Northstar Educational Explorations
16 Followers
PORTLAND, Oregon, United States
About the store
Hi! I'm Courtney, homeschool mom of two free-spirited curious children. With a background in teaching, writing, design, science and technology, sustainability, and the arts, I bring a unique perspective to every study I create for NorthStar. NorthStar Educational Explorations benefits from much more than just my expertise alone - I have subject matter experts who review content.
Read moreAll resources
Filters
Grade
Subject
Format
Resource type
Standard
Audience
Slime Science! - Activity Guide
Slime! What is it? How does it work? This STEAM Activity guide provides a great background about the science of slime - with books, media, and big ideas to get you talking. The detailed step-by-step guide teaches you how to make the classic recipe for slime, including clean-up tips, and troubleshooting. Play-based math is built into the slime-making fun. Next, learn about the scientific method, through some amazing slime experimentation! Lab pages and journal templates help bring some rigor to y
K - 6th
Chemistry, Math, Science
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-1
, 3-5-ETS1-3
, 2-PS1-1
+2
Also included in: Summer STEM Activities Bundle!
Soil Layers Pudding Cup Activity Freebie
Explore the layers of soil with this FREE soil layers pudding cup activity. This helpful how-to will engage kids to ask great questions, apply their creativity, and solidify their learning with hands-on fun! We’ve also incorporated playful practice of math skills and a great diagram of soil! This activity is just a small excerpt from our INCREDIBLE four-part series Dirt: Expedition. If you KNOW your kids are going to want to learn more about this topic, check out Dirt: Soil Secrets. This unit
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Math
Soil Science: 4 Cross-Curricular Environmental Science Units
Dig deep with this study and play guide all about dirt, aka soil. Soil is the foundation for all life on earth. Soil is so much MORE than “just” dirt. Kids will love getting their hands dirty with this learning adventure. This study guide is four unit studies in one! Dig In: Soil is made of Many ThingsLiving Earth: Soil Sustains LifeSoil Secrets: The Many Layers of SoilLosing Ground: Erosion and ConservationIn this adventure, kids will explore: What is soil? What is it made of?How is soil essen
1st - 5th
English Language Arts, Performing Arts, Science
Soil Erosion and Conservation: Environmental Science Unit Study
Your Trail Guide for 2 to 4 weeks of Cross-Curricular Science Exploration! Inspire young advocates to conserve soil and protect the earth. This unit study and play guide is the final in a series of four units all about soil. Are you ready to dig in? In this adventure, kids will explore: What is weathering and erosion?What can we learn from events like the Dust Bowl?Why is soil important for the health of the planet?What is the Carbon Cycle and what is the role of soil?How can we do our part to p
1st - 5th
Art, English Language Arts, Science
Summer STEM Activities Bundle!
The PERFECT fun and easy summer STEM activities for homeschoolers, camp leaders, or parents at home. This bundle includes three STEM activity guides covering physics, engineering, chemistry, and biology, and environmental sciences. Each guide incorporates engaging summer reading selections paired with hands-on activities. STEAM challenge deck provides an additional tool to use for building out a variety of fun building challenges from bird's nests to bridges! With cross-curricular learning ex
K - 6th
Engineering, Math, Science
Carbon Cycle Game
Not your average game about the Carbon Cycle! This card game has REAL strategy and excellent math practice. It’s a cooperative game similar to Forbidden Island. Instead of finding treasures, you race to “capture” carbon stores before atmospheric carbon exceeds it’s limit. This game is part of the unit study Dirt: Losing Ground. If you end up deciding to purchase this or the larger expedition guide Dirt, you can apply this purchase towards the whole unit.
1st - 8th
Environment, Math, Vocabulary
The Dust Bowl History Unit Study
Travel back in time to a period in history when farming practices and huge storms threatened the American food system and sent thousands fleeing. This three-week cross-curricular unit study packs emotional depth that will have children understanding the WHY behind environmental conservation practices. When the soil became unhealthy, people’s health suffered, they lost their homes, their jobs, and struggled with hunger. Resources in this guide are recommended with great care to sensitive childre
1st - 5th
Art, English Language Arts, Science
Worm Science! STEAM Activity Guide
A full week of glorious hands-on worm science fun! This cross-curricular thematic unit includes: Discovery Journal Guide - With prompts for reflection and scientific understandingWorm Anatomy DiagramWorm Habitat Project - With Scientific Observation Guide, Integrated Math Learning, and Extension OptionsCreative Writing PromptSensory Art ActivityDifferentiated Handwriting PagesLiteracy ActivityThis guide will make learning easy, with clearly laid out graphic guides, diagrams, detailed book recomm
PreK - 6th
English Language Arts, Performing Arts, Science
NGSS
4-LS1-1
, K-ESS3-1
, 5-LS2-1
+3
Also included in: Summer STEM Activities Bundle!
Can You Build It? STEAM Challenge Deck
Young engineers will love this card deck of building challenges. S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, all of which will be involved when kids engage their creativity to solve these tricky problems. With a simple list of easy-to-find materials, children will take the lead to become young makers. Included with this deck of 24 challenges cards, is an overview of the design process and a design tracking sheet to guide them along the way. This pack will encourage
K - 6th
Environment, Math, Vocabulary
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, MS-ETS1-2
+3
Also included in: Summer STEM Activities Bundle!
Rocket Science! STEAM Activity Guide
A Beginner’s Guide to Rockets for KidsBlast off into space with ROCKET SCIENCE! This STEAM activity guide is the perfect way to introduce kids to the engineering design process. Rocket Science! can be used for a week or more as a secular homeschool unit study for a wide range of ages - perfect for family-style homeschooling. Kids will build their own rockets with two main project-based learning activities that teach kids design thinking. These hands-on rocket projects are ideal for pre
K - 8th
Engineering, Physics, Science
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, MS-ETS1-2
+6
Also included in: Summer STEM Activities Bundle!
Life in The Soil: Environmental Science Unit Study
Your Trail Guide for 2 to 4 weeks of Cross-Curricular Science Exploration! Journey underground to meet the creatures that live in the soil and learn how soil sustains life. This unit study and play guide are the second in a series of four units all about soil. Are you ready for some earthy fun? In this adventure, kids will explore: What lives in the soil?How does soil help plants grow?How does soil help plant matter break down?What are soil microbes?
1st - 5th
English Language Arts, Performing Arts, Science
NGSS
4-LS1-1
, K-ESS3-1
, 5-LS2-1
+6
Layers of Soil: Environmental Science Unit Study
Your Trail Guide for 2 to 4 weeks of cross-curricular soil science unit study! Investigate the many layers of soil from soil formation to the history buried below. This unit study and play guide is the third in a series of four units all about soil. Are you ready to dig in? In this adventure, kids will explore: What are the layers of soil?How is soil formed?What does soil tell us about the past?What are the main types of soil?What is the relationship between soil type and biomes?
K - 5th
English Language Arts, Math, Science
Soil Science Basics: Environmental Science Unit Study
Your Trail Guide for 2 to 4 weeks of Cross-Curricular Science Exploration! Embark on a learning adventure about the basics of soil science with this study and play guide. We call it “dirt” but soil is actually so much MORE than just dirt. This unit study is the first in a series of four units all about soil. Are you ready for some muddy fun? In this adventure, kids will explore: What is soil? How is soil different from dirt?What is soil made of?What is soil texture?What is the role of soil in pe
1st - 5th
Art, English Language Arts, Science
NGSS
MS-LS1-5
, 5-PS1-3
, 4-LS1-1
+9
Showing 1-13 of 13 results
About the store
Experience
Hi! I'm Courtney, homeschool mom of two free-spirited curious children. With a background in teaching, writing, design, science and technology, sustainability, and the arts, I bring a unique perspective to every study I create for NorthStar. NorthStar Educational Explorations benefits from much more than just my expertise alone - I have subject matter experts who review content.
Teaching style
NorthStar Educational Explorations strives to educate your children about important and engaging topics in science and history and to root this learning in a foundation of environmental and social justice. We strive to teach empathy and stewardship through every learning experience. We prioritize hands-on learning and design thinking, and we always integrate essential skill-building through math and literacy practice.
Our educational resources are designed for flexibility. Pick which units or mini-studies you want to use. Select which extensions, like writing, art, or social studies, to incorporate. Do the extra math play questions during the science activities, or skip them! We provide lots of options: take or leave them.
This learning experience was designed to encourage children to take the lead in their own education. Our philosophy is that the educator’s role is to expose kids to interesting things and be ready to follow the child’s interest - wherever that may lead. The hope is that the books and activities in this guide will support that journey. We provide many options for kids to explore with each activity. There are many invitations for kids to ENGAGE and take OWNERSHIP of what they are learning.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Published writer and multiple award-winning sustainability educator with the American Planning Association
My own education history
Master of Architecture in Sustainable Design from University of Oregon & Bachelor of Arts in Theater from UCLA
Additional biographical information
Owner/Founder of www.northstareducationalexplorations.com
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands