handson

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

April 28, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Naturalist John Muir was not only a naturalist but conservation advocate. You’ll also love the John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas).

He dedicated his life to recording and preserving the beauty he saw, so much so that he is called “The Father Of The National Parks”.

Muir was born in Scotland in 1838 but migrated to the States in 1849 with his family.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft

Though still a traveler with a fierce love for nature, at 30, he decided that California would be his home wherever he went.

He spent much of his time there writing, sketching, and creating landscapes of sights like the peaks of the Sierra Nevada and other places around the globe.

Too, he was at the forefront of developing many national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, and Grand Canyon and fought to maintain their majestic views.

Today we are focusing on his beloved California and the landmarks there.

Because he claimed California as his home, we are diving into some of the landmarks around the state.

Next, look at some of these resources.

Books for Kids about John Muir

Add these living books and reference books to your study about John Muir.

11 John Muir Resources

The mountains are calling, and I must go -John Muir

In observance of National Park Service Founders Day and the care and work John Muir put into helping it become a reality, put together a unit study with a book or two, a video, a game, and a few hands-on activities like visiting the closest national park to you. There is plenty to choose from below.

John Muir Wilderness Box Set

A collection of John Muir’s best-selling writings and essays collected in 1 set.

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers. Collected here in 1 set are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, national park observations, travels throughout Alaska, and writings about working in the Yosemite Valley.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

John Muir, one of America’s great environmentalists, has inspired nature lovers for generations with his writings.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf by John Muir is the adventure that started it all.

Walk with John from Indiana through Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A story that is sure to inspire your own adventures and love for nature and the off beaten path.

John Muir: Candlewick Biographies: America's First Environmentalist

John Muir loved the land. Born in 1838, he was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer, and an explorer. But above all, he was a naturalist. John Muir was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his careful influence, were set aside as Yosemite, one of the first national parks in America. Here is the life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day. Back matter includes an epilogue, a bibliography, and information about the Sierra Club.

A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir

"I am hopelessly and forever a mountaineer," John Muir wrote. "Civilization and fever and all the morbidness that has been hooted at me has not dimmed my glacial eye, and I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature's loveliness. My own special self is nothing."In Donald Worster's magisterial biography, John Muir's "special self" is fully explored as is his extraordinary ability, then and now, to get others to see the sacred beauty of the natural world. A Passion for Nature is the most complete account of the great conservationist and founder of the Sierra Club ever written. It is the first to be based on Muir's full private correspondence and to meet modern scholarly standards. Yet it is also full of rich detail and personal anecdote, uncovering the complex inner life behind the legend of the solitary mountain man. It traces Muir from his boyhood in Scotland and frontier Wisconsin to his adult life in California right after the Civil War up to his death on the eve of World War I. It explores his marriage and family life, his relationship with his abusive father, his many friendships with the humble and famous (including Theodore Roosevelt and Ralph Waldo Emerson), and his role in founding the modern American conservation movement.

National Geographic Complete National Parks of the United States, 400+ Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Historic Sites, Scenic Trails, Recreation Areas, and Seashores

National Geographic’s wide-ranging travel guide to recreation areas, trails, historic sites, nature hikes, seashores, camping, and campgrounds is geared to everyone who loves outdoor recreation. This 544-page reference is the ultimate travel planner for all things national parks, filled with full-color photos, detailed maps, historical background, and practical facts on the location of the park system properties, as well as the best times to visit and top-rated activities.

Our National Parks

ohn Muir (1838–1914) ranks among America's most important and influential environmentalists and nature writers. Devoted to the preservation of wilderness areas, Muir founded the Sierra Club and was active in the establishment of Yosemite National Park. Our National Parks, originally published in 1901, includes ten articles that previously appeared in The Atlantic Monthly. Muir wrote them in hopes of exciting interest in the parks, certain that visitors would fall in love with the scenic grandeur as he had—and that their enthusiasm would ensure the parks' preservation.

National Parks Scratch Off Map of United States Poster, ALL 63 Parks

UNIQUE DESIGN…ARROWHEAD SHAPES: Scratch off each beautifully designed US National Park as you visit them, like Acadia, Zion, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Olympic, Grand Canyon, Arches and others!

National Parks Trivia: A Card Game: 400 Questions

Get to know America's 63 national parks with 390 wide-ranging trivia questions that cover their iconic geography, ecology, geology, history, wildlife, and botany—from the authors of Scenic Science of the National Parks.

Professor Noggin's Wildlife of North America 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: Journey through the Wildlife of North America discovering facts about our continent’s most interesting animals. From Polar Bears to Pronghorns, from Alligators to Bald Eagles, this game is perfect for young nature lovers.

Our National Treasures Matching Game USA National Parks Memory Game for Kids. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Arches, Denali and More

What you get – Our National Treasures Matching Card Game comes with 52 tiles (26 pairs) and instructions

Clear instructions – Easy to learn memory card game. Learn to play in less than five minutes!

Develops critical skills – card games for kids help preschoolers practice their focus, memory, & matching skills.

Trekking The National Parks -The Perfect Board Game for National Park Lovers

Wildly Popular National Parks Game - Winner Of The Mensa And Parent's Choice Award

Created By National Parks Enthusiasts - This couple traveled to every single national park and then worked with their son to make the game.

Fun + Educational - It’s the perfect recipe for a family game night! Appeals to a wide range of people: outdoor lovers, board game players, and gift givers. A great board games for kids!

You are going to want to add this post to your bookmarks for either a California unit or a John Muir unit or combine both for a wonderfully multifaceted study.

John Muir, as he ascended the Pacheco pass wrote:

“At the top of the Pass I obtained my first view of the San Joaquin plain and the glorious Sierra Nevada.

Looking down from a height of fifteen hundred feet, there, extending north and south as far as I could see lay a vast level flower garden, smooch, and level like a lake of gold—the floweriest part of the world I had yet seen.”

Those bright orange California Poppies must have been an incredible sight to behold from above!

Let’s make a bouquet of our own while we learn about their homeland, Muir, and the flowers themselves.

If you want to learn to capture the beautiful landscape, plants, or animals wherever you may live, a copy of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling is a must have.

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir

There are many recognizable California landmarks, some were highlighted in his art and the topic of his books. Yosemite National Park- The land here is made up of waterfalls, cliffs, meadows, Sequoia trees, and abundant wildlife.
Muir Woods Has been a Federally protected National Monument since 1908. It is full of stately old Redwoods from 400 to 800 years old and was named in honor of the naturalist John Muir.
Joshua Tree– Here the landscape is studded with Yucca (Joshua Trees), it has two very distinct deserts the Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, and at night time there’s very little light pollution making the view of the nighttime sky other worldly.
Sequoia National Park– 404,064 acres of forested mountain terrain. The park is known for its giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman tree, the largest tree on Earth by its volume. These mighty trees can reach 350 ft tall and 24 ft in diameter, living up to 2,000 years.

Then, look at a few more resources.

Kids Activities to Learn About John Muir

Grab this fun book Our National Parks.
You can also try to grow some of your own California Poppies at home. They are supposed to be pretty easy to grow and like hot, dry spots with even poor soil.
7 John Muir Environmentalist Facts and Fun Teaching Ideas
John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas)

Finally, look at how to make this fun California poppy craft.

How To Make A Poppy Craft

You will need:

Coffee filters
Yellow and orange buttons
Liquid watercolors
paintbrush
Green pipe cleaners

First, fold 3 coffee filters in half, then in half again.

Cut the corners to round them off and create a more distinct 4 petal shape.

Combine half a cup of water with 25 drops of yellow and 15 drops of orange, you can make several different cups to get variations on your shading.

Lay coffee filters on a tray or cookie sheet and paint them until fully saturated.

You can also take straight liquid watercolor and paint or drop onto the coffee filters to create natural shading and patterns.

Set them aside to dry, I laid them on our tray outside with a small rock holding each in place until they dried, which only took about 15 minutes in the hot sun.

Once they’re dry, stack three together and scrunch them up to wrinkle it and make your petals look more natural and ruffled, then press them flat.

Fold the stack in half then in half again, cut a slit ¼” up. Unfold one time and then slip several inches of pipe cleaner all the way through the holes.

Bend and twist it on itself to make the stem.

Gently unfold the petals of each of the layers until you get the look that you like.

To create the center of the poppy glue a yellow or orange button to the middle.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

April 22, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Hands-on time activities are the way to go when it comes to teaching your child how to read an analog clock.

Another thing I like to do is apply learning to real life situations as much as possible.

When a child is learning time, it helps to attach it to things like 12:00 for lunch, 8:00 for bedtime, etc.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

It’s a simple but effective way to begin teaching your child about AM and PM.

Today to give your child an activity that they can use to learn this new skill, I have a cute little tutorial.

It’s a simple watch craft your child can design and then use to practice telling time on as they go about their day.

But that’s not all, there are 7 more fun hands-on time activities to try.

They will get your child moving, thinking, and eventually telling time all day long as they move from meals to playtime to bedtime.

Books For Kids About Telling Time and Clocks

Next, look at some of these hands-on resources for learning about telling time.

Also, include older learners by reading some of these living books about clock and time.

9 Time Telling Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these resources to your day for telling time.Your kids will love hands-on games and ideas.

Clocks and How They Go

Describes the weight clock and the spring clock and how they work.

Turn & Tell Wooden Clock

Educational Details: The clock face has large red numbers to match the hour hand, small blue numbers to match the minute hand, and a segmented color disk to help kids visualize "quarter
past" and "half past

The Secret Clocks: Time Senses of Living Things

Why do some plants blossom only during the day? How do certain birds know when and where to migrate? Why are some people "early birds" and others "night owls"? In this easy-to-read volume, Seymour Simon examines the inner biological clocks of people, animals, and plants and explains what makes them tick.

Perfect Timing Game

TIMES UP: Learn to tell time in this fast paced, fun and cooperative game. The goal of this Perfect Timing card game is to get the clock to the right place just in time.

Time Dice Pair

Jumbo 12-sided dice/manipulative to reinforce basic time-telling skills. Contains 2 dice: (1) yellow with blue numbers 1-12 to designate hours. (1) yellow with red numbers: 00 -: 55 to designate minutes.

The 13 Clocks

The hands of all thirteen clocks stand still in the gloomy castle on a lonely hill where a wicked Duke lives with his niece, the beautiful Princess Saralinda. The Duke fancies he has frozen time, for he is afraid that one day a Prince may come and win away the hand of the Princess—the only warm hand in the castle. To thwart that fate, he sets impossible tasks for Saralinda’s suitors. But when the bold Prince Zorn of Zorna arrives, disguised as a wandering minstrel, and helped by the enigmatic Golux, the cold Duke may at last have met his match.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Clocks Tell the Time

Man has always found a great need for measuring time. This book begins with very early time-keeping, and goes through water-clocks, sundials and early clocks to modern ones. At the end is the Atomichron, which may be the accurate time-keeper that will go with rockets into space.Early mechanical clocks were worked by heavy weights, and had only an hour hand, as seen in the old clockmaker's shop used on page 4. At that time people did not feel the need to know the exact time, nor had they made a clock accurate enough to tell it. In this age of science, time must be measured exactly. The Atomichron should lose only one second in three thousand years.

Clock Learning for Kids

Unlock the joy of learning time with our practical and functional Montessori toys for babies. Enhance kids' clock learning to tell time with our toy clock.

Here are a few suggestions for games and other resources that will have them calling out the time on analog clocks all day long.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities

Check out this rock sundial that will help your child learn small numbers and tell time using the sun to the hour.
Find out how Teaching Time Made Fun works kids gross motor skills while teaching them time.
These Telling Time Clock Playdough Mats are a fun way to incorporate sensory learning in a simple lesson.
Using a basic learning clock you can play Rush Hour Game – How to TEACH Kids How to Tell Time! In a really entertaining way.
Make use of the free resources in the yard like rocks by creating a Rock Clock and teach kids how to tell time with a creative twist.
Use up those leftover eggs by creating the Telling Time Match Up game, what a great way to get familiar with matching numbers and clock faces.
This Easy Telling Time Craft For Kids shows examples of both analog and digital clocks for practice.

Finally, look how to make this simple watch craft.

Simple Watch Craft

For young children practice identifying the numbers on the watch face.

After they are very familiar with them you can move on to telling time to the hour, half hour, quarter hour, in five minute increments, and finally down to the minute.

You will need:

sturdy cardstock
A metal brad
Scissors
Hook and loop tape
Small round object to trace
Laminating machine/sheets

First, to make it easy to read and wear if you want to find a small round object larger than your child’s wrist, I used a little bowl to trace the watch face.

Measure their wrist and trace then cut a strip of paper about 1 ½ to 2” longer and 2” wide.

Measure the space from the center of the watch face to a little shorter than the edges and cut out two arrows, one shorter than the other.

Cut out each piece and let your child color it then write 1-12 on the watch face around the outside.

Place each piece in laminating sheets and seal to make them sturdier.

You don’t have to do this step but the practice watch will last a lot longer

Cut the laminated pieces leaving just a small border.

Poke a hole through the arrows and in the center of the watch face.

Push a brad through the arrows and watch, open into place.

Hot glue the watch face to the center of the “strap”

Now place each side of velcro on either ends of the strap so that it can be put together and pulled apart. (one half goes on the inside uncolored portion, the opposite piece should go on the colored side.)

Reliving The Past: Lewis And Clark’s Hands-on Experience With Simple Char Cloth

April 14, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making char cloth. Also, look at my page Lewis and Clark Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook for more activities.

We looked over the list of supplies that Lewis and Clark took with them on their expedition.

It sparked a few ideas of some hands-on things to make.

Reliving The Past: Lewis And Clark's Hands-on Experience With Simple Char Cloth

First, review the list of Lewis and Clark Expedition supplies here.

Several items looked pretty interesting to attempt to make.

However, but we honed in on the skills and supplies needed to start a fire.

A flint and steel would have been kept handy.

And no doubt some kind of cloth or charred cloth to ignite a spark and start the fire.

But first, look at some books to add to your learning day.

15 Lewis and Clark | Sacagawea Exploration Unit Study Resources

Lewis and Clark is one of the most significant periods in American history and you can spend weeks exploring the lands and people west of the Mississippi with these fun books and resources.

How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark

Appealing art and descriptive text bring Lewis and Clark alive for young adventurers. Carefully chosen text from Lewis and Clark's actual journals opens a fascinating window into this country's exciting history.

National Geographic Readers: Sacagawea

Explore one of the most recognized figures in American history with this biography of Sacagawea. Kids will learn about her crucial role in the Lewis and Clark expedition and her influential legacy. The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers.

Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis & Clark

Commissioned in 1803 by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and open up this vast territory, Lewis and Clark felt it was the realization of a lifelong dream. Against the hardships of the wilderness, possible attack by hostile Indians, sudden blizzards and terrifying natural obstacles, these two men led the Corps of Discovery ably and nobly to complete their mission. Their Corps included American Indians from the Sioux, Mandan, Shoshone, Clatsop and Chopunnish tribes. Sacajawea, the only woman on the trip, was a Shoshone woman who contributed invaluable service as interpreter and guide. Daugherty's evocative sepia and black ink illustrations depict individuals of humor, vitality, passion, and strength.

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West

From the New York Times bestselling author the definitive book on Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the most momentous expedition in American history and one of the great adventure stories of all time.

The Truth About Sacajawea (Lewis & Clark Expedition)

The only book ever written that tells the eyewitness truth about this famous teenage Indian mother who was indispensable to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark: 1805: Volume II

On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out from Camp Dubois, Illinois, heading westward under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his Second Lieutenant, William Clark. While Lewis led the group in terms of rank, the two men became de facto equals, giving their names jointly to a journey that would shape the future of the fledgling United States — the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This book presents journal entries taken directly from the expedition.

Sacagawea: American Pathfinder

Describes how Sacagawea found adventure guiding Lewis and Clark to the Oregon coast.

Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark (Third Edition): A Guide to the Trail Today

Take Your Own Journey through History on the Lewis & Clark Trail! Follow the journey of the Corps of Discovery from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello through the Midwest and the Rockies, to the Pacific Ocean and back with this detailed chronicle of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. This third edition of the classic guidebook features accessible text that combines the historical sites and color maps that merge the past and present in a user-friendly and entertaining way.

What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

When Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the "Corp of Discovery" left St. Louis, Missouri, on May 1, 1804, their mission was to explore the vast, unknown territory acquired a year earlier in the Louisiana Purchase. The travelers hoped to find a waterway that crossed the western half of the United States. They didn't. However, young readers will love this true-life adventure tale of the two-year journey that finally brought the explorers to the Pacific Ocean.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (Graphic History)

In this epic graphic novel, follow the dramatic story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 1804, these two explorers, along with their "Corps of Discovery," traversed the unmapped American West, leading to scientific discoveries, interactions with Native nations, and route to the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic illustrations and fast-paced text provide a "you-are-there" experience. With extensive back matter, including a bibliography, extended reading list, glossary, and further Internet sources, young readers will gobble up this action-packed comic book about one of history's most compelling moments.

The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country From Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad With 25 Projects

In The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country from Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad, readers ages 9 to 12 can delve into the explorations of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and other explorers. They can learn about the more than half a million people who followed during the nineteenth century. What challenges did these pioneers face on the 2,170-mile journey? How were Native American tribes and nations affected by this mass migration? Primary sources allow readers to feel like a part of the Oregon Trail experience while biographical sidebars will introduce the compelling people who were part of this time in U.S. history. Investigative, hands-on projects and critical thinking activities such as writing a treaty and researching artistic impressions of the Oregon Trail invite readers to further their understanding of life on the trail, early towns and forts, and the Transcontinental Railroad that followed the wagons into new lands and territories that would eventually become states.

Seaman's Journal

A trade paperback edition of the award-winning tale of the journey of Lewis and Clark. When Seaman, a Newfoundland dog, met his new master in August of 1803, he didn't know that he would spend the next three years on an adventure of more than 8,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean and back. Seaman's Journal is based on actual entries in Meriwether Lewis s journal describing Seaman, and it presents an account of the Lewis and Clark expedition as seen from the viewpoint of Lewis s dog. Join Seaman before the trip as preparations take place. Meet the Native American guides and friends they encountered along the way. And read of Seaman s love for Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman whose husband acted as interpreter and guide. Ages 5-8.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Join the Corps of Discovery to Explore Uncharted Territory

Describes the expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the unknown western regions of America at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities

Following Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery as they navigate the muddy Missouri River and begin a great adventure, this activity book is set against the background of the vast North American continent. It takes children from President Jefferson’s vision of an exploratory mission across a continent full of unique plants and animals through their dangerous and challenging journey into the unknown to the expedition’s triumphant return to the frontier town of St. Louis. Twenty-one activities bring to life the Native American tribes they encountered, the plants and animals they discovered, and the camping and navigating techniques they used. A glossary of terms and listings of Lewis and Clark sites, museums, and related websites round out this comprehensive activity book.

It's Her Story Sacajawea A Graphic Novel

Sacajawea was a brilliant, multilingual Shoshone girl who was torn from her home at a young age. In 1804, she set out with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide across hundreds of miles of unmapped land to reach the Pacific Ocean. Almost 200 years later, she became the first Indigenous woman to appear on a US coin. This is her story.

In addition, look at what is a char cloth.

Making Char Cloth

This was a good definition Wikipedia had of char cloth.

Also called charpaper, charred clothed is a swatch of fabric made from vegetable fiber (such as linen, cotton or jute) that has been converted via pyrolysis into a slow-burning fuel of very low ignition temperature. It can be ignited by a single spark that can in turn be used to ignite a tinder bundle to start a fire.

Our activity today give Tiny some science research.

It got us thinking on the flammability of fabrics, like cotton versus wool and silk and linen.

Too, grab this Great Balls of Fire free pdf download. This gives another hands-on activity to learn about flammability of fabrics.

It just added to what we were learning about today.

Besides, it highlights one of the easiest and natural ways to start a fire.

Also, Tiny did a bit of research on how wood gets charred.

Because we had most of the items in the house for a quick activity, we decided to make easy charred cloth.

Look at the items we used:

Altoid can or other tin can with snug fitting lid
Ice pick or knife or some other really sharp object to poke a hole in the lid
Fire
Cotton (has to be all cotton) cloth. We used cleaning rag remnants.

We tore part of the rag into small pieces of cloth that easily fit into the Altoid can. We had enough room around them so they could breath or have room around the edges.

Then we poked a hole in the top of the Altoid can with an ice pick.

After putting the cloth in the tin, we set it on a fire.

We used a candle we had and didn’t need. Now, we did school for the day while this stayed on the fire a good part of the day.

Hands-on History Lewis and Clark

A faster way is to put the can in a fireplace inside your home or make a fire outside.

Our weather was nice today, but this easily could be a great activity to do in the winter.

Not only could you use your indoor fireplace, but you could use the charred cloth afterwards to spark a fire.

Anyway, we just placed our can on the candle like I said for most of the day so it would smoke slowly and char the cloth.

After it completely cools, which is real important otherwise it burns up, open it up to examine the cloth.

We have several nice pieces of charred cloth to use to ignite a fire.

Besides, you never know when you may be called upon at a moment’s notice to build a fire while on the frontier.

Tiny loves movies about surviving and wilderness living (me too) and so this is just another fun activity we learned about using natural fibers and materials to start a raging fire and no doubt some of the same things that Lewis and Clark had to know.

Here is another good set of instructions from instructables using blue jeans.

GRAB THESE OTHER RESOURCES AND HANDS-ON IDEAS

Hugs and love ya,

Lewis & Clark hands-on history. Make an easy char cloth @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for more AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.

Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity

April 13, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity

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

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.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

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.

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

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.

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

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.

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

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

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

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

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!

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

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.

From Switzerland to the Author of Swiss Family Robinson Quick Study

April 12, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Did you know that Johann David Whyss, author of Swiss Family Robinson was born in Bern, Switzerland? Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

If you are looking for a mini unit to spin off your Swiss Family Robinson there are several great ways you can go.

From Switzerland to the Author of Swiss Family Robinson Quick Study

Today I have some ideas on studying the homeland of the author.

It’s about Switzerland and all the lovely things it has to offer.

`A wonderful dive into Switzerland brings a delicious variety of foods.

Bu also beautiful mountains, snowy white flowers, and wooden horns used to call cattle.

It also might take you down the path of learning about CERN and its nuclear research or learning about the Red Cross.

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Also, look at some of these books.

Also, I have resources to learn more about the life and times of The Swiss Family Robinson.

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.

Quick Study of The Homeland of Author of Swiss Family Robinson

Here are a couple of resources that I love for a quick Switzerland Unit.

10 Swiss Topics Not to Miss

Here are 10 ideas for how to take your quick study on Switzerland a little further by delving into various important contributions from the country.

Johann David Wyss- If you are going to learn about Wyss start by finding Switzerland on a map and then the city he was born, Bern. You might learn about the fact that he was Swiss preacher or that Swiss Family was his only novel, published by his son late in his life.
Edelweiss- Learn a bit more about the beautiful national symbol of Switzerland is not really a flower but rather as set of 500 to 1000 tiny florets grouped between 2-10 floral heads. The species was in decline due to overcollection but is now protected by laws.
Swiss Chocolate- Switzerland is one of the first countries ever to have produced chocolate. Perfecting it by mixing just the right ratio of chocolate and condensed milk to produce a rich and creamy texture – Swiss Chocolate Drink Mix
Matterhorn- The most famous and photographed mountain in the Alps located on the border of Italy.
Swiss Fondue– While Switzerland is known for their cheese, it is especially known for cheese fondue. To make fondue, cheese is melted in a pot, and then everyone at the table is given skewers to dunk their items. This is usually crusty bread, sometimes boiled potatoes, blanched vegetables, or pickles. Try making it yourself at home or find a restaurant near you that serves it for a tasty field trip. Here is a basic recipe I found for traditional Swiss fondue to try.

Swiss Topics Not to Miss

Swiss Army Knife– Swiss Army knives are a multibladed tool that evolved from knives issued to Swiss soldiers starting in 1886. Although originated in Germany they were improved upon and manufactured in Switzerland and are the most famous knives in the world – Swiss Army Knife.
Neutral Politics- Switzerland is known for being a neutral land, spend a little time in a civics lesson learning about what that entails.
Clocks/Watches- The home of luxury watchmaking since the 16th century where the industry began to explode in Geneva.The Swiss are well known for their precision and skill in making timepieces and one of the most famous watch companies is headquartered here, maybe you have heard of Rolex?
The Red Cross- Did you know that the Red Cross began in Switzerland? Now you do. It was started by Henry Dunant in 1863 who became the first recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. The Red Cross now operates worldwide, giving aid to those in need.
4 Languages- Rather than just one official language for the country Switzerland has 4! They are German, French, Italian and Romansh.

Hands-on Activities

Listen to Swiss music like yodeling and a polka.
Grab a map of Switzerland and label it with the capital of Bern.
Try Swiss Chocolate

handson

Books for Kids about John Muir

California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir

Kids Activities to Learn About John Muir

How To Make A Poppy Craft

Books For Kids About Telling Time and Clocks

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities

Simple Watch Craft

Making Char Cloth

Hands-on History Lewis and Clark

GRAB THESE OTHER RESOURCES AND HANDS-ON IDEAS

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

The Science of Cave Stalactites and Stalagmites

Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land

Cave Activity – Growing Stalactite

More The Swiss Family Robinson Activities

Quick Study of The Homeland of Author of Swiss Family Robinson

10 Swiss Topics Not to Miss

Swiss Topics Not to Miss

Footer

Categories

Archives