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Science Based

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

April 9, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Along with The Tale of Peter Rabbit printables, I’m also sharing fun hands-on activities during my spring unit study with Mr. MunchKing. Also look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

He is such a sweet kid to mentor, and he had so much with this spring unit study. It is one of his favorites already.

Before I started blogging or had a website, I used parts of Five in a Row unit study curriculum with my three homeschooled grads. FIAR uses The Tale of Peter Rabbit as one of their literature studies.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Doing the same unit study years later allowed me to dig deeper, to make it fit another generation, and to use my own unique ideas.

I planned this unit study with my ideas and ideas from other educators. Why invent the wheel when so many good unit study printables and subtopics abound on the internet? A pinch of my own way of teaching and add in other wonderful ideas and it’s a fantastic fun study.

Tale of Peter Rabbit Unit Study

One more thing about Five in a Row is that many unit study providers have come along since I started 25 years ago, but Five in a Row remains one of my very favorite for elementary and middle school.

The way they use hands-on for all subjects is head and shoulders above many other so called unit study providers.

Keep in mind that this delightful book can be used all the way up to high school as well. Topics can be slanted to teach children like figurative language, drawing inferences, and an introduction to analysis.

Don’t think it’s just a young child’s tale; a picture book is one of the best tools for teaching beginning analysis in the middle grades.

Now, let’s dive into this fun spring unit study about The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

First, look below at my unit study planning page from my Ultimate DIY Unit Study Planner of how I adapted the tale to fit what I want Mr. MunchKing to learn at the PreK/K level.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

My unit study planning page is just a guide, but is not everything you cover. Again, as a guide it gives you a framework of important points while following your child’s lead.

Unit Study Concept/Ideas for Peter Rabbit Tale

In addition, I start with unit study idea concepts which are usually like one or two words for me to glance at to use as a springboard for another teaching idea.

Look at some of the unit study idea concepts or word glances for The Tale of Peter Rabbit which fits the age of Mr. MunchKing.

  • England, country garden, farm animals
  • rabbits, berries, sparrows
  • types of robins, fir tree, obedience, and
  • various cultures.

Next, look at various activities and ideas for each homeschool subjects. Beginning with language arts, the best part is reading the book over and over again.

Watch and listen to this beautiful read aloud of Peter Rabbit on YouTube using an English accent.

I have included a few more videos to help the book come alive:

  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny film 1/2
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny film 2/2
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Peter Rabbit Unit Study Language Arts

Learning how to tell back a story builds fluency in reading and comprehension. It begins with excellent literature.

Further, I created this fun printable story telling cube which can be used in different ways. Reading should be hands-on to allow your child to listen while using his other senses.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

This storytelling cube is a subscriber freebie.

I used this printable in several different ways:

  • ask questions about events in the story and have your learner find it on the cube
  • read a part in the book, ask who was talking in the story and have your child find it on the cube
  • tell your child to choose a character or event on the cube and retell what is the picture illustrating
  • have your child “roll” it and play guess what the picture is illustrating
  • let your child listen and follow along showing the correct illustration
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Free The Tale of Peter Rabbit Book

And you’ll love having access to The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter for free here at Gutenberg.

More Tale of Peter Rabbit Resources

  • 8 Peter Rabbit Garden Ideas | How To Make A Preschool Garden Box
  • Fun Mr Mcgregor’s Vegetable Garden Simple Frugal Math Activity

Free Literary Terms Notebooking Pages

Because I know how hard it is to find things for older learners, I’ve created 3 free literary terms notebooking pages based on the book.

Please hear my heart when I say that I don’t encourage any literary evaluation until a child is in middle school. Young child will struggle with understanding literary terms. Wait until they are older.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

The first notebooking page is Fiction versus Nonfiction. Have your child write under the correct column which key words match the correct column.

For the second notebooking page, Elements of Fiction, have your child research the definition of each of the elements of fiction.

Literary terms is the third page. I have included a brief definition of a few terms on that page.

Help your older leaner to understand the definitions and then find examples of each one in the story. For example, to explain foreshadowing point out this part below to your child.

NOW, my dears,” said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, “you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.”

On the last part of the third notebooking page there is a part to add specific genres like mysteries, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction and epic poems to name a few. I hope these brief explanations about each page will help you guide your child.

These notebooking pages are subscriber freebies.

HOW TO GET THE FREE STORYTELLING CUBE AND 3 PETER RABBIT NOTEBOOKING PAGES

Now, how to grab the free notebooking pages and the storytelling cube. They are subscriber freebies.

11) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

To further enhance language arts skills for Mr. MunchKing, we added dot printables and other fine motor skills craft fun.

Fine Motor Activities for The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

The list below of fun printables is from Making Learning Fun which we loved to enhance language arts:

  • 3 sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail printable
  • Peter Rabbit emergent reader
  • ABC Dot to Dot
  • Emergent Reader
  • Pre Writing Tracer Cards
  • Baggie Rabbit Rhyme and Craft
  • Count by 2’s Dot to Dot
  • Feed the Rabbit Game
  • Rabbit Hopping Measurement Cards
  • Coat Button Activity
  • Measurement Worksheet
  • Peter’s Coat Pattern

Also, look at some of these fine motor skill activities we added.

How to Sew a Felt Carrot

First, Mr. MunchKing sewed an adorable little felt carrot. You don’t need much to do this and your little learner can make many of the vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s garden.

Begin by gathering felt, a plastic sewing needle, yarn, scissors, and some stuffing.

You can use cotton or whatever you have on hand for the stuffing. As some of our school supplies, we add to our craft supply and added a pack of felt. You’ll need two colors, orange and green.

There are a few easy steps:

  • First, our square had to be cut into a wide triangle.
  • Fold over the triangle to form the shape of a carrot.
  • Thread the needle with a long piece of orange yarn and have your child sew on the long side.
  • Don’t cut off your yarn yet. Leave enough room to stuff.
  • Next stuff the carrot and use a pencil to push it down to the bottom of the point.
  • Then, lay the carrot aside without sewing across the top yet either.
  • Take the green felt and stuff it inside the carrot with the stuffing.
  • Sew the sides and tie. Thread the needle again and sew across the top of the carrot
  • Lastly cut the green felt to make leaves.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

How to Use The Vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s Garden for Playing to Learn

Too, we cut free hand from the rest of the felt the other vegetables in Mr. McGregor’s garden.

After cutting out the vegetables, Mr. MunchKing glued the small vegetables together.

Next glue them on popsicle sticks and now your can use the vegetable sticks in many ways.

  • your little learner picks up the correct vegetable when he hears that part in the story
  • try to count how many vegetables are in the garden
  • name the vegetables after they’re mentioned in the story
  • poke holes on a shoebox lid and put the sticks through and color the lid like dirt to make a pretend garden

Geography for The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Of course, some of the best subjects to include in this unit study are science, nature study, art and even geography.

Because the author Beatrix Potter was born and raised in England, many of the illustrations in her books are of the English countryside. If you want to know more about Beatrix Potter, the Victoria and Albert Museum has a huge collection of her drawings, letters, and work.

Comparing the English countryside to where your child lives gives your child a foundation of beginning geography. For beginning geography, some of the fun hands-on activities we included was making an edible peanut butter dough map of England and focusing on mapping Mr. McGregor’s garden.

How to make Make an Edible Peanut Butter Dough England Map

Start by making an edible map with peanut butter dough and form the country of England. You could also use cookie dough from the store, bake it and then add icing.

I’ve waffled between these two recipes during the years doing variations of each. So, mix and match until you have the taste your child loves.

  • 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup of dried instant milk
  • 1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup of honey

 Mix until you have a smooth consistency. We have peanut butter lovers here, so a little bit of licking and a little bit of learning is the way to learn about maps at this age.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
Step 1. Grab your ingredients.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
STEP 2. Start mixing.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
STEP 3. Of course, mixing is the best part.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
STEP 4. Make an outline of England.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
STEP 5. OF course Lick and Learn along the way.

Next, grab a printed outline of the country of England after you locate it on a globe or map and talk about the pictures in the book.

Tape a clear piece of parchment paper on top of the printable map, so your little learner can follow the lines with his fingers. As your child grows, he can pencil in the border of the countries and landmarks.

Locate the cottage garden in the book, explain about the English countryside and explain what is a country setting versus a city setting. Then let your little learner form the map with the peanut butter dough.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

In addition, another easy hands-on geography idea is to map Mr. McGregor’s garden. I loved this idea over at Children’s Book and Reading.

Mapping Mr. McGregor’s Garden for Fun Geography

Drawing pictures of what your child is learning cements the story line and you know that your child is understanding. It has been my experience that many older readers who struggle with reading didn’t have enough time to visualize parts of the story.

When a young learner can draw, he visualizes key details. In addition, maps are great visual aids.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Having your child map his backyard is another fun way to begin mapping. Geography comes alive because your child is connecting the story to his life and surroundings. It’s fun to see what your child focuses on too.

Then we downloaded the sweet printable over at Children’s Book and Reading which contains empty vegetable patches. As you begin to read the story, have your child follow along on his map.

You can do geography of the garden other ways too. Using a white board, have your child use his fingerprints and thumbprints to draw pictures of where the vegetables are as he hears the story. We grabbed the washable paint colors orange, red, green, and brown.

This activity was a two-pher as I call it. Teach your child about geography while painting and using his fine motor skills. What fun we had.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

On the printable, your child can map the vegetables, draw pictures of animals where they belong.

And use the printable to explain Peter Rabbit’s route.

Finally, there are many nature and science activities to plan from book.

Nature and Science from The Tale of Peter Rabbit

We had a hard time narrowing down what nature and science activities we wanted to do. The first science activity which was to compare soils best for growing plants came from Inspiration Laboratories.

Compare Types of Soil To Grow Plants In

Comparing the types of soil needed for plants to grow in is a fun segue to learn about gardening.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

It’s also an easy activity because you need just a few materials most of which you have on hand at home.

Too, your child can begin with this hands-on science and observe the growing process each day to record in a journal if they are writers. If they are budding writers, a picture of the day-to-day growth works too. It encourages pre-writing skills.

Grow Seedlings Like Mr. McGregor’s Vegetables

Another fun idea for a spring garden is to grow seedlings. With a young learner, you don’t need to plant a whole garden unless you want to. Mr. MunchKing really loved this activity as he watched his babies grow each day.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

If you do this with a young learner, try to get seeds which sprout fast, so you child has fun instantly. I don’t have a green thumb by any stretch, but I’ve always managed to introduce gardening to each child.

And in my experience fast growing seeds work best. We just used what we had on hand which was an empty egg carton, seed packets, and potting soil. Seeds like beans, radishes and peas can grow quickly.

This was a huge unit study for us; we did it for several weeks, stepped back, and then came back to it.

If you’re planning this unit study, do the garden projects first so children can observe while you do the language arts portion and other fun ideas.

Add these fun videos about vegetables to your day.

  • Vegetable Song For Kids
  • Vegetables We Love You | Vegetable Song

Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables

While we were working day to day on the fun activities, we found this beautiful lapbook at Homeschool Share.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study
The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

The beauty of lapbooks is that your child can create them anyway they like to. We used some of the free printables from Homeschool Share and added Mr. MunchKing’s work he loved about Mr. McGregor’s garden.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Although lapbooks can take more planning and be more work, in the many my kids have created, they are also memory keepers.

Besides memory keepers, lapbooks are hands-on tools which aids recall.

While true that I don’t hail to be a crafty mom, I do know the value of mess and play learning.

Lapbooks fit into this category for me. Have you ever seen a child filled with excitement as he explains a worksheet? But turn that worksheet into a mini fun book folded into a creative way, and now you have an engaged learner.

Look at my video How to Lapbook EZ on my YouTube Channel.

So The Tale of Peter Rabbit lapbook is a fun way for a child to remember the information in a fun and natural way.

Peter Rabbit End of Unit Tea Celebration

Finally, always try to end your unit study with a memorable activity. I found this adorable tea set which has is a 15-Piece Woodland-Themed Tin Tea Set, Includes Teapot, 4 Plates, 4 Cups, 4 Saucers, Serving Tray and Carrying Case for our spring tea. And what better way to remember this unit study than to have a tea party. Plus we can use it for many more themed parties!

We served raspberry muffins and rabbit shaped cookies. Also, you could serve scones, but the muffins and cookies were great hits.

Mr. MunchKing dressed up in his Sunday finest and we pretended Peter Rabbit invited us over for tea. What a fun time he had!

The Tale of Peter Rabbit Printables for a Fun Spring Unit Study

Finally, here are a few more fun things I found to help make your The Tale of Peter Rabbit Unit Study memorable.

More The Tale of Peter Rabbit Free Printables and Activities

  • Download these precious and free I Spy printables to use while your child watches the movie and listens to you as you read aloud.
  • Fun pop up garden paper plater craft.
  • Lettuce wraps for kids.
  • Grab these printable ABC carrot patch.
  • And there are even more ideas here at The World of Peter Rabbit site. You won’t be short for ideas.

Free Literature Printables for The Tale of Peter Rabbit for Older Learners

As you can see we had an awesome time with this fun unit study using beautiful literature. Do you think you’ll try it?

You’ll also love these other hands-on posts about gardening, spring, and beautiful literature.

  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • Easy Seed and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)
  • 26 Free Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • How to Easily Make a Simple and Fun Kids DIY Flower Press
  • How to Easily Make Fun Seed Tape With Kids
  • Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
  • How to Make a Fun Kids Root Viewer
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Free Homeschool Resources, Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Nature Based Activities, Science Based Tagged With: biology, freeprintables, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolanguagearts, homeschoolscience, kindergarten, language arts, languagearts, literature, nature, nature study, plants, science, spring

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

December 18, 2021 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Exploring space and astronomy free unit study for multiple ages is a fascinating study. It’s a glimpse into the sun, moon, stars, galaxy, and structure of the universe. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

Astronomy is a study of the universe beyond the earth. The universe is huge and whether you’re gazing at the starry heavens or watching a moonlight night, it’s staggering to the human mind. The universe is complex and immense.

There are many reasons why we find it fascinating to study about space and astronomy:

  • to find our place in the universe,
  • to learn how natural disasters like comets and meteorites impacts our earth,
  • to understand how to mark the passing of days, months, and years,
  • and to explore out of natural curiosity.
Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Look at some of these topics to explore with your kids as you do this space and astronomy free unit study.

Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study Ideas

  • Define eclipses and learn their ancient mystery.
  • Investigate space objects and how they’re formed.
  • Recognize famous constellations, their names, and shapes.
  • Name some famous men and women astronomers.
  • Learn what is an asteroid.
  • To understand what is a planet.
  • Gather information about the moon and the importance in our solar system.
  • Discuss Kepler’s Laws and how they affect our understanding of astronomy.
  • Appreciate the history and achievements in astronomy.
  • What are stars, their colors, birth of stars, life expectancy, and patterns?
  • Analyze the origin of the universe.
  • Explain what is the Milky Way.
  • Investigate about black holes, their meaning, and how they’re formed.
  • Describe the solar system.
  • Tell why seasons change.
  • Summarize Einstein’s Theories and explain how they affect our increased understanding of the heavens.
  • Compare and contrast dwarf planets with planets.
  • Examine the meaning of terms like orbit, rotation, and revolution.

First, let’s jump into exploring space and astronomy free unit study by learning the history of astronomy at a quick glance.

History of Astronomy

Navigators were able to find their way on the seas through compasses and landmarks, like lighthouses, but the earliest was through celestial objects. The sun, moon, and stars served as the earliest guides.

Today, few people really spend much time looking at the night sky. In ancient days, before electric lights robbed so many people of the beauty of the sky, the stars and planets were an important aspect of everyone’s daily life.

All the records that we have—on paper and in stone—show that ancient civilizations around the world noticed, worshipped, and tried to understand the lights in the sky and fit them into their own view of the world. These ancient observers found both majestic regularity and never-ending surprise in the motions of the heavens.

Through their careful study of the planets, the Greeks and later the Romans laid the foundation of the science of astronomy.

Aristotle, who was a Greek philosopher, believed the earth was the center of the universe and that the earth was surrounded by water, fire, and air.

Then, Aristarchus believed the sun was the center of the universe and he was the first to measure the distance to the sun and moon. He was a Greek astronomer who maintained that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Furthermore, interest in the fascinating heavens continued from ancient times to medieval times.

Here is part of a medieval manuscript on astronomy.

This image is the front piece of a book covering topics like the movement of the planets, distances between stars, signs of the zodiac, the nature of the moon, and the art of reading minds.

Astronomy Free Unit Study

Moreover, there is an astrolabe in the picture above.

This is an instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude, before the development of the sextant.

In its basic form (known from classical times), it consists of a disk with the edge marked in degrees and a pivoted pointer.

Medieval scientists in the Middle East used this device to solve problems related to time and the positions of heavenly bodies.

While the astrolabe was a Greek invention, it was greatly improved upon by Arabic astronomers.

For example, the most important reason for science innovation by the Arabs was for their religion Islam worship. If they perfected the astrolabe, they could find out the time of day and direction for prayers toward Mecca.

Astronomy was used by the Egyptians, Mayans, Aztecs, Europeans, and the native Americans. Look at this site Star Date and the information it has about the Milky Way. Read what different cultures thought was this glowing strip of light across the sky.

By the early ninth century, in Baghdad, the study of astronomy was part of every scholar’s education.

Free Ancient Astronomy Notebooking Pages

Additionally, I’ve created these fun Ancient Astronomy notebooking pages for your middle or high school kids. It’s a fun way to add history with science because it’s inextricably linked.

A budding astronomer can’t fully appreciate today’s advancements unless he understands the pains ancient astronomers went through to understand celestial objects.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

These notebooking pages are subscriber freebies.

This is how you get access to these pages quickly.
1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

More Hands-on Astronomy Ideas for Kids

  • Galileo Discovery of Jupiter Moons and Fun Hands-On Moon Crater Experiment
  • 5 Facts About The Moon Landing and Make Fun Astronaut Ice Cream
  • How to Create A Stunning Night Sky Paper Roll Display
  • Free Moon Journal For Homeschool Science
  • Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today And Make a Fun Windsock
  • About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study

  • 10 Moon Craft Ideas and Wrapped Crescent Moon Craft For Kids
  • Easy Study Of The Solar System Fun Interactive Worksheets

How Did Ancient People View Astronomy

To help your student in their research about ancient astronomy and to use the notebooking pages above, look at a few of these helpful sites.

  • This post, 7 Ancient Cultures and How They Shaped Astronomy, at the office of Astronomy Development gives background information about the Babylonian Astronomy, Greek Astronomy, Indian Astronomy, and Mayan Astronomy to name a few, and how they shaped astronomy.
  • Too, look at this free pdf about Medicine Wheels and Cultural Connections. They’re not about medicine at all.

To go along with the notebooking pages look at this fun idea for a hands-on project. Build Your Own Stonehenge (Mega Mini Kit).

Exploring Astronomy and Space Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

The Solar System

Earth is only one of eight planets that revolve around the Sun. These planets, along with their moons and
swarms of smaller bodies such as dwarf planets, make up the solar system.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

A planet is defined as a body of significant size that orbits a star and does not produce its own light. If a large body consistently produces its own light, it is then called a star.

We are able to see the nearby planets in our skies only because they reflect the light of our local star, the Sun.

If the planets were much farther away, the tiny amount of light they reflect would usually not be visible to us. The Sun is our local star, and all the other stars are also enormous balls of glowing gas that generate vast amounts of energy by nuclear reactions deep within.

When you look up at a star-filled sky on a clear night, all the stars visible to the unaided eye are part of a single collection of stars we call the Milky Way Galaxy. The Sun is one of hundreds of billions of stars that make up the Milky Way Galaxy.

ABOUT THE SUN AND MOON

However, the Sun is not the only object that moves among the fixed stars. The Moon and each of the planets that are visible to the unaided eye—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus (although just barely)—also change their positions slowly from day to day.

During a single day, the Moon and planets all rise and set as Earth turns, just as the Sun and stars do. But like the Sun, they have independent motions among the stars, superimposed on the daily rotation of the celestial sphere.

Noticing these motions, the Greeks of 2000 years ago distinguished between what they called the fixed stars—those that maintain fixed patterns among themselves through many generations—and the wandering stars, or planets. The word “planet,” in fact, means “wanderer” in ancient Greek.

Constellations

The backdrop for the motions of the “wanderers” in the sky is the canopy of stars. If there were no clouds in the sky and we were on a flat plain with nothing to obstruct our view, we could see about 3000 stars with the unaided eye.

To find their way around such a multitude, the ancients found groupings of stars that made some familiar geometric pattern or (more rarely) resembled something they knew.

Each civilization found its own patterns in the stars, much like a modern Rorschach test in which you are asked to discern patterns or pictures in a set of inkblots.

The ancient Chinese, Egyptians, and Greeks, among others, found their own groupings—or constellations—of stars. These were helpful in navigating among the stars and in passing their star lore on to their children.

You may be familiar with some of the old star patterns we still use today, such as the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Orion the hunter, with his distinctive belt of three stars. However, many of the stars we see are not part of a distinctive star pattern at all, and a telescope reveals millions of stars too faint for the eye to see.

Therefore, during the early decades of the 20th century, astronomers from many countries decided to establish a more formal system for organizing the sky.

Today, we use the term constellation to mean one of 88 sectors into which we divide the sky, much as the United States is divided into 50 states.

The modern boundaries between the constellations are imaginary lines in the sky running north–south and east–west, so that each point in the sky falls in a specific constellation, although, like the states, not all constellations are the same size.

Famous Men Astronomers

Then, introduce your students to some famous men astronomers.

For example, Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer of the 16th/17th centuries. Kepler discovered the three principles to govern planetary motion. Consequently, they became known as “Kepler’s Laws.”

More famous astronomers were Ptolemy, Nicholas Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, and Carl Sagan.

Look below to see a few facts about each of the astronomer’s discoveries.

Ptolemy. The Greek astronomer Ptolemy made a summary of the astronomical knowledge of his time. This summary, entitled Almagest, contains a list of 48 constellations. His ideas were accepted for the next 1000 years or so.

Nicholas Copernicus. His ideas caused religious and scientific controversy; he wrote a book published in 1543 entitled On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. His evidence supported the idea that the earth was not the stationary center of the universe but, in fact, moved around the sun.

Galileo Galilei. He used the telescope to sketch pictures of the moon and Saturn’s rings. He heard that a Dutch inventor had invented something called a spyglass. Galileo decided to work on one of his own.

Within 24 hours, he had invented a telescope. It could magnify things to make them appear ten times larger than real life. He pointed his telescope toward the sky. He made his first of many space observations. Everyone thought the moon was smooth. Galileo saw that it wasn’t. The moon was covered in bumps and craters.

Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein was a physicist who developed the general theory of relativity.

Edwin Hubble. Hubble proved that many objects previously thought to be clouds of dust and gas and classified as “nebulae” were actually galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Carl Sagan. He wrote several books about astronomy and is a popular scientist.

Famous Women Astronomers

Next, learn about women astronomers who are making a difference or have made a difference in the past.

For example, one woman who made a difference is Henrietta Leavitt.

Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer. A graduate of Radcliffe College, she worked at the Harvard College Observatory as a “computer”, tasked with examining photographic plates in order to measure and catalog the brightness of stars. Watch this YouTube video Henrietta Leavitt & the Human Computers: Great Minds.

In addition, look at the list of women astronomers below.

Your student could research about one or two of them. It’s not an exhaustive list, but your kids will build an appreciation for these science shakers.

  • Annie Jump Cannon
  • Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
  • Williamina Fleming 
  • Helen Sawyer Hogg
  • Carolyn Herschel 
  • Margaret Burbidge
  • Mildred Shapley Matthews
  • Maria Mitchell    
  • Antonia Maury 
  • Jocelyn Bell Burnell
  • Adelaide Ames
  • Evelyn Leland 

Also, look at a few books about women and astronomy. This first one Astronomy: Cool Women in Space (Girls in Science), is published by one of my favorite publishers for unit studies which is Nomad Press.

The second one is 101 Awesome Women Who Transformed Science.

Living Books about Astronomy

In addition, I love the online self-paced language arts courses by Literary Adventures which uses living books. Look at these fun books about space and rocks to add to this astronomy course:

  • The Rocket That Flew To Mars
  • The Little Prince
  • “There Are Rocks in My Socks!” Said the Ox to the Fox
https://www.literaryadventuresforkids.com/p/the-little-prince-online-book-club?affcode=168584_izgghx15
https://www.literaryadventuresforkids.com/p/there-are-rocks-in-my-socks-said-the-ox-to-the-fox-online-nature-book-club?affcode=168584_izgghx15
https://www.literaryadventuresforkids.com/p/the-rocket-that-flew-to-mars-online-nature-book-club?affcode=168584_izgghx15

Astronomy Vocabulary Words

Next, add some basic astronomy vocabulary words. Here are some ideas below:

  • Astronomy – It is the study of everything in the universe beyond Earth’s atmosphere. It includes objects we can see with our naked eyes, like the Sun , the Moon , the planets, and the stars . It also includes objects we can only see with telescopes or other instruments.
  • Star – A giant ball of hot gas that emits light and energy created through nuclear fusion at its core. The Sun is a star.
  • Aurora Borealis – The aurora in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the Northern Lights.
  • Galaxy – A group of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction. There are millions of galaxies in the universe.
  • Crater – A hole caused by an object hitting the surface of a planet or moon.
  • Moon – A natural satellite that orbits a
  • larger object.
  • Andromeda Galaxy – The nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. The Andromeda Galaxy is approximately 2.2 million light years away and is very similar in appearance to our galaxy.

MORE ASTRONOMY VOCABULARY WORDS

  • Meteorite – It is a fragment of matter from outer space that strikes the surface of a planet or the Moon.
  • Telescope – An instrument for directly viewing distant objects, using lenses or mirrors or both to make the object appear nearer and larger.
  • Magnetosphere – The region around the Earth, or any other planet, within which its natural magnetic field is constrained by the solar wind.
  • Shooting star – A small meteor that has the brief appearance of a darting, starlike object.
  • Astro – A prefix that refers to the meaning of a star or stars, a celestial body or outer space to the name. “Astro” is derived from the Greek word “astron” meaning star.
  • Twilight – An intermediate period of illumination of the sky before sunrise and after sunset.
  • Polar Aurora – The most intense of the several lights emitted by the Earth’s upper atmosphere, seen most often along the outer realms of the Arctic and Antarctic, where it is called aurora borealis and aurora australis.
  • Solar System – The sun and all the planets that orbit it.
  • Comet – A frozen mass of gas and dust which have a definite orbit through the solar system.
  • Nova – A cataclysmic nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a white dwarf star.

Fun Hands-on Exploring Astronomy Ideas for Younger Kids

Also, the best kind of science unit study includes many hands-on ideas. Science is about investigating, exploring, and pondering how things work.

Look at couple of these hands-on fun ideas Mr. Munch King did.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages
Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Oreo cookie moon phase we got here Oreo Cookie Moon Phases and this fun one erupting moon rocks strengthens fine motor skills.

So, whether you’re looking for sensory ideas or just fun space themed ideas, look at these ideas for younger kids.

  • Cloud Dough Recipe – Moon And Space Sensory Bin
  • How to Make Galaxy Slime Recipe
  • Simple & Fun Rocket Craft For Kids [Free Template]
  • I Spy Printable Count the Planets
  • Yarn Wrapped Planets Craft
  • DIY Cardboard Space Shuttle + More Fun Space Activities for Kids
  • Astronaut Toilet Paper Roll Craft With Free Printable Template
  • Moon Activities for Preschoolers
  • Moon Rock Hunt
  • How to Make a Moon Phase Flip Book with Printable
  • Puffy Paint Planets. A Solar system space craft!
  • Amazing Solar System Activity with Free Cootie Catcher
  • Make Marshmallow Constellations
  • Galaxy Ice Cream Recipe
  • Fingerprint Solar System Craft Activity for Kids
  • Paper Plate Space Craft For Kids
  • Galaxy Glitter Jars
  • Handprint Art Space Rocket Craft
  • Felt Spaceship Toy Sewing Tutorial
  • Printable Space Spinner Craft : Outer Space Craft For Kids
  • Diy Glow-In-The-Dark Stars
  • Story Time From Space
  • Man on the Moon (Pie) Space Snacks + Printable Astronauts
  • Free Printable Solar System Bingo
  • Cook constellation cookies
  • Easy moon salt drawings
  • Quick And Easy Solar System Art For Kids
  • Enjoy Special Science Fun with Free Constellation Cards
  • Design a moon rover

Then Mr. Munch King really loved this Epic Space Adventures (LEGO Star Wars: Activity Book with Minifigure). Some of the Lego activity books come with press outs for play learning.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Space and Astronomy Hands-on Ideas for Older Kids

Again, including astronomy and space hands-on ideas for older kids makes learning come alive even for your older kids. Grab one of these ideas.

  • How is a Star Born worksheet
  • Pinhole Camera activity with a milk carton
  • DIY Moon Phase Wall Hanging
  • Solar Mason Jar Lights
  • Whip Up a Moon-Like Crater
  • Create a model of the universe for your serious students. You’ll love using this Modeling Universe Guide with questions and how -tos.
  • Grab this download which has a Light, Color, and Astronomy, Filters Puzzler, Modeling the Earth-Moon System, Moon Phases Activity, Cosmic Survey, and Cosmic Cast of Characters as hands-on fun activities.
  • YouTube – How to Make a Pinhole Camera
  • 4 Ingredient Galaxy Fudge Recipe
  • Solar System Slime Recipe- Planet Slime in 3D!
  • Challenge your older kids to create a list of astronomy related words used by us today. Think: Dis-aster (star), Cars like the Ford Taurus, Chevy Nova, etc. Cleaning Products: Comet, Food: Sun Chips, Milky Way, etc.
  • Hands-on telescopic activity. Contact a local amateur astronomer through the online Night-sky Network to give your kids/group a tour of his or her telescope.

Astronomy Learning Toys and Games

Next, you’ll love these fun items either for a serious star gazer or just for fun.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Whether it’s a 3D Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System Mobile, 70mm Travel Scope – Portable Refractor Telescope -Ideal Telescope for Beginners or a 3D Solar System Model Crystal Ball Engraved Hologram with Light Up Base Planet Model your kids will love them.

There are so many fun things to get for your astronomy lover. Look below at this cool Solar Robots Toy, 190 Pcs Stem Science Project Kit 12 in 1, Kids Educational Science Experiments Building robotics Kit for Boy and Girls Aged 8-12 and the planet bracelet.

Free Astronomy High School Book, Free Lesson Plans and Background Information

Then, below I have gathered some of the best free astronomy curriculum and lesson plans.

  • Free Online Curriculum for Earth & Space Science.
  • What a fantastic free Astronomy book. If you can download the pdf so you have it. It has so much information. It is high school level and some information looks a bit beyond, however, it’s used as a high school resource.
  • Origin of the Constellations
  • On the Moon Activity Guide
  • Great site from Nasa Space Place. It has fun hands-on activities, free posters, games, and crafts.
  • A Star Is Born lesson plan.
  • Free Earth Science and Astronomy Lesson Plans
  • The Milky Way
  • Texas Native Skies. Look at the connection Native Americans made between the sky and their every day life.
  • The 88 Recognized Constellations
  • Worldwide Telescope. Download and run on your computer. Cool.
  • How fun. Astronomy Tell it Again Flip Book
  • A teacher’s guide to the universe.

Add in more hands-on easy astronomy experiments and you’ll have no shortage of topics to discover about our universe.

Books for Kids About Astronomy

Look at theses books, Janice VanCleave’s Astronomy for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work, and Seeing the Sky: 100 Projects, Activities & Explorations in Astronomy (Dover Children’s Science Books) for even more hands-on space unit study ideas.

Also, I’m particular about books which make awesome spines. One thing I learned while doing this unit study is that there is no shortage of wonderful books which serve as a spine.

What is a Homeschool Unit Study Spine

A homeschool unit study spine can be a living book, magazine, mentor, reference book or chart, art or art object, play, musical piece, brochure, movie, encyclopedia, or any other type of book, object, or person which is the main reference or authority for your unit study topic

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

With that being said, there were a few books which helped to put this massive subject into smaller bites.

One book is The Usborne Book of Astronomy and Space and the other is The Usborne Complete Book of Astronomy and Space (Complete Books Series). The point is there is a plethora of books for this topic.

Astronomy High School Lab Ideas

In addition, the best part ever to any astronomy and space free unit study is being able to count high school credit for science.

These astronomy high school lab ideas below will keep the topic fun for budding astronomers or those who want to get serious about it as a career.

Look at this list: Skynet and IRSA Nebula lab, Constructing 3-Color Astronomical Images, Discover the mass of a star using its exoplanets and a spreadsheet, Moon & Mercury crater counting, Hour of Code – Making Astronomical Images, Hour of Code – Making Astronomical Images, and ideas for using Stellarium.

Grab the above astronomy lab ideas and MORE activities here.

Careers in Astronomy

In addition, have your kids research about careers. Here are a few ideas:

  • Space Engineer – Space engineers design and monitor probes used to explore space. They also study the data collected.
  • Planetarium director
  • Astronomer
  • Astrophysics
  • Meteorologist
  • Climatologist
  • Research scientist

Astronomy Lapbook

Next, your kids will love this fun lapbook. Many activities exist for younger kids, so I gear my lapbooks toward older kids.

This lapbook is aimed for upper elementary to middle school. However, this lapbook comes two ways – one which has minibooks with facts filled in and the other one with blank minibooks. So, this lapbook can be used for ANY age even high school because I do not use baby-ish or goofy looking clip art.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Awesome Features of the Astronomy Lapbook:

  • The same lapbook comes two different ways in this one download. One lapbook has a few facts filled in each minibook and the other lapbook has minibooks with all blank inside pages.
  • Because I use a combination of cursive and print fonts, I aim my lapbooks toward upper elementary up to high school. The lapbook could be used for high school when your student uses the lapbook with minibooks with blank inside pages. Another option for high school is to mix and match the minibooks with facts filled in with minibooks with blank inside pages.
  • This is a .pdf instant downloadable product and not a physical product.
  • You are paying for the printables, the lapbook.
  • You can use any reference materials, books, or online resources to complete the lapbook.
  • I don’t provide links in the lapbooks for filling in the information. This keeps my prices low for my products, but I do provide free links and unit studies on my site as I can.
  • My printables are very flexible. You decide which topics you want your children to research.  Also, you can mix and match filled in and blank minibooks of your choice.

  • Dynamic Astronomy Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Astronomy Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. I value your business and value you as a follower. I stand behind my products because they are actual products I use and benefit from too. Though I cannot refund purchases after you have been given access to them, I will do what I can to be sure you are a pleased customer. Read carefully what you get on your digital download.

Astronomy YouTube Videos

Next, whether your learner wants to learn more about the solar system or a star, you’ll love these astronomy YouTube Videos.

  • Introduction to Astronomy: Crash Course Astronomy #1 (Grades 6th to 12th)
  • Super Stars (Constellations): Crash Course Kids #31.1 (Grades 3rd to 8th)
  • Amazing History of the Telescope (Grades 3rd to 8th)
  • What Do Astronauts Do? (Grades PreK to 6th)
  • Nebula and Star Birth (Grades 7th to 12th)
  • What Are White Dwarfs? (Grades 6th to 12th)
  • The New Astronomy: Crash Course History of Science #13 (Grades 9th to 12th)
  • What are Eclipses? || Solar Eclipse || Lunar Eclipse || Astronomy (Grades 6th to 12th)
  • How Moon Rocks Revolutionized Astronomy (Grades 9th to 12th)
  • The Sun’s Surprising Movement across the Sky (Grades 6th to 9th)
  • Comets (Grades 6th to 12th)

Astronomical Instruments

Finally, learn about astronomical instruments like the telescope.

If you look at the sky when you are far away from city lights, there seem to be an overwhelming number of stars up there. In reality, only about 9000 stars are visible to the unaided eye (from both hemispheres of our planet).

The light from most stars is so weak that by the time it reaches Earth, it cannot be detected by the human eye.

There are three basic components of a modern system for measuring radiation from astronomical sources.

First, there is a telescope, which serves as a “bucket” for collecting visible light (or radiation at other wavelengths. Just as you can catch more rain with a garbage can than with a coffee cup, large telescopes gather much more light than your eye can.

Second, there is an instrument attached to the telescope that sorts the incoming radiation by wavelength. Sometimes the sorting is fairly crude. For example, we might simply want to separate blue light from red light so that we can determine the temperature of a star.

But at other times, we want to see individual spectral lines to determine what an object is made of, or to measure its speed.

ABOUT MICROSCOPES AND TELESCOPES

Third, we need some type of detector, a device that senses the radiation in the wavelength regions we have chosen and permanently records the observations.

How Telescopes Work

Telescopes have come a long way since Galileo’s time. Now they tend to be huge devices; the most expensive cost hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.

The reason astronomers keep building bigger and bigger telescopes is that celestial objects—such as planets, stars, and galaxies—send much more light to Earth than any human eye (with its tiny opening) can catch, and bigger telescopes can detect fainter objects.

The most important functions of a telescope are (1) to collect the faint light from an astronomical source and (2) to focus all the light into a point or an image.

Most objects of interest to astronomers are extremely faint: the more light we can collect, the better we can study such objects. (And remember, even though we are focusing on visible light first, there are many telescopes that collect other kinds of electromagnetic radiation.)

Since most telescopes have mirrors or lenses, we can compare their light-gathering power by comparing the apertures, or diameters, of the opening through which light travels or reflects. You may be thinking about buying your own telescope.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Astronomy Free Unit Plan

Some of the factors that determine which telescope is right for you depend upon your preferences:

  • Will you be setting up the telescope in one place and leaving it there, or do you want an instrument that is portable and can come with you on outdoor excursions? How portable should it be, in terms of size and weight?
  • Do you want to observe the sky with your eyes only, or do you want to take photographs? (Long exposure photography, for example, requires a good clock drive to turn your telescope to compensate for Earth’s rotation.)
  • What types of objects will you be observing? Are you interested primarily in comets, planets, star clusters, or galaxies, or do you want to observe all kinds of celestial sights?

As you can see above, we barely touched the fringes of the universe with this unit study. There is so much to learn as you look into the heavens.

You’ll love more other free unit studies below:

  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook.
  • Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.
  • Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook.
  • From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook.

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Lapbooks, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Nature Based Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: astronomy, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, high school, high school science, homeschool highschool, homeschoolhighschool, lapbook, lapbookresources, middleschool, nature, nature study, science, sciencecurriculum, space, unit studies

26 Fun Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages

November 14, 2021 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Early on in my journey I discovered easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Also, look at my page 26 Fun Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages.

Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable.

Today, I’m sharing 26 homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year long curriculum.

I’ve found that it’s hard to cover anymore than about two topics a month because you want to savor topics.

26 free nature unit studies for multiple ages. Easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable. CLICK HERE to grab 26 free homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year as free curriculum!

If you cover two nature topics per month, then you have a whole years worth of ideas here.

I have a few other topics listed so your kids can choose what interests them or mix and match.

Nature Unit Studies

You can start with any month and do this in any order, but I started with August and worked my way through to the end of what is considered a typical school year.

Please note: Some lapbooks were free for a limited time.

Also, I listed these unit studies to flow with the natural cycle of seasons in the Northern hemisphere.

However some places, like here in Texas, it doesn’t get snow all over.

Again you can choose any order, but I aimed for a schedule to follow the natural seasons.

AUGUST Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

There is an endless number of themes and ideas to study about in August.

1. Above and Below: Pond Unit Study and Free Lapbook

2. From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook

Pond, river or water related ideas, a night walk or even starting a miniature herb garden are great ideas for August.

Furthermore butterflies, water bugs, and dragonflies can be studied during this time.

SEPTEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, September 1 marks the first of fall.

Normally with a bit cooler weather it’s a great time for a rock and mineral unit study or even prairie flowers.

Mushrooms, fruits, and ferns are more good nature unit study ideas.

Another activity is learning about the harvest moon and learning is just not complete without including apples. Be sure to grab my free Moon Journal when you follow me.

Nature Study Lessons

Too, I want to add more habitat or biomes unit studies during this month.

3. Fall Unit Study (Includes Apples, Sir Isaac Newton, Art, and Appleseed)

4. Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study

Also, there is no greater unit study about nature than learning about the human body.

OCTOBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

After an apple unit study or bat unit study, learn about leaves and pumpkins.

With the changing weather, storms and weather patterns make great topics.

5. Fall Unit 1 {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}

6. Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

It’s also a fun time to learn about gourds and squash or the changing weather and storms. Also, I have more Free Fall Unit Study Ideas– For Older Kids Too.

Nature Study Resources

NOVEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Then November is the last month of fall, but there is already a cold snap in the air.

It’s a fun time to learn about how raptors survive, how trees changes, twigs, buds, gathering, and foraging to save for the long winter months.

Squirrel watching and learning about mushrooms is fun to do this time of the year too.

7. Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook


8. Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study

In addition, you can add lichens and moss as a unit study.

DECEMBER Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Furthermore, I love doing a bird unit study in December.

Watching animal tracks and signs is another idea if you have snow.

9. Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study

10. Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources

Another topic we want to still do is about evergreens or the winter solstice.

Science Unit Studies

JANUARY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, January is a great time to focus on the Arctic region, Arctic animals, ice and snow.

11. Arctic Region

12. Winter Season Unit Study. Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas

Learning about wolves, hibernation, and even foxes are fun topics.

FEBRUARY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Another month we loved to focus on rocks and gems is February.

Because February can be a hard month to get outside for a nature study, I lean toward earth science themes. It keeps the fun going.

More Homeschooling Multiple Ages Tips

  • 65 Best Teaching Tips for Embracing Homeschooling Multiple Ages
  • 6 Best Homeschool Hacks Teaching Multi-Aged Children
  • 26 Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • 5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 5: Tips For Homeschooling Multiple Grades
  • How to Choose the Perfect Homeschool Planner for Multiple Students
  • 5 Days Of The Benefits & Challenges of Teaching Mixed Ages Together – Day 4: Embrace Homeschooling Multiple Grades

One year we loved learning about Amber and fossils.

13. Amber – Freezing Gold


14. Free Earth Science Lapbook

If you can’t study what is on the ground, look to the sky and stars for unit study ideas.

Look at this hands-on activity Erosion Hands-on Easy Homeschool Science Activity.

MARCH Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Then at the first hint of spring, we focus on the American Robin and because not all is green yet, we have loved doing one about carnivorous plants.

Also, carnivorous plants can be studied in the summer too.

26 free nature unit studies for multiple ages. Easy nature unit studies as a way to make science come alive. Nature unit studies not only revive burn out in students, but they’re cost effective and memorable. CLICK HERE to grab 26 free homeschool nature unit studies for multiple ages that can easily be used for a year as free curriculum!

Strawberries are springs first fruit so it’s a great time to go berry picking, canning and of course a hands-on and yummy unit study.

15. American Robin Free Printables, Resources and Crafts

16. Strawberry Unit Study

Also, life cycles, migration, buds, flowers, gardening and baby animals make fun nature study ideas.

APRIL Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Because spring is in full bloom here in Texas, there are many topics we’d still love to do during this month. Viewing wildflowers is one we love.

Although we love to focus on birds during winter, this is a great time for a bird unit study too.

17. Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook

18. Easy Seed and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)

In addition, learning about eggs, insects, bugs, clouds and meadows are also fun ideas.

MAY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, May is a great time to be outdoors and to study about toads or frogs. Making it a general study like amphibians and reptiles is good too.

The Basement Workshop Store

Sometimes you want to just focus on one reptile like a snake or turtle instead of covering so much general information.

Moreover, focusing on small mammals versus large mammals can go along with a zoo field trip when animals will be out.

19. Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids

20. Amazon Rainforest and Free Lapbooks

21. Loads of Toads and Frogs Unit Study and Lapbook

As well as studying about ants or doing a nature discovery walk during this month. Before the summer months set in completely, a wind unit study is great at this time too.

Also, add literature to your nature studies trough Literary Adventures for Kids. Scroll down to see all the book choices from early elementary up to high school.

It’s so easy to round out your nature unit studies.

I love these self-paced online books which is a language arts curriculum that is easy to implement and fun to experience — an adventure through a great book!

Look at a few choices below.

JUNE Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Finally, getting to the summer months makes for great ideas about sun, watermelon, seashells and ocean life. Take a deep dive into learning different types of grasses.

Nature-Based Lessons

We have studied these topics at other times of the year, but getting to the beach and beach combing are just more fun in the warm months.

Younger kids love the topic of rainbows.

22. Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook

23. Carnivorous Plants

Any type of water study makes it a natural way to learn in the summer months.

JULY Nature Unit Studies and Ideas

Next, topics like sand or pollinators are more great unit study ideas. Also, by focusing on area of sea life like coral reefs can make an ocean unit study more memorable.

Gardening ideas are great for most summer months too.

24 Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook

25. Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook

26. Peregrine Falcon Unit Study and Lapbook

Find out when berries ripe in your area for another fun hands-on topic.

Also, look at these fun activities Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids and How to Dissolve a Seashell – Beach Hands-on Fun Activity.

Unit studies are my favorite way to teach and the homeschool approach my kids loved best.

A unit study approach works for a child that wants to master a subject and move on or for a kid that wants to dawdle and poke around a subject.

Easy and fun nature unit studies don’t usually require too much in the way of materials. Just learn in and learn about the great outdoors. What are some of your fun and easy nature unit study topics?

Look below for more hands-on nature study activities to go with each unit study above:

  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
  • Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft
  • Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders

3 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Lapbooks, Middle School Homeschool, Nature Based Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: earthscience, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, high school, high school electives, high school science, homeschool highschool, homeschoolhighschool, homeschoolscience, life science, middleschool, nature, nature journaling, nature study, unit studies

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

October 17, 2021 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Why bats are not birds fun homeschool unit study and lapbook is an easy way to do a unit study with multiple ages of children. Also, you’ll love my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies.

Too, I’m mentoring Mr. Munch King now and he is doing kindergarten/first grade level work.

However, you know there are many bat activities to find for younger kids, but not so much for older kids. My lapbook is geared toward older kids.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

I know you’ll love these activities and unit study resources for a fun bat unit study.

Free Bat Unit Study

(A bat) . . . is no bird but a winged mouse; for she creeps with her wings, is without feathers, and flyeth with kinde of skin, as bees and flies do; excepting that the Bats wings hath a farre thicker and stronger skin.
And this creature thus mungrell-like cannot look very lovely.

By John Swan
Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Bats are located on nearly every continent and make up 25 % of the mammal species found in the world. There are over 1400 species of bats.

Why Bats Are Not Birds

However, bats are not birds. Bats are mammals and belong to the group Chiroptera. Chiroptera means “hand-wing,” referring to how the finger bones support its wings.

What is a Mammal?

Because a bat is a mammal, look at these characteristics of a mammals.

  • They are vertebrate animals that nourish their young with milk.
  • All are warm-blooded.
  • At some stage in their development, they have hair, although sometimes it can disappear before birth.
  • True mammals give birth to live young.

Bats are the only mammal capable of flight. Several other mammals are capable of gliding for long distances.

On the other hand, birds belong to the group Aves. So bats are not featherless birds.

Bats are divided into two types of sizes: Megachiroptera, which means large bat, and Microchiroptera, which means small bat.

Further, look at some of these features of bats:

  • they sleep by day
  • they fly by night
  • in bone structure, a bat’s arm and hand are similar to other mammals
  • as mammals they give birth to live young and nurse them

Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. They do have small eyes and sensitive vision.

In addition, bats come in a variety of sizes and species.

The Bumblebee Bat of Thailand weighs a third less than a penny and is the smallest mammal in the world. Cutest bat ever!

It’s also called Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat and they are found mostly in Thailand.

The Bumblebee species is named after Kitti Thonglongya, a Thai zoologist who discovered them.

Look at some more facts here about the Bumblebee Bat.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat :World’s Smallest Mammal

However, a few other reasons why bats are not birds are because birds lay eggs and forage to care for their young. Also, bats have sharp teeth and birds do not have teeth but have beaks.

Bird and bats both fly and have strong skeletons which aids them to be strong flyers.

Blind As Bats – How Bats See

Too, you often hear people say blind as bats. Is this true? Bats are nocturnal animals. Nocturnal means being active at night rather than during the day.

However, bats have excellent eyesight. Some bats hunt by using eyesight alone.

So bats are not blind. They can see better at night than humans, however echolocation is their most important sense when hunting.

Bats use echolocation to find their prey.

Look at this fun echolocation activity to do with younger kids.

About Echolocation

When a bat is flying, it makes a series of high-pitched squeaks that humans can’t hear. They make squeaks, chirps, clicks, and buzzes through their mouths or noses.

Since these sounds range from 25,000 to 70,000 vibrations a second, humans with an auditory range up to only about 30,000 vibrations can’t hear most of the sounds.

The sounds hit an object and bounce back to the bat, just like an echo. How do bats avoid collisions?

We don’t know exactly, but it’s possible that each animal has its individual sound pattern and is guided only by its own echoes.

Many bats have large ears or specialized ear shapes, which is thought to help with echolocation (location of objects by reflected sound).

How Bats Fly

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Attribution:
Andrew Mercer (www.baldwhiteguy.co.nz)

While bats are exceedingly graceful in flight, when they fold their wings and walk they are extremely awkward creatures.

As bats skim over the surface of the water, they lap up water as they fly.

.

If you observe bats closely when they leave their roost at dusk, you can observe their wings.

Bats’ wings beat much stronger and longer than those of birds.

Unlike birds, bats have a hard time taking off from the ground. They fly better by already being in the air.

Bats’ Bodies

The bodies of bats, excluding the wings, are covered with fur. While the fur of most mammals is smooth, bat fur consists of small tubes. It is the finest of all fur and in addition has the greatest numbers of hairs per square inch.

Since most bats fly at night and roost in dark places during the day, they have little need for protective coloration.

The majority of Chiroptera are dull colored, shades of black, brown, gray, and red predominantly.

The bat’s body structure, strong chest muscles, tapering abdomen, short neck and modified forearms is specially formed to support and operate the wings.

So, bats with long and narrow wings fly swiftly; those with large wingspreads are capable of long flights.

However, regardless of the shape of the wings, the design of the bones of the forearm is common to all bats.

The four elongated fingers radiate and support the membrane a short thumb extends beyond the forward part of the wing and is like sharp hooked claw.

A claw also protrudes from the second finger of most fruit bats.

Where Do Bats Live – Bat Barracks

Bats live in all kinds of places: Caves, tall trees, barns, attics, and garages. They also roost, they do not build nests. However, the majority of bats roost in dark places.

In warm regions, caves have curved corridors which prevents the penetration of light.

Also, while insect eating bats prefer dark retreats like caves, culverts and hollow trees, fruit bats in general do not.

A few bats have unusual homes. Certain African and Indian species share the burrow of the crested porcupine.

In addition, some bats migrate for the winter and some sleep during the winter months.

Also, look at these fun ideas and free lesson plans about caves at Homeschool on the Range.

Bat Babies

Although most bats mate in the autumn, their young are not born until spring. The majority of bats have one baby at a time.

The only bat to have more than two consistently is the American red bat which can have a litter of four.

In spring, the females go off by themselves to have their young. When the baby is about to be born, the mother hangs on the ceiling of a cave or in some other sheltered placed.

She holds on by her thumbs and her back legs, making a basket to keep the newborn bat from falling. Baby bats are tiny pink creatures when they are born, with little or no hair.

They are almost two weeks old before their eyes open. The baby clings tightly to its mother for the first week or so. It uses its hooked milk teeth and little claws to cling to her breasts and fur.

Mothers take their baby along with her when they go hunting. Since bats are good fliers, this is no problem. When the baby bats get too heavy, the mother leaves it hanging by its back feet.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Baby Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Attribution: Mickey Samuni-Blank

Eastern Red Bat with three babies
Attribution: Josh Henderson

Why Do Bats Sleep Upside Down

Bats hang upside down because their knees only bend backwards, making it impossible for them to hang in other position.

However, there is a variation in the sleeping pattern of different species.

Bats that sleep in the open fold their wings which are crisscrossed. On the other hand, cave-dwelling bats do not use their wings as sunshades.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

Hands-on Bat Crafts and Treats

Next, nothing brings a unit study to life more than fun hands-on ways to learn about bats.

Look at these hands-on bat activities and crafts.

  • Make a coffee filter bat.
  • Make a hanging bat craft for kids.
  • Flying Bat STEM Activity for Preschoolers
  • Adorable Bat Nature Craft
  • Easy How to Draw a Bat Tutorial and Bat Coloring Page
  • Handprint Bat Keepsake – Kid Craft Idea w/Free Printable Template
  • Make a bat using wooden doll pins
  • Look at these 10 Easy Bat Crafts like simple bottle top bats, hanging foam bat, edible truffle bats and sensory yarn craft to name a few.
  • How to Draw a Cartoon Vampire Bat
  • How fun – make origami bats
  • Paper Bag Bat Craft
  • Craft – Handprint Bat Flying Over the Moon
  • Craft- Bat clothes pin on YouTube
  • How to build a bat house
  • Bat headband craft
  • Chocolate Bat Cookies
  • How fun – Bat Candy Treats

Look at this fun printable bat template craft which helps with cutting skills.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.
Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Also, we made a coffee filter bat with just a few fun things we had on hand. We mostly followed the instructions at Woo Jr.

You just need markers, a clothes pin, paint, and some markers along with scissors. So much fun.

Free Bat Printables

In addition, I’ve rounded up some free and fun bat printables for this bat unit study.

Image Attribution: Wise Owl Factory. (Please Pin from original sources)

Download this Free Printable Bat Diagram Work Page.

  • Fun Bat Flipbook. Flipbook are such fun. They recreate an animal moving or in this case flying. Cut out the mini pages and staple and flip through the book. So fun!
  • Fun itsy bitsy bat book for the littles
  • Bat themed coloring pages
  • Bat life cycle worksheets
  • Bat word search puzzle
  • Printable Bat Counting Cards 
  • Night Friends Bats of the America – 32 page free download Activity Guide
  • Download for free Frankie the Free-Tailed Bat book.
  • Bats A Conservation Guide – 36 page free download
  • Bats Misunderstood Creatures – 4 page free download
  • More free bat printable templates and bats with rounded ears

About Bats on YouTube and Media

  • YouTube Bats by Night | Wild Detectives
  • YouTube Meet the World’s Biggest Bat | National Geographic
  • YouTube quick lesson on bat physiology and anatomy.
  • YouTube Get to Know Vampire Bats
  • Have the story, Stellaluna read to your little at Storyline Online.
  • YouTube Into the Bat Caves of Kenya.
  • YouTube Bats have a brilliant way to find prey in the dark: echolocation.
  • YouTube vampire bats drinking blood
  • YouTube Incredible Bat Footage Shows Long, Snaking Tongues
  • YouTube Pollination and Bats in the Jungle
  • YouTube All About Bats
  • YouTube Endangered Mexican long-nosed bats pollinate agave

Books About Bats

Whether fiction or non-fiction, your kids will love some of these books about bats.

  • Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species
  • Bats of the World
  • The Secret Lives Of Bats: My Adventures with the World’s Most Misunderstood
  • Bat Basics: How to Understand and Help These Amazing Flying Mammals
  • America’s Neighborhood Bats: Understanding and Learning to Live in Harmony with Them
  • National Geographic Readers: Bats

MORE Bat Activities and Science Ideas

  • Look at this site Bat Week. Bat Week is an annual celebration of the role of bats in nature.
  • Plant a Bat Garden
  • Learn about bats in relation to the lunar cycle and study about moon phases. Look at this fun printable stackable moon phases. Also, make these fun Oreo moon phases.
  • Learn about echolocation and play a game where you blindfold one child. You tap on something in the room or have another child and see if the blindfolded “bat” can locate the sound.
  • Also, look at this mammals’ organ dissection kit for older kids if you want to focus on mammals
  • Also, go to Smithsonian Institute for Bat Facts
  • National Geographic Kids Bat Myths Busted
  • Make blood. Although only three species consume blood, it’s fun to learn how they do it without their prey knowing. Compare human blood to animal blood. Are there any differences? Too, vampire bats only suck blood normally from other animals. This is fun hands-on activity for learning about human blood.

Further, you’ll love these Montana Field Guides for various species:

• Big Brown Bat
• Eastern Red Bat
• Little Brown Bat
• Long-eared Myotis
• Silver-haired Bat
• Spotted Bat
• Townsend’s Big-eared Bat

Bat Predators and Prey

Bats have few predators compared to other mammals, but diseases are harmful. Owls are one predator because they hunt at night. However, snakes and hawks eat bats too.

The bat hawk (Machaeramphus alcinus) is one such hawk. Watch this YouTube video Predators of Bats. Bats have to look out for other raptors like red-tailed hawks and orange-breasted falcons.

Also, did you know there is a bat falcon? The bat falcon eats other rodents too, but also hunts bats.

However, nothing compares to the white-nose syndrome disease. The disease is named for a white fungus on the muzzle and wings of bats.

Around the world bats eat fruit, nectar, frogs, mice, fish, blood, and insects.

Bats as Pollinators

Bats provide many important things and one is spreading pollen. About 50 bat species feed just on nectar. Others are omnivores, feeding on fruit and insects as well as nectar.

So, when bats visit flowers for food they spread pollen. Bats are primary nighttime pollinators. Bats pollinate over 300 species of fruit like banana, mango, guava and tequila agave.

From the U.S. Forest site:

The flowers that are visited by bats are typically:

  • Open at night;
  • Large in size (1 to 3.5 inches);
  • Pale or white in color;
  • Very fragrant, a fermenting or fruit-like odor; and/or
  • Copious dilute nectar.
Bat covered in pollen.

More Bat Activities

  • 5 Easy Bat Stem Activities and Create a STEM Bat Habitat
  • 4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
  • Fun Bat Anatomy Toilet Paper Roll Craft | 8 Bat Science Activities Preschool

Bat Quiz

All bats are carnivores.

False-A large group of bats, known as megachiroptera live on fruit and pollen. Most of the bats in the U.S. are insectivores.

Bats fly around your head and get tangled in you hair.

False-Bats may come in for a closer look but are far too smart to get tangled in your hair.

Vampire bats are huge bloodsucking bats that are all over the world.

False-Vampire bats are small bats that live only in South America. They don’t suck blood-they lick it up after making a cut with their teeth.

The world’s largest bats have a wingspan of nearly seven feet.

True-Flying foxes have a wingspan that can reach nearly seven feet.

Few More Bat Books

Furthermore, once you start looking, you’ll find a mix of fiction and non-fiction books about bats for all ages.

I used an older book I have, Wonders of the Bat World by Sigmund A. Lavine. to guide me for content for the lapbook.

Batty About Art

Then, here is a fun and easy arts and craft project for the younger kids.

Make some fun silhouette art by using sponge painting and a template on cardstock.

This idea was found here at how to make bat silhouette art.

Also, look at this black bat silhouette watercolor lesson.

Bat Poetry

Next, no unit study is complete without a focus on some fun language arts.

Look at this poem, The Bat by Theodore Roethke.

By day the bat is cousin to the mouse.
He likes the attic of an aging house.

His fingers make a hat about his head.
His pulse beat is so slow we think him dead.

He loops in crazy figures half the night
Among the trees that face the corner light.

But when he brushes up against a screen,
We are afraid of what our eyes have seen:

For something is amiss or out of place
When mice with wings can wear a human face.

And then look at these questions to focus on the meaning:

  1. Why does he compare what the bat does during the day with the night? He possibly may be conveying the idea that the bat is misunderstood and is just a simple elegant creature or is the writer conveying that everyone has a side we never see?
  2. What are two metaphors in the poem? a) When mice with wings can wear a human face. We may view the bat as a dark creature, but the writer wants us to know that they can be like humans. b) By day the bat is cousin to the mouse. The writer compares the bat to the mouse to help us see bats through his eyes as something familiar and not dark like many tales about bats.
  3. Did you notice the writer alludes to both a bat’s sight and hearing which are of great interest to us?

Try a little Batty Math

Next, this fun video is a great way to practice observation skills for any age.

From the site: Count the bats — how do your skills compare to a bat biologist’s?

World War II Project X-Ray and Bats

Project X is a plan conceived by the Unit States Army to use bats to destroy enemy installations during World War II. It may seem outlandish, but two million dollars was spent on perfecting the Project X plan.

Bat Bomb Canister

Scientist and members of the armed forces captured thousands of bats in New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns. Then a one-ounce bomb which produced a 22-inch flame and burned for eight minutes was harnessed to each bat.

The bats were put into crates with parachutes and loaded onto airplanes. The airplanes dropped the crates on testing sites and the parachutes opened at 1,000 feet automatically.

The bats then flew to a roost, often a cave or eaves of a building. Then they chewed off their harness and flew away, leaving the bombs behind which exploded. They destroyed many “town testing sites”.

Whether they actually used the bats or not is a military secret.

Bat Viewing Spots

A zoo is a great place to view bats both common and rare species. If you are on a lake or stream at dusk, watch bats as they as they skim over the surface of the water. You’ll notice them lap up water as they fly.

Bracken Cave here in Texas right outside of San Antonio is the summer home of more than 20 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats. It is a must visit. (Please note, the land is privately owned by Bat Conservation and you need to make arrangements to visit.).

Read more about Bracken Cave here on National Geographic.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook. Your kids will love studying about bats in the fall or anytime. Hands-on ideas for multiple ages to learn about the various kinds of bats. Grab the unit study ideas for multiple ages and the bat lapbook for older kids. CLICK HERE to grab it at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Bats are amazing creatures! For many years, people thought bats were diseased, dirty and evil. In general, bats are very helpful creatures.

Farmers even set out bat houses so that bats will roost there and protect their crops from massive insects.

Despite superstition, bats are usually peaceful creatures. They are the only flying mammal with a unique miniaturized sonar system.

Bat Lapbook

Your kids will love this fun lapbook. As I mentioned earlier, I know many activities exist for younger kids, so I gear my lapbooks toward older kids. This lapbook is aimed for upper elementary to middle school. However, because you get the same lapbook in two ways – one which has minibooks with facts filled in and the other one with blank minibooks, you can really use this lapbook for ANY age.

If you’re using it for high school, you can count the hours as part of a science credit and if you want to give a grade to the project itself, you decide.

Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

Awesome Features of the Bat Lapbook:

  • Aimed at upper elementary to middle school, but the lapbook with blank minibooks could be used for high school.
  • This is a .pdf  instant downloadable product and not a physical product.
  • You are paying for the printables, the lapbook.
  • My lapbooks are created for multiple ages.
  • Most of the minibooks have facts which accompany the minibook and a lot of the minibook are offered two ways. One way where your child uses the facts provided and another way where your child can add his own research and not use the inside pages.
  • You can use any reference materials, books, or online resources to complete the lapbook.
  • I don’t provide links in the lapbooks for filling in the information. This keeps my prices low for my products, but I do try to provide free links on my site as I can.
  • Because I have been a working homeschool mom for more of my journey than not, I need flexibility for using lapbooks. Proving a few facts from the main resource I use is one way I have of saving you time and giving you flexibility in how to use the minibooks.
  • Too, some of your kids may be older and you want them to do more research and some of your kids may be reluctant writers so you may want to mix and match pre-filled minibooks with blank minibooks. Flexibility is the key to my lapbooks.

Bat Lapbook

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Why Bats Are Not Birds Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook

You’ll love my other free unit studies below:

  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook.
  • Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.
  • Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook.
  • From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook.

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Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids

September 9, 2020 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Have you ever wondered about the effects of ocean pollution and other waterways? Look at my page  Ocean Unit Study and Ocean Lapbook.

It’s important that we bring it to our children’s attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution!

The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted, how difficult it is to clean it up and to make it like it was before.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids

This project can be done with things around the house; you may just need to grab a couple items from Dollar Tree or somewhere else.

Beware of Ocean Pollution

First, gather all your materials before you bring in the kids. Kids lose interest quickly if they spend a long time waiting at the table for you to find everything.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Better yet if you have an older kid who knows everything right now (wink) get him or her to do the gathering of supplies.

Next, here is the list of supplies for the hands-on ocean pollution science activity.

  • A large shallow container
  • Blue food coloring (optional)
  • sea shells
  • clean sand (optional)
  • water
  • plastic sea creatures
  • feathers
Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Teaching Kids About Ocean Pollution

Then, here is the list for the pollution items and the list for cleaning items.

  • cooking oil
  • food crumbs
  • pieces of plastic bag
  • dish soap
  • toothbrush
  • sponge
  • cotton balls
  • paper towels
  • coffee filters
  • cotton swabs
  • tongs
  • small nets
  • coffee grounds
  • straws
  • soil

Water Pollution Exploration

Start by adding items to your container that belong, explaining to your child that these are the items that naturally occur in an ocean and are part of its ecosystem.

Fill your container with several inches of water.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

If you like add a few drops of blue food coloring to your water and mix in.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Place sea creatures, seashells, and sand if you are using them.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Next, talk about what happens when we visit the beach or travel on the water.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

As you talk about oil the spills from ships, trash that is tossed aside instead of being safely placed in trash containers let your child add each of the pollution items you have provided.

Stir it all up together. What has happened?

  • The once nearly clear and pristine water is now discolored.
  • Creatures are covered in oil and dirt.
  • The water no longer looks appealing at all to play in does it?
  • Turtles, dolphins, sharks, and other animals get plastic wrap around them.
  • Sea animals choke on items that don’t belong in the ocean and die or are suffering from the effects.

What can we do to clean up the ocean? 

Ocean Pollution Clean Up Activity

You can pick up bigger items if they are floating on top with a net or tongs, but what about items that sink to the bottom of our deep oceans?

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Demonstrate how to use cotton balls to absorb some of the oil on the surface of the water.

Toss in a few feathers to demonstrate what happens to water birds when they pick up oil and other undesirable things from polluted water.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Use Dawn dish soap, a toothbrush, and other items to try and remove the oil and debris from the feathers.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Dawn has a program for cleaning up animals that have been injured due to oil spills. You can read a bit more about it here at Dawn Helping Saving Wildlife for Over 40 Years.

Be Ocean Explorers

Examine clean ocean water, polluted ocean water, and “cleaned” up water.

Grab 3 clear glasses and place water and food coloring in one.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Take some of your polluted water and place in the second.

Finally, after you have cleaned up your water some, put a coffee filter over the third glass and run your cleaned up polluted water over the coffee filter.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Compare the difference in water color and quality.

Even the water that has been cleaned up is still not left unchanged, it is cloudy, dark, and still contains trace amounts of debris.

This makes a big impact on my kids as it allowed them to understand how big an impact peoples actions can have on our water sources.

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity

Look at some pollution vocabulary and spelling words to use for an ocean or water unit study.

  • Pathogens
  • Waste water
  • Pollution
  • Biodegradable
  • Hazardous
  • Pollutant
  • Habitat
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystem

If you are looking for read aloud or independent reading books for your child that go along with the theme you need not look any further than your bookcase or library and grab something anything that has an ocean theme like Island of the Blue Dolphins, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Treasure Island, or Swiss Family Robinson! 

Continue with your study using some great books to look through or use as living text books.

  • Save the Ocean (Save the Earth)
  • You Are Eating Plastic!: An Interactive Children’s Book About Recycling, Sustainability and The Environment.
  • I Wonder Why the Sea Is Salty: and Other Questions About the Oceans
  • Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea
  • What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Protect the Planet)

Earth Science Activity for Kids

This hands-on activity can easily lead into learning about all the fascinating creatures who live in the sea.

Lastly, teaching kids to learn how to care for our earth by not polluting the oceans empowers kids to be part of the solution and no the problem.

You’ll love these other resources to keep expanding how to care for the ocean and enjoy the beauty it provides:

Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids. It’s important that we bring it to our children's attention now so they can make responsible choices and be part of the clean up solution! The best way to do this of course is through a fun hands-on activity that lets them see first hand how easily water is polluted. You’ll love this easy hands-on science! CLICK HERE to go there! #oceanpollution #handsonscienceforkids #homeschoolscience #oceanpollutionactivity
  • Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Ocean Unit Study – Ocean Layers
  • Ocean Unit Study Language Arts: Message in a Bottle
  • Humboldt Who? Hands On to Understand Ocean Currents & Their Effect On The Galapagos Islands
  • Super Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook
  • Edible Geography – Sea Levels
  • How to Dissolve a Seashell – Beach Hands-on Fun Activity
  • From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Winter Homeschooling – Look to the Sea. 17 Hands-on Activities for Two to Teens.

Hugs and love ya,

2 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Nature Based Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, nature, ocean, science, sciencecurriculum

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