hands-on activities

How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

May 3, 2023 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a shark unit study, an easy shark STEM activity, and free shark notebooking pages. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies, Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook, and Coral Reef pages.

A shark unit study is a fun way to learn about these creatures of the deep even if you don’t live near the ocean, I would prefer not to study them up close anyway.

We can get up close and personal through videos, hands-on activities, fun facts, and fantastic books.

Did you know that, unlike many other bony fishes, sharks do not have a swim bladder that gives them buoyancy?

How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

To help overcome their tendency to sink there are large amounts of oil in their liver that is less dense than seawater.

Also, sharks are made of cartilage rather than bone which is considerably lighter.

To demonstrate why that helps sharks float we are going to create a couple of sharks and perform a fun STEM Experiment.

First, look at some facts for your shark unit study.

Shark Unit Study Shark Facts

There are over 500 species of sharks.
Shark skin feels very similar to sandpaper.
The fastest shark is the Shortfin Mako Shark, clocked at 31mph with short bursts of speed up to 46 mph.
The largest shark is the Whale shark while the smallest is the Dwarf Lantern Shark.
Prehistoric sharks were called Megalodons.
Sharks are found in almost every ocean habitat from coral reefs to the arctic sea.
Sharks do not sleep as humans do, but instead, they have active and restful periods.

What are Sharks

Sharks are the ocean’s ultimate predators. Some sharks live in the cold polar waters and others prefer the warm tropical seas.

And a shark is a fish because it swims with fins and has gills.

However, it is a cartilaginous fish and not a bony fish.

Shark Food

Additionally, sharks vary in their diet and in the way they hunt prey.

For example, the tiger shark is famous for eating, anything even license plates.

And the white-tipped shark stays in deep water and is famous because it ate shipwrecked sailors during World War II.

In addition, sharks have larger brains than other fish and can have advanced hunting techniques.

Too, many sharks rely on camouflage and being able to sneak up on their prey.

Moreover, others are filter eaters. They swim with their mouth open, suck in water, and filter the food from the water.

Their meal consists of tiny animals and plants called “plankton” floating in the water.

Also, here are some shark vocabulary words.

pup – baby shark
dorsal fin – a fin on the back of a fish.
caudal fin – the tail fin.
pectoral fin – paired fins toward the front of the shark
cartilage – tough connective tissue which is not bone
marine biologist – a scientist who studies marine (ocean) organisms
cartilaginous fish – skeletons are made of cartilage like sharks, rays, and eels

Next, unit studies are best remembered by doing hands-on activities.

Shark Unit Study Hands-On Activities

I just love this fun Newspaper Shark Craft.
Play the Jawsome Shark Rescue Game to get everyone up and moving.
Digging For Shark Tooth Fossils Sensory Bin is a fun way to explore the senses.
DIY Sharknado – Science Fun For Kids Turn a serious topic into something a little silly.
Every unit study needs a couple of good snacks like these Shark Fin Cupcakes
Make the Shark Slime Recipe, it’s perfect to add to plastic sharks for hands-on fun.
Toddlers through Kindergarteners will love the Feed The Shark Alphabet Game

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.

Too, I have some fun free shark notebooking pages.

So, look at the title of these 4 notebooking pages.

Sharks – What Are Sharks and About Shark Senses
What Do Sharks Eat
Shortfin Mako and White-Tipped Sharks
Great White Shark and Tiger Shark

In addition, here are more homeschool unit studies.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

MORE SHARK ACTIVITIES

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

Free Middle School Years Fun Shark Unit Printables

Finally, look at this fun sharks float STEM a;ctivity.

Shark Unit Study – How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity

You will need:

2 water bottles.
Craft foam
Sharpies
Vegetable oil
Water
A large container.

Fill two water bottles with the exact same amount of liquid – one with water and one with vegetable oil.

Decorate the bottles if you’d like to make them look more like sharks.

Use craft foam to make teeth and fins and then you can draw the details like eyes with a permanent marker.

Use hot glue for a quick secure drying adhesive but apply it to the foam rather than the plastic bottle and avoid touching with the metal nozzle.

Once everything has dried on your “shark“ you’re ready to test them out in the water.

A large storage tote is perfect for this experiment, fill it halfway full of water and drop in your sharks.

Now it’s time for observation and determining the results. What did you notice?

While the one with water stays somewhat afloat it is more weighted, the oil field shark floats much more effortlessly.

Pop in some plastic sharks and turn your tub of water into a fun sensory play activity as well.

How to Get the Free Shark Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free shark notebooking pages. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

May 2, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have a hands-on way to show a sea turtle life cycle activity. Add my fun From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook to make it for multiple ages.

This sea turtle life cycle activity lets your child create a unique art project while also including some marine science in their lessons.

Gather up a few supplies including a book or two and sit down with your little ones to create the full life cycle and then use it as a tool to teach as well.

Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

Ocean Anatomy gives a simple overview of different types of sea turtles as well as their life cycle, and some conservation information.

It is a great book to add to your library for all its wonderful content.

7 Facts about Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

Baby turtles use a small tooth called a caruncle to break out of the shell before heading to the water.
Once they are fully grown, they go back to where they were born to mate and start the cycle all over again.
The female sea turtle climbs ashore, digs a body pit and nest (or egg chamber), lays her eggs, and then covers the nest with sand.
It takes about six or seven weeks after being laid for the hatchlings to emerge and then head to the water.
Most species nest several times during a nesting season, every 2-4 years.
While it is not known exactly how long sea turtles live in the wild, scientists believe that their life span may be as long as a century.
There is not much known about their first few years. During the time they head to sea as newly hatched babies until they return to coastal shallow waters, up to 20 years. They are called the lost years because not much is known about this period in their life cycle.

Then add a few more resources to your marine life study.

Resources to Study the Sea Turtle Life Cycle

10 Sea Turtle Resources

Add some books about sea turtles and hands-on resources to your lesson or unit study to bring it to life.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are fascinating. Hatched from eggs smaller than a baseball, some can grow to weigh over a thousand pounds. Once adults, they can live to be around 100 years old. And when it's time to nest, they migrate more than 1,000 miles. With colorful, clear illustrations and straightforward text, Gail Gibbons introduces the eight kinds of sea turtles living in the ocean today. Learn the similarities and differences with labeled diagrams and experience the hatching of the tiny turtle babies with detailed illustrations. This updated edition now includes the most up-to-date information about these beloved reptiles, as reviewed by an expert vetter in the field of herpetology.

I'll Follow the Moon

Celebrating the love between mother and child comes an achingly beautiful story that has captured hearts around the world. Written by a new mom, by accident, when she sang a little song to her fussing newborn, I'll Follow the Moon proudly donates proceeds to charity: every book saves a turtle.

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.

National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles

Who could resist celebrating sea turtles? They may seem like lazy ocean reptiles drifting with the oceans’ currents, but they are actually long-distance swimmers that spend their entire lives searching for food and a mate. What’s more, they come with their own built-in GPS, returning to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs. Kids will learn all about these tranquil and mysterious animals through brilliant photography and illustrations, plus the trusted and distinctive content you love from NG Kids!

Tammy Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles

A book that tells how turtles survive with the help of protection programs.

Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide for the Atlantic and Gulf, from Canada to Mexico

The book's pithy, well-organized sections are lavishly illustrated. It is a guide for anyone who is the least bit curious about these fascinating marine animals. Bite-sized installments harmonize with multiple images on each page to make this book a unique and entertaining resource. The story it tells covers understanding, experiencing, and saving our sea turtles, with descriptions of how these endangered animals contribute to our happiness and why they deserve a helping hand.

Sea Turtle Scientist (Scientists in the Field)

The mother turtle has a vital job to do: dig a nest in which she will lay eggs that will hatch into part of the next generation of leatherbacks. With only one in a thousand of the eggs for this critically endangered species resulting in an adult sea turtle, the odds are stacked against her and her offspring.

4 PCS Sea Turtle Life Cycle

Children can see how animals change and grow. Realistic detail showing a different stage in the development of animals.

Uniquely molded textures and richly painted details bring them to life and help inspire creativity for kids.

It is a great way to expand the growth with children through physical science.

Follow the Moon Home

A triumphant story of environmental activism, community, and friendship: Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkinson team up to offer a story of the powerful difference young people can make in the world. Meet Viv, who has a new home and a new school by the sea and follow her as she finds her way in a new place and helps bring together a whole community to save the sea turtles of the South Carolina coast.

The Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle

Describes the life cycle of sea turtles discussing reproduction, birth, and adult life.

Next, look at these videos

Sea Turtle Life Cycle
Wild Kratts |Incredibly Strong Sea Turtle.
Nat Geo Wild Surviving Sea Turtles

More Sea Turtle Resources

Also, add more hands-on learning ideas.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

You will need:

Cardboard egg carton
Green and white craft paint
Green cardstock, construction paper, or craft foam
Black permanent marker
Scissors
Hot glue or craft glue

Cut out 5 cups from your egg carton (more if you want several eggs for the “nest”).

Paint 3 cups with various shades of green to make them unique, let your child add spots, etc.

Paint the remaining two cups white.

Allow all the paint to dry completely. While you are waiting, cut out 3 sets of 4 fins from green paper making them in 3 different sizes.

Set 1 white one to the side and leave it alone, this is an unhatched egg.

Cut one of the green cups down to a little more than half its size and glue it into the other white cup to create a hatching baby. You can even distress the egg a bit to show he is breaking it open.

Draw on little black eyes with a marker and glue the smallest fins as if he is pushing his way out of the egg.

Cut the second green cup down by about ⅓” and glue the medium-sized paper fins into place beneath the cup and add eyes. This is your juvenile turtle.

Finally, add the largest fins to the largest green cup and add eyes for your adult sea turtle.

They are ready to be a cute part of your lessons.

To give a better understanding of the life cycle you can use blue and beige paper or even sand if you have it placed on a tray to represent the water and sand.

Once you have that set up it is easy peasy to demonstrate the life cycle of sea turtles.

Share how sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach then head back to the water, then the babies hatch and head for the water until they are grown, and the cycle starts all over again.

10 Edible Beach Crafts For Teens and Make Edible Beach Glass

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

You’ll love these edible beach crafts for teens for fun summer learning. Also, look at my page Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook for more fun beach ideas.

Does your teen love to cook and craft?

If you are looking for a fun summer craft for a teen which is also edible, you’ll love the edible beach glass.

10 Edible Beach Crafts For Teens and Make Edible Beach Glass

This edible beach glass is adorable and delicious. It’s a great way to learn how beach glass is made.

Then there are the life skills cooking teaches, and some science and math worked into the simple recipe as well.

I also think it’s a great art project.

Whether the edible beach crafts are to be used as part of a unit study or for a fun summer-themed snack there are plenty of great ideas here.

So, include these excellent facts about beach glass.

5 Fun Facts About Beach Glass

Beach glass is the debris left behind by broken bottles and jars which have been broken. The pieces are worn smooth, have a frosted appearance from the combination of the waves, and the sand wearing them down.
There is a glass beach in Fort Bragg, California, but they don’t let you take souvenirs home with you.
Beach glass is also known as sea glass, mermaid’s tears, and sea pearls.
Common colors to find are clear, brown, green, and blue. Rarer to find are colors turquoise, yellow, and pink. Occasionally even red.
Sea glass/beach glass can be found in many parts of the world. It is commonly found along the coasts of England and New England, North and South Carolina, Kauai Island in Hawaii, and California. There is also sea glass along the beaches of the Great Lakes, but it does look different than the glass found tossed about in the ocean.

5 MORE Facts about Beach Glass

To age sea glass look at the tint- a light purple shade will be newer as manganese is added to the glass and turns purple with sun exposure, a green shade indicates that the glass is older.
Sea glass is highly collectible and is used in jewelry, glass mosaics, wind chimes, to decorate frames or even just stored in a mason jar.
It is much harder to find beach glass these days. More people are hunting for it on the beaches and many glass items packing items have now been replaced with plastic.
Due to more storms and the reshaping of the shoreline, the best time to find beach glass is spring.
While often used interchangeably sea glass and beach glass are not the same thing. Sea glass is found on saltwater beaches, and beach glass on freshwater beaches. The main difference in appearance is that the lakes aren’t as rough so there is not as much tumbling, making it less frosted and might even still have some shine to it.

Too, look at these other edible beach crafts for teens.

10 Edible Beach Crafts for Teens

Let them get creative with these Strawberry Sea Creature Snacks and see what they come up with.
Delicious for a hot summer day- Ocean Blue Lemonade Popsicles. I have added these Shark Attack Cheesecakes to my must-make recipe list, don’t they look amazing?
What a great art and cooking project this Edible Sugar Seashells and Sand recipe is.
These sand dollar cookies are just too precious.
Simple but these Beach Pudding Cups are a tasty and cute beach-themed treat.
Pinchable cute Beach Crab Sandwiches look delicious.
Learn how to Make a Sandcastle Cake.
Semi-healthy and a fun theme- Beach Ball Fruit Pizza.
I bet these Butterscotch Crunch Starfish are amazing.
Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

More Beach Crafts for Teens Activities

Summer Crafts for Kids

Also, add some summer crafts to keep summer fun for teens.

Grab a copy of Ocean Anatomy, not a heavy textbook, but rather a fun and beautifully illustrated flip-through full of great facts about the ocean and all that is in it.

Finally, look how to make fun edible beach glass.

Beach Crafts For Teens Make Edible Beach Glass

I highly recommend using flavorings coconut, mango, and banana to add a little something extra to your edible beach glass but it is delicious with just the sugar flavor as well.

You will need:

2 cups granulated white sugar
¾ cup of water
⅔ cup of light corn syrup
food coloring -blue and green
Flavoring oils – optional.
Candy thermometer
Silicone spatula
Medium baking pot
Baking mat

Directions:

Clip your candy thermometer onto the side of a medium-sized pan so that it doesn’t quite touch the bottom.

Combine water, sugar, and corn syrup into the pot and stir together.

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature on the candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees.

At this point, you must work very quickly so be sure to have all your add-ins ready to go with the caps removed, heat-safe bowls, silicone mat, food coloring, and flavorings.

Carefully remove from the heat and divide ⅓ of the mixture into 2 heat-safe containers like these Pyrex measuring cups.

Quickly stir a bit of green and blue food coloring as well as a bit of the flavoring oil into two of your containers. Leave the third clear but feel free to add flavor.

Pour the mixture from the pan and your containers onto your silicone mat quickly.

Beach Crafts

You don’t need to be neat just make a large blob shape. If it has started to set up, you can place the pan back on the heat for a minute or the glass cups into the microwave for 30 seconds to soften the mixture.

Allow it to cool completely until hard, this should only take 10-15 minutes but you can pop it in the fridge to speed up the process a bit.

Transfer the hardened pieces to a zipper bag or cover them with waxed paper and hit them with a little mallet or against the counter to break them up into smaller pieces.

Add pieces to a separate ziploc bag and add a few spoons of powdered sugar, shake to coat everything. This keeps them from sticking together and gives your beach glass the dull frosted appearance of real beach glass.

Dust off excess powdered sugar.

Check out this side-by-side of real beach glass and edible beach glass, you can hardly tell the difference!

Beautiful And Colorful Amazonian Rainforest Animals Lapbook For Kids

April 27, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you want to focus on the beautiful and colorful Amazonian Rainforest animals, you’ll love this lapbook. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest Animals of the Amazon, Rain Forest Amazon, and my lapbook ideas for more activities and resources.

Of course, this by no means even touches the fringes of all the biodiversity of the animals contained in the Amazon Rain Forest, but I wanted to include as many as I could find.

Beautiful And Colorful Amazonian Rainforest Animals Lapbook For Kids

In addition, I have many free printables and more than enough to make two or three lapbooks since we’ve covered the Amazonian rain forest animals many times.

For example, look at some of my downloads below which include the ABCS of the rain forest animals.

Alphabet Amazonian Rain Forest Animals

Next, we found at least one species to represent the letter of the alphabet.

This gives your child not only choices to research but he can create an alphabet book or use my part of the lapbook.

A – Anteater, Agouti, Army Ant, Anaconda, Armadillo (Giant)
B – Blue Morpho Butterfly, Boa Constrictor, Blue-Headed Parrot, Bare-Faced Curassow
C – Crocodile, Capybara, Coatimundi, Collared Puffbird, Caiman (Speckled), Collared Peccary
D – Dolphin (Pink)
E – Egret(Great White), Emerald Tree Boa, Eyelash Viper, Emperor Tamarin

F – Frog (Red Eyed), Flag Bug, Firestick Bug, Fruit Bat, Fishing Bat,
G – Green Iguana, Green Anaconda, Giant Centipede, Green-Headed Tanager, Gladiator Tree Frog, Glasswing Butterfly, Golden Lion Tamarin, Golden Tree Boa
H – Harpy Eagle, Harlequin Beetle, Hercules Beetle, Hoatzin, Hawk Moth Caterpillar, Hermit Hummingbird, Hummingbird (Violet-Eared)
I – Ibis
J – Jaguar, Jaguarundi

K – Kinkajou (aka honey bear), Katydid (False Leaf), King Vulture
L – Leaf Cutter Ant, Long Nose Bat
M – Marmoset (Pigmy), Mimosa Butterfly, Mosquitoes, Macaws
N – Night Monkey (owl monkey),
O – Owl (Pigmy), Ocelot, Orb Weave Spider, Owl Butterfly

P – Parrot, Piranha, Poison Arrow Frogs, Peruvian Dung Beetle, Parakeet (Yellow-Chevroned), Postman Butterfly, Praying Mantis
Q – Quetzal (Resplendent)
R – Red Howler Monkey, Round-Eared Bats
S – Sloth, Saddleback Caterpillar, Stink Beetle, Sorcerer Moth, Squirrel Monkey, Swallowtail Hummingbird, Scarlet Macaws, Spider Monkey
T – Toucan, Tarantula (Pink-Toed), Tarantula (Curly-Haired) Tapir (Brazilian), Termites, Tayra, Treehopper, Thorn Bug

U – Umbrella Bird
V – Vampire Bat
W – Wasp (Tarantula), White-Throated Toucan
X – Xenops (pronounced ZEN-ops)
Y – Yanomi people, Yolk Butterfly, Yellow-Eared Conure, Yellow Crowned/Capped Amazon
Z – Zebra Long Wing Butterfly

Or your child can use this list to draw and make an art book.

You can see more pictures of the alphabet Amazonian rain forest animals on the page rain forest Amazon.

Books about Amazonia Rainforest Animals

Also, you’ll love this roundup of books about the animals of the rain forest.

Amazonian Rainforest Animals

Learn about the mammals, insects, birds and fish of the wonderful Amazon Rain Forest.

Over and Under the Rainforest

Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:

Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.
The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.
Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.
And much more!

Discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest in this glorious nature book for children and adults alike. Perfect for anyone who can't get enough of the rainforest and all the animals living in it.

The Rainforest Grew All Around (Arbordale Collection)

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Bestselling author/illustrator Julia Rothman shares a delightfully illustrated guide to all the beasts of the wild, from lions, tigers, and bears to musk oxen, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, foxes, badgers, bats, crocodiles, owls, flying squirrels and much, much more.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

A modern fable with an urgent message for young environmentalists. "Spectacular." (School Library Journal)

Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate this gorgeous picture book about a man who exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest’s residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how "all living things depend on one another" . . . and it works.

Cherry’s lovingly rendered colored pencil and watercolor drawings of all the "wondrous and rare animals" evoke the lush rain forests. Features stunning world maps bordered by detailed illustrations of fascinating rainforest creatures.

An IRA Teacher’s Choice * ABA Pick of the Lists * Reading Rainbow Review Book * NSTA-CBC Outstanding Trade Book for Children

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.Hello, World! is a series designed to introduce first nonfiction concepts to babies and toddlers. Told in clear and easy terms ("Croak! What's that sound? It's the red-eyed tree frog.") and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. And each page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child. It's a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.

Additionally, look at the 36 minibooks which come in this download.

36 Rainforest Animal Minibooks

Blue Jean Frog
Resplendent Quetzal
Blue Macaw
Rainbow Parrot
Blue Morpho Butterfly

Vampire Bat
Capybara
Sloth
South American Coati
Black Caiman

Pink River Dolphin
Anaconda
Amazon Leaf Fish
Ocelot
Giant Anteater

Silver Arowana
Giant River Otter
Goliath Bird eater
Agouti
Rufous Tailed Hummingbird

Kinkajou
Electric Eel
Yellow Spotted River Turtle
Emerald Tree Boa
Blue Poison Dart Frog

Harpy Eagle
Howler Monkey
Jaguar
Red Lion Tamarin
Leaf Cutter Ant

Tapir
Macaw
Iguana
Pigmy Owl
Piranha Fish

Toucan

How to Get the Free Rain Forest Animals of the Amazon

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

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

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

15 Star Wars STEM Activities Ideas | Fun Flashlight Science and DIY Lightsaber

April 26, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some Star Wars STEM Activities for May 4th. Also, look at National STEM Day – Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects for more stem ideas.

May The 4th Be With You is a day we look forward to in our Star Wars-loving household all year long.

It’s a day to dig in (to the couch) and binge on all our favorite Star Wars episodes.

Spend the day eating Star Wars-themed food, enjoy a little Star Wars trivia, and soak up all the good fun of one of the greatest movie franchises.

15 Star Wars STEM Activities Ideas | Fun Flashlight Science and DIY Lightsaber

This year I wanted to include a little STEM to give it an educational slant.

I have gathered up a great list of Star Wars STEM activities.

And I am going to show you how to recreate one of the most iconic objects from the series while investigating flashlights and how they work.

If you don’t already know what STEM is, it’s an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Star Wars Stem Flashlight Science

First, look at this Stars Wars STEM flashlight science activity.

Some kids just naturally love to take things apart and explore the what, why, and how while others need a little push.

Either way, they are going to enjoy exploring what makes a flashlight work and learning what each of those components is called.

Grab an inexpensive flashlight for each child, once taken apart it may not work again, you can often find them at Dollar Tree.

What parts do you need for a flashlight?

Help your child identify each of the parts that make a flashlight work.

Explain that the batteries have different ends, positive and negative, and must be inserted in a certain way.

More Star Wars Activities

Make Cool Star Wars Soap and 15 Star Wars DIY Projects

Investigate the different parts and name them, what does each do?

Switch- Turning on the switch allows the power source to make a full circuit to the light source, giving the flashlight power.
Case- Protects the inner parts of the device.

Battery- Stores chemical energy and converts it to electrical energy to power the bulb.

Contacts- A strip of copper metal that allows electricity to flow from positive to negative terminals of the battery.

Spring-This is part of the circuit that transfers energy from the battery to the copper wire.

Transparent lens- Protects the glass bulb from breaking.
Light Bulb- Creates a light source.
Reflector- This reflects the bulb’s light into a steady focused beam.

I found this cool explanation of flashlight parts and how they are made for further study- How Are Flashlights Made?

Books about Star Wars

Second, add some of these Star Wars books and resources.

While origami is primarily considered an art it does incorporate aspects of math, engineering, and even computer science.

Grab one of these books for some fun Star Wars themed paper folding ideas.

Cooking is an excellent way to naturally work math and science into your child’s learning.

Turn it into intergalactic fun as well with a Star Wars Cookbook.

And if you are a fan of not only the movies but the man behind them, check out Who Is George Lucas from the Who Was series.

Now let’s use a second flashlight to create a fun DIY lightsaber for galactic war should we need it.

Star Wars Stem Activities DIY Lightsaber

You will need:

Bubble wand tube
Flashlight
Silver Duct or electrical tape
Colored tape or stickers

Take apart your bubble wands, and rinse well until all soap is removed from the plastic.

You can throw away the actual wand part; you just need to use the “sheath” that holds it. Allow it to dry completely.

Place the opening over the flashlight and secure it with silver duct tape and go as far up or down the handle of the flashlight as you like.

Cut small “buttons” out of colored tape or stickers.

We found these pricing stickers at Dollar Tree and cut some into squares. and apply them to the hilt of your lightsaber.

Click on the flashlight and it is ready for an epic space battle.

Additionally, I have more STEM related activities below.

More STEM Related Activities

Finally, look at these fun Star Wars themed STEM activities.

Star Wars STEM Hands-On Activities

I have some out-of-this-world activities and resources for you to enjoy with the whole family as you celebrate and learn at the same time for May the 4th and beyond.