November 11, 2025|Homeschooling
Howdy from the Pine-Scented Barn, Farm Mamas. It’s 32°F, the alpacas are nibbling frost-tipped grass, and Khloé’s in her pink barn coat dragging a bucket of pine needles yelling, “Let’s make fire!”
That’s how we homeschool in November — scarves on, Bible open, pine needles everywhere.
This week’s theme: Pine Needle Crafts & Bird Feeders — harvesting needles, crafting warmth, feeding winter birds.
Grade Level: K-2
Time: 60–90 min/day
Location: Porch, kitchen, coop
This Week’s Big Idea
Farm Skill: Pine needle harvest + crafting
Academic Tie-In: Math, science, literacy, art, sensory
Bible Thread: Psalm 104:14 — “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock…”
MONDAY: Pine Needle Fire Starters
Goals
- Count pine cones (math)
- Practice fire safety
- Understand wax melt
Materials
- 12 pine cones, old candle stubs, wick scraps
- Muffin tin, double boiler (adult)
- Printable: Khloé’s Fire Starter Recipe Card | My Fire Starter Recipe Card
Step-by-Step (45 min)
- Harvest (10 min): Khloé fills basket with 12 cones from yard.
- Count (5 min): Line up, count aloud.
- Melt Wax (15 min): Adult melts; child dips wick in cone.
- Cool (10 min): Place in tin.
- Recipe (5 min): Trace steps on printable.
Farm Tie-In
- Pine cones from our 200+ trees.
- Wax from old shop candles — zero waste.
Bible Sprinkle (2 min)
Psalm 104:14 — “You cause the grass to grow…”
→ Prayer: “Thank You for warm fires.”
Extension
- Math: Graph cone sizes.
- Science: Draw wax solid vs. liquid.
TUESDAY: Pine Needle Bird Feeders
Goals
- Measure suet (math)
- Observe bird seed mix
- Practice hanging
Materials
- Suet block, pine needles, bird seed
- String, cookie cutters
- Printable: Khloé’s Bird Feeder Log | My Bird Feeder Log
Step-by-Step (50 min)
- Melt Suet (10 min): Adult melts; child stirs seeds.
- Pack (15 min): Press into cutters with needles.
- String (10 min): Poke hole, tie loop.
- Hang (10 min): On coop fence.
- Log (5 min): Draw feeder on printable.
Farm Tie-In
- Suet from local butcher; seeds from duck feed.
- Feeders attract chickadees to coop (pest control).
Bible Sprinkle (2 min)
Matthew 6:26 — “Look at the birds of the air…”
→ Question: “Who feeds the chickadees?”
Extension
- Science: Predict which birds visit.
- Literacy: Write bird names.
WEDNESDAY: Pine Needle Sachets
Goals
- Practice tying knots
- Label scents (literacy)
- Sensory exploration
Materials
- Fabric scraps, pine needles, lavender
- Ribbon, marker
- Printable: Khloé’s Scent Sachet Labels | My Scent Sachet Labels
Step-by-Step (40 min)
- Fill (10 min): Scoop needles + lavender into fabric.
- Tie (10 min): Knot ribbon 3 times.
- Label (10 min): Write “Pine Fresh” on printable.
- Place (10 min): In coop, car, drawer.
Farm Tie-In
- Lavender from shop; fabric from old shirts.
- Sachets keep coop smelling sweet.
Bible Sprinkle (2 min)
Proverbs 27:9 — “Oil and perfume make the heart glad…”
→ Prayer: “Thank You for sweet smells.”
Extension
- Sensory: Blind smell test.
- Art: Draw sachet.
THURSDAY: Pine Needle Tea Taste
Goals
- Measure water (math)
- Taste test (sensory)
- Write observations
Materials
- Pine needles, honey, mugs
- Strainer, kettle (adult)
- Printable: Khloé’s Tea Taste Sheet | My Tea Taste Sheet
Step-by-Step (35 min)
- Harvest (5 min): Snip fresh needles.
- Steep (10 min): Adult boils; child adds 1 handful.
- Strain (5 min): Pour into mugs.
- Taste (10 min): Plain, honey, lemon.
- Write (5 min): Fill printable.
Farm Tie-In
- Pine vitamin C for winter wellness.
- We sell Pine Needle Vinegar in shop.
Bible Sprinkle (2 min)
Psalm 104:15 — “Wine gladdens the heart…”
→ Question: “What makes your heart glad?”
Extension
- Science: Draw needle cross-section.
- Literacy: Write full sentence.
FRIDAY: Pine Needle Gratitude Tree
Goals
- Practice gratitude (literacy)
- Draw branches (art)
- Reflect on week
Materials
- Brown paper, pine needles, glue
- Crayons, scissors
- Printable: Khloé’s Gratitude Tree | My Gratitude Tree
Step-by-Step (50 min)
- Draw Trunk (10 min): Brown paper on wall.
- Cut Needles (10 min): Snip into “leaves”.
- Glue (15 min): Attach to branches.
- Write (15 min): Gratitude on printable leaves.
Farm Tie-In
- Tree = winter “thankfulness” in barn.
- Needles from coop clean-out.
Bible Sprinkle (3 min)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 — “Give thanks in all circumstances…”
→ Prayer: Thank God for 3 pine things.
Extension
- Art: Add bird stickers.
- Literacy: Read aloud leaves.
Weekly Wrap-Up
This week Khloé mastered counting and graphing cone sizes, observed wax melting and seed mixing, labeled sachets and bird names, wrote taste observations and full sentences, and practiced gratitude through journaling and crafting. She learned fire safety, bird feeding, and the joy of giving thanks in all circumstances.
Shop the Pine Needle Bundle
- Bumps & Bruises Salve
- Custom Slate Plant Marker
- Shop Now →
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Parent Tips
- Safety: Adult handles hot wax/tea.
- Adapt for 3yo: Use pre-cut shapes.
- Adapt for 7yo: Add fractions, write paragraphs.
Pin this week! Save for cozy days.
Tag a homeschool mama who loves pine crafts.
Comment below: What’s your favorite pine project?
All printables are fillable PDFs. Download, print, and let your little one fill them out with pencil or crayon. Khloé versions are for our family keepsakes; generic versions are for your family to personalize