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life science

Free Owl Lapbook & Hands-on Ideas For Kids Who Love Science

November 10, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

An owl lapbook makes for a fun unit study during the fall or anytime. And look at my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning for more lapbooks.

Too, see my page Free Kids Owl Unit Study Ideas | How to Dissect Pellets. Besides kids love learning about fascinating birds of prey at any age.

Free Owl Lapbook & Hands-on Ideas For Kids Who Love Science

An owl lapbook is the perfect way to combine nature study, science and hands-on learning. And studying about the types of owls with over 200 species can lead to a discussion about geography.

Owls are found on every continent except Antarctica. It’s fun to learn how although most owls are active during the night, the snowy owl is active during the day.

One of the most fascinating things to do is to observe owls. Of course, it’s not always possible.

But we love looking at owl cams or YouTube videos to observe them.

BOOKS ABOUT OWLS FOR KIDS

Then, look at some fun books about owls. And we prefer living books when we can find them.

Then we add reference books to our study day. I think you’ll find one or two you will like for your home library.

13 Owl Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books about owls to your home library or for your unit study.

Image for Owls in the Family

Owls in the Family

Every child needs to have a pet. No one could argue with that.   But what happens when your pet is an owl, and your owl is terrorizing the neighbourhood?  

In Farley Mowat’s exciting children’s story, a young boy’s pet menagerie—which includes crows, magpies, gophers and a dog—grows out of control with the addition of two cantankerous pet owls. The story of how Wol and Weeps turn the whole town upside down s warm, funny, and bursting with adventure and suspense.

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Image for An owl and three pussycats

An owl and three pussycats

A baby owl and three kittens receive a bit of extra help in growing up on Maple Hill Farm.

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Image for Owl Moon

Owl Moon

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind's close relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading around and sharing at bedtime.

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Image for The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark

Plop, the baby barn owl, is like every barn owl there ever was, except for one thing—he is afraid of the dark! Mrs. Barn Owl sends him down from the nest-hole to find out more about the dark, and it's not long before Plop finds out that DARK IS SUPER! This comforting story filled with gentle humor and warm and soothing illustrations has been enjoyed for decades by parents and children who want to snuggle down with a good read.

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Image for Little Owl's Night

Little Owl's Night

Little Owl enjoys a lovely night in the forest visiting his friend the raccoon, listening to the frogs croak and the crickets chirp, and watching the fog that hovers overhead.

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Image for Owls

Owls

On silent wings a bird sweeps down in the moonlight...   With their striking appearance and distinctive hoot, hoot, owls are one of the most recognizable birds in the world.  But did you know there are more than 140 types of owls living in the world?   Gail Gibbons' Owls celebrates the similarities and differences in the many species of owls, from large to small, living in diverse environments and making many different kinds of nests.  The book covers basics of owl behavior, information on how they hunt, and the many factors that have led some types of owls to become endangered.   The boldly colored illustrations feature clear labeling, and all new words are defined and reinforced with clear, simple language, appropriate for young readers.  The book also features a page of intriguing owl trivia.

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Image for Barn Owl (Science I Can Read Book)

Barn Owl (Science I Can Read Book)

Easy-to-read text and illustrations trace the life of a barn owl from his birth until he leaves the nest and finds a mate of his own.

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Image for The Book of North American Owls

The Book of North American Owls

Everything you ever wanted to know about owls on the North American continent. Features the twenty-one species of owls and all their vital statistics. Includes a detailed, illustrated glossary with maps showing residence and breeding ranges.

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Image for There's an Owl in the Shower

There's an Owl in the Shower

It’s people versus owls in this laugh-out-loud story about one family’s love for a special little owl, from bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George!

Borden Watson’s father is out of job, and it’s all the spotted owls’ fault. The birds are endangered, which means loggers, like Mr. Watson, are no longer allowed to cut down trees.

It doesn’t make sense to Borden. Why are owls being put first over the citizens?

But when Borden finds an owlet in the forest who needs his care, he brings it back home—much to Mr. Watson’s displeasure. Hilarious chaos soon ensues, as the tiny owl makes big changes in this logging family’s home, and makes his way into their hearts.

This heartwarming story is a great way for young readers to learn about important topics, like endangered species, conservation, and environmentalism.

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Image for Knight Owl (Caldecott Honor Book) (The Knight Owl Series, 1)

Knight Owl (Caldecott Honor Book) (The Knight Owl Series, 1)

A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart.  Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas. Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn. 

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Image for A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

One winter, as food gets scarce, a snowy owl finds himself forced to look in new and unfamiliar spots in order to find food and a place to call home. Based on a true story, A Snowy Owl Story describes, through the tale of one particular owl, the recent irruption of snowy owls all across the United States. Through this simple narrative, youngsters will learn about migration, adaptation, and respectful human interaction with nature. This unique title (first in a projected series of four board books) is written and designed specifically for a preschool market; few board books exist that tell conservation stories for this age range. Published in cooperation with Maine Audubon.

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Image for Reggie The Burrowing Owl: The True Story Of How A Family Found And Raised A Burrowing Owl

Reggie The Burrowing Owl: The True Story Of How A Family Found And Raised A Burrowing Owl

This is the true story about how one, little orphaned burrowing owl brought five children and their parents together on a mission to care for him as best they could back in 1967. While taking care of, Reggie, we learned that—there’s no such thing as an ordinary day with a burrowing owl around. This is not just a story for children, but the whole family and though our days revolved around Reggie, it was the unique way Reggie impacted ours and those around us ordinary lives which makes this story so special. We hope you will find it so as well."Populations of burrowing owls are declining in some areas due to pesticide use, poisoning of prairie dog colonies, and automobile collisions. Conservation concerns differ by region, and in various states they are listed as endangered, threatened, or as a species of concern.

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Image for Owl at Home (I Can Read Level 2)

Owl at Home (I Can Read Level 2)

Owl lives by himself in a warm little house. But whether Owl is inviting Winter in on a snowy night or welcoming a new friend he meets while on a stroll, Owl always has room for visitors!

Arnold Lobel's beloved Level 2 I Can Read classic was created for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

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Also, look at these other hands-on activities about owls.

OWL HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

  • Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
  • Owl Eyesight – STEM Exploration for Kids
  •  Easy and Fun PineCone Snowy Owl Winter Craft
  • How To Make Stone Owl Craft (+ Science PDF)
  • How to Make a Toilet Roll Owl & Elf Owl Facts
  • Owl Babies Print and Play Shape Game for Preschoolers
  • Printable Barn Owl Craft
  • What Do Owls Eat Free Printable
  • 6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft
  • Owl Live Cams. Look at some of the live cams to enjoy while doing your owl unit study or this lapbook.
Free Owl Lapbook & Hands-on Ideas For Kids Who Love Science

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE OWL MINIBOOKS INCLUDED IN THIS DOWNLOAD

  • The Wonderful World Of Owls
  • Parts of an Owl
  • Owl Life Cycle
  • Where Do Owls Live
  • How Are Owls Special
  • Why Are Owls Important
  • Did You Know
  • Fun Facts

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie.

HOW TO GET THE FREE OWL LAPBOOK

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Lapbooks Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, life science, owl

Free Wolf Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

October 15, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free wolf lapbook and resources today for a fun study about wolves. Too, on my Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning page you can find more free homeschool lapbooks.

Wolves are some of the most fascinating animals in the wild. Studying wolves is a wonderful way to explore zoology, animal adaptations, ecosystems, food chains, and animal behavior.

Free Wolf Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Whether you’re studying mammals, forest animals, North American wildlife, or ecosystems, a wolf lapbook makes a great addition to your homeschool science lessons.

They are mammals, carnivores, predators, and highly social animals. Also, he plays an important role in many ecosystems.

And one of the best ways to organize everything kids learn is by creating a wolf lapbook.

First, add these wolf books to your unit study.

BOOKS ABOUT WOLVES FOR KIDS

Reading and learning about wolves through living books is our preferred way to learn.

10 Books About Wolves

Add some of these fun books about wolves to your home library. Use them for a fun wolf unit study or just reading for the day.

Image for Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary

Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary

Newbery Medalist Jean Craighead George lovingly tells the story of three wolf pups--from the moment they open their eyes to the time they lead the hunt. Lyrical passages in her wolf pup diary describe how the pups tumble and play and when they first learn to howl and talk wolf talk. Readers are reminded of the changes in nature that are happening in the lower 48 states as they "look to the north" to watch the wolf pups grow. Jean George's words and Lucia Washburn's breathtaking paintings give the reader a rare glimpse of one of nature's noblest creatures: the wolf.

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Image for Julie of the Wolves: A Newbery Award Winner

Julie of the Wolves: A Newbery Award Winner

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

Miyax tries to survive by copying the ways of a pack of wolves and soon grows to love her new wolf family. Life in the wilderness is a struggle, but when she finds her way back to civilization, Miyax is torn between her old and new lives. Is she the Miyax of her human village—or Julie of the wolves?

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Image for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling

Discovered in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. A recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies.

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Image for White Fang

White Fang

From Jack London, one of the greatest American writers of all time, comes this masterpiece in adventure story telling: WHITE FANG!!!
Can White Fang the timber wolf pup ever be tamed? WHITE FANG (PART 1 of 2) examines the violent world of wild animals and the equally violent world of humans. WHITE FANG! A tale of animal heroism, survival and adventure like never before seen in American literature.

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Image for The Wolves Are Back

The Wolves Are Back

Introduces young readers to the beauty and majesty of these creatures of the wild, the areas in which they live and breed today, and the way they almost came to extinction at the hands of man through intentional acts of persecution during the past one hundred years.

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Image for A Wolf Called Wander (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)

A Wolf Called Wander (A Voice of the Wilderness Novel)

This gripping novel about survival and family is based on the real story of one wolf’s incredible journey to find a safe place to call
home. Illustrated throughout, this irresistible tale by award-winning author Rosanne Parry is for fans of Sara Pennypacker’s Pax and Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan.

Swift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.

Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest. The trip is full of peril, and Swift encounters forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before he finds his new home.

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Image for The Moon of the Gray Wolves (The Thirteen Moons Series)

The Moon of the Gray Wolves (The Thirteen Moons Series)

Describes the experiences of a wolf pack in the Toklat Pass of Alaska during the November moon.

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Image for Kavik the Wolf Dog

Kavik the Wolf Dog

When Andy Evans stumbles upon the snow-covered wreckage of a small plane, he’s shocked to find a survivor. Should he put the gravely injured dog out of his misery? The look in the animal’s eyes says he’s not ready to die. It turns out that Kävik’s a champion sled dog, and soon he makes a full recovery. When his rightful owner finds out Kävikvis alive, he wants the dog back. But Kävik has other ideas.

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Image for When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone

When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature's Balance in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park's majestic geologic wonders and remarkable wildlife draw millions of visitors each year. But there was a time when these natural treasures were in great danger, all because after years of unrestricted hunting, one key piece of the puzzle had been eliminated-the wolf. Now, more than a decade after scientists realized the wolves' essential role and returned them to Yellowstone, the park's natural balance is gradually being restored. The informative dual-level text and spectacular full-color photographs show the wolves in the natural habitat that was almost lost without them. Readers of all ages will be inspired by the delicate natural system that is Yellowstone.

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Image for The Wolf Wilder

The Wolf Wilder

Feo’s life is extraordinary. Her mother trains domesticated wolves to be able to fend for themselves in the snowy wilderness of Russia, and Feo is following in her footsteps to become a wolf wilder. She loves taking care of the wolves, especially the three who stay at the house because they refuse to leave Feo, even though they’ve already been wilded. But not everyone is enamored with the wolves, or with the fact that Feo and her mother are turning them wild. And when her mother is taken captive, Feo must travel through the cold, harsh woods to save her—and learn from her wolves how to survive.

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Begin your wolf study is by learning about different wolf species.

The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is probably the most familiar. Gray wolves are found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Despite their name, gray wolves aren’t always gray. Their coats can range from white and cream to brown, gray, and black.

Another fascinating wolf is the red wolf (Canis rufus), a critically endangered species native to the southeastern United States.

Kids can also investigate the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), a rare wild canid that lives in the highlands of Ethiopia.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO ADD TO YOUR WOLF LAPBOOK

Next, look at some hands-on activities about mammals.

  • Wolf Preschool Craft And Simple Ideas For Creative Play
  • Free Wolf Fact Card
  • How to Craft a Stunning Wolf Animal Triorama
  • Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
  • Free Mammals Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science
  • Free Lapbook Wild Animals for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Last, look at the minibooks included in this free download.

FREE WOLF LAPBOOK MINIBOOKS INCLUDED:

  • Where do wolves live
  • Wolf Body Parts
  • Wolf Quick Facts
  • Observe the Wolf
  • Wolf Family
  • Did You Know
Free Wolf Lapbook for Kids Who Love Hands-on Science

Now, how to grab the freebie.

It’s a subscriber freebie

HOW TO GET THE FREE WOLF LAPBOOK

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!

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

19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten

September 21, 2026 | 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. 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.

  • 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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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

Cute Sloth Handprint Craft

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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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Image for Go on a Mini Backyard Safari
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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Image for DIY Sloth Bookmark Corner - Red Ted Art - Easy Kids Crafts
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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Image for Toilet Paper Roll FROG Craft
Photo Credit: www.redtedart.com

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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Image for Cardboard Tube Parrot Craft
Photo Credit: kidscraftroom.com

Cardboard Tube Parrot Craft

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

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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

Horse Anatomy For Kids: How to Make Hoof Layers Craft

August 21, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

Image for Homeschooling With Horses

Homeschooling With Horses

A Homeschooling Journal for Horse Lovers! 365 Lessons and Activities. This Journal has a special focus on learning through logic and creativity!! It also covers every required subject! Perfect for 2nd to 4th grade, but fun for all ages.

This is the perfect Fun-Schooling Journal for students who love horses!

There are 365 activities in this book, and you can require your student to use 1, 5 or 10 pages per day, along with 6 library books, and your favorite math, history and science curriculum. You are free to use it any way you wish. That is the joy of fun-schooling with Thinking Tree Books.

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Image for Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Did you know that a miniature horse weighs just a few pounds, while a giant draft horse can weigh well over a ton? Or that from a standstill a mule can jump, kangaroo-like, more than five feet high?  With answers to hundreds of questions about behavior, physiology, training, and special breed characteristics, Knowing Horses has all your horse quandaries covered.

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Image for Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

This book is designed for all those who love horses. Tracing the evolution of equines, this guide also explains the difference between horses and ponies, looks at how different breeds evolved or were selectively developed, and examines equine anatomy and behavior. Packed with 250 vivid full-color photographs of more than 100 horse-breeds, it uses a systematic approach from Dorling Kindersley and the Smithsonian Institution to train readers of all experience levels to identify and appreciate the wide variety of horses in the world.

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Image for Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

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. 

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Image for Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

The complete beginner’s guide to horses and riding for kids 8 to 12

This ultimate guide to horses for kids teaches you all about the basics of equine care―from anatomy to housing to bathing and feeding. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a horse of your own, you’ll learn how to ride, how to stay safe around horses, and how to develop a healthy and friendly relationship with them.

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Black Beauty

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite, one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography, describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach, the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred, Black Beauty, is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes, including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London, Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending

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Misty of Chincoteague

Marguerite Henry’s beloved story of a wild horse’s gentle colt—winner of a Newbery Honor!On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.

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Image for Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Horse and book set: National velvet is Enid Bagnold's unforgettable tale of a horse-loving girl with aspirations of jumping Glory. A story about perusing dreams and taking chances, National velvet follows the adventures of 14-year-old velvet Brown.

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Image for The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

Whether you are a veterinary nurse or student preparing for an exam or just an ordinary horse lover seeking to learn more about this amazing domestic animal called ‘horse’ this colouring workbook is for YOU!

This book has been designed and structured to make you learn horse A&P easily and effortlessly. By colouring the images contained in this book, you will easily make visual associations with key terminologies and concepts.

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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

  • Check out my Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse-Loving Kids
  • Trace and label a full horse skeleton on butcher paper
  • Compare hoof prints to human footprints in a nature journal
  • Horse String Art – The Joy of Sharing
  • Visit a stable or ask a local farrier if kids can watch a trim
  • Daily Life Of A Blacksmith In Colonial Times And How To Make A Horseshoe Craft
  • Make a horse height chart using the “hands” measurement system
  • American History That Starts With K For Kentucky & Easy Derby Craft
  • Build a horse anatomy lapbook with foldable flaps for skeleton, muscles, and hooves
  • Horse Anatomy Coloring Book

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.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, horse, horse hoof, life science, science

K Is For Kiwi Craft & New Zealand Bird Study

June 15, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

Image for Where Lions Roar at Night: The fun and adventures of a 'pioneering' New Zealand family

Where Lions Roar at Night: The fun and adventures of a 'pioneering' New Zealand family

Ten-year-old Milly had always dreamed of living in thecountry and owning all sorts of animals. So when her parents buya piece of land and move their six children into a ninety-year-oldbarn, Milly can't believe her luck.But she never imagined that living the simple life wouldinclude mucking out a filthy water tank, gathering endlesssupplies of firewood, clearing the land, and rescuing animals in a'hundred year' storm.Nor did she expect to hear deep groanings in the night...

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Image for New Zealand Geography Workbook for Ages 8–10:

New Zealand Geography Workbook for Ages 8–10:

Take your child on an exciting journey through New Zealand — a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, rich Māori culture, and fascinating history.

In this engaging workbook, children will explore:

Famous landmarks like Aoraki / Mount Cook and Milford Sound Geothermal wonders in Rotorua Forests, coastlines, glaciers, and natural features.

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Pelorus Jack the Dolphin Guide

A true New Zealand story of a dolphin that captured the hearts of passengers in the 1880s.This is the heart-warming tale of Pelorus Jack, a rare white Risso’s dolphin who delighted passengers over 100 years ago as he guided steamships through the rough waters of French Pass into the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds. Passengers from around the world, even royalty, came to see him and it is believed he became the first sea creature to be protected by law in anycountry.A life-size bronze statue of Pelorus Jack stands at Collinet Point, overlooking French Pass.

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Image for The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand

The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand

A bestseller revised: the new edition of this essential reference for identifying New Zealand birds features its biggest update ever.

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The New Zealand Bird Book

The New Zealand Bird Books continues the tradition of the Burgess books, as Peter Rapeti takes his travels through the Islands of New Zealand discovering the fascinating bird life along the way.

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Children of the Rush

Weng Wai Chan, author of A Lizard's Tale, winner of the New Zealand Book Award

Children of the Rush is the winner of a Notable Book Award from the Storylines Trust and a currently finalist of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (winner announced August 10, 2023).

Book One It’s 1861, and gold fever is sweeping the world. Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn’t be more different, but they share one thing: each has a remarkable and magical talent. Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in the remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they’re thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign. When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to make: turn a blind eye, or fight back?

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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

  • New Zealand Volcano Science Experiments!
  • Poi Spinning: Easy Crafts for Kids – SpinPoi
  • Travel To New Zealand From Home
  • Where is New Zealand Video
  • Kids’ Clay Koru Necklace

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.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: bird, geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, life science, New Zealand, science

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