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19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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I have 19 hands-on rainforest activities for kindergarten. Too, grab more kindergarten activities on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

And learning about the rainforest is a fun subject to cover for any grade including kindergarten.

Too, teaching children at the kindergarten age should include hands-on activities and should be play-based.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Kindergarten learners can discover the rainforest through their senses. And the word “rain forest” denotes the fact that these are the some of the world’s wettest ecosystems.

While exploring nature, they learn through the sense of smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

So, you’ll want to include learning through the senses and a full immersion into the world of nature.

If you have room in your learning space, create a play-based Amazon theme area. Make the jungle come alive through music and props.

Amazon Rainforest Animals

First, begin with what kids this age love and that is animals.

There are many Amazon rainforest animals which your child can focus on.

A few animals which can ignite your child’s love for the wealth of the life that lives in the rainforest are:

  • Jaguars
  • Toucans
  • Iguanas
  • Giant Ant Eaters
  • Kinkajou also called honey bears
  • Harpy Eagles
  • Piranhas
  • Sloth and
  • Butterflies
  • Red and Green Macaw

Besides the animals are really what excites your kids when learning about the rainforest.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

You’ll love the page I have here Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon where your children can see more pictures.

Rainforest Activities

Next, I have many rainforest activities for kids of all ages, but your kindergarten aged children will love putting together this fun lapbook.

Actually, my lapbooks are for multiple ages and are mix and match. Not all kids, especially kindergarten are on at the same level. That is perfectly normal.

Kids this age can be reading beginning chapter books, and some are still learning letter sounds. All of this is well within the range of normal for this age.

The point is kids love learning and this is the time for projects.

For example, look at these free Amazon rainforest lapbooks.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look here to read about my free Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks.

Other Kindergarten Resources

Look at some of these other kindergarten resources.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look at the 19 crafts below. I know you’ll find one or two that will add some fun to your child’s learning day.

Rainforest Activities

Kindergarten learning should be about hands-on crafts, moving, singing and learning that is play- based or crafts.

These rainforest crafts can be done by all your kids but especially your kindergarten aged children.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

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Today, for book Number 29 Down and Out Down Under of the Geronimo Stilton series, we’re making an edible coral reef. The Geronimo Stilton books are for ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

In the Geronimo Stilton series book Down and Out Down Under, Geronimo is off to learn on adventure to Australia.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And when you think of Australia you may immediately picture cute koalas and terrifying crocodiles but another famous and very important part of Australia is The Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for creating this fun hands-on coral reef is from our latest read which is Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29).

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is teeming with incredible life, color, and beauty.

The story covers a lot of topics of interest in Australia.

This fun book mentions land animals, Uluru, Aborigines, topography, and the Great Barrier Reef .

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Today’s hands-on activity is fun, colorful, and a great way to teach all ages about the life that is in the Great Barrier Reef.

If you want to make an impact, hands-on activities are always the best way to fully immerse your kids into your topic.

This hands-on fun activity also appeals to all 5 senses and will make certain that your kids do not forget while they learned anytime soon.

Besides Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29) here are a few beautifully illustrated spines you may want to add to your library.

They are great basics that give great bites of information about the ocean, reefs, ocean animals and plants, and more.

  • Ocean Anatomy . I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic. This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically!

I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic.

This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

:Next, here are a few facts to share about the The Great Barrier Reef.

  • The Great Barrier Reef, located off of the eastern coast of Australia, is the longest coral reef in the world.
  • It is home to 1500 species of tropical fish and 400 finds of hard and soft coral
  • The reef serves as a protective habitat for many other forms of marine life.
  • One of the threats to reefs is coral bleaching.
  • Crown-of-thorns starfish is one of the predators to the reef which feeds on the soft coral polyps.
  • A coral reef is a fragile ecosystem which requires very specific conditions. The water must be warm (between 69-84 F) and relatively shallow (to depths of 60-100 ft).
  • Coral reefs exist in shallow waters because they depend on photosynthesis for food production. Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants capture sunlight and convert it, along with water and carbon dioxide into energy.

While your child designs their own little slice of sea life you can talk about the various life that lives here, what is being done to preserve it and where its located.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Next, look at how to make this fun hands-on edible coral reef.

How to Make an Edible Reef

Here is a list of some things we used. Your list can vary depending on what you use for plants and animals

  • One half sheet cake or a boxed cake mix
  • Vanilla wafers
  • Assorted candy – airheads, licorice whips, swedish fish, cookies, sprinkles and white chocolate pretzels
  • Icing in various colors or food coloring for your own icing

Bake your cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

Flip pan to carefully remove cake and cut ⅓ of the cake off.

Flip over the two pieces and stack the smaller one on top of  the other.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And because reefs have overhangs and caves, you can make some nooks and caves by digging out some of the cake.

Add a little food coloring to the frosting and stir. Use any shade you like to create your base.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Carefully ice all over the cake making different blobs and creating different textures creating the base mound of your coral.

You want it to look like big rocks.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Cut up airheads, licorice ropes and other candies to create colorful coral and push in all over the cake.

Broken white chocolate pretzels make nice coral.

Use the heat from your hands to soften Airheads or other taffy and make some fan coral for your reef.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Also, you could create a makeshift piping bag by putting warm wax into a sandwich bag, cut off a small corner and squeeze to make coral shapes onto wax paper.

Allow to cool and harden then remove carefully from waxed paper.

Finally, add in some fun sea creatures and you can add some fun decorations.

These are from obviously these are not edible.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Be sure to wash them well before using to disinfect them and keep your cake safe.

And you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Too, you’ll love the ocean and coral reef resources I have here.

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have 20 free homeschool science lapbooks to teach hands-on. Because homeschool lapbooks are perfect to pair with unit studies, most of the lapbooks include a unit study.

Too, science requires gathering quite of bit of data at times, but it also should be hands-on. It shouldn’t just be recording data or filling out lab journals.

So, while concentrating on one science topic, a hands-on learner can complete minibooks on each subtopic.

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

Most lapbooks will contain anywhere from 7 to 15 minibooks. Science lapbooks are no different.

You can determine if all the minibooks will be about one science topic or about different subtopics on the main theme.

Homeschool science lapbooks can be so fun to create because of the huge amount of information that may interests your children.

Lapbook Ideas for Science

For example, if you’re wanting to do a lapbook on one topic, here are a few ideas.

  • Look at your reference book and assign one minibook per chapter. Your child now has a quick overview of the topic.
  • However, if you want to dive deeper into one topic, then use the 5Ws – Who, what, when, where and why. This will give you a framework of minibooks and then build from those topics.
  • And if the science topic is about a famous scientist, then divide the minibooks by his or her time periods in life. Then focus more minibooks on what the scientist is known for.

In addition, decide whether you want letter size or legal size file folders. They both have their pros and cons.

While a legal size folder holds more, it’s also harder to store legal size folders for the long term.

Free Printable Lapbooks

The best thing about these lapbooks is that most of them have minibooks which contain some information or facts.

Whether you want your child to do all the research or use some of the premade minibooks, you decide how much time you have to spend on the free printable lapbooks.

Lastly, most of the science lapbooks are in color. And you don’t need an expensive printer to print them.

I still use my small Canon mobile printer.

20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on

Other Science Lapbooks

Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks

Lapbooks make great hands-on tools and you’ll love these fun lapbook ideas for science

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

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Choosing kindergarten science homeschool curriculum for energetic kids is challenging. Too, check out my other tips and activities on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curiculum should be fun.

Today, I’m sharing solid tips in how to choose science curriculum for your homeschooled kindergartner.

Some take a spiral approach and are very workbook driven while others include many hands-on lessons.

However, before I jump into sharing so many wonderful choices, you need to know the importance of balancing subjects.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

For example, as a seasoned homeschool mom with three grads I know the importance of focusing on the skill subjects first.

The skill subjects are also known as the three Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

How to Balance Kindergarten Homeschool Science with Skills Subjects

And here are three reasons why the skill subjects should stay in the forefront.

  • First, if a child can’t read well, he’ll struggle his whole life
  • Second, when a child does read well, he can study any subject or topic which delights him and
  • Third, math is needed lifelong and without a solid start in math, a child will struggle in science.

However, what some educators tout in the homeschool world is that it must be an either or choice.

Choose skill subjects or content subjects like science to focus on primarily in the younger grades.

Don’t get me wrong. There is some merit to that way of thinking.

Look at Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten: 260 Activities To Do With Your Child From Age 0 to 5 to show how playing and learning are essentially linked.

For instance, some moms of kindergartners can have an unrealistic view of what a learning day looks like for a kindergartner.

In addition, they also have an unrealistic view of how much time their children should spend homeschooling.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Although children are on different learning scales, here are some ways that kindergarten moms may not understand the learning process.

  • They want their kindergartener to write or worst yet write with a pencil.
  • Too, they think that a child should be reading at this age. It’s very normal for children to still be learning letter and blend sounds. Even children reading beginning chapter books is normal.
  • In addition, instead of embracing their energetic child, they think children should sit down for long periods of time to learn.

As you can see, there are a variety of skill levels.

Nevertheless, there are qualities which make homeschooling easier which a lot of young children share.

So, tap into those natural strengths to capitalize on for learning.

How to Match Science Curriculum with Learner

Look below at the strengths you want to tap into.

  • Most are very energetic and eager to learn.
  • Being wiggly and inquisitive, they can tolerate a variety of learning material that meets their needs for hands-on activities,
  • They move and wiggle but they’re paying attention.
  • Playing IS how children this age best learn. It should be hard to separate science fun from playing during the day.
  • And they’re learning with every breath they take.

Now that you have a glimpse of the big learning picture with kindergartners, I want you to choose kindergarten science curriculum meticulously.

Choose one which aligns with your child’s nature desire to learn.

Next, I don’t believe you have to make a choice between teaching science which is a content subject versus a skill subject. You can do both.
But you do need to know what is important to teach when your child is feeling overwhelmed or when life hands you a less than a desirable schedule to homeschool.
Sometimes, you can only teach the skill subjects.

But if you can teach science right along at the beginning it will make your child’s learning experience more enriching.

However, there is one more significant foundational point I want you to know.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides, I can’t help sharing with you points that have helped me succeed in homeschooling for 20+ years.

Two Approaches to Teach Homeschool Kindergarten Science

Thus, there are two ways to teach science at this age

  • One is where you take a beautiful science topic book or story and teach facts through finding easy hands-on activities to go along with the topic; and
  • the second way is using a laid-out curriculum which covers a multiple of topics like earth and science, animal science, plant science or human body.

The important point to remember is that science is not a subject a child can be behind in at this age.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides kindergarten science homeschool curriculum comes in a variety of options.

You want to create a love for science.

So hands-on activities should be abundant and writing about it should not be.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look below at solid science curriculum for kindergarten.

1. Nick and Tesla Series

This first one is Nick and Tesla series. This is a reference story like series more than curriculum.

And this is a perfect example of a fun series for a bit older child, but one that will feed the curiosity of a budding scientist.

If you have an eager science minded child, you can tweak an older resource to meet his needs.

One of the best parts is that you can do this with all your children.

Follow your child’s interests and include hands-on ideas as you child wants to do them.

2.Summer Beach from Sassafras Science Adventures.

Next, Summer Beach is a kindergarten full year program from the same company that makes the The Sassafras Science Adventures.

It includes a Summer’s Lab Teacher Guide, Summer’s Lab Student Lab Manual and a Summer’s Lab Reference Notes. You decide if you want to use the Student Lab Manual or the Reference notes.

Each unit has 4 lessons and is presented in a short story form along with questions for you to ask.

They use the idea of making a sandwich like learning science. You add different parts to build your science topic or sandwich for the week.

And you have two scheduling options.

3.The Sassafras Science Adventures.

Then, this curriculum can be used for multiple ages too. However, it is a curriculum if you want more laid out.

Next, is The Sassafras Science Adventures which is written for grades K to 5. And there are several books each based on a different topic.

There are components for creating a lapbook and it too is written in a story form.

As I mentioned each book is on a different topic.

There is Anatomy, Botany, Zoology, and Earth Science; there are other books in the series but they begin with first grade.

4.The Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library.

Also another fun one which has been around for a while is the Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library. Kids love this series anyway.

Use the science focused books for a fun science program and add in coloring, crafts, and drawing as you child wants to. It’s such a fun introduction to science.

5.The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books 

In addition, another fun keeper and great choice is the The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books.

I loved these too like the other books especially if you have younger children, it’s worth buying to use over and over again as each child comes along.

6. Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together

And although this next one says preschool, it’s for ages 3 to 5.

One of the best parts of Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together is not only presenting science in a story form, but it includes hands-on ideas with items you can find at home.

Another part is the parent’s section where they speak to you in how to use the curriculum as a guide.

7. Funschooling Level A for K- 2

Additionally, the funschooling books for Level A are K – 2. You can use them to cover a couple of years. depending on how much science you want to cover.

Funschooling is such a fun series of books. And they are quite a few choices for science. Remember too although they say K to 2, some books may be a bit more mature in terms of activities.

However, the content is solid and fun. Until your child can do some of the activities, you can try easier ones.

They have space, oceans and a nature study journal to name a few.

8. Be Naturally Curious

Also, Be Naturally Curious is another choice.

I’ve not used them but I have been eyeballing them. They have minicourses as they call them which are downloadable pdfs.

They take a story approach along with games, activities, nature and being outside.

If you lack the room for a ton of books this pdf guide would make a great resource and I love the topics hey have for grades K to 5. So you could use this with your older children too.

9. Christian Liberty Nature Readers

The Christian Liberty Nature Readers I’ve used and are beautiful and packed full of information for your eager learner.

I love the fact that I could just sit and read about spiders to my kids or whatever topic they were interested in and just ponder the beautiful creatures.

As mentioned, they’re readers. So if you want to add in some hands-on activities there is plenty of information to pull from.

I loved reading ahead and finding science activities like insect lore to go with our reading.

10. Science Unlocked

Another one we’re going to do soon is Science Unlocked.

Science Unlocked is everything that you need to teach your child an entire month’s worth of science in one box – complete with detailed teacher guide and student workbook.

The series Wonder is for K to 2. And they have topics like

11. Master Books

Too, Master Books is a curriculum which has a series named Let’s Talk Science.

Master Books has a beautiful Charlotte Mason approach to teaching science. We have not used it, but it has experiments, memory verses and activity pages.

12. The Good and The Beautiful

Furthermore, we’ve been using the other components of The Good and The Beautiful but not the science yet.

They have a science series they want to expand on it and named it Science for Little Hearts and Hands. The first course is for Preschool to 2nd and is Course Set—Fields and Flowers .

13. BookShark

Yet another wonderful science curriculum for kindergarten age is BookShark.

PreK is geared toward ages 4 – 5 and Level A is for ages 5 – 7.

BookShark uses beautiful literature with hands-on projects lined out in a full year program.

14. Christian Liberty

This next one is Christian Liberty which has a sweet 92 page book called The World God Made and is straight up and simple if you’re looking for a faith-based curriculum.

15. Nancy Larson Science

Another solid choice is the Nancy Larson Science programs which are for K to 5. As stated on her site, she believes a hands-on, cross-curricular approach wrapped in a scientific conversation is the best way to teach children.

16. Pandia Press

REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One is geared toward K/1 as it states up to 2nd grade. And it is a secular program which many homeschoolers like as well.

You can find REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One on Home Science Tools where they pair the program with a science kit.

Next, these two choices are some of my favorites we used.

17. Use Subscription Boxes

Something about getting a fun box of surprises every month just adds the excitement to learn science. We really love getting our science boxes.

Look at this Little Passports Science Jr. – Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 5-8.

And here is another one STEM Discovery Boxes – Monthly STEM Science Subscription Box for ages 7 to teen.

18. Use Topical Science Books.

This last choice is to use a topic-based reference science book and explore on your own. Because science should be fun, follow your child’s lead and choose beautifully illustrated books on one topic.

Add in hands-on projects and you have a very unique science curriculum. Add in a few science workbooks but sparingly. This will allow you to not have to create assignments.

Look at some of the choices for topical books.

Other Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum Tips

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love this fun aquarium jar craft for summer activities for middle schoolers. Whether you’re diving into a study about the oceans or doing a shark unit study, hands-on activities are the way to go. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.

Either use an upcycled jar or a mason jar from Dollar Tree. This easy aquarium craft for summer activities for middle schoolers is a multisensory approach to learning.

Not all middle schoolers are at the same level of maturity, so a hands-on approach is effective at getting information in.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

In addition, no matter how easy of a project, it can help the information stay in little growing brains.

When we study a particular topic I like to include as many hands-on activities as possible and they range from super simple to more involved.

In addition, with shark week looming I started brainstorming fun and easy ways to learn about sharks and other ocean creatures in a unique way. 

Besides, this is easy enough to make for a fun summer activity or to use for a homeschool summer co-op.

Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

First, I gathered up some of our favorite books to fit the theme.

We really enjoy the illustrations and the way the information is provided in simple little nuggets.

Next, before introducing the mini aquarium jar craft learn a few facts about the ocean.

For example, start with the fact that the ocean is a vast and mostly unexplored part of our Earth.

And it is filled with many beautiful and at the same time frightening creatures.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Encourage your child to be a marine biologist if just for the day.

Learn about a couple of creatures, their habits, feeding, characteristics, and what part they play in the oceans ecosystem.

Ocean Craft for Tweens

Have your middle schooler go through your ocean themed books. And the pile of plastic ocean animals. Choose just two to learn about. Here are the easy stipulations.

First, the animal had to fit in the small plastic mason jar from the Dollar Tree.

Second, the animal has to be one that your child is interested in learning about . This way he can research and learn about the animal for the rest of the assignment.

Although you may school year round, you can use assignments like this in summer to keep writing to a a minimal while sneaking in some learning through summer crafts.

Next, look at this easy list of supplies.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • A smooth upcycled jar or plastic mason jar from Dollar Tree
  • Gravel or sand
  • Plastic ocean animals
  • A Hot glue gun
  • Distilled water
  • Essential oil or hand sanitizer   

How to Make a Simple Jar Aquarium Ocean Craft

Begin by using a smooth upcycled jar or mason jar from Dollar Tree.

Sometimes the empty name brand jars have a good amount of writing and raised designs.

However, jars like spaghetti and pickle jars are good choices. Once you soak the label off they are usually smooth.

I pick up a couple of these plastic mason jars from Dollar Tree every so often because they are great for not only storage but also crafts.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Start by putting hot glue on the bottom of a piece of coral or plastic aquarium plant.

Press into the bottom of the jar. 

And if you don’t have one in your plastic animals you can easily make some with craft foam.

They will stand upright and hold up to being soaked in water.

Next, add a layer of gravel or sand, just a bit to cover the bottom.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Next hot glue some of the animals in place.

We didn’t want our animals floating upside down or all piled up on the bottom.

And the glue shows very little through the jar.

We chose a giant squid and whale shark

Add just a tiny bit of hot glue and press them into place.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Once glue is cooled and hardened slowly add distilled water to ⅛” from the top of the jar.

You can add a bit of blue food coloring if you like too.

But previously we found that it made it too cloudy to see well.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Additionally to keep the water from going bad you can add a couple drops of antibacterial essential oil . Hand sanitizer works as well.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Add a bit of hot glue to the threads on the lid, Then, screw into place to keep it from leaking.

Finally, you can add quite a bit to this activity by watching a documentary.

Watch a document while your child puts the jar aquarium together

Too, create the mini aquarium during read aloud time with an ocean themed book keeps wiggly learners interest.

A few more ideas to make this fun are to use chalk pastels. Sketch your chosen animals for a fresh art piece.

Chalk pastels are more intriguing than everyday crayons. Also, have your child create a large model of their animal with paper mache.

What ocean crafts do you like doing during summer with your middle schoolers?

Other Ocean Crafts for Middle Schoolers