earth science

Unleash Your Inner Scientist: 12 Amazing Gifts for the Science Lovers

December 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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Here are 12 amazing gifts for the science lovers in your life from preschooler to adult and covering a wide range of science interests as unique as they are.

Do you have a friend or family member with a little bit of a science loving nerdy vibe?

You might have been searching for just the right gift but couldn’t quite settle on what it might be.

Unleash Your Inner Scientist: 12 Amazing Gifts for the Science Lovers

Those with an interest in science can be a little trickier to buy for without loading them down with textbooks and test tubes as your only gift options.

You really have to think outside the box, or the beaker as it were to really wow them.

Science is a pretty broad topic like -Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology, Astronomy, Animals, Botany, and Earth Science.

Whatever your science lover is crazy about there is a great gift out there for them and I have tried to gather them up in one place to help you out with little muss and fuss.

What scientist in your life are you shopping for? Your preschooler? Middle schooler? Spouse? Co-op teacher? Maybe you want to treat yourself or surprise a friend with a creative gift idea that is a little different.

There are many ways to help them show off a love of science in a fun, silly way that still supports their passion and even encourages it with a thoughtful gift.

Let’s look at some ideas and see if we can find a gift that has the right chemistry and will cause a positive reaction for your favorite scientist to experiment with.

I tried to make sure that there was a variety of topics, prices, and items for different personalities for you to choose from.

Also, look at more gift guides for your family.

Gift Guides for Families

Amazing Gifts for the Science Lovers

These ideas will bring science to life and celebrate their uniqueness through science kits, posters, t-shirts, and even fun science promoting jewelry that they will adore.

Totally Gross: The Game of Science

If you really want to get a science-loving kid even more into science try a really fun board game like this one that covers biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, zoology, anatomy, and physics.

The Chemistry of Cola (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

This is one of a series of books on chemistry, biology, physics (and even a math option) that include really fun hands-on experiments to try with easy to understand instructions and explanations.

Graduated Cylinders and Beakers with 5 Pipettes

If you are stocking up for a science lover a nice set of bakers and cylinders is a must for experiments or even just really cool decor

Vintage Entomology Poster

Replica vintage Cavallini posters are available in a variety of science topics and look great on the wall anywhere in the house, office, or school room no matter what the science subject is

Compound monocular Microscope with Microscope Slide Set, Cell Phone Adapter

A must have item for any science fanatic no matter which branch of science they like. This option can be connected to the phone or computer to get an even better look at the specimen.

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

While you can use the internet to look up just about anything you want to know, nothing beats a nice science reference book like an encyclopedia that covers the entire span of sciences. I really like the Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia and it is great for upper elementary through high school for reference and inspiration.

Caffeine Beaker Mug

For the adult that loves Chemistry this beaker coffee mug is a fantastic and fun way to enjoy your morning cup of coffee, just make sure they don’t get them confused with the lab one.

Periodic Table with 83 Real Elements Inside

Not your typical wall poster, I enjoy something like this that is not only educational but is a beautiful display that would look just as good on the coffee table as it would a school desk. With real samples of elements and a magnifying glass to have a closer look at each one this is a nice conversation piece.

I Think You're Overreacting Funny Nerd Science Chemistry T-Shirt

Science can be funny and silly shirts like this prove that academia doesn't have to be uptight, it can be downright hilarious to wear.

Forensic Science Lab - Crime Scene Science Kit

An open and go science kit in a box is a great way for kids to explore an interest and there are so many different options to choose from, beyond this cool Forensics lab one. The best thing about them is that usually everything they need, with the exception of a few basic household items is included in the box.

Plant Propagation Station

This is great for the budding botanist and looks so pretty on the desk or in a window. I love that it is also useful because they are able to learn about propagating plants,hydroponics, and watch the roots grow.

Microscope Dangle Earrings

Aren’t these just too cute? They are a great gift idea for a co-op science teacher or any girl scientist you know to show off their love of science with a fashionable flair. They also have atoms, beakers, and DNA strands.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

November 27, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I wanted a unique Antarctica diorama that was in something besides a shoebox, and this is what I came up with, a snow globe. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook.

It was so much fun to create a little snowy wonderland of Antarctic creatures and learn about them, their habitats, diets, and more.

You will not find arctic foxes, polar bears, or snowy owls in Antarctica because there are no true terrestrial (land-living) animals that make their home there.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Antarctica is the only continent on Earth without them.

While it has no native land mammals, reptiles, or amphibians it is teeming with penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds.

A great hands-on activity to complete while you learn about what animals do and do not live in Antarctica is to create this cute snow globe diorama that I have for you below.

I thought it was the perfect way to highlight this frozen polar desert.

Books for Kids About the Antarctic

First, look at some of these books either based in the Antarctic or about animals that live there.

I lean toward living books first then like to add informational books next.

11 Antarctica Books & Resources for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books for different ages and resources to your study about Antarctica.

Antarctica: The Heart of the World

Named a "Best Book of the Year" by Science Books & Films

"Librarians acquiring this book, a must-have for any scientific collection, can be assured that it will contribute to some reader's decision to visit or work in Antarctica."—VOYA

"This is an eye-catching book packed with gems for browsing, and the presentation makes it suitable for reports."—School Library Journal

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse:

Join a young explorer and his best friend, Mouse, on a sea journey to Antarctica, where they make new friends with penguins and a whale – and have all kinds of fun. Young readers won’t stop grinning as they’re swept away by the strange and magical world created by Frank Viva, the bestselling author of Along a Long Road. As kids TOON into Reading, they will want to circle back to the beginning – again and again.

The Real Book About the Antarctic

The exploration of the Antarctic has been undertaken for five centuries in the name of many nations. Challenged by the mystery of its formidable, icy regions, they have used dogs, sleds, and above all the weapon of human endurance to cut down the barrier which isolates it from the developed world. In this history of the centuries of exploration, of the men who risked and often gave life to penetrate its secrets, the achievements of many great figures are reviewed

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men. When their ship was finally crushed between two ice floes, they attempted a near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.

Antarctica Toob - Toy Figurines Penguins, Whales, Seals, & More

Explore Antarctic Wildlife: This Toob includes 10 diverse figures from the freezing landscapes of Antarctica: emperor, chinstrap, and rockhopper penguins, blue, humpback, and sperm whales, an orca, a crabeater seal, an Antarctic fur seal, and a wandering albatross.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

The extraordinary true story behind Ernest Shackleton's harrowing expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance—the ill-fated ship that became trapped in ice and sank to the ocean floor. Defying the odds, the crew made it back alive, bringing with them the astounding collection of photographs included in this critically acclaimed, timeless book.

Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the World

It is the windiest, coldest, most forbidding region on earth, and I am heading straight for it.

Sketchbook in hand, an artist leaves home to spend four months in Antarctica. She hikes up glaciers, camps on deserted islands, and sees mirages of castles in the air. She sails past icebergs and humpback whales. And she fills her sketchbook with drawings of penguin chicks huddled in their nests and seals basking in the sun. Jennifer Dewey's sketches, photographs, journal entries, and letters home let you see the last great wilderness on earth through the eyes of an artist at work.

Ice Trap! : Shackleton's Incredible Expedition

In August 1914, during the height of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off from England with a team of explorers to walk across the Antarctic and study the icy depths of this new and forbidding continent. Sailing through some of the most perilous seas, the Endurance becomes trapped in the deadly pack ice of the Weddell sea. When the Endurance is eventually crushed between the vast bulk of two floating icebergs, the men are forced to abandon ship and make the dangerous journey across the crushing sea in lifeboats,

Where Is Antarctica?

Antarctica, the earth's southernmost continent, was virtually untouched by humans until the nineteenth century. Many famous explorers journeyed (and often died) there in the hope of discovering a land that always seemed out of reach. This book introduces readers to this desert--yes, desert!--continent that holds about 90 percent of the world's ice; showcases some of the 200 species that call Antarctica home, including the emperor penguin; and discusses environmental dangers to the continent, underscoring how what happens to Antarctica affects the entire world.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

The Anatomy series by Julia Rothman is always a go-to resource, ocean Anatomy contains plenty of information on the animals that live in Antarctica, icebergs Polar Ice, and glaciers.

Penguin's Way

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating Antarctic species. Originally published in 1962, Penguin’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard. In Penguin’s Way, a playful colony of emperor penguins lives on the edge of a faraway secret sea. During the summers, the penguins are content to fish and swim in the icy waters. But, when the seasons change, they must travel more than one hundred miles to the snowy lands surrounding the South Pole. All across the snow plain, the penguins sing songs to welcome newly hatched chicks into the world, but how will the fluffy newborns survive the freezing winter?

Next, look at some of the animals that do make their home there.

Creatures of Antarctica

You can either create a diorama centered around one of these amazing creatures or highlight them all, we are going to learn a little bit about each of these 3 most common -penguins, seals, and whales.

PENGUINS

There are 17 different species of penguins in the world, and 8 of them live in Antarctica.

A penguin’s diet is mainly fish, squid, crustaceans, and krill.

While they do prefer to drink fresh water they do have a gland near their eyes that allows them to filter the salt out of salt water for drinking.

Emperor Penguin
Adélie penguin
Gentoo penguin
Chinstrap penguin
Macaroni penguin
Rockhopper penguin
Magellanic penguin
King penguin

SEALS

Only 6 out of the 35 seal species in the world live in Antarctica but they make up the majority of seal numbers. Seals are divided up into 3 different families- True seals, eared seals, and walruses.

Except for the fur seal, all of these Antarctica seals are ‘True seals’ without ears but they can still hear very well, even underwater.

They are built for their frozen home with a thick layer of blubber and fur for insulation as well as being excellent swimmers and divers.

Southern Elephant
Crabeater
Leopard
Weddel
Antarctic Fur

WHALES

These amazing aquatic giants are distinct in their appearance and behaviors.

The Humpbacks are known for their haunting songs that can be heard for up to 20 miles while the Orcas are found everywhere but are most abundant here in Antarctica.

The 8 whales that you are likely to spot in Antarctica are:

Killer
Sperm
Humpback
Fin
Blue
Minke
Right
Sei

Find out how these creatures survive the freezing conditions of Antarctica in this How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama

I found a clear plastic bowl, cake plate, and fake snow at Dollar Tree.

Whether you want to keep and display your snow globe diorama long term or toss it out after it is done, this is a very economical project.

You will need:

Clear plastic bowl
Clear plastic plate/platter
Fake snow
Cardboard
Air dry clay
School glue
Blue craft paint
Plastic arctic animals

First, use air-dry clay to create a dam to separate your water from the land area.

To do this I just rolled it out like a long snake and then smoothed it into place, it doesn’t have to be thick, just enough to keep the water in.

Paint a thick layer of school glue onto the side that you designated for land.

Sprinkle generously with the fake snow and tap down gently with your fingers or a paintbrush to press it into the glue then tap off the excess.

Mix blue paint with school glue and pour a thick layer into the water section you created, be sure to cover it all completely.

If you like, take some more air-dry clay and create an iceberg, a little cave, or any other land formations you would like, give it a little glue and cover it in more flakes of fake snow.

Allow this to dry for 24-48 hours until the glue, paint, and air-dry clay have cured.

Antarctica Diorama

Add in your animals as you like. If you are going to be transporting it you can add a little bit of hot glue to the bottom of the animals.

To remove and use them another time you can heat up the glue with a hair dryer and wipe it away with a paper towel.

Place the plastic bowl on top and secure it in place with a couple of dots of hot glue if desired or let it sit loosely on top.

How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers

November 26, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

With a chill in the air, it is the perfect time to make hot cocoa crafts for preschoolers to warm them up in a different way. Also, you’ll love the ideas on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

From paper cups to playdough there are many fun ways to create hot cocoa crafts for preschoolers to enjoy during the winter season.

Also, if you love to celebrate all the little holidays like I do, December 13th is National Cocoa Day.

How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers

And these ideas as well as my hot cocoa cloud dough are a great way to celebrate it.

If you learn how to make my taste safe version of hot cocoa cloud dough, you will be very cool with the preschool set indeed.

Cloud dough is a unique textured sensory material, and messy, so plan accordingly.

This cloud dough version is taste safe but you will want to bake your flour beforehand to make it safe as raw flour can contain bacteria such as Salmonella.

Winter Books to Read Aloud to Your Preschooler

Next, these books I’ve rounded up can be used to read aloud to your preschooler or for your older kids to read independently.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow.

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

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

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

Also, add some of this background information about hot cocoa.

You may want to include your older children.

The History of Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa likely developed around 500 BC, where the Mayans drank chocolate made from ground-up cocoa seeds that were mixed up with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers.

It was made by pouring it back and forth between two cups to get it thick and foamy. At that time, it was pretty bitter and not what we enjoy today.

The explorer Cortez in the 1500s brought cocoa beans and the tools to make it back to Europe where it became a drink popular with the upper class.

In the 1800s, Coenraad Johannes Van Houten of the Netherlands created the first cocoa powder press.

Using it he was able to separate the greasy cocoa butter from the cacao seeds and create a much more drinkable concoction and also at this time he learned how to create a solid chocolate bar.

Up until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used to treat stomach and liver diseases.

Also, as part of soldier rations and now we can enjoy it any time with lots of marshmallows.

Eventually eating chocolate became much more popular than drinking it.

8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers

These 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities have a science application of course but don’t overlook the fun of deliciously scented slime for play.
Try Hot Chocolate Playdough Recipe + 3 Ways to Play, it will smell amazing and be a great sensory experience that is great for building small muscles and fine motor skills.
Such a great basic craft supply, turn wooden craft sticks into this adorable Popsicle Stick Hot Cocoa Mug Craft with your preschooler.
Inside My Hot Cocoa Mug Craft Idea For Kids is a very unique take on creating a hot cocoa mug art project.
3D art is so much fun, just look at this Paper Cup Hot Chocolate Craft for Kids, you can find lots of adorable winter printed cups at Dollar Tree too or let them decorate their own paper cup with stickers or markers.
Use cocoa in a fresh new way and turn it into a sweet-smelling paint, check out Chocolate Painting with I’m a Hungry Dinosaur.
This is a simple layered gift idea that little hands can make as a gift to friends and family. –DIY Gift Idea: Hot Cocoa Mix In A Jar, it looks pretty, you put a bow on it, I’m calling it a craft!
This is a great simple felt craft. Hot Cocoa Art, perfect for using up scraps of felt you may have on hand.

Finally, look at how to make this fun hot cocoa cloud dough.

How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough

I did not give you exact measurements.

It will depend on the size of your container, and it is easy to make any size batch.

You will need:

All-purpose flour
Baking cocoa or hot cocoa mix
Vegetable or coconut oil
Marshmallows

You will also need:

Cups
Straws
Measuring cups/spoons
Peppermints/candy canes

Prepare flour by baking it for 5 minutes in a 350 degree oven and allow to cool.

Combine flour and cocoa mix or baking cocoa until you get the color and amount of base that you want. A whisk works well to incorporate your dry ingredients.

Add in oil just a little at a time.

Add it just until the dough becomes a consistency that when squeezed in your hand holds its shape, kind of like a good snow.

You can also add in vanilla and peppermint.

Or any other scented oils or extracts if you like to make the smell stronger.

Now begin layering in hot cocoa items like straws, marshmallows, sprinkles, candy canes, peppermints, etc.

To encourage fine motor activities like pouring, scooping, pinching, digging, scraping, etc. include measuring cups, spoons, and coffee cups.

Little ones won’t need much prompting to figure out what to do with the bin.

They will be happy to fill cups, pour them out, and offer you some too.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

November 23, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re creating puffy paint planets as we learn a little bit more about the 8 wonders that make up our solar system. You’ll love the free planet notebooking pages too. Grab more ideas on my page Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.

There is so much about the vast solar system that we still do not know.

Take your aspiring astronomer on a journey to discover each planet with crafts, facts, and activities that will keep their hands busy, and minds engaged.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

These puffy paint planets are a fun way to learn about the planets, their size, and their relation to one another as well as their general makeup.

They can be painted to look as our planets appear and you can customize them to any size you like.

Free Planets Notebooking Pages

Also, I have a fantastic set of free notebooking pages that you can also use as a template to create them.

These are handy for your child to list facts about each planet as you cover it in your lessons.

And I have included some fun facts for you to grab as well.

However, in honor of Red Planet Day on November 28th I have some interesting facts for you all about the planet Mars.

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos.

There is a very handy mnemonic device that you can use to memorize the order of the planets-Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Next, look at some of these books that you’ll want to add to your reading list.

I lean toward living books first, then reference books for reading.

11 Astronomy Resources & Books

Add one or two books to your unit study or use one as a spine for studying about space.

The Planets

From the burning surface of Venus to the freezing darkness of Neptune, Gail Gibbons takes children on a tour of our planetary neighbors—which are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather.

The Planets

With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe.

Who Was Neil Armstrong?

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind."

Find the Constellations

Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.

New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.

Where Is Our Solar System?

Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun.

Signs and Seasons Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy

Gorgeous. Worth every penny! Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy

The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the best-kept secrets

Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe.

Basher Science: Astronomy: Out of this World!

Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed.

Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.

Solar System Puzzle Wooden Space Toys for Kids

【Planet Toys for Kids】Our wooden solar system puzzle is the PERFECT CHOICE for you and your kids as it is made from natural wood, vivid planet patten with well designed. This preschool learning activities is suitable for 3+ years kids and represents the perfect activity to learn through play!

Solar System Planetarium - DIY Glow In The Dark Astronomy Planet Model

The Solar System Planetarium set teaches children about the wonders of the solar system. Just assemble, paint and learn.

This set includes planets, stencils, squeeze glow paint pen, rods, string, a fact filled wall chart and 10 sets of Kidz Quiz questions.

Also, here are some facts that your child can use to add to the notebooking pages.

Facts About the Planets for Kids

Mercury

Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, and it is only slightly larger than Earth’s Moon.
It is the closest planet to the sun but is not the hottest, strangely enough that record goes to Venus, but it does have the largest temperature fluctuations in the solar system.
Mercury’s craters are named after famous artists and writers, there is even one named Geisel after Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel).

Venus

Venus is the second brightest natural object in our night sky after the Moon.
Venus spins clockwise on its axis, unlike all the other planets in our solar system that spin counterclockwise.
Astronomers believe that at some point Venus collided with a celestial body and tilted Venus so far off its original position that it is now upside down.

Earth

The surface of the Earth is mainly water, about 71% and almost 97% of that is in the oceans.
It is estimated that you could fit 1 million Earths inside of the sun.
Our atmosphere is made up of gases- nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide. What we commonly refer to as air.

Mars

Mars is called the “Red Planet” because when seen in the night sky it seems to glow faintly reddish/orange. The reddish-orange color is due to all the iron minerals and dust on its surface.
While humans have not been to Mars there have been 9 successful landings -Viking 1 and Viking 2, Pathfinder, Spirit and Opportunity, Phoenix, Curiosity, InSight, and Perseverance.
Mars is one of the easiest planets that you can spot in the night sky, it looks like a bright red point.

Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, it is more than twice as big as all the other planets put together.
The “stripes” on Jupiter are cold, windy clouds made up of ammonia and water.
Jupiter was named by ancient astronomers for the Roman ruler of the gods and heavens.

Saturn

Saturn is not the only planet to have rings, but is the most well known for it due to the size and complexity of its rings, made up of a glittering array of bits of asteroids and comets.
Saturn is the only planet in our solar system that is less dense than water, so that means that if it fit in your pool it would float.
It has more moons than any other planet in the Solar System with 82 confirmed moons.

Uranus

Uranus spins on its side and rolls around the sun like a big blue ball.
One year on Uranus is 21 Earth years long, that’s a long wait for a day!
It was the first planet to be found through a telescope in 1781 by an astronomer named William Herschel, but he originally believed it to be either a comet or a star.

Neptune

Neptune has six rings and 13 confirmed moons.
Neptune is more than 30 times as far from the Sun as Earth
This planet is an ice giant. Meaning that it is a giant planet made up of dense “icy” materials-water, methane, and ammonia, with a small rocky core.

Finally, look at how to make puffy paint planets.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets

You will need:

School glue
Craft paints
Dish soap
Paintbrushes
Gallon ziplock bag
Notebooking pages

First, the dish soap gives these puffy paint planets’ window clings a little flexibility and helps them adhere to the window.

Print the notebooking pages at whatever size you would like to make your window clings.

I printed mine 4 sheets per page and felt like that was a great size.

Slip the page inside a gallon-sized ziplock bag, you may need to trim some of the paper away to make it fit.

Combine 1 tablespoon of glue, a drop or two of dish soap, and enough paint to get it the color you want it for each color that you want to make. Stir to combine everything well.

Now you don’t have to outline the planets but it really makes them pop if you do.

To do this I add black paint and a couple drops of dish soap to a bottle of white school glue that is about half full and shake it really well until everything is mixed.

DIY Puffy Paint Planets For Kids

Then use the tip of the bottle to “draw” an outline around each of your planets. Allow it to dry partially before you move to the next step.

Use a paintbrush to fill in the inside of each of your planets with a thick layer of paint.

You do not want it thin, and it should touch all the edges so that it is sturdy and does not tear. Fill in each planet.

Allow it to dry overnight.

Carefully peel off each of your window clings and they are ready to hang up.

If they need a little refreshing, you can swish them around in a bit of soap water for just a second and they will stick right to the window.

How to Get the Free Printable Planets Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free printable. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

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Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids

November 11, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fun facts about mold fossils for you today as well as some hands-on ideas to demonstrate them and the other 3 basic types of fossils. Also, you’ll love my Amber – Freezing Gold Lapbook and Unit Study.

Kids love dinosaurs and everything about them, from the big names to learning about fossils, and just how on earth they disappeared.

We are going to be investigating as well as creating fossils from 4 simple categories – Mold, Cast, and True Form.

Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids

We will dig into the definition of each, and you can choose an activity from each category to demonstrate the different types of fossils found.

To begin with, let’s define fossils.

Fossils are bits of plants and animals preserved from the past.

It can be a footprint, impressions, actual material like teeth and bones, or even what is created in the negative space of the impressions.

5 Fun Facts About Mold Fossils

Next, here are facts about mold fossils.

Organisms buried in sediment may decay or dissolve away leaving a cavity or mold to form these types of fossils.
Mold fossils are found in a variety of different rock types. For example, sandstone, shale, and limestone.
Mold fossils are useful because they help researchers to guess the exact shape and structure of the organisms that created them.
Most molds and casts do not contain the actual remains of an organism.
Common mold fossils include things like skin, leaves, teeth, claws, and embryos.

Additionally, look at these 4 types of fossils.

4 Types of Fossils

1.TRACE

These types of fossils are the ones you see that are made up of an imprint of or a mark left by an organism, rather than physical remains.

Trace fossils are produced in soft sediments. For instance, they can be a track, trail, footprint, burrow, etc., of an organism.

Exploring Trace Fossils By Making Dinosaur Footprints in edible mud, yum.
This Dinosaur Fossil Clay looks like a lot of fun and is a great sensory activity.
Here is a science project to Identify Trace Fossils using plaster of Paris.

2.MOLD

A rock that has a void where something once was or formerly lived is called a mold fossil.

This kind of fossil is made when an animal dies and its body decays, leaving an imprint in the sediment. It is the void portion of the fossil.

A great example of a mold fossil that is also delicious is these Dinosaur Fossil Cookies.
This Sedimentary Rocks & Fossil Experiment is a busy hands way to teach how fossils are formed over the years through pressure.

3. CAST

Similarly, in a cast fossil, the mineralized sediment that fills the mold recreates the shape of the remains.

When the imprint fills in with minerals from sediment and groundwater and hardens to form a fossil it creates the cast. This is the filled-in portion of a mold/cast fossil.

In this Make Fun Edible Fossils and Free Magic School Bus Fossils Worksheet the brown sugar would be the mold and the white chocolate would represent the cast.
Here is a great step-by-step on How To Make Cast Fossils With Kids.

4.TRUE FORM

True form fossils are the kind that are formed when the animals’ soft tissues or hard parts do not decay over the years and are preserved in their natural form.

It can be because they are trapped within sap that hardens to become amber (technically this is classified as a gemstone) or frozen.

True-form fossils are also formed through desiccation, where they are completely dried out and preserved, or finally, through freezing, where all soft tissues remain intact.

Here is an example of an insect trapped in amber in my Science Fiction for Middle School Fun Jurassic Park Quick Unit Study (DIY Insect in Amber)
Another example of a true-form fossil is this tutorial for How to Make A Megalodon Shark Tooth Fun Homeschool Project.
I really like this Amber Fossilized Insect Soap because it has multiple uses, to teach about true-form fossils and to get kids squeaky clean.

Next, add some of these books about fossils.

15 Books for Kids Crazy About Fossils and Dinosaurs

Your dinosaur loving kids will love some of these books and resources for a fun dinosaur unit study.

Fossils Tell of Long Ago

What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone. With clear prose and beautifully detailed illustrations, award-winning author and illustrator Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It includes a find out more section with a glossary and activity guide so kids can create their own fossils for someone to find a million years from now.

Dinosaurs! (New & Updated)

Gail Gibbons presents the most recent and up-to-date theories about the history of dinosaurs and dinosaur discoveries. She discusses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and the non-bird dinosaurs that lived during each time. Each dinosaur is explored in just the right amount of detail for young paleontologists, as this book brings these magnificent creatures to life again

Digging Up Dinosaurs (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? Beloved author-illustrator Aliki’s simple, engaging text and colorful artwork bring the long-extinct creatures to life for young dinosaur enthusiasts.

Long ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then, suddenly, they died out. For thousands of years, no one knew these giant creatures had ever existed. Then people began finding fossils—bones and teeth and footprints that had turned to stone. Today, teams of experts work together to dig dinosaur fossils out of the ground, bone by fragile bone

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

A playful peek into the homes of dinosaur babies and their parents at bedtime!How do dinosaurs say good night?Brimming with humor and familiar good-night antics, here is a playful peek into the homes of dinosaur children and their parents at bedtime. Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, this is one nighttime book your own little dinosaur will want to read again and again.

Dinosaur Roar!

A celebratory edition of this much loved classic picture book, now twenty-five years old. This rollicking rhyming text is a joy to read aloud, and the charming and colourful pictures will appeal to the very youngest dinosaur fans. Originally published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta and Paul Stickland is now seen as a modern classic, a book that every preschool child should have.In the back of the book is a wonderful pull-out poster showing the dinosaur characters.The book carries the endorsement of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum.

Dinosaur Bones

With a lively rhyming text and vibrant paper collage illustrations, author-artist Bob Barner shakes the dust off the dinosaur bones found in museums and reminds us that they once belonged to
living, breathing creatures. Filled with fun dinosaur facts (a T. Rex skull can weigh up to 750 pounds!) and an informational "Dinometer," Dinosaur Bones is sure to make young dinosaur enthusiasts roar with delight.

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs

A long time ago there were dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails. Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Bryon Barton brings to life a unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once upon a time.

A long time ago there was dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails.Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Byron Barton brings to life unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once up ona time.

Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones

This STEM-friendly musical fossil dig will have dinosaur lovers singing along as they learn the science behind paleontology.

I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur

If you could be a dinosaur, which would you be? Would you roar like the ferocious T-Rex? Or soar overhead like the pterodactyl? In this playful early-learning book, Stella Blackstone s lyrical, rhyming text takes readers on an unforgettable Jurassic journey, while fabric artist Clare Beaton recreates the prehistoric world of dinosaurs using a colorful array of felt, sequins, beads and buttons.

T Is for Terrible: A Picture Book

I am Tyrannosaurus Rex.

I am a dinosaur,

otherwise known as

a terrible lizard.

Tyrannosaurus rex is a terrible dinosaur; of this, everyone is certain. But is this dinosaur really so terrible? He IS very big and very hungry. True, he might even eat his neighbors for lunch. But from his point of view, he can't help it. After all, he's not a vegetarian . . .

The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek

Meet George. He's strong, as a giant dinosaur should be, strong enough to wreck a plane! (Of course he thinks it's his old enemy, the flying Pteranodon.) He's loyal. He'll do anything to help Joan and Joey save their mother's ranch at Cricket Creek, even chase a bank robber. He's shy. He's so shy he gets Joan and Joey into hilarious, dinosaur sized trouble!

The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs

The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.

Fossils (A True Book: Earth Science)

Fossils are one of the most important tools we have for learning about long-extinct wildlife.

A True Book: Earth Science series presents fascinating facts and fun activities that will engage the budding earth scientist, while exploring the fields of geology, meteorology, ecology, and more. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study. In the 4.6 billion years since Earth was formed, many plant and animal species have come and gone. Readers will discover how fossils are formed, how paleontologists search for them, and what kinds of information they can provide.

Paleontological Fossils Sample- Paleontology Trilobite Fossil, Scientific Amber Specimen

A box of ten fossils: A box of this paleontological fossil sample contains ten of fossils, including sea clam fossils, trilobites, ichthyodonts, porphyrites, copal amber, graptolites, nematodes, phylloceras, corals, and spirals. Fossil specimen of algae.

Ancient Fossils TOOB - Figurines: Dino Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, T-Rex Tooth, Frog Skeleton, Sea Scorpion & More

Step into Prehistory: This Toob contains 10 expertly hand-painted mini figurines of ancient fossils, including a Dinosaur Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, Fossilized Frog, Trilobite, T-Rex Tooth, Fossilized Fish, Dinosaur Skin, and a Sea Scorpion.

Finally, look at this hands-on activity to go along with fun facts about mold fossils.

4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids

Here is a quick activity to give your child a demonstration of all 4 types that you can use when studying fossils.

You will need:

Small dinosaur toys
Playdough
Kinetic sand
Water
Small container

First, place a small dinosaur in a little bowl covered with water and freeze.

Once frozen remove it from the bowl.

Then explain that this is a type of true-form fossil like when an intact baby mammoth was found frozen in permafrost in the Klondike gold fields in the Yukon.

More commonly true fossils will be small things like insects in hardened amber.

Use a small ball of playdough to demonstrate mold and cast fossils by making an impression with a small dinosaur toy.

Pull it out and observe the impression it made (mold).

Now, you will want to explain what is a mold impression.

It is made when something was there at one time and decayed to nothing but the impression stayed over time.

Carefully fill the impression with kinetic sand and press in firmly.

Now flip the sand out, and look at the (cast impression) it made in your hand.

While it’s not a perfectly detailed impression it gives your child a quick understanding of this kind of fossil.

Next, let your child make footprints in the playdough.

This demonstrates a trace fossil that might have been left behind.

earth science

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Antarctica Diorama

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How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough

Free Planets Notebooking Pages

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos.

Facts About the Planets for Kids

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets

DIY Puffy Paint Planets For Kids

How to Get the Free Printable Planets Notebooking Pages

5 Fun Facts About Mold Fossils

4 Types of Fossils

1.TRACE

2.MOLD

3. CAST

4.TRUE FORM

4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids

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