biology

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

September 25, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Learning about fruits around the world fun with food activities that are not only delicious but can be used to learn all about the exotic places they come from. Also, you’ll love the tips I have here at 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Take a trip to your local grocery store and look for exotic fruits.

A good grocery store will have a wide variety from around the world that look and taste so different from your average bananas and apples.

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Exotic fruits have unusual shapes, colors, textures, and flavors and can introduce your child to new cultures without leaving your own town.

So besides learning to identify and taste exotic fruits, what else can your child do to turn this into more than just a snack?

Here are a few ideas to get you going as well as resources to round it out.

Fun With Food Activities

These Tropical Fruit Fractions are a great way to include math in your study.
Create this cute Pineapple Craft For Kids with colored paper and glue.
If you are going to try dragon fruit don’t just toss out those beautiful peels, make these DIY Dragon Fruit Candles first.

Read up on tropical fruits in Food Anatomy, look how beautiful these illustrations are and the fantastic snippets of information it includes.

Make a felt sheet Stuffed Mango.
Making Mango Butter is an especially good craft for middle and high school students.
Buy several tropical fruits and have a delicious taste test with them, have your child describe the appearance, flavor, and texture of each. Create a graph to show each family member’s preference.
Here is an adorable Easy Paper Plate Kiwi Fruit Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers.
Conserve some of the seeds from your fruits purchased and try to sprout them, if you live in a warm climate, you may be able to grow your own.

Use a Map to Locate Where Each Fruit is Native To

I have found that this World Scrunch Map has come in handy time after time to teach geography without a curriculum or in addition to a favorite curriculum.

Research The Health Benefits

Tropical/Exotic fruits have a ton of health benefits like high amounts of antioxidants, fiber, and other nutrients. Challenge your child to research the benefits of each and how they can be used.

These fruits are often used in medicines and supplements to treat various ailments and diseases.

You will find them in a host of foods and drinks at grocery and health food stores.

Make a Recipe

Incorporate math skills, direction following, reading, and skills by creating recipes using these unique fruits. I have gathered up a selection of recipes for some of the most popular tropical/exotic fruits.

Acai

Native to: Amazonian Rainforest
Recipe: 20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl.

Mangosteen
● Native to: Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Mainland Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.
● Recipe: Mangosteen Sorbet

Dragon fruit

● Native to: Guatemala, Costa Rica, and El Salvador
● Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Dragon Fruit Refresher

Rambutan

● Native to: Malaysia, Indonesia
● Recipe: Rambutan Apple Pie

Starfruit

● Native to: India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
● Recipe: Carambola Iced Tea Cooler Recipe

Passion Fruit
● Native to: Paraguay, Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina.
● Recipe: Hawaiian Passion Fruit Bars

Papaya

● Native to: Chiapas and Veracruz, Mesoamerica (Southern Mexico and Central America)
● Recipe: Yummy Homemade Papaya J am

Pomegranate

Native to: Iran to Himalayas in Northern India
Recipe: Healthy Pomegranate Lemonade

Mango
● Native to: Myanmar and Assam state of India
● Recipe: Check out my smoothie recipe below

Other incredible exotic fruits you can learn about are Jackfruit, Pomegranates, Durian, Lychee, Guava, Fig, and Kiwi to name a few.

Fun With Food Activities How to Make a Mango Smoothie Recipe

Here is a recipe where you can use any and all of the tropical fruits you can find Tropical Fruit Yogurt Parfait.

Mango chunks – 2 Cups
Greek yogurt – 1 Cup
Milk – 1/2 Cup
Honey – 2 Tablespoons
Ice – 1 Cup

Before we jump into the recipe let me show you how to properly cut open a mango.

How to Properly Cut A Mango

Cut mango lengthwise, off center.

The mango has a large seed pod inside and it is impossible to cut through. If you hit resistance, move the knife further over.

Repeat on the opposite side of the pod.

You can also cut off any extra fruit around the pod once you slice off “the cheeks” which is the flesh on either side of the pit.

Score each mango piece, vertically and then horizontally, almost but not quite to the peel.

Slide the knife between the skin and the orange flesh of the mango to release the pieces.

Place all of the ingredients into a blender.

Mix on high until smooth and creamy.

Pour into a glass, add a straw, and enjoy.

How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model

September 18, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Turn an ordinary pizza night into a delicious learning experience with an edible human cell model pizza. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

How fun is it to learn about the parts of a human cell through building, cooking, and eating it rather than completing a dry worksheet?

How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model

In this project we will take basic pizza toppings and form each of the parts of a cell with similarly shaped items.

It is a great opportunity to talk about each as you prepare them for the pizza, and then again when it comes out of the oven.

8 Fun Facts About Cells

Cells are sometimes referred to as the “building blocks of life” and are the smallest unit of living things.
The human body is composed of trillions of cells, and each has their own specialized function.
Cells contain genetic material-DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Cells were discovered in 1665 by Robert Hooke, he named them for their resemblance to monastery cells.
Cells have variable life spans, it can range from a few days to an organism’s entire lifetime.
You can’t see most cells without a microscope, a few exceptions are the ostrich egg which is considered a single cell and the single-celled organism is the algae Caulerpa which grows up to 10 feet.
There are two basic cell types- prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells are those of plants, animals, fungi, and protozoa. Prokaryotic cells are bacteria and archaea.
The word cell comes from the Latin word “cellula” for “small room”.

Next, look at some of these resources for learning about the human body.

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

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

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

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

Medical Torso Human Body Model Anatomy

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

Human Organs Shape Silicone Molds 8 Pc

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

Ooze Labs: Visible Human Body with Squishable Organs

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

Human Body Model for Kids 8PCS Mini Body Parts

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

Anatomy (Quickstudy Academic)

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

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts!

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

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

Heart Anatomy Poster - LAMINATED

High-quality 3 MIL LAMINATION for added durability

Tear Resistant

Human Heart Anatomy Floor Puzzle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Pair Plastic Skeleton Hands

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

Circulatory System Poster

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

The Circulatory System (Your Body Systems: Blastoff! Readers

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

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

Also, look at these other activities to learn about the human body.

More Human Body Crafts

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$5.00 Add to cart

Additionally, learn about the parts of the human cell.

The Parts of a Human Cell

Here is a quick breakdown of what each part of the cell is and what it does to use for reference throughout the activity.

Cell- This is the basic building block of all living things.

Cytoplasm- The gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell.

Nucleus– A membrane-enclosed organelle within a cell that contains the chromosomes.

Endoplasmic Reticulum– Is the transportation system of the eukaryotic cell.

Golgi Bodies-Are organelles that help to process and package proteins and lipid molecules.

Lysosomes– The membrane-bound cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes.

Ribosomes-Intracellular structure made of both RNA and protein.

Microtubules- Polymers of tubulin that form part of the cytoskeleton and provide structure and shape to eukaryotic cells.

Mitochondria- Mitochondria are membrane-bound cell organelles that generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the cell. Also known as the ‘powerhouse of the cell.’

Finally, look at this edible human cell model made out of pizza.

Edible Human Cell Model Pizza

After a day of studying the human cell, what better way to end it than with an edible human cell model pizza to reinforce what you have learned.

There is plenty of room to adjust toppings to your preference.

You will need:

Pizza dough
Toppings

Here is what we used for each of the cell parts.

You can swap out toppings that are similar in shape if you like to create your own pizza cell work of art.

Create a key to identify which topping you choose for each organelle (subunit within a cell).

Cell – Pizza Crust
Cytoplasm – Pizza sauce
Nucleus – Salami
Endoplasmic Reticulum– Thinly sliced onion
Golgi Bodies– Basil leaves
Lysosomes – Mini pepperoni
Ribosomes – shredded mozzarella
Microtubules -Pepper strips
Mitochondria – Mushroom slices

You will also need:

Baking sheet/pizza pan
Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees or whatever your dough recipe calls for.

You can use homemade or ready-to-bake pizza dough.

Rub a bit of olive oil into your baking pan.

Roll out a small piece of dough into a rough circle, like a little personal pan pizza.

Smooth on a little sauce for the cytoplasm, leave a little space on the outside edges to represent the cell membrane.

Sprinkle on a small amount of shredded mozzarella for the ribosomes.

Continue adding the various parts of the cell (pizza toppings) building it up until you have all of them.

Place pizza in the oven and bake to the desired doneness.

After baking we sprinkled it with a little more shredded mozzarella because they disappeared in the cooking.

Cool and enjoy your delicious cell!

How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled X-Ray Craft

September 17, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to make a bones of the hand labeled x-ray craft is easy and fun. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

I have seen simpler full handprint versions of this for little ones, but I feel like this X-ray craft for the bones of the hand-labeled is appropriate for right up to middle school.

To challenge upper elementary or middle school students you could also have them label the 8 carpal bones individually as well.

This is a great way to familiarize your student with the bones in the hand without using a worksheet or textbook.

How To Make A Fun Bones Of The Hand Labeled Xray Craft

You know I really enjoy offering hands-on activities over paperwork.

Before you begin here is a little information on bones to share while they work on their hand project.

Carpal Bones- The 8 irregular bones that make up the wrist.
Metacarpals- The 5 bones that make up the middle of your hand.
Phalanges-14 bones that are in each of the fingers on your hand.

While not part of the hand I think it’s good to show how and where they are in relation to and how they connect to the ulna and radius bones of the arm.

Ulna-The thinner longer bone of the forearm.
Radius-The other bone that makes up your forearm.

They both help to stabilize the wrist as well as move, flex, and rotate.

5 Facts About The Bones of The Hand

There are 27 bones in each hand, for a total of 54 bones of the hand.
Each hand also has 29 major joints, 48 nerves, 30 arteries, and 123 ligaments that work with the bones for strength, flexibility, and function.
A hand is defined as the end part of a person’s arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb.
We are set apart from other animals by our opposable thumbs—this means that our thumbs and fingers can work together.
About 10 to 15% of the world’s population is left-handed. 1 in 100 is ambidextrous, which means they can use both hands equally.

Next, look at some of these resources for learning about the human body.

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

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