I was introduced to the book Roxaboxen a few years ago in the book Read for the Heart by Sarah Clarkson (which I highly recommend if you need some help with wonderful living book recommendations)!  It is an adventurous and imaginative story that is actually based on a true story about a small “town” built by neighborhood children in Yuma, Arizona.  The town is created from rocks, trash, branches, and other objects they find in the area.  The children *build* houses, drive pretend cars, set up shops, lay down laws, and have amazing adventures together.  I just adore this beautifully written story.

Unit Study Theme Ideas and Activities for Roxaboxen

Because of my love for this story, I decided to pull together several activities you can use to create your own unit study for Roxaboxen.  If you need a unit study/lesson plan template, I have some available in my homeschool planning pages.  Otherwise, pick out a few activities to do each day and make some memories with your kids!

Language:

• Roxaboxen Vocabulary Flash Cards – Quizlet
• More Roxaboxen Vocabulary Flash Cards – Quizlet
• Desert theme writing activities, word searches, graphic organizers, and more – ABC Teach
• Roxaboxen:  Lesson Plan on Setting – Lesson Plans Page

Supplemental Books:

• Is A Camel A Mammal
• Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus (Tree Tales)
• If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet
• Stone Soup

Science:

• Coloring Desert Animals – Exploring Nature
• Desert Animals Unit Study & Lapbook – Homeschool Share

Math:

• Number Pebbles for Counting or Addition – Imagination Tree
• Outdoor Number Review Games – Motherhood on a Dime
• Rock Dominoes – Intellokids

Social Studies:

• Mapping Roxaboxen (includes lesson plan and free printables) – Geoalliance
• Locate Yuma, Arizona on a map
• Build your own Roxaboxen – Teacher Link
• Build Roxaboxen with Boxes and Blocks – My 2 Small Boys

Art/Music:

• Pastel Cactus Drawing – Art Projects for Kids
• Steering Wheel Art – Sunlit Pages (lots of other Roxaboxen activity ideas, too)
• Sensory Cactus Craft – Stay at Home Educator

Cooking:

• Broken Glass Jello – Food Librarian
• Ice Cream in a Can (or Bag) – Motherhood on a Dime

Other Free Printables and Ideas:

• Preschool Desert Unit – 2 Teaching Mommies
• God’s Little Explorers, Week 9, Rocks + David & Goliath – Motherhood on a Dime
• 3rd Grade Roxaboxen Unit Study – Genessee School (this is a really thorough PDF download)
• Tons of ideas for an Ice Cream theme (the kids have ice cream parlors in Roxaboxen!)

How about you?  Do you have any recommended ideas for a Roxaboxen unit study or theme?  I would love to add a few more activities to the list!

Find more activities and books over at iHomeschool Network’s A Book and a Big Idea Blog Hop.