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elementary science

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

September 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun chocolate unit study. Also, look at my Meso-America and Rain Forest Amazon page to learn how chocolate comes from the cacao tree of the rain forest. Also, grab more ideas on my Best Homeschool Unit Studies page.

Interest-led studies can be delicious as well as educational, like this chocolate unit study which is really appealing.

I don’t know many kids who are not interested in chocolate so I thought that it would make a tasty unit.

There is much to be learned about the history, geography, and math of chocolate.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

It is also quite easy to work in some reading, writing, practical life skills, and more.

Just check out all the chocolate ideas I have below for you.

For the main activity, kids will create their own candy bar combos, name them, and create a wrapper to cover them in.

5 Chocolate Facts

Next, here are a few facts about chocolate.

  1. Unlike the solid chocolate of today, early civilizations consumed cocoa in the form of a bitter drink.
  2. Technically milk chocolate isn’t actually chocolate, due to the absence of cocoa solids.
  3. Milk chocolate originated in Jamaica in the form of a milk-based drink.
  4. Hershey’s earned their first million producing caramel candies before focusing on perfecting their chocolate bar.
  5. More than 60% of the world’s cocoa comes from just 2 countries- Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Then look at some of these books.

Books for Creating a Chocolate Unit Study

Add some of these books to learn about how chocolate is made.

THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

This book is intended for children who love chocolate and stories.

Discover the exciting story of one of the most popular foods in the world: ''CHOCOLATE'' .This book will take you in the footsteps of the Aztecs who considered it a sacred drink. Later, the Conquistadors will bring it to Spain where it will become THE trendy ''EXOTIC DRINK''. Reserved for kings and nobility, and at first consumed only in the sumptuous palaces, but much later becoming a popular food for all.

How Monkeys Make Chocolate: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rainforest

In How Monkeys Make Chocolate renowned ecologist Adrian Forsyth introduces the people, plants, and animals of the world’s rain forests through exciting first-hand stories and stunning color photographs. He visits aboriginal shamans and imitates the behavior of animals to tap into the inner workings of various rain forests, revealing a world of riches with unsuspected connections to everyday life. His adventures expose the amazing origins of familiar products, including chocolate, cola, aspirin, and rubber, and offer tantalizing glimpses of the discoveries yet to be made. With visual force and vivid anecdotes, Forsyth instills a deep wonder for the web of life and the importance of conserving these fragile ecosystems.

Who Was Milton Hershey?

Discover the man behind the chocolate bar! Milton Hershey’s life was filled with invention and innovation.  As a young man, he was not afraid to dream big and work hard.  Eventually, he learned the secret to mass-producing milk chocolate and the recipe that gave it a longer, more stable shelf life.  He founded a school for those who didn’t have access to a good education and an entire town for his employees. Both his chocolate empire and his great personal legacy live on today.

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Food Anatomy includes a wonderfully illustrated section on how chocolate is made from harvest to tempering.

The Chocolate Touch

In this zany twist on the legend of King Midas and his golden touch, a boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate! Kids will eat this up for summer reading or anytime!

Can you ever have too much of your favorite food? John Midas is about to find out….

The Chocolate Touch has remained a favorite for millions of kids, teachers, and parents for several generations. It's an enjoyable story that pulls in even reluctant readers.

Chocolate Riches From the Rainforest

A delicious story about the history of chocolate with wonderful illustrations.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

No Monkeys, No Chocolate

Everyone loves chocolate, right? But how many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it’s made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist?This delectable dessert comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn’t survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters: a pollen-sucking midge, an aphid-munching anole lizard, brain-eating coffin fly maggots—they all pitch in to help the cocoa tree survive. A secondary layer of text delves deeper into statements such as "Cocoa flowers can’t bloom without cocoa leaves . . . and maggots," explaining the interdependence of the plants and animals in the tropical rain forests. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels.Back matter includes information about cocoa farming and rain forest preservation, as well as an author’s note.

Also, look at some of these interactive resources about chocolate.

Interactive Activities to Learn About Chocolate

Watch every step of the process in this YouTube How Chocolate is Made.

History Channel- The Food That Built America Season 2 Episode 2- This episode covers Milton Hershey and his competition, a former employee you may have heard of- HB Reese, and yet another famous candy bar maker.

Then host a chocolate taste test. I don’t think you can have a chocolate unit study without a good taste test.

This is a great opportunity to offer small amounts of a lot of chocolate products from cacao nibs to Hershey Kisses, here are a few ideas on the different ways chocolate is served to get you started.

  • Hershey bar
  • Hershey Kisses
  • Cocoa powder
  • Chocolate milk
  • Other chocolate candies
  • Cacao beans or nibs
Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Work in geography- Research locations that are important to the history of chocolate.

Too, add some science 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities.

 Have your child locate some or all of the following places on a map.

Geography of Chocolate

  • Mexico- Here is where chocolate began its 4,000-year history, in ancient Mesoamerica, which is now known as Mexico.
  • Amazon Rain Forest – The earliest known use of cacao traces back to the Amazon Basin in the northeast corner of present-day Ecuador. Also, investiage how the cacao tree grows.
  • Hershey, Pa.-Unarguably the chocolate capital of the United States. Here is where Milton Hershey realized his dream and created an entire town and theme park around his passion for chocolate.
  • Switzerland is well known for its delicious chocolate. Cacao beans and sugarcane are sourced elsewhere but Swiss chocolate is made only in Switzerland. It is described as a very creamy chocolate due to its higher milk-to-cacao ratio than other chocolates.
  • Brussels Belgium-Known as the ‘Chocolate Capital of the World’, it is rich in chocolate shops, there are more chocolate shops here than in any other place in the world. You will also find the Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat (Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate) here.
  • Jamaica– This is where milk chocolate originated from in the form.

Design your own chocolate bar label. This gives kids a chance to be creative while they learn about advertising, work on handwriting, and take ownership of the project.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

All they need is some copy paper, crayons, or colored pencils and a great idea for their chocolate bar “brand”.

You can use these to wrap around their DIY chocolate bars and then have a vote on who created the most appealing label.

History of Chocolate

Chocolate changes shape.

Chocolate is probably best known in solid or bar form, but it wasn’t always this way.

For more than 90% of its history, chocolate was consumed only as a beverage.

The Maya made it into a spicy drink.

And that they used in ceremonies.

Among the ancient Maya, chocolate was enjoyed by rich and poor.

It was a favorite of Maya kings and priests and chocolate played a special part in royal and religious ceremonies.

When ancient Maya aristocrats served chocolate drinks, they used lavishly decorated vessels made by specially trained artists.

Science of the Cacao Tree

Chocolate is made from the seeds of a rainforest tree called Theobroma cacao (kah KOW).

Cacao trees have flourished in Central and South America for thousands of years, long before people knew what luscious possibilities they held.

Wild cacao trees grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall beneath a canopy of taller trees.

The canopy trees protect cacao from tropical sun, wind damage, and moisture loss.

Seeds pods grow not on the end of branches but directly off of the branches and trunk.

Each pod is about the size of a pineapple and holds thirty to fifty seeds.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Although cacao seeds are packed with nutritious oils, starches, and proteins that provide the energy a seedling needs to grow, they also contain caffeine and theobromine, giving them a bitter taste.

This bitter taste discourages animals like monkeys, rodents, and birds from eating cacao seeds.

So, the animals spit out the seeds.

This is an important element of the tree’s seed dispersal strategy. Cacao trees rely on these animals to spread their seeds along the rainforest floor.

Processing chocolate begins by extracting, fermenting, drying, and roasting the cacao seeds, removing the shell and skin, and leaving the tasty nibs.

Language Arts Chocolate Unit Study

Additionally, here are some language arts ideas.

Write these words and their definition.

The word “chocolate” comes from the Aztec word xocolatl (sho koh LAH tuhl), which means “bitter water.”

  • Cacao generally refers to the plant itself or the beans before processing.
  • Chocolate is anything made from the beans.
  • Cocoa means chocolate in a powdered form.
  • Cacao bean is the dried and fully fermented seed of Theobroma cacao,
  • Fermented – This process is called “sweating,” or fermentation, and is when the chocolate flavor develops in the beans.
Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Food Anatomy includes a wonderfully illustrated section on how chocolate is made from harvest to tempering.

Finally, make your own diy candy bar.

Chocolate Unit Study – Create Your Own Candy Bars

  • Ingredients:
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Add-ins:

  • Nuts
  • Raisins
  • Crushed peppermint
  • Crushed pretzels
  • Toffee pieces
  • Crushed potato chips
  • Sprinkles
  • Small candies
  • Crispy crushed bacon
  • Dried fruit
  • Small or crushed cereal
  • Flavored extracts-almond, vanilla, peppermint, etc…
Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

You will also need:

  • Silicone candy bar mold
  • Medium pot
  • Medium-sized glass bowl
  • Silicone scraper

First, lay out candy bar molds.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Sprinkle whatever add-ins you would like to have in the empty mold.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Add a few inches of water to a medium pot. 

Set a bowl over the pan, be sure that it is not touching the water.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Add chocolate chips and oil to the bowl.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Heat over medium-high, stirring frequently until completely melted.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

If using extracts, stir them in at this point, just before removing them from the heat.

Pour melted chocolate into the mold over toppings.

Use a spatula to smooth the back and scrape off any excess.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Place in the freezer for 30-45 minutes until hardened then carefully remove from mold.

Wrap in waxed or parchment paper and store in an airtight container or ziploc bag.

Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: chocolate, elementary science, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, high school, science

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

August 31, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have two simple chemistry for kids experiments which do not require special equipment. Your kids will also love these 21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids.

These science experiments can be done with younger kids, and you need just a few basic household items.

Chemistry can be introduced as early as preschool and learned through high school.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Using simple household items like bleach, vinegar, pennies, and food coloring you can complete a couple of experiments to introduce chemistry to your kids.

Also, John Dalton was an English chemist.

He proposed the theory that all modern chemistry is based on. It is the Atomic Theory of Matter.

I have some free notebooking pages so you can add his life to your study.

Chemistry for Kids Books

First, look at some of these fun books and resources.

For example, Basher Chemistry is an amazing beginning chemistry book and is a particularly great resource for unschoolers and relaxed schoolers.

It is engaging and interesting with funny illustrations alongside great chunks of information.

12 Chemistry Books & Resources for Kids of All Ages

But first here are some resources that are a great introduction and more to chemistry for kids.

Superstars of Science

Discover fun facts about the greatest scientists from history through Basher's fresh and unique illustration style.

Did you know that Marie Curie used to keep radioactive materials in her pockets? Or that Mendeleyev literally dreamed up his famous periodic table? Superstars of Science tells the stories behind the big ideas in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, earth sciences, and engineering. Read about 40 great scientists including Newton and Einstein who produced theories that explained the way in which the Universe works, Crick and Watson who uncovered the structure of DNA, and Alexander Graham Bell who had the big idea that became the telephone. Each one of these greats of science has had some vital flash of insight that has changed the way we see the world and the way we live. Come meet the superstars of science!

Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us.

Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

This book is a classic in the field of popular science. Standard reading since the 1930s, it is one of the few histories of chemistry to concentrate on the lives of the great chemists. Through these dramatic and human stories, it gives an authoritative and entertaining account of the great discoveries and advances in this scientific field. After many printings in three previous editions, this book has been newly revised by the author for this fourth edition. Beginning with Trevisan and his lifelong search for the "philosopher's stone," the author narrates the lives and discoveries of such towering figures as Paracelsus and his chemical treatment of disease; Priestley looking for phlogiston and finding oxygen and carbon dioxide, Lavoisier creating a new language of chemistry; Dalton and his Atomic Theory; Avogadro and the idea of molecules, Mendeleeff arranging the table of elements under his Periodic Law; the Curies isolating radium; Thomson discovering the electron; Moseley and his Law of Atomic Numbers; Lawrence and the construction of the cyclotron; and more. Probably the most dramatic chapter in the book, the account of the development of nuclear fission, ends the story of chemistry at its most monumental achievement.

The Chemistry of Cola

You’ll be amazed at all you can learn from this favorite drink – what’s in it, why it fizzes, what you can do with it, the containers it’s in, and more!

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

If you want your child to be able to explore and complete some simple chemistry experiments without running around grabbing all the items an all in on kit is just the thing to add to your chemistry studies.

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

 Chemistry EditionChemistry Fluxx is the perfect compound of chance, skill and strategy-use atoms and laboratory tools to match the current goal of the game and win! The rules are always changing in Fluxx. The Keepers, Goals, Rules and Action cards determine how the game will be played.

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:

  • Purify alcohol by distillation
  • Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis
  • Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself
  • Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances
  • Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper
  • Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons
  • and much more

The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

Written for lay readers, provides an introduction to the principles of chemistry and includes quotations from popular literature to show how chemistry and everyday life intertwine.

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

If you have ever suspected that "heavy water" is the title of a bootleg Pink Floyd album, believed that surface tension is an anxiety disorder, or imagined that a noble gas is the result of a heavy meal at Buckingham Palace, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry to set you on the road to chemical literacy.

You don't need to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry explains them all: the history and basics of chemistry, atomic theory, combustion, solubility, reaction stoichiometry, the mole, entropy, and much more—all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Chemistry will never be the same!

Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

AIR IS NOT OXYGEN is a fun way to brush up on essential science concepts you missed in school. (Admit it. You probably thought you had better things to do than study!) Clear, short chapters focus on mastering key concepts instead of memorizing facts. Dozens of optional hands-on activities make science come alive! In a style described as “Dave Barry meets Bill Nye with a touch of the Mythbusters,” award-winning author, Bill Morelan, debunks common misconceptions about basic science. Reflecting both the National Science Content Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN covers Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Science Methods.A fun, informative read, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN helps fill the gaps in your science education. (Never be humiliated by science geeks again!) Perfect for sharing, or as a handy basic reference tool. Makes a great book for kids, too.

More Chemistry for Kids Activities

  • 21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids
  • 10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum
  • Medieval Chemistry and Homeschool History – Fun Hands-On Activity
  • Atomidoodle Chemistry Game App
  • Homeschool High School Chemistry & Free Reference Sheet and Resources
2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Next, look at these two fun notebooking pages.

John Dalton and Democritus Chemistry Notebooking Pages

John Dalton was an English chemist and physicist born about the 6th of September 1766.

Dalton is credited with the Atomic Theory in chemistry.

What is the Atomic Theory of Matter? It states:

  • Matter is made of small particles called atoms.
  • Atoms are indestructible. They cannot be created or destroyed during chemical or physical changes.
  • Atoms of an element are identical.
  • Atoms of different elements have different masses.
2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Next, Democritus proposed the idea of atoms centuries earlier, around 460 BC. Democritus gets the credit for coining the word “atom” to describe that smallest piece of matter.

Finally, look at these chemistry for kids experiments.

Chemistry Experiment 1- Cleaning Pennies

When choosing your household items to clean the pennies look for acidic items as well as some non-acidic items like water to compare them.

You will need:

  • 4-6 dirty pennies
  • Disposable paper cups
  • Various household items- vinegar, baking soda and water paste, bleach, ketchup, lemon or lime juice, tap water, sparkling water, hot sauce, soda, etc.
2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Try to find pennies that have roughly the same amount of tarnish to them.  Place 4-6 pennies in paper cups, 1 per cup.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Write the name of each item on the outside of the cup so that it is easier to keep track.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Add your chosen household items to each cup, be sure that each penny is completely covered.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Set a timer for 20-30 minutes and while the pennies are soaking have your child make a hypothesis as to which will clean the pennies best.

Clean each penny and place it in front of the corresponding cup to compare how clean they are.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Here are how our pennies looked at the end, the cleanest in our batch was lime juice.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Questions to ask your child:

  • Which solution cleaned its penny the best?
  • Was your hypothesis correct?

For older children you can have them research why the acidic items work better to clean the pennies than less or non-acidic items.

Chemistry Experiment 2 – Disappearing Color

You will need:

  • 4 glass containers
  • 3 different food colorings
  • bleach
  • Pipette or dropper

Fill 3 containers ¾ full of water.

Add 3-4 drops of food coloring to each container.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Fill the 4th container with bleach.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Have your child use the dropper to add bleach a few drops at a time to each color and stir.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

When the bleach mixes, the color should begin to disappear until the water is nearly or completely devoid of any color at all.

2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

If you continue to add drops of bleach and stir your color will completely disappear out of each one.

Questions to ask:

  • Before the experiment- What do you think will happen when you add bleach to the colored water?
  • What happened when you added the bleach?
  • Do different colors disappear quicker than others?
  • Why did the color disappear? Bleach contains an oxidizer called sodium hypochlorite. This along with the molecules of the food coloring change their shape and they cannot reflect the light the same way so color disappears.
2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages

Finally, look below to see how to download the free notebooking pages.

HOW TO GET THE FREE JOHN DALTON AND DEMOCRITUS NOTEBOOKING PAGES

Too, I have two notebooking pages. One page is about John Dalton and the second one is Democritus.

Additionally, I have 2 of each one. One page is blank for your child to add his own research and the second page has a few facts.

This is a subscriber freebie.

1)  CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!
 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: chemistry, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

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

Turn a sweet little handprint into an Australian animals art project by creating a cuddly koala out of it. Also, look at this Hands-On Geography: Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art.

Are you learning about Australia as a country? Just Australian animals? Marsupials specifically?

This easy craft project is perfect for all the above, or even just because you want a cute handprint craft.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Kids love to get involved fully hands-on and moms love to see their little ones’ handprints in art projects.

This is a very sweet option to create a keepsake while they learn.

It’s a simple and fun way to talk about Australian animals, their habitats, eating habits, characteristics, and where they live in the world.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

3 Koala Questions and Answers

  1. Where are koalas from? Australia, in the open forest and woodland areas.
  2. What do they eat? Mostly eucalyptus (Gum Tree) but will sometimes snack on other trees.
  3. What is a marsupial?  They are a group of mammals that are known for carrying their young in a pouch.

Also, look at more hands-on activities to learn about animals in Australia.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas

Make it a full lesson on the creatures from the outback.

Photo Credit: www.notimeforflashcards.com

Koala Craft

My goal for this lesson was not creativity ( process art is much more appropriate for that) or even specifically learning about koalas.

Photo Credit: learncreatelove.com

Wombat Printable Craft

Wombats are cute, pudgy marsupials that are found in Australia.

Australia Awesome and Deadly Animal Art

My son began his research at the library, checking out various books on Australia in general, and a few on the animals themselves. For further investigation, we also watched a YouTube video and looked at various pictures of aboriginal art online.

Photo Credit: frompond.blogspot.com

Kookaburra Craft (Frog Spot)

Turn plain boring cups into the laughing Kookaburra Craft.

Photo Credit: woojr.com

Kangaroo Ears Headband

 I’m excited to show you how to make this fun Kangaroo Ears Headband that’s great for a kangaroo lesson or just for your little one to hop around with!

Photo Credit: www.thecrafttrain.com

Paper plate Ringtail possum

Make an adorable paper plate possum using our latest printable template. This easy craft for kids is based on the Ringtail possum which is common all over Eastern Australia.

Photo Credit: cookcleancraft.com

Paper-bag Perry the Platypus Craft

 I made Perry the Platypus from the TV show Phineas and Ferb, complete with his own little hat.

Photo Credit: artprojectsforkids.org

Easy How to Draw a Kangaroo Tutorial and Kangaroo Coloring Page

You’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Kangaroo and a Kangaroo Coloring Pages

Photo Credit: www.craftprojectideas.com

Quokka Craft

Conservationists want people to take selfies with quokkas? Quokka’s are considered a vulnerable species and the internet fame quokkas have acquired in recent years have put their names on the map! 

And you’ll love adding these resources.

Australian Animals Art Ideas and Resources

To expand upon this simple koala handprint activity, you can:

  •  Help your child find Australia on a map. I really like the scrunch maps because they can be taken anywhere and are easy to pull out onto the floor for investigating.
9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft
  • Watch Wild Kratts Koalas on YouTube together to learn more about these sweet creatures.
  • Grab some eucalyptus even if it’s dried or artificial for your child to examine the main food of the koala.
  • Add some of these adorable Australian animals to a sensory bin or just strew them around with books and other props to build interest.
  • Play a fun and silly game like Koala Capers.
  • Include an interesting book like Explore My World Koalas with lots of photos and information to help them learn more.

Finally, look at how to make this adorable koala handprint keepsake.

How to Make a Koala Handprint Craft

You will need:

  • Cardstock
  • Grey craft paint
  • Brown craft paint
  • Green craft paint
  • White craft paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Black markers

Have your child paint a tree trunk that is wide enough for their entire handprint on the center of the paper as well as some branches sticking out here and there.

Allow it to dry completely.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Once the tree trunk is completely dried, paint your child’s entire hand gray; you’ll want the thumb pointing upwards on the tree.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Press it down firmly to make a good solid print.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Use a paintbrush to draw a round head over the top of the thumb and a half circle on either side for ears.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

While this part of the painting is drawing, put a small amount of green paint in a dish and have your child dip one finger into it.

They can then stamp little leaves all over the branches with little fingerprints.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Once everything is dry go back and add details like a little claw on the end of the paws.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Draw on an oval-shaped koala nose and mouth, as well as eyes and any details you like to the ears.

Let this final part dry completely and it’s ready to go up on display.

9 Australian Animals Art Ideas and Fun Koala Handprint Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Australia, crafts, elementary science, handprint, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, koala, life science, science

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

August 20, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun way to learn anatomy shark vocabulary. Also, look at this Shark Unit Study for more fun ideas.

You do not need to grab expensive box curriculums or load your learner down with tons of worksheets. They can learn so much with things like this shark vocabulary hands-on anatomy activity.

I thought this activity would be just in time for celebrating International Whale Shark Day on August 30th. 

Yes, a whale shark is a shark, not a whale.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

I used a great book for reference, a few plastic shark toys, and a sheet of cardstock to create a simple activity that can be used over and over to help teach about sharks from snout to caudal fin.

This activity is easily adaptable for older and younger children by adding more or less of the anatomy words to be labeled.

Too, changing up the type of vocabulary words like choosing species, layers of the ocean that you might find each shark, etc. will increase the depth of facts to introduce.

Shark Vocabulary Anatomy 

One resource I reach for time and again is Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman.

When thumbing through it I found this great shark anatomy page that gave me a great idea for an activity.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

This book is not a one-hit wonder though, besides the anatomy diagram there is information on their teeth, eating habits, size, and different species of sharks.

That is just the information on sharks, there is literally a whole ocean of information in the book.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

We are also adding in some typing skills by having children do as much of the activity as possible from start to finish.

Below you will find a couple shark vocabulary lists to choose for them to create their own anatomy or species labels.

Shark Anatomy Words

  • Nostril
  • Eye
  • Mouth
  • Spiracle
  • First Dorsal Fin
  • Second Dorsal Fin
  • Precaudil Pit
  • Caudal Fin
  • Caudal Keel
  • Anal Fin
  • Pelvic Fin
  • Pectoral Fin
  • Gill Openings
  • Gill arch
  • Backbone/Spine

Shark Species

Also, look at these species of sharks.

  • Lemon
  • Great White
  • Mako
  • Tiger
  • Whale
  • Leopard
  • Hammerhead
  • Nurse
  • Black Tip
How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

Then, add some shark books and fun hands-on resources about sharks while learning about the anatomy of sharks.

Homeschool Shark Unit Study Resources

Add one or two of these fun shark books and resources to your study about sharks.

Sharks! (Animal Planet Chapter Books #1)

Dive inside the world of sharks with this guide to the most incredible creatures in the sea. Photographically illustrated chapters highlight kid-favorite species such as Great Whites and Hammerheads, with a focus on behavior, senses, breeding, and feeding. Sharks! is the perfect overview for developing readers ready to explore this popular animal subject on their own. Special features include full-color photography throughout, "Meet the Scientist" sidebars, and "In Your Newsfeed" articles about amazing new discoveries.

DKfindout! Sharks

Supporting STEM-based learning, this fact-filled book for shark aficionados ages 6–9 is the ultimate guide to sharks, from hammerheads to great whites. Entertaining and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, quirky trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the perfect book for any kid who can’t get enough of these ferocious fish.

Professor Noggin's Life in The Ocean Trivia Card Game

PLAY & LEARN: Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.

FUN FACTS: Explore underwater and learn about the amazing creatures in the sea. Discover facts about common mammals, plants and other Life in the Ocean.

Sharks Top Trumps Card Game

Find out if the Nurse Shark or the Tiger Shark is the most mysterious, or if the Spiny Dogfish Shark or the Whale Shark has been involved in the most incidents

Bag of Genuine Shark Teeth - Fossilized

30+ genuine (broken) fossilized shark teeth from Morocco! These are broken and partial teeth fossils! Each bag will have about 2-3 small full shark teeth, the other teeth will be broken and chipped!

LEGO Creator 3in1 Deep Sea Creatures Shark

This sea creatures toy building set features 3 sea animal figures: a scary shark, a posable crab with a box of treasure and a wide-mouthed Angler Fish

The dark-blue and white colored toy shark figure has an opening mouth, pointy teeth, posable fins, movable body joints and reflective eyes

Eyewitness Kits Shark Casting Kit

  • Fun
  • Educational
  • Learn While Having Fun
  • Comes With Everything You Need
  • PerfectCast 5 Times Stronger Than Plaster

Sharks 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

 100 Piece Puzzle

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

Julia Rothman’s best-selling illustrated Anatomy series takes a deep dive into the wonders of the sea with Ocean Anatomy. 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. 

6PC Realistic Shark Figurines Set

✔ SHARK FIGURINES BIG PARTY - Includes whale shark, hammerhead shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, zebra shark. Totally includes 6 sharks figurines. Kids would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

✔ REALISTIC EMULATIONAL DETAILS - This sea animal figures set was made by hand painted with high realistically detailed appearance, cute face and childish eyes. Their uniquely molded textures and richly painted details make the animals vivid. And all the animal figures stands up very well, they do not fall over. Children would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

Additionally, look at more ideas for learning about sharks.

More Activities to Learn About Sharks

  • How to Make A Megalodon Shark Tooth Fun Homeschool Project
  • How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Fun Sight Word Activity

Finally, look at this fun way to learn shark anatomy vocabulary.

Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

You will need:

  • Oceans Anatomy
  • or Shark Anatomy Diagram
  • Cardstock
  • Plastic shark figures
  • Small basket
How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

First, for older children, have them type (or write) all the shark vocabulary words from the list. Then print it out on cardstock. Cut out each word and place it in a basket.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

Add a few plastic sharks that have enough detail that your child will be able to find each of the words.

You will want something close to 6” or larger so there is enough room to put down all the labels.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

Give them the book or a printout of shark anatomy to use as a reference.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

Now your child can use the words to label each part of the shark.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

To make it harder after they initially label each part you can remove some of the words and see if they can recall what is missing.

For example, cover the words on the diagram one by one until they know all the parts, or close the book together and see how many they can get on their own.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

For younger children, you could simplify it by only giving them a few words like snout, nostril, eye, dorsal fin, mouth, and caudal fin.

Also, you can use shark species as another type of vocabulary to learn.

In the same manner as above, type up some species to match the sharks you already have or print out photos of them.

Let your child match the name with the correct shark.

These small sharks offer a variety and are great for labeling species but would be too small for the anatomy activity.

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

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

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

August 9, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 gross scat facts and how to make edible scat. Too, you’ll like Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop.

It may be kinda gross, but I can guarantee your kids are going to remember this lesson for years to come.

This fun hands-on activity is perfect for a forest unit or survival study.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Too, if you are studying a specific animal like a moose or a particular region like the Northwoods, add this activity.

The Northwoods are a boreal forest and comprise about half of Canada and many parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

What is scat? Scat is just the “fancy” scientific way of saying wild animal droppings.

10 Unbelievably Gross Scat Facts

  1. Some animals, like birds and some monkeys, actually dig through poop looking for insects to eat- gross!
  2. Turkey vultures poop on their own feet after scavenging on dead animals. While it may sound pretty disgusting it has an important purpose, they are filled with good bacteria that help kill bad bacteria they might have picked up.
  3. There are 2 caterpillars that disguise themselves as poop to avoid being eaten – the viceroy and the white admiral.
  4. Due to the shape of their ridge intestines and their high-fiber diet wombat poop comes out very dense and perfectly square. They can leave behind 80-100 square pellets every single day.
  5. There is a very expensive coffee, called kopi luwak, that is made from beans that are collected from a palm civet’s poop. You won’t find that in my pantry.
  6. Sloths climb down from the trees just once a week to poop. It can be a pretty big poop, equaling up to about ⅕ of their body weight.
  7. Caterpillars can shoot their poop far, up to 40 times the length of their bodies.
  8. A lot of animal poop is used to make great fertilizer for gardens-cows, chickens, llamas, goats, and rabbits.
  9. Owls poop but they also get rid of their waste by regurgitating pellets. These pellets contain hair, bones, and the remains of insects.
  10. Pandas can poop up to 50 pounds of waste per day.

I based this idea off Who Pooped in the Northwoods (Scats and Tracks for Kids), a simple fun book that gives kids a peek into the animals of the Northwoods by teaching them to look for animal signs like tracks and scat of course.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

It encourages kids to make observations like noticing the direction of hoofprints and what is in the poop, is it an omnivore or carnivore? Can you tell from its’s scat?

Books About Scat and Tracks

Next, look at some of these resources to add to your unit study.

Books about Animal Scat, Poop, and Tracks

Add some of these fun resources to your unit study about animals.

Who Pooped in the Northwoods? - Scat and Tracks for Kids

Watch where you step! Sometimes the animals in the Northwoods are hard to find but you can almost always find their poop! Come along with Michael, Emily, and their family as they find poop (scat) and footprints (tracks) and discover which animal made them! An ideal tool for teaching young children about animal behavior, diet, and scat and tracks identification the perfect companion for in the car or in the field on your next trip to the Northwoods. Fun illustrations of the animals and their scat and tracks supplement the charming story, and a quick-reference chart at the back makes field identification a breeze!

Whose Poop Is That? (Whose Is THAT?)

Poop! Ewwww!No, don’t say “Ewwww.” Ask, “Whose poop is that?” This simple, and yes, charming book asks this question about seven examples of animal poop. By investigating visual clues, young readers can learn to identify the animal through its droppings. For instance, find a sample of poop with bits of bone and tufts of hair. Turn the page to learn it came from a fox!

Ecosystem - A Family Card Game about Animals, their Habitats, and Biodiversity

ECOLOGY BOARD GAME - Learn about ecology from a science game! Players build ecosystems of wild animals such as bears, foxes, and rabbits, in environments such as streams, forests, and meadows and are rewarded for sustainability and diversity! Our 2-6 player games will go great on a board game table in a classroom to teach students about the beauty of biological variety.

40 PCS Woodland Animals Figures Model Trees

  • 3 x deer, 1 x bear, 1 x squirrel, 6 x model cyan pine trees, 9 x model birches, 5 x model poplars, 2 x model white poplars, 3 x flower trees, 10 x aloe leaves.
  • 【Material】These model trees and flowers are made of plastic material, well workmanship, flexible and durable for using. Not suitable for children under 6 years old, please use them under the guidance of adults to prevent children accidental ingestion.

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Become a nature detective with this illustrative, engaging and fun Take-Along-Guide. You may not know where to look, or what to look for, but animal signs are everywhere and this guide will help you learn how to read them. You'll learn how to spot and identify common clues that 17 wildlife species leave behind in the woods, in the fields and along ponds.

Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Read and find out about how to track animals by finding footprints and other clues in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

Does a cat use her claws when she walks? How does a rabbit run? What does a skunk smell like? Find out the answers in Big Tracks, Little Tracks, a perfect first book for children with a budding interest in animals and nature.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It includes a find out more page with lots of hands-on activities.

Animal Scat and Tracks Resources

Also, look at some of these resources to add to your forest or animal unit study.

  • Mammal Scat of North America
  • Learn All About Animal Poop with this fun Lesson Plan
  • Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
  • Animal Tracks Book

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Finally, look how to make this fun edible scat recipe.

Edible Scat Recipe

You can use any kind of cereal that you like, whatever you have on hand, even quick-cooked oats.

If you can find a multipack of the mini boxes at the grocery store your kids will have even more fun getting creative.

You will need:

  • 2 ½ cups dry cereal
  • 2 cups marshmallows
  • 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Scavenge the kitchen or the shelves at your grocery store to find “add-ins” to your poop to help differentiate the different animals you wish to make.

Think of different shapes of cereal, raisins, nuts, and candies.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Melt marshmallows and butter in a large microwave-safe dish by heating them in 30-second increments and stirring between each rotation until completely melted.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Immediately stir in the dry cereal and cocoa powder until completely mixed.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

How to Make Edible Poop

Separate into as many kinds of edible scat you want to make.

Add in any “special” ingredients and form the shapes.

Spray or butter your hands to keep it from sticking.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Rabbit poop is small little round pellets. Make it before you add anything else, rolling it into tiny balls.

White Tail Deer poop is kind of like rabbit poop that you may be more familiar with, little pellets but larger and they more closely resemble the shape of jellybeans.

Black Bear poop looks similar to what your dog might leave in the backyard but bigger and it might contain berries, seeds, twigs, or hair depending on its recent diet. You can add in oats, unbroken cereal, pretzels, etc.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

Wolf Poop usually contains hair/fur and is long and tapered off. To recreate fur use coconut flakes.

Beaver poop is not frequently seen as it is usually dropped into the water and even in their lodges.

But it is full of wood chips and sawdust if you were to spot it. To look like wood chips you can add larger flakes of cereal and crumbs when forming it.

Set it on waxed paper and allow it to firm up.

Label your scat and if you have them, let your child match up coordinating plastic animals or the correct printed photo with each one they make.

10 Gross Scat Facts and How to Make Edible Scat

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

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