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10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

December 11, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have some fun winter slime ideas and a fun recipe for making marshmallow slime. Be sure you grab more ideas and a free lapbook for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Marshmallow slime is a fun sensory experience.

Unlike other slime recipes which offer a stretchy experience, this is a unique slime that is a fluffy and soft experience.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

And with just a few key ingredients you normally have on hand during winter, you can make for a fun leaning day.

Add this activity to your science day or to my winter unit study.

What’s more is that this marshmallow slime can be enjoyed by all ages.

The way the marshmallow squishes and kneads through your fingers makes it so addictive and enticing.

It’s sure to keep kids entertained for a while.

MORE WINTER SLIME IDEAS

Next, add a few more activities to your winter day.

10 Winter Slime Ideas

Whether you’re looking to entertain kids through the long cold days of winter or are wanting to enjoy the winter season, grab these ideas.

How to Make Gingerbread Slime For Play | 9 Slime Craft Ideas

In honor of National Slime Day December 7th, I have 9 food-themed slime craft ideas as well as my recipe for gingerbread slime. Also, look at this cocoa slime at my post 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities.

Photo Credit: blissfuldomestication.com

Winter Slime Recipe and How to Host a Slime Station!

Kid’s love slime, and my children are no exception. They love the tactile nature of it, and it can provide hours of entertainment. We have made very basic slime before, but for this project I was looking for a simple Winter Slime recipe that could be replicated on a large scale. I also wanted to allow the children at the fair to personalise their slime and watch the magic as it turns from a bowl of liquid to the squidgy slime we all know and love.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

If you’re looking for more winter craft ideas for kids, you’ll love this snow slime inspired by the book Animals in Winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

How to Craft Cinnamon Slime and 8 Cool Slime Ideas

I have some cool slime ideas. And there are amazing benefits of playing with what otherwise seems like just a fun activity. But there is more to slime than just the mess and thrill of sensory play.

Fascinating Insect Incredible Slime: A Kids’ Guide To Nature’s Goo

Learn what insects do in the winter and make this fun insect slime.

Photo Credit: kimspireddiy.com

DIY Candy Cane Slime – How To Make Homemade Fluffy Peppermint Candy Cane Slime

SLIME Lovers & CANDY CANE Lovers – here is an AMAZING slime recipe you are going to love. This fun DIY candy cane slime is super fun and fluffy.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

We’re making a fun stretchy batch of seed slime as we learn all about the colorful blue jay and his winter food. Also, look at my Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime

Wintertime is a great time to study about the ocean.

Add this fun slime activity to your day.

Photo Credit: www.messforless.net

How to Make Snow Slime

But the slime I am going to share today is a winner. If you have been wondering How to Make Snow Slime or Cloud Slime as some call it, wonder no more. It is easy once you add a secret ingredient that will totally transform traditional slime.

3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities

Your kids will love doing three different cocoa winter hands-on science activities to go with my winter season unit study.

Additionally, sensory play is an important part of a child learning.

SENSORY PLAY BENEFITS

Sensory playing teaches many things.

For instance, it helps children organize information.

When a child uses one of the five senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste it nurtures exploration.

Basically, instead of telling, we’re encouraging children to explore and investigate.

Furthermore, sensory play builds fine motor activities.

Children are strengthening their fine motor activities while having fun.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

And when you discuss with your child what he feels, sees, hears, smells or tastes his language development is boosted.

Finally, look at how to make this fun marshmallow slime.

HOW TO MAKE MARSHMALLOW SLIME

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • 5 jumbo marshmallows
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 5 Tbsp cornstarch
  • Microwave-safe bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon or spatula
10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

First, in a microwave-safe bowl add marshmallows and coconut oil.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time until the marshmallow slime is no longer sticky

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Microwave for 45 seconds.

Stir to combine the melted marshmallows and oil.

10 Winter Slime Ideas And How To Make Marshmallow Slime

Have fun!

Too, look at these suggestions if you don’t have some of these ingredients.

  • The recipe can be made with 10 regular-size marshmallows.
  • You can make it edible by replacing the cornstarch with powdered sugar. However, this mixture does tend to stay sticky.
  • Cooking oil can be used instead of coconut oil in this recipe.
  • One-time use. Discard it after playing with this slime.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolinginwinter, slime, winter crafts, winter season

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

December 9, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Turn your everyday paper plates into a beautiful Cherokee rattle craft. Also, you’ll love my free Native American Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning.

Your child will enjoy it while you learn all about Cherokee customs, history, and who they were and are as a people.

I am a big fan of simple crafts using basic items that most of us keep on hand in our craft supplies (or at least in the kitchen).

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

A real Cherokee rattle is typically made from a gourd or turtle shell.

It was adorned with beads, feathers, and other decorations.

They are used in traditional Cherokee ceremonies and healing rituals, creating a sound that is both rhythmic and soothing.

It is often used in conjunction with singing and drumming.

And its sound is said to help create a connection between the physical and spiritual realms.

The Cherokee are a Native American tribe who have lived in the southeastern United States for thousands of years.

They are one of the largest Native American tribes in the United States, with over 300,000 enrolled members mostly in northeastern Oklahoma.

The Cherokee have a rich culture and history. They were once a powerful tribe, with a large empire that stretched across the Appalachian Mountains.

The Cherokee were known for their advanced farming techniques.

Also, they are known for their written language, which was one of the first Native American languages to be written down.

In the 1800s, the Cherokee were forced to leave their land in Georgia and Alabama and move to Oklahoma.

This forced removal, known as the Trail of Tears, was a terrible journey that resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cherokee people.

Despite the hardships they faced, the Cherokee survived and thrived.

Today, they have a strong presence in Oklahoma and other states across the country.

BOOKS ABOUT THE CHEROKEE FOR KIDS

The Cherokee are proud of their culture and heritage, and they continue to work to preserve their traditions and language.

Our rattle pays homage to their history and traditions but here are some other wonderful ideas to make your unit rich and full with hands-on activities, crafts, books, videos, and more.

Next, look at some books about the Cherokee.

When possible I prefer living books.

8 Cherokee Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Grab some of these books about the Cherokee to add to your reading list or to a unit study.

Cherokee, Indians of the Mountains

Tells of everyday life in the Cherokee Nation and how it changed with the coming of the white man

Talking Leaves

A work of historical fiction about Sequoyah and the creation of the Cherokee alphabet, from the acclaimed author of Code Talker Thirteen-year-old Uwohali has not seen his father, Sequoyah, for many years. So when Sequoyah returns to the village, Uwohali is eager to reconnect. But Sequoyah’s new obsession with making strange markings causes friends and neighbors in their tribe to wonder whether he is crazy, or worse—practicing witchcraft. What they don’t know, and what Uwohali discovers, is that Sequoyah is a genius and his strange markings are actually an alphabet representing the sounds of the Cherokee language. 

Sequoyah and the Cherokee Alphabet

The story of one of the great leaders of the Cherokee nation... as well as the fascinating and disturbing story of cultural transformation and subsequent oppressive injustice that ended in The Trail of Tears.

The Apple Tree -- A Modern Day Cherokee Story Told in English & Cherokee (English and Cherokee Edition)

A Cherokee boy plants an apple seed, already seeing the apple tree it is meant to be. But the little apple tree is not so sure. Young and impatient, it begins to doubt its calling after apples fail to appear that first fall. How can the boy convince the tree to give the seasons the time to work their magic? The story is told in English with Cherokee translation, and includes a Cherokee syllabary.

Itse Selu: Cherokee Harvest Festival

Step back in time for a captivating glimpse of Cherokee life in pre-Columbian North America. Join Little Wolf and his family as they prepare to celebrate Itse Selu, the harvest festival. As night approaches the village, the magic of anticipation fills the air. The luscious feast, Grandfather's storytelling, and the sacred corn dance weave a magical tapestry of tradition.

The First Strawberries (Picture Puffins)

From an award-winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be. Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife's retreat.

Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun: A Cherokee Story

After Possum and Buzzard fail in their attempts to steal a piece of the sun, Grandmother Spider succeeds in bringing light to the animals on her side of the world.

Only the Names Remain: The Cherokees and The Trail of Tears

From 1837 to 1838, thousands of Cherokee Indians were marched from their homelands in Georgia to exile in Arkansas by the same white men they has once befriended. The Cherokees journeyed through bitter cold and blazing heat, with little food or water. One out of every four died --- and with them died a culture that had existed for hundreds of years, a civilization that had existed for hundred of years, a civilization that had embraced the white man's ways only to perish through his betrayal. Today, only the names remain of this once great nation.

Then, look at more activities to go with the Cherokee rattle craft.

CHEROKEE ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, AND RESOURCES

  • There is so much information and rich history in my Free The Trail Of Tears For Kids Fun Unit Study Ideas And Lapbook.
  • Make Corn Husk Dolls at home like Cherokee children would have played with long ago.
  • Get the Cherokee Rose coloring sheet with label. This flower was named for the people who were responsible for distributing the plant.
  • Learn the Cherokee language through free videos available on YouTube in multiple lessons.
  • Watch a short 5 minute video about the Cherokee with information on where they began as well as their life now.
  • Dive into other tribes like the Navajo by creating a pinch pot and compare various tribes’ ways of life.
  • Learn how to make a Wattle and Daub house perfect for housing plastic figures
Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

Also, add some fun Cherokee facts to your learning day.

CHEROKEE FACTS TO KNOW

The Cherokee word for “hello” is “osiyo.” but there is no word for “goodbye” instead they say “donadagohvi,” which means “Until we meet again!”. I just love that.

Cherokee comes from a Muskogean word that means “speakers of another language”.

The Cherokee lived in wattle and daub homes.

Wattle and daub homes were framed with tree logs and then covered with mud and grass to fill in the walls.

They called themselves the Ani-Yunwiya, meaning “principal people”.

The Cherokee were the first Native American tribe to develop a written language, it was developed by Sequoyah one of the most famous members of the Cherokee tribe.

Finally, look at how to make a Cherokee rattle craft.

HOW TO MAKE A CHEROKEE RATTLE CRAFT

You will need:

  • Two paper plates
  • Beads
  • Craft feathers
  • Jumbo craft stick
  • string/yarn
  • markers
  • Hot glue gun/glue
Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

First, on the convex side of the paper plates draw a design with Cherokee symbols or whatever you like, you could also draw the design to resemble a turtle’s shell.

Too, you could use paper bowls to get a different sized drum with a different sound instead of plates.

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

On the concave side hot glue a 6” string to either side.

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

Add a handful of beads or use beans to the plate to create the rattling noise.

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

Hot glue the jumbo craft stick to the bottom of the plate on one side.

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

Add beads to the string and feathers to embellish it.

Explore Native American Culture: How to Make a Cherokee Rattle Craft

If you add a bit of hot glue to the feather tips and push them into the bead it acts as a stopper for the end of the string. Trim off any excess string.

Quickly add hot glue all the way around the lip of the first plate and press the second one into place

The hand drum is ready.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Cherokee, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, history, homeschool, Native Americans, nativeamerican, nativeamericans

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

December 7, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s create a single or an entire village of Eskimo peg doll people with just a little paint, felt, and pipe cleaners. Also, look at my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas.

Also, I will include an array of books, videos, and more hands-on activities to create a fun and educational unit.

But first let’s learn more about the arctic people more commonly known as Eskimos and their way of life.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Eskimos, also known as Inuit, are a group of indigenous people who live in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia.

They have adapted to the cold, snowy climate and have a rich culture and traditions.

They traditionally live in igloos, which are dome-shaped houses made from blocks of ice or snow.

Igloos keep Eskimos warm and protected from the wind and cold.

Eskimos wear thick, warm clothing made from animal skins.

For example, animal skins are caribou or seal. They also wear fur boots called mukluks to keep their feet warm.

And they eat a diet that is high in protein and fat, which helps them stay warm.

They eat a lot of fish, meat, and blubber (which is the fatty layer under the skin of whales and seals).

Their main method of transportation is dogsleds to travel across the snow and ice.

They also use kayaks, which are small boats made from animal skins, to travel on the water.

Eskimos have a rich culture and traditions.

They are known for their storytelling, music, and dance. They also have many festivals and celebrations throughout the year.

Many Eskimos still live a traditional lifestyle, but others have moved to towns and cities. They continue to face many struggles, such as climate change and the loss of their traditional lands.

But they are resilient people and work to preserve their culture and traditions in the midst of these modern times.

BOOKS ABOUT THE INUIT

Next, look at these books about the Eskimo.

We try to read living books when we can find them.

12 Arctic Books about People & Animals of the Arctic

Studying about the region of the Arctic is a fascinating topic. Grab some of these books about life in the Arctic and animals of the Arctic.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included for aspiring young snow scientists!

In Arctic Waters

This arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.

Arctic Fox: Fascinating Animal Facts for Kids (This Incredible Planet)

Fascinating Animal Facts Arctic Fox Learn all about the amazing and adaptable Arctic fox. This small yet hardy creature survives in the harshest of environments!

This Incredible Planet series provides young readers with interesting information about the Earth’s most fascinating creatures.

Beautiful color photography makes each animal come to life. Learn about the Arctic fox’s habitat, diet, breeding, lifespan, behavior, threats, and so much more!

Over and Under the Snow

A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Read and find out about how animals cope with winter in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter!

This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades.

The Inuit Thought of It: Amazing Arctic Innovations (We Thought of It)

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set, Polar Animals Toy for Kids Plastic Arctic Reindeer,Walrus,White Whale,Polar Bear,Arctic Fox,Wolf Figures,

Tiny Animals Figures Party: 18 PCS Package include orca, walrus, white owl, reindeer, husky, 2pcs seal, 2pcs beluga whale, 2pcs arctic wolf, 2pcs arctic fox, 2pcs arctic rabbit, 2pcs polar bear figurines and igloo model.

Who are the Eskimos? Arctic People's Traditional Way of Life

Who Are The Eskimos is perfect for early to middle elementary students and makes a great addition to your library.

North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration

“A treat for middle-graders of an ecological bent.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.Back matter includes additional information about the arctic, a glossary, and an index.

Arctic White

When you live in the Arctic in winter, everything is a shade of white. A young girl looks around her home in the Arctic and sees only white, white, white...but one day her grandfather takes her on a journey through the tundra.  And at the end of their cold walk across the ice, they find something special that brings color into their world.

Farthest North: The Incredible Three-Year Voyage to the Frozen Latitudes of the North (Modern Library Exploration)

In 1893, Fridjtof Nansen set sail in the Fram, a ship specially designed and built to be frozen into the polar ice cap, withstand its crushing pressures, and travel with the sea’s drift closer to the North Pole than anyone had ever gone before. Experts said such a ship couldn't be built and that the voyage was tantamount to suicide.  This brilliant first-person account, originally published in 1897, marks the beginning of the modern age of exploration. Nansen vividly describes the dangerous voyage and his 15-month-long dash to the North Pole by sledge. Farthest North is an unforgettable tale and a must-read for any armchair explorer.

This Place Is Cold: An Imagine Living Here book

Can you imaging living in a place where it's so cold your breath turns instantly into tiny ice crystals that glitter in the sun? Where temperatures can drop fifty degrees below zero and even lower and the sun only comes out for a few hours per day? In This Place Is Cold readers will learn how people and animals survive in Alaska's ferocious cold, and how because of global warming this region is now in trouble. Vicki Cobb and Barbara Lavallee travelled the world together to research this groundbreaking geography series, that is now updated and redesigned to appeal to today's readers.

Next, look at some other crafts and activities to go with the Eskimo peg doll.

OTHER INUIT CRAFTS TO GO WITH THE ESKIMO PEG DOLL

Check out my Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity to go deeper into how arctic animals can withstand the cold.

If you are going to focus more on the animals or at least include Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Watch Arctic Native Americans to learn more about the people, land, customs, and more.

If you want to study more about Inuit, the classic Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study is a great way to immerse yourself in the life of a girl living alone in the wilderness in the traditional way.

Who knew a basic wooden spoon could make such a cute DIY Wooden Spoon Eskimo Craft and Igloo Craft?

7 Easy Arctic Animals Crafts And A Narwhal Printable Packet

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Arctic Winter Animal Craft Ideas: Make Your Own Felt Puppets

Make this Sugar Cube Igloo to go along with today’s Eskimo Peg Doll tutorial for a super cute playset sure to keep them busy.

Arctic Region Salt Dough Map + Free Map Flag Printable

Keep it simple but adorable with an Eskimo Craft With Paper Plate idea, what a sweet little face peering out of the fur.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

Finally, look at how to make an Eskimo peg doll.

HOW TO MAKE ESKIMO PEG DOLLS

You will need:

  • Unfinished wood peg dolls
  • Paint/paint pens
  • Craft felt
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

First, paint the head and torso of your wooden peg dolls a darker shade of tan. Set aside to dry.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

While you are waiting for the paint to dry you can begin making the warm clothing.

Cut a small half circle out of felt, measure it by wrapping around the head, this will become their hood.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Next cut a small rectangle of felt for the coat, measure it with the same tool, simply wrap it around the body and trim it to fit so it overlaps just a bit.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Hot glue pipe cleaner all around the edge for fur.

If you want a younger child to be able to create this on their own you can also use a strong tacky glue as well, it will just take longer to dry but no worries about burns.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Once your paint is dry on the peg doll you can use paint markers to add on features.

Allow this to dry thoroughly.

Add a little glue to the back of the head and press the hood into it, wrap it around, using the wire in the pipe cleaner to form and shape it.

Unleashing Creativity: How to Make Your Own Eskimo Peg Doll

Secure the sides with additional glue.

Overlap the hood with the rectangle you cut and secure to the body with glue, overlapping the front of the coat.

Repeat the process as many times as you like to create a couple, a whole family, or an entire village of Eskimo peg doll people.

Add a piece of white felt for snow and some plastic arctic animals and they are ready for eager imaginations.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: arctic, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, inuit, winter crafts, winter season

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

December 6, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The Jello earthquake experiment is a great way to learn about earthquakes and how they can affect structures. Also, look at my page Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

It can be used to teach children about the different types of earthquakes.

And use it to teach the causes of earthquakes, and the effects of earthquakes on people and property as well as the importance of earthquake preparedness.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Earthquakes are a natural hazard that can cause widespread damage and loss of life.

They occur when there is a sudden release of energy below the Earth’s surface, which creates seismic waves.

These waves travel through the Earth’s crust and can cause the ground to shake violently.

Earthquakes can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

  • Tectonic plate movement: The Earth’s crust is made up of several tectonic plates that are constantly moving. When two plates collide, one plate may be forced beneath the other, causing an earthquake.
  • Volcanic activity: Earthquakes can also be caused by volcanic activity. When magma moves beneath the Earth’s surface, it can create pressure that builds up and eventually causes an earthquake.
  • Landslides: Landslides can also trigger earthquakes, especially if they occur in areas with unstable soil or rock.

Look at earthquakes from different viewpoints from measuring them with a seismometer to learning about engineering.

You can build structures that can withstand them with all the activities I have included as well as videos and books.

Of course, we have some cool facts to share while you put together the Jello earthquake experiment.

EARTH SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, add some fun books to this activity.

When possible I prefer to add living books when I can find them.

9 Books for Kids Who Love to Read About Earth Science Topics

Add these books to your learning day to learn about various earth science topics.

The Story Book of Science (Yesterday's Classics)

The wonders of plant and animal life told with rare literary charm by Uncle Paul in conversations with three children. Besides such stories as the ants' subterranean city, the spider's suspension bridge, and the caterpillars' processing, he unlocks the mystery behind thunder and lightning, clouds and rain, the year and its seasons, and volcanoes and earthquakes. Suitable for ages 9 to 12.

Earthquakes (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Some earthquakes are so small that you don’t even feel them, while others can make even big buildings shake. Learn why earthquakes happen, where they are most likely to occur, and what to do if one happens near you. 

Now with updated text and art, this classic picture book describes the causes and effects of earthquakes (including a tsunami). This book features rich vocabulary and fascinating cross-sections of mountains, volcanoes, and faults in the earth’s moving crust.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. The text and art were vetted by Dr. Roland Burgmann, Professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

The First Book of the Earth

A republication of the 1958 book by Irene Sevrey with illustrations by Mildred Waltrip, The First Book of the Earth is an elementary level natural history book that was written during a time when children's books held a student's interest and imagination because they were "living" rather than simply based on factoids and vivid pictures. It is a wonderful introduction to the subject of geology and covers the earth as a planet in the solar system and the physics of how it circles the sun, thereby defining our days and years. It then moves on to describing the earth's origin as scientists understand it and takes up the topics of the earth's composition, its structure, molecular makeup, rock families, minerals, volcanoes and earthquakes, mountains and their formation, and how glaciers and rivers affect the shaping of the earth's surface. The book ends by briefly discussing dinosaurs and the possible aging techniques used to date the earth's age in terms of epochs or periods.

Rocks, Gems and Minerals: A Fully Illustrated, Authoritative and Easy-to-Use Guide (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press)

This handy identification guide to the most common kinds of rocks and minerals offers concise and fascinating information on:- Physical and chemical properties- Origins and geologic significance- Gems and semiprecious stones- How to find and collect specimens

Earth: An Intimate History

Beginning with Mt. Vesuvius, whose eruption in Roman times helped spark the science of geology, and ending in a lab in the West of England where mathematical models and lab experiments replace direct observation, Richard Fortey tells us what the present says about ancient geologic processes. He shows how plate tectonics came to rule the geophysical landscape and how the evidence is written in the hills and in the stones. And in the process, he takes us on a wonderful journey around the globe to visit some of the most fascinating and intriguing spots on the planet.

The First Book of Caves

A book about caves with drawings for young readers with a vocabulary list and definition at the end.

Rocks and Minerals: A Guide of Familiar Minerals, Gems, Ores, and Rocks (A Golden Nature Guide)

A guide to familiar minerals, gems, ores, and rocks enhanced by 400 full color illustrations. Provides much geological knowledge in how to look for surface forms, rocks, minerals etc. Includes information for the searcher and an useful list of clubs and organizations. Excellent bibliography and index.

A Whale of the Wild (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)

For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be?

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A first book about geology

A living book on the living earth. Told in a conversational style, the book discusses the topics of geology and provides ideas for investigations and demonstrations of the scientific principles. Illustrated throughout, this book is a favorite as an introduction to geology for young readers. This edition includes updated science information on plate tectonics and the structure of the earth.

Also, look at some facts about earthquakes.

6 EARTH SHAKING FACTS ABOUT EARTHQUAKES

  1. The point where an earthquake starts is called the focus or hypocenter and the Earth’s surface directly above the focus is called the epicenter.
  2. Earthquakes are measured using the Richter scale, which ranges from 1 to 10. This logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of the seismic waves.
  3. The largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 earthquake in Chile in 1960.
  4. Earthquakes can cause tsunamis, landslides, and other geological hazards which cause buildings and other structures to collapse.
  5. The deadliest earthquake in history was the Tangshan earthquake in China in 1976, which killed an estimated 242,000 people.
  6. Earthquakes are most common in certain areas of the world, such as along plate boundaries.
Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Also, look at these fun hands-on activities.

EARTHQUAKE EXPERIMENT ACTIVITIES

  • If you live in an area affected by earthquakes, talk about your plan during an earthquake, just like you would for fires, etc. Put together an earthquake kit with your child to have one hand should you ever need it.
  • Try a tasty lesson in How to Make an Edible Kindergarten Earth Science Tectonic Plate Activity to teach younger children.
  • Scientific America has simple lesson plans for Earthquake-Proof Engineering for Skyscrapers using LEGO, a favorite tool and toy in one.
  • Don’t forget to add in some great books like All About Earthquakes and I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 for a rich and full learning experience.
  • To learn more about the effect in and around the epicenter check out this Earthquake Epicenter Experiment.
  • Watch Earthquakes for Kids STEM | Learn why earthquakes happen and how to measure them.
  • Not only can you make your own model of an earthquake measurement device but you will find 10 Hands On Earthquake Activities | How To Make A Model Seismometer.
  • Check out this simple earth Science experiment on Plate Movement, Earthquakes to simply demonstrate the effects of earthquakes.

Finally, look at this fun Jello earthquake experiment.

JELLO EARTHQUAKE EXPERIMENT

You will need:

  • 1 box of Jello
  • 1 clear container
  • small objects, such as toy cars, buildings, or trees
  • A spoon
  • Mini marshmallows
  • toothpicks
Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

First, prepare the Jello according to the package directions.

The Jello represents the ground which moves during an earthquake.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Pour the Jello into the clear container and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Once the Jello is set, place the small objects on top of it.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Use the spoon to gently shake the container.

Observe what happens to the Jello and the small objects.

As you shake the container, the Jello will begin to jiggle and wobble.

This is similar to what happens to the ground during an earthquake.

The small objects on top of the Jello will begin to move and may even fall over.

This is because the earthquake waves are causing the ground to shake.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Now, our goal is to build a structure from marshmallows and toothpicks that will hold up to that movement.

Have your learner design and construct buildings out of toothpicks and marshmallows, allow this to be an open ended activity so they can work out for themselves which holds up better- a shorter or taller structure? A square or a more tapered one? At which height is the structure no longer stable?

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Offer different sized toothpicks and marshmallows to give your child more variety for building.

Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Be sure to have your child record their findings in their science notebook from the variables to the results of the jello earthquake experiment.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthquakes, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, Jello, science

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

November 29, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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I have a cool raspberry DNA activity for kids.

Also, I’m sharing some fun raspberry facts and hands-on DNA activities for kids.

And I have a fun science activity extracting DNA from a raspberry. You can do this with all your kids.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Your younger kids will enjoy the wow factor but learn about DNA with your older kids.

The study of DNA is amazing. It’s inside every living plant and animal.

But is DNA still present after we pick a raspberry or even cook with it? Your older learners can ponder their thoughts.

DNA FUN FACTS FOR KIDS

Plus, it can be hard to introduce this topic.

For example, I tell my kids DNA is like an instruction manual for living things.

Besides, when scientist extract DNA from plants they can learn more about how it grows and even how to make them tastier.

And what makes this science activity fun is that with a few ingredients they help break down the raspberry’s DNA into individual parts.

Too, kids need to know that for scientist to extract DNA they must break up each of the protective layers of the cell. Then carefully pull out the DNA hidden inside the nucleus.

However the first step before explaining what is DNA is to start with cells. All living things are made of cells.

And each cell has a nucleus where the DNA is stored.

BOOKS ABOUT RASPBERRIES FOR KIDS

Next, I have a collection of books.

Where possible I prefer living books but also we love nonfiction books to check facts.

6 Raspberry Themed Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

You’ll love this collection of books to add to your home library or for a raspberry unit study.

The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook

Inspired by the most famous of all Canadian children's books, L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables,this cookbook combines easy step-by-step recipes with charming watercolours of Anne and her friends and quotations from three of the ever-popular Anne books. Never before have good things to eat and drink been so successfully derived from cooking episodes in children's literature. From 'Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches' to 'Anne's Liniment Cake' and 'Diana Barry's Favourite Raspberry Cordial,' these delicious treats will be fun to make--and they'll be sure to turn out well because they were kitchen-tested by a twelve-year old who had perfect results!

Bread and Jam for Frances (I Can Read Level 2)

Frances is a fussy eater. In fact, the only thing she likes is bread and jam. She won't touch her squishy soft-boiled egg. She trades away her chicken-salad sandwich at lunch. She turns up her nose at boring veal cutlets.

Unless her parents can come up with a plan, Frances just might go on eating bread and jam forever!

Join the generations of families that have laughed along as Frances sings "Jam on biscuits, jam on bread, Jam is the thing I like most, Jam is sticky, jam is sweet, Jam is tasty, jam’s a treat—raspberry, strawberry, gooseberry, I’m very FOND…OF…JAM!"

The DNA Book (The Science Book Series)

It's inside every living plant and animal, from the tiniest seed to the person standing next to you, but how much do you know about DNA? This book gives children an in-depth look at DNA and its role in all living things--from why we have different-colored eyes to why we age. Discover what DNA is, what it does, and how it shapes our lives, including inheritance and why we look like our parents; forensic science and how DNA evidence helps catch criminals; and genetic engineering and if we could bring dinosaurs back to life. With fun illustrated DNA characters, clear diagrams, and astonishing photographs, children will love learning about themselves and this all-important molecule.

Berry Magic

“This charming pourquoi tale tells of an Eskimo girl and her magic. Sloat’s pictures are vibrant and engaging, befitting the land of the northern lights. . . .Delightful, playful and beautifully written.”―School Library Journal

Long ago, the only berries on the tundra were hard, tasteless, little crowberries. As Anana watches the older ladies in her village complain bitterly while picking berries for the Fall Festival, she decides to use her magic to help. 

"Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsa-ii-yaa (Berry), Atsaukina! (Be a berry!)," Anana sings under the full moon, turning the four dolls she sewed with a different color pelatuuk (or head scarf) into little girls that run and tumble over the tundra creating patches of fat, juicy berries: blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, and raspberries. 

The next morning Anana and the ladies fill basket after basket with berries for the Fall Festival. Thanks to Anana, there are plenty of tasty berries for the agutak (Eskimo tee cream) at the festival and forevermore. 

Raspberries!

After hard times hit and his bakery is forced to close, popular baker Simon is remembered by a young girl in a family he once helped in their time of need who gives him enchanting berries, and when Simon sells them to a local baker, things quickly turn around as people start clamoring for more.

Berries, Nuts, And Seeds (Take Along Guides)

Describes a variety of berries, nuts, and seeds that might be found on a nature walk and includes identification information.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested. Color illustrations enhance the presentation.

Next, look at some fun facts about raspberries.

RASPBERRY FACTS

  • Raspberries can be other colors like black, yellow or purple, not just red.
  • They are not really berries but technically aggregate fruits. That means they have many tiny sections or drupes not just one berry.
  • Packed with loads of vitamin C, they are super healthy for you.
  • Although they love the sun, they can grow in cold places.
  • People in Ancient Rome and Greece grew and ate raspberries.
  • And raspberries belong to the rose family.
  • They have tiny seeds inside. They have about 100 seeds.
  • Pollinators love the sweet smell of raspberries. They’re great for pollinators.

And look at some of these DNA activities for kids.

DNA ACTIVITY FOR KIDS IDEAS

  • How To Study Human Anatomy For Science:Build An Edible DNA Model
  • How to Extract DNA from a Banana
  • How to Make a Plant Cell Model Edible for Kids
  • How to Build a Sweet DNA Model
  • How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model
  • How To Extract DNA From Strawberries
  • DNA Teaching Resources
Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

And here are more berry activities.

HANDS-ON BERRY ACTIVITIES

Additionally, the rose family consists of many berries.

For instance, it includes cherries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

  • Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • Free Printable Strawberry Notebooking Pages
  • Fun American Civil War Crafts for Kids and Make Raspberry Jam
  • Life Cycle Of a Strawberry Facts and Fun Hand Sewn Felt Strawberry
  • Strawberry Unit Study.

Finally, look at how to extract DNA from raspberries.

HOW TO EXTRACT DNA FROM RASPBERRIES WITH KIDS

Look at this list of supplies.

  • 2-3 raspberries
  • 1 sandwich-size baggie
  • Rubbing alcohol (Over 70% works best)
  • Small glass or plastic jar
  • Coffee filter
  • Rubber band
  • Dish soap
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Small bowl
  • Wooden skewer
Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

First, place the bottle of rubbing alcohol in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Next, place the raspberries into the baggie, seal it, and mash them.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

In the small bowl add 2 tsp of water, ½ tsp of dish soap, and a pinch of salt.

Stir to mix.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Add the soap mixture to the mashed-up raspberries.

Squish the liquid around with the raspberries and mix it well.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Set aside.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Lay the coffee filter over the jar, push it into it, and secure it with the rubber band.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Carefully pour a small amount of the raspberry mixture into the coffee filter.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

The liquid will slowly drip into the jar.

Continue to add a small amount of mixture at a time. This may take a few minutes.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Remove the filter.

Fill the jar ¾ of the way full with the chilled rubbing alcohol.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Watch as the raspberry DNA begins to float and swirl around.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Use the skewer to gently grab the raspberry DNA.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Mixing the mashed raspberries with the soap, water, and salt mixture helps break down the raspberry’s DNA into individual parts.

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

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