elementary science

Easy Praying Mantis Craft: Awesome Insect Projects for Elementary Students

July 9, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 awesome insect projects for elementary students. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro for more fun ideas.

Then I have a fun tutorial for making a praying mantis from a clothespin. Too, look at my post Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃How to Make Clay Insects for more insect projects.

Praying mantises are fascinating insects with unusual features. They have long bodies, triangular heads, and large eyes.

Easy Praying Mantis Craft: Awesome Insect Projects for Elementary Students

One thing that makes them very unique is that they have two special front legs that they use for catching food. And these legs have spikes that help them hold onto their prey.

We will, of course, learn about insects as a whole class within the amazing animal kingdom and more about the praying mantis.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

Then, add some books to your study of insects.

INSECT BOOKS FOR KIDS

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly.

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Then, look at these facts about praying mantis.

COOL PRAYING MANTIS FACTS

They come in different colors, like green or brown, which helps them blend in with plants.
Praying mantises eat other insects like flies, crickets, and even butterflies.
They are called “praying” mantises because they often hold their front legs up as if they are praying. But really they are just waiting to catch their next meal!
Baby praying mantises are called nymphs.
Praying mantises can turn their heads almost all the way around.
They can be found in gardens and fields and are very good at hiding because their color helps them blend in with their surroundings.

Now that we’ve learned a bit about the praying mantis, let’s take a look at the facts and features of insects in general and what makes an insect.

THE AMAZING WORLD OF INSECTS

All insects have six legs.
Insects have special sensors that help them smell, taste, and feel their environment.
Insects have three main body parts-head, thorax, and abdomen.
Many insects have wings and can fly.
Some have two wings, and some have four.
Some insects go through a process called metamorphosis, where they change their shape as they grow. For example, a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
Insects live in many different places, such as underground, in trees, or even in water.
Some insects, like bees, communicate with each other through dances.
Many insects use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators.

10 INCREDIBLE INSECT PROJECTS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

Here 8 Insect Fun Facts About Texas For Kids | Easy Dragonfly Craft that is just adorable.
Make a fun and Easy Crawling Caterpillar Craft as part of a butterfly study.
Check out this Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects.
Kinda gross but still pretty cool, create your own Dung Beetle Insect Craft.
4 Cicada Insect Fun Facts For Kids | How to Make A Cicada Clothespin Craft
Bee Pollination STEAM Activity
Turn empty rolls into these cute little Cardboard Roll Yarn Wrapped Bugs Craft.
What a neat idea, the LEGO Ideas The Insect Collection lets your child make a model of some common insects with their favorite building blocks.
In case you ever wondered How to Make a Bug Hotel Craft, here ya go, a great way to invite bugs to the yard for observation.
Put together a Fun And Easy Spider Craft: Insect Lessons For Elementary Students.

Finally, look at how to make this fun praying mantis craft.

EASY PRAYING MANTIS CRAFT

You will need:

Wooden clothespin
2 Green pipe cleaners
Green craft paint
Green craft foam or felt
paintbrush
Hot glue or tacky glue
Google eyes

Paint the wooden clothespin green and set to the side.

Cut a small triangle with rounded corners from green craft foam a little larger than the clothespin width and one oblong shape a little wider than the clothespin, cut up the center about ¾” of the way.

Finally cut two small circles about ¾” across.

Cut a 1” length off each pipe cleaner and then cut what is left into 3 equal pieces.

Glue eyes to the craft foam/felt on either side and then secure it to the clamp end of the clothespin with glue.

Attach the 1” pieces to either side of the triangular head for antennae.

Bend the remaining 6 pieces into V shapes and attach to the front, middle and back of the clothespin.

Fold the oblong shaped piece of foam over the back to make the wings and secure with glue.

For the final part glue the green circles you made over the forearms of the front legs like this, you can use scissors before or after you attach them to give them a bit of a ragged edge to make their graspers.

Then you will want to bend the front arms around so that they are in the praying position of the mantis.

Create Your Own Easy Sand Dollar Edible Beach Inspired Cookies

June 30, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating your own sand dollar edible beach inspired cookies is so easy. And they make for a great summer treat or as part of a marine biology unit. Too, look at my page Seashore Beach Watching Unit Study and Seashore Lapbook for more fun ideas.

Sand dollars make a great starting point for learning about marine biology, beach ecosystems, and ocean conservation.

You can turn your cookie-making into a whole mini-unit study. Read books about ocean life, watch documentaries, or even plan a trip to a local aquarium or beach.

Create Your Own Easy Sand Dollar Edible Beach Inspired Cookies

Kids will enjoy drawing or labeling the parts of a sand dollar, comparing them to other sea creatures like sea stars or sea urchins, playing with them in a sensory bin, and more.

Pair your sand dollar cookies with a fun craft, such as making sand dollars out of salt dough or white clay for display.

This hands-on approach helps make learning memorable!

ECHINODERMS BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books about echinoderms, the group sand dollars are part of.

11 Books About Fascinating Echinoderms Marine Animals

This group of animals sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, star fish and crinoids. All of these are marine animals with radial symmetry in their body shapes.

What's in the Tide Pool?

What would you see if you sat at the edge of a tidepool, looked into the water and watched the changes taking place in this little world? What life would you discover there? In a charming hand-sized book, Anne Hunter illustrates the creatures that live in and around a tidepool, and describes each animal's characteristics and habits. The gorgeous artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to explore their environment. Fans of Hunter’s two books, WHAT'S IN THE POND? and WHAT'S UNDER THE LOG? will want to add this new title to their collection.

Sand Dollars by the Seashore

Sand Dollars by the Seashore is a charming and educational poem for children about the wonders of the beach and the importance of respecting nature. It encourages young readers to explore the shoreline and discover its beauty while learning the difference between living sand dollars and cherishing their shell souvenirs as a special gift from the sea. Perfect for a day at the beach or a bedtime read, Sand Dollars by the Seashore is sure to delight and inspire young imaginations.

Sea Stars (Ocean Life Up Close: Blastoff Readers, Level 3)

Did you know that sea stars pump water instead of blood through their systems? Although commonly called starfish, these life forms are not fish! Instead, they are part of a group containing other animals like sea urchins and sand dollars. Sea stars are hardy animals that can grow new limbs and open clam shells. In this interesting title, students will enjoy learning more about these shining ocean stars!

Sea Urchins (Ocean Life Up Close)

Sea urchins look like fireworks exploding underwater. The spines that create their unusual appearance do have a purpose: they protect the tiny animals from dangerous predators. In this title, sea urchins of all shapes, sizes, and colors are on display for early readers!

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children (Dover Children's Classics)

Familiar burgess characters Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox explore every nook and cranny of the shoreline and learn first hand about the habits and habitats of spider crabs, sea cucumbers, sand eels, and that strangest of little fishes — the sea horse.Veteran storyteller and nature lover Thornton W. Burgess provides fascinating information to young readers as he describes coastal areas along the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way he weaves the area's many life forms into an entertaining tale that's also an illustrated guide to the seashore's natural history.

The Sand Dollar

While walking on the shore of the Sea of Cortez a man has a remarkable dialog with the sea. Using the naturally occurring dove like structures found in sand dollars, the sea relates its past wars with the sun, the wind, the mountains, and the moon and addresses its ongoing war with man. The sea's explanation of the need for the fifth dove is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression with readers of all ages.

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

Following the wild success of The Big Book of Bugs and The Big Book of Beasts, The Big Book of the Blue is the third installment in Yuval Zommer’s beloved series. Alongside everything the young oceanographer needs to know, Zommer’s charming illustrations bring to life some of the slipperiest, scaliest, strangest, and most monstrous underwater animals.

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

Oceanarium: Welcome to the Museum

This stunning new offering from the Welcome to the Museum series guides readers around the world's oceans, from sandy shorelines to the darkest depths. Learn about the ocean’s most fascinating animals, including giant whale sharks, tiny tropical fish, and majestic manatees, among many others. With expert text by marine biologist Loveday Trinick and stunning illustrations by Teagan White, travel the world from frozen Arctic seas to shimmering coral reefs, and learn why it is so important that we protect our oceans.

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

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

The Master of Tides

In the city of Tarian, where mastery over the tides is essential for the city’s very existence, an unforeseen and unthinkable thing has happened. The Master of Tides—Tarian’s guardian for over seven hundred years—has died, and the Sand Coin, the object that gives the Master his power, has vanished into the shadows.

With the Sand Coin missing and Tarian under threat from an impending cataclysmic event, Cora, a spirited orphan girl laboring in the city’s Water Works, embarks on a desperate quest to save her city.

Along with Will, her charming yet unwelcome companion, Cora discovers that to find the Sand Coin, she must join the magical Wandering Circus. But who in this mysterious and dangerous troupe of young performers can she trust? And how far will Cora have to travel with the circus in order to bring the Sand Coin home?

Starfish (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Starfish have arms, but no legs. They have feet, but no toes. Starfish aren't fish, but they are living animals. In this Let's-Read-and-Find-Out classic, learn how starfish move, eat, and grow.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It's a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are:

hands-on and visual

Sand dollars are a wonderful blend of nature’s artistry and wonder. If you’ve ever walked on a beach and stumbled across a sand dollar, you know just how delicate and magical these little creatures can be.

Next, look at a few facts about sand dollars.

SAND DOLLAR FACTS

Sand dollars are flat, disk-shaped creatures that typically range from 2–4 inches across and are a kind of echinoderm, related to sea urchins and starfish.
They come in a few varieties, but the most commonly recognized sand dollar has a petal-like pattern on its upper surface, but it’s not a flower, it’s a set of pores that help it move and breathe.
They live on the ocean floor, often burrowing into sand in shallow coastal waters.
When alive, sand dollars are a rich purple or greenish color and covered in tiny, short spines.
Once the sand dollar dies and its spines fall off, its exoskeleton (called a “test”) is left to bleach in the sun, turning a soft white. Inside, a sand dollar has tiny “doves”, small, jaw-like structures which you can sometimes find when the sand dollar breaks.

Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman is the perfect reference book for all things ocean, I just love the beautiful illustrations.

SAND DOLLAR ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES

Perfect for preschoolers and inexpensive, these Paper Plate Sand Dollars will be a hit.
Fascinating Life Cycle Of A Sand Dollar & Hydro Dipped Craft is a colorful twist on creating art with your beach finds.
If all you have is sand dollar pieces you can still create this awesome Broken Sand Dollar Project
Learn How To Make A Simple Sea Urchin Craft: Echinoderms For Kids to learn about a completely different species.
Grab a cold drink and let someone else handle the read aloud for a few minutes with this reading of Sand Dollars By The Seashore on YouTube.
Small sand dollars you can use for science shelf exploration, sensory bins, ocean dioramas, and more.

Bring a bit of the beach into your home with these simple and sweet sand dollar cookies.

They’re a wonderful activity to do with kids, perfect for a summer afternoon or a beach-unit study.

MAKE SAND DOLLAR EDIBLE COOKIES FROM COOKIE MIX

Ingredients:

1 package sugar cookie mix
Sliced almonds
Graham crackers or brown sugar

First, preheat oven: to 350°F

Prepare cookie dough according to package instructions.

Roll dough into golf ball–sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Gently press each ball into a disk about 1/4 inch thick.

Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are firm and the bottoms are light golden brown.

One trick I have discovered for cookies that come out flattened or lopsided is to place a glass jar or cup over them while they are warm and gently swirl the cup this creates perfect circles.

Press 5 almonds into the center of each cookie in a flower-like pattern to resemble a sand dollar. The sand dollar’s unique, flower-like pattern on its back is a big part of its look and this is a tasty way to recreate.

Remove from the oven and let cookies cool for 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Crush vanilla wafers up by hand in a plastic baggy or in a food processor to create sand, a perfect serving bed for your sand dollar cookies.

Or to simplify this activity even further you can use brown sugar sprinkled on your plate to give it the look of sand.

How fun are these cookies?

Best Urinary System Project Ideas And Free Activity Pages

June 22, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some hands-on urinary system project ideas and free urinary system activities pages. Also, I have this Human Body Crafts page for more hands-on ideas. And this Beautiful Human Body Lapbook and Fun Unit Study.

Besides talking about what happens in your body after you drink water or juice, teaching about the urinary system should be hands-on.

So, I have rounded up some urinary system project ideas and you can download the free activity pages at the bottom.

Best Urinary System Project Ideas And Free Activity Pages

The urinary system is your body’s cleaning system.

It’s a group of organs that work together to get rid of the waste like extra water and tiny waste chemicals that your body doesn’t need.

And the group of organs that make up the urinary system are two kidneys, two ureters, 1 bladder, and one urethra.

BOOKS ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY FOR KIDS

16 Human Body Books & Hands-on Resources

Add a few of these fun resources whether you do a couple of lesson plans about the human body or a unit study.

The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body

One of the resources we used as a reference for this activity was The Way We Work, it covers a lot of interesting topics on the human body.

Medical Torso Human Body Model Anatomy

Vivid Human torso organ structure: 15 Pcs Removable Organs including: Torso, Brain (2-part), Heart, Esophagus and Aorta, Lungs (4-part), Cranial Cap, Stomach, Diaphragm, Liver, pancreas and spleen, small and large intestine. The torso structure showing the relative position, morphological features, anatomy of the head, neck and internal organs, especially the respiratory, digestive, urinary and nervous systems.

Human Organs Shape Silicone Molds 8 Pc

[HUMAN ORGANS SILICONE MOLD]: 8 Pcs Human Organs Mold With Different Shapes, Include 1 Human Heart Mold, 1 Brain Silicone Mold, 1 Liver Mold, 1 Intestinal Mold, 1 Lung Mold, 1 Stomach Mold, 1 Brain Stem Mold, 1 Kidney Mold.

Ooze Labs: Visible Human Body with Squishable Organs

This human body with squishable organs is another great way to identify the organs and become familiar with their layout in the body, it has that gross factor that so many kids love.

Human Body Model for Kids 8PCS Mini Body Parts

8PCS Human Organ Figures Set:Human organ anatomy parts display model children learning toy include small intestine, large intestine, lung, brain, stomach, heart, liver, kidney. Suitable for boys and girls over 6 years old,good for brain ability and imagination.

Anatomy (Quickstudy Academic)

Complete labeled illustrations of over 1,400 anatomical identifications. Loaded with beautifully illustrated diagrams clearly and concisely labeled for easy identification.

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts!

Basher Science: Human Body, A Book with Guts! Created & illustrated by Simon Basher, written by Dan Green

From the best-selling team that brought you The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, and Astronomy comes a topic that's close to our hearts-literally! Meet the characters and processes that that keep the human body chugging along. From the basic building blocks like Cell, DNA, and Protein, to Bones, Muscles, and all of the fun-loving Organs, readers will cozy up with the guys on the inside. Trust us-Liver has never looked better!

Heart Anatomy Poster - LAMINATED

High-quality 3 MIL LAMINATION for added durability

Tear Resistant

Human Heart Anatomy Floor Puzzle

HUMAN ORGANS LEARNING: Marvel at the rich complexities of the human heart muscle! Every piece has a unique shape designed to outline each major part of the heart organ, making these an exciting challenge to assemble. Each puzzle includes an Anatomy Reference Guide, so you can learn as you build!

Fixed Bones X-Rays, Black/White, 14 Pieces,

Authentic x-ray images
Works with any light source or light table)
Matching facture card
Detailed teaching guide

4 Pack - Anatomical Poster Set - Laminated - Muscular, Skeletal, Ligaments of the Joints, Anatomy of the Spine

Set of 4 Posters Made in the USA
Posters are 18" x 24” in size
High-quality 3 MIL lamination for added durability
Tear Resistant

My First Book About the Brain (Dover Science For Kids Coloring Books)

Discover the workings of the body's most complex organ! How does the brain control the rest of the body? How does it enable the senses to function, regulate speech, affect balance, and influence sleep and dreams? These 25 illustrations to color explain every aspect of the brain's important jobs, from communicating with the central nervous system to retaining memories. Suitable for ages 8–12.

Skull Anatomy Coloring Book: Incredibly Detailed Self-Test Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book

Enjoy This Coloring Book with 34 Beautiful Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Pages.

The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book Provides A Means Of Learning About The Structure And Function Of The Human Skull Anatomy Through A Process Of Coloring-By-Directions.

Coloring The Human Skull Anatomy And Its Nerves Is The Most Effective Way To Study The Structure And Functions Of Human Skull Anatomy. You Assimilate Information And Make Visual Associations With Key Terminology When Coloring In The Human Skull Anatomy Coloring Book, All While Having Fun.

1 Pair Plastic Skeleton Hands

Fall is a great time to grab a set of hands at Dollar Tree but also here is a pair if you're doing a unit study and need one now.

Circulatory System Poster

This poster makes a great reference and can be used with older children to help them add more detail to their project.

The Circulatory System (Your Body Systems: Blastoff! Readers

Our bodies contain a super highway of blood vessels that carry nutrients, waste, and much more from our heads to our toes. This network is the circulatory system! Beginning with a deep breath in, this fact-filled title uses easy-to-follow text and diagrams to allow readers to dive inside the bodys circulatory system!

The human body is a complex being made up of systems that keep us alive and moving! In this series, readers will dive into the bodys systems though engaging, leveled text and related diagrams that follow the parts and functions of each system. Get a microscopic view inside the body with A Closer Look, and put new knowledge into action with a hands-on activity. Check out what is happening inside the body with each title!

And look at these other human body activities for kids who love hands-on learning.

HANDS-ON HUMAN BODY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Next, look at some hands-on ideas.

URINARY SYSTEM PROJECT IDEAS

Look at this cute idea for those who love to get crafty. Draw the urinary system on an apron using markers and paint.
So cool. Kidneys and bladder made from funnels, tube and paper.
Kidney working model YouTube.
Hands-on Activity Kidney Filtering
Kidneys and Bladder experiment
Make pee
Renal System Activities

Then look at some of what is included in these printable activities.

The urinary system labeling
Kidney anatomy
Adrenal gland anatomy
Urinary bladder anatomy
The urinary system fill in the blanks
I can build a urinary system

Finally, look at how to grab your free urinary system activities pages.

HOW TO GET THE FREE HUMAN BODY URINARY SYSTEM ACTIVITIES PAGES

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

May 25, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Nothing screams summer more than an exploding watermelon theme experiment. Also, see my 4 Week Free Watermelon Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

The exploding melon experiment is a perfect example of physics and engineering in action.

Just so you know this is one of the coolest and messiest science activity we’ve done. Be sure to do this outside for a fun summer day.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

The idea is simple: you stretch rubber bands around the middle of the melon, one at a time.

Eventually, the melon explodes, shooting juice and pieces everywhere.

However, there is a lot of science to learn from this simple experiment.

KIDS BOOKS & RESOURCES ABOUT WATERMELON

First, add some of these books and fun resources.

5 Watermelon Books & Resources

Add these fun books about seeds, gardening and watermelons. You can use them for a unit study or add to your home library.

Watermelon, Watermelon

"Watermelon, Watermelon" is a delightful sing-along book by award-winning songwriter and music therapist Stephanie Leavell. Perfect for ages 1-7, this rhythmic and catchy story is based on Stephanie's beloved children's song. The book features bright, captivating illustrations by Sarah Pilar Echeverria, making it an engaging read that young children will request again and again.

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

Julia Rothman starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes–and what we dip them in.Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings

The Watermelon Seed

Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read.

Where the Watermelons Grow

When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren't there, Della worries that it’s happening again—that the sickness that put her mama in the hospital four years ago is back. That her mama is going to be hospitalized for months like she was last time.

With her daddy struggling to save the farm and her mama in denial about what’s happening, it’s up to Della to heal her mama for good. And she knows just how she’ll do it: with a jar of the Bee Lady’s magic honey, which has mended the wounds and woes of Maryville, North Carolina, for generations.

Bananagrams Word-a-Melon: Family-Fun Word Search Game for Kids Age 6+

WORDY-FUN: Word-a-Melon is the family-fun word search game by Bananagrams
FLIP THOSE TILES: Take turns rolling the die, flipping the cardboard letter chips and creating words with the overturned letters
USE YOUR MELON: Unused letters are flipped back over so players must be sure to remember where they are!

Next, look at more fun summer themed activities.

MORE WATERMELON THEME ACTIVITIES

Finally, look at how to do this experiment.

EXPLODING WATERMELON EXPERIMENT

You will need:

A medium-sized watermelon
400-600 rubber bands
Safety goggles

The very first step is to put on your safety goggles.

Ensure that all observers also have their eye protection in place. This cannot be stressed enough – flying watermelon pieces can cause serious eye injury.

Choose a flat outdoor surface and set down the watermelon.

If you are using protective sheeting, lay it down before placing the watermelon.

Have your camera or phone ready to record the event. Consider the lighting and the angle that will best capture the explosion.

Apply the first layer, carefully placing rubber bands around the circumference of the watermelon.

Ensure that they are distributed somewhat evenly around the widest part of the fruit.

There’s no specific pattern required, just aim for relatively uniform coverage.

Layer by layer, continue adding rubber bands, one at a time.

As you add more, you will start to feel the tension increasing. The rubber bands will begin to bunch together and press firmly against the watermelon’s rind.

Try to weave the new rubber bands in among the existing ones to distribute the pressure as evenly as possible.

Using a mix of rubber band sizes can help achieve better coverage and prevent too much stress on a single point.

Once you have applied a significant number of rubber bands, pause and observe the watermelon closely.

MELON EXPERIMENT

You may start to hear subtle cracking or popping sounds emanating from the rind.

These are indicators that the pressure is building and the watermelon’s structural integrity is being challenged.

Be patient; the explosion won’t happen instantaneously.

Keep adding rubber bands. As the pressure intensifies, the watermelon will likely begin to deform slightly. The area around the equator will appear compressed, and the rubber bands will be tightly stretched.

The cracking and popping sounds may become more frequent and pronounced.

This is the exciting phase where the internal forces are nearing their limit, you can see how one end of the watermelon is bulging and catch where it was just beginning to burst.

Eventually, the cumulative pressure from the rubber bands will exceed the tensile strength of the watermelon rind. This will result in a sudden and often surprisingly powerful explosion.

The watermelon will rupture, sending chunks of rind and flesh flying outwards. Be prepared for a loud noise and a shower of watermelon debris. Maintain a safe distance during this stage.

Almost as cool as the explosion was that the rubber bands formed a tight rubber band ball when the watermelon pushed through them.

The exploding watermelon experiment illustrates several key scientific concepts:

SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS MELON EXPERIMENT

Energy Release: The potential energy stored in the stretched rubber bands and the compressed watermelon is suddenly released during the explosion, propelling the fragments outwards.

External Pressure: The rubber bands exert an external compressive force on the watermelon. Each rubber band contributes a small amount of tension, and the cumulative effect of hundreds of these bands creates significant pressure directed inwards towards the watermelon’s core.

Internal Pressure: Watermelons, like many fruits, have a high water content, which contributes to internal turgor pressure. This internal pressure pushes outwards against the rind, helping the fruit maintain its shape.

Tensile Strength: The watermelon rind possesses a certain amount of tensile strength, which is its ability to withstand being pulled apart or stretched. The rind can endure a certain level of external pressure before its structural integrity is compromised.

Accumulation of Force: Individually, a single rubber band exerts a relatively small force. However, by applying a large number of rubber bands, these small forces add up to create a substantial overall pressure. This demonstrates how multiple small forces can combine to overcome a greater resistance.

Material Failure: The explosion occurs when the total external pressure exerted by the rubber bands exceeds the tensile strength of the watermelon rind plus its internal pressure. At this point, the rind can no longer withstand the forces acting upon it, and it ruptures catastrophically.

How to Make Salt Dough Bug Fossils & Fossil Definition Kids

April 26, 2025 | Leave a Comment
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We’re learning how to make salt dough bug fossils and learning a fossil definition kids. Also, you’ll love my Amber – Freezing Gold Lapbook and Unit Study.

Sometimes it’s easier to explain a definition like what is a fossil when kids do a hands-on craft.

Learning about bugs in the spring too when bugs seem to be plentiful makes a fun study.

How to Make Salt Dough Bug Fossils & Fossil Definition Kids

When people think of fossils, we think of huge dinosaurs but smaller fossils like bugs can be fascinating.

For example, amber traps bugs like glue. And bugs don’t have bones but their hard shells can still fossilize.

Bug fossils can show tiny details like eyes, wings, and even hair.

BOOKS ABOUT FOSSILS

Next, look at these books about fossils and of course dinosaurs which go hand in hand with learning about fossils

15 Books for Kids Crazy About Fossils and Dinosaurs

Your dinosaur loving kids will love some of these books and resources for a fun dinosaur unit study.

Fossils Tell of Long Ago

What is a fossil? Sometimes it's the imprint of an ancient leaf in a rock. Or it could be the skeleton of a dinosaur that has turned to stone. With clear prose and beautifully detailed illustrations, award-winning author and illustrator Aliki describes the different ways fossils are formed and what they tell us about life on Earth long ago.

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 section with a glossary and activity guide so kids can create their own fossils for someone to find a million years from now.

Dinosaurs! (New & Updated)

Gail Gibbons presents the most recent and up-to-date theories about the history of dinosaurs and dinosaur discoveries. She discusses the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and the non-bird dinosaurs that lived during each time. Each dinosaur is explored in just the right amount of detail for young paleontologists, as this book brings these magnificent creatures to life again

Digging Up Dinosaurs (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

How did those enormous dinosaur skeletons get inside the museum? Beloved author-illustrator Aliki’s simple, engaging text and colorful artwork bring the long-extinct creatures to life for young dinosaur enthusiasts.

Long ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Then, suddenly, they died out. For thousands of years, no one knew these giant creatures had ever existed. Then people began finding fossils—bones and teeth and footprints that had turned to stone. Today, teams of experts work together to dig dinosaur fossils out of the ground, bone by fragile bone

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

A playful peek into the homes of dinosaur babies and their parents at bedtime!How do dinosaurs say good night?Brimming with humor and familiar good-night antics, here is a playful peek into the homes of dinosaur children and their parents at bedtime. Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, this is one nighttime book your own little dinosaur will want to read again and again.

Dinosaur Roar!

A celebratory edition of this much loved classic picture book, now twenty-five years old. This rollicking rhyming text is a joy to read aloud, and the charming and colourful pictures will appeal to the very youngest dinosaur fans. Originally published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta and Paul Stickland is now seen as a modern classic, a book that every preschool child should have.In the back of the book is a wonderful pull-out poster showing the dinosaur characters.The book carries the endorsement of the Earth Sciences Department at the Natural History Museum.

Dinosaur Bones

With a lively rhyming text and vibrant paper collage illustrations, author-artist Bob Barner shakes the dust off the dinosaur bones found in museums and reminds us that they once belonged to living, breathing creatures. Filled with fun dinosaur facts (a T. Rex skull can weigh up to 750 pounds!) and an informational "Dinometer," Dinosaur Bones is sure to make young dinosaur enthusiasts roar with delight.

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs

A long time ago there were dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails. Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Bryon Barton brings to life a unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once upon a time.

A long time ago there was dinosaurs. Big dinosaurs and small dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with horns on their heads or spikes down their backs. Dinosaurs with long, long necks and long, long tails.Imaginatively and with a masterful use of color, shape and composition, Byron Barton brings to life unique and endearing vision of what the world may have looked like once up ona time.

Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones

This STEM-friendly musical fossil dig will have dinosaur lovers singing along as they learn the science behind paleontology.

I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur

If you could be a dinosaur, which would you be? Would you roar like the ferocious T-Rex? Or soar overhead like the pterodactyl? In this playful early-learning book, Stella Blackstone s lyrical, rhyming text takes readers on an unforgettable Jurassic journey, while fabric artist Clare Beaton recreates the prehistoric world of dinosaurs using a colorful array of felt, sequins, beads and buttons.

T Is for Terrible: A Picture Book

I am Tyrannosaurus Rex.

I am a dinosaur,

otherwise known as

a terrible lizard.

Tyrannosaurus rex is a terrible dinosaur; of this, everyone is certain. But is this dinosaur really so terrible? He IS very big and very hungry. True, he might even eat his neighbors for lunch. But from his point of view, he can't help it. After all, he's not a vegetarian . . .

The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek

Meet George. He's strong, as a giant dinosaur should be, strong enough to wreck a plane! (Of course he thinks it's his old enemy, the flying Pteranodon.) He's loyal. He'll do anything to help Joan and Joey save their mother's ranch at Cricket Creek, even chase a bank robber. He's shy. He's so shy he gets Joan and Joey into hilarious, dinosaur sized trouble!

The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs

The classroom is decorated as Dinosaur Land, but Ms. Frizzle-inspired by an archeological dig-craves a more authentic experience. The Magic School Bus turns into a time machine and transports the class back millions of years to an adventure where they learn about dinosaurs, their habitats and diets, and even a Maiasaura nesting ground.

Fossils (A True Book: Earth Science)

Fossils are one of the most important tools we have for learning about long-extinct wildlife.

A True Book: Earth Science series presents fascinating facts and fun activities that will engage the budding earth scientist, while exploring the fields of geology, meteorology, ecology, and more. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study. In the 4.6 billion years since Earth was formed, many plant and animal species have come and gone. Readers will discover how fossils are formed, how paleontologists search for them, and what kinds of information they can provide.

Paleontological Fossils Sample- Paleontology Trilobite Fossil, Scientific Amber Specimen

A box of ten fossils: A box of this paleontological fossil sample contains ten of fossils, including sea clam fossils, trilobites, ichthyodonts, porphyrites, copal amber, graptolites, nematodes, phylloceras, corals, and spirals. Fossil specimen of algae.

Ancient Fossils TOOB - Figurines: Dino Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, T-Rex Tooth, Frog Skeleton, Sea Scorpion & More

Step into Prehistory: This Toob contains 10 expertly hand-painted mini figurines of ancient fossils, including a Dinosaur Footprint, Giant Crab, Ammonite, Raptor Claw, Fossilized Frog, Trilobite, T-Rex Tooth, Fossilized Fish, Dinosaur Skin, and a Sea Scorpion.

Next, look at more activities to include with this one.

MORE FOSSIL ACTIVITIES FOR FOSSIL DEFINITIONS KIDS

ACTIVITIES ABOUT BUGS AND INSECTS

FOSSIL DEFINITION KIDS

In addition, learn what is fossil definition. A simple definition of what is a bug fossil can be easy to explain.

A bug fossil is the preserved remains or impression of an ancient insect or arthropod. For example, think about spiders and centipedes.

And there are two main ways bugs can become fossils like sedimentary rock fossils and amber fossils

Finally, look at how to make salt dough bug fossils.

HOW TO MAKE SALT DOUGH BUG FOSSILS

First, look at this list of supplies.

1 Cup flour
½ Cup salt
½ Cup water
Bowl
Spoon
Round biscuit cutter (or a cup)
Rolling pin
Parchment paper
Small cooking sheet
Plastic bugs
Paint (optional)

Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Add flour and salt to the bowl, and stir to combine.

Pour the water into the flour and salt mixture.

Stir until a dough ball forms.

Knead the dough with your hands until the salt dough is completely incorporated.

Place a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface. Use the rolling pin to roll the dough out.

Use the round biscuit cutter or a cup to make round cutouts.

Remove the extra dough.

Leaving just the cutouts on the parchment paper.

Carefully press a plastic bug into the salt dough, then gently remove the bug.

Repeat the step above until all the salt dough cutouts have a fossil imprinted.

Carefully place the parchment paper onto the cooking sheet.

Bake for 1 hour. Carefully flip the salt dough cutouts over and continue to bake for an additional hour.

Let the salt dough fossil cool completely before handling. Paint salt dough fossils (if you choose to).