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homeschoolscience

27 Amazing Homeschool Lapbook Ideas for Science

October 12, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 27 amazing homeschool lapbook ideas for science. You’ll love all my homeschool lapbooks for hands-on fun science.

Using a lapbook is not just for real young children and especially lapbook ideas for science.

I am not sure why that thinking permeates in the homeschool world and I have often wondered why it does.

27 Amazing Homeschool Lapbook Ideas for Science

We might feel that middle school or high school is supposed to be only about serious learning.

My thinking has changed and has been molded by many homeschool experiences but one thing that has not changed is the need to add a bit of fun to our everyday subjects.

Homeschool lapbooks can be as fun or as serious a hands-on tool for any child you’re homeschooling.

Free Printable Lapbooks

Also, quite a few of the lapbooks I have listed can be printed freely.

Too, when I prepare lapbooks, I created some with minibooks filled with facts.

You have the choice to print the blank form or use the prefilled minibook.

As we’ve done lapbooks throughs the years, I’ve realized sometimes we didn’t have as much as wanted to on our lapbooks.

Other times, we stayed much longer on certain topics.

Striking a balance of having some facts for the minibooks versus none is not easy, but you want to.

This encourages research and nurtures self-education.

27 Amazing Homeschool Lapbook Ideas for Science

Too, sometimes my kids preferred a combination of lapbooking and notebooking.

Lapbook Materials

Also, lapbooks are cost effective. Your kids can create one together or create one individually.

Once you’ve printed the minibooks and place them in the lapbook, the lapbooks can last for years.

Of course, using cardstock makes all the difference in how long the minibooks lasts.

And you don’t really need an expensive printer. I’ve use a mobile printer for years. And I use acid free glue.

Lastly, new flaps about different subtopics can be added to your lapbook as your child studies the science topic again.

27 Amazing Homeschool Lapbook Ideas for Science

Finally, look at the 27 amazing lapbook ideas for science below.

Other Homeschool Lapbook Resources

Also, look at some of these other posts for more help.

  • Fun Pharaohs and Queens Ancient Egypt Lapbook and Activities
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages
  • 15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper
  • 20 Free Homeschool Science Lapbooks to Teach Hands-on
  • 3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids

Science Lapbook Ideas

Hands-on lapbooks goes hand in hand with learning about homeschool science.

The best way to learn science is through engaging activities created by the child.

Image for Famous and Historic Trees

Famous and Historic Trees

The beauty of unit studies is the ability to combine multiple subjects.

This famous and historic trees fun study combines nature, history, and geography. Add in some art and music and it’s a memorable unit study.

Image for FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 (Invisible Ink)

FBI Unit Study Experiment 2 (Invisible Ink)

So the teens gathered some supplies and printed off some of the invisible ink activities from the internet. The one they really wanted to do was the one using cornstarch.

An iodine solution is used to reveal the writing. You make a gravy using cornstarch and write with that

Image for The Inuit & Arctic Circle Lapbook

The Inuit & Arctic Circle Lapbook

The emphasis too is not just on the content or material to be researched but on presentation of the lapbook. I guess that is why I say I use my lapbooks for enrichment. We do unit studies, write some each day and like you, do math.

So I am not interested in presenting to my children or anybody else for that matter a bunch of blank uninspiring mini books.

Image for {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}

{Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}

Doing a fall season or fall unit study is a great way to brace the change in the weather.

We love this time of the year! Here in Texas as least we have some leaves that change colors not to mention how wonderful spices and sweet potato pie smell!

Image for Strawberry Lapbook

Strawberry Lapbook

Strawberries are the very first spring fruit, and one of our field trips was strawberry picking so we used this lapbook to learn about them.

Image for Apple Lapbook

Apple Lapbook

If you’re looking for an apple lapbook and apple unit study, you’ll love the ideas here. Whether you’re looking for Johnny Appleseed ideas, fun crafts about apples or ideas about Isaac Newton and his apple, you’ll find them here.
Image for Free Amazing  Winter Lapbook

Free Amazing Winter Lapbook

You’ll love this free winter lapbook for kids. Add to the other lapbooks I have here and you can create your own unit studies. In addition add it to my winter unit study.

And if you have multiple ages of children, this free winter lapbook has several minibooks with various topics.

Add the lapbook to a winter unit study or do it alone as an enhancement to your studies.

Image for 3 Free Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks

3 Free Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks

 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..

Image for Free Wildflowers Lapbook

Free Wildflowers Lapbook

When the Texas wildflowers blanket the fields here we’ve never been able to stay indoors. We’re always thinking of ways to get outside.

Sharing this wildflowers unit study and lapbook along with some hands-on ideas, I hope they’ll help your kids get excited about a fun wildflowers unit study

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Exploring Space and Astronomy Lapbook

Exploring space and astronomy free unit study for multiple ages is a fascinating study. It’s a glimpse into the sun, moon, stars, galaxy, and structure of the universe.

Image for Why Bats Are Not Birds Lapbook

Why Bats Are Not Birds Lapbook

Why bats are not birds fun homeschool unit study and lapbook is an easy way to do a unit study with multiple ages of children.

Image for Above & Below: Pond  Lapbook

Above & Below: Pond Lapbook

Whether you study a pond in winter or summer, a pond unit study makes for a great hands-on science project. You can add in so many different nature topics.

There are just as many things that grow above a pond as there are that live below in a pond.

Image for Free Super Seashore and Beach Lapbook

Free Super Seashore and Beach Lapbook

I can smell the beach from here! Okay, maybe not where I live now, but I feel that way since I grew up with the beach a short 30 minute drive. And we never missed a chance to go to it.

We would cook crab or gumbo, spend hours on the shoreline and build a fire. Seashore watching was an activity I loved as a kid and I made sure my kids knew about it. I think you’ll love these ideas for a seashore watching unit study.

Image for Foraging and Feasting Lapbook

Foraging and Feasting Lapbook

My kids have always loved ways of learning how to live off the land. This foraging and feasting nature unit study is not only a way to teach Tiny some basic survival skills, but a great way to sneak in tips about how to cook.

Image for From Egg to Sea Turtle Lapbook

From Egg to Sea Turtle Lapbook

We made a detour on finishing up high school for a quick nature read about sea turtles. I chose Our Sea Turtles as a spine and we weren’t disappointed. Today, in sharing from egg to sea turtle nature unit study and lapbook, I’ve rounded up some awesome links and ideas for you.

Also, I created a fun lapbook for about upper elementary to middle school for your kids.

Image for Beautiful Human Body Lapbook

Beautiful Human Body Lapbook

The completed human body lapbook. Have you been following along as we did our huge human body lapbook and unit study?

We have had a ton of fun with our unit study and today, I want to give you one more minibook about the eye and some clip art to go on the

Image for Free Earth Science Lapbook

Free Earth Science Lapbook

 I have the rest of the minibooks to go with the free earth science lapbook, which is Earth’s Structures. Too, I have a cover which can be used as a lapbook cover or for clip art to decorate notebooking pages.

Remember, for this lapbook, I am using the free middle science book that I shared with you earlier as a quick science spine.
Image for Arctic Region

Arctic Region

The Arctic is literally the end of the world. It takes its name from the Greek word for bear, arktos, because the land is under the constellation of the Great Bear.

The Arctic region is at the top of the Northern Hemisphere. The Arctic Ocean is about 5.5 million square miles of water. The Arctic is really a giant sheet of sea ice that floats on top of the Arctic Ocean.

Image for Amber - Freezing Gold Lapbook

Amber - Freezing Gold Lapbook

In ancient times it was called the gold of the North. Amber has been called freezing gold, a window to the past, a time capsule, captured sunshine and a golden tear. It is all of these things.

Image for Carnivorous Plants Lapbook

Carnivorous Plants Lapbook

The term carnivorous plant may conjure up in your mind  a scene like this one where the unsuspecting victim in a swamp is being snatched up by a flesh-eating plant.  But carnivorous plants are a very interesting group of  plants that aren’t near as big as they are shown in this picture.

Image for Coral Reef Lapbook

Coral Reef Lapbook

Coral reefs swarm with brilliant colored fish, starfish, giant clams and sea slugs. They are not only beautiful to look at; but they are home to thousands of other species. Coral reefs can be large or small and are some of the oldest ecosystems on the planet.

Image for Peregrine Falcon Lapbook

Peregrine Falcon Lapbook

The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the “Duck Hawk” in North America, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae.

Image for Toads - Amphibians Lapbook

Toads - Amphibians Lapbook

In many ways amphibians are unique with changes that are either rare or nonexistent elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Compared with other vertebrates, amphibians tend to be overlooked.

Image for Honey Bees Lapbook

Honey Bees Lapbook

Your kids will love this honey bees unit study and lapbook.

Whether you want to learn about how honey bees are fascinating master pollinators, learn about the interesting social activities in the hive, learn about beeswax, or know what is honey, these honey bee activities and resources will be helpful

Image for Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook

Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook

Nature study in the winter can be fun and it doesn’t have to be complicated. We decided to add to our Arctic and Inuit Unit Study by doing an Arctic ground squirrel lapbook.

Ocean Lapbook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Oceans Lapbook

The oceans cover more than two-thirds of the earth’s surface. Though the waters on the earth are really one world ocean, they are referred to by many names: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.

Image for Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook

Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook

It’s such a beautiful and bright bird during winter and because it doesn’t migrate, it’s a great bird to study really at anytime.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbook Tagged With: earthscience, homeschoolscience, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, life science, physical science, science, sciencecurriculum

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

October 10, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some engaging bat activities for kindergarten. Find some other fun kindergarten crafts on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

October is the perfect time of year to swoop into a mini unit on bats. These adorable and often misunderstood creatures are a great way to introduce concepts like echolocation and nocturnal.

I have a few do it yourself ideas and a fun sensory bin bat activities for kindergarten. This sensory bin is so easy and inexpensive you can make it with just items in your pantry.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

The benefits of sensory bins are many for preschoolers and kindergarten aged children.

They can explore and build their imaginations.

Also, they are good for self regulation, promote fine motor skills, and simple life skills.

That is all before adding in some extra educational activities.

Bat Unit Study Resources

First, include a few of these books to begin your study.

Nature Anatomy is a great living science book that has so many applications.

There is a beautiful two page spread on bats that is perfect to go along with the sensory bin.

You can also go with Bats by Gail Gibbons if you want something to reference during your play and learning in the sensory bin.

I also found this fantastic bat skeleton at Dollar Tree.

I wasn’t sure at first because of the scary teeth but realized that it offered a great learning opportunity to talk to your child about the myths surrounding bats.

And the fact that while yes there are vampire bats, the majority of bats are peaceful bug and fruit eating creatures.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

If you look at the plastic skeleton you will see that anatomically it is pretty close to a real bat skeleton.

You can use it as a tool to label the different parts of a bat and talk about how they use their ears for echolocation.

Share a fact about what is echolocation. Bats emit high frequency sound through their mouth or nose and listen for the echo.

From the echo, the bat can determine the size, shape and texture of objects in its environment.

Too, add in my free Bat Unit Study.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
  • Dynamic Why Bats Are Not Birds Lapbook For Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Why Bats Are Not Birds Lapbook For Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

Learning About Bat Activities

Too, once you create your sensory bin for kindergarten, add some other ideas for learning.

  • Add letter tiles to work on beginning sounds or even spelling out simple words like bat, night, wing, or fly.
  • Hide the letter tiles in the rice and have your little bat swoop in and grab one then tell you the name of and sound that the letter makes.
4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
  • Roll a die and have your child count out the appropriate number of bats to match the number.
4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Let your child play and develop their imagination in the sensory bin while you read aloud from Stellaluna.

Busy hands mean the brain is free to take in and hold onto information.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten
  • Add spoons and cups for scooping, measuring, pouring, and investigating the sensory bin.
  • Talk about the fact that bats hang upside down rather than resting on top of the branch the way birds do. Demonstrate with the pasta bats and sticks in the sensory bin. Introduce the concept of nocturnal animals if your child is not already familiar with it.
  • Bats are most active from dusk to dawn. Make your bin a deep purple that makes it look like dusk, just after the sun sets but before it is completely dark, the time that many bats begin to feed. This is a great way to open up the topic for conversation. They are sure to remember these things taught during play.

And add pincers or tongs for picking up the bats to build fine motor skills.

How to Make a Bat Sensory Bin

Now, look how to make an easy bat sensory bin from things you already have in your home.

Here is a list.

  • Food coloring or liquid watercolors
  • Uncooked white rice
  • farfalle(bowtie) pasta
  • White beans
  • Sticks from the yard.
  • And a container or bin
4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

First, I had liquid watercolor on hand so I used that to color my rice and pasta but you could also use food coloring or watered down craft paint as well.

Place your rice in a large bowl or ziploc bag and add coloring. Shake and knead the bag or stir until it is completely covered.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Next take a small handful of bowtie pasta and toss in a bag with black and/or brown coloring until coated well.

If you do brown, black, and even gray it gives you the opportunity to talk about the different colors of bats. 

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

You could also just use black beans if you have them on hand for your night sky.

Spread rice and pasta out on a baking sheet in the sun to dry. The liquid watercolors dried up in less than 20 minutes.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Once your materials are dry, add the rice to a large baking dish or other shallow container to create a dusk colored sky.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Next, add some sticks gathered from the yard to give your bats somewhere to fly around and hang from.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Sprinkle a few great northern beans (or beads or pom poms) for stars.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Finally, add your bats.

4 Fun and Engaging Bat Activities for Kindergarten

Finally, add these other science fun activities.

Other Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Activities

  • Native American Crafts for Kindergarten How to Make a Kids Pinch Pot
  • 15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool.
  • 19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: bats, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, kindergarten, life science, science

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

October 3, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today for mouse into space we are doing an easy straw rocket. The book Mouse in Space (Geronimo Stilton #52) is about outer space. So, if your child is loving the Geronimo Stilton books, your child will love making this easy straw rocket.

If you have a child who loves all things space consider tying it in with Geronimo Stilton Mouse in Space for a mini space unit study.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

By now you know that we love the Geronimo Stilton series.

And the series is wonderful for young readers.

They are fantastic for either read aloud or as your child’s independent reading time and are good for lower to upper elementary.

Geronimo Stilton Stories

I think they are great for developing reading fluency and vocabulary in a fun way.

However, they also dive into so many fantastic science and history lessons.

Kids think they are just reading a silly story about a mouse off on adventures.

Before you know your kids are filling their heads with historical facts about Cleopatra, Da Vinci, Genghis Khan, Vikings, and more.

Or maybe they are getting science lessons about dinosaurs, the Australian Outback or of course…outer space.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Also, I’ve included a few ideas to expand your space unit study.

7 Activities for a Homeschool Space Unit Study

  • Use watercolors, chalk pastels, or some other unique art medium to draw a rocket and label the parts-nose, fins, body tube, windows, etc.
  • Learn How to Make Astronaut Ice Cream
  • Make a fun glow in the dark Puffy Paint Moon
  • Add a few more books to Geronimo Stilton like Who Was Neil Armstrong or The Mysteries of the Universe.
  • Create a space themed sensory bin with black gravel and space themed toys.
  • Watch National Geographic Rockets 101

Finally, my HUGE Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Spend some time talking about the science of what makes rockets work.

National Geographic has a great article on just that.

How to Make an Easy Straw Rocket

This simple and easy straw rocket activity is something that will keep the kids busy flying missions all day.

And you are very likely to already have this stuff on hand so there is no need to run out for special supplies

You will need:

  • Two straws, one that fits inside the other
  • Colored cardstock
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Stickers or markers for decoration
Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Cut a general rocket shape and two fins out of colorful cardstock.

You can make it any size you like. But the lighter and smaller it is the higher it will fly so keep that in mind.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Flip the rocket and fins over and tape together securely on the back.

Flip your rocket back over and decorate the front with markers or fun stickers.

Here we used little round stickers like you would use for yard sale pricing to make the rockets windows.

Don’t forget to name your rocket. The Geronimo 1 just felt right.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Tear off bits of orange or red cardstock to create flames from the boosters.

Tape them on the back as well if you like to add more detail.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Cut the paper straw so that it is just about 1” longer than your paper rocket.

Then, smash down one end. Tape it off to completely close off the hole on one end.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Next, tape securely to the back. And leave 1” sticking out of the bottom with the opening at the bottom and the taped off end toward the top.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Too, I discovered that a paper straw fits perfectly inside of a Dunkin Doughnuts straw. (You know where we’ve been.)

Now, point your rocket to the sky and put the end of the straw in your mouth and blow. Soon your rocket will take off.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Also, try experimenting with different sizes of rockets, fins, as well as various straw lengths to see what flies the farthest, fastest, straightest, etc.

Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket

Finally, you love these other Geronimo Stilton books and crafts:

More Geronimo Stilton Books and Craft Ideas

  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
  • Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
  • Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
  • The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
  • 10 Fun Things You Can Teach Using Geronimo Stilton Books

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earthscience, Geronimo Stilton, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

September 12, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 19 hands-on rainforest activities for kindergarten. Too, grab more kindergarten activities on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

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

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

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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

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

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

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

Amazon Rainforest Animals

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

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

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

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

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

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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

Rainforest Activities

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

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

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

The point is kids love learning and this is the time for projects.

For example, look at these free Amazon rainforest lapbooks.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

Look here to read about my free Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks.

Other Kindergarten Resources

Look at some of these other kindergarten resources.

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

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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

Rainforest Activities

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

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

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

Easy Bird Finger Puppet Origami

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

Image for Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey

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

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

Toilet Paper Roll Macaw Craft

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

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

Handprint Parrot Craft For Kids

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

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

Sloth Letter Recognition Activity

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

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

Rainforest Collage for Kids

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

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

Butterfly Symmetry Painting

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

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

Lotus Flower Process Art for Kids

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

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

Phonemic Awareness Activity: Rainforest Animal Slide

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

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

Cute Sloth Handprint Craft

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

Rainforest Tree Frog Math Games

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

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

Rainforest Animal Letter Maze Worksheets

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

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

Rainforest Process Art

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

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

Make Colorful Climbing Paper Tree Frogs

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

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

Make a Bubble Wrap Stamped Chameleon

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

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Photo Credit: barleyandbirch.com

Go on a Mini Backyard Safari

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

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Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com

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

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

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Toilet Paper Roll FROG Craft

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

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Photo Credit: kidscraftroom.com

Cardboard Tube Parrot Craft

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

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

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

September 10, 2022 | 2 Comments
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Today, for book Number 29 Down and Out Down Under of the Geronimo Stilton series, we’re making an edible coral reef. The Geronimo Stilton books are for ages 7 to 10 years old and are full of mouse fun and adventure.

In the Geronimo Stilton series book Down and Out Down Under, Geronimo is off to learn on adventure to Australia.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And when you think of Australia you may immediately picture cute koalas and terrifying crocodiles but another famous and very important part of Australia is The Great Barrier Reef.

The idea for creating this fun hands-on coral reef is from our latest read which is Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29).

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and is teeming with incredible life, color, and beauty.

The story covers a lot of topics of interest in Australia.

This fun book mentions land animals, Uluru, Aborigines, topography, and the Great Barrier Reef .

Great Barrier Reef Resources

Today’s hands-on activity is fun, colorful, and a great way to teach all ages about the life that is in the Great Barrier Reef.

If you want to make an impact, hands-on activities are always the best way to fully immerse your kids into your topic.

This hands-on fun activity also appeals to all 5 senses and will make certain that your kids do not forget while they learned anytime soon.

Besides Down and Out Down Under (Geronimo Stilton #29) here are a few beautifully illustrated spines you may want to add to your library.

They are great basics that give great bites of information about the ocean, reefs, ocean animals and plants, and more.

  • Ocean Anatomy . I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic. This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically!

I am such a big fan of the illustrations in these books but also how much information is contained in each topic.

This one covers everything from why the ocean is blue and salty to tides, animal life, and even a section on The Great Barrier Reef specifically

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Oceanarium: Welcome to the Museum
  • The Big Book of Blue
  • Basher Oceans

Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

:Next, here are a few facts to share about the The Great Barrier Reef.

  • The Great Barrier Reef, located off of the eastern coast of Australia, is the longest coral reef in the world.
  • It is home to 1500 species of tropical fish and 400 finds of hard and soft coral
  • The reef serves as a protective habitat for many other forms of marine life.
  • One of the threats to reefs is coral bleaching.
  • Crown-of-thorns starfish is one of the predators to the reef which feeds on the soft coral polyps.
  • A coral reef is a fragile ecosystem which requires very specific conditions. The water must be warm (between 69-84 F) and relatively shallow (to depths of 60-100 ft).
  • Coral reefs exist in shallow waters because they depend on photosynthesis for food production. Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants capture sunlight and convert it, along with water and carbon dioxide into energy.

While your child designs their own little slice of sea life you can talk about the various life that lives here, what is being done to preserve it and where its located.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Next, look at how to make this fun hands-on edible coral reef.

How to Make an Edible Reef

Here is a list of some things we used. Your list can vary depending on what you use for plants and animals

  • One half sheet cake or a boxed cake mix
  • Vanilla wafers
  • Assorted candy – airheads, licorice whips, swedish fish, cookies, sprinkles and white chocolate pretzels
  • Icing in various colors or food coloring for your own icing

Bake your cake according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

Flip pan to carefully remove cake and cut ⅓ of the cake off.

Flip over the two pieces and stack the smaller one on top of  the other.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

And because reefs have overhangs and caves, you can make some nooks and caves by digging out some of the cake.

Add a little food coloring to the frosting and stir. Use any shade you like to create your base.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Carefully ice all over the cake making different blobs and creating different textures creating the base mound of your coral.

You want it to look like big rocks.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Cut up airheads, licorice ropes and other candies to create colorful coral and push in all over the cake.

Broken white chocolate pretzels make nice coral.

Use the heat from your hands to soften Airheads or other taffy and make some fan coral for your reef.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Also, you could create a makeshift piping bag by putting warm wax into a sandwich bag, cut off a small corner and squeeze to make coral shapes onto wax paper.

Allow to cool and harden then remove carefully from waxed paper.

Finally, add in some fun sea creatures and you can add some fun decorations.

These are from obviously these are not edible.

The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Be sure to wash them well before using to disinfect them and keep your cake safe.

And you’ll love these other Geronimo Stilton.

Other Geronimo Stilton Resources:

  • Geronimo Stilton Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • Geronimo Stilton Adventures The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Colosseum Craft)
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • Geronimo Stilton Adventure The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time (Mayan Craft)
  • Geronimo Stilton The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Easy and Fun Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef

Too, you’ll love the ocean and coral reef resources I have here.

Ocean and Coral Reef Resources

  • Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Fun Making Ocean Layers Soap | Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids

2 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Australia, coral reef, earthscience, geography, Geronimo Stilton, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool geography, homeschoolscience, ocean, science

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