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elementary science

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

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

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

We’re doing a hands-on activity about animals that are born alive and hatched from egg. Also, you’ll love the activities on my post Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet.

A lot of this is learned through our natural conversations and through the myriad of questions your child might ask.

However, it never hurts to have some fun intentional activities to help answer them.

It is an amazing world we live in.

And while most children know very early on that birds lay eggs; they are not familiar with other animals that do.

For instance, the platypus, alligators, snakes, and common house lizards lay eggs.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Too, I have an easy-to-prep and complete activity that can be done in two parts and is a ton of fun.

Besides, if you have plastic animals on hand and a few basic pantry items, this is a no-extra-cost activity that will help your child learn about two types of animals.

The two types are oviparous animals which lay eggs and viviparous animals which have live births.

7 Facts about Viviparous and Oviparous Animals

  1. Animals that give birth to offspring are called viviparous.
  2. Animals that lay eggs are called oviparous.
  3. There are only two types of mammals that lay eggs, the duck-billed platypus, and the echidna.
  4. After laying the eggs, some animals sit on their eggs to keep them warm while others bury the eggs in the sand.
  5. The temperature of the egg is critical during development in reptiles as it determines the sex of the offspring.
  6. Viviparous animals can reproduce any time of the year as they feed the embryo with the fat reserves in the body.
  7. Birds are the only egg layers that have a hard-shelled egg, others are soft and leathery like turtles and lizards.
Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Next, add some books and fun resources to your learning day.

Resources to Learn About Egg Laying Animals & Animals that Have Live Births

Investigate how eggs are hatched and why some animals have live births with these fun books.

An Egg Is Quiet: (Picture Book, Kids Book about Eggs)

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs.
Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

Chickens Aren't the Only Ones (World of Nature Series)

Ruth Heller's prose and pictures are the perfect means for discovering the variety of oviparous animals and their unique ways of laying eggs.

Who Laid the Egg? (Exploring Nature)

What kind of animals lay eggs?

A chicken?

An ostrich?

Maybe even . . . a dinosaur?!

Find out which animals lay eggs in this entertaining picture book for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers!

Who Laid the Egg is a simple, easy-to-read book that introduces children to some of the
wonderful egg-laying animals in our world. Kids will love guessing which animal laid each egg as you read this book together!

Featuring: a chicken, an ostrich, a frog, a turtle and others!

Figurines of Mudpuppy, Dragonfly, Water Snake, Bat, Goose, Herring Gull, Blue Heron, Lynx, Sturgeon, Yellow Perch

Here are a few great plastic animal collections that have at least a couple of live-bearing and egg-laying creatures in it.

Educational Resource: Perfect for teaching children about the diverse species that inhabit the Great Lakes ecosystem. Encourages curiosity and respect for nature and wildlife.

Mini North American & Australian Animal Figurines

North American & Australian Animals has a few egg-laying animals, but I really love that it includes the platypus.

Also, add some of these hands-on activities.

Activities For Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg

  • Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet.
  • Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
  • Fun Homeschool Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Egg to Gosling Fascinating Journey | Is A Goose Hatched From Egg Or Born Alive

Before you begin your activity, you want to gather up a bunch of little plastic toys, Safari Toobs are my favorite and I linked a couple above but you can even raid the toy box to find some.

You want to collect a variety of both egg-laying and non-egg-laying animals.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Here are a few examples of each to get you started.

Egg Laying

  • Birds
  • Platypus
  • Fish
  • Turtles
  • Lizards

Live Birth

  • Bears
  • Cats
  • Dolphins
  • Fox
  • People
Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Finally, look at this fun hands-on activity about animals that are born alive and hatched from egg.

DIY Hatching Egg Activity

You will need:

  • Construction paper
  • Makers
  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Vinegar
  • A shallow container
  • Small container
  • Pipette

First, place a cup or two of baking soda in a large bowl depending on how many creatures you want to put in your eggs.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Add water a little at a time while mixing with your hands until it is damp enough to hold together when you squeeze it.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

It should look like this.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

You can color some of the mixture if you like.

Hatching Egg Activity For Kids

Grab one of your animals hatched from an egg and add the damp baking soda mixture around it.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Keep adding and shaping until it is completely covered with the mixture and resembles an egg shape.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Next, let the eggs dry out for several hours or overnight until they harden up.

Place eggs in a shallow container with a small bowl of vinegar and a pipette.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Encourage your child to use the pipette to drizzle the eggs with vinegar, they will know what to do next!

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

They will enjoy watching the fizzing and bubbling acting.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

When they are done, they will see and reinforce the teaching about animals that come from eggs.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Now, take two pieces of construction paper and write across the top on one Hatched from an Egg with an egg next to it.

Across the other write Born Alive with the no egg symbol.

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Additionally, be sure to read these aloud to your child.

The symbols help the non-reader to know which paper to use but it is a very important connection that your child knows that the spoken word and the written word are linked by writing them it will begin to help them identify letters and make that connection.

Next, give them several of both live-bearing and egg-laying animals and instruct them how to sort between the two pages.

Help your child as they need help but give them independence as well.

Finally, talk about the animals and the differences between them. 

Animals That Are Born Alive And Hatched From Egg DIY Hatching Egg Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: animals, eggs, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, science

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

November 19, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

In honor of National Slime Day December 7th, I have 9 food-themed slime craft ideas as well as my recipe for gingerbread slime. Also, look at this cocoa slime at my post 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities.

My concoction for gingerbread slime is soupy, foamy, and more of a liquid.

It is perfect for sensory bins, especially for little ones who need help mastering pouring and transferring.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Made without borax, baking soda, or contact solution to create a safer sensory activity for even the smallest hands. 

You might want to head outdoors with this one or pick up a cheap plastic tablecloth or shower curtain liner to lay under the play area to catch the inevitable drips and splashes.

Slime is a popular and pretty beneficial sensory activity that kids have loved ever since it became a fad, one that is not going away anytime soon.

The good news is that it has so many benefits and of course, I am going to share them with you.

5 Benefits of Slime

  1. It helps develop fine motor skills through measuring, stirring, squeezing, pouring, twisting, and all the other fun things they can do with it.
  2. Is a great way to stimulate all the senses. I always like to add some kind of scent to my mixtures to be sure that all the senses are addressed.
  3. Helps children slow down and increases attention span and focus as they become absorbed in the play.
  4. Builds creativity and gives them another opportunity to use and expand their imagination. Plus, it’s just fun and we all need a little bit of that right?
  5. Slime introduces basic chemistry if you bring them into the creation process and even experiment with different materials.
How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Next, add these gingerbread theme resources.

8 Books and Resources Studying About Gingerbread

Add some of these books and resources for a gun Gingerbread theme.

The Plan for the Gingerbread House: A STEM Engineering Story

The gingerbread man and woman need a new home! A team of kids struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.Sounds easy?But creating is hard. Cookie burn, the icing it too thin, the house caves-in, someone is eating the candy decorations, and—Oh!—they forgot about putting the gingerbread boy and girl inside the house. Engineering is a creative process. That means you must learn to

  • overcome problems
  • and persevere.

Inspire budding engineers to think about the classic gingerbread house in new ways.

Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set

SAFE AND HEALTHY FOR YOUR FAMILY - The simple stainless steel Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set design is easy to clean, the folded edges are kind to hands, and the welded seam won’t come unstuck

The Gingerbread Man Padded

"Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" Follow the gingerbread man as he runs from the old woman, the old man, pig, cow, and horse, and meets a sly fox. This padded storybook of the classic fairy tale features engaging text and delightful, colorful illustrations by Gail Yerrill. Designed to encourage vocabulary development and help children read aloud, this story uses large font types and vibrant, contemporary illustrations to help early learning skills. It's a perfect addition to any children's library.

The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone Nursery Classic)

The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and ‘at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!’ A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone’s broadly humorous color wash drawings.

Gingerbread Baby

Fairy tale about the Gingerbread Baby. Full-color illustrations.

12PCS Measuring Cups, Little Cook Colorful Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

The 12 different spoon sizes in this measuring cup set make it versatile for measuring a wide range of ingredients. The measuring spoons range from 1/8 tsp teaspoon up to 1 cup tablespoon, allowing you to measure small or large quantities with ease. This makes the measuring spoons set perfect for home cooks and professional chefs alike, as it can be used for a variety of recipes, from baking to cooking and more.

Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter Set (Gingerbread Man 3 Piece)

Gingerbread Man 3 Piece

How to Catch a Gingerbread Man

Do you have what it takes to catch the Gingerbread Man? The famous storybook character has magically come to life and leapt from the pages during story time! Follow along as the Gingerbread Man runs loose in a bookstore with the help of Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Peter Rabbit, nursery rhyme characters, and more! If you set the right traps, you might…just might be able to catch this wily cookie and finish the fairy tale!

Also, add these food themed slime craft ideas.

9 Food-Themed Slime Craft Ideas

  1. These 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands-on Science Activities include a hot cocoa slime that smells fantastic and is perfect for the season.
  2. A warm scent that makes you feel cozy is cinnamon and it is the base in this Cinnamon Scented Slime that is perfect for fall right through winter.
  3. Grab a box of your favorite pudding flavor and treat your child to some Edible Pudding Slime, they will be busy for hours.
  4. Another great wintery treat, this Cranberry Edible Slime pays homage to that canned goodness that you can enjoy even if it’s not your favorite side dish.
  5. Calling all chocolate lovers, try DIY Nutella Slime for a yummy chocolate-y slime that is fun to make and play with.
  6. Here is a neat candy-themed one- Edible Starburst Slime and kids can pull, twist, flatten, and even taste it.
  7. This Cake Confetti Slime is too adorable and would also make a great homemade gift idea for friends as well.
  8. These drink mixes come in a very wide variety so you can make all your favorites with Soda Pop Slime, I have even seen them at Dollar Tree.
  9. Floam Candy Cane Slime Recipe is a great winter-themed idea and will make your house smell amazing if you add the peppermint scent to it.
How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Finally, look how to make this gingerbread slime.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play

Adding vanilla extract and gingerbread spices takes this sensory experience to another level creating wonderful aromatherapy that everyone will enjoy.

But do remind your children this is not an edible slime, even though it will smell yummy.

You will need:

  • 1 cup school glue
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon Ginger
  • Vanilla Extract, to preference
  • Sensitive unscented shaving cream
  • 1 Tablespoon Dish soap
  • Brown craft paint-optional
  • Gingerbread essential oil-optional
How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

First, combine water and school glue in a large bowl, stirring until mixed.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Stir in cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, and essential oil if you are using it.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Whip in soap and the shaving cream and keep adding shaving cream to it as you stir it in until it becomes a thicker consistency that you like.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

If your gingerbread slime is not dark enough you can add a little brown paint to give it a deeper brown color.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

Pour the slime into a large shallow container.

Grab some kitchen items like a whisk, slotted spoon, measuring cups, funnels, and gingerbread cutters to add to your sensory bin gingerbread slime.

These will make it an even more immersive experience.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

You can also give your child a small amount of spices like ginger and cinnamon as well as vanilla to add themselves.

I even found some gingerbread sprinkles that make a nice add-in, they will dissolve away somewhat quickly though.

Finally, add some buttons and eyes to create the gingerbread man.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

This large container from Dollar Tree is great because it has a lid that you can put on it between “baking” sessions and once the slime is no longer good you can throw the whole thing out without worrying about washing.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: elementary science, gingerbread, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, slime

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

November 14, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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We are creating a jellyfish in a jar preschool activity that is part art project and part science to highlight World Jellyfish Day on November 3rd. Also, you’ll love How to Homeschool Preschool and Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft.

It is a fun but simple demonstration of how jellyfish move in the water and making the jellyfish together provides the perfect opportunity to talk about its anatomy.

The best part is that you can make it with trash, well at least items destined for the trash or recycle bin.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

What makes this cool science activity work the way it does?

Air is lighter than water, so any way that you turn the bottle, the head of the jellyfish will rise to the top.

Use these facts below to learn more about the moon jelly that closely resembles our jellyfish in a jar and some of the resources and activities I found to create an entire study or just a day of fun and learning.

4 Facts About Moon Jellyfish

Since our jellyfish in a jar activity resembles a moon jellyfish, we are going to swim right into it and learn all about this amazing invertebrate.

  1. Aurelia is a genus of jellyfish; they are commonly called moon jellies and are in the class Scyphozoa. There are currently 25 accepted species that fall under moon jellies.
  1. Moon jellies can be identified by four circles visible through the translucent white bell and short tentacles.
  1. Moon jellyfish can be found in oceans all around the world. They thrive in a warm environment and are often found near coastlines in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.
  1. Moon jellies even went into space as an experiment on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1991 as part of a study on the effects of weightlessness on the development of internal organs in juvenile jellies.
Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Also, look at some of these books about jellyfish.

I always lean toward living books first, then add reference books.

Books and Resources about Jellyfish

Add some of these books and resources to your study of jellyfish.

Jellyfish: A Natural History

With their undulating umbrella-shaped bells and sprawling tentacles, they are compelling and gorgeous, strange and dangerous. In many places they’re also vastly increasing in number, and these population blooms may be an ominous indicator of the rising temperatures and toxicity of the oceans.

Jellyfish (A Day in the Life: Sea Animals)

Beautiful and translucent, jellyfish can be deadly but some are perfectly harmless. Learn about the physical traits of jellyfish, how they move, where they are found, and their hunting and sleeping habits.

Moon Jelly Swims Through the Sea

Describes the life cycle of a female moon jellyfish as she escapes the many hazards of the sea to develop from planula to polyp to ephyra to a young adult ready to lay her own fertilized eggs.

Jellyfish - 70 Piece Tube Building Stem/Steam Toy

SIMPLE DESIGN - FUELS CREATIVITY: One shape, endless possibility! Every brick easily connects to the next. Create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3-D to make more intricate builds. Mix and match any Plus-Plus set to bring more ideas to life!

Jellyfish Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

CHALLENGE GAME - Wooden jigsaw puzzles with uniquely shaped pieces are actually more challenging than traditional woodcut puzzles. It is absolutely going to be a great adventure!

A Jellyfish Is Not a Fish (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book)

Describes the general characteristics and functions of a variety of jellyfish with emphasis on the ones to avoid.

Bloom

Once, the ocean was full of friends. Then a little jellyfish notices that things are changing--friends are disappearing! He sets out to discover the truth and learns that everyone has a part to play in protecting the careful balance of the ocean. "Bloom" refers to a substantial increase in jellyfish population that can be caused by climate change and pollution. In this beautifully illustrated, timely, and topical tale, the jellyfish band together to deliver an important message.

Additionally, look at these other jellyfish crafts.

Jellyfish Activities

Choose one or more additional activities to make your jellyfish study even better, allowing a deeper dive into the topic.

  • Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft that will be fun to hang up in your child’s room as a reminder of what they learned.
  • Make a Paper Lantern Jellyfish as you study their anatomy or habits.
  • I like art activities that serve more than one purpose like this Fine Motor Jellyfish Craft For Kids that will develop fine motor skills and muscles.
  • Create Black Glue Jellyfish Art for a dramatic art activity.
  • A colorful Suncatcher Jellyfish Kids Craft will brighten up your windows on any dark or sunny day.
  • Another craft that uses art and developing fine motor skills Paper Plate Jellyfish Craft for Kids
  • Jellyfish are the perfect shape for a cute and colorful windsock, check out this Scrape Painted Jellyfish Windsock.
  • Make these cute Egg Carton Jellyfish from just beads and egg cartons.
Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Finally, look how to make this jellyfish in a jar preschool activity.

Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

You will need:

  • Large clean jar
  • Water
  • Small plastic bag
  • Scissors
  • Straw
  • String
  • Blue food coloring
Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

First, cut a square of plastic out of a store bag or ziploc bag that would fit inside your jar with plenty of room to move.

Cut strips through both sides, leaving a few inches uncut for tentacles, you may want to cut away a few of the strips so it is not so full.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Place a straw into the center and wrap a string just above the cuts to define the head (bell) of the jellyfish.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Blow into the straw to fill it with air. As you pull out the straw, tighten and tie off the string to keep it filled with air.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Fill the jar with water and a drop of blue food coloring.

If you add too much blue it will be hard to see your jellyfish.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Use the straw to push the jellyfish down into the jar.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Replace the lid and watch the tentacles dance around as you gently swirl the water.

To extend the activity a bit you can let your child use dry erase markers.

Use the markers on the jar to create a colorful world for your jellyfish to live in.

Celebrate World Jellyfish Day With A Jellyfish in a Jar Preschool Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, jellyfish, life science, ocean, preschool, science, siummer crafts

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