life science

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

December 20, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a cute but simple tutorial to show you how to make a pipe cleaner monkey with just a couple of basic craft items. Also, look at my page Rainforest Activities for Kids for more animal crafts and activities.

You will only need a few pipe cleaners, a couple of wooden beads, and some paint to make your own.

Besides, you can make any kind of monkey you like using this tutorial, changing up paint colors and features.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts

We made a howler monkey to go along with the rest of the themed ideas here.

Howler Monkeys are a tropical species of monkeys that live in both lowland and mountain habitats.

For example, they live in the rainforests of Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Columbia, as well as throughout South and Central America.

Their loud howls can be heard up to 3 miles away, so it’s no wonder where they got that name from.

But our little pipe cleaner monkey is quiet and well-behaved.

Howler Monkey Books

Add some of these books and resources to your reading day.

6 Books & Resources for Kids Who love Howler Monkeys

Your kids will love some of these fun resources about howler monkeys.

Howler Monkeys (Monkey Business)

Howler monkeys are named for their distinctive calls, which they let loose at dawn and at dusk. This informative resource doesn’t monkey around in describing what howlers like to eat and where they live. The volume includes an explanation of howler monkey group behavior as well as an examination of efforts being made to preserve their endangered populations.

Howler Monkey Figurine

Our Howler Monkey figurine is designed with remarkable accuracy, showcasing the creature's distinctive features and vibrant coloring.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

World's Loudest Animals: Howler Monkeys |

Don't tell these howler monkeys to pipe down — they're considered to be among the loudest animals on Earth. They won't quiet down unless they're sleeping, which they do about 15 hours a day.

Howlers and Other New World Monkeys

Questions and answers explore the world of New World monkeys, with an emphasis on howler monkeys.

Meet the Howlers!

Playful, poetic text and vibrant art introduce young readers to howler monkeys. Extra facts within the text give readers the low-down on these loud, sloppy, and rude rain forest dwellers.

Photo Credit: learncreatelove.com

Howler Monkey Printable Craft

How about this Howler Monkey Craft?

Next, add some of these facts.

Zoology of The Howler Monkey

Next, have your child write out the classifications of the howler monkey, look below.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Atelidae
Genus: Alouatta
Scientific Name: Alouatta

Howler monkeys are made up of 15 different species.

Colombian red howler
Black howler
Yucatán black howler
Mantled howler monkey
Brown howler
Red-handed howler
Maranhão red-handed howler
Bolivian red howler
Guyana red howler
Ursine howler
Coiba Island howler
Amazon black howler
Spix’s red-handed howler
Purus red howler
Juruá red howler

Also, here are some facts about howler monkeys.

6 Facts About Howler Monkeys

Howler Monkeys are both the largest and the most abundant monkeys in the world with the Guatemalan Howler Monkey being the biggest of all the New World monkeys.
They get their name from the howling sound that they make and are known as one of the loudest land mammals due to the special bone, the hyoid, in their throat that helps them make louder calls. Only the males make these sounds, never females. You can listen to those loud sounders here in the World’s Loudest Animals: Howler Monkeys.
Their long, strong prehensile tales can be up to five times the length of their body, anywhere from 20”- to 30” long.
9 out of 15 species of the Howler Monkey make their home in the Amazon.
Howler monkeys usually live in troupes of up to 15 males and females with a dominant member of each sex.
An unusual thing about them is that both male and female juveniles will leave the group they were born in and join up with a new group, so most spend the adult portion of their life in a group they are not related to.

This little Howler Monkey Figurine is a great addition to blocks, and sensory bins, and can be used to create a tropical diorama as well.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey

What You Will Need:

4 brown pipe cleaners
2 wood beads
2 smaller wooden beads
2 googly eyes
Brown craft paint
Small paint brushes or fine-tip paint pens
Hot glue gun/sticks.

First slip beads over a skewer and paint them brown or whatever color you like). You will probably need a second coat before letting it dry completely.

Lay one pipe cleaner vertically and twist another one across it horizontally about 2” from the top to give your monkey arms.

Slide one painted bead from the bottom.

Twist another pipe cleaner horizontally across just below the bead to hold it in place and make back legs.

Now, double over the tail, arms, and legs, twisting together, and bend the ends into hands and feet.

Cut off all but 1” of the neck, bend it over, then twist.

Cut 4 1” lengths from the 4th pipe cleaner and bend into a v, then twist around the feet and hands.

Slip the head onto the neck you cut and hold it in place with a dab of hot glue inside.

Once dry, take a tiny brush or paint marker and add features like eyes, a nose and a howling mouth.

Use a tiny bit of hot glue to add google eyes as well.

Finally, your monkey is ready to shape and bend, he can even hang from pretty much anything you want to hang him from with his little prehensile pipe cleaner tail.

Have fun creating a whole troupe of monkeys to hang all around, thankfully these monkeys stay quiet!

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

December 19, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a fun stretchy batch of seed slime as we learn all about the colorful blue jay and his winter food. Also, look at my Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

But we won’t just make seed slime, we are going to provide our preschool- elementary learners with an entire themed but still open-ended tray to explore.

This slime is wonderfully stretchy, not too sticky and is a great base for adding seeds and more.

If you live in most of eastern and central North America to the Northwest, chances are you see these colorful birds plentifully in your backyard.

The Colorful Blue Jays Winter Food | Make Fun Seed Slime

They are a very loud bunch, making a loud jeering sound but you will also hear clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds.

Throughout the warm spring and summer months blue jays live and feed their young on a diet of mostly insects but in the cold of winter, they forage for seeds, nuts, fruit, berries, and grain to give them their much-needed energy.

We are using some of the seeds to create our slime and the rest can be put out to help feed backyard birds throughout the winter.

I have some tips for setting up a welcoming yard for Jays and other birds.

You will also find some fun facts and more hands-on ideas to build a lovely winter unit for the Blue Jay.

Books and Activities About Blue Jays

I lean toward living books for independent reading and to read aloud, then I look for reference books.

Books & Resources For Kids Who Love to Learn About Blue Jays

Blue Jays are a fun bird to learn about anytime of the year and turn it into a full unit study with toms of these resources.

The Adventures of Sammy Jay

Sammy Jay thinks he's a very fine gentleman and is proud of his handsome blue coat and high cap. But Sammy often does things he shouldn't do — like stealing. Nobody likes to be told he's a thief — especially Sammy Jay! Much of the time, he just struts around, trying to look important when he thinks someone is looking at him. Filled with pranks and rivalries, this delightful tale — enhanced with Harrison Cady's charming illustrations — combines humorous animal escapades with gentle lessons about wildlife and nature.

The Tale of Jasper Jay

Some of the feathered folk in Pleasant Valley said that old Mr. Crow was the noisiest person in the neighborhood. But they must have forgotten all about Mr. Crow's knavish cousin, Jasper Jay. And it was not only in summer, either, that Jasper's shrieks and laughter woke the echoes. Since it was his habit to spend his winters right there in Farmer Green's young pines, near the foot of Blue Mountain, on many a cold morning Jasper's ear-splitting "Jay! jay!" rang out on the frosty air.

Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay

When Jemima, a young orphaned blue jay, is brought to wildlife rehabilitator Julie Zickefoose, she is a virtually tailless, palm-sized bundle of gray-blue fluff. But she is starved and very sick. Julie’s constant care brings her around, and as Jemima is raised for eventual release, she takes over the house and the rest of the author's summer. Shortly after release, Jemima turns up with a deadly disease. But medicating a free-flying wild bird is a challenge. When the PBS show Nature expresses interest in filming Jemima, Julie must train her to behave on camera, as the bird gets ever wilder. Jemima bonds with a wild jay, stretching her ties with the family. Throughout, Julie grapples with the fallout of Jemima’s illness, studies molt and migration, and does her best to keep Jemima strong and wild. She falls hard for this engaging, feisty and funny bird, a creative muse and source of strength through the author’s own heartbreaking changes. Emotional and honest, Saving Jemima is a universal story of the communion between a wild creature and the human chosen to raise it.

The Blue Jay–120 Piece Puzzle Fun

THE HARDEST CHALLENGE - With hints on the back that won't take away from the fun of the game by making it too difficult, the Fruit And Birds series will provide hours of screen-free entertainment and mental relaxation for the whole family, and is sure to become a permanent decoration in your home.

Birds Blue Jay Plush with Authentic Bird Sound

With one squeeze, Audubon birds produce beautifully authentic bird calls provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s bird recording archives.

Next, look at some facts about blue jays.

5 Fun Facts about the Colorful Blue Jay

Blue Jays are large songbirds with blue, black, and white feathers.

The pigment that is in Blue Jay feathers is melanin and brown. The blue color is caused by light scattering through the cells on the surface of the feather barbs.

Blue jays are omnivores, which means they consume plants, animals, nuts, and seeds. They eat corn, seeds, fruits, insects, frogs, mice, and sometimes eggs and nestlings of other birds.

The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks and does this sometimes when approaching a feeder to scare the other birds away.

Unlike some other species of bird both the male and female Blue Jay look identical so you cannot identify the sex by color. Males are just slightly larger than females.

Also, look how to attract blue jays to your yard.

How to Attract Blue Jays and Other Birds To Your Backyard

Blue Jays mostly do well foraging on their own. If you want to enjoy these beauties and other birds in your backyard here is what you can do to bring them in and keep them happy, so they return again and again.

Provide shade and shelter- If you already have bushes and trees, you have a natural attractant for birds. Birds need trees for shade, to rest in, for protection, and to build their nests. Trees can also be a great source of food for birds, providing insects, fruits, nuts, and berries.

Provide food- Add a bird feeder or a few to your yard to provide a variety of seeds. The more variety the more bird species you will attract. Blue Jays in particular prefer open-platform feeders. Suet blocks are a great option in the winter as well for seeds as they offer healthy easy-to-digest fat that hungry birds need for energy.

Provide clean water- Add a bird bath to your yard, in the shade where they are protected, and watch how many feathered friends show up to drink and bathe. Be sure to keep the water clean by adding fresh daily and scrubbing out the bowl often to prevent them from getting sick from bacteria.

The more you can offer to birds that they need the more frequently they will return and give you a colorful show.

Additionally, here are more slime seed ideas.

More Slime and Seed Slime Ideas

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
Bird Seed Slime
Chia Seed Slime

More Backyard Birds Activities

Finally, look how to make fun seed slime.

Fun Seed Slime

You will need:

Bird seed
1 cup white or clear school glue
1 Tablespoon baking soda
2-3 Tablespoons contact lens solution
Tray for set up
Bird figurines
Brown pipe cleaners

First, in a large bowl combine white or clear glue and baking soda, and mix well before moving on to the next step.

Slowly add in the contact lens solution ½ a teaspoon at a time, stirring to mix well between every addition.

As you mix it will become less sticky, if you add too much too fast once mixed it will be too hard and lose its stretch.

You will know it is ready when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl and does not stick to your hands.

Mix in your seeds, as much or as little as you like.

I wound up using about ¾ of a cup.

Now, to create a fun invitation to play with your slime.

You can use a divided round tray from Dollar Tree or just grab whatever tray and bowls you have on hand.

Place the slime in a larger bowl and fill smaller bowls with additional seeds so they can mix them in themself, bird figurines, and small pieces of brown pipe cleaner.

Look at this fantastic stretch!

Little pieces of pipe cleaners can be poked into the slime to create little nests for the birds.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

December 14, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We are creating a bird craft that is so easy, inexpensive, and adorable that you might find the kids and you wanting to create different species to fill up your house. Also, you’ll love this Free Bird Unit Study and Lapbook And Fun Edible Bird Nests.

Too, be sure you look at my South America Unit Study and Lapbook.

All we needed was a quick trip to Dollar Tree for a fresh pair of socks.

The other simple items you will most likely have on hand to create this craft which is a fantastic supplement to a bird unit.

How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft

One of the most unusual and recognizable birds is the blue-footed booby.

With their bright aquamarine blue feet and legs and rather funny-looking faces.

Blue-footed boobies are one of the three different booby species found on the Galapagos Islands.

There are also red and Nazca boobies.

Books about the Galapagos

Next, add some of these books about the blue-footed booby and other animals of the Galapagos to your unit study.

11 Books & Resources About the Animals of the Galapagos

Add one or two of these fun resources about the animals of the Galapagos Islands in South America.

Where Are the Galapagos Islands? (Where Is?)

The Galapagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands located on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The isolated location of the islands has allowed a vast number of species to develop that are original to each island, such as the marine iguana, the blue-footed booby, the magnificent frigatebird and of course the giant Galapagos tortoise, which may live to be over one hundred years old.

Galapagos Wildlife TOOB

This Galapagos Island Toob is a must have item for sensory bins and dioramas, but they really give your child a better understanding of what creatures they may never get to see in person. They make great models for art projects as well from sketching to painting.

Galapagos (Earth's Extraordinary Places)

This is the ultimate book about the Galápagos for kids, covering the formation of the islands, the fascinating animals that live there, the evolutionary traits of the flora, the diverse climates, the brilliant conservation efforts and much more!This beautifully illustrated and photographic book provides a fascinating tour of the flora, fauna, and geology of the Galapágos islands. Children can learn about the unique and incredible wildlife, volcanoes, climate and Darwin’s theory of evolution from his visit to the Galápagos.

Karl, Get Out of the Garden!: Carolus Linnaeus and the Naming of Everything

Carolus (Karl) Linnaeus started off as a curious child who loved exploring the garden. Despite his intelligence—and his mother's scoldings—he was a poor student, preferring to be outdoors with his beloved plants and bugs. As he grew up, Karl's love of nature led him to take on a seemingly impossible task: to give a scientific name to every living thing on earth.

Exotic Birds TOOB

11 EXOTIC BIRDS: This Toob brings you some of the most amazing exotic winged friends from around the world. It includes a Parakeet, Quetzal, Yellow Macaw, Humming Bird, Hibiscus Flower, Keel-Billed Toucan, Cockatoo, Flamingo, White Ibis, Snowy Owl, and a Greet Parrot.

My Father's Island (Guinness World Records Little Books)

A true story that incorporates biography, adventure and the elements of armchair travel. Angermeyer, who grew up in Nebraska, embarks on a search to discover what happened to her father, a refugee from Hitler, on the Galapagos Islands where he and her mother had lived before his death.

Marcel McDuby the Blue-Footed Booby

For ages 3-9... The strange little bird with turquoise blue feet spent all his time imagining being someone else. Follow him on a journey that leads to self-acceptance and a life-changing discovery: It's our differences that make us special and set us apart. What's really important comes from our heart.

Galapagos Wildlife (Bradt Wildlife Guides)

This new, thoroughly updated and lavishly illustrated fourth edition of Bradt's Galápagos Wildlife is packed with information and magnificent pictures to aid in identifying key species, all in an easy-to-carry format that covers everything from the wildlife that you're likely to encounter, whether flying in the air, running along the ground or swimming underwater, to a succinct history of the islands, their habitats and volcanic origins.

Galapagos animal adventure with 26 coloring pages for all ages

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands with this endemic animal coloring book. With 26 pages filled with detailed and realistic drawings, this coloring book will take you on a journey through the unique landscapes of the islands as you immerse yourself in the wild nature of the región.

Take Your Time: A Tale of Harriet, the Galapagos Tortoise

Harriet the tortoise likes to do things slowly. She explores her home on the Galápagos Islands―slowly. She eats―slowly. And when the sun goes down, she slumbers deeply all night long.

When Harriet’s friends tell her to pick up the pace, Harriet decides to journey to a neighboring island to see what there is to see. She parades with penguins and rides with dolphins, encountering adventure at every turn. But is life in the fast lane right for a tortoise who loves to take her time?

Marine Iguanas - Tails of the Galapagos Islands Series

Marine Iguanas. Discover the unique Galapagos Island critter called the Marine Iguana. Designed for Young Readers (Ages 5-7) in mind, your little adventurist can immerse themselves within the colorful pages that take them on a journey to better understand the Life of the Marine Iguana. Fun facts and vibrant photos make this book an enjoyable read now and for years to come.

Facts About Blue-Footed Booby

The boobies got their name from the Spanish word bobo.

Bobo means “fool” or “clown” because they seemed so silly and foolish to explorers with their colorful feet, funny walk, and what they felt was an unnatural fear of man.

Just like how flamingos are pink due to their eating habits, the color of their webbed feet comes from the collagens in the skin that are changed because of their diet of fresh fish.

The brighter blue feet that a male has the more interesting he is to females.

While boobies seem to move clumsily on land, their almost 5-foot wingspan lets them fly powerfully.

Also, they can fly for a long time, long distances, and are amazing plunge divers on the hunt for food, maneuvering well even in shallow water.

Blue-footed boobies as marine birds only need land to lay eggs and raise their young.

And they keep those eggs warm with their feet which are well supplied with blood and make a great little heater for the eggs to keep them toasty.

More Bird Crafts

Finally, look at how to make a blue-footed booby sock bird craft.

How to Make A Blue-Footed Booby Sock Bird Craft

You will need:

White tube sock
Black felt
Blue felt
Blue pipe cleaner
Google eyes
Brown paint
paintbrush
Uncooked white rice/beans
Hot glue gun/glue

First, decide what size you would like to make your bird craft and fill that size halfway with either the other sock in the pack or some cotton stuffing. I made mine about ⅓ of the sock length.

Place rice in a cup and dump it into the sock by wrapping the sock opening around the cup and flipping it over until the other half is full.

This will give your blue-footed booby some weight and help him sit upright nicely.

Cut off the excess from the open end, leaving just enough to fold over.

Fold the end in and glue it like you would gift wrap on the end of a box and secure it with glue.

On the same end attach two halves of blue pipe cleaner sticking out for legs.

Once the glue is dry it ends downward and uses brown paint to speckle the head like a blue-footed booby.

Then, paint on wing shapes on either side. Allow paint to dry completely, you can save this step for last if you prefer.

Cut a long black triangle twice as wide as you would like the beak to be.

Fold it over with a piece of pipe cleaner in the middle to give the felt some stiffness and glue the sides together. Trim off the excess pipe cleaner sticking out.

Hot glue the beak into place on the front and arrange two googly eyes close on either side.

Cut two webbed feet out of the blue felt.

Hot glue to the end of the blue pipe cleaners.

Finally, attach a small piece of the sock scrap to the back for a tail.

Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

December 8, 2023 | 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Northern Cardinal lapbook today. The cardinal is a fun colorful winter bird easy to study. Also, look for more lapbooks on my page Homeschool Lapbooks – Powerful Tools For Mastery Learning.

It’s easy to see why young and old fall in love with studying the Cardinal for nature.

Beautiful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Fun Unit Study

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

Colorful Winter Bird Northern Cardinal

Here are some things you’ll love to enhance your unit study.

Grab this one page pdf with helpful information to study about the cardinal.
Grab this four page pdf with facts and information.
Northern Cardinal coloring page.

Yarn wrapped cardinal.
Cardinal in the winter hand art.
Free bird nature study printables.
Step by step easy tutorial to draw a cardinal.

The Northern Cardinal bird is such a beautiful and bright bird during winter and because it doesn't migrate, it's a great bird to study really anytime. Click here to grab this free Northern Cardinal Bird Lapbook and Unit Study!

Free coloring page of a Northern Cardinal that would make a great cover for your lapbook or just for fun.

Northern Cardinal Lapbook

Black and white clip art to add to the outside flaps of your lapbook or to add to your notebooking page.
Craft – make a cardinal in a pine shadow box.
Northern Cardinal Field Guide.
Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder Craft.
Birds Printables. Bird communication 22 page pdf download.

Also, we have been using this Beautiful Birds Unit Study. I know you’ll love it.

More Northern Cardinal Hands-on Learning Activities

Finally, add some of these books to your reading list.

Books for Kids About Northern Cardinals

I lean toward living books first, then add in reference type books when assisting my kids to learn.

12 Northern Cardinal Bird Books and Resources For Children

Add a book or two to your unit study or to your learning day. Cardinals are fun to study anytime of the year.

Wild Bird Guide: Northern Cardinal

Packed with information, the writing is clear and direct and accessible to bird watchers at every level.

Backyard Birding for Kids

With bird facts, an identification guide, and how-to instructions, this is a perfect children’s introduction to bird-watching.

Albert

The morning begins like any other. Albert reaches out the window to check the weather. But from the moment a twig lands in the palm of his hand, life is never the same

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

One of my go tos for nature study.

Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more.

Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the

Toy Bird Figures Kids

Because children's thinking is more visualized, the intuitive demonstration of the model can better help children construct in the brain. This birds playset can help children get a more direct understanding of real birds world and stimulate their interest in exploring nature.

Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves

One autumn evening, Little Redbird settled down for one last sleep before flying south for winter. As he slept, a strong gust of wind shook him from his cozy nest . . .

. . . Little Redbird hurts his wing and misses his chance to fly south for the winter. As he searches for a new home amongst the trees, he begins to realize that not all trees are fit for the winter cold. As more and more trees refuse him shelter, too preoccupied with their preparations for the frost, Little Redbird fears the worst. That is, until he comes across a friendly bunch of evergreens.

In the spirit of Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, Why Evergreens Keep Their Leaves is a timeless story of kindness and why the fir, spruce, and juniper trees are evergreen all winter long.

Backyard Birding Flashcards: 100 Common Birds

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds is now transformed into 100 easy-to-reference cards housed in one handsome pull-drawer gift box. Divided into one stack of 50 common Western and Eastern North American birds, and one stack of 50 common birds found across North America, each card features precise illustrations and text concerning habitat, behavior, and voice description necessary for easy identification.

Attracting & Feeding Cardinals

The vibrant red of the male Northern Cardinal is stunning any time of year—and nothing is more beautiful than the early spring duets of cardinals singing their hearts out. You love these beloved birds, and you want to see them visiting your backyard or garden. Professional naturalist and award-winning author Stan Tekiela teaches you all that you need to know about cardinals.

Cardinals (Backyard Bird Feeding Guides)

The vibrant red of the male Northern Cardinal is stunning any time of year. And nothing is more beautiful than the early spring duets of cardinals singing their hearts out.

Authentic Bird Sounds, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Chickadee

Kids and adults of all ages love these birds, and are captivated by their sounds. They also make great baby toys, and sensory toys for kids any age.

Includes 3 Realistically designed bird toys that produce authentic bird calls from the Cornell lab of ornithology archives of bird recordings.

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

The Burgess Bird Book for Children (1919) is a classic nature book by Thornton Burgess, who introduces young listeners to the subject of bird life by means of a series of interviews within a story. Peter Rabbit and Jenny Wren interview Slaty the Junco, Redwing the Blackbird, Melody the Wood Thrush, Spooky the Screech Owl, and many other common birds to learn about their appearance, their eating, mating and nesting habits, and their songs and calls. The text remains popular as an exceptional combination of information and entertainment.

Cardinals (Backyard Birds)

Whos that singing in the backyard? Its a cardinal! Find out where cardinals live, what they eat, and how to identify the birds and their eggs.

Minibooks Included in the Free Cardinal Lapbook

Pieces to glue on the front outside cover
Do Northern Cardinals Migrate in the Winter
Cardinal Facts
Seeds, Grains, and Legumes
What is the difference between Song and a Call?
Eggs
Chicks
Juveniles
Range and Habitat
Did You Know
About nest building
John James Audubon quote

How to Download the Lapbook

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The Nature Book Club is brought to you by these nature loving bloggers which are your co-hosts! Are you following them? If you don’t want to miss anything, be sure to follow each one.

Here are the co-hosts, their choices of books, and activities for the month.

Something 2 Offer
Birds, Nests, and Eggs Nest Scavenger Hunt

Hide The Chocolate
Those Darn Squirrels Fly South – Free online book club.

The Homeschool Scientist
Birds, Nests, and Eggs – Make a Suet Feeder

Forgetful Momma
Snowy Owls Snowy Owl Craft

Table Life Blog
A Nest is Noisy – Art Project.

Eva Varga
Ravens in Winter: Nature Study Activities and Lessons for Teens – Winter Bird ID

Rainy Day Mum
Coming Home – Needle Felted Robin

Do Geckos Live in the Rainforest and 10 Facts About Reptiles

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

Do geckos live in the rainforest? Asking questions and discovering the answers are wonderful ways for kids to learn about the world around them. Too, you’ll love my Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon page.

What is the largest reptile? Let’s answer some of those questions for them.

Reptiles are fascinating and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

Do Geckos Live in the Rainforest and 10 Facts About Reptiles

So, wherever you are there are amazing reptiles to observe and learn about. Most kids are fascinated with this topic.

I have learned that kids get so much more out of a lesson when they do rather than just listen.

For example, today we’re creating a replica of a real lizard like the Turnip Tailed Gecko from the Amazon Rainforest.

I can tell you that years from now they will remember facts they learned about it, like how their mouth is black inside, or that they sacrifice their tail to escape predators and the funny-looking way it regenerates.

Questions and Answers About Reptiles

First, look at some facts about reptiles.

What defines a reptile? Reptiles are air-breathing, cold-blooded vertebrates that have scaly bodies rather than hair or feathers; most reptile species are egg-laying (but not all).
What kinds of animals are reptiles? Lizards, snakes, turtles, alligators, and crocodiles.
Do Geckos live in the rainforest? Yes! You will find geckos like the Turnip Tailed Gecko, Bridled Forest Geckos, and the Amazon Lava Lizard to name a few. In fact, geckos live on all the continents except Antarctica.
What is the world’s largest reptile? That title goes to the saltwater crocodile, one was even recorded at over 20’ long.
How many different types of reptiles are there? There are more than 8,200 different species of reptiles, most of these are snakes and lizards.

5 More Questions and Answers About Reptiles

Do all snakes lay eggs? No only about 70% do, but snakes in colder climates have live births because the eggs would not survive the cold.
What is the biggest species of lizard in the world? That would be the Komodo dragon, it can grow as big as 10 feet long.
What are turtle shells made of? A turtle’s shell is made of bone and is a part of the turtle’s spine. It is made out of two pieces, the carapace (top) and the plastron (bottom), and covered in scoots that are made of keratin.
How fast can alligators run? Alligators can run up to 35 mph for very brief periods, which is faster than Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world.
Do chameleons really change colors to blend in? Blending in is not the main purpose. Their natural appearance allows them to blend in well with their habitat and evade predation. Another reason is that chameleons can’t regulate their own body temperatures, they change their skin color to reflect or absorb sunlight and thereby deflect or absorb different amounts of heat. Yet another reason for the color change is that changes in the chameleon color may also signify a chameleon’s mood.

Also, add one of these books to your lists.

Note I prefer living books more than textbooks. So, I know you’ll find some of them helpful.

Reptile Books and Resources

Add some of these books and resources about reptiles to your library.

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles

A fascinating picture book biography of a pioneering female scientist who loved reptiles!While other girls played with dolls, Joan preferred the company of reptiles. She carried her favorite lizard with her everywhere--she even brought a crocodile to school!When Joan grew older, she became the Curator of Reptiles at the British Museum. She went on to design the Reptile House at the London Zoo, including a home for the rumored-to-be-vicious komodo dragons. There, just like when she was a little girl, Joan hosted children's tea parties--with her komodo dragon as the guest of honor.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.Nature Anatomy is the second book in Rothman's Anatomy series – you'll love Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Farm Anatomy, too!

The Ultimate Book of Reptiles: Your guide to the secret lives of these scaly, slithery, and spectacular creatures!

Sink your fangs into the hidden worlds of these scaly and sensational creatures with leading reptile scientist and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Ruchira Somaweera as your guide.Meet the coolest cold-blooded animals ever. From lizards to snakes, turtles to crocodiles, something called a tuatara, and even enormous prehistoric reptiles (think real-life sea monsters!), you’ll discover what makes a reptile a reptile; how these creatures live, hunt, hide, and raise their young, and the wild adaptations that make them so unique. Learn which snake is the most venomous on the planet and which are surprisingly gentle creatures, which reptile is born with a highly developed third eye in its forehead, and which one is so tiny it could balance on the tip of your finger—plus loads of super important conservation information and impactful ways to join the fight to save endangered reptile species right from home!

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

PLAY & LEARN: Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.
FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?! That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game. Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!

Reptiles do the Strangest Things

A great book that parents could read for kids and also includes fun trivia!!

Album of Reptiles

Dramatic incidents preface descriptions of reptiles ranging from crocodiles and cobras to turtles and tuataras

Additionally, I have more hands-on ideas for learning about reptiles.

Hands-On Reptile Activities

Besides our Turnip Tailed Gecko craft, grab a few more of these hands-on reptile activities to supplement your study.

Finally, look how to make this foam turnip tailed gecko.

Make a Turnip Tailed Gecko Craft from The Amazon Rainforest

You can copy my directions or use the general idea and choose a different lizard, adding its own unique features to your steps.

You will need:

Craft foam-green, pink
Google eyes
Black paint/marker
Scissors
Pencil
Tacky glue

First, we found an image of the gecko we wanted to recreate on Google.

Draw your lizard onto craft foam with a pencil.

I found it easiest to draw the abdomen, head, and tail, leaving space for the legs that were a little more difficult.

Then I drew in the legs and toes, erasing and redoing them quite a bit.

Those little feet and toes are tricky to get right.

Cut out your outline once you are happy with your lizard shape.

Trace and cut out the head onto another small scrap of craft foam.

Then your child can create an open mouth showing off the turnip-tailed geckos’ important feature of a black mouth interior and pink tongue.

Color with a permanent marker or paint one side of this piece as well as the underside of the head on the main lizard shape black.

Cut a small pink tongue from craft foam.

Once dried completely glue the mouth and tongue into place, only at the back so it can open.

Draw slits over the googly eyes to give them a bit more of a lizard look and glue them into place.

Finally, add the skin coloration details with markers or paint.

To give it a more subtle look I painted random squiggles and dots on a scrap of foam and stamped it on the lizard.

life science

Howler Monkey Books

Zoology of The Howler Monkey

6 Facts About Howler Monkeys

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey

Books and Activities About Blue Jays

5 Fun Facts about the Colorful Blue Jay

How to Attract Blue Jays and Other Birds To Your Backyard

More Slime and Seed Slime Ideas

More Backyard Birds Activities

Fun Seed Slime

Books about the Galapagos

Facts About Blue-Footed Booby

More Bird Crafts

How to Make A Blue-Footed Booby Sock Bird Craft

Colorful Winter Bird Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal Lapbook

More Northern Cardinal Hands-on Learning Activities

Books for Kids About Northern Cardinals

Minibooks Included in the Free Cardinal Lapbook

How to Download the Lapbook

Questions and Answers About Reptiles

5 More Questions and Answers About Reptiles

Hands-On Reptile Activities

Make a Turnip Tailed Gecko Craft from The Amazon Rainforest

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