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8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

December 3, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 8 The Water Princess STEM activity ideas and my African clay pot craft. Also, look at my page Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports for more ideas.

National Princess Day is November 18th.

But I’m highlighting a different kind of princess entirely – The Water Princess.

The Water Princess is a lovely book based on the childhood experience of Georgie Badiel.

It takes place in Africa.

And is the story of the long trek that many women and children in villages must make daily for water.

The water is needed for drinking, cooking, and washing.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

It is a wonderful opportunity to talk about life without water from the kitchen tap we take for granted.

There are nearly one billion people around the world who don’t have access to clean water.

The reality of this is what inspired African Model Georgie Badiel to try and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

She works with Ryan’s Well to help provide access to water for hydration, food preparation, sanitation services, and proper hygiene.

Your child may become inspired to help by raising money for the foundation, or even to become one of the scientists or engineers who come up with ideas to give clean water to people everywhere.

5 Facts About Water in Africa

Next, look at some of these facts about water in Africa.

  1.  A shocking 40 Percent of Sub-Saharan Africa is Without Access to Clean Water, and 1 in 10 people on the planet do not have access to clean water.
  2. Women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours carrying water back and forth every day.
  3. The average woman and child in rural Africa walk about 3.7 miles every day and haul around 40 pounds or more of water back to their homes.
  4. There are 677 Lakes throughout Africa, which makes Africa the continent with the largest volume of non-frozen water. The problem is not due to the lack of water, but rather the lack of CLEAN drinking water.
  5. Sadly 115 people in Africa die every hour from diseases that are due to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and contaminated water.
8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Next, look at some of these books about Africa if you’re looking to create a unit study.

13 Resources for Children Studying About Africa

Add one or two of these books to your study about the art of Africa.

Africa For Kids: People, Places and Cultures - Children Explore The World Books

Africa For Kids: People, Places, Culture gives children not only a peek into the land and its people but the artwork of even simple everyday items like weaving and serving plates.

Africa Coloring Book For Kids!

Here is a coloring book filled with African souvenirs to color that is soothing and a great springboard for discussion.

African Patterns Scrapbook Paper

I found this beautiful book of African Patterned Scrapbook paper that can be used for many craft projects.

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country

Atinuke’s first non-fiction title is a major publishing event: a celebration of all 55 countries on the African continent! Her beautifully-written text captures Africa’s unique mix of the modern and the traditional, as she explores its geography, its peoples, its animals, its history, its resources and its cultural diversity. The book divides Africa into five sections: South, East, West, Central and North, each with its own introduction. This is followed by a page per country, containing a delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colourful illustrations.

Africa Is Not a Country

Enter into the daily life of children in the many countries of modern Africa. Countering stereotypes, Africa Is Not a Country celebrates the extraordinary diversity of this vibrant continent as experienced by children at home, at school, at work, and at play.

The Water Princess

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions (Picture Puffin Books)

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."

When Stars Are Scattered

Omar and his brother Hassan, two Somali boys, have spent a long time in the Dadaab refugee camp. Separated from their mother, they are looked after by a friendly stranger. Life in the camp isn't always easy. The hunger is constant . . . but there's football to look forward to, and now there's a chance Omar will get to go to school . . .With a heart-wrenching fairytale ending, this incredible true story is brought to life by Victoria's stunning illustrations. This book perfectly depicts life in a refugee camp for 8-12 year olds.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader's Edition

When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.

Wildlife of East Africa (Princeton Pocket Guides, 3)

Those looking for a concise yet informative, visually breathtaking yet affordable East African safari need look no further than this spectacular field guide. Featuring full-color photos of 475 common species of bird, mammal, snake, lizard, insect, tree, and flower, Wildlife of East Africa takes us on an exquisite one-volume tour through the living splendor of the main national parks and game reserves of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Many of the species included--from pelicans to plovers, ostriches to elephants, from the daintiest of antelopes to cattlelike giants, from leopards to lions, baboons to gorillas, chameleons to crocodiles, acacias to aloes--also inhabit neighboring countries. The selection was based on the personal experiences of the authors, wildlife experts who have been leading safaris in the region for more than twenty years.

Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna

Heads up: this is a great book but there is a rite of passage and has a part about circumcision.

Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton gives American kids a firsthand look at growing up in Kenya as a member of a tribe of nomads whose livelihood centers on the raising and grazing of cattle. Readers share Lekuton's first encounter with a lion, the epitome of bravery in the warrior tradition. They follow his mischievous antics as a young Maasai cattle herder, coming-of-age initiation, boarding school escapades, soccer success, and journey to America for college. Lekuton's riveting text combines exotic details of nomadic life with the universal experience and emotions of a growing boy.

The Bitter Side of Sweet

Fifteen-year-old Amadou counts the things that matter. For two years what has mattered are the number of cacao pods he and his younger brother, Seydou, can chop down in a day. The higher the number the safer they are. The higher the number the closer they are to paying off their debt and returning home. Maybe. The problem is Amadou doesn’t know how much he and Seydou owe, and the bosses won’t tell him. The boys only wanted to make money to help their impoverished family, instead they were tricked into forced labor on a plantation in the Ivory Coast. With no hope of escape, all they can do is try their best to stay alive—until Khadija comes into their lives. She’s the first girl who’s ever come to camp, and she’s a wild thing. She fights bravely every day, attempting escape again and again, reminding Amadou what it means to be free. But finally, the bosses break her, and what happens next to the brother he has always tried to protect almost breaks Amadou. The three band together as family and try just once more to escape.

Then, add some of these water activities.

8 The Water Princess Stem Activity Ideas

  1. This DIY Water Filter is a great way to explain how much it takes to create good clean drinking water and one way that people can make it usable.
  2. Besides purifying water, there is a problem with making it more accessible to people over a wide expanse. Try this Water Pipelines An Amazing Real Life Challenge to see how it can be moved from one place to another.
  3. Have your child collect water from various areas, the tap, hose, a local pond and conduct a Water Lab – A STEM Experiment Exploring Safe Drinking Water.
  4. Here is one that is great for a summer day and is another demonstration of how water can be moved from one place to another- Water Science: Water Pump Sprinkler.
  5.  How to Make a Waterwheel is a different approach to water, showing how we can harness water and use it as a renewable energy source.
  6. One of the great problems with water is pollution and the solutions to fix it. This Earth Day Water Pollution Activity is a great challenge to come up with creative and inexpensive fixes.
  7. This Milk Carton Well is a wonderful demonstration for a child who has never seen water drawn this way.
  8. Finally, Build an Aqueduct like the ancient Romans did to move water along. This stem experiment uses inexpensive supplies and teaches motion and forces.
8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Now, we are going to make our own unique little water pot to remember the story.

So, we have included reading, science, and art into one little book study!

Water Pot Craft

You will need:

  • Air dry clay
  • Craft paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Jar for a mold.
  • Plastic wrap
  • string/yarn/twine
8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

First, you want to cover your pot mold with plastic wrap, a standard mason jar bottom is a good size but you can make it any size you like.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Roll out your air-dry clay to 1/8 inch thickness.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Lay the thin clay over the plastic wrap and Mason jar shaping it around it.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Use a clay knife or even just a plastic knife or wooden craft stick to cut off the excess.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

To smooth any rough edges, you can simply wet your fingertip and rub it over and it will smooth the clay nicely.

Roll a length of clay into a thin snake as long as the diameter of your pot.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Attach it around the opening of the pot using just a little bit of water to smooth it on to create the lip.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Flip your jar over and carefully remove the clay, poking two holes on each side with a skewer or pencil for the handles.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Place clay back on the pot and leave it jar side up to be sure that your pot has a flat bottom and let it dry for 24 to 48 hours or until dried completely throughout.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Carefully remove from the jar peel off plastic wrap and paint however you like, I tried to get mine to resemble the one that the water princess uses.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

After the base layer is dry you can add decorative paint details.

Once your paint is dry you can run twine or yarn through each side to create the handles. new line.

 This version will not hold water but can be used in other ways like holding trinkets, crayons or other small objects and serves as a great reminder of the story.

8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Africa, clay pot, earth science, earthscience, elementary science, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science

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

December 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

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

Also, look at more gift guides for your family.

Gift Guides for Families

  • How To Gift A True Crime Fan : 8 Best Gifts For True Crime Fans
  • 13 Amazing and Fun Gifts for Kids Who Love History
  • Ten Best Tech Gifts for Teen Boys
  • Gifts For Kids Who Are Wild About History
  • 12 Fun And Creative Teenager Gift Ideas For Girls

Amazing Gifts for the Science Lovers

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.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Gift Guides Tagged With: earth science, earthscience, elementary science, gift, gift list, high school, high school science, homeschoolgiftideas, science

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
How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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
How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

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 an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: antarctica, diorama, earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, life science, science, winter crafts, winter season

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.

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

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Such a great basic craft supply, turn wooden craft sticks into this adorable Popsicle Stick Hot Cocoa Mug Craft with your preschooler.
  4. Inside My Hot Cocoa Mug Craft Idea For Kids is a very unique take on creating a hot cocoa mug art project.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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!
  8. 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
How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers

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.

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

Add in oil just a little at a time.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: cocoa, earth science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, preschool, science

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.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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.
How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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
How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free 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.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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.

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

Allow it to dry overnight.

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

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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).

How To Make Puffy Paint Planets And Free Notebooking Pages

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.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: astronomy, earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, notebooking, planets, science, space

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