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handsonhomeschooling

Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

September 26, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free trees lapbook and resources today for a fun study about trees. Too, on my Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning page you can find more free homeschool lapbooks.

And studying trees can bring together botany, biology, ecology, earth science, geography, math, and environmental science in one natural science unit study for an older study. With a younger student, they can start learning the parts of a tree.

Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

A tree study is a great introduction to botany without making science feel abstract. Instead of only reading about plant structures in a textbook, kids can go outside and study trees.

They can examine bark, compare leaves, look for seeds, measure trunks, study roots, observe insects, and notice differences among tree species.

Use my lapbook as a segue into a deeper study. For example, older kids are ready to go beyond simply identifying the roots, trunk, branches, and leaves.

Next, add some of these books about trees to your unit study and to this lapbook.

BOOKS ABOUT TREES FOR KIDS

We prefer living books when we can find them.

And then we add reference books or field guides as we need them.

9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.

Image for Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.

Image for The Busy Tree

The Busy Tree

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

Image for The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.

It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more

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

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

Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.

Image for Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. 

Image for Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.

Image for The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.

Image for Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.

Image for Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.

In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.

Next, look at some more hands-on tree activities.

FUN HANDS-ON TREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Why Evergreen Trees Are the Ultimate Winter Wonder & Tree Craft
  • From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Celebrate Arbor Day With A Fun Flowering Cherry Tree Activity
  • 10 Fun Facts About Kapok Trees You’ll Love
Free Trees Lapbook For Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE TREES LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS INCLUDED:

  • All About Trees
  • Parts of a Tree
  • Common Tree Forms
  • Tree Life Cycle
  • Fun Facts About Trees
  • Why We Need Trees
  • What is a Tree
  • My Tree Promise

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie

HOW TO GET THE FREE TREES LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science, trees

Kid’s Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

September 24, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

To use with a pioneer unit study, we’re learning kid’s pioneer toys to make. Long before screens, batteries, and plastic packaging, pioneer children on the American frontier made their own fun.

Toys were rarely purchased at a store, but instead they were whittled from scraps of wood, sewn from worn-out fabric, or fashioned from whatever the family had on hand.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

For families studying westward expansion, pioneer life, or the 1800s in general, recreating these simple toys is one of the best ways to make history feel real. Kids won’t just be reading about the past; they get the opportunity to hold it in their hands.

Today we’re making one of the most beloved pioneer toys: the jumping jack.

And we’ll use cardboard instead of wood, which makes this a perfect, low-mess project for a homeschool afternoon. And we will upcycle a cardboard box out of the pantry to keep it free.

Pioneer families who traveled west in covered wagons had almost no room for extra because every pound of cargo mattered when you were crossing prairies, rivers, and mountains, so toys had to be small, lightweight, and often multi-purpose.

Next, look at some living books to use with a pioneer or westward expansion unit study.

LIVING BOOKS FOR KIDS FOR A WESTWARD EXPANSION UNIT STUDY

These books would work with a pioneer unit study too.

Also we love using these books as a read aloud while doing a hands-on history craft.

10 Westward Expansion Resources

Add in a few books and resources to bring the study of the Oregon Trail to life during the United States expansion of the west.

Image for Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail (The Way It Was)

Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail (The Way It Was)

Your Life as a Pioneer on The Oregon Trail, has some funny illustrations and great information for this unit study.

Image for Little House on the Prairie Series 7 Books Collection

Little House on the Prairie Series 7 Books Collection

Of course ALL the Little House Books are some of the best about pioneer life.

The Ingalls are the most famous pioneers and westward moving families.

Image for Westward Expansion (A True Book: Westward Expansion)

Westward Expansion (A True Book: Westward Expansion)

A True Book: Westward Expansion takes readers on an amazing journey to a fascinating time in U.S. history when the country was experiencing dynamic change and expanding westward.

Image for The Oregon Trail 4-Book Paperback Box Set Plus Poster Map

The Oregon Trail 4-Book Paperback Box Set Plus Poster Map

In this boxed set, choose your own trail and complete the journey to Oregon City with all four paperbacks in this exciting series! It's 1850 and your first goal is to get your family, covered wagon full of supplies, and oxen to Chimney Rock on time. 

Image for The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley Boardgame

The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley Boardgame

  • It's a race to Willamette Valley as you join the wagon train and seek your fortune in the West!
Image for Apples to Oregon:

Apples to Oregon:

Apples, ho! When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too.

Image for Locomotive

Locomotive

It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to
ocean

Image for The California Gold Rush and the '49ers

The California Gold Rush and the '49ers

Try your luck, and search for your fortune in California! Follow the joy and heartbreak of the '49ers during the California Gold Rush.

Image for Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

In 1853, the Larkin family loaded up their wagons and headed west in search of a new life. But how did they do it? What did they eat? How did they survive sickness, and attacks from cattle thieves? Drawing on diaries and letters, and illustrated with photographs of actual object from the past, Daily Life in a Covered Wagon explored what life was really like on the wagon trail.

Image for Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

Illustrations and simple rhyming text follow Mother, Father, and Baby John as they make the difficult journey by wagon to a new home across the Rocky Mountains in the fertile Sacramento Valley of California. By the creators of Gold Fever.

And many toys made at home using leftover wood, corn husks, fabric scraps, or even bones and buttons.

Children were also expected to help with chores from a young age, so toys were usually played with in short bursts… during a break from churning butter, feeding chickens, or minding their younger siblings.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

What pioneer toys lacked in polish, they made up for in imagination. A toy didn’t need to look realistic to be a hit; it just needed to move, spin, or make a sound to be exciting.

MORE PIONEER LIFE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Fun Pioneer Peg Dolls For Kids Westward Expansion Hands On Activities
  • BEST Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Stitches Through Time: Colonial And Pioneer Quilts History & Easy Collage
  • Make hand dipped beeswax candles.
  • Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing 
  • Edible Log Cabin 
  • Punched Tin Lantern.

In addition, let’s take a look at some of the toys that would have been common among pioneers, and I will take you through making your own jumping jack step by step.

OTHER PIONEER TOYS WORTH EXPLORING

Before jumping into the jumping jack project, consider exploring a few other pioneer toys as a themed pioneer toy week in your homeschool.

  • Whirligigs (buttons on string) A button threaded onto a loop of string, twisted, and pulled to make it spin rapidly. Simple, cheap, and endlessly entertaining.
  • Corn husk dolls–made from dried corn husks tied and folded into a human shape, these dolls were especially common because corn was grown almost everywhere. Girls often decorated them with scraps of cloth for dresses.
  • Game of Graces-This game involved throwing and catching a hoop on a stick.
  • Cup and ball–   A small ball attached by string to a wooden cup, tossed and caught. This toy tested hand-eye coordination and patience.
  • Rag dolls-Sewn from fabric scraps and stuffed with cotton, rags, or sawdust, these were often a young girl’s most treasured possession.
  • Cats cradle (string games)–  A pattern game played with a loop of string stretched between the fingers, passed back and forth between two players.

Each of these toys can make a fun companion project, and most require materials you already have at home: string, fabric scraps, buttons, or a stick.

HOW TO MAKE A CARDBOARD JUMPING JACK

A jumping jack is a jointed puppet, usually shaped like a person or animal, whose arms and legs “jump” up when you pull a string. Pioneer children often made these from wood and twine, but cardboard works wonderfully and is much easier for young hands to cut.

You will need:

  • Cardboard (a cereal box works well)
  • Scissors
  • A hole punch (or a pencil to poke holes)
  • Brass fasteners (paper brads), about 5
  • String or yarn
  • Markers, crayons, or paint for decorating
  • A large bead or button (optional, for the pull handle)
Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

First, on the cardboard, draw and cut out a body/head shape (as one piece), two arm pieces, and two leg pieces. Keep the limbs roughly the same length so the toy moves evenly.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

Decorate your jumping jack. Let your child give it a face, clothing, or even turn it into an animal.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

Punch a hole at the top of each arm and leg

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

And punch matching holes at each shoulder and hip on the body.

Use brass fasteners to attach each arm and leg to the body, pushing the fastener through both holes and folding back the prongs loosely enough that the limbs can swing freely.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

Connect the limbs with string. Tie one end of a piece of string to the top hole of one arm, run it behind the body, and tie it to the top hole of the opposite arm. Repeat with the two legs.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

Add the pull string. Tie a separate string to the center point where the arm-string and leg-string cross behind the body.

Let this string hang down below the toy, and tie a bead or button to the end as a handle.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

Test it out. Hold the toy by the head or hang it from a nail, and gently pull the string.

Kid's Pioneer Toys To Make: How To Make A Jumping Jack

The arms and legs should swing up together.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, pioneer, pioneer crafts, pioneer toys

Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

September 22, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free magnet lapbook science and resources today for a fun study about magnets. Too, on my Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning page you can find more free homeschool lapbooks.

A magnet lapbook can turn an ordinary science topic into an interactive exploration of forces, materials, energy, electricity, and technology.

Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

And studying magnets provides an opportunity to explore invisible forces, conduct experiments, make observations, and discover how magnetic fields work

Magnets can attract certain materials without even touching them.

They can push and pull on other magnets, and their force can act through objects.

KIDS BOOKS ABOUT PHYSICAL SCIENCE

10 Books About Physical Science

Physical science varies in topic. It can cover states of matter, forces and motion like push and pull, forms of energy like simple circuits, light and sound to earth and space.

Image for What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases

What Is the World Made Of?: All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Can you make an ice cube disappear? Put it on a hot sidewalk. It melts into water and then vanishes! The ice cube changes from solid to liquid to gas. This Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out picture book is a fascinating exploration of the three states of matter. This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, uses simple, fun diagrams to explain the difference between solids, liquids, and gases. This book also includes a find out more section with experiments designed to encourage further exploration and introduce record keeping.

Image for Matter: Physical Science for Kids

Matter: Physical Science for Kids

In Matter: Physical Science for Kids, kids ages 5 to 8 explore the definition of matter and the different states of matter, plus the stuff in our world that isn’t matter, such as sound and light! In this nonfiction picture book, children are introduced to physical science through detailed illustrations paired with a compelling narrative that uses fun language to convey familiar examples of real-world science connections. By recognizing the basic physics concept of matter and identifying the different ways matter appears in real life, kids develop a fundamental understanding of physical science and are impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and
laboratories

Image for The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery.

Image for Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library)

Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.

Image for Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics

Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics

Charles Ludwig retells Michael Faraday’s remarkable life story in fictionalized form. Here is the father of the electric motor, the dynamo, the transformer, the generator. Few persons are aware of the brilliant man’s deep Christian convictions and his determination to live by the Sermon on the Mount. For ages 12 to 15.

Image for Junior Science Book of Electricity

Junior Science Book of Electricity

Book about electricity for children.

Image for Energy Makes Things Happen

Energy Makes Things Happen

Did you know that energy comes from the food you eat? From the sun and wind? From fuel and heat? You get energy every time you eat. You transfer energy to other things every time you play baseball.

Image for Waves: Principles of Light, Electricity and Magnetism (The Secrets of the Universe)

Waves: Principles of Light, Electricity and Magnetism (The Secrets of the Universe)

Have you ever wondered why a prism turns ordinary sunlight into a rainbow? Isaac Newton knew why. How can a magnet be used to generate electricity? Michael Faraday could have told you. Can you explain how a toaster toasts bread? In this book, author Paul Fleisher answers these and many more questions as he looks at the laws that describe how waves behave. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of light, electricity and magnetism in a fun, exciting way.

Image for Liquids and Gases: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (Secrets of the Universe)

Liquids and Gases: Principles of Fluid Mechanics (Secrets of the Universe)

Have you ever wondered why a 10-tonne boat floats but a tiny pebble sinks? Archimedes knew why. How does a basketball or tennis ball bounce? Robert Boyle could have described how! Can you explain why a hot-air balloon rises but a balloon you blow up drops to the ground? To answer these questions and many more, author Paul Fleisher explains the laws that define how and why liquids and gases behave the way they do. Through simple experiments, detailed illustrations and concepts that are easy to understand, readers are introduced to the basic principles of fluid mechanics in a fun, exciting way.

Image for Marbles,Roller Skates,Doorknob

Marbles,Roller Skates,Doorknob

Explains the concepts of simple and complex machines and mechanical advantage, and describes how wheels, including gears and ball bearings, work

Then look at some resources and activities about magnets.

ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES TO STUDY MAGNETS

  • Junior Science Book of Magnets
  • Exploring Symmetry with Magna-Tiles
  • The Story of Electricity and Magnetism
  • Magna Tiles Rocket Ship Building Activity with Tin Cans
  • Magnet Arts and Crafts for Kids
  • Magnet Experiments
Free Magnet Lapbook Science And Resources for Kids

Last, look the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE MAGNET LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS

  • What Happens When We Put 2 Magnets Together
  • Did You Know
  • Magnets What is a Magnet
  • Separating Mixtures
  • The Earth is a Giant Magnet
  • Earth Has Magnetic Poles

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE MAGNET LAPBOOK

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, magnets, science

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

September 21, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 19 hands-on rainforest activities for kindergarten. Too, grab more kindergarten activities on my Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum page. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, Rain Forest – Amazon, and Rainforest Activities for Kids for more ideas.

And learning about the rainforest is a fun subject to cover for any grade including kindergarten.

Too, teaching children at the kindergarten age should include hands-on activities and should be play-based.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Kindergarten learners can discover the rainforest through their senses. And the word “rain forest” denotes the fact that these are the some of the world’s wettest ecosystems.

While exploring nature, they learn through the sense of smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

So, you’ll want to include learning through the senses and a full immersion into the world of nature.

If you have room in your learning space, create a play-based Amazon theme area. Make the jungle come alive through music and props.

AMAZON RAINFOREST ANIMALS

First, begin with what kids this age love and that is animals.

There are many Amazon rainforest animals which your child can focus on.

A few animals which can ignite your child’s love for the wealth of the life that lives in the rainforest are:

  • Jaguars
  • Toucans
  • Iguanas
  • Giant Ant Eaters
  • Kinkajou also called honey bears
  • Harpy Eagles
  • Piranhas
  • Sloth and
  • Butterflies
  • Red and Green Macaw

And look at this ANIMALS OF THE WILD AMAZON Coloring Book for Kids & Adults: Learn about nature of the Rainforest.

Besides the animals are really what excites your kids when learning about the rainforest.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

You’ll love the page I have here Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon where your children can see more pictures.

RAINFOREST ACTIVITIES

Next, I have many rainforest activities for kids of all ages, but your kindergarten aged children will love putting together this fun lapbook.

Actually, my lapbooks are for multiple ages and are mix and match. Not all kids, especially kindergarten are on at the same level. That is perfectly normal.

Kids this age can be reading beginning chapter books, and some are still learning letter sounds. All of this is well within the range of normal for this age.

The point is kids love learning and this is the time for projects. And look how fun this is: Melissa & Doug Stamp-a-Scene Stamp Set: Rain Forest – 20 Wooden Stamps.

For example, look at these free Amazon rainforest lapbooks.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look here to read about my free Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

OTHER KINDERGARTEN RESOURCES

Look at some of these other kindergarten resources.

  • How to Create the Best Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten (free printable)
  • 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten
  • 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
  • How to Effortlessly Blend Kindergarten Homeschool Subjects & Life
  • BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
  • Delightful Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Which Promote a Love of Learning
  • 21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look at the 19 crafts below. I know you’ll find one or two that will add some fun to your child’s learning day.

Rainforest Activities

Kindergarten learning should be about hands-on crafts, moving, singing and learning that is play- based or crafts.

These rainforest crafts can be done by all your kids but especially your kindergarten aged children.

Image for Easy Bird Finger Puppet Origami
Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com

Easy Bird Finger Puppet Origami

Well, we have a super duper special and EASY Bird Finger Puppet Origami project for you. These are so easy, and so fun to turn into doodle birds, that you will wonder **where** they have been all your life! So fun.

Image for Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

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

Image for Toilet Paper Roll Macaw Craft
Photo Credit: www.littleladoo.com

Toilet Paper Roll Macaw Craft

Looking for a fun craft project for kids with Toilet Paper Rolls? Why not make a Macaw craft!

Image for Handprint Parrot Craft For Kids
Photo Credit: www.simpleeverydaymom.com

Handprint Parrot Craft For Kids

If you need a fun craft to go with a rainforest theme try out this cute handprint parrot craft.

Image for Sloth Letter Recognition Activity
Photo Credit: abcsofliteracy.com

Sloth Letter Recognition Activity

Your kids are going to have fun naming capital and lowercase letters as they “feed” the sloth in this Sloth Letter Recognition Activity. 

Image for Rainforest Collage for Kids
Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthememories.com

Rainforest Collage for Kids

Your preschoolers and kindergartners will have a blast with this Rainforest Collage for Kids. This process art activity is perfect for encouraging creative thinking, problem-solving, and of course fine motor skills.

Image for Butterfly Symmetry Painting
Photo Credit: www.littleladoo.com

Butterfly Symmetry Painting

Try this Fun Art Project – Butterfly Symmetry Painting. It is easy, and fun and kids will love the unique result every time.

Image for Lotus Flower Process Art for Kids
Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthememories.com

Lotus Flower Process Art for Kids

Encourage creative thinking, problem-solving, and fine motor skills while learning about the rainforest with this Lotus Flower Process Art for preschoolers and kindergartners! You’re definitely going to want to check it out!

Image for Phonemic Awareness Activity: Rainforest Animal Slide
Photo Credit: growingbookbybook.com

Phonemic Awareness Activity: Rainforest Animal Slide

Does your child know most of his letter sounds?  Are you wondering what to work on next? If so, it’s time to play with those sounds and how they work together to make words.

Image for Cute Sloth Handprint Craft
Photo Credit: www.simpleeverydaymom.com

Cute Sloth Handprint Craft

Image for Rainforest Tree Frog Math Games
Photo Credit: thepreschooltoolboxblog.com

Rainforest Tree Frog Math Games

Come play to learn in preschool or Kindergarten with FUN Tree Frog Math Games to encourage developing skills.

Image for Rainforest Animal Letter Maze Worksheets
Photo Credit: abcsofliteracy.com

Rainforest Animal Letter Maze Worksheets

Are your kids learning about the rainforests? Then, grab these free printable Rainforest Animal Letter Maze Worksheets.

Image for Rainforest Process Art
Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthememories.com

Rainforest Process Art

This Rainforest Process Art is a wonderful way to encourage creative thinking, problem-solving, and of course fine motor skills. You’re definitely not going to want to miss it!

Image for Make Colorful Climbing Paper Tree Frogs
Photo Credit: barleyandbirch.com

Make Colorful Climbing Paper Tree Frogs

Explore a variety of fun art-making styles with this climbing paper tree frog craft for kids that sticks to smooth surfaces using the magic of suction cups to mimic the real thing!

Image for Make a Bubble Wrap Stamped Chameleon
Photo Credit: barleyandbirch.com

Make a Bubble Wrap Stamped Chameleon

Inspired by green (the ultimate color of spring!) our cardboard chameleon craft and DIY fascinator start with an incredibly fun process your kids can try as a stand-alone chameleon art activity. 

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Photo Credit: barleyandbirch.com

Go on a Mini Backyard Safari

Spring and summer weather is grand for heading outside to go on an exciting mini backyard safari – no jeep necessary!

Image for DIY Sloth Bookmark Corner - Red Ted Art - Easy Kids Crafts
Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com

DIY Sloth Bookmark Corner - Red Ted Art - Easy Kids Crafts

We never tire of Origami Corner Bookmarks – they are so fun and easy to make and are a great easy STEAM project to get kids started on origami – looking at angles and symmetry and the great things you can make. Then learn how to decorate your origami bookmark and turn it into a fun DIY Sloth Bookmark Corner! And who doesn’t LOVE a Sloth Craft?!

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Toilet Paper Roll FROG Craft

So as our love affair with this humble craft material continues, we share with you today the Toilet Paper Roll Frog Craft! A perfect little TP Roll Craft for Spring.

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Photo Credit: kidscraftroom.com

Cardboard Tube Parrot Craft

Squawk! This Cardboard Tube Parrot Craft is a fabulous Summer bird craft for kids. 

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: amazon rain forest, crafts, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, kindergarten, life science, rainforest, science

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

September 7, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There are so many easy chemistry experiments to do at home using just basic household supplies in your pantry or under the sink.

You don’t need a lab coat or a cabinet full of chemicals to explore real chemistry. Some of the most fascinating reactions happen with stuff you probably already have in your kitchen.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Milk, vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring aren’t just cooking staples; they’re active chemical ingredients.

Acids, bases, proteins, and gases are all sitting in your pantry, just waiting for the right combination to set off a reaction.

You don’t need a fancy lab to see real chemical reactions in action.

Curdling milk into plastic, watching an egg turn rubbery, or making a volcano erupt on your countertop are all genuine demonstrations of acid-base chemistry, protein structure, and gas production.

That makes your kitchen one of the best (and safest) places to introduce chemistry concepts. For example, acid-base reactions, protein denaturation, and gas production can be learned in the kitchen.

BOOKS AND RESOURCES FOR A CHEMISTRY UNIT STUDY

Next, look at these books about chemistry and with fun chemistry activities.

12 Chemistry Books & Resources for Kids of All Ages

But first here are some resources that are a great introduction and more to chemistry for kids.

Image for Superstars of Science

Superstars of Science

Discover fun facts about the greatest scientists from history through Basher's fresh and unique illustration style.

Did you know that Marie Curie used to keep radioactive materials in her pockets? Or that Mendeleyev literally dreamed up his famous periodic table? Superstars of Science tells the stories behind the big ideas in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, earth sciences, and engineering. Read about 40 great scientists including Newton and Einstein who produced theories that explained the way in which the Universe works, Crick and Watson who uncovered the structure of DNA, and Alexander Graham Bell who had the big idea that became the telephone. Each one of these greats of science has had some vital flash of insight that has changed the way we see the world and the way we live. Come meet the superstars of science!

Image for Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us.

Image for Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

This book is a classic in the field of popular science. Standard reading since the 1930s, it is one of the few histories of chemistry to concentrate on the lives of the great chemists. Through these dramatic and human stories, it gives an authoritative and entertaining account of the great discoveries and advances in this scientific field. After many printings in three previous editions, this book has been newly revised by the author for this fourth edition. Beginning with Trevisan and his lifelong search for the "philosopher's stone," the author narrates the lives and discoveries of such towering figures as Paracelsus and his chemical treatment of disease; Priestley looking for phlogiston and finding oxygen and carbon dioxide, Lavoisier creating a new language of chemistry; Dalton and his Atomic Theory; Avogadro and the idea of molecules, Mendeleeff arranging the table of elements under his Periodic Law; the Curies isolating radium; Thomson discovering the electron; Moseley and his Law of Atomic Numbers; Lawrence and the construction of the cyclotron; and more. Probably the most dramatic chapter in the book, the account of the development of nuclear fission, ends the story of chemistry at its most monumental achievement.

Image for The Chemistry of Cola

The Chemistry of Cola

You’ll be amazed at all you can learn from this favorite drink – what’s in it, why it fizzes, what you can do with it, the containers it’s in, and more!

Image for Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

Image for 52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

If you want your child to be able to explore and complete some simple chemistry experiments without running around grabbing all the items an all in on kit is just the thing to add to your chemistry studies.

Image for The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Image for Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

 Chemistry EditionChemistry Fluxx is the perfect compound of chance, skill and strategy-use atoms and laboratory tools to match the current goal of the game and win! The rules are always changing in Fluxx. The Keepers, Goals, Rules and Action cards determine how the game will be played.

Image for Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:

  • Purify alcohol by distillation
  • Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis
  • Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself
  • Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances
  • Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper
  • Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons
  • and much more
Image for The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

Written for lay readers, provides an introduction to the principles of chemistry and includes quotations from popular literature to show how chemistry and everyday life intertwine.

Image for The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

If you have ever suspected that "heavy water" is the title of a bootleg Pink Floyd album, believed that surface tension is an anxiety disorder, or imagined that a noble gas is the result of a heavy meal at Buckingham Palace, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry to set you on the road to chemical literacy.

You don't need to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry explains them all: the history and basics of chemistry, atomic theory, combustion, solubility, reaction stoichiometry, the mole, entropy, and much more—all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Chemistry will never be the same!

Image for Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

AIR IS NOT OXYGEN is a fun way to brush up on essential science concepts you missed in school. (Admit it. You probably thought you had better things to do than study!) Clear, short chapters focus on mastering key concepts instead of memorizing facts. Dozens of optional hands-on activities make science come alive! In a style described as “Dave Barry meets Bill Nye with a touch of the Mythbusters,” award-winning author, Bill Morelan, debunks common misconceptions about basic science. Reflecting both the National Science Content Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN covers Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Science Methods.A fun, informative read, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN helps fill the gaps in your science education. (Never be humiliated by science geeks again!) Perfect for sharing, or as a handy basic reference tool. Makes a great book for kids, too.

Best of all, the ingredients are already in your kitchen, so nothing stops you from starting your first experiment today.

Below I have links to 10 simple experiments you can try today. And take a deeper dive into the coolest one: turning milk into moldable plastic.

 EASY CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENTS TO DO AT HOME

Gather up your baking soda, yeast, watercolors, vinegar, and other basic items and get ready to amaze your kids with your scientific genius.

Look at the science fun I have found for you below.

  1. Try these Gummy Juice Noodles: Food Chemistry Experiment for Kids.
  2. 2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages
  3. Watch a Baking Soda Growing Tree form overnight.
  4. 10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment |Free Printable
  5. Make a Simple Chemistry Hatching Dino Egg for the dino lover.
  6. Learn How to Make Elephant Toothpaste | Fun Chemistry Activities & Printable
  7. Medieval Chemistry and Homeschool History – Fun Hands-On Activity
  8. Simple Chemical Reaction Experiment – Steel wool and vinegar reaction is great for preschool through early elementary.
  9. How to Make Elephant Toothpaste | Fun Chemistry Activities & Printable
  10. Enjoy edible Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet – Go Science Girls.
Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

 
Even though these experiments use safe household products, this is a great time to introduce lab safety and encourage your child to use proper equipment like gloves and safety goggles.

TURNING MILK INTO MOLDABLE PLASTIC EXPERIMENT

This is the star of the show today; I am giving you the simple breakdown for this one.  With just two ingredients, you can watch milk transform from a liquid into a moldable, rubbery solid, essentially homemade bioplastic.

First, talk about the chemistry behind it with your learner. 

Milk contains a protein called casein, which normally stays suspended in the liquid because of its electrical charge and the milk’s pH balance.

Vinegar is acetic acid, and adding it lowers the pH of the milk.  

That change causes the casein proteins to lose their charge and clump together in a process called curdling or denaturation.

In fact, casein plastic (sometimes called “Galalith”) was actually used commercially in the early 1900s to make buttons, jewelry, and pen casings before synthetic plastics took over-amazing!

You will need:

  • 1 cup of milk (whole milk works best)
  • 4 tablespoons of white vinegar
  • A saucepan
  • A strainer or cheesecloth
  • A bowl of cold water
  • Cookie cutters or molds
  • Paper towels
Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it’s warm but not boiling (small bubbles forming at the edges are your cue).

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar.

The solid curds you’re left with are almost pure casein, and this protein has a naturally plastic-like structure.

MILK AND VINEGAR PLASTIC (CASEIN PLASTIC)

Watch closely; within seconds, you’ll see white clumps (curds) separate from a yellowish liquid (whey). This is the reaction in action.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Let it sit for a minute, then pour the mixture through a strainer to separate the curds from the liquid.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

I will say this batch doesn’t make much, so if you have more than one kid or want to create a larger plastic shape, you will want to double or triple the recipe to be sure you have plenty.

Rinse the curds gently under cold water, then press out excess moisture with paper towels.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

While it’s still warm and pliable, knead the curds like dough or press flat for the cookie cutter.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Press them into a mold, shape them by hand, or flatten out and cut them with a cookie cutter.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

Let your creation air-dry for 24–48 hours.

Easy Chemistry Experiments To Do At Home

As it dries, it hardens into a solid, plastic-like material.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: chemistry, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

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