homeschoolscience

Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

June 17, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today we’re making a jellyfish lights crafts. Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

Learn how to make this easy jellyfish lights craft with just a few inexpensive supplies and learn a lot about the life and characteristics of the fascinating jellyfish at the same time.

This is a great way to incorporate a hands-on activity that is fun and themed for summer learning into your day.

Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

Your jellyfish can be as small or large as you like.

Upcycle empty fruit cups or use large plastic clear bowls from the party section to create an entire swarm.

Then use your child’s creation to teach them how to identify the anatomy, learn jellyfish vocabulary, and terminology, as well as create an adorable ocean craft for decoration.

Hands-On Activities-Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

Ocean Anatomy was the perfect book for our easy jellyfish lights craft.

There is so much to learn in just a few pages.

You can reference it for the life cycle of a jellyfish, the anatomy of a jellyfish, facts, and a quick blurb on 5 different types of jellyfish.

The watercolor illustrations and tidbits of information are wonderful for reference.

Look at this beautiful Watercolor Jellyfish Art Project.

Make these fun Jellyfish in a Jar to observe their movement.
This stunning wooden Jellyfish Puzzle would make a wonderful hands-on activity as well as a keepsake for the whole family, especially middle to high school ages.

Younger children will enjoy making this Paper Plate Jellyfish.
How about a sweet and easy Paper Bag Jellyfish craft?
These Free Printable Jellyfish Clip cards are perfect for preschoolers learning to count and identify numbers.
Jellyfish Lacing Craft is ideal for building fine motor skills.
Build your own jellyfish with these PlusPlus interlocking blocks.
Head to your local aquarium to see some jellyfish in person or check out the live Jelly Cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium while you put together your craft.

Jellyfish Facts

A group of jellyfish is known as a swarm or a bloom, which can contain millions of jellyfish and spread out over 10 square miles.
Jellyfish are not really fish or made of jelly, they are made of 95% water and classified as invertebrates from the phylum Cnidaria.
There are at least 2000 different species of jellyfish and they come in a wide range of shapes and colors like pink, white, yellow, orange, green, and blue, as well as multicolored.
They have no brain and no heart.
Jellyfish eat and poop from the same spot.
While some are tiny, the lion’s mane jellyfish can stretch its tentacles as long as 120 feet.

Challenge your child to create more than one jellyfish species.

Get creative using other craft supplies to make each one as unique as their real counterparts.

I was able to find everything I used at Dollar Tree, but you may already have most of it around the house.

More Ocean Themed Activities

And add Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity.

Moreover, look at some of these books and fun resources to learn about jellyfish.

Books and Resources about Jellyfish

Add some of these books and resources to your study of jellyfish.

Jellyfish: A Natural History

With their undulating umbrella-shaped bells and sprawling tentacles, they are compelling and gorgeous, strange and dangerous. In many places they’re also vastly increasing in number, and these population blooms may be an ominous indicator of the rising temperatures and toxicity of the oceans.

Jellyfish (A Day in the Life: Sea Animals)

Beautiful and translucent, jellyfish can be deadly but some are perfectly harmless. Learn about the physical traits of jellyfish, how they move, where they are found, and their hunting and sleeping habits.

Moon Jelly Swims Through the Sea

Describes the life cycle of a female moon jellyfish as she escapes the many hazards of the sea to develop from planula to polyp to ephyra to a young adult ready to lay her own fertilized eggs.

Jellyfish - 70 Piece Tube Building Stem/Steam Toy

SIMPLE DESIGN - FUELS CREATIVITY: One shape, endless possibility! Every brick easily connects to the next. Create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3-D to make more intricate builds. Mix and match any Plus-Plus set to bring more ideas to life!

Jellyfish Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

CHALLENGE GAME - Wooden jigsaw puzzles with uniquely shaped pieces are actually more challenging than traditional woodcut puzzles. It is absolutely going to be a great adventure!

A Jellyfish Is Not a Fish (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book)

Describes the general characteristics and functions of a variety of jellyfish with emphasis on the ones to avoid.

Bloom

Once, the ocean was full of friends. Then a little jellyfish notices that things are changing--friends are disappearing! He sets out to discover the truth and learns that everyone has a part to play in protecting the careful balance of the ocean. "Bloom" refers to a substantial increase in jellyfish population that can be caused by climate change and pollution. In this beautifully illustrated, timely, and topical tale, the jellyfish band together to deliver an important message.

Finally, look how to make this fun jellyfish light craft.

Easy Jellyfish Light Craft

You will need:

Push light (or battery-operated tea light)
Clear plastic bowls or cups
Tissue paper
Ribbon
Hot glue gun/ stick
school glue

You want to make sure that your light fits inside of your bowl.

The tea lights fit everything, but they put out less light than the little tap light I used (from Dollar Tree).

First, place your bowl upside down and paint the outside with a full coat of watered-down school glue or use mod podge.

Cover with tissue paper in whatever color you like and press firmly into the glue. You can add multiple layers, but I like the translucent look.

“Paint” another coat of glue all over the top of the tissue paper to seal it well. Press the paper until it is mostly smooth. Allow it to dry.

Once it is completely dry you can rip off or cut the excess tissue paper left on the edges.

Flip the bowl over and glue the light into place on the inside.

I used a generous amount of hot glue and only secured the back so that I could twist off the front to change out the batteries.

You could also secure your light with adhesive velcro strips for easy removal.

Cut 2 or more types of ribbon to the same length, ruffled or shimmer ribbon is fun with the lights and resembles the tentacles more.

Hot glue the ribbon just inside the edge of the bowl all the way around.

If you want to, add a little detail to the body with markers or watercolor paint.

Finally, to hang your jellyfish, make a little loop on top with some of your leftover ribbons and secure it with hot glue.

How fun and simple was this easy jellyfish lights craft?

How to Make A Megalodon Shark Tooth Fun Homeschool Project

June 16, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Learn how to make a megalodon shark tooth homeschool project. Also, look for more ideas on my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

Megalodon Day is celebrated on June 15 to celebrate one of the largest predators ever known on Earth.

So, because I have a megalodon shark homeschool project to share with you as well as a host of other fun things.

How to Make A Megalodon Shark Tooth Fun Homeschool Project

If you have a shark or prehistoric creature-loving kid, they are going to enjoy this activity and the other ideas to go along with it.

Not only is it a great science project but it also works in an element of art, math, and research skills.

Like much of homeschooling, a good hands-on activity is fun and covers a multitude of subjects.

Megalodon Day Facts

The scientific name for the megalodon is Otodus megalodon.
The word megalodon comes from the Greek language and means “giant tooth.”
The megalodon bite was thought to be 3 times stronger than a T Rex bite, with a grin of 10 feet wide.
Megalodons are estimated to have been 40 to 60 feet in length and weighed 50 to 75 tons.
They have found fossil remains of the megalodon off the coast of every continent except Antarctica.
Studies done between megalodon, and great white teeth have led scientists to believe that they are closely related and also assume their body shape (though not size) was similar.
Since sharks don’t have any bones to examine most of what we know about the ancient megalodon comes from its large fossil teeth.

Then, look at some of these resources.

Megalodon Shark Resources

Add some of these fun Megalodon shark resources to your unit study.

Prehistoric Animal Models:Patton The Megalodon

Made of soft plastics, safe and innocuous, healthy and Eco-friendly.

Smaller than last one and with flexible lower jaw.

Shark Teeth in Bag Genuine Fossilized Specimens Perfect for Classroom Lessons Arts and Crafts

Real Genuine Shark Teeth

Approximately 30 teeth per bag (plus fossils and bones!)

MEGALODON!: The Complete History Of The Largest Predatory Shark That Ever Lived!

This book covers the Megalodon and the evolution of its ancestors going back over 100 million years. It also describes the Megalodon's internal and external physical characteristics based on the fossil record and what we know from related species

More Hands-On Shark Homeschool Activities

Since so much is a mystery about the megalodon, it takes some time to learn basic facts about modern-day sharks, the ancestors of the mega monster from prehistoric times. Ocean Anatomy is a good resource with pictures and facts about sharks and so much more.
Make a shark necklace to wear while you learn all about these fast, hungry predators.
You might enjoy this Montessori-inspired shark unit with lots of ideas.
Include this Easy How to Draw a Megalodon Shark Tutorial and Megalodon Shark Coloring Page in your plans.
Don’t forget Shark Week on Discovery Channel from July 11 to 18th.
Create an Easy Shark Art with Scrape Painting.
How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
I love a good-themed snack with a fun topic, munch on these shark tooth snacks.
A megalodon replica is a great addition to sensory bins, dramatic play, and even as a display added to a science shelf for your child to investigate.
Take a tape measure outside and draw it out to 60 feet to get a better idea of how big they believe the megalodon was.
Grab some shark teeth from your collection if you have any and compare the size to your replica.
Check out What if Megalodon Sharks Never Went Extinct on Youtube while you work on an activity or Wild Kratts is a wonderfully entertaining animated science show and this Stuck on Sharks video is full of information.

Finally, look at how to make a megalodon shark tooth.

Megalodon Shark Tooth Homeschool Project

Before starting, look in one of your books or online to get an idea of the shape and coloring of a Megalodon tooth. This helps give a good idea of just how massive a single tooth is.

You will need:

Air-Dry Clay
Craft paints
Paintbrushes
Clay roller or rolling pin
Toothpicks, craft sticks
Ruler

Begin by pulling off a sizable piece of clay, we will try to get our megalodon tooth close to 7” long.

Then, forming your shape, we are going for something roughly the shape of a piece of pizza.

Add clay as needed and work it in smoothing it with your fingers.

This is a great time to pull out your ruler and have your child measure to get the size right, somewhere between 6” and 7 ⅜” (the largest ever found).

Once you have your general size and shape roll it out to smooth the lumps.

How to Make a Megalodon Shark Tooth

Add a little build-up to the broader end, this is the root, where it would have been inside the shark’s jaw. Smooth with fingers to make it look like a natural transition.

Before allowing it to dry, add some aging and wear marks like pits and grooves using whatever you have on hand- the backend of your paint brushes, toothpicks, craft sticks, and etc.

Maybe there is a small piece missing out of one edge where he fought with another megalodon?

Allow to dry, this may take a couple of days, be sure to turn it every 12 hours or so to help it dry more thoroughly. If you place it outside in a sunny spot it will dry fast, be sure to lay it flat so that it dries flat.

Once your tooth is completely dry make a palette of different paint colors like black, white, tan, and gray on a paper plate.

Paint each section of the tooth and allow it to dry, you only need one thin coat.

If you want your replica megalodon tooth to last even longer give it a couple coats with a clear spray sealant.

Free Peregrine Falcon Lapbook And Fun Unit Study Ideas

June 9, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Peregrine Falcon lapbook. Too, look at my Peregrine Falcons Unit Study and my lapbook ideas,

The Peregrine Falcon was almost extinct in the 1960s.

The Peregrine Falcon is an endangered species but can dwell in cities.

Additionally, the falcon is a common bird of prey which also includes eagles and hawks.

Free Peregrine Falcon Lapbook And Fun Unit Study Ideas

A bird of prey is a hunting bird.

And the Peregrine Falcon is the most common falcon.

However, there are more species of falcons.

There are the:

American Krestel
Merlin
Prairie Falcon
Collared Forest Falcon

Too, look at some of these facts about falcons.

More Peregrine Falcons Facts

The adults have blue-gray wings with dark brown backs.
And they are 16 to 19 inches long,
Their name comes from the Latin word peregrinus, which means “one from abroad” or “to wander.”
Females are slightly larger than the males.
Beaks are slate blue.
Flight speed can be more than 60 mph.
They have long pointed wings.
Juveniles are marked with vertical streaks instead of horizontal bars on the breast.
When falcons catch birds in a fast dive in the air it’s called a stoop.
Besides dwelling in cities, they can nest and perch on cliffs and other tall structures.

Next, add some of these vocabulary words to your unit study.

Vocabulary Words – Peregrine Falcon

endangered species – an animal or plant at risk of becoming extinct
raptor – a bird of prey; a bird that obtains food through the use of force
prey – an animal hunted by another for food
talon – the claw of a bird of prey
scientific name – Falco peregrinus
eyrie (pronounced I Ree) – the nest of a bird of prey usually on a high cliff or other tower
ornithologist – a biologist who studies birds
tiercel – the name for the male
clutch – set of eggs
Anatum – Latin for “eater or killer of ducks”. The common name in North America for the Peregrine Falcon used to be Duck Hawk.
ecosystem – all living and nonliving things in an area that interacts
raptor – From a Latin origin meaning “to grasp or seize”.
falconry – An ancient sport of using a trained raptor to hunt.
thermal – An ascending current of air caused by heat.

Also, look at some of the history of falconry.

History of Falconry

The use of falcons for hunting was developed around 2,000 B.C. in central Asia.

And by the twelfth century A.D., falconry was widely practiced throughout Europe.

Pictorial records and wall hangings show falconers with birds on their wrists in Arabia and Persia.

Falconry is an art.

It requires long hours, constant devotion, finesse, subtlety and skill. The falconer must train a bird of prey to fly free, hunt for a human being and then accept a return to captivity.

More Bird Resources and Activities

Also, study birds with these other activities and resources.

And you’ll love these books.

Bird Of Prey and Peregrine Falcon Resources

Add these books and resources to your unit study about bird of prey or peregrine falcons.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Great book for any boy or girl who wants to live outdoor and experience nature.

The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry

Join a young girl and her father, the falconer at a medieval castle, as they experience the joys of taking a goshawk out for a training flight

Peregrine Spring: A Master Falconer's Extraordinary Life with Birds of Prey

Peregrine Spring, Nancy Cowan’s memoir of her thirty years living intimately with raptors, gives us a new perspective on the relationship between humans and the natural world. Cowan shares her experiences running a world-famous falconry school, and the lessons she's learned from her birds.

Call of the Osprey (Scientists in the Field)

This meticulously researched and photographed account follows three University of Montana scientists and their interdisciplinary work with osprey: fish-catching birds with gigantic nests and a family that functions with teamwork and cooperation.

Talons: North American Birds of Prey (Pocket Nature Guides)

Talons: North American Birds of Prey by M. Miller & C. Nelson, present color illustrations along with names, size, range, & description of these predators.

Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky helps birds and imaginations take glorious flight in this breathtaking nonfiction picture book with six giant gatefolds.Arnosky will draw out kids'
inner explorer as he explains why there are no feathers on a vulture's head, which bird is the deep-diving champ, what makes an owls's wings perfectly silent in flight, and much more.

100 Facts Birds of Prey

Great book for beginners.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Peregrine Falcons Free Minibooks

Moreover, here are the minibooks included in the download. I find that they are jumping off points for subtopics I covered in the unit study.

2 Birds of Prey Cover pages for the outside of the lapbook
Hawks and Falcons Birds of Prey
Did You Know . .
Anatomy of Peregrine Falcon
Falconry – An Ancient Sport
Mating and Nesting
Prey of Falcon
Types of Falcon
Natures Finest Flying Machine
Vocabulary Words Pocket/Illustration
Where Do Falcons Live

How to Get the Free Peregrine Falcon 20 Page Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my subscribers library and this freebie.

However, not all my freebies are in the library (wink).

I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity

June 1, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love this fun blow painting coral reef hands-on activity. Also, grab more ideas on my Coral Reef page.

Too, June 1st marks World Reef Day, a day that is a call for everyone to reflect on our beautiful coral reefs as well as come to action to protect and preserve them.

Even if you have never visited them in person, you have surely seen their beauty in pictures or videos.

Celebrate World Reef Day with a Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity

I have a beautiful craft project to share with you which is coral reef blow painting.

It is a unique and fun activity for the kids to make and is a beautiful piece of artwork to hang up in your home as well.

This project is so fun you will probably want to make one yourself.

Coral reefs are important to us because:

they hold an abundance of life,
reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion,
provide jobs for the community around them,
they are a source of food and medicine,
and are a source of recreation for those who wish to appreciate them up close.

10 World Coral Reef Day Facts

Next, look at some facts to remember on world coral reef day.

The NOAA estimates that over 75% of the world’s reefs are currently threatened, and within the next 10 years, 90% of reefs will be threatened by human activities.
The biggest threat to coral is climate change.
Corals are animals, not plants, and are the cousins of marine animals like jellyfish and sea anemones.
Corals can move. Adult coral is attached to the ocean floor but larval or baby coral can swim to find a spot to set down anchor.
Coral supports 25% of ocean life, it is much like an underwater forest.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on Earth.
Like trees, coral has growth rings inside that can help determine the age of the coral.
There are over 800 different types of hard coral around the world.
Coral reefs only grow up to a certain water depth which is about 200 to 300 feet.
Corals eat 2 different ways- either by capturing zooplankton that floats near their polyp tentacles or by their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae.

Then look at ways to protect coral reefs.

4 Ways Kids Can Preserve Coral Reefs

1. Choose Reef Friendly Sun Protection.

Many sunscreens hurt the coral reefs causing coral bleaching and stopping its development.

Instead of using sunscreen made with toxic chemicals, focus on practicing sun management cover-up, avoiding the sun during peak hours.

And opt for non-nano mineral-based sunscreen on exposed areas. These sunscreens are made with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide.

2. Recycle And Dispose Of Trash Properly.

You may think tossing just one water bottle from the boat isn’t a big deal, but imagine millions of people doing that, or carelessly leaving trash on the beach.

These actions have big impacts on marine life including corals.

3. Research When Purchasing Aquarium Fish.

Avoid buying living coral instead look for imitation corals, if you purchase a marine aquarium fish, make sure that it has been collected in a sustainable way.

4. Spread the Word.

Especially if you live anywhere near these precious coral reefs, you can work together with local groups to educate everyone on how important and precious they are.

You can find a lot of information online but here are a few books that I highly recommend you use for ocean studies; they both contain a good amount of information on coral reefs as well as the marine animals that make their home there.

More Coral Reef Ideas

Also, look at these resources for studying coral reefs.

Coral Reef Unit Study Resources

Add some of these coral reef unit study resources to your unit study.

National Geographic Readers: Coral Reefs

In this level 2 reader, young readers explore the amazing underwater world of coral reefs. Beautiful photos and carefully leveled text make this book perfect for reading aloud and for independent reading.

Coral Reefs (New & Updated Edition)

What is life like in a coral reef? What do corals eat? Why are corals more colorful at nighttime? Learn about some of the most beautiful locations in the natural worldMarine biologists believe coral reefs existed 400 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Today this active environment is home to about 20,000 kinds of brilliantly colored corals, plants, and animals--more sea creatures than are found anywhere else in the world. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is so large that astronauts can see it from outer space! Children in early elementary grades will enjoy Gibbon's informative text and clear, detailed illustrations on this journey into the unique lives of coral reefs.

Coral Reefs: A Whole New World Under The Sea -

The world is keen to protect the coral reefs. Why? The coral reefs provide shelter to all kinds of sea creatures. If they die, life below the sea will become very difficult. It is important to educate the young about the whole new world under the sea. This beautiful nature encyclopedia will be just the right tool to use!

Ocean Sea Animal, 52 Pack Assorted Under The Sea Life

Sea animal toy, approximately 2 inch, creature including Octopus,hippocampus, seahorse, jellyfish, turtle,clown fish, crab,shark Otter and etc

7 Pack Artificial Coral

Use for a diorama or for play fun.

Ecosystem: Coral Reef - A Family Card Game About Ocean Animals, Habitats, and The Food Chain - Board Game for Kids

MARINE BIOLOGY GAME - Learn about underwater creatures and their habitats in this nature card game! Players use aquatic animals such as sea turtles, sharks, and clownfish in a grid formation in this ecosystem building game. Earn points by aligning ocean life with the habitats and food sources where they most flourish.

Coral Reef

Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time

Life in a Coral Reef (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Coral reefs are some of the largest natural structures in the world, and they are created by tiny coral polyps no bigger than a grain of rice. This Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science book introduces readers to the amazing world of the coral reefs and the many marine animals who lived there.

WILD ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Create an Underwater Coral Reef - Science Kit

CREATE AN UNDERWATER WORLD -- Use chemical reactions to create colorful underwater scenes. Mix solutions, build an artificial coral reef and grow instant chemical coral with this coral reef kit.

Coral Reef Tin Box Magnetic Travel Game

Travel-Friendly Educational Toys: Coral Reef features 48 challenges, from easy to expert. Thanks to its compact size and new tin box portable travel case, you can put this puzzle at the top of your family's travel games list.

Finally, look how to make this blow painting coral reef hands-on activity.

Coral Reef Hands-On Activity

You will need:

Straws
Liquid watercolors
Watercolor paper
Pipettes or droppers
Markers
Baking sheet
Fine point black pen

Cut straws in half to make it a little easier to blow through and direct your watercolors.

Place a sheet of watercolor paper onto a baking sheet, this can get a little messy.

Using a pipette or small paintbrush drop various sized dots of the liquid watercolor all over the bottom of the page, or you can fill the entire page for a closer up view of the coral reef.

Have your child blow through the straw spreading the watercolor droplets around.

You may wish to repeat and add more “limbs” or new coral once you see the white space.

I like to let some of it dry and do the dots again to create different shades and give it a little depth.

Allow it to dry.

Lightly add a watered-down wash of light blue onto all the white space if you like to create water.

Let your picture dry completely.

Younger children will probably want to stop here, and that is totally fine but challenge your older children to add more detail. To do this they can trace around each dried shape with a fine liner black pen to define them a bit more.

They can also use markers to add some fish in the painting. Use your books or Google for inspiration.

Once completely dry, lay your painted page under a couple heavy books for several hours to press the paper flat.

Create several paintings, each one will be completely unique just like the beautiful coral in the ocean.

10 Plant Life in The Amazon Rainforest Facts and Make a Fun Rafflesia Arnoldii

May 26, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing plant life in the Amazon rainforest facts and we’re making a giant rafflesia arnoldii craft. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

The plant life in the Amazon Rainforest is beautiful and often unbelievable.

For example, the gorgeous bright Rafflesia arnoldii that looks like it’s straight out of science fiction and smells like rotting meat.

I couldn’t resist turning it into a craft project for our study on plant life in the Amazon Rainforest.

10 Plant Life in The Amazon Rainforest Facts and Make a Fun Rafflesia Arnoldii

It turned out to be a super fun and colorful craft.

And we learned a lot about plant life in the Amazon Rainforest as we worked on it.

It was low budget and easier than it looks, my kind of project.

The hardest part of it was waiting between the drying sessions.

10 Facts About Plant Life in The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is home to more than two-thirds of the world’s plant species.
The Rafflesia arnoldii is the biggest single flower found in the entire world at more than 3 feet across and its home is the Amazon Rainforest.
The bloom of the arnoldii lasts just a little more than a week.
The Kapok tree is the largest and most important species in the Amazon rainforest.
All members of the genus Rafflesia produce huge flowers, the smallest still being the size of a dinner plate.
More than 60,000 species of plants grow in the Amazon jungle.
Many plants have adapted and developed drip-tip leaves that funnel water off themselves to prevent rotting and fungus growth.
There are many plants that are used for medicinal purposes like fighting cancer to soothing asthma. Plants like the coca plant, White trillium flower, Sodo, and the Cinchona tree are so important to medicines.
Jungle soil is shallow. Some of it’s like 4 inches deep yet some of the tallest trees in the world grow in it.
Emergent trees as high as 200 feet and the crown of the emergent tree can spread to be the size of two football fields.

Then add some plant life in the Amazon rainforest hands-on activities.

Hands-on Activities Amazon Rainforest Plant Life

This gorgeous puzzle that is filled with rainforest plants and animals is a great way to practice visual discrimination, fine motor skills, short-term memory, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning.
Older students can dive more in-depth into the plant life of the Amazon rainforest in Chasing Plants: Journeys with a Botanist through Rainforests, Swamps, and Mountains.
While the entire book does not just cover the rainforest, I found the beautiful vintage artwork for my inspiration for this activity in Botanicum which does cover environments, and rainforest plants like orchids, parasitic plants, and carnivorous plants.
Encourage your child to research additional plant life in the Amazon rainforest like orchids, rubber trees, the passion fruit flower, poinsettias, the bird of paradise, and others. You can find many of these for sale at your local home and garden store. Take a field trip and see how many rainforest plants you can find and identify.
The Leaf Detective tells all about Margaret Lowman and her work studying the natural world of the Rainforest.

Also, add some of these Amazon Rainforest books.

21 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Resources

Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.

Wildlife Animal Model Toy Red Eye Tree Frog Figure

It is a great way to expand the growth with children through physical science.

All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.

Over and Under the Rainforest

Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow!Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:

Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.

The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.

Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.

Wild Animal Jungle Sloth Toy Figurine

Sloth Toy Figurine

In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species. Some animals live high up in the trees, some crawl across the forest floor, and some tunnel underground, but they all depend on one another and the rain to survive. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet.

Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

This book introduces readers to the largest snake in the world: the anaconda. Readers learn about the life cycle, behavior, physical characteristics, and habitat of anacondas

Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

Expanding the popular collection of animal books in the Learn to Draw Series, Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals will teach kids how easy it is to draw a variety of exciting and exotic creatures from around the world. Each project starts with a basic shape and progresses with simple-to-follow steps to a finished realistic final colored artwork. While they’re learning, kids will also discover fun facts about each featured animal.

The Rainforest Grew All Around

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

While it covers more than just the rainforest this is a fabulous resource to have on your shelves. You will find plenty of great pictures and information on many animals that live there- crocodiles, harpy eagles, monkeys, tapir , sloths,Jaguarundi, and the food web.

Rainforest Glow-in-The-Dark Puzzle, Rainforest Animals, Birds, Plants and More

COLORFUL ARTWORK: Kids will love the colorful puzzle artwork showing the animals, plants, trees and birds that call the rainforest home. The storage box shows the completed puzzle artwork and is an ideal place to keep pieces safe and free from damage.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

Tells a story of a man who came to cut down a kapok tree and encounters many of the beautiful and exotic native creatures who make their home in the Amazon Rainforest.

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?! That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game. Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!

Rainforest Gummi Frogs Candy

How fun!

FRESH & FRUITY: Fruidles single-flavor gummies pack giant taste into one delicious flavor. After one bite of these fruity gummies, you'll taste the difference of giant fresh fruit flavors & a deliciously soft chew you won't find with other gummy candies.

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.

Where Is the Amazon?

Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike.

Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.

LEGO Creator Rainforest Animals

Features a frog, a fly and a parrot with articulated wings and tail, opening mouth and rotatable eyes 3-in-1 model: rebuilds into a chameleon or a tropical fish

Afternoon on the Amazon

Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

NatureI n a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

Explores the richness of the Amazon rainforest, how humans have damaged it, and efforts being taken to protect it. Clear text, vibrant photos, and helpful infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.

More Rainforest Activities for Kids

Finally, look how to make this giant Rafflesia Arnoldii flower craft.

How to Make a Paper Plate Giant Rafflesia Arnoldii Craft

You will need:

7 paper plates
Red craft paint
White craft paint
Paint brushes
Scissors
Hot glue gun/sticks

Cut out the center of one plate.

You don’t have to go all the way to the edge but you want a large enough opening you can see well inside of it.

Take 5 plates and cut the rippled edge off along the bottom of the plate and then some up the sides to create a basic petal shape.

After I did the first one, I used it as a template to cut the other one so they were the same.

Leave the last plate intact.

Paint all plates red, allow them to dry, flip and paint the other side. Dry well again.

Add a little pink or another light accent color to the center of your intact plate and let it dry.

Flip over the full plate and hot glue each of the petals around the back side.

I put them about ⅓” from the edge all the way around.

If you want, use craft glues but I think hot glue is a better option for this project as it is rather heavy and hot glue dries quickly.

Flip the plate back over and hot glue the plate with the center cut out to the main center plate.

Draw little spiked shapes inside the center plate to create the center disk of the plant.

Finally use the back end of a paintbrush dipped in white paint or a white paint pen to create the dots all over the plant.

These are called warts. What do you think? Just too fun!

homeschoolscience

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1. Choose Reef Friendly Sun Protection.

2. Recycle And Dispose Of Trash Properly.

3. Research When Purchasing Aquarium Fish.

4. Spread the Word.

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Hands-on Activities Amazon Rainforest Plant Life

More Rainforest Activities for Kids

How to Make a Paper Plate Giant Rafflesia Arnoldii Craft

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