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19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

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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. Also, look at my pages Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, Rain Forest – Amazon, and Rainforest Activities for Kids for more ideas.

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

And look at this ANIMALS OF THE WILD AMAZON Coloring Book for Kids & Adults: Learn about nature of the Rainforest.

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. And look how fun this is: Melissa & Doug Stamp-a-Scene Stamp Set: Rain Forest – 20 Wooden Stamps.

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.

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

OTHER KINDERGARTEN RESOURCES

Look at some of these other kindergarten resources.

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.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

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Horse anatomy for kids is wonderful for the horse-crazy learner, and hoof anatomy is one of the most satisfying topics to dig into. Also, look at my page Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

A hoof looks like a solid block from the outside, but it’s actually built in layers, each with its own job, like protecting bone, absorbing shock, and helping a 1,000-pound animal move quietly across almost any terrain.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

This felt hoof craft turns those hidden layers into something kids can see, touch, and stack together with their own hands.

Horses are prey animals built for speed, and everything about the hoof supports that.

It’s often summed up as “no hoof, no horse”, a phrase farriers and vets use because a horse’s whole body depends on healthy feet.

Making a model helps kids grasp why each layer exists instead of just memorizing these labels.

BOOKS ABOUT HORSES FOR KIDS

Also, look at some of these books about horses for kids.

9 Books and Resources for Horse Loving Kids

Whether you add a book or two to use as a spine for your study or just for fun, your horse loving kids will enjoy them.

Before we get to the craft, let’s look at some facts and get some more horse themed ideas to round out a fun, interest-based unit.

HORSE ANATOMY & LEARNING ACTIVITIES

ABOUT HORSE HOOF LAYERS

  • Hoof wall- The hard, curved outer shell, made of the same material as our fingernails (keratin). It extends from the coronary band and bears most of the horse’s weight.
  • Coronary band- The soft band right where hair meets hoof, where new hoof wall constantly grows from, similar to the base of a human nail.
  • White line- A thin, pale ring on the underside where the wall meets the sole. It’s a helpful landmark farriers use when trimming or shoeing.
  • Sole- The slightly curved underside of the hoof. It protects the sensitive inner structures but isn’t meant to bear much weight on its own.
  • Frog- The soft, V-shaped rubbery pad in the center of the underside. It helps the hoof grip the ground and cushions each step.
  • Digital cushion- A springy pad tucked inside, above the frog, that absorbs shock every time the hoof hits the ground.
Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

This felt hoof layers craft is a perfect craft to learn the structure packed into one foot.

FELT HOOF LAYERS CRAFT

You can go as simple or as detailed as you like on this depending on your child’s age and ability.

They can just the labels for wall, white line, sole, and frog, or go deeper and have them create and label the toe, bulb, heel, digital cushion, collateral groove, central sulcus, etc.

You will need:

  • Felt sheets in several colors – black, cream, white, pink, brown, tan
  • Scissors
  • Fabric glue or a hot glue gun 
  • A pencil and paper to sketch a hoof outline
Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

Sketch and cut the base shape. Draw a rounded, slightly oval hoof outline (view from underneath) about the size of your child’s palm out of black felt. Cut this shape from the felt; this becomes the hoof wall layer.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

Add the white line. Cut a thin ring of white slightly smaller than the wall shape and lay it inside the wall’s edge, so a sliver of it peeks out all around.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

Layer the sole. Cut a cream-colored oval, a bit smaller than the white line ring, lay it on top,  leaving the white line visible around the edge.

Cut the frog. Using pink or gray felt, cut a “V” or wedge shape and glue it in the center-back of the sole, pointing toward the front of the hoof.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

Get all your pieces ready to assemble.

Glue each layer together if you wish; I prefer to leave it loose so it can be built and rebuilt over and over.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

Label it. Have kids write the name of each part on a small paper flag or sticky note, turning the finished craft into a working diagram.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

While it is optional, it is fun to add a piece to the horse’s leg using a brown piece of felt to give the impression that you are a farrier standing behind the horse, lifting its foot up toward you.

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

I also really like to present these activities on a nice tray with a supporting book, images, models, etc.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

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Enjoy a fun and simple K is for Kiwi Craft with your preschooler through elementary-aged kids using supplies you already have on hand. Also, look at my pages How to Homeschool Preschool, Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook/ Fun Edible Bird Nests and Homeschool Geography for more learning ideas and teaching tips.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

New Zealand is one of the most fascinating places in the world, especially when it comes to its birds. Because the islands are separated from other land masses, many unique bird species are found there that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.

Learning about New Zealand birds is a wonderful way to explore geography, science, and nature in one lesson.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the country’s most interesting, feathered residents and creating a simple kiwi bird craft to celebrate New Zealand’s national symbol.

BOOKS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND FOR KIDS WHO LOVE TO READ AND BE READ TO

Next, look at some living books to add to your unit study or home library.

6 New Zealand Books

Books about New Zealand or set in New Zealand to add to your home library or use for a unit study.

First, learn a bit of geography and history.

GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand sits isolated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean to the right of Australia.

The town of Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu holds the Guinness World Record for having the longest name. I wouldn’t want to have to say that every day!

New Zealand was one of the last sizable territories on Earth to be settled by Polynesian explorers who became the Maori.

Because it is a narrow strip, no location on the island of New Zealand is more than 80 miles from the sea but 932 miles from the closest land, Australia.

Because of this isolation, many birds evolved in unusual ways.

Some lost the ability to fly because they had few natural predators.

Others developed special feeding habits and adaptations that helped them survive in New Zealand’s forests, mountains, and wetlands.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

New Zealand’s birds are unlike those found anywhere else in the world.

From the curious kea and musical tui to the rare kakapo and national bird, the kiwi, these remarkable creatures tell the story of a land shaped by isolation.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

If you want an amazing book for your study that you will reach for time and again, we found a wonderful map full of information in MAPS, just look at that oversized spread!

FACTS ABOUT BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND

KIWI FACTS

The kiwi is probably the most famous bird in New Zealand. It is so important to the country’s identity that people from New Zealand are often nicknamed “Kiwis.”

  • It is New Zealand’s National Bird.
  • They cannot fly and have tiny wings hidden beneath their feathers.
  • Kiwis use their long beaks to search for worms and insects underground.
  • Their nostrils are located at the tip of their beaks, and this gives them an excellent sense of smell.
  • Kiwi eggs are huge compared to the size of the mother bird.
  • The kiwi is found nowhere else in the wild.

KEA FACTS

  •   Kea parrots are considered to be one of the smartest birds on Earth.
  • The kea is the world’s only alpine parrot and lives high in the mountains of New Zealand’s South Island.
  • They are known for being intelligent and curious creatures.
  • They have bright orange feathers hidden under their wings of olive green, which help them blend into their environment but show off a beautiful splash of color when they fly.

TUI FACTS

  • Tuibirds have shiny black feathers with blue and green iridescence on them.
  • They are known for their complex songs and calls; they have two voice boxes, which allow them to produce two notes at once.
  • A tui can mimic sounds, including human speech and even ringtones.

KAKAPO FACTS

  • Kakapos can live for more than 60 years.
  • The kakapo is the world’s heaviest parrot.
  • It is nocturnal and spends most of its time on the ground.
  • Kakapo cannot fly, but they are excellent climbers.
  • Their green feathers help them blend into forest vegetation.
  • They are among the rarest birds in the world.

Today, conservationists carefully monitor every remaining kakapo. Due to their efforts, the population has slowly increased, making the kakapo one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories.

NEW ZEALAND CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

K IS FOR KIWI CRAFT

Homemade puffy paint gives your Kiwi bird a softer feather-like texture, and using a plastic fork as a paintbrush is just downright fun.

You will need:

  • Brown construction paper
  • Cream or yellow construction paper
  • Google eyes
  • Glue stick
  • Plastic fork
  • Scissors
K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

First, use brown construction paper to cut out an oval body and a small head.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

Cut a long tapering beak and 3-toed bird feet from the yellow or tan paper.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

Mix foaming shave gel and brown paint.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

Use a fork to apply it all over the head and body.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

Allow to dry and go back over the dry paint with a fork, scraping in different directions to give it some texture that resembles the feathers.

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

Glue the head to the body and add googly eyes, the long, narrow beak, and feet with a glue stick.

Ant Insect Facts & The Secret Life Of Ants Free Printable

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I have some fun ant insect facts and a free exploring the secret life of ant printable you can download at the bottom. Also, look at my pages Free Kids Insect Unit Study and Free Ant Unit Study for more fun ideas.

Ants may be tiny, but they are some of the busiest and strongest creatures on Earth!

There are more than 12,000 kinds of ants around the world. Some ants are red, some are black, and some can even be green!

Ant Insect Facts & The Secret Life Of Ants Free Printable

Did you know ants can carry things much heavier than themselves? Some ants can lift up to 50 times their own body weight!

Ants do not talk with words like people do. Instead, they use smells called pheromones. They leave scent trails to help other ants find food.

BOOKS & RESOURCES ABOUT ANTS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun books and resources for kids about ants.

9 Ant Books & Resources For Kids

Add some of these fun books about ants to your home library.

Also, look at these hands-on insect activities.

MORE HANDS-ON FUN ANT AND INSECT ACTIVITIES

And look what is included in this mini unit.

ABOUT ANT MINI UNIT FREE PRINTABLE

  • Lesson 1 What are ants?
  • Lesson 2 Ant life cycle?
  • Lesson 3 Inside an ant colony.
  • Lesson 4 How ants communicate & work together
  • Lesson 5 Why ants matter (ecosystem and impact)
Ant Insect Facts & The Secret Life Of Ants Free Printable

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

HOW TO GET THE FREE EXPLORING THE SECRET LIFE OF ANTS PRINTABLE

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 instantly.

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

Free Lapbook Wild Animals for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

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I have a fun and free lapbook wild animals for your animal lovers. Also, look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more homeschool lapbook ideas.

Wild animals survive without human help. They find their own food, build shelters, and protect themselves from danger.

And a wild animals lapbook is an engaging way for a child of any age to actively learn. I aimed this lapbook at higher elementary grades, but like any of my lapbooks you can gear them toward any age.

Free Lapbook Wild Animals for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Wild animals are animals that live in nature, not in homes or on farms. Unlike pets or livestock, they take care of themselves. They hunt, gather, and adapt to their environment to survive.

So, some sections to include in your lapbook for older learners can be habitat, diet and adaptations.

In addition, some examples of wild animals are lions, elephants, wolves, bears and eagles. Different animals live in different habitats depending on what they need to survive.

Here are a few examples:

  • Arctic regions: Polar bears and seals live in icy environments.
  • Forests: Deer, owls, and foxes live among trees and plants.
  • Deserts: Camels and lizards survive in hot, dry conditions.
  • Oceans: Dolphins, sharks, and whales live in saltwater.

BOOKS FOR KIDS ABOUT WILD ANIMALS

Next, look at these books about wild animals.

We love living books but also we love reference books.

Add one or two to your reading day.

5 Wild Animal Books

Add some of these beautiful books about wild animals to your home library.

Also, look at some hands-on activities and crafts about wild animals.

WILD ANIMALS ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS

Free Lapbook Wild Animals for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Also, look at what is included in the lapbook.

  • Types of animals
  • Why Wild Animals Are Important Facts
  • What Do Wild Animals Eat
  • Body Parts that Help Animals Survive
  • Guess the Animal
  • What Are Wild Animals
  • How Can I Help Wild Animals
  • Groups of Wild Animals

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

HOW TO GET THE FREE WILD ANIMALS LAPBOOK

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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