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Tina Robertson

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

January 27, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a fun time travel craft inspired by the Time Machine book. Also, look at this post 11 Best Science Fiction Books For Middle Schoolers for more ideas.

Time travel has long been the topic of science fiction stories. 

Authors like HG Wells imagine a world where we can cross time and space, going into the past as well as the future.

The Time Machine is a science fiction work written by HG Wells and was published in 1895.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

Inspired by H.G. Wells’s book The Time Machine we created a craft that let us imagine a taste of time travel.

While time travel may still not be possible for us in this day and age, what we can do is create a time capsule that will give our future selves, or someone else, a glimpse into who we were in present times.

They can be a wonderful way to preserve and showcase your personal or family memories for future self or future generations.

There are so many options for what can go into your time capsule.

It can be made up completely of things that you love as well as things that represent the period like music, books, TV, shows, pop trends, etc.

I have a list of ideas for you below to help you decide what to put inside.

Science Fiction Books for Middle School Kids

Next, I have more science fiction books for middle school kids.

11 Science Fiction Books for Middle School

Your kids will love reading one or two of these science fiction books or them to add to your unit study.

The Wild Robot (Volume 1)

This newer addition to sci-fi is an absolute delight and is part of a series of 3 books following robot Roz as she navigates her accidental life on a wild remote island. We adored this first selection as a read-aloud. 

The War of the Worlds

So begins The War of the Worlds, the science fiction classic that first proposed the possibility of intelligent life on other planets and has enthralled readers for generations. This compelling tale describes the Martian invasion of earth. When huge, tireless creatures land in England, complete chaos erupts. Using their fiery heat rays and crushing strength, the aliens just may succeed in silencing all opposition. Is life on earth doomed? Will mankind survive? A timeless view of a universe turned upside down, The War of the Worlds is an ingenious and imaginative look into the possibilities of the future and the secrets yet to be revealed.

Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Force Collector

This is probably one of the best book versions of Star Wars ( in the opinion of a teen fan) but it is not based on familiar characters in the Star Wars universe rather it is a new storyline and new characters in familiar locations. This is a stand-alone story with no sequels as of now

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Illustrated Edition

It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent . . . until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur’s best friend has just announced that he’s an alien.After that, things get much, much worse.With just a towel, a small yellow fish, and a book, Arthur has to navigate through a very hostile universe in the company of a gang of unreliable aliens. Luckily the fish is quite good at languages. And the book is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . . . which helpfully has the words DON’T PANIC inscribed in large, friendly letters on its cover.Douglas Adams’s mega-selling pop-culture classic sends logic into orbit, plays havoc with both time and physics, offers up pithy commentary on such things as ballpoint pens, potted plants, and digital watches . . . and, most important, reveals the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.

The Time Machine

Embark on an extraordinary time-travel adventure with H.G. Wells. Explore fascinating future worlds and dystopian societies. Witness the implications of human evolution and societal decay. Engage with thought-provoking questions about the nature of humanity. Experience the brilliance of H.G. Wells’ visionary storytelling.

The City of Ember Deluxe Edition: The First Book of Ember

The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. After two hundred years the great lamps that lights the city are beginning to flicker, and two friends fight together to save the city in this first of 4 in the series. It is listed as recommended for grades 3-7 but it really is an enjoyable story for even older grades.

Last Day on Mars (Chronicle of the Dark Star, 1)

This part 1 of a 3-part series has stunning visual imagery and impossible situations like life on the red planet, when even that is threatened the few humans left must travel to yet another home on a distant star unlocking mysteries about time and space,

Ender's Game (The Ender Saga, 1)

This is the first of Orson Scott Card's Cards Ender's Saga, to date there are 5 novels and one novella in the Ender series based on the government breeding child geniuses and training them as soldiers against alien attack.

The Hunger Games

Even if They have already seen the movies I highly recommend assigning your middle schooler this series. It gives a lot of material for discussions of moral choices, allegiance to your government at all costs, friendships, how a future like this could come to be, and more

Divergent (Divergent Series, 1)

Similar to Hunger Games this is the first in a 4 part series of a dystopian world where everyone is split up into 5 factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) splitting families and friends and pitting them against one another.

Ready Player One

If you have a teen who loves gaming and the 80s along with science fiction they are really going to enjoy this one that is set in 204 but filled with pop culture references from that totally awesome decade

25 Things to Put in Your Time Capsule

  1. A letter- addressed to your future self or whoever finds it.
  2. Photographs- selfies and favorite photos of you, your house, family, and pets.
  3. Newspaper- A front page of the current date is a good choice.
  4. Grocery ads- To show how much grocery items cost at the time.
  5. Favorite toys, current favorite things from the time like LEGO, mini surprise toys, video games, etc…Fast food kids meal toys, unopened.
  6. Coins dated from the current year.
  7. Ticket stubs from current movies, concerts, and events.
  8. Dried flowers from a bouquet or your yard.
  9. Seashells and sand from a beach trip with a label of when/where.
  10. Cleaned packages from your favorite snacks.
  11. A lock of your hair.
  12. Short notes of advice from every family member.
  13. A copy of your favorite book with a note inside.
  14. Your favorite t-shirt.
  15. Key to the house.
  16. A family recipe
  17. Magazines
  18. Your favorite poem.
  19. Copy of your report card.
  20. Takeout menus from local restaurants.
  21. Hand or footprints
  22. A video recording of yourself/family.
  23. Technology cards, chargers, power banks, flash drives, etc…  to show what tech was like in your time.
  24. Local souvenirs from your area.
  25. A bucket list of things you want to accomplish in the years that you have set your time capsule for if you are putting it away for your future self.
How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

5 More Cool Time Travel Crafts and Activities

  1. Here is an idea for a Time Traveller’s Journal done in steampunk style which just screams time traveler to me. 
  2. If you want to go crazy you can get an old refrigerator box and turn it into a time machine with your kids.
  3. Another popular time travel book is Madeleine L’Engle’s  A Wrinkle in Time, and these Cootie Catchers are a really fun activity to go along with it.
  4. Watch the History of Time Travel on Prime Video, a fictional documentary about the world’s first-time travel machine and the impact it has on real-world events.
  5. Of course, we can’t forget one of the most popular time travelers, Doctor Who, craft these scarf bookmarks to keep your spot in your favorite time travel books.

Putting Together a Time Capsule

The first thing you want to do is determine how long you want to keep your time capsule before opening. How long-term are you willing to go? 5 years? 10? 20? 50?

Where will you put it? Are you going to bury it in the backyard or just hide it in a box or the back of the closet?

Now what are you going to put in your time capsule?  There are so many options.

A time capsule can be made up completely of things that you love as well as things that represent the period like music, books, TV, shows, pop trends, etc. I have a list of ideas for you below to help you decide what to put inside.

If you would rather use something sturdier to bury your time capsule and not worry about the elements here are a couple of ready-to-go options.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

You will need:

  • An Airtight container
  • Letter and number stickers
  • Themed stickers
  • Tissue paper
  • Masking or packing tape
  • Your chosen items
How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

Clean and dry your chosen vessel.  I used this large pickle jar that we had on hand, I wouldn’t trust it to be suitable for varying in the backyard but it’s great for putting in a hope chest or in the back of the closet.

How to Put Together a Time Capsule Craft

Add the current year to your time capsule with letter stickers, you can also add the goal year of when it should be opened if you like.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

You can use other fun stickers to decorate the outside of your time capsule either with a futuristic theme or just a fun mix to fit your personality.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

Pre-fit all your items in the container to make sure they will fit with a little space.

We are using tissue paper to hide it all because if we paint the jar inside or out it will scratch off. You can cover it in contact paper on the outside if you prefer.

Once you know everything fits, wrap it all carefully in tissue paper and slide it back into the jar.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

Replacing the lid and securing it with duct tape or packing tape works well to secure the lid to help deter little eyes from peaking too soon.

Now all that is left to do is hide your time machine on the back of a shelf or deep in a chest in the attic.

How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, science, science fiction, time travel

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

January 26, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Not only do I have a craft for you, but I also have 6 more Australian Animal craft ideas to add to your unit studies. Also, look at this Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art.

I love an elaborate, involved, detailed craft as much as the next mom now and again but paper bag crafts like this adorable platypus prove that you don’t always need expensive or complicated supplies.

A platypus is an easily identifiable animal with fur.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

It has webbed feet, and a duck-like bill.

It’s like some kind of odd Frankenstein creation of a beaver, otter, and duck.

Luckily even though it’s unusual looking it is still a very basic shape and easy to replicate with a few craft supplies.

With this very simple craft, you are still able to teach about the strange physical characteristics of the Australian platypus and talk about where it makes its home, how it reproduces and so much more.

Let’s start by learning a little bit more about the platypus. Of course, I have more Australian animal craft ideas to do and finally, we will put together that paper bag platypus

Kids’ Books Set In or About Australia

Next, I like to add books to our learning day and I lean toward living books first.

Then I add reference books to round out our learning day.

You may love to add one or two of these books to your home library.

14 Australia Books and Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Australia to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids (A Kids' Year)

Meet Ned, Lily, Zoe, Kirra and Matilda ― Australian children representing a multicultural blend of culture and race that typifies our beautiful country. They are taking you through a year in the life of Australian kids, from celebrations to traditions to events, to our everyday way of life. They are Australia.An Aussie Year is a picture book bursting with national pride. It is a snapshot of who we are as a nation, and covers our modern day culture, lifestyle and traditions. Its pages feature trailing, meandering text, dates and gorgeous illustrations showing our five Aussie children at play, at school, at home, and enjoying their parts of Australia ― from the tropical north out to our rugged west and beautiful Tassie.

D is for Down Under: An Australia Alphabet

What country holds the title as the world's smallest continent and yet the world's largest island? I stands for island, but one that's not too small. Our island is enormous. Just try to see it all! There's no place else quite like it; that is clearly true. Australia is a continent, but it's an island, too. Originally founded as a penal colony, Australia has long been known for its contrasts (think: wild outback and sophisticated Sydney Opera House). Accompanied by vibrant colorful artwork, D is for Down Under: An Australia Alphabet captures the spirit of this proud country and its many treasures, natural and man-made. Visit spectacular Sydney Harbor, try your hand as a jackaroo working a sheep station, or just sit back and enjoy a Vegemite sandwich. Below the starry night glitter of the Southern Cross constellation, Australia's "down under" wonders shine brightly. Devin Scillian is an award-winning author and Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist. His books with Sleeping Bear Press include the national bestseller A is for America: An American Alphabet. Devin lives in Michigan and anchors the news for WDIV-TV in Detroit. Geoff Cook has been illustrating for 35 years. His career began as a graphic designer, after graduating from Prahran College in Melbourne. Soon realizing he wanted to be an illustrator, he became a partner in the illustration studio All Australian Graffiti. He lives in Australia.

Are We There Yet?

Grace recounts how she, her parents, and her brothers spent an entire winter travelling completely around Australia in a camper.

This is Australia: A Children's Classic

Like the other Sasek classics, these are facsimile editions of his original books. The brilliant, vibrant illustrations have been meticulously preserved, remaining true to his vision more than forty years later and, where applicable, facts have been updated for the twenty-first century, appearing on a "This is . . . Today" page at the back of each book. The stylish, charming illustrations, coupled with Sasek’s witty, playful narrative, make these books a perfect souvenir that will delight both children and their parents, many of whom will remember them from their own childhood. In This is Australia, first published in 1970, Sasek swings down under, winging his readers into Sydney, with its famous bridge and space-age Opera House; bustling, modern Melbourne; colonial Adelaide; semitropical Brisbane; the garden city of Canberra; mineral-rich Perth; and Alice Springs, Australia’s most famous outback town.

Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: For the Children of Gunbalanya

When Ernie leaves the city and goes to live in Arnhem Land in the Australian outback, he sends letters to his old classmates--Rosie, Frank, Tessa, Nicky, Clive, and Celeste--describing the activities of his new friends.

The Pumpkin Runner

"Nearly all the sheep ranchers in Blue Gum Valley rode horses or drove jeeps to check on their sheep. But Joshua Summerhayes liked to run...with Yellow Dog trailing behind him." So it's no surprise when Joshua decides to enter a race from Melbourne to Sydney. People laugh when old Joshua shows up in his overalls and gumboots, calmly nibbling a slice of pumpkin for energy. But then he pulls into the lead, and folks are forced to sit up and take notice. Inspired by a true event (and just in time for fall's pumpkin harvest!) a talented team introduces a humble and generous hero who knows that winning isn't always the reason to run a race. Marsha Diane Arnold made "an impressive debut" (School Library Journal) with the multi-award-winning Heart of a Tiger (Dial). Brad Sneed most recently illustrated Smoky Mountain Rose (Dial), an American Bookseller Pick of the Lists that Publishers Weekly said will "make readers 'happy as a pig in a peanut patch.' " Marsha Diane Arnold lives in Sebastopol, California. Brad Sneed lives in Prairie Village, Kansas.

Possum Magic (Voyager Books)

Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more. “Another treat from Mem Fox that is sure to be treasured. The whimsical illustrations are a wonderful complement.

My Place

Depicts life in Australia at different times in its development by viewing one place in different years while moving backwards from 1988 to 1788.

Thunderbolt the Falcon

When Joe discovers that his friend David’s grandfather used to train hawks just like in the book he’s reading he wants to try it for himself. After convincing Grandfather Mannering to teach them the art of falconry they set off to capture a juvenile Peregrine Falcon and learn the ancient art. Set in Australia, but relevant everywhere Peregrine Falcons are found, Thunderbolt the Falcon is a fascinating and humorous read. C.K. Thompson weaves many facts about birds and nature seamlessly within the narrative with many events inspired by real life

Larry - The Story of an Australian Seagull

Some birds and animals of Australia in natural color

Dreaming Soldiers

A powerful and moving story about true mateship. Dreaming Soldiers weaves tales of childhood adventures and battlefield challenges with gentle Dreaming themes.This is a touching friendship story about Jimmy and Johnno, two young Australian boys in the 1900s; mates who do everything together, sharing adventures and growing up side by side in the dusty cattle yards of an Outback South Australian station and later on the muddy WWI battlefields of the Western Front.

The Mostly True Story Of Matthew & Trim,

Matthew Flinders and his beloved cat, Trim, circumnavigate and map Australia, travel the oceans, end up shipwrecked, saved, then captured and imprisoned on the Ile de France where Trim is separated from his beloved master. Will they ever meet again?

The Voyages of Matthew Flinders

Captain Matthew Flinders was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his time. He sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia, survived shipwreck and disaster only to be imprisoned for violating the terms of his scientific passport by changing ships and carrying prohibited papers. From an early age, it was his desire to be an explorer. He realised that the ability to make the best use of equipment at hand was a necessary skill of an explorer.

Mini Australian Wildlife Animal Figurines

The miniature animal figurines playset includes Kangaroo, Koala, Frilled Lizard, Ostrich, Cockatoo, Crocodile, Platypus, African Wild Dog, Oxyuranus scutellatus, Tasmanian devil, Wombat. Totally 11 PCS mini north American animals figurine

Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Platypus

  1. Platypus are only found in eastern Australia from the steamy tropics of far north Queensland down to the freezing snows in Tasmania.
  2. The only place you will see a platypus in America is in a zoo, and currently, the only two platypus outside of Australia are at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
  3. The male platypus is one of the very few venomous mammals in the world.
  4. Rather than giving birth to live young, like most mammals, the platypus lays eggs underwater, and then they hatch 10 days later. They will stick around for another four months to nurse.
  5. Platypus are nocturnal animals and spend up to half the time in the water feeding and about 14 hours sleeping in the nesting boxes along their burrows near river banks.
6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

You can also check out one of my favorite children’s educational shows that features animal life all over the planet, Wild Kratts. This episode is about this duck-billed wonder, Platypus Cafe.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas

  1. For preschoolers learn How To Make A Kangaroo Pocket with my Letter K Craft Preschool Australia Theme.
  2. The 4 species of echidna are the only other mammals that lay eggs and make an adorable Paper Plate Echidna.
  3. Make a Paper Plate Cassowary craft to highlight this very unusual Australian bird.
  4. Check out these 9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft for another cuddly Australian friend.
  5. This sweet little felt Kookaburra Craft idea includes the lyrics to the old campfire song-Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.
  6. Create a cute and cuddly Koala Newspaper Craft with easy supplies and a free template.

Be sure to grab a set of these Australian animals to use in dioramas, sensory bins, sensory trays, with Play-Doh, in the block center, and anywhere else to spark your child’s imagination and see Australian animal replicas up close.

Easy Paper Bag Platypus

You will need:

  • Two paper bags.
  • Black craft foam.
  • Large Googly eyes.
  • Craft glue
  • Scissors
  • Black marker
6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Flip your paper bag over so the side with no fold over is facing down on the table. Bend the four corners in about an inch and glue them down into place through both layers.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Next, flip your bag over and open it up.

Stuff the second paper bag crumpled up inside of it to give a little bit of dimension to the body.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Run a line of hot glue inside the opening end of the bag and press it together to seal it closed.

On a large sheet of black craft foam draw two bills, a tail, and four webbed feet. Platypuses have five digits on each foot.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Cut out your foam shapes and use a black marker to make nostrils on the end of one of the bills, and to create Vs for toes and webbing on the feet.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Flip your paper bag back over and glue the Google eyes.

Glue close to the end with the opening leaving enough room to attach the bill.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Use craft glue.

For older children hot glue works well and dries quickly to attach the bills on the top and bottom of the end with the opening below the eyes.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Glue the 4 feet inside the side folds of the bag.

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Then add the tail on the back.

Finally, use the black marker to add a little bit of fur detail to the bag.

I promised you it was easy and cute, didn’t I?

6 Australian Animal Craft Ideas | Easy Paper Bag Platypus

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: animals, Australia, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, paper bag, puppets

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

January 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest known sculpture in Egypt. Also, grab the Egypt – Famous Pharaohs and Queens Lapbook on my Ancient Civilizations page.

It stands in front of the pyramids on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt.

And it was created in a quarry to build the pyramids and other structures nearby.

By now you probably know what a fantastic resource LEGO is in your homeschool.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

They can be used for math manipulatives to building iconic treasures like the Great Sphinx of Giza.

We have amassed an astounding number of LEGOs over the years.

Still, I have a tutorial to show you how to build a small replica of the sphinx using basic LEGO pieces that you might find in a basic box except for the face.

But I am also giving you a simpler alternative for that as well.

Ancient Egypt Books for Kids

Next, add some of these books to your learning day.

I lean toward living books to bring a topic to life like history.

Then I add reference books.

17 Ancient Egypt Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these books to your home library and use them for a day of learning or for unit studies.

The Egypt Game

The first time Melanie Ross meets April Hall, she’s not sure they have anything in common. But she soon discovers that they both love anything to do with ancient Egypt. When they stumble upon a deserted storage yard, Melanie and April decide it’s the perfect spot for the Egypt Game. Before long there are six Egyptians, and they all meet to wear costumes, hold ceremonies, and work on their secret code. Everyone thinks it’s just a game until strange things start happening. Has the Egypt Game gone too far?

Tales of Ancient Egypt (Puffin Classics)

These stories include the great myths - of Amen-Ra, who created all the creatures in the world; of Isis, seaching the waters for her dead husband Osiris; of the Bennu Bird and the Book of Thoth. But there are also tales told for pleasure about magic, treasure and adventure - even the first ever Cinderella story.

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt’s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

The Buildings of Ancient Egypt

Uses archeological evidence to describe the construction, decoration, and furnishings of ancient Egyptian tombs, pyramids, and homes

Science in Ancient Egypt (Science of the Past)

Discusses the achievements of the ancient Egyptians in science, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, agriculture, and technology.

Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself

From reed boats, papyrus, and amulets, to pyramids, pharaohs, and mummies, Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself explores the fascinating lives of ancient Egyptians through more than25 hands-on building projects and activities. Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself gives readers today a chance to experience how the ancient Egyptians lived, cooked, worked, worshipped, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors through building projects that use common household supplies.Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project are combined with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia for the real-life models of each project. Together they give kids a first-hand look at daily life in ancient Egypt.

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (Dover Children's Classics)

Chebron, the young son of an Egyptian high priest, and Amuba, a young slave in the boy's household, are close friends; but their lives are greatly altered when Chebron accidentally kills a cat, an animal held sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Forced to flee for their safety, the boys and their companions begin a long and dangerous journey. A thrilling adventure story, this is also a tale packed with historical facts. Among other fascinating details, young readers learn about the Egyptian religion and geography, how the Nile was used for irrigation, and how the Egyptians made war and were prepared for burial. A captivating book that accurately describes life in a once magnificent civilization, this volume will especially appeal to youngsters fascinated by the life and customs of ancient Egypt.

A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid (A History of Ancient Egypt, 1)

The ancient world comes to life in the first volume in a two book series on the history of Egypt, spanning the first farmers to the construction of the pyramids. Famed archaeologist John Romer draws on a lifetime of research to tell one history's greatest stories; how, over more than a thousand years, a society of farmers created a rich, vivid world where one of the most astounding of all human-made landmarks, the Great Pyramid, was built. Immersing the reader in the Egypt of the past, Romer examines and challenges the long-held theories about what archaeological finds mean and what stories they tell about how the Egyptians lived. More than just an account of one of the most fascinating periods of history, this engrossing book asks readers to take a step back and question what they've learned about Egypt in the past. Fans of Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra and history buffs will be captivated by this re-telling of Egyptian history, written by one of the top Egyptologists in the world.

Boy of the Pyramids

The pictured wall of an Egyptian tomb supplied the inspiration for this unusual story, which takes place during the building of the Great Pyramid of Khufu more than 4,000 years ago. Kaffe and Sari, an Egyptian noble's son and a slave girl from the nomadic Sand People of the Sinai region, help solve a troublesome mystery and trap its culprit. All told against a colorfully detailed backdrop of ancient Egypt.

The Golden Goblet

Ranofer wants only one thing in the world: to be a master goldsmith like his beloved father was. But how can he when he is all but imprisoned by his evil half brother, Gebu? Ranofer knows the only way he can escape Gebu's abuse is by changing his destiny. But can a poor boy with no skills survive on the cutthroat streets of ancient Thebes? Then Ranofer finds a priceless golden goblet in Gebu's room and he knows his luck−and his destiny−are about to change.

Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs

In 1802, Jean-Francois Champollion was eleven years old. That year, he vowed to be the first person to read Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphs. Champollion’s dream was to sail up the Nile in Egypt and uncover the secrets of the past, and he dedicated the next twenty years to the challenge.James Rumford introduces the remarkable man who deciphered the ancient Egyptian script and fulfilled a lifelong dream in the process. Stunning watercolors bring Champollion’s adventure to life in a story that challenges the mind and touches the heart.

The Egyptian Cinderella

This Egyptian spin on the classic Cinderella tale was initially recorded in the first century by a Roman historian and is retold here by folklorist Shirley Climo.

Poor Rhodopis! She has nothing—no mother or father, and no friends. She is a slave, from the far-off country of Greece. Only the beautiful rose-red slippers her master gives her can make Rhodopis smile.

So when a falcon swoops down and snatches one of the slippers away, Rhodopis is heartbroken. For how is she to know that the slipper will land in the lap of the great Pharaoh himself? And who would ever guess that the Pharaoh has promised to find the slipper’s owner and make her queen of all Egypt?

Augustus Caesar's World

In her unique approach, Foster weaves a story of the world around her central character; rather than focusing exclusively on geo-political events, as most textbooks do, she includes stories of scientific discovery and invention, music, literature, art, and religion. Her keen intuition for stories will especially delight and amuse youthful readers. In Augustus Caesar's World, Foster traces the seven major civilizations of Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia from 4500 B.C. to the time of Augustus Caesar in 44 B.C. and culminating in 14 A.D. Within this timeframe readers will learn not only the stories of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony, but also the historian Livy and how Virgil came to write the Aeneid. Foster will then take her readers all over the world to learn what was happening at this same time in China, Persia, India and so on. Foster's detailed pen and ink drawings are fresh and appealing, and her illustrated timelines give a clear sense of chronology, enriching the engaging text.

The Lost Queen of Egypt: The Tomb of Nefertiti

For professor of Egyptology Henry Markham, this would be the crowning glory of his career: an intact tomb of Nefertiti, the great royal wife of Akhenaten and the heretic pharaoh of eighteenth dynasty Egypt, whose bust of exquisite beauty resides in the Berlin Museum, which he had searched for the last ten years. He had an unspoken passion for her only excelled by his young assistant, Steven Sinclair, whose visions and dreams of her haunted him, much to the annoyance of Helen Carter, the freelance journalist on-site who, with her business partner Mike Mitcham, the digs photographer, saw Nefertiti as a rival for his affections. Thanks to a gambling debt, Mike finds himself the proud owner of a large luxury mobile home that four Mossad agents are interested in, along with Emil Brogini, who did a drug deal with two Mossad rogue agents since deceased. The arrival of Henry's estranged sister, Millicent, with her friend Jane Evesham, a gifted clairvoyant, does nothing to improve his temper, especially when Jane tells him they are in great danger. Can the danger come from four renegade Mossad agents or Emil Bratislav Brogini, Mr. Big in Cairo, into every racket going? Jane discovers that Helen has a latent gift of clairvoyance which, with their combined powers in a séance, sends them back to the eighteenth dynasty with Nefertiti, Akhenaten, and danger around every corner as they try to discover who is trying to kill them all using a large band of Libyan bandits. They survive ambushes, assassin's knives, and chariot chases, finally getting back to their own time with Nefertiti.

Pyramid

Pyramid is a strong resource for readers looking to expand their knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization, history, and architecture.

Award-winning author-illustrator David Macaulay explores the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt through richly detailed black-and-white illustrations and clear, concise text.

Though created with middle grade readers in mind, all with interest in the topic will enjoy this impressive look at what many consider to be one of the most awesome of humankind's creations.

Pharaoh's Boat

With poetic language and striking illustrations, Weitzman tells the story of how one of the greatest boats of ancient Egypt came to be built and built again.In the shadow of the Great Pyramid at Giza, the most skilled shipwrights in all of Egypt are building an enormous vessel that will transport Cheops, the mighty pharaoh, across the winding waterway and into a new world. Pharaoh's boat will be a wonder to behold, and well prepared for the voyage ahead. But no one, not even the Egyptian king himself, could have imagined just where the journey of Pharaoh's boat would ultimately lead.

The Winged Cat

Merit is a servant girl in the temple of cat goddesses. In a rage, Waha, the High Priest, kills a sacred car, and Merit sees him do it.But when Merit reports the evil deed to Pharaoh, Waha denies that he is guilty.

Also, look at some of these fun facts about the Great Sphinx of Giza.

Uncovering the Mysteries of The Great Sphinx of Giza

  • Who made it? The mythological statue has the head of a human and the body of a lion. It was built by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom.
  • What is it made from? It is made with a single piece of bedrock. Repairs have been made over time using limestone. This is a single carved piece, not smaller blocks.
  • Where is it located?  Giza, Egypt
  • When was it carved? It was carved in 2500 BC.
  • How big is it? 240 feet long and 66 feet high, it is an impressive sight!
  • Why was it built? It was made for the pharaoh Khafre, the builder of the Second Pyramid at Giza.
  • What happened to his nose? While there are several theories as to what happened to the nose (and it has never been found) close inspection suggests that it was a deliberate act using rods or chisels.
Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Next, look at some more hands-on activities to learn about Ancient Egypt.

Hands-on Activities for Ancient Egypt

  • 7 Fun Ways to Play Go Fish Egyptian Games for Kids
  • Ancient Egypt DIY Simple and Fun Mummification Process Game
  • Egypt Crafts For Kindergarten Create a Fun Kid Sized Mummy
  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • 11 Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Projects for Middle School
  • Ancient Egyptian Mathematics: Build a LEGO Math Calculator
  • Fun Hands-On History: Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft

Finally, how to make this fun Lego Great Spinx of Giza.

Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

You can find every piece to create your own Sphinx of Giza in this LEGO Classic Creative Box.

You can make your sphinx with any color of bricks.

I chose a light tan to give it the sand look.

You can also use any mix of brick sizes and make the model as large or as small as you wish.

If you are new to building with LEGO, when i say 1×2, etc…

Here is an example of what I mean.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

In addition, for language arts, history and geography you can assign Where Are The Great Pyramids to learn more about the Sphinx as well as the pyramids.

Rather than a list, I am giving you a photo for reference that you can print and have your child gather the pieces or pieces that are as close as possible.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Lay down your base. This is one of the few pieces that does not come in the basic box except in green, so use that if you like.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place 1×6 pieces on either side, one stud in and one stud away from the edge to create arms.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Fill in a 4×8 area between the “arms” of the monument.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Place another layer of bricks starting on the second stud from the back in a 4×4 grouping.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

For the back half of the lion’s body put pieces together like in this photo

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Use these special rounded pieces to give the straight edges some curve. If you don’t have them you can just finish it off with a straight-edged brick.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

To create the head and headpiece (Nemes) of the pharaoh put these pieces together like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Then place them all together.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

Put directly in front of the second layer of the body.

If you have the bricks with forward-facing studs this will help create a general face shape.

 If not just use a tall 1×2 brick in its place like this.

Building Wonders: Create the Great Sphinx of Giza with LEGO

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Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

January 24, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Here is a simple activity to teach your younger child to label the bones of the arm, learning what each is called and what they do. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

This project is probably best for preschool or kindergarten to introduce them to the concept of bones, x-rays, and basic human body structure.

A human arm is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone called the humerus, and two forearm bones, known as the ulna and the radius. 

Each one works in unique ways to shape and protect the body.

Learning the hows and whys of how they work is an important early anatomy lesson for kids.

And it can be done through fun hands-on activities that make your child more involved in the process.

Books for Kids About the Human Body

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.

The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body

One of the resources we used as a reference for this activity was The Way We Work, it covers a lot of interesting topics on the human body.

Medical Torso Human Body Model Anatomy

Vivid Human torso organ structure: 15 Pcs Removable Organs including: Torso, Brain (2-part), Heart, Esophagus and Aorta, Lungs (4-part), Cranial Cap, Stomach, Diaphragm, Liver, pancreas and spleen, small and large intestine. The torso structure showing the relative position, morphological features, anatomy of the head, neck and internal organs, especially the respiratory, digestive, urinary and nervous systems.

Human Organs Shape Silicone Molds 8 Pc

[HUMAN ORGANS SILICONE MOLD]: 8 Pcs Human Organs Mold With Different Shapes, Include 1 Human Heart Mold, 1 Brain Silicone Mold, 1 Liver Mold, 1 Intestinal Mold, 1 Lung Mold, 1 Stomach Mold, 1 Brain Stem Mold, 1 Kidney Mold.

Ooze Labs: Visible Human Body with Squishable Organs

This human body with squishable organs is another great way to identify the organs and become familiar with their layout in the body, it has that gross factor that so many kids love.

Human Body Model for Kids 8PCS Mini Body Parts

8PCS Human Organ Figures Set:Human organ anatomy parts display model children learning toy include small intestine, large intestine, lung, brain, stomach, heart, liver, kidney. Suitable for boys and girls over 6 years old,good for brain ability and imagination.

Anatomy (Quickstudy Academic)

Complete labeled illustrations of over 1,400 anatomical identifications.Loaded with beautifully illustrated diagrams clearly and concisely labeled for easy identification.

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts!

Basher Science: Human Body, A Book with Guts! Created & illustrated by Simon Basher, written by Dan Green

From the best-selling team that brought you The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, and Astronomy comes a topic that's close to our hearts-literally! Meet the characters and processes that that keep the human body chugging along. From the basic building blocks like Cell, DNA, and Protein, to Bones, Muscles, and all of the fun-loving Organs, readers will cozy up with the guys on the inside. Trust us-Liver has never looked better!

Heart Anatomy Poster - LAMINATED

High-quality 3 MIL LAMINATION for added durability

Tear Resistant

Human Heart Anatomy Floor Puzzle

HUMAN ORGANS LEARNING: Marvel at the rich complexities of the human heart muscle! Every piece has a unique shape designed to outline each major part of the heart organ, making these an exciting challenge to assemble. Each puzzle includes an Anatomy Reference Guide, so you can learn as you build!

Fixed Bones X-Rays, Black/White, 14 Pieces,

  • Authentic x-ray images
  • Works with any light source or light table)
  • Matching facture card
  • Detailed teaching guide

4 Pack - Anatomical Poster Set - Laminated - Muscular, Skeletal, Ligaments of the Joints, Anatomy of the Spine

  • Set of 4 Posters Made in the USA
  • Posters are 18" x 24” in size
  • High-quality 3 MIL lamination for added durability
  • Tear Resistant

My First Book About the Brain (Dover Science For Kids Coloring Books)

Discover the workings of the body's most complex organ! How does the brain control the rest of the body? How does it enable the senses to function, regulate speech, affect balance, and influence sleep and dreams? These 25 illustrations to color explain every aspect of the brain's important jobs, from communicating with the central nervous system to retaining memories. Suitable for ages 8–12.

Skull Anatomy Coloring Book: Incredibly Detailed Self-Test Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book

Enjoy This Coloring Book with 34 Beautiful Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Pages.

The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book Provides A Means Of Learning About The Structure And Function Of The Human Skull Anatomy Through A Process Of Coloring-By-Directions.

Coloring The Human Skull Anatomy And Its Nerves Is The Most Effective Way To Study The Structure And Functions Of Human Skull Anatomy. You Assimilate Information And Make Visual Associations With Key Terminology When Coloring In The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book, All While Having Fun.

1 Pair Plastic Skeleton Hands

Fall is a grea time to grab a set of hands at Dollar Tree but also here is a pair if you're doing a unit study and need one now.

Circulatory System Poster

This poster makes a great reference and can be used with older children to help them add more detail to their project.

The Circulatory System (Your Body Systems: Blastoff! Readers

Our bodies contain a super highway of blood vessels that carry nutrients, waste, and much more from our heads to our toes. This network is the circulatory system! Beginning with a deep breath in, this fact-filled title uses easy-to-follow text and diagrams to allow readers to dive inside the bodys circulatory system!

The human body is a complex being made up of systems that keep us alive and moving! In this series, readers will dive into the bodys systems though engaging, leveled text and related diagrams that follow the parts and functions of each system. Get a microscopic view inside the body with A Closer Look, and put new knowledge into action with a hands-on activity. Check out what is happening inside the body with each title!

Bones of the Arm

Forearm- The section from your elbow to the wrist.

Upper Arm- The area of the arm from elbow to shoulder.

Humerus- Besides leg bones this is the longest bone in your body and is very important to the moving of the arm.

It supports many important muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even some parts of your circulatory system.

Radius- Located in the forearm, closest to the thumb. It twists and changes position based on how the hand is moved. 

It is slightly longer than the ulna.

Ulna-In the forearm closest to the pinky finger. The ulna is stationary and doesn’t twist like the radius.

If you want bones of the human body that will last from preschool through possibly high school this true-to-life set of X-rays can be used for simple bone identification through more complex identification and labeling.

They are fun to play with and don’t even require a lightbox; we simply hold them or tape them up in a bright window.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

More Hands-on Ways to Learn About X-Ray Bones

  • Here is another similar activity that labels the bones of the hand- How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft.
  • This Learning About Bones Activities For Kids And Free Skeleton Printable helps children understand what and how bones shape and hold the body together.
  • This X-ray playdough is another fun activity that will have your child exploring bones through an X-ray-style sensory play.
  • Check out this How to Make a Straw Skeleton– so fun and simple with a big impact.
  • Pick up a few different pretzel shapes and look what fun you can have building a skeleton that is also a delicious snack with these Pretzel Skeletons.
Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

More Human Body Crafts

  • Simple and Easy Circulatory System Hands-on Activity for Kids
  • How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
  • How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft
  • 7 Human Skull Facts and Cool Human Skull Anatomy Activity
  • How to Make a Fun Hands-on Playdough Brain Activity
  • Major Organs of The Human Body Labeled Fun Felt Anatomy Activity
  • Fun Resources and Books About The Human Body For Preschoolers
  • 8 Eye Facts & Human Body Activities Middle School & Fun Eye Model
  • 12 Human Body Games For Middle School & High School
  • Craft a Fun Hand Straw Model to Explore Human Anatomy Muscles & Tendons
  • How to Make a Human DIY Heart Model Easy Craft for Kids
  • 8 Facts About the Respiratory System & Fun Lung Craft for Kids
  • 7 Human Body Facts and Kids Human Body T-Shirt Project
  • Fun Edible Spine
  • Making Blood + What Are the Components of Blood
  • DIY Heart Pump
  • Kids Stethoscope Activity
  • Build An Edible DNA Model
  • Edible Skin
  • Rigid versus Flexible Bone Activity.
  • Pregnancy Belly Female Study of Human Anatomy Kids Fun Craft
  • Look at my Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study
Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity
  • Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $5.00
    Add to cart

Finally, look how to label the bones of the arm x-ray activity.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

A great advantage of this activity is that it requires very few supplies and very little setup to give your child a valuable lesson on labelling the bones of the arm.

You will need:

  • Black construction paper
  • White crayon
  • White cardstock
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

First, lay your child’s entire arm across the black construction paper and carefully trace it with a white crayon.

 For older children, you will probably need to tape two pieces of paper end to end to use and include as much of the shoulder as you can to challenge them a bit more on labeling.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

Go back over the tracing you did and darken it by going over it once or twice more.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

Cut white cardstock into strips as long as each part of your child’s arm, making the top single one a little thicker and the bottom two a bit thinner.

Show your child how to glue the two thinner strips into place on the lower part of the arm nearest the hand; these will become the ulna and radius.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

If you’d like to help make it a little bit easier to remember where the bones are you can lightly draw them in with a pencil.

Place the larger “bone” on the upper portion of the arm you traced to replicate the humerus, it should just barely touch the lower bones where the elbow bends, and secure it in place using a glue stick.

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

Now make labels for the three bones using scrap pieces of your cardstock and have your child glue those into place in the proper spots.

Their simple creation can now be used for dramatic play as an x-ray as they pretend to be doctors or put on display to help them remember

Label the Bones of the Arm X-Ray Simple Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, human body, human body crafts, life science, science

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

January 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m showing you how to make an Everglades diorama by simply upcycling a cereal box, adding in a few gathered nature items, and a handful of plastic animals. You’ll also love ideas on my post How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama.

This is a fantastic hands-on project to cover the flora and fauna of the Everglades.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

And you research, talk, and learn about this unique biome.

The Everglades are a subtropical wetland ecosystem that spread across much of central and south Florida.

It’s so large it covers over 1.5 million acres.

Sadly, it was twice as large many years ago but has been depleted.

Books about The Everglades

Next, add some of these books set in Florida and about the Everglades.

I lean toward living books first, then like to add reference type books to round out our study of topics.

12 Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read to About the Everglades in Florida

Add a few of these resources about the Everglades to your learning day.

[( Strawberry Girl )] [by: Lois Lenski] [Dec-2008]

Birdie and her family are trying to build a farm in Florida. But it’s not easy with the heat, droughts, and cold snaps—and neighbors that don’t believe in fences. But Birdie won’t give up on her dream of strawberries, and her family won’t let those Slaters drive them from their home! This Newberry Medal–winning novel presents a realistic picture of life on the Florida frontier. 

Everglades Adventure

Toby Morgan was sixteen when his doctor father moved the family from New Jersey to Fort Dallas---now known as Miami---just after the Civil War. Florida then was an unexplored tropical wilderness that would have delighted the heart of an active boy---and Toby was no exception. Hunting, fishing, and cruising in his canoe through the watery channels of the Everglades, Toby soon came to know the birds and animals that abound there, as well as the ruthless plume hunters. He also discovered a forgotten tribe of Indians deep in the swampland. One day, in a dangerous encounter with an alligator, Toby's life was saved by Miki-loko, son of the Caloosa chief, and they became close friends. Later, when Professor Evans, a naturalist, arrived to photograph Florida wild life, Toby was well qualified to act as guide for him and his tomboy daughter, Sue. Through a swift and unexpected turn of events, the story builds to an exciting climax, and in the end Toby is launched on a fascinating scientific career. As a writer of thrilling adventure tales for teenagers, Stephen Meader has few equals, and in this book he has not only told a story of action and suspense, but has caught the vivid color of a picturesque era with authenticity and rare skill.

Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

From acclaimed children’s book biographer Sandra Neil Wallace comes the inspiring and little-known story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable journalist who saved the Florida Everglades from development and ruin. Marjory Stoneman Douglas didn’t intend to write about the Everglades but when she returned to Florida from World War I, she hardly recognized the place that was her home. The Florida that Marjory knew was rapidly disappearing—the rare orchids, magnificent birds, and massive trees disappearing with it. Marjory couldn’t sit back and watch her home be destroyed—she had to do something. Thanks to Marjory, a part of the Everglades became a national park and the first park not created for sightseeing, but for the benefit of animals and plants. Without Marjory, the part of her home that she loved so much would have been destroyed instead of the protected wildlife reserve it has become today.

Sea of Grass

Charming Children's story of a little Seminole Indian boy and his family life in the Florida Everglades with Color illustrations throughout by Richard Floethe.

The Moon of the Alligators (The Thirteen Moons Series)

Describes an alligator's desperate search for food in the Florida Everglades during the month of October.

Everglades: America's Wetland

From Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, from inside the bone-crushing jaws of an alligator to the storms that race across the blackwater backcountry, award-winning conservation photographer Mac Stone takes us on a visual journey through the Everglades. More than 200 striking photographs showcase the natural beauty of this unique wetland, capturing the amazing depths of its landscapes, the diversity of its wildlife, and the resilience of the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.Aerial views highlight the vast expanse of the River of Grass. Underwater images capture the endless wonders of the Everglades, including sharks darting through mangrove roots. Intimate close-ups showcase awe-inspiring flora and fauna such as the ghost orchid, the Florida panther, the endangered Everglades snail kite, roseate spoonbills, and, of course, the majestic American alligator.

The Talking Earth

Billie Wind lives with her Seminole tribe. She follows their customs, but the dangers of pollution and nuclear war she's learned about in school seem much more real to her. How can she believe the
Seminole legends about talking animals and earth spirits? She wants answers, not legends.

"You are a doubter,"say the men of the Seminole Council and so Billie goes out into the Everglades alone, to stay until she can believe. In the wilderness, she discovers that she must listen to the land and animals in order to survive. With an otter, a panther cub, and a turtle as companions and guides, she begins to understand that the world of her people can give her the answers she seeks.

Figurines of Bald Eagle, Beaver, Alligator & More

Add these fun animals to any hands-on activities to learn about the wetlands.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

A Land Remembered

In this best-selling novel, Patrick Smith tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life with his wife and infant son, and ends two generations later in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. The sweeping story that emerges is a rich, rugged Florida history featuring a memorable cast of crusty, indomitable Crackers battling wild animals, rustlers, Confederate deserters, mosquitoes, starvation, hurricanes, and freezes to carve a kingdom out of the swamp. But their most formidable adversary turns out to be greed, including finally their own. Love and tenderness are here too: the hopes and passions of each new generation, friendships with the persecuted blacks and Indians, and respect for the land and its wildlife.

The Wahoo Bobcat

In wildcat country, deep in the Florida water prairie wilderness, a great bobcat reigned supreme. He was called the Tiger by farmers and hunters of the region, some of whom feared or hated him. Only the boy Sammy, who roamed the woods finding all the teeming wildlife thrilling, cared enough to befriend the fierce king of the Wahoo. The boy and the cat established a strange friendship that endured through seasons of drought, forest fire and flood, and through the resolute hunting of the Tiger by his enemies - men and dogs.

The Everglades: River of Grass

Before 1947, when Marjory Stoneman Douglas named The Everglades a "river of grass," most people considered the area worthless. She brought the world's attention to the need to preserve The Everglades. In the Afterword, Michael Grunwald tells us what has happened to them since then. Grunwald points out that in 1947 the government was in the midst of establishing the Everglades National Park and turning loose the Army Corps of Engineers to control floods--both of which seemed like saviors for the Glades. But neither turned out to be the answer. Working from the research he did for his book, The Swamp, Grunwald offers an account of what went wrong and the many attempts to fix it, beginning with Save Our Everglades, which Douglas declared was "not nearly enough." Grunwald then lays out the intricacies (and inanities) of the more recent and ongoing CERP, the hugely expensive Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

Amazing Facts about The Everglades

  1. When early explorers first laid eyes on the Everglades long ago, they saw large fields of grass and named it ‘ever’ as a shortened form of forever and ‘glades’ which means a grassy open place in old English.
  2. Most people assume that the Everglades is a swamp, but it is a slow-moving river that flows over an area 40 miles wide by 100 miles long. It is the largest wetland ecosystem in the United States.
  3. While it may look deep the water in the Everglades is very shallow, the majority of it is less than a few feet deep.
  4. The Everglades used to be much bigger, it covered nearly ⅓ of Florida but due to years of draining the wetlands to reclaim land for agriculture and urban development, 50% of its land has been lost.
  5. The Everglades are home to one of the highest concentrations of species that are listed as vulnerable to extinction in the US-39 native species found in the Everglades National Park are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

The Everglades

  1. This is the only place in the entire world where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the wild.
  2. This precious water source is responsible for supplying drinking water for 1 out of every 3 Floridians.
  3. It is home to more than 360 bird species, 300 types of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 different mammal species, 50 species of reptiles, and about 750 native seed-bearing plants in the park, with over 160 plant species making it an extremely diverse and important ecosystem.
  4. Everglades National Park is the 3rd largest National Park, after Wrangell-St. Elias and Gates of The Arctic National Parks in Alaska.
  5. They are the location of the most significant breeding grounds for tropical wading birds in North America.

Everglades Resources and Activities

The first thing you want to do is grab a few great resources for your Everglades study to supplement this hands-on activity I have for you- books, videos, and maybe another craft or two.

  • Nature Anatomy- While the Nature Anatomy series does not have specific information on the Everglades you will be able to find plenty of information on swamps, bogs, and many of the animals that make their home here. It makes a great reference book.
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
  • You can see that you will find plenty of information and inspiration for your diorama.
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands
  • Watch Wild Kratts Explore the Everglades to see more about some of the amazing animals of the Everglades.
  • For older kids watch Meet The Residents of Everglades National Park.
  • You can grab this Safari Ltd River Animals Toob to use for your diorama but they are also wonderful used as art inspiration, in sensory bins, and even on the block shelf.
  • Grab this Florida Everglades word search to familiarize your child with related words and phrases.

Some animals you might want to include in your diorama are alligators, otters, beavers, panthers, key deer, raccoons, black bears, red foxes, alligator snapping turtles, snakes, and water birds like Roseate Spoonbills or Herons.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

How to Make An Everglades Diorama

To save money and encourage creativity, I like to use items we already have on hand, reclaiming them from the recycle bin like paper bags, paper plates, and even cereal boxes.

You will need:

  • Plastic animals
  • Cereal Box
  • Craft paints-brown, green, blue
  • Paintbrushes
  • School glue
  • Natural items- pebbles, moss, sticks, etc…
  • Scissors or cutting blade
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

First, tape or hot glue the open end of the box closed.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Take scissors or a box cutter and make a 3-sided cut on the large face of the cereal box.

Leave about a ½” border on the 3 sides but cutting right up to the edge of the 4th.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

To disguise the outside of the box you can either paint it or cover it with green paper.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Begin inside the box by painting a blue background for the sky that is going to peek through our trees.

Paint the inside the top and sides of the box as well. Allow to dry to the touch.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Next, use two or three different shades of green paint to create the dirt and greenery of the ground.

Florida Everglades Diorama Craft with Kids

The more you layer the color the better the final results will be. Leave some area for the water to run through your scene.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Now use the same greens to create trees in the background.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Stir together a couple of tablespoons of school glue and some brown, green and blue paint.

The water in the Everglades is not blue.

And beckons it’s often a murky muddy tea-colored shade and often so deeper in the woodland areas.

And the water is brown but not muddy and is tinted by the cypress and pine trees. 

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Pour the glue mixture where you want it to be on your scene.

Paint it how you would like it to be, the glue gives it a little more thickness and helps define it from the land area.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

While the paint is still wet on the land you can sprinkle moss, a little dirt, etc. or add some glue to help it adhere better.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Allow the paint to dry overnight.

Begin hot gluing on pebbles, and sticks to use as tree trunks, moss, etc…

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Place the Everglades animals you have chosen around the diorama.

How to Make An Everglades Diorama: Explore the Wild Wetlands

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, everglades, Florida, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, wetlands

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