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3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

August 7, 2022 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have three free Amazon rainforest lapbooks which go with our Amazon Rain Forest Unit Study And homeschool lapbooks make great tools for master learning about a unit study topic..

These lapbook about the Amazon Rainforest covers so many subtopics that each of your children can spend time on whatever topics interest them. Besides you can make many or one from the different minibooks.

Take your time putting together this huge lapbook because it has about 35 minibooks.

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Because lapbooks are interactive hands-on tools, you want to take several days to create it.

One tip is to create each minibook while you’re learning about the Amazon Rainforest.

In addition, I’ve created Amazon Rainforest covers that can be used on the outside of the lapbooks or your child can do his own art.

Each of my children were different. My then high school teen didn’t want much art on the outside cover.

However, my younger two kids at the time loved creating the outside of the lapbook.

How to Use the Rainforest Lapbook

Although some parents think the lapbook is a craftsy artsy project, it is far beyond that.

I think of a lapbook as a treasure trove of what interests the child. That can be used to teach your teach and to help him memorize important facts.

However, they’re are other ways to use lapbooks.

Use the lapbook to:

  • store nature things which interest your child
  • hold small paper games
  • illustrate art and drawings
  • showcase your child’s writing
  • keep math facts or rules that your want your child to know
  • contain maps of geographical areas

And because you don’t need a lot of supplies to create a beautiful lapbook each one can be unique.

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Too, the beauty of saving your lapbooks is that you can come back another year and add one more flap.

Then, add more minibooks. So, only fill the lapbook until your child’s interest has piqued.

Come back later that year or years later and add an extension of a file folder and create more minibooks.

30+ Free Minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest

For example, look at the minibooks about the Amazon Rainforest to give you ideas of topics to cover.

I have put them in several groupings so you can see the minibooks. But they are in no particular order.

  • Four things needed in a rainforest.
  • Five Kingdoms of Life.
  • Five Little Monkeys story props.
  • ABC’s of the rainforest.
  • ABC Storage pockets.
  • Animal and Plant cells.

And also remember they are use to for varying levels.

  • Bird pocket.
  • Chocolate.
  • Different colored rivers of the Amazon.
  • Food of the rainforest.
  • Herbivores carnivores omnivores.
  • Jaguars.
  • Jungle art.

I have minibooks for young children to learn the ABCS of the Amazon Rainforest to learning about scientist.

  • Layers of the rainforest older.
  • Layers of the rainforest younger.
  • Layers of the rainforest 4 tab older.
  • Life cycle of kapok tree.
  • Lungs of the world.
  • Photosynthesis.
  • Photosynthesis wheel rain forest.
  • Pioneer microbiologist and father of taxonomy.

:

Also, you can pull out one topic like chocolate or the tropical fruits and focus only on that.

  • Plant label.
  • Products of the rainforest.
  • Rainforest facts.
  • Rain forest measuring.
  • Rainforest opposites.
  • Rain Force plants.
  • Rain forest in danger.
  • Rainforest vocabulary younger.
  • Reptiles insects amphibians of the amazon.
  • Save the rainforest.
  • The Amazon.
  • The canopy a beautiful roof.
  • The rainforest where is it.
  • Water cycle.
  • Why do we need plants younger.

This Amazon Rainforest is a HUGE 108 page download and enough to create more than 3 lapbooks.

Other Amazon Rainforest Resources

3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

You’ll love these other Amazon Rainforest unit study resources.

  • The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest
  • Our Adventure in The Amazon Rain Forest
  • 100+ Best and Free Tropical Amazon Rainforest Educators Resources
  • Find the Letter R is for River Dolphin Worksheets

Whether your create one or many you have plenty of minibooks to choose from.

Rainforest Lapbooks

How to Get the Free Rain Forest Amazon Lapbook 108 Pages

Now, how to grab the free download where you can make as many as 3 lapbooks. This is a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

1 CommentFiled Under: Lapbook Tagged With: amazon rain forest, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, science

Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

July 30, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Sometimes you just need a homeschool science materials checklist to see what your missing in your science supplies. Also, look at my page Homeschool Planner for more free homeschool planner printables.

Besides, part of learning how to homeschool is doing all the fun hands-on science.

However, more than once, I have been caught short at the house with some of the supplies we needed in our home to complete the activities.

And even though we have used laid out science curriculum too, I have learned a lot through the years regarding how to stock my kitchen and home.

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for your 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner by Tina Robertson

So, I have reduced some of the things we have used over and over, year after year and put them in this homeschool science materials checklist.

For example, we love doing science and have used 365 More Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials more than one time through the years because we love to pick activities which interests us.

In addition, we love books like Janice VanCleave’s Big Book of Science Experiments because you can easily obtain other materials not found at home.

Household Products for Science at Home

Now, depending on which area of science, like earth science, chemistry, physical science or life science, you will need to have a few exact materials for a branch of science you focus on.

For instance, we add specific things we need and use Homeschool Science Tools.

In addition, Homeschool Science Tools has just kits if you don’t want to use a full science curriuclum.

Look at their science kits here to see your options.

So this list is a list of general things you will want to stock your home with.

It’s kind of a given too that you will eventually want a microscope and slides, but I noticed year after year I have collected some of the same things in home.

Reducing materials I seem to use year after year into this checklist, I’m hoping to keep you organized.

And not do like us by having to put a fun activity on hold until we make a run to the store.

I hate when that happens.

Free Homeschool Science Materials Checklist

Also, I have a provided space on the free printable science material checklist so you can add unique items you’ll need for upcoming science lessons.

Too, another tip is to jot beside the product the total number of items you have. Sometimes I think I have more jars than I actually do.

This science checklist will help you to keep those items at home organized.

homeschool-science-materials-checklist-for-the-7-step-homeschool-planner-grab-your-free-copy-over-tinas-dynamic-homeschool-plus

This Homeschool Science Materials Checklist is part of the 7 Step Free Homeschool Planner and you can begin building your own homeschool planner below.

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for your 7 Step DIY Free Homeschool Planner by Tina Robertson

Add Your Science Checklist to Your Homeschool Planner

Be sure to add this science checklist to your homeschool planner each year.

Step 1. Choose a Pretty Front/Back Cover

Step. 2. Choose Calendars/Appointment Keepers

Step 3. Choose Goals/Objectives

Step 4. Choose Lesson Planning Pages Right For You!

Step 5a. Choose Unique forms JUST for You!

Step 5b. Choose MORE Unique Forms JUST for You!

Step 5c. Choose MORE MORE Unique Forms Just for You!

Step 6. Personalize It

How to Get the Free Science Materials Checklist

Now, how to grab this form and 10 other free homeschool planner forms. This is a subscriber freebie.

 1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Homeschool Science Materials Checklist for the 7 Step Homeschool Planner @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: 2. My FREE Organizing Printables {Any topic}, Curriculum Planner, Homeschool Planner, Science Tagged With: freeprintables, homeschoolscience, organizationalprintables, printable

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

July 28, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Choosing kindergarten science homeschool curriculum for energetic kids is challenging. Besides homeschool kindergarten should be fun.

Today, I’m sharing solid tips in how to choose science curriculum for your homeschooled kindergartner.

Some take a spiral approach and are very workbook driven while others include many hands-on lessons.

However, before I jump into sharing so many wonderful choices, you need to know the importance of balancing subjects.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

For example, as a seasoned homeschool mom with three grads I know the importance of focusing on the skill subjects first.

The skill subjects are also known as the three Rs – reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

How to Balance Kindergarten Homeschool Science with Skills Subjects

And here are three reasons why the skill subjects should stay in the forefront.

  • First, if a child can’t read well, he’ll struggle his whole life
  • Second, when a child does read well, he can study any subject or topic which delights him and
  • Third, math is needed lifelong and without a solid start in math, a child will struggle in science.

However, what some educators tout in the homeschool world is that it must be an either or choice.

Choose skill subjects or content subjects like science to focus on primarily in the younger grades.

Don’t get me wrong. There is some merit to that way of thinking.

Look at Slow and Steady Get Me Ready For Kindergarten: 260 Activities To Do With Your Child From Age 0 to 5 to show how playing and learning are essentially linked.

For instance, some moms of kindergartners can have an unrealistic view of what a learning day looks like for a kindergartner.

In addition, they also have an unrealistic view of how much time their children should spend homeschooling.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Although children are on different learning scales, here are some ways that kindergarten moms may not understand the learning process.

  • They want their kindergartener to write or worst yet write with a pencil.
  • Too, they think that a child should be reading at this age. It’s very normal for children to still be learning letter and blend sounds. Even children reading beginning chapter books is normal.
  • In addition, instead of embracing their energetic child, they think children should sit down for long periods of time to learn.

As you can see, there are a variety of skill levels.

Nevertheless, there are qualities which make homeschooling easier which a lot of young children share.

So, tap into those natural strengths to capitalize on for learning.

How to Match Science Curriculum with Learner

Look below at the strengths you want to tap into.

  • Most are very energetic and eager to learn.
  • Being wiggly and inquisitive, they can tolerate a variety of learning material that meets their needs for hands-on activities,
  • They move and wiggle but they’re paying attention.
  • Playing IS how children this age best learn. It should be hard to separate science fun from playing during the day.
  • And they’re learning with every breath they take.

Now that you have a glimpse of the big learning picture with kindergartners, I want you to choose kindergarten science curriculum meticulously.

Choose one which aligns with your child’s nature desire to learn.

Next, I don’t believe you have to make a choice between teaching science which is a content subject versus a skill subject. You can do both.
But you do need to know what is important to teach when your child is feeling overwhelmed or when life hands you a less than a desirable schedule to homeschool.
Sometimes, you can only teach the skill subjects.

But if you can teach science right along at the beginning it will make your child’s learning experience more enriching.

However, there is one more significant foundational point I want you to know.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides, I can’t help sharing with you points that have helped me succeed in homeschooling for 20+ years.

Two Approaches to Teach Homeschool Kindergarten Science

Thus, there are two ways to teach science at this age

  • One is where you take a beautiful science topic book or story and teach facts through finding easy hands-on activities to go along with the topic; and
  • the second way is using a laid-out curriculum which covers a multiple of topics like earth and science, animal science, plant science or human body.

The important point to remember is that science is not a subject a child can be behind in at this age.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids

Besides kindergarten science homeschool curriculum comes in a variety of options.

You want to create a love for science.

So hands-on activities should be abundant and writing about it should not be.

18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum

Finally, look below at solid science curriculum for kindergarten.

1. Nick and Tesla Series

This first one is Nick and Tesla series. This is a reference story like series more than curriculum.

And this is a perfect example of a fun series for a bit older child, but one that will feed the curiosity of a budding scientist.

If you have an eager science minded child, you can tweak an older resource to meet his needs.

One of the best parts is that you can do this with all your children.

Follow your child’s interests and include hands-on ideas as you child wants to do them.

  • Nick and Tesla’s Robot Army Rampage
  • Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove

2.Summer Beach from Sassafras Science Adventures.

Next, Summer Beach is a kindergarten full year program from the same company that makes the The Sassafras Science Adventures.

It includes a Summer’s Lab Teacher Guide, Summer’s Lab Student Lab Manual and a Summer’s Lab Reference Notes. You decide if you want to use the Student Lab Manual or the Reference notes.

Each unit has 4 lessons and is presented in a short story form along with questions for you to ask.

They use the idea of making a sandwich like learning science. You add different parts to build your science topic or sandwich for the week.

And you have two scheduling options.

  • Summer’s Lab Lab Manual

3.The Sassafras Science Adventures.

Then, this curriculum can be used for multiple ages too. However, it is a curriculum if you want more laid out.

Next, is The Sassafras Science Adventures which is written for grades K to 5. And there are several books each based on a different topic.

There are components for creating a lapbook and it too is written in a story form.

  • The Sassafras Science Adventures: Volume One: Zoology
  • The Sassafras Science Adventures 3: Volume 3: Botany

As I mentioned each book is on a different topic.

There is Anatomy, Botany, Zoology, and Earth Science; there are other books in the series but they begin with first grade.

4.The Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library.

Also another fun one which has been around for a while is the Cat In the Hat’s Learning Library. Kids love this series anyway.

Use the science focused books for a fun science program and add in coloring, crafts, and drawing as you child wants to. It’s such a fun introduction to science.

5.The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books 

In addition, another fun keeper and great choice is the The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books.

I loved these too like the other books especially if you have younger children, it’s worth buying to use over and over again as each child comes along.

6. Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together

And although this next one says preschool, it’s for ages 3 to 5.

One of the best parts of Preschool Science: Exploring Creation Together is not only presenting science in a story form, but it includes hands-on ideas with items you can find at home.

Another part is the parent’s section where they speak to you in how to use the curriculum as a guide.

7. Funschooling Level A for K- 2

Additionally, the funschooling books for Level A are K – 2. You can use them to cover a couple of years. depending on how much science you want to cover.

Funschooling is such a fun series of books. And they are quite a few choices for science. Remember too although they say K to 2, some books may be a bit more mature in terms of activities.

However, the content is solid and fun. Until your child can do some of the activities, you can try easier ones.

They have space, oceans and a nature study journal to name a few.

  • Fun-Schooling Science Handbook – All About SPACE: Explore the Universe! Research, Create, Play, Experiment & Learn
  • All About Ocean Creatures: Fun-Schooling –

8. Be Naturally Curious

Also, Be Naturally Curious is another choice.

I’ve not used them but I have been eyeballing them. They have minicourses as they call them which are downloadable pdfs.

They take a story approach along with games, activities, nature and being outside.

If you lack the room for a ton of books this pdf guide would make a great resource and I love the topics hey have for grades K to 5. So you could use this with your older children too.

9. Christian Liberty Nature Readers

The Christian Liberty Nature Readers I’ve used and are beautiful and packed full of information for your eager learner.

I love the fact that I could just sit and read about spiders to my kids or whatever topic they were interested in and just ponder the beautiful creatures.

As mentioned, they’re readers. So if you want to add in some hands-on activities there is plenty of information to pull from.

I loved reading ahead and finding science activities like insect lore to go with our reading.

10. Science Unlocked

Another one we’re going to do soon is Science Unlocked.

Science Unlocked is everything that you need to teach your child an entire month’s worth of science in one box – complete with detailed teacher guide and student workbook.

The series Wonder is for K to 2. And they have topics like

  • Squishy Science,
  • Penguin Parenting
  • From Brrr to Burrow and
  • Blast off to name a few topics.

11. Master Books

Too, Master Books is a curriculum which has a series named Let’s Talk Science.

Master Books has a beautiful Charlotte Mason approach to teaching science. We have not used it, but it has experiments, memory verses and activity pages.

12. The Good and The Beautiful

Furthermore, we’ve been using the other components of The Good and The Beautiful but not the science yet.

They have a science series they want to expand on it and named it Science for Little Hearts and Hands. The first course is for Preschool to 2nd and is Course Set—Fields and Flowers .

13. BookShark

Yet another wonderful science curriculum for kindergarten age is BookShark.

PreK is geared toward ages 4 – 5 and Level A is for ages 5 – 7.

BookShark uses beautiful literature with hands-on projects lined out in a full year program.

14. Christian Liberty

This next one is Christian Liberty which has a sweet 92 page book called The World God Made and is straight up and simple if you’re looking for a faith-based curriculum.

15. Nancy Larson Science

Another solid choice is the Nancy Larson Science programs which are for K to 5. As stated on her site, she believes a hands-on, cross-curricular approach wrapped in a scientific conversation is the best way to teach children.

16. Pandia Press

REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One is geared toward K/1 as it states up to 2nd grade. And it is a secular program which many homeschoolers like as well.

You can find REAL Science Odyssey – Life Level One on Home Science Tools where they pair the program with a science kit.

Next, these two choices are some of my favorites we used.

17. Use Subscription Boxes

Something about getting a fun box of surprises every month just adds the excitement to learn science. We really love getting our science boxes.

Look at this Little Passports Science Jr. – Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 5-8.

And here is another one STEM Discovery Boxes – Monthly STEM Science Subscription Box for ages 7 to teen.

Bitsbox – Coding Subscription Box for Kids.

18. Use Topical Science Books.

This last choice is to use a topic-based reference science book and explore on your own. Because science should be fun, follow your child’s lead and choose beautifully illustrated books on one topic.

Add in hands-on projects and you have a very unique science curriculum. Add in a few science workbooks but sparingly. This will allow you to not have to create assignments.

Look at some of the choices for topical books.

  • The Berenstain Bears’ Big Book of Science and Nature
  • Human Body Activity Book for Kids: Hands-On Fun for Grades K-3
  • National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Science
  • Abeka 5 Year Old Kindergarten Science
  • Nature Smarts Workbook, Ages 4–6: Learn about Animals, Soil, Insects, Birds, Plants & More with Nature-Themed Puzzles, Games, Quizzes & Outdoor Science Experiments
  • Cut and Paste: Science
  • Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids
  • My First Book of Planets: All About the Solar System for Kids

Other Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum Tips

  • Homeschool Science Ideas for K – 2
  • BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
  • 10 Affordable and Complete Homeschool Kindergarten Curriculum
  • Homeschool Kindergarten Life Science – Hands-on Fun Nature Tree Study
  • 21 Fun All-In-One Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum
  • 18 Kindergarten Science Homeschool Curriculum For Active Kids
  • 10 Favorite Science Movies and Documentaries for Homeschooled Kids
  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • 3 Less-Known and Irresistible Homeschool Hands-on Science Books

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Homeschooling, Science, Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: curriculum, earthscience, elementary science, homeschoolscience, kindergarten, life science, physical science, science, sciencecurriculum

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

July 25, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid is another fun book in the series of Geronimo Stilton books. It is the second book in the series.

Elementary students will love taking their favorite Geronimo Stilton book and turning it into a mini unit study with a few hands-on activities.

The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid is another adventure for Geronimo Stilton. He is off to Egypt to the Great Cheese Pyramid.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

So, this hands-on activity I am sharing with you today, mummifying a Barbie gives kids a little bit more understanding of the mummification process.

And you can easily tie in science and history perfectly with the fun book The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid. Matter of fact most of the books highlight some kind of geography or history.

Even if your kids are older like middle or high school the same activity can be altered to make it a bit more challenging so that the whole family can join in.

Books Of Geronimo Stilton

If you don’t know about Geronimo Stilton books let me give you a quick little overview. The fun series is aimed at early readers or ages 7 to 10 years old

And they follow the many and varied adventures of Geronimo Stilton editor and publisher at The Rodent’s Gazette.

Too, they read similar to a graphic novel.

  • Geronimo Stilton Four Cheese Box Set (Books 1-4)

For instance, the words are highlighted in different fonts, sizes, and colors. The series make it an engaging read for kids.

They are silly and outlandish which makes it especially great for reluctant readers.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

Another point about the different fonts and colors of words are that some are for emphasis.

However, quite a few make great lessons for vocabulary, spelling words, and introduction to the eight parts of speech.

So be sure to make note of the words for several chapters.

And have your child look up the words and make flashcards to round out this mini lesson.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

You certainly can use this fun book as a spine for language arts. Too, you can use this spine as independent reading or for a read aloud.

Ancient Egypt Mummifying a Barbie Craft

However, one of the best parts of each book is that you can add hands-on activity as Stilton is always on a globe-trotting adventure.

Today, since Stilton is off to Egypt, we learned about mummies in Ancient Egypt

Look at this short list of supplies to make a Barbie mummy.

  • A Barbie or similar doll (we grabbed a cheap one from Dollar Tree)
  • Gauze
  • Cooking oil
  • Salt (we used Epsom since we had that)
  • large dish big enough for the body to lay in
  • Essential oils
  • Scissors and construction paper

First, we made a death mask from construction paper and laid it aside.

Your kids can get elaborate with this part or keep it simple.

Then we made simple canopic jars by drawing them on paper.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

After drawing the jars, we cut them out and taped them into a tube shape. 

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

A quick google search will show you what each of the four gods, Hapy, Imsety, Duamutef and Qebhsenef looked like and which housed which organs.

We also used our TOOB Organs to examine the organs closely,

Then, we laid them out and talked about each function as the kids pretended to extract the organ and place it in the canopic jars.

Barbie Mummy

Next, this portion of the activity can be done or finished while you read aloud.

Have your child finish the death mask. And let your child draw them with whatever art medium they choose. We used markers.

First, the brain was pulled out through the nose, but considered unimportant in ancient Egyptian times, it was just tossed out. 

Then, the stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver were extracted and placed in the correct jar.

The heart stayed in place in the body. Use tweezers for this part and let them pretend they are extracting each part.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

Next, Egyptians would cover the body in salt to remove all moisture, this would take weeks but for the sake of time we waited just a few minutes.

We used Epsom salt as we had a ton on hand already.

And then we placed our prepared body in a large tupperware container and covered it in salt as well as we could.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

Finally, the body would be anointed with oils and wrapped,.

If you have some on hand add essential oils to a little bit of cooking oil to add to the sensory experience, pour over the entire body. 

We tightly wrapped our Barbie head to toe and then affixed her death mask with a bit of tape.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

Obviously, you know your child best and can include the parts that you would choose and gloss over those that might be too much for a younger child.

For example, for older children you can add ideas like labeling the organs, give them spelling and vocabulary words like sarcophagus, hieroglyphic, and etc.

Too, you can extend the lesson by having them give a presentation in front of the whole family on the mummification process.

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid covers everything from mummies to pyramids as well as mentions of camels, pharaohs, and the eye of RA, giving you a large base for a unit study.

I can’t wait to dig in a little deeper and share more hands on activities with you! What do you think? Are you going to add this to your list of hands-on activities?

Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy

Other Resources You’ll Love

  • Easy and Fun Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
  • Fun and Easy Hands-On Ancient Egypt Craft: Create Canopic Jars
  • Ancient Egypt Homeschool Unit Study – Hands-on and FUN!
  • Hands-on Ancient Egypt: Israelite Mud Bricks for Kids
  • Fun Hands-On History: Ancient Egyptian Collar Craft
  • Free Ancient Egypt Mehen Printable Board Game (Hands-on History)
  • Ancient Egypt Civilization (Hands-on History): King Narmer Crown

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Ancient Civilizations, Hands-On Activities, History Based, History Resources, Homeschooling, Literature Based, My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas}, Science Based, Teach Homeschool Science Tagged With: ancient civilizations, ancient egypt, ancientegypt, egypt, Geronimo Stilton, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, language arts, languagearts, science

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

July 24, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Your kids will love this fun aquarium jar craft for summer activities for middle schoolers. Whether you’re diving into a study about the oceans or doing a shark unit study, hands-on activities are the way to go. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.

Either use an upcycled jar or a mason jar from Dollar Tree. This easy aquarium craft for summer activities for middle schoolers is a multisensory approach to learning.

Not all middle schoolers are at the same level of maturity, so a hands-on approach is effective at getting information in.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

In addition, no matter how easy of a project, it can help the information stay in little growing brains.

When we study a particular topic I like to include as many hands-on activities as possible and they range from super simple to more involved.

In addition, with shark week looming I started brainstorming fun and easy ways to learn about sharks and other ocean creatures in a unique way. 

Besides, this is easy enough to make for a fun summer activity or to use for a homeschool summer co-op.

Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

First, I gathered up some of our favorite books to fit the theme.

  • Ocean Anatomy,
  • Basher Ocean, and 
  • The Big Book of Blue for reference.

We really enjoy the illustrations and the way the information is provided in simple little nuggets.

Next, before introducing the mini aquarium jar craft learn a few facts about the ocean.

For example, start with the fact that the ocean is a vast and mostly unexplored part of our Earth.

And it is filled with many beautiful and at the same time frightening creatures.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Encourage your child to be a marine biologist if just for the day.

Learn about a couple of creatures, their habits, feeding, characteristics, and what part they play in the oceans ecosystem.

Ocean Craft for Tweens

Have your middle schooler go through your ocean themed books. And the pile of plastic ocean animals. Choose just two to learn about. Here are the easy stipulations.

First, the animal had to fit in the small plastic mason jar from the Dollar Tree.

Second, the animal has to be one that your child is interested in learning about . This way he can research and learn about the animal for the rest of the assignment.

Although you may school year round, you can use assignments like this in summer to keep writing to a a minimal while sneaking in some learning through summer crafts.

Next, look at this easy list of supplies.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • A smooth upcycled jar or plastic mason jar from Dollar Tree
  • Gravel or sand
  • Plastic ocean animals
  • A Hot glue gun
  • Distilled water
  • Essential oil or hand sanitizer   

How to Make a Simple Jar Aquarium Ocean Craft

Begin by using a smooth upcycled jar or mason jar from Dollar Tree.

Sometimes the empty name brand jars have a good amount of writing and raised designs.

However, jars like spaghetti and pickle jars are good choices. Once you soak the label off they are usually smooth.

I pick up a couple of these plastic mason jars from Dollar Tree every so often because they are great for not only storage but also crafts.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Start by putting hot glue on the bottom of a piece of coral or plastic aquarium plant.

Press into the bottom of the jar. 

And if you don’t have one in your plastic animals you can easily make some with craft foam.

They will stand upright and hold up to being soaked in water.

Next, add a layer of gravel or sand, just a bit to cover the bottom.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Next hot glue some of the animals in place.

We didn’t want our animals floating upside down or all piled up on the bottom.

And the glue shows very little through the jar.

We chose a giant squid and whale shark

Add just a tiny bit of hot glue and press them into place.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Once glue is cooled and hardened slowly add distilled water to ⅛” from the top of the jar.

You can add a bit of blue food coloring if you like too.

But previously we found that it made it too cloudy to see well.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Additionally to keep the water from going bad you can add a couple drops of antibacterial essential oil . Hand sanitizer works as well.

Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers

Add a bit of hot glue to the threads on the lid, Then, screw into place to keep it from leaking.

Finally, you can add quite a bit to this activity by watching a documentary.

Watch a document while your child puts the jar aquarium together

Too, create the mini aquarium during read aloud time with an ocean themed book keeps wiggly learners interest.

A few more ideas to make this fun are to use chalk pastels. Sketch your chosen animals for a fresh art piece.

Chalk pastels are more intriguing than everyday crayons. Also, have your child create a large model of their animal with paper mache.

What ocean crafts do you like doing during summer with your middle schoolers?

Other Ocean Crafts for Middle Schoolers

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Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Homeschooling Tagged With: earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, middle school, middleschool, ocean, science, summer activities

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