Where did Swiss Family Robinson land and what kind of unique homes they made? Too, you’ll love more ideas on my post Free Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.
We are learning about it and exploring caves through books, videos, and hands-on activities.
I have a cool cave activity to incorporate learning about stalactites and stalagmites that form in caves.
This will help your kids understand exactly how and why this happens.
These formations are very fragile and very slow growing, taking thousands of years to form.
If you or your child have a hard time remembering which is which, a little saying that helps is that stalactites hang “tight” from the ceiling while stalagmites grow “mighty” from the cave floor.
Take some time to learn about life along the shore, in the trees, and in caves as you read or after you are done reading The Swiss Family Robinson.
First, look at these hands-on activities to go along with The Swiss Family Robinson.
More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities
- Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity
- From Switzerland to the Author of Swiss Family Robinson Quick Study
- How to Create Swiss Family Treehouse Blueprints With Kids
- What is the Swiss Family Robinson About | Simple Jeopardy Style Game
- How to Make Adorable Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters Bookmarks
- Exciting Swiss Family Robinson Activities | From Oyster To Pearl
- The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas
- Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson
- Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Parrot Craft
- Lost In Adventure: 10 Books Like Swiss Family Robinson
- How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse
- Survival to Inspiration The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Brick Book
- How To Make A Swiss Family Robinson Map | Easy Swiss Geography
- DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas
- Simple Candle
- Hunting Deer
- How to Plan And Start an Easy Gardening Unit Study for Kids
Next, add some of these books.
8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson
Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.
More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.
Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.
Become a nature detective with this illustrative, engaging and fun Take-Along-Guide. You may not know where to look, or what to look for, but animal signs are everywhere and this guide will help you learn how to read them. You'll learn how to spot and identify common clues that 17 wildlife species leave behind in the woods, in the fields and along ponds.
The heroic tale of the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community.
From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.
Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set: Titles In This Set: The Blizzard Challenge The Desert Challenge The Jungle Challenge The Sea Challenge The River Challenge The Earthquake Challenge The Volcano Challenge The Safari Challenge The Cave Challenge The Mountain Challenge The Arctic Challenge The Sailing Challenge
By Pro-Knot, the number one trusted name in Knots with over 7,000 5 Star reviews! This complete knot tying KIT includes everything you need to learn and practice how to tie 23 essential rope knots. The six card/twelve page waterproof plastic card set contains 23 best all purpose rope knots
clearly illustrated and described, bound together with a no-rust brass grommet in the corner!
Edible wild plants are nature’s natural food source, growing along roadsides, sprouting in backyards, and blooming in country fields. North America’s diverse geography overflows with edible plant species.
Moreover, look at some of these facts about caves.
The Science of Cave Stalactites and Stalagmites
Stalactites are icicle-shaped deposits that develop when water dripping from the ceiling of the cave dissolves limestone and then re-deposits calcium carbonate along the ceilings of caves.
Stalactites form along ceilings and hang downward while stalagmites are formed from the water and build up that dripped down to the floor and built up over time.
In a salt cave, like the one that the Swiss family discovered, the stalactites and stalagmites are made of salt and are very rare.
These caves usually exist in highly arid regions like the area around the Dead Sea.
The world’s longest stalactite is found in the White Chamber of the Jeita Grotto in Lebanon and measures at a length of 27 feet.
The longest stalagmite is in the cave of Cueva Martin Inferno, Cuba with a measurement of 204 feet.
Caves and their geological features are fascinating and still hold many mysteries for scientists.
If you have one in your area, consider making a trip to explore it to see the wonders firsthand.
Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land
Looking for a great resource to study different biomes of the island where they landed as well as the flora and fauna? You can’t go wrong with Nature Anatomy.
The very first camp that the family made after landing on the rocky shore was named Tentholm.
It had cliffs, grass, trees, fresh and saltwater resources, and of course plentiful food sources.
The family treehouse was dubbed Falconurst and built using the father’s know-how, everyone’s hard work, and geometry.
It was built in a big tree 30 feet off the ground with a sailcloth roof and gave them a safe and secure structure keeping them off the ground and away from most predators.
During the wet season, the family moved to a salt cave that they named Rockburg.
This is where we focused because it makes a wonderful launching pad for a science lesson on caves.
In particular we learned about salt caverns which is what the family had stumbled upon.
Before you begin your activity here are a couple of great videos on YouTube to explain the formation of stalactites and stalagmites better What are Stalactites And Stalagmites and Types of Caves For Kids: How Caves are Formed.
Cave Activity – Growing Stalactite
You will remember from the story that when the family found the cave, they discovered spikes growing from the ceiling and many that had fallen to the floor due to the rockets.
You will need:
- Hot water
- 4-6 glass containers
- Epsom salts
- Food coloring
- Cotton string
- Paperclips
- Tray to catch the mess
First, heat enough water for all your containers. It doesn’t have to be boiling but you want it hot.
Stir in Epsom salts and continue stirring it in until the water will not hold/dissolve anymore.
You want to see some still sitting at the bottom of the container, this means it has become supersaturated.
Once your solution is ready, set your cups about 6 inches apart on your tray and pour the solution in just below the rim.
Just to show some contrast we decided to add a little bit of blue food coloring to one of our sets of cups.
Tie a paperclip to each end of the cotton string, making it just long enough to sit in the bottom of each jar, and dip down just a bit in between them.
Now the next part is the hardest, it’s the waiting for something to happen.
The cotton string will draw water down until it begins to drip. You can see that action happening with the blue water as it is absorbed.
As the water drips and begins to evaporate the Epsom salts left behind begin to build up, dripping downward and creating puddles that will eventually build up tall from the ground.
By the next morning, you will have crystals forming along the edge of the jar as well.
After 2-3 days your stalactite touches the ground and grows larger.
