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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.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

September 10, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, for book Number 29 Down and Out Down Under of the Geronimo Stilton series, we’re making an edible coral reef. The Geronimo Stilton books are for ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

In the Geronimo Stilton series book Down and Out Down Under, Geronimo is off to learn on adventure to Australia.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And when you think of Australia you may immediately picture cute koalas and terrifying crocodiles but another famous and very important part of Australia is The Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for creating this fun hands-on coral reef is from our latest read which is Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29).

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is teeming with incredible life, color, and beauty.

The story covers a lot of topics of interest in Australia.

This fun book mentions land animals, Uluru, Aborigines, topography, and the Great Barrier Reef .

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Today’s hands-on activity is fun, colorful, and a great way to teach all ages about the life that is in the Great Barrier Reef.

If you want to make an impact, hands-on activities are always the best way to fully immerse your kids into your topic.

This hands-on fun activity also appeals to all 5 senses and will make certain that your kids do not forget while they learned anytime soon.

Besides Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29) here are a few beautifully illustrated spines you may want to add to your library.

They are great basics that give great bites of information about the ocean, reefs, ocean animals and plants, and more.

Ocean Anatomy . I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic. This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically!

I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic.

This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

:Next, here are a few facts to share about the The Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef, located off of the eastern coast of Australia, is the longest coral reef in the world.
It is home to 1500 species of tropical fish and 400 finds of hard and soft coral
The reef serves as a protective habitat for many other forms of marine life.
One of the threats to reefs is coral bleaching.
Crown-of-thorns starfish is one of the predators to the reef which feeds on the soft coral polyps.
A coral reef is a fragile ecosystem which requires very specific conditions. The water must be warm (between 69-84 F) and relatively shallow (to depths of 60-100 ft).
Coral reefs exist in shallow waters because they depend on photosynthesis for food production. Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants capture sunlight and convert it, along with water and carbon dioxide into energy.

While your child designs their own little slice of sea life you can talk about the various life that lives here, what is being done to preserve it and where its located.

Next, look at how to make this fun hands-on edible coral reef.

How to Make an Edible Reef

Here is a list of some things we used. Your list can vary depending on what you use for plants and animals

One half sheet cake or a boxed cake mix
Vanilla wafers
Assorted candy – airheads, licorice whips, swedish fish, cookies, sprinkles and white chocolate pretzels
Icing in various colors or food coloring for your own icing

Bake your cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

Flip pan to carefully remove cake and cut ⅓ of the cake off.

Flip over the two pieces and stack the smaller one on top of the other.

And because reefs have overhangs and caves, you can make some nooks and caves by digging out some of the cake.

Add a little food coloring to the frosting and stir. Use any shade you like to create your base.

Carefully ice all over the cake making different blobs and creating different textures creating the base mound of your coral.

You want it to look like big rocks.

Cut up airheads, licorice ropes and other candies to create colorful coral and push in all over the cake.

Broken white chocolate pretzels make nice coral.

Use the heat from your hands to soften Airheads or other taffy and make some fan coral for your reef.

Also, you could create a makeshift piping bag by putting warm wax into a sandwich bag, cut off a small corner and squeeze to make coral shapes onto wax paper.

Allow to cool and harden then remove carefully from waxed paper.

Finally, add in some fun sea creatures and you can add some fun decorations.

These are from obviously these are not edible.

Be sure to wash them well before using to disinfect them and keep your cake safe.

And you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Too, you’ll love the ocean and coral reef resources I have here.

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

September 9, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Rainforest crafts for kindergarten encourages creativity, fosters imagination, and strengthens fine motor skills. Crafts are part of kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

And learning about the rainforest with a unit study approach is one of the best ways to teach kindergarten aged children.

Rainforest crafts for kindergarteners introduces young children to one of the most important ecosystems in the world.

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

And a fun paper plate monkey craft encourages young children to understand the diversity of the rainforest.

Not only can you help your child understand the difference between plants and animals, but your child can use their sense of hearing.

Howler Monkey Facts

First, help your child know how the animals of the rainforest depend on the trees (canopy) and even the understory (layer of vegetation under the canopy) to survive.

The understory is where tree trunks, vines, and bushes grow. Animals who live here in this section can climb very well.

But the emergent layer or the layer above the canopy is bright and sunny and animals with good balance like howler monkeys live here.

Then, look at a few facts about the howler monkeys.

Howler monkeys are one of the loudest animals in the rainforest.
Their howls sound like a strong wind blowing through a tunnel. Have you child stand up and see how loud he or she can howl. Watch the video above and listen to the male howler monkey.
Monkeys live in the trees and eat only vegetation like fruit and flowers.

However, more than just the howler monkey makes its home in the Amazon Rainforest.

What Monkeys Live in the Amazon Rainforest

Squirrel monkeys also live there and are very intelligent animals.

Squirrel Monkey Facts

Look at a few fun facts about squirrel monkeys to share with your child.

They are not the same color all over which makes it harder for predators to see.
Long tails are used for balance.
Also, they have hands with thumbs and can grip branches and food.
Squirrel Monkeys live in large groups like 100 in a group and this way they can warn each other of predators.

However, besides the howler monkey and squirrel monkey there are many species which live in the rainforest.

Some other monkeys are

Pygmy marmoset
Gray woolly
Emperor tamarin
Peruvian spider
Dusky titi

Your child will love the book Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme.

In this book there is not only rhyming language to share with your child but it about the Manú National Park in Peru where an amazing fourteen different species of monkeys live together.

Add in some sweet lovable friends, and you can study the rainforest a couple of days or even extend it to a week.

Make a Rainforest Paper Plate Monkey

Next encourage your child to make this easy rainforest paper plate monkey.

We simply followed the instructions at the adorable paper plate monkey at Easy Peasy and Fun.

Look at this list of things we used.

two paper plates
beige paper
glue
scissors
pencil
black marker

This was such a fun and easy rainforest activity. We traced Mr. MunchKing’s hands on light brown paper.

Then we pained the paper plates.

And cut out the legs, arms and face on lighter paper we already had.

Following the instructions for the craft on Easy Peasy and Fun we outlined a face.

We cut out the ears and tails separately and glued on.

Mr. Munchking loved his craft.

More Rainforest Crafts

If you’re looking for more rainforest crafts for kindergarten, you’ll love my huge Amazon Rainforest Unit Study and Lapbooks.

Also look at:

Look at these other posts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

August 31, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re wanting fall crafts for middle school for a fall unit study you’ll love this project. And look on my page homeschool middle school for more tips.

It may not quite be fall but pumpkin season seems to already be in full swing.

The stores have already begun to release all their fabulous pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavored goodies.

And the craft stores have had their decor out since summer.

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

So, it feels like a great time to begin working pumpkins into a fall unit study.

This art project adds some fun decor for the house which also works in fine motor skills and practical living skills (learning to use a hot glue gun, hammer and nails).

This is a fantastic activity for middle schoolers to do completely on their own with a bit of instruction.

But this activity can also be done by kids in upper elementary with a little more help.

Too, I was able to get all the supplies from Dollar Tree making this project a grand total of $3.75.

And I barely put a dent in the yarn and have plenty of nails left.

If you have any of the items lying around already you can make yours cheaper or even free.

Pumpkin Unit Study Ideas

You can easily turn this into more than just an art project by giving your middle schooler a few other activities to do before or after completing their string pumpkin art.

Research the different varieties of pumpkin.
List 10 pumpkin facts.
Complete the journal prompt – One night while I was walking in the pumpkin patch . . .
Research a recipe for pumpkin pie and bake it.
Find out which state grows the most pumpkins.
Find out how Native Americans cooked pumpkin compared to the colonists.
Weigh, measure, and compare a variety of pumpkins.
Make a pumpkin catapult – large or small.

I know those ideas will get you started and use the beautiful book Farm Anatomy as a science reference to learn about pumpkins.

Here is a beautiful page from Farm Anatomy to research the different varieties of squash.

Pumpkin Art Supplies

Next, look at the easy supplies you need to make this diy string pumpkin art.

½” to ¾” nails
Orange yarn
Green yarn
Small piece of stick
Glue gun/sticks
Scrap board
Hammer

Again, some of these supplies you may already have.

Here is how you make your own pumpkin string art:

DIY Pumpkin String Art

First, choose whether to make your pumpkin art horizontal or vertical.

This depends on your piece of scrap wood.

Then lightly draw out the shape with a pencil.

This piece of wood was in the craft section at Dollar Tree and they have several sizes and shapes to choose from.

Once you are satisfied with the general shape of the pumpkin you can begin to place the nails.

You can either guesstimate the space as you go or make little dots that are roughly the same distance all the way around.

You know where you will start and end with the nails when you do it this way.

Tap the nails into place, knocking them in about halfway because you want them secure.

Continue all the way around until you have the outline of your pumpkin completed.

Knot one end of the orange yarn around one of the nails.

Then wrap it all the way around the outside of the nails to make an outline.

Your child can do this once or twice to create a thicker outline.

This next part is fun and easy.

We are going to fill in the pumpkin.

So all you have to do is crisscross vertically and horizontally around the pumpkin until you have filled it in completely.

Each nail should allow for the yarn to wrap around at least 5-6 times.

Tie the end of the yarn around a nail and cut off the excess.

Press your yarn down so that it is against the wood to show your nail heads.

This adds more texture and contrast to your art piece.

Once your pumpkin is filled in you can add your details like the vine.

Wrap green yarn once around the top center nail head.

And then twist it around the top and sides of the pumpkin.

Secure it down at the loops with a bit of hot glue.

Hot glue a small piece of a stick/limb from the yard to the top to make the stem.

You could also use a wine cork piece or another small bit of scrap wood.

To make a hanger, flip your piece over.

And hot glue a small length of yarn to either corner.

Make several of these to hang around the house for fall.

Also, this makes a great family night or co-op activity. Start with pumpkin and build your ideas out from there.

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

Look at some of these other fall unit study activities:

This was so fun to create. You’re ready to ring in the fall season.

I guarantee you and your kids are going to want to come up with more shapes to make for all the seasons and favorite themes.

Don’t forget to check at Dollar Tree. They carry a ton of yarn and wood pieces in the craft section now.

handson

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

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

How to Make an Edible Reef

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

Howler Monkey Facts

What Monkeys Live in the Amazon Rainforest

Make a Rainforest Paper Plate Monkey

More Rainforest Crafts

Look at these other posts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Easy Fall Crafts for Middle School: DIY String Pumpkin Art

Pumpkin Unit Study Ideas

Pumpkin Art Supplies

DIY Pumpkin String Art

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

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handson

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

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

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

How to Make an Edible Reef

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

Howler Monkey Facts

What Monkeys Live in the Amazon Rainforest

Make a Rainforest Paper Plate Monkey

More Rainforest Crafts

Look at these other posts for Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Pumpkin Unit Study Ideas

Pumpkin Art Supplies

DIY Pumpkin String Art

Other Fall Unit Study Resources

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