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earth science

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

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

Kindergarten earth science should be fun and exciting, filled with edible activities, hands-on projects, and interesting books rather than boring worksheets (although they have their place too). Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.

Also, look at Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Earth science is all aspects of the planet from its deep inner core to the outer layers of the atmosphere.

The different areas of earth science studies that are usually covered in early elementary years are – geology (rocks and minerals), paleontology (dinosaurs and fossils), meteorology (atmosphere and the weather), and oceanography.

I have a tasty edible earth science tectonic plate activity as well as some great information on the motion of tectonic plates, and 8 more hands-on earth science ideas to try.

Books about Earth Science for Kids

First, look at some of these books to add to your earth science topic.

9 Books for Kids Who Love to Read About Earth Science Topics

Add these books to your learning day to learn about various earth science topics.

The Story Book of Science (Yesterday's Classics)

The wonders of plant and animal life told with rare literary charm by Uncle Paul in conversations with three children. Besides such stories as the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, and the caterpillars' processing, he unlocks the mystery behind thunder and lightning, clouds and rain, the year and its seasons, and volcanoes and earthquakes. Suitable for ages 9 to 12.

Earthquakes (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Some earthquakes are so small that you don’t even feel them, while others can make even big buildings shake. Learn why earthquakes happen, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do if one happens near you. 

Now with updated text and art, this classic picture book describes the causes and effects of earthquakes (including a tsunami). This book features rich vocabulary and fascinating cross-sections of mountains, volcanoes, and faults in the earth’s moving crust.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. The text and art were vetted by Dr. Roland Burgmann, Professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

The First Book of the Earth

A republication of the 1958 book by Irene Sevrey with illustrations by Mildred Waltrip, The First Book of the Earth is an elementary level natural history book that was written during a time when children's books held a student's interest and imagination because they were "living" rather than simply based on factoids and vivid pictures. It is a wonderful introduction to the subject of geology and covers the earth as a planet in the solar system and the physics of how it circles the sun, thereby defining our days and years. It then moves on to describing the earth's origin as scientists understand it and takes up the topics of the earth's composition, its structure, molecular makeup, rock families, minerals, volcanoes and earthquakes, mountains and their formation, and how glaciers and rivers affect the shaping of the earth's surface. The book ends by briefly discussing dinosaurs and the possible aging techniques used to date the earth's age in terms of epochs or periods.

Rocks, Gems and Minerals: A Fully Illustrated, Authoritative and Easy-to-Use Guide (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press)

This handy identification guide to the most common kinds of rocks and minerals offers concise and fascinating information on:- Physical and chemical properties- Origins and geologic significance- Gems and semiprecious stones- How to find and collect specimens

Earth: An Intimate History

Beginning with Mt. Vesuvius, whose eruption in Roman times helped spark the science of geology, and ending in a lab in the West of England where mathematical models and lab experiments replace direct observation, Richard Fortey tells us what the present says about ancient geologic processes. He shows how plate tectonics came to rule the geophysical landscape and how the evidence is written in the hills and in the stones. And in the process, he takes us on a wonderful journey around the globe to visit some of the most fascinating and intriguing spots on the planet.

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

Rocks and Minerals: A Guide of Familiar Minerals, Gems, Ores, and Rocks (A Golden Nature Guide)

A guide to familiar minerals, gems, ores, and rocks enhanced by 400 full color illustrations. Provides much geological knowledge in how to look for surface forms, rocks, minerals etc. Includes information for the searcher and an useful list of clubs and organizations. Excellent bibliography and index.

A Whale of the Wild (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)

For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be?

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A first book about geology

A living book on the living earth. Told in a conversational style, the book discusses the topics of geology and provides ideas for investigations and demonstrations of the scientific principles. Illustrated throughout, this book is a favorite as an introduction to geology for young readers. This edition includes updated science information on plate tectonics and the structure of the earth.

For all earth science related my favorite resource is Nature Anatomy, it contains some information on mountains, volcanoes, and to supplement a study on tectonic plates.

But covers so much more like oceans, nature, animals, and so much more.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Types of Tectonic Motion

Tectonic plates are pieces of Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle, together they are referred to as the lithosphere.

The plates are around 62 miles thick and consist of two principal types of material: oceanic crust and continental crust.

There are 7 major tectonic plates-Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, Antarctic, Indo-Australian, and the South American Plate.

There are also 8 additional smaller minor plates and a very long list of tertiary plates.

Tectonic plates are like loose puzzle pieces that rest on the hot, molten rock of Earth’s mantle and fit snugly against each other.

The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes these plates to move, sometimes toward, sometimes away from each other, and even slide over top of each other.

  • Divergent Plate Boundary- This is when plates move away from each other. Along these types of boundaries earthquakes are common and magma (molten rock) rises from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, which solidifies and creates new oceanic crust.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example.

  • Transform Plate Boundary – A transform fault or transform boundary, is when two plates move along each other.The motion is predominantly horizontal.

Example: San Andreas fault in California.

  • Convergent Plate Boundary- This action is when two plates collide together. The colliding plates can cause the edges of one or both plates to buckle up into mountain ranges or one of the plates may bend downward into a deep seafloor trench.

Example: The Pacific Ring of Fire

I wanted to also demonstrate a Subduction Zone in our experiment, which is what happens in a convergent plate boundary when one plate sinks into the mantle underneath the other plate.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Moreover, look at more earth science activities.

More Earth Science Activities

  1. Another great edible activity is How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids to demonstrate each layer.
  2. Here is a huge list of 40 Awesome Earth Science Movies for Kindergarten to cover a wide variety of topics.
  3. 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer
  4. Galileo Discovery of Jupiter Moons and Fun Hands-On Moon Crater Experiment
  5. Rock Activities For Kindergarten And Fun Edible Rock Cycle
  6. Edible Rock Cycle Fudge and Hands-on Rock Activities
  7. Dinosaur Unit Study With Kids Who Love Dinosaurs
  8. Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids

Finally, look at how to make an edible kindergarten earth science tectonic plate activity.

How To Make An Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

You will need:

  • Vanilla pudding
  • Graham crackers
  •  Food coloring
  • Paper plates
  • Pen
How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

First, write each of the types of tectonic activity on the edge of your paper plates-transform, convergent, subduction zone, and divergent.

Add a little food coloring to your pudding to give it the look of magma.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Spread colored pudding around on the plates, two individual cups were enough spread over all 4 of my plates.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Lay two graham cracker halves on the center of each plate and demonstrate a divergent plate boundary, this is one in which plates move away from one another.

To do this press your graham crackers into the pudding and away from one another so the “magma” oozes up between them.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Grab the plate for the transform plate boundary and slide the two halves against each other in opposite directions, this motion makes them touch but doesn’t really do any damage or create much change.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Now demonstrate a convergent plate boundary by pressing them towards each other with one sliding over top of the other.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

For the final demonstration dip half of your two graham cracker pieces in water for a few seconds to soften them up.

Place them in the center of the plate and move them towards one another to create folds, or mountains in the convergent plate boundary to show how they are formed.

When your experiment is over it is time to sample the delicious tectonic plates and magma.

How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, kindergarten, science, sciencecurriculum

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

March 22, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fantastic free Titanic activity ideas. Also, look at my page RMS Titanic Unit Study and Free Lapbook.

We are unlocking the mystery of iceberg science by making a mini iceberg model.

The Titanic was sunk because it collided with an iceberg on the 14th of April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

This supposedly unsinkable ship was taken out by a piece of ice floating above the water, or was it?

We will dig a little deeper into icebergs and how one managed to do the impossible.

The truth is that only about 10% of an iceberg is visible above the surface of the water, with the rest being below the waterline.

Here is where the phrase ”the tip of the iceberg” came from.

The Titanic took most of its damage in the lower decks which was a result of the massive portion of the iceberg below the water surface.

First, look at some of these books and resources about the Titanic.

Books for Kids About the Titanic

10 Resources and Books to Learn About the Titanic

Add a few of these unit study resources to bring your unit study to life about the Titanic.

A Night to Remember by Lord, Walter

It was almost a minute by minute description of what happened that night of the sinking of the Titanic.

Polar the Titanic Bear

A story of a boy, his teddy bear, and their escape the Titanic's sinking, originally told to the boy by his mother shortly after their family's escape from that tragedy, features beautiful illustrations and a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Exploring the Titanic

A best-selling, award-winning history of the Titanic disaster and discovery is presented in a hardcover edition and combines informative photographs and paintings with "you are there" text.

Luck of the Titanic

Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she's turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese aren't allowed into America.

Brick Loot Titanic Building Bricks Set Compatible, fits Lego

Contains 217 Building Bricks

High Quality 100% Compatible Bricks by Brick Loot

Made of top quality ABS Plastic

Collectible set, very nice size to display.

Fully Compatible with LEGO, Mega Bloks, and most major brick-building sets

The Bravest Man in the World

From master storyteller Patricia Polacco comes the tragic and beautiful story inspired by Wallace Hartley—the musician who played with his band to calm the passengers of the Titanic as the ship sank.

Dangerous Waters: An Adventure on the Titanic

A stowaway, a stolen book, a murderous villain: an adventure on the most famous shipwreck in history.

The Titanic: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History)

YOU are aboard the Titanic, the world’s largest ocean liner. The ship is sinking, and the ocean water is freezing. Will you survive? Do you get on the lifeboat or try to wait it out? Do you come to the rescue of the ship or continue in your path? Everything in this book happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE what to do next. The choices you make will lead you to life or death.

Titanic Crossing

Sailing to America on board the Titanic, young Albert faces grown-up decisions about life and death when the magnificent ship is struck by an iceberg and begins to sink. Reprint.

Titanic: Fortune and Fate : Letters, Mementos, and Personal Effects from Those Who Sailed on the Lost Ship

Arranged according to the hopes and emotions of the passengers of the ill-fated Titanic, an album of photographs of artifacts from the ship, collected by Virginia's Mariners' Museum, tells the stories behind them and their owners. 100,000 first printing.

Titanic - Memorabilia Pack (Original Version)

    Titanic replica documents - A must for all those interested in Titanic.

    All documents are faithfully reproductions of original Titanic material.

About Icebergs

We will dig a little deeper into icebergs and how one managed to do the impossible.

The truth is that only about 10% of an iceberg is visible above the surface of the water, with the rest being below the waterline.

Here is where the phrase” The tip of the iceberg” came from.

The Titanic took most of its damage in the lower decks which was a result of the massive portion of the iceberg below the water surface.

If an iceberg is formed in salt water (the Titanic was in freshwater) the seawater is more dense than fresh and this means that the ice floats a little higher.

Icebergs are chunks of freshwater ice that are larger than 16 feet across that form on land and float in an ocean or lake.

They come in all sizes and shapes, as small as an ice cube to massive ones that are the size of a small country.

Currently the world’s largest iceberg is named A23a and it is roughly three times the size of New York at 1,312 feet thick, and almost 1,544 square miles in area.

Wow that is an impressive piece of ice floating near Antarctica.

You can learn more about the difference between icebergs and glaciers in Julia Rothmans Ocean Anatomy.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

This is the kind of reference book that will last throughout years of your homeschooling journey and be a fantastic resource for lots of ocean themed topics.

Moreover, add these fun Titanic activities to our unit study.

5 Free Titanic Activity Ideas

  1. Grab my Free Titanic Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas to dive deep into a Titanic unit that won’t be forgotten.
  2. How fun does this Titanic Diorama Project with Lego Cast & Crew look? What a great way to extend the learning about this event.
  3. Learn How to Draw The RMS Titanic with a few simple step by step instructions in this video.
  4. I love when you can incorporate multiple subjects in a topic like with this TITANIC MATH GAME: COOPERATIVE BOARD GAME FOR CHILDREN 4-12.
  5. Watch Titanic For Kids: Bedtime History is less than 10 minutes long and full of information, photographs and more.
Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Finally, look at this iceberg science activity.

Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Supplies:

  • Gallon freezer bag
  • Water
  • Clear glass bowl or container
  • ruler
  • LEGO

First, fill the bag ½ to ¾ of the way full with water.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Place in the freezer, rather than laying mine flat I built it up into an unusual shape by propping it on and around frozen vegetables etc.

You will need to freeze it overnight or longer to make sure it is solid all the way through.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

While you are waiting for your ice block to freeze your child can build a replica Titanic using LEGO or any other items you like to add to your experiment.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Use a large deep glass bowl or container that allows you ice block to float.

Fill ¾ full with cold water.

Lower the ice block in.

Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Notice that a portion of the ice is above the water and the majority beneath.

To extend the learning a bit:

  • Let your child use a ruler to measure just how much is on either side.
  • If there is space add your LEGO created titanic.
  • Research the makeup of icebergs, the largest, smallest, and oldest.
Free Titanic Activity | Unlocking The Mystery Of Iceberg Science

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthscience, elementary science, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, ice, science

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

February 6, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Incorporate one or more of these 10 hands-on earthquake activities into your lessons for fun that will make an impression on your learner and make the lesson stick. Also, look at my post Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

Scientists study earthquakes so that we can understand them better and make predictions on where and when they will hit, and how strong they are and how to save lives.

One tool that they use to gather data is a seismograph.

It is used to record earthquakes and measure their strength.

A seismometer is the internal portion of the seismograph and often the words are used interchangeably.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

The first such earthquake-detection machine, a seismoscope, was invented in 132 CE by inventor, historian, and astronomer Zhang Heng in China.

Just six years after the device was invented it detected a large quake estimated at a magnitude seven in what is now Gansu Province. The first seismograph was not developed until 1890.

In today’s activity we’re building our own seismograph using basic household items to demonstrate how a real seismograph records the length and strength of the vibrations of the earth.

These devices are used throughout the world to record and measure the underground movement.

But before we get into reading the vibrations of earthquakes let’s find out what causes earthquakes.

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault.

The tectonic plates are steadily slowly moving, sometimes their edges get stuck at their edges due to friction.

If stress on the edge overcomes the friction then  there is an earthquake that travels in waves through the earth’s crust and causes the shaking that we can feel.

Earth Science Books for Kids

Also, add some of these books to your science library at home.

I lean toward living books, then add reference books as we come across them.

9 Books for Kids Who Love to Read About Earth Science Topics

Add these books to your learning day to learn about various earth science topics.

The Story Book of Science (Yesterday's Classics)

The wonders of plant and animal life told with rare literary charm by Uncle Paul in conversations with three children. Besides such stories as the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, and the caterpillars' processing, he unlocks the mystery behind thunder and lightning, clouds and rain, the year and its seasons, and volcanoes and earthquakes. Suitable for ages 9 to 12.

Earthquakes (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Some earthquakes are so small that you don’t even feel them, while others can make even big buildings shake. Learn why earthquakes happen, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do if one happens near you. 

Now with updated text and art, this classic picture book describes the causes and effects of earthquakes (including a tsunami). This book features rich vocabulary and fascinating cross-sections of mountains, volcanoes, and faults in the earth’s moving crust.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. The text and art were vetted by Dr. Roland Burgmann, Professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

The First Book of the Earth

A republication of the 1958 book by Irene Sevrey with illustrations by Mildred Waltrip, The First Book of the Earth is an elementary level natural history book that was written during a time when children's books held a student's interest and imagination because they were "living" rather than simply based on factoids and vivid pictures. It is a wonderful introduction to the subject of geology and covers the earth as a planet in the solar system and the physics of how it circles the sun, thereby defining our days and years. It then moves on to describing the earth's origin as scientists understand it and takes up the topics of the earth's composition, its structure, molecular makeup, rock families, minerals, volcanoes and earthquakes, mountains and their formation, and how glaciers and rivers affect the shaping of the earth's surface. The book ends by briefly discussing dinosaurs and the possible aging techniques used to date the earth's age in terms of epochs or periods.

Rocks, Gems and Minerals: A Fully Illustrated, Authoritative and Easy-to-Use Guide (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press)

This handy identification guide to the most common kinds of rocks and minerals offers concise and fascinating information on:- Physical and chemical properties- Origins and geologic significance- Gems and semiprecious stones- How to find and collect specimens

Earth: An Intimate History

Beginning with Mt. Vesuvius, whose eruption in Roman times helped spark the science of geology, and ending in a lab in the West of England where mathematical models and lab experiments replace direct observation, Richard Fortey tells us what the present says about ancient geologic processes. He shows how plate tectonics came to rule the geophysical landscape and how the evidence is written in the hills and in the stones. And in the process, he takes us on a wonderful journey around the globe to visit some of the most fascinating and intriguing spots on the planet.

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

Rocks and Minerals: A Guide of Familiar Minerals, Gems, Ores, and Rocks (A Golden Nature Guide)

A guide to familiar minerals, gems, ores, and rocks enhanced by 400 full color illustrations. Provides much geological knowledge in how to look for surface forms, rocks, minerals etc. Includes information for the searcher and an useful list of clubs and organizations. Excellent bibliography and index.

A Whale of the Wild (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)

For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be?

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A first book about geology

A living book on the living earth. Told in a conversational style, the book discusses the topics of geology and provides ideas for investigations and demonstrations of the scientific principles. Illustrated throughout, this book is a favorite as an introduction to geology for young readers. This edition includes updated science information on plate tectonics and the structure of the earth.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities

Hands-on activities can teach far more than a worksheet on its own ever could.

These ideas all use basic household items to demonstrate different aspects of earthquakes from what causes them to their effects on the environment.

  1. Make a DIY Seismometer- See Below
  2. This Earthquake Experiment demonstrates fault lines and what happens along them.
  3. Use LEGO and blocks to see the effects that Simple Science: Earthquake Experiment
  4. The simple Earthquake Simulation shows the effect of earthquakes on buildings with different materials beneath their foundations.
  5. Take a favorite learning manipulative, LEGO, and create a LEGO City Earthquake to help children understand more about city planning, engineering, and structures.
  6. Exploring the Movement of Tectonic Plates with S’Mores | Science project is as delicious as it is informative, making it a great activity.
  7. This hands on demonstration What Causes an Earthquake? Gives kids a visual to help them comprehend the cause and effect of earthquakes.
  8. What happens at the center of an earthquake? Farther away? Find out with the Earthquake Epicenter Experiment-Shake Table idea.
  9. Check out this Falling Into First: Shakin Quakin Earthquake Showdown experiment to see if your learner can build a structure that will hold up to an “earthquake”.
  10. Teaching How to Reduce Impacts of Natural Disasters with STEM  to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Earth Science Hands-on Activities

  • Fun Facts About Mold Fossils & 4 Types of Fossil Activities For Kids
  • Make Fun Edible Fossils and Free Magic School Bus Fossils Worksheet
  • Hands-on Geography Wool Earth Craft to Celebrate Earth Day
  • Cookie Sheet Activities Make Earth Day Cookies & Fascinating Earth Facts
  • 40 Awesome Earth Science Movies for Kindergarten
  • Celebrate National Vinegar Day With A Hands-on Study of Volcanoes
  • Free Homeschool Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano

How To Make A Model Seismometer

You will need:

  • Cardboard box
  • paper/styrofoam cup
  • Marker
  • Copy paper
  • Clear tape
  • string
  • Rice, beans, etc
10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

First, start by using a pair of scissors to cut a slit at the very bottom edge on either side of the box, this will act as the feed for the paper “printout”.

Be sure to make it a little larger than the width of your paper and try to center it.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Cut strips of paper about four inches wide.

Tape each paper end to end as long as you would like, you could also use an old roll from an adding machine if you happen to have one on hand.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Feed the paper through one side of the box and out the strip that you cut on the other.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Poke two holes in the top of the box about 3” apart in the center.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Cut a string twice as long as the box and put each end through the holes you poked in the top of the box and even out the strings at the end.

Poke holes on either side of the cup and tie the strings on either side through the holes, letting it hover just a little above the bottom.

Poke the marker through the center of the cup where it just touches the paper.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Add rice, beans, or small pebbles to weigh the cup down a bit and hold the marker up.

To measure the movements, have someone shake the box back and forth gently with different amounts of force as you pull the paper through slowly.

When you are done pull the paper out and observe what you see. Point out how the smaller movements made smaller peaks and valleys while the stronger movements made larger peaks.

10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthquakes, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

January 21, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an edible earth project in a cup with kids with minimal fuss. Also, you’ll love this Free Earth Science Lapbook.

With just a few ingredients and you’ll have an earth science lesson with a big impact.

With preschool through elementary, you want to go as hands-on as you can to make the learning fun.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

In turn this helps your child understand and remember what they are learning better.

I have also found that the more senses that you can engage in the more fun and memorable an activity is.

With this simple activity, you don’t have to go out and buy many different ingredients.

We are using a couple of items, and you may already find some of them in your pantry to create the layers of the Earth in a cup.

You will also want to have a great reference book that shows a clear image of the layers of the earth.

Layers of The Earth

Of course, one of my favorite resources to use with any science and nature topic is Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman and you can see a lovely illustration of the earth layers that we can use for reference.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Earth is made up of three layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core.

Each layer is made of different materials so let’s learn a little bit about each with fun facts as we put our edible earth project in a cup together.

I recommend reading off the facts as your child builds each layer.

Crust. This describes the outermost shell of the earth and is made of solid rocks and minerals. All known life in the universe makes its home here on and in the crust.

Mantle. The mantle makes up 84% of the earth’s volume and is mostly solid bulk.

The mantle lies between Earth’s dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer, the crust. The rocks that make up the bulk of Earth’s mantle are silicates.

Outer Core. The outer core is the third layer of the Earth and is the layer that is responsible for Earth’s Magnetic Field.  It is the only liquid layer and is made of iron, nickel, and a few other substances.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Inner Core. This layer is made of iron–nickel alloy with a few other elements. It is a spheroid, a solid shape that is not quite a perfect sphere.

The temperature is estimated at 9800 °F. It helps generate the Earth’s magnetic field through interactions with the outer core.

More Earth Layers and Earth Science Resources

  • Cookie Sheet Activities Make Earth Day Cookies & Fascinating Earth Facts
  • Make this Gorgeous Layers of the Earth DIY Soap Project and create a craft idea that is not only useful but teaches much about the various layers of the earth.
  • Easy Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere Activity for Kids
  • Here is another fabulous hands-on project, the Layers of the Earth Playdough Mat *freebie* that even the youngest members of the family will be able to join in while older children can challenge themselves to add more detail.
  • Grab a bucket of LEGO blocks and create this fantastic LEGO Layers of the Earth Project to help your child understand the makeup from the inside out.
  • Watch The Geosphere-Layers of The Earth to learn facts about each fascinating layer of our earth with engaging animations.
How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Finally, look how to make an edible earth project in a cup.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup

You will need:

  • Vanilla pudding cup
  • Food coloring
  • Blue and green candies
  • Clear cups
How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Start by separating your pudding cup into thirds.

 I left 1/3 in the cup and placed the other two portions in a small bowl.

Add a little bit of orange food coloring to one bowl, mix well, and red to the other, mixing it completely.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Start by scooping the uncolored pudding into the bottom of the cup. This will represent your core.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Next, add a layer of orange, this is the outer core.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Now, make a layer of red pudding for the mantle, because this makes up the bulk of the earth.

You can make this a much thicker layer if you like.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Finally, you can top it with blue and green, M&Ms you sprinkle, colored, coconut, or whatever you have on hand to represent the Earth’s surface, the crust.

Since the crust is made up of both continental (land mass) and oceanic crust we wanted to represent the earth and water with blue and green.

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

How fun and simple are these easy layers to represent the layers of our earth?

How to Make an Edible Earth Project in a Cup With Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthscience, edible, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, science

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

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

Read up on these Andes Mountain facts for kids while you complete this felt mountain craft that is fun to create and beautiful to display anywhere in the house. Also, you’ll love my Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas.

The Andes Mountains are a massive range that extends throughout a lot of South America and have attracted millions of visitors over the years.

Tourists come to see Machu Picchu, Cotopaxi, La Raya Mountain Range, Lake Titicaca, and Rainbow Mountain.

When searching for an idea for a neat hands-on activity to go along with learning about the Andes Mountains we got caught up in the beautiful stretch of Rainbow Mountain, part of the Andes of Peru.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Rainbow Mountain is layered with the most colorful ribbons of sediments in turquoise, lavender, gold, red, and more.

It is known as Vinicunca, or Winikunka, and also called Montaña de Siete Colores which means Mountain of seven colors.

So, I wanted to focus our project here on these colorful peaks.

But I have lots of great information, facts, and resources to make your study of the Andes mountain range fun and full of learning.

Books About South America

First, look at some of these books about South America. We gravitate toward living books.

13 Resources for a Study of South America

Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.

South America (Rookie Read-About Geography: Continents)

An incredible variety of climates and biomes span the territory of South America. As a result, the continent contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth.

Rookie Read-About: Continents series gives the youngest reader (Ages 3-6) an introduction to the components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each continents' geography, history, and wildlife. In this book readers learn about the continent of South America, including the geography, native animals, people and more.

Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas!: With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids (Explore Your World)

A full-color, compelling book for ages 7 to 10 offers a deep dive into the three sophisticated ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica―the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas― through hands-on STEAM projects, essential questions, and loads of fascinating facts!

Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 to 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Secret of the Andes (Puffin Newberry Library)

An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors. 

My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas

In the sequel to On the Pampas, the author recalls her first year on the small Argentinian ranch purchased and managed by her mother, in an account that includes a visual dictionary of the Spanish words and geographical terms used in the text.

Tales from Silver Lands

Atmospheric woodcuts illustrate this Newbery Award–winning collection of 19 South American folktales. Charles J. Finger heard the tales firsthand from native storytellers, whose fables of talking animals, witches, giants, and ordinary people in supernatural settings provide remarkable insights into regional values and culture. The first of the stories, "A Tale of Three Tails," tells of an age when the rat had a tail like a horse, the rabbit had a tail like a cat, and the deer's tail was plumed like the tail of a dog. "The Magic Dog" recounts an act of kindness to a stray animal that helps overcome a witch's curse. In "The Calabash Man," the creatures of the jungle assist a suitor in winning his bride, and in "El Enano," a greedy troll's insatiable appetite leads to his downfall. Packed with adventure and full of surprises, these and other stories emphasize the importance of hard work, courage, and loyalty.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.

Journey to the River Sea

With the memorable characters and plot twists she brings to her best-selling fantasies, acclaimed author Eva Ibbotson has written a hair-raising novel, set in turn-of-the-last-century Brazil.Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson's lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alco

This Place Is Wet

Can you imagine living in a place where there is so much water some houses need to be built on stilts to protect them when the river rises? Or where it is so wet that some plants can grow on the sides of trees with their roots gathering water from the air? In This Place Is Wet, you'll find out all sorts of things about what it's like to live in the rain forest of Brazil. Try to imagine living there!

Bolivar: American Liberator

It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. His life is epic, heroic, straight out of Hollywood: he fought battle after battle in punishing terrain, forged uncertain coalitions of competing forces and races, lost his beautiful wife soon after they married and never remarried (although he did have a succession of mistresses, including one who held up the revolution and another who saved his life), and he died relatively young, uncertain whether his
achievements would endure.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book: Coloring Pages of Ancient Mexico Civilizations for Adults and Teens

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book – Fun And Education For Adults and TeensMake the perfect gift for anyone who loves coloring! Enjoy this Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book for Adults and Teens. Click the cover to reveal what’s inside!About this book:

  • 40 original pages drawings of Symbols, Warriors, Masks and Mandalas.

The Inca Empire (A True Book: Ancient Civilizations) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Explore the Inca empire, including how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built, and why it disappeared.

A True Book: Ancient Civilizations series allows readers to experience what makes each ancient civilization distinctive and exceptional as well look at its influence on the some of the practices of the modern world. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.

7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

  1. The Andes Mountains are the longest mountain chain in the world at 5,530 miles long and stretch through 7 different South American countries- Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina
  2. They were formed due to the tectonic activity between the South American and Nazca plates, simply put it means that two tectonic plates pushed together and one lay above the other, disrupting the Earth’s surface.
  3. The majority of Andean peaks are volcanic with an estimated 150 to 160 active volcanoes along the Andean Volcanic Belt.
  4. Did you know that the Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire islands in the Caribbean are the peaks of an extensive submerged continuation of the Andes?  In Patagonia, many islands are also part of the mountain chain. 
  5. The Amazon River originates in the Andes mountains at an elevation of 5,598 miles, less than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
  6. The summit of Mount Chimborazo in the Andes is the highest point of elevation on Earth when measured from the Earth’s center.
  7. The Andes are a very biodiverse system, if you were to take a trip through the mountains you might see many of the over 3,700 species of animals that live there, including alpaca, chinchilla, llamas, mountain tapirs, guinea pigs, spectacled bears, and more.
How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Next, look at more Andes mountain facts for kids and South America resources.

More Mountain Facts for Kids and South America Activities

  • Try this Torn Paper Mountain Landscape Art Tutorial for another unique mountain project.
  • How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft
  • 7 Facts About the Inca Empire & Make a Fun Incan Ruins Model
  • A good resource can be used for more than one specific theme, Mountain Ranges of the World contains information on mountains and how they are formed as well as artistic views of ranges including the Andes and more
  • 9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial

Finally, look how to make a felt mountain craft.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft

You will need:

  • Cardboard
  • Colorful craft felt
  • Hot glue, tacky, or school glue
  • Scissors
How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

First, cut whatever size span of mountains you want from cardboard, corrugated cardboard is nice and sturdy and this is a great upcycle for old Amazon boxes.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Next, you want to cut a lot of very thin strips, with some size variations out of the colors of felt you have chosen. You could also use yarn if you have that on hand instead.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

“Paint” your cardboard mountains with a thick coat of glue all over. Originally, I was going to use hot glue but it dries quickly.

Plus, I wanted to allow for building time. An older child could hot glue a piece at a time if they want a quicker drying project.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Begin pressing your strips of felt into v patterns on the mountain.

Starting from the outside or inside, whatever they prefer. Let the excess hang off the sides, you will fix that when it’s dry.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Continue until your mountain(s) are completely covered.

Allow it to dry overnight and then trim off the excess along the edges of the mountains.

If you are layering mountains instead of making just one you can attach them to one other.

Leave it at that or mount them on a larger piece of felt glued to another piece of cardboard to give it a background.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, mountains, south america, The Andes

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