace to your family’s schedule.

🎯 What Will Your Child Learn?

Common Core ELA (Grades 2–5)

  • RI.2.1 / RI.3.1 / RI.4.1 / RI.5.1: Ask and answer questions; refer to details and examples in nonfiction text
  • RI.2.2 / RI.3.2 / RI.4.2 / RI.5.2: Identify main idea and key details; summarize
  • W.2.2 / W.3.2 / W.4.2 / W.5.2: Informative writing (brochure project, passport responses)
  • W.3.7 / W.4.7 / W.5.7: Short research projects (park brochure project)
  • SL.2.1–SL.5.1: Collaborative discussion (optional family discussion prompts and sharing)

Common Core Math (Grades 2–5)

  • 3.MD.B.3 / 4.MD.A.1 (extensions): Represent and interpret data; measurement connections through experiments and comparisons
    (Primary math emphasis is applied measurement/observation rather than formal problem sets.)

Next Generation Science Standards (Grades 2–5)

  • 2-ESS2-1: Earth’s surface processes (wind/water shaping land; erosion)
  • 4-ESS2-1: Rock and landform changes (weathering/erosion over time)
  • 4-ESS3-2: Natural resources and conservation (why protected lands matter; stewardship)

National Core Arts Standards (Visual Arts, Creating/Presenting/Responding)

  • VA:Cr1.1 / VA:Cr2.1 / VA:Cr3.1: Generate ideas, experiment with materials, revise and complete work
  • VA:Re7.2: Perceive and analyze artistic work (observational landscape work and perspective drawing)
  • VA:Cn10.1: Connect art ideas with personal meaning (parks, landforms, conservation themes)

Explore National Parks - Elementary...

$124.99
$124.99
Sold Out

The best educational activity kits for kids are hands-on, engaging, and provide a mix of learning and fun. They should include high-quality materials, clear instructions, and opportunities for creativity and critical thinking. Some of the best options include:

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Knowledge Crates stand out as one of the best educational activity kits because they combine all of these elements into themed, hands-on learning experiences. Each crate is thoughtfully curated with books, a variety of projects, and all the materials needed—making it a stress-free way for parents to provide enriching activities at home.

Homeschooling can be overwhelming, especially when planning lessons and gathering materials for activities. Knowledge Crates simplify the process by delivering pre-planned, hands-on learning experiences straight to your door. Here's how they make homeschooling easy:

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With Knowledge Crates, homeschooling feels less like a chore and more like an adventure! Whether you’re supplementing a curriculum or looking for engaging activities, these kits make learning at home easy, fun, and stress-free.