hands-on activities

How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model

September 28, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to study human anatomy begins with the basics which is DNA. Today, for a human body unit study, we’re making an easy edible DNA model.Also I have this Human Body Crafts page for more fun ideas.

An anatomy unit study begins with the smallest building blocks of a cell and works its way up to DNA, genes, and so on.

DNA is usually a big part of a study of human anatomy so that is where we will focus for this activity.

How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model

This hands-on project turns a simple lesson on DNA into a tasty edible treat.

But the best part is that teaches your kid’s what DNA is made of, how it works, what changes it, and more.

Whether you’re using a boxed or all-in-one curriculum or piecing together your own study, this activity is a fun way to teach your kids about the structure of DNA.

Add in a couple great books, some videos and you have a mini DNA unit study.

If you are studying anatomy and physiology with an older child, there is no reason it needs to be dry and boring.

As a matter of fact, hands-on is proven time and again to make a bigger impact on what a child retains.

DNA Resources for Kids

So, look at a few videos to get your children learning about what is DNA.

In addition, here are a few simple books that provide great reference for DNA material.

Basher Human Body
My First Book About Genetics Coloring Book
The DNA Book

Then, here are a few DNA facts.

DNA Facts for Kids

DNA is short for -deoxyribonucleic acid.
DNA is made from just 4 substances-Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.
There are 46 chromosomes in the human body, arranged in 23 pairs.
DNA can be used to identify someone, just the way a fingerprint does.
No one has the exact same DNA, except twins.
Siblings share about 50% of similar genes.
You have about 25% similarity with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
It is found in almost every cell of your body.
Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1869.
DNA from a single cell if stretched out would be 6 feet long.
Mitochondrial DNA comes from your maternal (mothers) line.
A single gram of DNA can hold up to 700 terabytes’ worth of data. Cool!
After a cell divides, it makes and exact copy of itself, all cells carry the same code.

Human Body Lapbook

In addition, you’ll love my human body lapbook.

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages
$5.00 Add to cart

And start out by introducing the candy and what each part represents as well as what it’s made of.

Color code everything. Give it as separate color to avoid confusion.

Make paper labels to identify each part. Also, identify which two bases can be combined for reference.

The gummy rope is the backbone. It is comprised of sugar, deoxyribose, and bonded with phosphate.

It does not contain any genetic information, but it is important because it binds everything together.

Then the small gummies are the 4 chemical bases that make up the two types of nucleotide bonds.

These building blocks are hooked together to form a chain of DNA.

A nucleotide is composed of 3 parts:

five-sided sugar,
phosphate group,
and a nitrogenous base.

Bases store information and give the DNA the ability to code the phenotype – a persons visible traits.

This is called a complementary base paring.

And they are bonded together via hydrogen bonds, which are broken apart when the DNA needs to unzip and duplicate itself.

Human Body Crafts

How to Study Human Anatomy Resources

Also, look at these other human anatomy resources:

Finally, let’s make this hand-on edible DNA model for our fun study of human anatomy.

How to Make an Edible DNA Model

You will need:

Sour Straws, Twizzlers, or other long gummy rope shape
4 colors of gummy dots, bears, marshmallows, sour bites, etc
Toothpicks

Directions:

Separate 4 colors of gummies or marshmallows out of your package and label each Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.

Make four different piles of nucleotides.

Create base pairs by pressing two candies onto a toothpick.

You can only combine Guanine with Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine to create proper chemical bonds.

The colors can go on either the left or the right side.

However, the colors must be paired correctly to create a proper chemical bond

Once you have enough pairs you can then create the backbone pieces by pressing a long length of chewy rope to each side.

Press each toothpick through until secure.

This double helix is what holds everything together.

Here is what your completed model looks like.

Finally, you will want to twist in one direction from the top and the opposite direction from the bottom to demonstrate what the 3d double helix looks like.

Now you can deconstruct your DNA and enjoy tasting it.

Create more than one to compare or compare siblings to see the different versions of DNA

The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game

September 27, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today in the Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time in the Geronimo Stilton Books, we’re making a fun DIY Egypt Senet Game.

So, I’m combining a love for Geronimo Stilton, Ancient Egypt, and board games into one fun and educational activity.

The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game

Flipping through the Geronimo Stilton The Fourth Journey Through Time, particularly the first adventure which is Cleopatra’s Reign in 48 BC we decided to learn about games.

So, we created the oldest known board game in the world which is Senet.

Many Egyptians were found buried with a Senet (or Game of Passing) game to represent passing to the afterlife.

Geronimo Stilton Book Pictures

This Geronimo Stilton book is just like the others.

The pages highlight great vocabulary words for the theme and show fashions of the time period.

And beautiful architecture like Cleopatra’s Palace.

This is a great way to introduce your child to ancient Egypt, the symbols, customs, and one of the ways they passed their time.

While this Geronimo Stilton story didn’t mention Senet, I love to think that Cleopatra sat around on a lazy afternoon playing a game of Senet.

And sipping on a favorite beverage while obviously being fanned and hand fed her favorite foods.

The oldest evidence of Senet we have are pieces found as far back as 3100 BCE.

And the hieroglyphics resembling Senet in the tomb of Merknera.

The rules were lost, but they have been put together using context clues, paintings, and the rules of similar games.

We checked out as much information on the internet as we could.

And we put together what we think is roughly the rules for the game.

Rather than dice they used colored sticks to determine how many moves to make.

The object is to move all your pieces off the board. It feels similar to backgammon or a very primitive chess game.

How to Make a Kid’s Egyptian Senet Game

Now, let’s make our own version of Senet.

You will need:

stiff cardboard
4 wood craft sticks
A ruler
Colored sharpies or other markers
White and black clay

Then, here are the directions for creating the game.

Paint or color 4 sticks black on one side and a bright color or you can draw patterns on the other side.

Cut a piece of cardboard to roughly 5” x 12”.

You could make it smaller or larger.

I used the carboard back from a pack of cardstock.

You could upcycle a cereal box or whatever type of cardboard you have on hand.

Mark of 3 rows of equal width with your ruler and draw the lines with a pencil.

Next, draw 10 vertical lines so that you have 3 rows of 10 squares. These squares represent “houses”.

Trace over all the lines with a black marker.

The original game does not have numbered squares, but you will want to mark yours at least lightly in the corner to track it easier.

The numbers snake back and forth.

Instead of starting at the first square in the 2nd row you will drop down from 10 to 11. Then, move toward the left and drop down from 20 to 21 and move right.

On each of the following squares draw the symbols for each:

Square 15-House of Rebirth, Ankh
Square 26- House of Happiness, bird
Square 27-House of Water, three squiggly lines
Square 28- House of the Three Truths, three dots forming a triangle
Square 29- House of the Re-Atoum, Eye of Horus

Finally, you want to create tokens to move.

You can use pawns from another game, glass gems (flat marbles) or create your own by using air dry or oven bake clay.

We tried to make ours to look similar, but simpler version of the original tokens.

And we formed the black ones into drops and flattened out the white ones like this. Bake or air dry according to package directions.

Then, create rules for your game.

Creating Rules for Ancient Egypt DIY SENET Game

Look at some of these rules.

Place pawns along the top row, alternating colors.

Player 1 takes first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth houses. Player 2 takes second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth houses

Toss your “dice” and make your move according to what side lands upright:
4 colored side up- move 5 spaces and throw again
3 colored side up- move 3 spaces
2 colored side up- move 2 spaces
1 colored side up- move 1 space

Two tokens cannot occupy the same square. So, if you land on a square with someone else’s pawn you move theirs back to where you were.

But if they have two or more pieces next to each other the house is protected and you will not be able to move their pawn or finish your turn.

Meaning of Special Places in DIY Senet Game

If you land on space 27 you go to Space 15 (House of Rebirth).

Every piece must stop on Space 26.

In some versions you must throw a certain number to leave the space (you can make this a house rule if you like).

For example, if you are on 25 and do not throw exactly one move you must stay there until your next turn and continue throwing until you can move the exact number of places to land there.

Space 27( House of Water)- if you land here, you are sent back to the House of Rebirth. If you fail to throw the correct number on space 28 or 29 you are sent here.

Space 28 (House of Three Truths)- You must throw a three to leave here, otherwise you are sent back to House of Water (27).

Space 29 (House of the Re-Atoum) You must throw a two to leave, if not you are sent back to the House of Water.

When you land on the last house you must toss your sticks each turn until on 1 colored stick is facing up and then you may remove your piece from the board.

Other Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Then, add some ancient Egyptian activities.

Ancient Egyptian Hands-on Activities

Finally, because you’ll already have The Fourth Journey Through Time to use as a literature, add some of other Ancient Egypt homeschool hands-on activities.

Learning homeschool history should be just as much about doing as reading living history books.

Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity

September 25, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re studying the Inuit of the Arctic in my Arctic Region unit study and my Arctic and Inuit unit study, your kids will love this blubber activity.

This winter experiment is perfect for demonstrating how Arctic animals can survive harsh winter conditions.

I have seen this experiment done with preschoolers.

However, this is an amazing hands-on visual aid that demonstrates the science of blubber.

Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity

So, this is an activity which can be done with tots to teens.

A great thing about this Arctic activity is that it just takes minutes to set up and complete.

In addition to science, you can have your child point out Arctic areas on a map and you have incorporated geography too.

Weigh and measure the lard. Then, you have added math into a mini unit study created simply from one Arctic activity.

Before you begin your experiment, have your child research some questions using your favorite living books or the internet to find out the answers.

I have some to get you started that will give your student a good understanding of blubber, its uses, and what animals have it.

For younger children you can just read from the information in the book below.

This is a great opportunity to learn not only what animals need blubber for but also what the people of the Arctic use it for.

In addition, Ocean Anatomy has a section on ice, seals, penguins, and polar bears.

This can be used for their illustrations to sketch because they are beautiful.

What is Blubber

Look below at some facts about blubber which you can use for this unit study.

Blubber is a thick layer of fat (adipose tissue) that is directly under the skin of marine animals.

What types of animals have blubber?

Marine animals have blubber.

Then there are 4 different types of marine animals.

cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises),
pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses),
sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and
fissipeds (polar bears and sea otters).

But out of the four different types of marine animals, sea otters are the only ones that don’t have blubber.

Arctic animals like seals, whales, walruses, and polar bears have a thick even layer of blubber throughout their body to help them stay warm and it helps in a few other ways as well.

Why do Arctic animals need blubber?

Besides a thick coat of fur to keep them warm, Arctic animals need blubber for warmth.

It takes a lot of energy to keep a warm body warm in cold water.

The blood vessels in the blubber constrict (get smaller) in cold water. This reduces the flow of blood and the energy needed to heat the body.

Also, blubber is less dense than ocean water and helps the animals float effortlessly so it increases buoyancy.

In addition, oil is stored in the oily layer of blubber and allows animals to go longer periods of time without food.

Is blubber really edible?

Muktuk is a traditional food in the Arctic. It is made of whale skin and blubber.

Most often made from a bowhead whale but it can also be gathered from beluga and narwhal.

It is eaten raw, frozen, pickled, and cooked.

A bowhead whale could feed an entire community for a year off its meat, skin, and blubber.

Today, many Arctic peoples still eat blubber as an important part of their diet. It contains great amounts of glycogen and ascorbic acid.

Are there any other uses for blubber?

Whale oil was used in soap, margarine, and oil-burning lamps.

There are some indigenous Arctic people, like the Inuit that still harvest blubber and use it in whale-oil lamps.

Fun Blubber Arctic

Next, let’s see how effective blubber can be for the animals of the Arctic

You will need:

A large bowl
Rubber glove
Box of lard
Ice
Water

First, pack a bowl full of ice and add cold water leaving a little room for displacement.

Now have your child place their hand in the icy water.

Count how long they are able to keep it in until they can’t take it anymore.

It’s not long is it? 10 seconds ? 30? A full minute?

Now have them slip on a rubber glove or a plastic baggie over the same hand.

Use your block of lard to completely encase the gloved hand Be sure to cover it well so that there are no openings for the ice water to penetrate.

Have them slip their lard covered hand back into the ice water, not so cold right?

How long can they keep their hand in now? Much longer and they barely feel the cold.

Like we learned before the blubber insulates the animal against the frigid temperatures.

This is a fantastic topic and experiment for winter study.

Instead of tossing out the lard after the experiment use it to make Eskimo ice cream or it can be used to make a suet block to help feed birds during winter when food is scarce.

Other Winter Ideas and Resources

You’ll love these other crafts and ideas for studying about winter.

What do you think? Ready to add some winter fun?

Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow

September 22, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making an easy hands on snowflake winter craft. Add this to my winter season unit study.

While not everyone gets to enjoy the splendor of white crystal winters, we all appreciate the beauty of that type of winter.

Even if your winters rarely reach below 70℉ you can still at least touch on all that it entails for the cold months.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids Who Don't Have Snow

This craft allows your child to bring out an artistic side while also getting in some science.

Too, this activity works great for kids in early elementary through middle school.

And can be adjusted to give more or less information.

Next, look at some research questions for kids to dig deeper into a topic.

They can either find the answers in living books or on the internet. Research skills is another component to add to this unit study.

Flake Facts

Look at these facts to get you started

What US state gets the most snow? Vermont
Approximately how many crystals make up a flake? 1-200
How big is the largest lake ever recorded? 15” wide, 8 “ thick – Guinness World Book,1887
What are the smallest flakes called? Diamond Dust Crystals
How many sides does a flake have? 6
How long does the average flake take to reach the ground? 1 hour
What temperature does it have to reach for flakes to form? 35 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)

And then add some of these resources for a mini unit study.

Watch a couple of YouTube videos:

If you live in a place which gets mountainous drifts try out some of these Activities That Celebrate Snow for more fun.

Resources for a Winter Unit Study

Also, look at my How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders and work birds into your winter study as well.

Winter is an especially important time to give them a little extra help as food is scarcer.

If you want to continue adding activities to your mini winter unit study give your child some copywork.

Grab my Free Winter Copywork for Middle School

Or chose a writing prompt like:

The little dancing snowflake was on its way to…
We ran out into the snow and….

Finally, be sure you spend some time learning about the science of how and why borax creates these crystals on objects.

Crystals are molecules that bind together ionically. Borax crystals have a square shape.

First you heat the water and the borax dissolves into it. Warm water holds more powder and it becomes super saturated.

As the solution cools the molecules they need somewhere to grab onto. So, they cling together as well as the object that you put in the solution.

Try different amounts of borax in the different bowls. Too, try different temperatures for the water to continue the experiment.

I love how the crystals make the pipe cleaners sparkle like real flakes.

There is a double page spread in Nature Anatomy that I love to recommend as a must have science reference. It covers a little on flakes and their characteristics.

Let’s make this winter fun craft.

How to Make a Borax Fun Easy Craft

Look at this easy list of ingredients:

You will need:

2-3 colored pipe cleaners per flake
Large glass bowl or other container
2 cups water
⅓ cup borax
Pencil, skewer
String

Then look at the directions below.

For each flake you will need 3 longer pieces 3”-4” long and least 12 pieces about 1” long.

Twist the 3 long pieces together in the center and spread them out evenly to create 6 spokes.

Twist each of the small pieces around the end and center of each spoke, bend to point outward slightly.

You want your flake to be slightly smaller than you container so it doesn’t touch the sides.

Tie a piece of string around the center of each flake and then around the skewer or pencil so that it hangs down into bowl.

Heat 2 cups of water to boiling. Stir in ½ cup borax until mostly dissolved.

Pour liquid carefully into the bowl.

Let your flakes sit for 24 hours or more. Here is what mine looked like after about 5 hours.

After just about 16-18 hours.

And a little over 24 hours.

They are so fun to make you are going to want to create all kinds of shapes. Make them over and over to celebrate season and event. Try making your name or initials.

Other Winter Fun Resources

Finally, here are some other resources you may love.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard

September 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time book #4 has many topics but one is the Elizabethan period. If your child is loving the Geronimo Stilton books, your child will love making a fun England Tower Guard craft.

We’ll travel back to Elizabethan Times, specifically 1595, with the third story in Geronimo Stilton Lost in Time The Fourth Journey.

It begins with a visit with Queen Elizabeth I.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard

As usual Geronimo gives us a great look at the time period through maps, images of fashion, buildings, vocabulary, and famous people such as Sir Francis Drake and Queen Elizabeth.

Take a look at the rich clothing from the time period.

There were ruffles, lace, ribbons, fancy cuffs, and collars.

I love that this fun series of Geronimo Stilton books because they always include important historical details to make it real to kids.

Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft

The Queen’s Guard (or King’s, depending on who the reigning monarch is) did not come about for another 200 years after Elizabeth I ‘s time.

But I thought it would be fun to draw some comparisons to Elizabethan England and modern England with these cute little figures.

They can be used as a bookmark, pointer to keep your place while reading, or as a little puppet.

Even if you are not reading Geronimo Stilton, this is a fantastic simple craft to do during any England unit study.

And this simple craft can be done by a wide range of ages.

You can set out photos of the guard and supplies and let your child take the lead to allow for process art rather than product art, this is especially good for younger children to experience.

Facts about Elizabethan England and Modern England

This is a great time to study England with the passing of the Queen, to study how her country honors her, to learn about the line of secession, what life was like during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth and current times, and more.

Here are some fun facts to share to get you started on your mini unit study journey.

Share them over tea or while your child colors or creates these fun tower guards while using Geronimo Stilton Lost in Time The Fourth Journey.

Fun Facts about England Then and Now

The Elizabethan Period lasted for 45 years.
The capital of England is London.
Queen Elizabeth I never married or had children.
The Elizabethan Era is famous for its works by William Shakespeare.
Elizabeth I was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.
The last king to reign prior to Queen Elizabeth II’s death was George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II was England’s longest reigning monarch at 70 years on the throne.
Charles is now the king of England and wife Camilla will be known as Queen Consort.
The Tower Guard consists of one officer, six non-commissioned officers and fifteen soldiers.
The longest river in England is The River Thames.
The English drink more tea than any other nation.
There were over 400 years between Queen Elizabeth I and II.
Both queens were 25 years old when they took over the throne.
Elizabeth I’s younger brother Edward VI was actually the last King of England, Elizabeth II’s father Edward I was the last king of the United Kingdom consisting of the joined kingdoms of England and Wales.

You can use any subtopic in the book to engage your child.

The Big Ben you see in the photos came from the Safari Ltd Around The World Toob and is a must to add to sensory bin or dioramas when studying famous places or landmarks around the world.

How to Make an England Tower Guard Craft

Next, look at the easy supplies to make this fun England tower guard crafts.

You will need:

Jumbo popsicle sticks
Red, black, white, gold craft paint
Black felt
Craft glue
Small paintbrushes

Trace around the top of your jumbo craft stick a little larger than the actual stick and about 2” down to create the hat. Set aside.

Leave the top ¼ unpainted.

Paint the rest half red up top for the jacket and black on the bottom half for their trousers.

Let dry completely. You can flip it over and do the other side if you like or paint it a solid color to make it look more finished off.

Use a paint pen or the back end of a small brush to add details like gold buttons, eyes, a white belt and gold buckle to your guard.

Let it dry again.

Glue the hat into place just above the eyes and let it dry a final time.

If you use hot glue it will be ready to use much quicker.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources

Look at these other craft ideas to go with the Geronimo Stilton Books.

Whether you want to do a literature unit study or easy history unit study, these are great books to use for both.

You can use your tower guard to hold your spot between reading sessions, to follow along the line as you read or for play time.

Learning about England then and now is a great way discover what has remained the same, what has changed, and how different countries governments rule.

hands-on activities

How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model

DNA Resources for Kids

DNA Facts for Kids

Human Body Lapbook

Dynamic and Fun Human Body Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Human Body Crafts

How to Study Human Anatomy Resources

How to Make an Edible DNA Model

The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game

Geronimo Stilton Book Pictures

How to Make a Kid’s Egyptian Senet Game

Creating Rules for Ancient Egypt DIY SENET Game

Meaning of Special Places in DIY Senet Game

Other Geronimo Stilton Book Activities

Ancient Egyptian Hands-on Activities

Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity