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earthscience

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

June 3, 2024 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We really love to do rock activities that are easy. Also, look at my Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

There are so many different hands-on activities to do when learning about rocks.

We did a Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages activity a while back and today we decided to whip out an edible rock cycle fudge. (yum)

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do.

Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do.

Make Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

Let the younger ones measure and stir the ingredients when they are not hot.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Otherwise, turn this activity over to your kids. Yes, easy activities are my style.

Let’s go. Here is what you need.

  • Microwave | two bowls (one needs to be microwave safe)
  • spatula
  • wax paper
  • thin cookie sheet
  • liquid and dry measuring cups
  • 1/2 cup silt (sweetened condensed milk)
  • 1/2 cup quartz crystals (sugar)
  • 1 T. sediment (softened butter)
  • 1 cup limestone pieces (marshmallows)
  • 1/4 cup or more sandstone pieces (we used walnuts because we love them, but pecans are fine too)
  • | 3/4 cup basalt pieces (chocolate chips)
  • 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Add the milk, sugar and softened butter in microwave safe mixing bowl and stir to mix. Set aside.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

In the second bowl combine the one cup of marshmallows, 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecan pieces, 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Place the mixing bowl with the milk, sugar, and butter in the microwave.

Microwave it three times for 45 seconds each.

After each time, take it out, stir, and microwave again.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

After the third time, pour the marshmallows, walnuts and chocolate chips into the bowl.

Everything should start melting.

(By the way since the mixing bowl has been microwaved 3 times, it’s hot. So your kids may want to use an oven mitten.)

If it’s not hot enough and melting, stick it in the microwave again and give it a few more seconds.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Pour out onto wax paper which is placed on a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.

Or, if you’re like us and can’t wait that long, stick it in the freezer for a while and cheat.

Here are some questions to ask about the rock cycle.

  1. What is the rock cycle? It’s how rocks are formed, it’s how rocks breakdown, and it’s how rocks form into other rocks.
  2. How is the fudge similar to the rock cycle? (Magma is chocolate, different pieces are sediment and when it cools, it’s igneous rock.)
  3. What is sediment? (Metamorphic rocks can break down and turn into sediment).
  4. What happens when we apply heat to a sedimentary rock?
  5. What is magma?

Look at some other hands-on rock activities I’ve rounded up and love.

 Rocks Unit Studies

  • Free Grand Canyon Unit Study.
  • Geology Leader Notebook 92 pages.
  • Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
  • Hands-on Science: Rocks & Minerals Unit.
  • Rocking the Cycle Unit Study 45 pages.
  • 4th Grade What are Minerals? 61 pages.

 Rock Printables, Lesson Plans and Activities

Now, look at some rock printables, lesson plans and activities.

  • Sedimentary Rocks Notebooking Pages.
  • Hands-On Rock Cycle: Crayons & Cookies.
    Metamorphic Rocks.
  • Rocks and Minerals: Scratch Test.
  • Geoscavenge – A Rock and Mineral Hunt & Printable
  • How Sedimentary Rocks are Formed.
  • 40+ Rocks and Stones Learning Activities for Kids.

Living Books About Rocks

And my favorite rock living book with hands-on activities.

6 Rock Unit Study Books & Fun Resources

Whatever grade you're teaching, you'll love adding one of these books or resources to your day.

1. A Rock Is Lively (Family Treasure Nature Encylopedias)

From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.

2. LED Lighted Pocket Microscope

 A pocket microscope is a great addition to a science shelf or to add to your bag for nature walks.

3. Rock Cycle Kit, 12 Pieces - Includes Metamorphic, Igneous & Sedimentary Rocks

You can grab a set like this one to start your collection, it contains rocks from each of the 3 types- Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous.

4. My Book of Rocks and Minerals: Things to Find, Collect, and Treasure

Identify colorful gemstones, sparkly crystals, the toughest rocks, and ancient fossils. Packed with fun facts, information, and extensive photos all about the rocks and minerals that make up the world around us.

Basher: Rocks & Minerals: A Gem of a Book

Simon Basher is back with another zany primer to science! Following his 3 successful titles on the basics of chemistry, physics, and biology, BASHER SCIENCE: ROCKS AND MINERALS is an in-depth look at the ground beneath our feet. Like his other titles, Basher presents these topics through charming and adorable illustrations and pairs them with basic information told from a first person perspective. He develops a community of characters based on the things that form the foundations of our planet: rocks, gems, crystals, fossils and more. And what's more, he makes it understandable, interesting, and cute. It's not what you expect out of a science primer.

Everybody Needs a Rock (An Aladdin Book)

Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Media About Rocks

  • Be a Rock Detective.
  • Fun – Sing Karaoka.
  • The Rock Cycle
  • The World Under a Rock
  • Our World – The Rock Cycle.

More Ideas for Edible Rock Activities

  • Rock Stacking.
  • Rock Activities For Kindergarten And Fun Edible Rock Cycle
  • Edible Rocks, Munching Meteorites
  • Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages
  • Edible Sedimentary Rocks.
  • How to Identify Rocks Using a Nature Guide
  • Rock Candy Crystals.
  • DIY Agate Candy Slices.

Free 3 Notebooking Pages

Next, use my pages below to add your child’s thoughts about rocks.

  1. 3 Types of Rock Definition Page
  2. How Are Rocks Formed, Define Weathering, & Describe the Rock Cycle
  3. The ABCs of Rocks.

How to Get the Free Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the freebies. They are subscriber freebies.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do. And grab some free hands-on homeschool ideas for studying about the fascinating topic of rocks. Click here to make this delicious and fun activity!

4 CommentsFiled Under: 1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}, Geography, Hands-On Activities, Middle School Homeschool, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science, Science Based Tagged With: earthscience, freeprintables, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, rocks, science, sciencecurriculum

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

May 29, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Have you ever considered foraging for a dandelion kids activity? Also, look at my Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.

I highly recommend foraging as an elective as well as part of your science/nature studies for everyone from preschool to high school.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

You don’t have to go far to find a treasure trove of plants and flowers to forage, even as close as your own backyard. 

Weeds and flowers can be used for everything from topical creams to tummy, soothing teas and soaps.

It puts a whole new spin on picking flowers for mom.

Books About Foraging for Kids

Also, add some of these books to your learning day.

They make for great unit studies.

9 Foraging & Feasting Books & Resources For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add one or two of these books and resources to your learning day. Foraging and feasting covers many unit study topics from science and history to geography and nature study. Bring your day to life with these fun books and resources.

The Foraging Bible for Beginners: How to Identify, Harvest, and Prepare Healthy and Delicious Edible Wild Plants

Whether you're a novice forager searching for a starting point or an experienced enthusiast wanting to expand your skills, this comprehensive guide has got you covered.

Foraging with Kids: 52 Wild and Free Edibles to Enjoy With Your Children

In today’s world of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and a growing detachment from the food that we eat, it has never been more important to encourage children to put down their screens, get outside and engage with the natural world around them.  Foraging with Kids is a fun, practical book for parents to work through with their children that encourages families to interact with their environment and gain knowledge and practical understanding of the natural world through exploration and play.

The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

A guide to 32 of the best and most common edible wild plants in North America, with detailed information on how to identify them, where they are found, how and when they are harvested, which parts are used, how they are prepared, as well as their culinary use, ecology, conservation, and cultural history.

Wildcraft! an Herbal Adventure Game/Family Game: Learn 25 Herbs

FORAGING FUN FOR ALL - Gather the family and go on an imaginary adventure foraging plants through forests, trails, and waterfalls! Wildcraft!, one of our educational games, introduces the wonderful world of herbs to kids as young as 4 years old.

Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods

Planning an outdoor adventure? Make sure to consult this information-packed and photo-filled North American field guide—arranged by season and region—before you go! Already a huge success in previous editions, this must-have field guide now features a fresh new cover, as well as nearly 400 color photos and detailed information on more than 200 species of edible plants all across North America.

Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook

Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi and illustrated by Wendy Hollender is a truly beautiful book. It contains lavish art work and innovative recipes for those who want to eat local bounty. This wonderful volume highlights easily obtainable local foods and traditional foodways.

(Kids Herb Book: For Children of All Ages) [By: Tierra, Lesley] [Mar, 2000]

Great for unit studies.

Herbal Adventures: Backyard Excursions and Kitchen Creations for Kids and Their Families

Discover the flavors and uses of common wild plants with this herbalist guide featuring recipes and tips on foraging right outside your door.When we think of wild plants with medicinal or culinary benefits, we typically think of something exotic and obscure. But many of the plants growing in our own neighborhoods can be just as useful and tasty as anything sold in a health food store. In Herbal Adventures, herbalist Rachel Wolf reveals the properties and uses of ten common plants—including chickweeds, dandelions, catnip and others.

Indian harvest: Wild food plants of America

The Fascinating Story Of Early American Foods

And you can’t convince me that a bouquet of wildflowers isn’t just as beautiful as one made up of roses.

Today we’re learning about one simple flower that is typically looked at as a weed.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

It can be turned into a moisturizing soap with many benefits.

The humble dandelion. 

Did you know that the entire dandelion is edible?

From petals to roots, every part of this wonderful flower can be eaten.

Additionally, it can be used in everything from jelly to lotions and soaps.

We are going to use it to create a dandelion infused oil first.

Then use that oil to create a rich moisturizing soap that is great for detoxing skin, clearing up acne, cleaning out pores, and is ultra moisturizing.

Need an educational benefit for this activity?

How about life skills, math, science and nature study, and possibly even entrepreneurial experience?

Homemade soap after all is a great homemade item for homeschoolers to create and sell.

Besides that, it’s fun to do a simple project like this with your kids just for the pure fun and joy of working side by side with them.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Next, look at some facts about foraging.

What is Foraging

Foraging is the act of gathering wild food.

This is in the form of flowers, mushrooms, leaves, wild growing fruits, seeds, nuts, truffles, and herbs.

Your collection can be used for eating, creating beauty, self-care products and medicinally.

You should always take care when foraging, especially if you plan on eating what you find you want to make 100% sure that you have identified the correct plant.

 A fantastic app to help identify plants is iNaturalist, just snap a pic and search.

Too, you want to collect from an area that has not been sprayed with any pesticides. Rinse your treasures when you bring them home.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Foraging Activities for Kids

  • If you want to learn more about this simple flower include this Fun Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages.
  • Take a look at my Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook and get a closer look at wild foods for eating and health. In this book unit study you will learn all about living from the land, identifying plants, and ideas for cooking them
Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Finally, look at how to make this fun dandelion soap.

Dandelion Soap

You will need:

  • Soap base-any
  • Dandelion oil
  • Shea butter
  • Beeswax
  • Silicone m old
  • Optional-essential oil

To make dandelion infused oil:

  • Dandelions
  • Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

First, make dandelion infused oil.

Later, it will be added to the soap. And you can also use it for other creams or on its own.

Dry 1 ½ cups of fresh dandelions either with a dehydrator or you can lay them on a paper towel on a sunny counter or windowsill for a few days.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Add the dried flowers to a mason jar.

Start with the mild unscented oil like fractionated, coconut oil, castor, oil, or light olive oil.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Let it sit for a week at minimum, shaking several times throughout the week.

After one or two weeks strain the oil through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to keep all the

solid flower parts out.

Directions:

I don’t measure my pour soap precisely. I just eyeballed it.

Cut up the pieces into 1-inch cubes.

Place them in whatever mold you use to be sure that it will mostly fill.

Also, you will add a little oil to this as well.

Once you have your cubes chopped up, place them, shea butter, and beeswax in a microwave safe container.

We used a glass measuring jar.

Heat it up for one minute.

Stir and then heat in 30 second increments.

Heat in 30 second increments until the soap is completely melted.

Whisk to combine everything.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Once melted, stir in dandelion oil and essential oil if you are using it.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

Carefully pour the mixture into your molds, filling, not quite to the top rim.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

To remove bubbles, you can spritz it with a little spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol. This will help the back of the bar have a smoother finished look.

Let your soap sit overnight to harden and dry out, then carefully remove it from the mold.

Store soap in a cool dry place wrapped loosely in waxed paper.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

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

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

May 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making edible beach sand and shells. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook and free Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.

It’s a fun snack that is a great way to end or even begin a beach unit.

It is almost as fun to make it as it is to eat it, but not quite.

You can do this project just for a fun beach theme.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Also, it makes a great starter for discussions on different colors of ocean water, the different colors and types of sand and what creates that sand.

In addition, you can learn about all the different varieties of seashells.

If you are lucky enough to live near a beach, you can incorporate a field trip to study beach sand up close.

Sigh, it’s a tough job but someone must do it.

Next, look at some of these books about the beach and ocean.

Books About the Beach and Ocean

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet! 

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

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

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Next, look at these facts about beach sand.

Colors of Ocean Water

Because most white pudding still has a yellow tint it is going to make your ocean more green than blue.

This is a great opportunity to understand why oceans run the gamut from blue to green and all shades in between.

  • The oceans are often blue because water absorbs those colors in the red part of the light spectrum. Much as a filter does this leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see, showing them as light to brilliant shades of jewel blue.
  • Some oceans appear greener due to the presence of algae and plant life. Photosynthetic organisms contain chlorophyll which looks green. Depending on the type of phytoplankton the ocean may look anywhere from blue green to emerald green.

Also, look at these facts about beach sand.

5 Fascinating Facts about Beach Sand 

  1. Sand is often made from silica but is not a single mineral, rather it is made up of multiple minerals like quartz, feldspar, mica, magnetite, etc. This composition of minerals varies with the region that it is found in.
  2. Sand comes in a rainbow of colors. The variety of colors is because of the composition of minerals and ph levels with other components. Black sand is rich in volcanic ash, white is full of quartz, pink is due to the single-celled organisms called foraminifera.
  3. It takes thousands of years for a single grain of sand to form as larger minerals like quartz go through decomposition and erosion into small fragments.
  4. The Sand Sea, located in the heart of the rich Sahara Desert, is the oldest desert in the world.
  5. The World’s Tallest Sandcastle was Made in Germany and stood almost 70 feet tall.
How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Next, look at these other beach activities.

Hands-on Beach, Ocean and Sea Shells Activities

  • 5 Tide Pool Facts and Create An Edible Tide Pool Diorama Ideas
  • How do Fish Breathe Underwater Fun Activity & Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum
  • 22 Hands-on Fun Ocean Sea Shell Activities For Teens
  • Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity
  • 10 Edible Beach Crafts For Teens and Make Edible Beach Glass
  • How to Dissolve a Seashell – Beach Hands-on Fun Activity
  • Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Edible Ocean Layers
  • Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Quick Unit Study & Easy Salt water Density Ocean Science Experiment
How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Finally, look at how to make your own edible beach sand and shells.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells

You will need:

  • White melting chocolate
  • Seashell silicone mold
  • One package of graham crackers
  • Vanilla pudding
  • Blue raspberry drink packet
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • Food coloring – optional
  • Small paintbrush
How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

First, prepare pudding according to package directions and then stir in as much or little flavoring/color you like.

Now, even though the vanilla pudding is white it does have a bit of a yellow tint to it so when you add the blue, it’s going to turn it a pretty green/teal.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

It’s just another discussion on how bodies of water are colored differently and why.

Remember that mistakes or near misses are just great opportunities for discussion.

This gave us an intro to talk about how the ocean water in different parts of the world are very different colors.

Place pudding in the refrigerator to set.

Add graham crackers and brown sugar to either a powerful blender or a food processor.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Pulse until very fine, like beach sand then set aside.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Finally, on to the seashells- you can leave them white or you can buy various colors of chocolate melts, we decided to give them a little bit of color by brushing a small amount of food coloring onto the mold.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Next place your desired amount of melted chocolate in a microwave safe container and heat for one minute ,stir, and then heat in 30 second increments each time until it is completely melted.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Carefully spoon melted chocolate into the seashell molds. You can pop it in the refrigerator if you like to harden it quicker.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Carefully remove each from the mold.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Now all that’s left is assembling your edible beach, grab a shallow bowl and spoon half of your ocean water/pudding on it.

 Sprinkle your graham cracker mixture on the other half for beach sand, slightly overlapping area and then with your edible seashells.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: beach, earth science, earthscience, edible, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, ocean, science, sea shells

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

April 20, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun hands-on water cycle activity for kids. Also, look at my page Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas for more activities.

It can be used from preschool through upper elementary.

Teaching the water cycle should be a very simple process In the early years.

You can go a little more in depth as they grow which means you can customize this plate activity to reflect what they know at various stages.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection make up the 4 stages of the water cycle.

And they are very important because it provides water to humans, animals, and plants.

Besides providing hydration it redistributes nutrients, pathogens and sediment in and out of aquatic ecosystems.

To teach it simply we are going to use a paper plate.

Next, look at some of these fun books which teach about the water cycle.

Water Cycle Books for Kids

4 Water Cycle Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these living books and reference books to your learning day about water and the water cycle.

A Drop of Water

A child crouches beside a meadow brook, and a drop of water collects and falls from the child’s fingertip to continue on its journey. Where does that journey begin? High in the sky, rain clouds are parting. Water trickles and flows down the mountain, collecting in an upland bog, seeping through a beaver’s dam, rushing over rocks, passing many plants and animals along its winding way—each dependent on water and the different environments it shapes to live.

A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder

The most spectacular photographs ever created on the subject of water appear in this unique science book by Walter Wick. The camera stops the action and magnifies it so that all the amazing states of water can be observed — water as ice, rainbow, steam, frost, dew. Readers can examine a drop of water as it falls from a faucet, see a drop of water as it splashes on a hard surface, count the points of an actual snowflake, and contemplate how drops of water form clouds. Evaporation, condensation, capillary, attraction, and surface tension are explained through simple text and illustrated by pictures that reveal water in its many awesome transformations.

The Snowflake : A Water Cycle Story

With a double-page spread for each month, this book describes the journey of a single drop of water throughout the year.

Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle

Meet Drop. She's water! And she's seen a thing or two--even dinosaurs. Everywhere Drop flows--and she flows everywhere--she makes life on Earth possible, and has a great time doing it. Have you ever plummeted from a rain cloud? Or taken a thousand-year nap in a glacier? Drop has! She'll tell you all about it

Also, I have a few other basic items to show these 4 steps and create a craft/science project combo for a hands-on water cycle activity.

I have explained the water cycle on a basic level, gathered a few more fun activities, and resources that you can use to create a mini unit to enjoy.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

4 Stages of The Water Cycle

  • Evaporation– Water evaporates under the sun’s heat and becomes a gas that is found in earth’s atmosphere. Demonstrate evaporation with a pot of simmering water and how it seems to disappear over time, the steam is visible and helps give kids a concrete idea.
  • Condensation– Water condenses in the atmosphere when it becomes cold, forming clouds. You can demonstrate this by showing what happens on the outside of a glass of ice water over time or the condensation on a mirror after a hot shower.
  • Precipitation-When there is too much moisture in a cloud water is released from the clouds in the form of rain, sleet, hail, and snow. For younger children, set out little bowls or cups with examples of each in the form of water, ice, and “snow” (a little cornstarch mixed with oil). Allow your child to explore and examine each form of precipitation.
Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids
  • Collection – Water is collected and held in different areas. For example, places like oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, and underground. Water in its solid form, ice, is held in glaciers and snow.

Then the entire process starts all over again.

Watch The Water Cycle For Kids on YouTube for a wonderful short explanation of the process from start to finish.

4 More Engaging Hands-On Water Cycle Activities 

Here are a few more ways besides our craft/science activity below to teach the water cycle.

  • Watch the precipitation stage of  the water cycle with a hands on Water Cycle Unit Study: Rain Cloud Experiment.
  • Learning About the Exciting Water Cycle with Salt demonstrates evaporation with colored salt to give your child physical proof of the process.
  • I love the creative take on The Water Cycle+Ice Paints here.
  • The simple experiment of The Water Cycle In a Bag is a great way to demonstrate the process up close.
Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

Paper Plate Water Cycle

For preschoolers we will keep this hands-on water cycle activity very simple with minimal labels but you can challenge older children to put in a bit more detail or even use a wider variety of materials to put it together.

You will need:

  • Paper plate
  • Blue paint
  • paintbrush
  • Blue craft foam/paper
  • Yellow craft foam/paper
  • Markers/paint pens
  • Cotton ball/cotton stuffing
  • Glue stick
  • Scissors
Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

First, let your child paint the entire plate a light medium shade of blue and then set aside to dry, explaining that this is the sky and ground water.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

While it is drying, cut a wave of blue craft foam out slightly shorter than the width of the plate.

This represents an ocean or where water is held. Cut a few raindrops for precipitation, and a yellow sun.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

Once the plate is dry, they can glue the sun in place on one side of the sky and the wave across the bottom with the glue stick.

Use a bit of cotton ball, cotton stuffing, or even a little ball of white tissue paper to create a cloud opposite the sun.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

Glue on the raindrops underneath the cloud you made.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

Use a marker to draw directional arrows and label the plate as the water cycle.

If your child is older, they can do the entire plate from start to finish and even label each part of the water cycle themself.

Simple and Fun Hands-On Water Cycle Activity For Kids

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

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

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