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life cycle

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

October 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun way to explore the raspberry life cycle with exciting activities including a yummy raspberry muffin recipe and a couple of free life cycle pages.

Cooking is always a wonderful activity, whatever your topic is. 

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Not only are you teaching valuable life skills and spending time with your child as you prepare the recipe together.

Besides, cooking also helps develop reading skills, following directions, math, science, and nutrition as they make a simple recipe.

But we are not stopping with a recipe.

You will find facts to share and more activities like crafts, additional recipes, and even a body scrub to fill out your lesson further.

ABOUT THE RASPBERRY LIFE CYCLE

The first thing of course is following the life cycle of the raspberry.

The life cycle of a raspberry is a fascinating process that begins with a tiny seed.

The seed is planted in the spring, and it germinates and sprouts into a small plant.

Over the summer, the plant grows and produces leaves and flowers.

The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects, and the fertilized flowers develop into raspberries.

The raspberries ripen in the fall, and they are ready to be eaten fresh or used in jams and pies.

After the raspberries are harvested, the plant dies back to the ground.

However, the roots survive the winter, and the plant will grow new shoots the following spring.

If you are curious about the resource you see pictured I used Food Anatomy which had a great spread on berries and other fruits that goes along well with my free printables.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Be sure to take some time to examine the fresh raspberries as well before you put them in the recipe.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Let’s learn more about the raspberry life cycle with exciting activities and facts.

RASPBERRY LIFE CYCLE FACTS

  1. Raspberries are a type of berry that grows on bushes, some berry types grow on trees, others on vines or little plants.
  2. In the United States about 90% of all raspberries that are sold come from Washington, California and Oregon.
  3. Raspberries are in the rose family, and they are usually red, but can also be black, gold, yellow, or purple.
  4. Raspberries are a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as fiber. They are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage.
  5. Raspberries can be eaten fresh, cooked, or processed into jams, jellies, pies, tarts, and other desserts. Raspberry leaves can be used to make tea.
  6. While raspberry bushes are native to Europe and Asia, they are now grown all over the world.
  7. They are made up of many tiny bead-like fruits called “drupelets” clustered around a center core. Each of these drupelets contains one seed, with an average raspberry bearing 100 to 120 seeds.

EXCITING RASPBERRY ACTIVITIES

Little fingerprints make the sweetest “I Love You Berry Much” Fingerprint Raspberry Card Idea that can be sent to grandma or anyone else.

Make a Raspberry Puffy Paint recipe using fresh berries then create a masterpiece.

Check out my Fun American Civil War Crafts for Kids and Make Raspberry Jam and learn more cooking skills.

Create a Raspberry Dye Recipe for coloring playdough that is chemical free and a fun way to learn about another use for the fruit.

Kids love fruit roll-ups, but you’re going to really love this natural homemade fruit roll-up recipe that you can make with any type of berry Raspberry Fruit Roll Ups.

Here you will find a step by step lesson on How to Draw a Raspberry for kids.

Teens will love creating their own homemade Raspberry Lemonade Sugar Scrub to use or to gift to friends and family.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Also, look at more berry hands-on activities for kids.

BERRY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Free Printable Strawberry Notebooking Pages
  • How To Make An Easy Ink pot & Quill Pen with Berry Ink
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • Fun American Civil War Crafts for Kids and Make Raspberry Jam
  • Life Cycle Of a Strawberry Facts and Fun Hand Sewn Felt Strawberry
  • Strawberry Unit Study

Finally, look at how to make easy raspberry muffins.

EASY RASPBERRY MUFFIN RECIPE

First, you can use either fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe, you do not need to thaw the frozen berries first.

You can also freeze your muffins and thaw them for later if you like.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of whole purpose flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup white granulated sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ¼ cup+ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs, large
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups raspberries
Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350.

Combine all dry ingredients in a bow l- flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt, until well mixed. 

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

In a separate bowl combine all the wet ingredients including eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Stir wet and dry ingredients together until just combined.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Finally, fold in raspberries very gently with a spatula until they are throughout the batter, if you mix too much they will fall apart in the batter.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Transfer the batter to muffin tin and bake for 25 minutes until the tops are golden brown.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Take a toothpick and insert into the center if it comes out clean, they are ready.

Allow to cool, if you can wait, and then enjoy your homemade raspberry muffins. 

HOW TO GET THE FREE RASPBERRY LIFE CYCLE WORKSHEETS

Finally, I have two free sets of raspberry life cycle notebooking pages.

Explore the Amazing Raspberry Life Cycle with Exciting Activities & Free Worksheets

Like most of my printables, I give the same printable blank and 1 form with answers.

The first worksheet is the raspberry life cycle page and the second one describes 3 fruit classifications.

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

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

2) Grab the freebie now.

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

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

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

July 31, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Grab my free chicken life cycle worksheet for kids and check out my list of hands-on activity ideas. Also, check out my post Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet.

But in addition to the worksheet, I have a cute and easy hands-on activity for creating your own chicken life cycle.

It can be customized and even works some art into the day.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

While there are ready made chicken life cycle models this one is much less expensive and really helps your child to remember each step.

They literally create a model of the life cycle with their own hands.

The life cycle of a chicken, from a tiny egg to a fully grown adult, is a fascinating journey that is full of remarkable physical and behavioral transformations.

Each stage plays out in a unique sequence, shaping the chicken’s development, growth, and adaptation to its environment.

First, look at some of these fun books about chickens.

Fun Books About Chickens for Kids

When possible, I prefer to choose living books and then add reference books to round out our study.

Too, I have a variety of reading levels.

9 Books and Resources for a Fun Chicken Unit Study

Whether you’re wanting to do a chicken unit study or study chickens for the day, you’ll love these books and resources to add to your collection.

Chicks & Chickens

Cheep . . .  cheep . . . cluck!  Everything you ever wanted to know about chickens and eggs—except which came first. With bright watercolor illustrations and simple, clear language, nonfiction master Gail Gibbons shows young readers everything there is to know about chickens. See what different breeds of chickens look like, discover how eggs are laid and hatched, and learn how big and little farms take care of their birds. Key vocabulary words about chicken behavior and anatomy are introduced throughout Chicks and Chickens, and new words are reinforced in accessible language for young readers.

4 PCS Chicken Farm Animal Life Cycle Growth Model

Children can see how animals change and grow. Realistic detail showing a different stage in the development of animals.

Uniquely molded textures and richly painted details bring them to life and help inspire creativity for kids.

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

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life. 

Where Do Chicks Come From?

Read and find out about eggs—and how baby chicks grow inside of them—in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

Learn how chicks develop, how they get the food they need to grow, and how a mother hen helps keep them safe in this introduction to the life cycle of a baby chick.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It's a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are:

Chickenology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia

A great educational book, covering:• Different breeds of chickens, like Padovana and Silkie• The difference between roosters and hens• How chicks are formed in the egg• Chickens sounds and noises• Chicken anatomy and feather anatomy and colors• Chickens and eggs around the world• Chicken history and folklore• Raising chickens at home• Chickens as pets

LEGO Creator Easter Chickens 30643

These LEGO Chickens are a fun and easy add on for little ones joining in the fun.

Farm Animal for Kids, Chicken Coop

DETAILED & REALISTIC. Crafted with precision and authentic detail to create a lifelike toy that teaches and inspires toddlers and kids of every age; helps introduce children to animals. From the first sketch to the intricate finishing touches, we see value in every detail.

Farm Animal Chicken Coop Building Blocks

Chicken Coop Building Blocks. It contains a coop, twenty chicken and ten eggs.

Compatible with LEGO: It's made of LEGO-compatible bricks. It will enrich your MOC blocks. It can be put together with a lot of block scenes, such as farm, house, castle, village, animal and so on.

Farm Animals Figurines Simulated Farm Life

These little chicken figurines would also make a great addition to a chicken study, put them in a sensory bin with a little birdseed or cracked corn for hours of fun.

Next, look at these facts you can use for your chicken life cycle worksheet.

The Chicken Life Cycle

Stage 1: Embryonic Development

The life cycle begins with a fertilized egg, where the embryo undergoes a series of complex processes.

During the first week, the embryo’s organs and tissues begin to form, including the heart, brain, and eyes.

By the end of the third week, the embryo is fully formed and resembles a miniature chicken, complete with feathers and a beak.

Stage 2: Hatching

Around the 21st day of incubation, the chick begins to break out of its shell using a specialized egg tooth.

This process, known as hatching, can take several hours or even days.

Once the chick emerges, it is covered in wet feathers and has a large yolk sac attached to its belly, providing nourishment for the first few days of life.

Stage 3: Brooding

After hatching, the chick relies on its mother’s warmth and protection during the brooding period, which typically lasts for several weeks.

The hen provides shelter, food, and teaches the chicks essential survival skills, such as foraging and predator avoidance.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Stage 4: Growth and Development

As the chick grows, its feathers begin to dry and fluff up, transforming it from a fuzzy ball into a feathered bird.

Finally, at around 6 weeks of age, the chick’s juvenile feathers are replaced by adult feathers, and it gradually develops its full adult plumage.

Stage 5: Sexual Maturity

By around 16-20 weeks of age, chickens reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproducing.

Hens begin to lay eggs, and roosters develop the ability to fertilize them.

The reproductive cycle of chickens is influenced by factors such as daylight hours, nutrition, and breed.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Stage 6: Adulthood

Adult chickens typically live for around 5-8 years, depending on the breed and individual health.

During this stage, chickens continue to lay eggs (in the case of hens).

More Chicken Life Activities

  • Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet
  • 10 Crafts With Styrofoam Egg Cartons | How to Make Easy Chicken Crafts
  • Look at this cute Chicken and Chicks Craft.

If you have the chance to have chickens or see them locally at a farm it is the best experience as they are entertaining and seeing them in person is very educational.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

The other part of chickens is gathering and enjoying farm fresh eggs, there is nothing like it. 

Try eggs in several different ways with your child- fried, scrambled, hard boiled, over easy, etc..

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Next, look at how to make this hands-on chicken life cycle craft.

Chicken Life Cycle Hands-On Activity

You will need:

  • Air dry clay
  • Craft paints
  • Paintbrushes
Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

First, decide how much of the 21-day egg cycle you would like to recreate.

We opted to just go for a chicken, an egg, a fertilized egg, an egg with a developing embryo, and a hatched chick.

Take air dry clay in golf ball sized clumps and form it into each stage.

To smooth it out you can add a little water to your fingertips.

You can use clay tools, or if you don’t have them, forks, wooden craft sticks, toothpicks and other household items to create feathers and other details in the clay.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Allow the clay to dry for 2-3 days until completely hardened.

Paint each part of your chicken life cycle carefully using small paintbrushes and set aside to dry.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Use additional paint or paint pens to add more details to your life cycle steps.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Allow the paint to dry completely.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

Finally, look at how to grab the free chicken life cycle worksheet.

How to Download the Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

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

1) Sign up on my email list.

2) Grab the freebie now by instantly downloading it.

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

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

How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

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

Learn how to make DIY hummingbird nectar and get amazing Amazon Rainforest hummingbirds facts to make a wonderful study. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

Hummingbird nectar gives the birds energy for migration.

And helps keep them warm in cold weather.

How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

Creating a source of food in a safe space can help attract these amazing birds to your backyard for closer observation.

While you won’t see the over 300+ species of hummingbirds in your backyard with your homemade hummingbird nectar and a feeder, you do have a great chance of spotting the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. It is the most common in North America.

7 Amazon Rainforest Hummingbird Facts

Beautiful and fast, these tiny birds are fascinating for many reasons.

  1. While hummingbirds most often drink plant nectar or sugar water from feeders, they also eat pollen and tiny insects such as beetles, bees, ants, and flies.
  2. The main predators of the hummingbird are hawks, praying mantis, bullfrogs, and giant orb-weaving spiders. Deforestation is also threatening their survival.
  3. The Amazon Rainforest of Colombia is a key habitat for over 150 species of hummingbirds.
  4. About 25 to 30 percent of a hummingbird’s weight is in its pectoral muscles. These broad chest muscles are principally responsible for the birds’ flying.
  5. Hummingbirds do not sip or suck nectar through their long bills as you may think, rather, they lick it with long, fringed, forked tongues.
  6. Hummingbirds have amazing memories and can remember every flower and feeder they’ve visited; they can even remember how long it takes for a certain flower to refill before they can visit again.
  7. A hummingbird’s pulse can surpass 1,200 beats per minute, this is the fastest heart rate of any bird.
How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

Also, look at some of these books about hummingbirds.

Amazon Rainforest Hummingbird Books

As you know unit studies are a fantastic way to dive deep into a subject, whether you are studying the Amazon Rainforest or hummingbirds in particular hands-on activities, fun games, and manipulatives make the learning so much better.

Books and Resources for Learning About Hummingbirds

Add a few of these resources to your unit study.

Tiny Bird: A Hummingbird's Amazing Journey

When the last summer flowers open their petals to the sun, it’s time for a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird to dip its beak into the heart of each bloom, extracting as much nectar as possible before the hard trip ahead.

The Hummingbird Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Hummingbirds

With this comprehensive, beautifully illustrated guide, you'll find it easy to attract these tiny, jewel-like birds to your own yard. The Stokes Hummingbird Book  provides all the information you need to bring hummingbirds up close, identify them, and understand their fascinating and varied behavior.

Hummingbird Soft Toy

Come and hum along to the tune of joy with this Hummingbird stuffed animal.

About Hummingbirds: A Guide for Children

The beautifully detailed, realistic paintings of noted wildlife illustrator John Sill introduce readers to the many varieties of hummingbirds—from the smallest type (the bee hummingbirds of Cuba) to the largest (the giant hummingbirds of the Andes Mountains in South America). An afterword inspires further learning. This beginner's guide to hummingbirds is perfect for early childhood and elementary units in science and animal life.

Birds & Blooms Ultimate Guide to Hummingbirds

CHAPTERS 1. Hummingbird Basics & Beyond 2. Feeding 101 3. Create a Winning Hummingbird-Friendly Habitat 4. Best Plant Picks 5. Beyond the Backyard 6. Hummingbird Tales 7. Ask the Experts 8. DIY Projects

Mini Hummingbird Finger Puppet

  • Easily animate this engaging Hummingbird plush puppet on your finger, or snuggle in the palm of your hand
  • Ideal for stage and puppet theater, storytelling, teaching, daycare, pre-school, pretend play, role-playing, presentations, games, parties and gifts
  • Little jewel bird (Little jewel books)

    The adventure of finding and caring for a baby hummingbird.

    Add more hands-on activities to your study.

    Hands-on Hummingbird Activities

    • For very young learners you can turn a cute little footprint and handprint into a Hummingbird Craft that makes a sweet keepsake of your study.
    • This tutorial will teach you how to Fold an Origami Hummingbird to make a beautiful paper representation of the subject.
    • Watch this video of the Dot Eared Coquette found in the Amazon Rainforest if you want to see one in its natural habitat.
    • Make a Faux Stained Glass Hummingbird to capture these colorful beauties in mid-flight.
    • Play a fun game as your science for the day like Professor Noggin’s Birds of North America instead of a boring worksheet.
    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    Finally, look how to make this DIY nectar for hummingbirds.

    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar

    Making hummingbird nectar to attract and nourish these tiny little birds is incredibly easy.

    While some people like to color their hummingbird nectar red, which is believed to attract hummingbirds, I opted not to because research has shown that hummers who have been fed dyed food have a higher mortality rate and suffer tumors of the liver and bill.

    You will need:

    • 2 cups water
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • Hummingbird feeder
    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    First, bring the water to a boil.

    Stir in granulated sugar and whisk until it is completely melted.

    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

    Once cool, transfer to a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    Transfer from the jar to the hummingbird feeder, you can find these in a variety of sizes. I linked this cute one above in the supply list.

    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    Place a hummingbird feeder 10 to 15 feet from a tree, shrub, or other appropriate hiding place.

    Empty and refill the feeder every 3-4 days and clean it out well to prevent mold growth.

    Your hummingbird nectar will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    How to Make DIY Hummingbird Nectar And Favorite Amazon Rainforest Hummingbirds Facts

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: birds, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, hummingbird, life cycle, life science, science

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Printables

    October 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    Pumpkin anatomy is a wonderful topic for fall where your child can explore the ins and outs of a pumpkin using their senses. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

    Dissecting a pumpkin allows children to explore every part of it and encouraging them to describe it using all their senses develops language and vocabulary.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    First, look at vocabulary words for parts of a pumpkin.

    Parts of a Pumpkin Anatomy Facts

    • Skin- Also called the rind, it protects the insides of the pumpkin from bacteria and keeps moisture in.
    • Stem- Pumpkin stems are green while the pumpkin is growing and attached to the vine, turning darker green and then brown as the fruit ripens and matures.
    • Tendrils-Help anchor the vine and protect it from the wind. They are also vital in absorbing nutrients for the plant.
    • Leaves- The leaves help to create shade for the fruits and protect them from sunburn or sunscald. They are also edible and are a rich source of various vitamins and minerals.
    • Seeds- Each pumpkin contains about 500 seeds, once they are planted and sprout it takes 90 to 120 days to reach maturity.
    • Fibrous Strands-Also known as funiculi, each of the strands is connected to a seed and to the placenta of the fruit. As the pumpkin grows nutrients travel through these strands to feed the seeds.
    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Also, grab some of these fun books about pumpkins.

    Books About Pumpkins

    8 Pumpkin Books

    Grab some of these fun books about pumpkins, fall and fall harvest.

    Too Many Pumpkins

    Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins ever since she was a girl when pumpkins were often the only food her family had. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, she shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in autumn, and Rebecca Estelle finds a sea of pumpkins in her garden. A heartwarming classic for more than twenty years, this story shows what happens when one thrifty gardener figures out how to make other people happy with the squash she can't stomach.

    Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie (Picture the Seasons)

    Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie follows Apples for Everyone in the Picture the Seasons series. This beautifully photographed picture book about everybody’s favorite fall treat is sure to please kids both young and old. The glossy, festive images and lively text are sure to get your family in the mood to celebrate the season.Pumpkins! Who can resist the sight of big, round, orange pumpkins ripening in a field?

    How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow?

    Every year, giant pumpkin contests take place at fairs across the country—the 2012 record-holder weighed over a ton! The latest craze is to carve the most enormous pumpkins into racing boats. But what’s next? Why not think really big? Award-winning artist Wendell Minor does just that as he imagines larger-than-life pumpkins decorating some of America’s favorite places—as immense as the Capitol dome, Mount Rushmore, the Brooklyn Bridge, even the Grand Canyon! This celebration of famous landmarks and landscapes plays with concepts of size and scale and is full of fun facts.

    How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

    How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess.

    Pumpkins (First Step Nonfiction ― Plant Life Cycles)

    Plant Life Cycles

    From Seed to Pumpkin: A Fall Book for Kids

    This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Plus it includes a find out more section with activities such as an experiment to show how plants use roots to drink water from the ground and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds.

    Autumn Harvest

    "Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."-

    Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition

    Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

    With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

    Next, look how to use the fall pumpkin notebooking pages.

    Anatomy Life Cycle and Parts of a Pumpkin Notebooking Pages

    Also, I have these pumpkin anatomy, life cycle and parts of a pumpkin notebooking pages.

    Altogether I have 8 pages in total.

    Here are the sets.

    • The first set is Anatomy of a Pumpkin label page. It is the SAME page in two different ways. One page is labeled and the other one is not labeled. Some kids can’t write, some kids struggle with writing and others love to write. You have choices.
    • The next three pages are Parts of a Pumpkin. Print the cards and you can even laminate them and use them over and over so your little ones can label the pumpkin as they investigate it.
    • The next two pages are Pumpkin Life Cylce. Like the anatomy page, one is labeled and the other page is not labeled.
    • The last page is for an older learner who may prefer to just write about fall or a pumpkin.

    Also, remember my printables can be folded like minibooks and placed in your lapbooks.

    Read how to do that here at my post How to Turn Boring Worksheets into Fun Minibooks – From Boring to Interactive.

    Note: My free printables were free for a limited time for my subscribers.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Next, look at some more fun hands-on pumpkin activities.

    Pumpkin Anatomy Hands-On Activities

    • Take the sensory experience even further by making Pumpkin Slime With Real Pumpkin.
    • Focus on the pumpkin’s skin with the Preschool Pumpkin Skin Experiment and test the strength of the skin and more.
    • Pumpkin Science: States of Matter- Let’s kids investigate pumpkin in all of its different states.
    • Pumpkin Experiment: Do Pumpkins Sink Or Float?
    • Take exploring the parts of a pumpkin to the next level by turning them into the Parts of a Pumpkin Craft
    • Who doesn’t love a good bubbling volcano? Try these fun Pumpkin Volcano Activities for Preschoolers

    Note: My free printables were free for a limited time for my subscribers.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Finally, look at this activity to learn about pumpkin anatomy.

    How to Set Up Your Pumpkin Anatomy Station

    You will need:

    • Pumpkin(s)
    • Knife
    • Magnifying glass
    • Tweezers
    • Plastic spoon
    • Pumpkin Anatomy printables
    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    First, start on the outside of the pumpkin and have your child feel and describe the pumpkin. Is it smooth or bumpy?

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    How about the stem? How would they describe the stem of the pumpkin? Is the pumpkin heavy or light?  If you have more than one pumpkin, compare the weight, ask which is heavier.

    Knock on the outside, what does it sound like?

    Pumpkin Anatomy Station

    Now, you can use the printables any way you like but if you are going to be exploring and matching up the parts of a pumpkin I suggest you print out the pumpkin anatomy and the parts of a pumpkin card and laminate them.

    This makes it super easy to wipe off if they get pumpkin on them and they can be reused time and time again.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Next you want to cut off as much of the top of the pumpkin as you can so they can really dig in there and explore. That is the most fun part, especially for sensory seeking kiddos.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Adding tools like magnifying glass, tweezers, and a little plastic spoon makes it a lot more fun to dig.

    Let them get in there and explore as much as they like, pulling out seeds and the fibrous strands.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Peel off a bit of the tough skin of the pumpkin, so that they can feel it on both sides.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    Explore the fiber strands, talk about what parts of the pumpkin are edible, and how they feel.

    Talk about how the seeds feel and how each one can grow a new pumpkin.

    Take some of the seeds and plant them in a little cup of dirt.

    This is the time of harvesting rather than planting them but at least they can watch their little pumpkin sprout over the course of a few weeks.

    In warmer states you will likely not get your hands on a pumpkin you can cut fresh from the vine so it will probably not have leaves or tendrils.

    To give your child an understanding of these parts you can add some silk leaves and a coiled pipe cleaner to help them visualize it better.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Free Printables

    How to Get the Pumpkin Lapbook Pumpkin Anatomy Pages

    Finally, I have a fun pumpkin lapbook to use with multiple ages. I geared it toward grades 2 to 4 but again grades are selective as we know.

    Look at the printables included in the download.

    • One front outside cover in color. Mix and match the pieces for the outside flap.
    • One front outside flap cover for your child to color.
    • Pumpkin Life Cycle and labeled parts of pumpkin
    • 7 vocabulary words and definitions
    • Seed box pocket to store saved seeds
    • About pumpkin pocket with facts
    • Parts of pumpkin fact card
    • More Pumpkin Facts & Fun pocket to glue on back of file folder

    One About Pumpkin Notebooking page for your children to write what interests them.

    Two Anatomy of a Pumpkin Notebooking Pages. One has facts filled in and one page is blank so that your child labels the part.

    • Dynamic and Fun Pumpkin Lapbook for Multiple Ages

      Dynamic and Fun Pumpkin Lapbook for Multiple Ages

      $4.00
      Add to cart

    Three pages of pumpkin note cards to use to identify the parts of a pumpkin.

    Two Life Cycle of a Pumpkin pages. One has facts filled in and one page is blank so that your child labels the cycle.

    Pumpkin Anatomy | Kids Exploring the Parts of a Pumpkin And Printables

    Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earthscience, elementary science, fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, life cycle, life science, pumpkin, science, sciuence

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    May 31, 2023 | 1 Comment
    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

    I have a fun hands-on life cycle butterfly activity. Also, look at my page Free Insect Unit Study for more ideas.

    Life cycles are often one of the first science lessons that younger children get to learn about.

    Instead of putting a preprinted worksheet in front of your child to teach them, why not give them an art project that turns into science with this life cycle butterfly activity?

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    We are taking some basic craft supplies that most of us have in our art supplies and turn them into a lesson on the 4 stages of a butterfly’s life.

    Let your child be a part of it from the creation of each piece to laying out the cycle so they get the most out of the lesson.

    As your child builds each stage in the life cycle, talk to them about the changes taking place.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    10 Fascinating Butterfly Facts

    First, look at these butterfly facts.

    1. There are almost 20,000 different butterfly species.
    2. A group of butterflies is known as a flutter.
    3. Butterflies taste their food with their feet.
    4. The most common butterfly in the US is the Cabbage White. It is a simple small mostly white butterfly with 1 or 2 black dots on each wing (1 for males, 2 for females).
    5. One of the largest butterflies is the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, reaching a wingspan of 4 to 7 inches.
    6. While you might think butterflies have 2 wings, they have 4, 2 forewings and 2 hindwings.
    7. The North American Monarch travels an average of 2,500 miles to migrate to warmer weather.
    8. Butterflies have their skeletons on the outside of their bodies, called the exoskeleton. The exoskeleton protects the insect and keeps water inside their bodies, so they don’t dry out.
    9. The only continent where butterflies have not been found is Antarctica.
    10. Butterflies can fly as fast as 12 mph while their cousin, the moth, can reach speeds of up to 25 mph.

    Books About Butterflies

    Next, look at some of these beautiful books and resources for studying butterflies.

    10 Butterfly Resources and Book

    Fun books and resources to learn about butterflies.

    It's a Butterfly's Life

    What is a butterfly s life? Its full of twists and turns as butterfly glide on air currents. Its full of dips and dives as they show off for their mates. There are more than 17,000 kinds of butterflies in the world. Some of them will only live for a few days. Others will migrate thousands of miles to winter in a warmer climate. Still others will hibernate through the cold months. For all butterflies, life begins with metamorphosis. In one of nature s most amazing feats, caterpillars become creatures of beauty and grace.

    The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

    One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

    Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

    UANDME 4pcs Butterfly Life Cycle Kit Lifestyle Stages of Monarch Butterfly Teaching Tools for Kids, Students

    This is a wonderful, realistic set of the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly, which contains the 4 stages, eggs, caterpillars (larva) with a leaf, a chrysalis (pupa), and a butterfly. It is a good learning toy for homeschoolers teaching.

    Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey

    Some farms grow vegetables or grains, and some raise cows, sheep, chickens, or pigs. But have you ever heard of a butterfly farm? How do you raise a butterfly?On a farm in Costa Rica, workers care for these delicate, winged creatures as they change from eggs to caterpillars to pupae. Like any other crop, the butterflies will eventually leave the farm. But where will they go? And just how do you ship a butterfly?

    Insect Lore - Butterfly Growing Kit - Butterfly Habitat Kit

    Pop-up, reusable 11.5-inch tall mesh habitat perfect for butterfly viewing; includes feeding dropper and complete instructions

    Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close

    Caterpillars ship separately via included Voucher (additional $8.95 for processing); packaging may vary

    Monarch Butterfly (New & Updated)

    Introduce young readers to the fascinating process of how caterpillars become butterflies.Follow the transformation from a tiny white egg laid on a leaf to a brilliantly colored butterfly in this kid-friendly introduction to metamorphosis.  With detailed, bright watercolors, Gail Gibbons illustrates the life cycle of the monarch butterfly, stage by stage, as it grows, changes, and takes flight.

    Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

    A beautifully illustrated, informative book for children introducing them to bugs that creep, crawl, bite, fly, and more

    From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

    A Butterfly Is Patient: Nature Books for Kids, Children's Books

    From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the world of butterflies.Part of the incredible six-book Nature Books series from the award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long, A Butterfly Is Patient celebrates a dazzling variety of butterflies in all their beauty and wonder.Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these beautiful winged insects through watercolor illustrations that bring to life garden landscapes filled with flowers, vines, leaves, and sunshine. A BUTTERFLY BOOK TO TREASURE: From the tiny Western Pygmy blue butterfly to the grand Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, from the iridescent blue swallowtail to the brilliant orange monarch, curious kids will find a wealth of information and inspiration in this fascinating picture book.

    National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly

    Butterflies are all around us. It's hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. How in the world does this transformation happen? This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. With bonus information including different types of butterflies and poisonous caterpillars, this reader is one of a kind.

    Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing Butterflies and Moths

    Crinkleroot introduces the amazing world of butterflies and moths as he tours the natural world, exposing the facts and behaviors of this fascinating insect group known as Lepidoptera.

    Also, look at hands-on fun butterfly activites.

    Butterfly Activity Hands-on Ideas

    If you are looking for another butterfly activity or two, here are some great ideas that the whole family might enjoy.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids
    • Butterfly Identification Cards
    • 12 Free Printable Butterfly Symmetry Puzzles
    • Nature Butterfly Sticky Wall
    • Butterfly Balloon Stem Challenge
    • Butterfly Life Cycle Game
    • Easy Butterfly Sensory Bin
    • Flying Butterfly Experiment
    • A butterfly life cycle set can be used to illustrate it. They make a great addition to sensory bins or trays, and also for dramatic play as you read.
    • I found this really fun and kinda gross Dissect It kit that comes with a jelly chrysalis and a tool to dissect and remove the butterfly from the center.
    • 8 Facts About Moths and a Fun Nature Elephant Hawk Moth Craft
    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Finally, look at how to make this easy life cycle of a butterfly activity.

    Life Cycle of a Butterfly Activity

    You will need:

    • 2 coffee filters
    • 3 clothespins
    • Colorful pom poms
    • 4 paper plates
    • Pipe cleaner
    • Paint or markers
    • glue
    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Use markers to color or paint 3 clothespins to create the body. Set aside to dry.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Spritz 2 coffee filters until soaked then use watercolors to paint one green for the chrysalis.

    Then paint the other colors for butterfly wings. To make it symmetrical you can fold one in half and just paint one side allowing it to soak through.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Hang outside to dry with an extra clothespin.

    For the eggs, you will just need to set aside a couple of pompoms.

    To create a caterpillar, draw on its eyes and glue pom poms along the length of its body.

    Cut a small piece of pipe cleaner and bend it into an antenna, secure it in the pincher part of the clothespin.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Take the plain clothespin caterpillar and wrap it up in the green-painted coffee filter and twist the top to create the cremaster (or stem) portion.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Take the final painted clothespin and draw on the eyes, glue pom poms on for the body.

    This time we are going to accordion fold the colorfully painted coffee filter and slip it inside the opened clip of the clothespin.

    Spread out the wings and add another small piece of pipe cleaner to the clip to make the butterfly antennae.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    Write each of the stages on your paper plates-egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly.

    Have your child put them in order on the floor and then match each of the pieces they made to the correct spot.

    Explain how the cycle continues to repeat itself over and over.

    Fun and Easy Hands-on Life Cycle Butterfly Activity for Kids

    1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: butterfly, crafts, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, life cycle, life science, science, spring, spring crafts

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