life science

How do Fish Breathe Underwater Fun Activity & Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum

July 2, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you are planning or are in the middle of an animal science homeschool curriculum you are going to get a lot of great questions. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

A fun way to answer them is by adding in some simple hands-on ideas.

My favorite part of any study is including lots of fun hands-on ideas that help a child easily understand a concept.

With that in mind, I have some of the best activities to answer animal science questions.

The first question we are going to answer that goes along with our experiment today is what are gills.

How do Fish Breathe Underwater Fun Activity & Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum

Just like we do, fish need to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide to survive.

But they do not have lungs, they have gills.

Gills are branching organs that are located on both sides of the fish’s head that have a lot of small blood vessels called capillaries.

What Are Gills

Gills work as pumps to move the water while they absorb oxygen and move out carbon dioxide.

The part that you can see on the exterior of the fish is not the gills, rather they are a “gill cover” called opercula.

Watch How Do Fish Breathe Underwater on YouTube for a great video explanation of this process.

What Other Animals Use Gills To Breathe

Mostly fish crabs and mollusks also use their gills to breathe. Larvae like tadpoles and dragonfly larvae use gills in the water at first where they start.

There are many fantastic and inexpensive experiments out there that let your child get deeper involved in the learning process rather than just being read to.

They can help answer questions kids might not even have asked yet or ones you may not be quite sure how to answer yourself.

Animal Science Questions Asked And Answered

For example, look at these questions below.

Why do birds fly in a V?
How do penguins stay dry?
Why do Cat’s Eyes Glow?
How do sharks float?
What is the difference between warm-blooded vs. cold-blooded?
How does a duck stay dry in the water?
Why Don’t Frogs Freeze?
Why are birds’ beaks shaped differently?
Finally, how do fish breathe underwater. We will answer this one further down below with a hands-on experiment.

These are all fantastic ways to teach or learn as a supplement to your box curriculum or used as your very own DIY animal science homeschool curriculum.

Next, look at some of my very favorite books and resources for animal science that help children answer many questions.

Resources and Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum

Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum

Add some of these books and resources to build an animal science curriculum.

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.

Photo Credit: www.homesciencetools.com

Animal X-Rays Set

Study mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds with this x-ray set.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

Wildlife Anatomy is the newest book in the series and I think it might be my favorite. It not only gives beautiful illustrations of wildlife but answers questions on everything from animal anatomy to what is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile.

Life Cycle Learning & Education, 25 Pieces Animal Figurines

25 animal-plant figurines, 31 guide cards, 1 storage box. It is an ideal educational toy for children over 3 years old and is the best little helper for home/school teaching. An ideal gift for Halloween, Christmas, sock filler, Easter basket or even home/schooling.

Created for Fun Learning Activities - In Matesy life cycle set, it perfect to show life cycle of each species based on little figures and guide cards. Vivid figures and guide cards gives simple animal facts and discussion starters to learn while playing. It Help students visually explore the life cycle of Butterfly, Frog, Chicken, Mantis, Bee, Plants.

Set of 14pcs Animal Atlas Posters,Biology Science

A pack with 14 pcs. Each Size: 30x42cm=11.6x16.5inches. Made of 100percent high-grade hard poster paper, with strong elasticity, clear texture, high definition printing, no cracking of the base, compact and thick, clean and smooth. prints, durable, color resistant, light weight.

Wild Kratts Season 1

Watching Wild Kratts is one aspect ofincorporating technology into your homeschool that I can get behind! The videos are highly entertaining and educational, covering a wide variety of animal science topics. I find myself enjoying them as much as kids do.

Veterinary Anatomy Coloring Book: Dog Cat Horse Frog Bird Anatomy Veterinary & Zoology Anatomy Coloring Book.

Discover the Anatomy of the Following Animals :

First
7 Pages (Anatomy of Dog Skeleton, Horse Skeleton Anatomy, Chicken
Anatomy, Llama Skeleton Anatomy, Internal Organs of Cat, Fish Anatomy
& Anatomy of Dog).
Skeletal System of Dog.
Digestive System of Dog.
Respiratory System of Dog.
Nervous System of Dog.
Lymphatic System of Dog.
Reproductive System of Dog.
Heart and Blood Vessels of Dog.
Bones of The Dog.
Construction of Dog Tooth Dental Formula.
Upper Jaw of The Dog.
Dog Ear Anatomy.
Lungs of The Dog.
Heart of The Dog.
Anatomy of a Dog Paw.
Dog Nail Trimming.

The Science of Animals: From molluscs to mammals

DK's elegant new introduction to wild animals is packed with dramatic photography that celebrates their beauty. Crystal-clear diagrams then explain how animals work and describe how they are adapted to do different things and to survive in different environments. The unique nose-to-tail approach, with chapters on different body parts, allows you to focus in on the beauty of the antenna of a moth, the flight feathers of a parrot, or the feeding tentacles of a jellyfish. The Science of Animals also explores how we have depicted animals in art throughout the ages, from zoological drawings that recorded new discoveries to great
paintings inspired by a deep connection to the natural world. With fascinating stories, such as how animals communicate, defend their territories, and attract mates, The Science of Animals offers an engaging introduction to the extraordinary diversity of the animal kingdom.

Photo Credit: www.homesciencetools.com

Complete Introduction to Biology (Grades 3-5)

Explore the world of biology with the Complete Introduction to biology kit. Your student will study animals, anatomy, plants, diets, ecosystems, and more! They will grow plants with the use of hydroponics and even dissect an owl pellet.

Moreover, look at some more activities for learning about animals.

More Ideas for Learning About Animals

Finally, how do fish and other animals with gills breath underwater.

How Do Fish and Other Animals with Gills Breathe Underwater Activity

This experiment helps children understand the process of how fish, crabs, and mollusks breathe with gills rather than with lungs underwater.

Note: The coffee represents the oxygen in the water, the filter the gills, and the water is fresh or salt water the fish takes in.

You will need:

2 glasses or bowls
Water
Ground Coffee or Dirt
Coffee filter
Rubber band

First, begin by explaining that the water is ocean water, the coffee is the oxygen in the water, and the filter is the fish’s gills.

Draw gills in the center of your coffee filter to help with the visual.

Place a cup or so of water into a container.

Stir in 1-2 Tablespoons of coffee/dirt allowing the color to absorb somewhat.

Place the coffee filter on top of the second clear container and secure it with a rubber band.

Press it down a bit in the middle so it has a dip in the center to hold the water as it is poured through.

Carefully pour coffee and water through the filter.

Watch as the filter “gills” traps the coffee “oxygen” as the water passes through them but the grounds ”carbon dioxide” is filtered out.

Show your child how the filter/gills allowed what was needed through and the rest was filtered out (grounds/carbon dioxide).

It is easy to see in this demonstration because now the water has turned brown.

Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Fun Sight Word Activity

June 28, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This adorable shark and oceans for kindergarten fun sight word activity is such a fun activity for practicing sight words, letters, or even numbers. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum and look for ideas on my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

Do you need a learning activity that feels more like play and less like school?

For example, how about one that is themed to go along with a study of oceans for kindergarten?

I’m sharing a list of other helpful resources to round out your day like videos and hands-on activities.

Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Fun Sight Word Activity

Our shark is made from just one piece of foam board and a little paint.

It will give your child hours of learning that is fun and memorable.

Creating an activity that feels more like play is a great way to teach your child basic skills that they need to learn.

I created this activity to be used with sight word recognition but then realized that there were so many more possibilities with it.

You can have your child also feed the shark letters, numbers, and sums to orally given math problems, or have them choose the math problem that matches the number you give, and have them feed cards with rhyming words, and beginning letter sounds.

It can be a blank canvas for learning skills, anywhere your early learner is.

8 Awesome Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Facts

There are over 500 different species of sharks, and almost 150 of them are listed on the at-threat list.
The largest sea mammal, the blue whale, is also known as the largest animal in the world.
Sharks live in almost all ocean habitats from tropical coral reefs to the Arctic, and down in the deep parts of the seas.
Sharks are apex predators, which means that they are at the very top of the food chain with very few to no predators.
Most sharks are cold-blooded, but a few are warm-blooded, like the great white shark for instance.
Here is a super gross fact about marine animals that kids will love. Lobsters pee out of their faces, and they pee on each other to communicate. (Their urine nozzles are located under their eyes).
Octopuses have three hearts. Two of those hearts move blood beyond the animal’s gills, and the third heart keeps circulation moving for the organs.
Dolphins can sleep with one eye open and with one-half of their brain in use.

Then, hands-on activities to teach kindergarten is the best way for children to learn.

Look at some hands-on activities below to learn about sharks and oceans.

More Activities For Shark & Oceans for Kindergarten

Make an ocean in a bottle for a sensory experience that is calming and encourages kids to observe and ask questions.
Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
Frozen animal ocean rescue is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day.
10 Sea Shell Activities for Kids and Make Crystal Sea Shells
Little hands love exploring their senses, an ocean sensory bin allows them to study ocean animals up close.
Quick Unit Study & Easy Salt water Density Ocean Science Experiments For Kindergarten
Free Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids
Get them up, stretch, release those feel-good endorphins, and stimulate the brain with Ocean Yoga.
How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft
The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

Include a great book as a resource for your child to look at that has great illustrations and information.

I think Oceans Anatomy by Julia Rothman is a must-have addition to your science stack.

Everything is included in this book, from ocean tides to shark sizes, and sea grass to small and large ocean creatures.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Resources

Also, add some of these fun books and resources to learning about sharks and oceans.

Kindergarten Ocean Unit Study Resources

Add a fun ocean unit study resource for kindergarten to your study for the day.

Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

Following the wild success of The Big Book of Bugs and The Big Book of Beasts, The Big Book of the Blue is the third installment in Yuval Zommer’s beloved series. Alongside everything the young oceanographer needs to know, Zommer’s charming illustrations bring to life some of the slipperiest, scaliest, strangest, and most monstrous underwater animals.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Julia Rothman’s best-selling illustrated Anatomy series takes a deep dive into the wonders of the sea with Ocean Anatomy. Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.

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

100+ Pcs Beach Seashells Starfish, Various Sizes Ocean Seashells

Package includes about 100 or more pieces mixed beach sea shells. As shown in the picture, random matching includes seashells, starfish, tiny volutes varieties and sea snail, etc.

These seashell decors are exquisite and colorful, which are carefully handpicked and cleaned, generous size from 0.3" to 2.3", weigh about 250g, a wide variety of unique shells for crafts.

All-Natural Brown Play Sand for Mixing

This box has 2.5kg (5.5lb) of natural brown Kinetic Sand to mix, mold, squish, cut and more! Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down! What will you create?

Shark Teeth in Bag Genuine Fossilized Specimens

Real Genuine Shark Teeth

Approximately 30 teeth per bag (plus fossils and bones!)

Great for classroom learning, Arts & Crafts and play "dig sites"

Animal Toy Figurine Models Including Sea Lion, Eagle Ray, Starfish, Turtle, Penguin, Octopus, Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, Moray Eel, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Dolphin

SET OF 12 FAVORITE FIGURINES – This TOOB brings together 12 of your favorite ocean-dwelling friends, including a sea lion, eagle ray, starfish, turtle, penguin, octopus, humpback whale, sperm whale, moray eel, hammerhead shark, tiger shark, and dolphin!

Finally, look how to make this fun feed the shark activity to use for learning.

Shark & Oceans for Kindergarten Sight Word Activity – Feed The Shark

Supplies needed:

Foam board
Grey and black craft paint
pencil
Scissors or straight-edge razor

Using a pencil, lightly trace a shark head shape using most of the board.

Cut out one side and flip it to the other side of the board matching up the corner.

Next, trace it so that both sides match exactly and set these pieces aside. We’re going to use them later.

Use sharp scissors or a straight-edge blade to cut around the top of the shark’s head.

Then, draw an open mouth in the middle that is flatter across the bottom with an arch at the top.

Cut this out and set it to the side.

Paint the border of your shark gray and paint a thin black border around the mouth. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Too, while the paint is drying, take the excess piece from the mouth and cut a bunch of triangles for the shark’s teeth.

Once the paint is dry, hot glue teeth on the back side of the shark’s mouth on top and bottom.

Paint eyes on either side of the head.

Flip the board over and take the two scrap pieces you cut off in the second step, hot glue them on either side of the opening.

Be sure they are both lined up with the bottom as these will serve as your stand.

Now, for the activity itself, you can either make cards with your sight words, letters, numbers, or whatever you want to work on, or use purchased flashcards.

Additionally, you can also use alphabet magnets, scrabble tiles, or whatever else you already have to work with.

Moreover, spread a few out on the floor and call them out to your child, who then picks up the corresponding card and “feeds the shark”.

Easy, fun, and enjoyably repetitive, this activity will help sharpen skills and create a memorable learning experience.

Fun and Easy Mosaic Art Sea Turtle Activity For Kids

June 18, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have an easy mosaic art sea turtle activity. Add ideas from my fun From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook page to make it for multiple ages.

Activities for middle schoolers can be a little more challenging to find.

So, we did this mosaic sea turtle activity to let them show off their artistic side while they learn at the same time.

It uses only 3 items and is great for art but also helps continue developing fine motor skills, patience, planning, creativity, and problem-solving.

Fun and Easy Mosaic Art Sea Turtle Activity For Kids

While putting together the mosaic your middle schooler can watch a video on sea turtles, listen to an audiobook, or listen to you read aloud.

While this is a more challenging activity, a patient elementary student could handle this as well.

Studying marine biology covers science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and is a wonderful option for middle or high school.

Even without a curriculum, your child can get a well-rounded education through interesting texts, videos, field trips, and hands-on learning like this sea turtle activity.

5 Fun Sea Turtle Facts

First, look at these sea turtle facts.

Jellyfish are the main food for the leatherback sea turtle.
The digestive systems of adult hawksbill sea turtles can neutralize the sharp, glass spicules and the toxic chemicals that are found in many of the sponges they eat.
Olive ridley turtles practice nesting in large groups, known as “arribada”, in fact, the mass group can include up to 300,00 individual females laying their eggs on the beach.
The Kemp’s ridley turtle is the most endangered sea turtle species, and the smallest.
Loggerhead turtles take up to 39 years to reach sexual maturity.

We used Ocean Anatomy as our reference for the design and found plenty of great sea turtle information like the life cycle, identifying different species, and what types of things endanger them.

The first thing you need to do before starting is decide on your design.

It can be simpler than mine if you like, you can just make one larger sea turtle with a rainbow of beads all the way around it or come up with an even more intricate design.

You can create adult or baby sea turtles for your design, a nest on the beach, swimming in the ocean, or a combination of both.

More Sea Turtle Activity Ideas

If you can’t include a field trip to your own local aquarium to see the sea turtles check out Loggerhead MarineLife Centers Live Turtle Cam.
Here is a simple Sea Turtle Art Project by Easy Peasy Art School on youtube.
Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
This step-by-step clay turtle is another fun project for older kids.
Cutest Ever Egg Carton Sea Turtle Craft and Learning Activities for Kids
Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
Travel Channel has a list of places where you can observe sea turtle nests in the U.S. if you happen to live near or are traveling near the beach.

Also, look at some of these books about sea turtles.

Fun Sea Turtle Resources

Add some books about sea turtles and hands-on resources to your lesson or unit study to bring it to life.

Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are fascinating. Hatched from eggs smaller than a baseball, some can grow to weigh over a thousand pounds. Once adults, they can live to be around 100 years old. And when it's time to nest, they migrate more than 1,000 miles. With colorful, clear illustrations and straightforward text, Gail Gibbons introduces the eight kinds of sea turtles living in the ocean today. Learn the similarities and differences with labeled diagrams and experience the hatching of the tiny turtle babies with detailed illustrations. This updated edition now includes the most up-to-date information about these beloved reptiles, as reviewed by an expert vetter in the field of herpetology.

I'll Follow the Moon

Celebrating the love between mother and child comes an achingly beautiful story that has captured hearts around the world. Written by a new mom, by accident, when she sang a little song to her fussing newborn, I'll Follow the Moon proudly donates proceeds to charity: every book saves a turtle.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.

National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles

Who could resist celebrating sea turtles? They may seem like lazy ocean reptiles drifting with the oceans’ currents, but they are actually long-distance swimmers that spend their entire lives searching for food and a mate. What’s more, they come with their own built-in GPS, returning to the exact beach where they were born to lay their own eggs. Kids will learn all about these tranquil and mysterious animals through brilliant photography and illustrations, plus the trusted and distinctive content you love from NG Kids!

Tammy Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles

A book that tells how turtles survive with the help of protection programs.

Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide for the Atlantic and Gulf, from Canada to Mexico

The book's pithy, well-organized sections are lavishly illustrated. It is a guide for anyone who is the least bit curious about these fascinating marine animals. Bite-sized installments harmonize with multiple images on each page to make this book a unique and entertaining resource. The story it tells covers understanding, experiencing, and saving our sea turtles, with descriptions of how these endangered animals contribute to our happiness and why they deserve a helping hand.

Sea Turtle Scientist (Scientists in the Field)

The mother turtle has a vital job to do: dig a nest in which she will lay eggs that will hatch into part of the next generation of leatherbacks. With only one in a thousand of the eggs for this critically endangered species resulting in an adult sea turtle, the odds are stacked against her and her offspring.

4 PCS Sea Turtle Life Cycle

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

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

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

Follow the Moon Home

A triumphant story of environmental activism, community, and friendship: Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkinson team up to offer a story of the powerful difference young people can make in the world. Meet Viv, who has a new home and a new school by the sea and follow her as she finds her way in a new place and helps bring together a whole community to save the sea turtles of the South Carolina coast.

The Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle

Describes the life cycle of sea turtles discussing reproduction, birth, and adult life.

Finally, look how to make thise fun mosaic sea turtle activity.

How to Make a Mosaic Art Sea Turtle Activity

You will need:

Pony beads
Cheap round cake pan (Dollar Tree)
Permanent markers

Grab a small round cake pan.

I suggest using a Dollar Tree pan because you will not want to use it for food once the chemicals from the beads have contaminated it.

Place it where you will be working, you want to move it around as little as possible once you start working on it.

If your beads are not sorted, spread them out so they are easier to sort through, we put ours on a larger baking sheet.

The easiest way I found to lay out the design is to start in the middle with your turtle. Start with a diamond shape and a head and flippers.

Tweezers are very helpful to put beads into place, especially when you get into more detailed or crowded areas.

Ocean Mosaic Art

Continue working on your design, you can create a water and sand background.

Add white for waves and you can even make a baby sea turtle popping out of an egg on the beach.

Fill the entire surface, you want your beads to not be able to move much at all.

Until you fill it all in you will probably need to reposition your more detailed work a bit.

Once your pan is filled in carefully move it into an oven preheated to 375℉.

Bake for 20-30 minutes until melted.

Here is the design after 10 minutes in the oven…

20 minutes…

30 minutes…

Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely, you will hear a little crackling and popping as it cools and releases from the pan.

Once cool it will flip right out of the pan.

Trust the process, even when you flip it over to the smooth side you are gonna think it doesn’t look like much, but we are going to fix that in this next step.

Flip to the smooth side and use a black Sharpie to trace the outline of your turtles, this gives them a little definition and really makes them pop.

If you want to hang it for display, you can hot glue a loop of ribbon to the back.

Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

June 17, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today we’re making a jellyfish lights crafts. Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.

Learn how to make this easy jellyfish lights craft with just a few inexpensive supplies and learn a lot about the life and characteristics of the fascinating jellyfish at the same time.

This is a great way to incorporate a hands-on activity that is fun and themed for summer learning into your day.

Learn How to Make an Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

Your jellyfish can be as small or large as you like.

Upcycle empty fruit cups or use large plastic clear bowls from the party section to create an entire swarm.

Then use your child’s creation to teach them how to identify the anatomy, learn jellyfish vocabulary, and terminology, as well as create an adorable ocean craft for decoration.

Hands-On Activities-Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

Ocean Anatomy was the perfect book for our easy jellyfish lights craft.

There is so much to learn in just a few pages.

You can reference it for the life cycle of a jellyfish, the anatomy of a jellyfish, facts, and a quick blurb on 5 different types of jellyfish.

The watercolor illustrations and tidbits of information are wonderful for reference.

Look at this beautiful Watercolor Jellyfish Art Project.

Make these fun Jellyfish in a Jar to observe their movement.
This stunning wooden Jellyfish Puzzle would make a wonderful hands-on activity as well as a keepsake for the whole family, especially middle to high school ages.

Younger children will enjoy making this Paper Plate Jellyfish.
How about a sweet and easy Paper Bag Jellyfish craft?
These Free Printable Jellyfish Clip cards are perfect for preschoolers learning to count and identify numbers.
Jellyfish Lacing Craft is ideal for building fine motor skills.
Build your own jellyfish with these PlusPlus interlocking blocks.
Head to your local aquarium to see some jellyfish in person or check out the live Jelly Cam at the Monterey Bay Aquarium while you put together your craft.

Jellyfish Facts

A group of jellyfish is known as a swarm or a bloom, which can contain millions of jellyfish and spread out over 10 square miles.
Jellyfish are not really fish or made of jelly, they are made of 95% water and classified as invertebrates from the phylum Cnidaria.
There are at least 2000 different species of jellyfish and they come in a wide range of shapes and colors like pink, white, yellow, orange, green, and blue, as well as multicolored.
They have no brain and no heart.
Jellyfish eat and poop from the same spot.
While some are tiny, the lion’s mane jellyfish can stretch its tentacles as long as 120 feet.

Challenge your child to create more than one jellyfish species.

Get creative using other craft supplies to make each one as unique as their real counterparts.

I was able to find everything I used at Dollar Tree, but you may already have most of it around the house.

More Ocean Themed Activities

And add Blow Painting Coral Reef Hands-On Activity.

Moreover, look at some of these books and fun resources to learn about jellyfish.

Books and Resources about Jellyfish

Add some of these books and resources to your study of jellyfish.

Jellyfish: A Natural History

With their undulating umbrella-shaped bells and sprawling tentacles, they are compelling and gorgeous, strange and dangerous. In many places they’re also vastly increasing in number, and these population blooms may be an ominous indicator of the rising temperatures and toxicity of the oceans.

Jellyfish (A Day in the Life: Sea Animals)

Beautiful and translucent, jellyfish can be deadly but some are perfectly harmless. Learn about the physical traits of jellyfish, how they move, where they are found, and their hunting and sleeping habits.

Moon Jelly Swims Through the Sea

Describes the life cycle of a female moon jellyfish as she escapes the many hazards of the sea to develop from planula to polyp to ephyra to a young adult ready to lay her own fertilized eggs.

Jellyfish - 70 Piece Tube Building Stem/Steam Toy

SIMPLE DESIGN - FUELS CREATIVITY: One shape, endless possibility! Every brick easily connects to the next. Create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3-D to make more intricate builds. Mix and match any Plus-Plus set to bring more ideas to life!

Jellyfish Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles

CHALLENGE GAME - Wooden jigsaw puzzles with uniquely shaped pieces are actually more challenging than traditional woodcut puzzles. It is absolutely going to be a great adventure!

A Jellyfish Is Not a Fish (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book)

Describes the general characteristics and functions of a variety of jellyfish with emphasis on the ones to avoid.

Bloom

Once, the ocean was full of friends. Then a little jellyfish notices that things are changing--friends are disappearing! He sets out to discover the truth and learns that everyone has a part to play in protecting the careful balance of the ocean. "Bloom" refers to a substantial increase in jellyfish population that can be caused by climate change and pollution. In this beautifully illustrated, timely, and topical tale, the jellyfish band together to deliver an important message.

Finally, look how to make this fun jellyfish light craft.

Easy Jellyfish Light Craft

You will need:

Push light (or battery-operated tea light)
Clear plastic bowls or cups
Tissue paper
Ribbon
Hot glue gun/ stick
school glue

You want to make sure that your light fits inside of your bowl.

The tea lights fit everything, but they put out less light than the little tap light I used (from Dollar Tree).

First, place your bowl upside down and paint the outside with a full coat of watered-down school glue or use mod podge.

Cover with tissue paper in whatever color you like and press firmly into the glue. You can add multiple layers, but I like the translucent look.

“Paint” another coat of glue all over the top of the tissue paper to seal it well. Press the paper until it is mostly smooth. Allow it to dry.

Once it is completely dry you can rip off or cut the excess tissue paper left on the edges.

Flip the bowl over and glue the light into place on the inside.

I used a generous amount of hot glue and only secured the back so that I could twist off the front to change out the batteries.

You could also secure your light with adhesive velcro strips for easy removal.

Cut 2 or more types of ribbon to the same length, ruffled or shimmer ribbon is fun with the lights and resembles the tentacles more.

Hot glue the ribbon just inside the edge of the bowl all the way around.

If you want to, add a little detail to the body with markers or watercolor paint.

Finally, to hang your jellyfish, make a little loop on top with some of your leftover ribbons and secure it with hot glue.

How fun and simple was this easy jellyfish lights craft?

Free Carnivorous Plants Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

June 14, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have a free carnivorous plants lapbook and fun unit study ideas. Also, I have my page Carnivorous Plants.

Besides, carnivorous plants are a fascinating topic for every age.

For example, like all green plants they make their food by photosynthesis.

In addition, they are sometimes called insectivorous plants.

Free Carnivorous Plants Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

Carnivorous plants are plants which derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals or protozoans, typically insects and other arthropods.

And as mentioned they still generate some of their energy from photosynthesis.

6 Types of Traps

Next look at some of the types of traps which can be found in insectivorous plants.

Lobsterpot trap
Snap trap
Bladder trap
Flypaper trap
Pitfall trap

Also, look at the types of plants.

Types of Carnivorous Plants

Next, look at some of the names and facts about the types of plants.

Carnivorous plants are plants that can absorb certain nutrients from animals they trap.

All plants need nitrogen to live. They can live in areas where there is poor soil and where nitrogen is not easily absorbed.

So, the plants do not eat the insects for food but digest the captured insects as a source of nitrogen.

Some common carnivorous plants are

venus flytrap,
bladderworts,
pitcher plant
and sundew.

Vocabulary Words

nitrogen – A nutrient needed in order to make molecules so that a plant can thrive and reproduce. This is normally taken from the soil but if the soil is poor in nitrogen, it gets it from the insect.
nutrients – A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow, or a substance used in an organism’s metabolism which must be taken in from its environment.
angiosperm – Plants that make their seeds from pollinated flowers.
insectivorous – Another term used to describe carnivorous plants.
photosynthesis – The process by which plants produce food. By using light, leaves put together carbon dioxide and water to make sugar and oxygen.

More Activities and Resources about Plants

Also, look at more resources for learning about plants.

10 Plant Life in The Amazon Rainforest Facts and Make a Fun Rafflesia Arnoldii
Free Carnivorous Plants Notebooking Pages & Easy Hands-on Science Activity
Growing a Seed Activity
Also, use food to make fun activities. Look at Carnivorous Plants Food Art.

In addition, look at these books and resources for a fun unit study.

11 Carnivorous Plants Resources

Add some of these books and resources for a carnivorous plants unit study for multiple ages.

Eaten Alive by Carnivorous Plants: Grades 2-4

Eaten Alive by Carnivorous Plants. This is a natural science book for a young audience. There are over 760 different kinds of meat-eating plants in the world. They attract, capture, and digest their prey in order to supplement the nutrients that are deficient in the soil they grow in. This book describes all four major types of traps used by the meat-eating plants. Children will learn all the tricks these plants have in store for their unsuspecting prey.

Killer Plants: Growing and Caring for Flytraps, Pitcher Plants, and Other Deadly Flora

Carnivorous plants: they're weird, they're gorgeous, and they're the perfect addition to your urban jungle of pothos, snake plants, and succulents. However, they can also be intimidating to grow and care for. Let Killer Plants be your guide as it walks you through the different types of carnivorous plants and how to keep each variety alive and well.

Carnivorous Plants Coloring Book: Carnivorous Plants Gift With Venus Fly Traps, Pitcher Plants And More

This Coloring Book is a lovely tool to express your creativity and embody your colorful ideas.

35 pages to color With custom sized pages (8,5" x 11") and soft cover this book is perfect for keeping it at hand wherever you go. With it's artful cover page this coloring book will always brighten up your life and be an eye-catcher for everyone else.

Meat-Eating Plants -A Carnivorous Plant Story: Science for Young Readers

Meat-Eating Plants - a carnivorous plant story. There are over 760 kinds of meat-eating plants in the world. They developed this amazing meat-eating habit in order to survive in their mineral-poor environment. There are four major types of traps used by carnivorous plants: pitfall trap, sticky-leaf trap, snap-trap, and suction trap in the water. All these trap mechanisms are explained using amazing color images. Youngsters will explore the wonders of nature as they read along about these amazing plants!

Predator Plants: 20 Questions Kids Ask About Carnivorous Plants

Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of carnivorous plants with "Predator Plants"! This enchanting guide is designed to captivate the minds of both kids and their parents. With 20 fascinating questions answered, this comprehensive book unravels the mysteries of these
botanical wonders, exploring their unique characteristics and abilities.

Elizabite: Adventures of a Carnivorous Plant (Curious George)

Elizabite is a carnivorous plant who eats insects as appetizers and enjoys hotdogs for snacks. Whether it walks, talks, flies, or barks, Elizabite is ready to make a meal of it. Her cheerful, hungry smile and infinite appetite attract much attention - a scientist examines her, a professor studies her, and everyone agrees that she is one of a kind. In an effort to control her diet and her unpredictable temper, Elizabite's admirers chain and muzzle her. But not even a barbed wire fence can prevent her from following her heart's (and stomach's) desire! Only when her unique appetite prevents a crime does Elizabite win the respect she deserves.

Nature Venus Fly Trap - Fun and Easy to Grow Kids Terrarium Set

Easy And Fun To Grow - Franki "The Ferocious" Fly Trap - Great Kids Gift
Just Add Water! - Everything Else To Keep Your Terrarium Is Included.
Watch Out Flies! - Plants Will Grow Into Bug Eating Monsters!
Each Kit Comes With A Genuine Jasper Stone (Color Varies)

Hungry Plants (Step-into-Reading, Step 4)

This book offers readers a bug’s-eye view into the strange and fascinating world of carnivorous plants. From the “jaws” of the Venus flytrap to the pretty sundew plant whose delicate tentacles entrap its prey, the unique anatomy and behaviors of meat-eating plants are detailed with clear, engaging text and art.

Plants that Eat Animals (Rookie Read-About Science: Plants and Fungi)

Discover a variety of carnivorous plants, including the Venus fly trap, sundew, pitcher plant, and bladderwort. The natural world comes alive for young readers (Ages 6-7) with Rookie Read-About "RM" Science! With striking, full-color photos and just the right amount of text, this series immediately involves young readers as they discover intriguing facts about the fascinating world around them.

DK Readers: Plants Bite Back! (Level 3: Reading Alone)

There are plants that prickle, sting, and even munch insects for lunch! So, never bite a strange plant—it might bite back! Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging,
age-appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children's interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.

Venus Fly Trap - Kids Terrarium Kit - Grow Your Own Seeds. 6 Plants That EAT Bugs

Live Carnivorous Plants Including Venus Fly Traps, Sundew and Pitcher Plants.

Just Add Water! - Everything Else To Keep Your Terrarium Is Included.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Minibooks for the Lapbook

Moreover, look at these minibooks which come in the free download.

2 color covers
Where can you find carnivorous plants in the US?
The sower and the seed
Types of trap
Venus flytrap
Pitcher plant
Bladder wort
Sundew
Vocabulary words
What is a carnivorous plant

Now, how to grab the free carnivorous plants lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

How to Get the Free 12 Page Carnivorous Plants Lapbook

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get instant access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie now.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

life science

What Are Gills

What Other Animals Use Gills To Breathe

Animal Science Questions Asked And Answered

Resources and Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum

More Ideas for Learning About Animals

How Do Fish and Other Animals with Gills Breathe Underwater Activity

8 Awesome Shark and Oceans for Kindergarten Facts

More Activities For Shark & Oceans for Kindergarten

More Kindergarten Homeschool Resources

Shark & Oceans for Kindergarten Sight Word Activity – Feed The Shark

5 Fun Sea Turtle Facts

More Sea Turtle Activity Ideas

How to Make a Mosaic Art Sea Turtle Activity

Ocean Mosaic Art

Hands-On Activities-Easy Jellyfish Lights Craft

Jellyfish Facts

More Ocean Themed Activities

Easy Jellyfish Light Craft

6 Types of Traps

Types of Carnivorous Plants

Vocabulary Words

More Activities and Resources about Plants

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Minibooks for the Lapbook

How to Get the Free 12 Page Carnivorous Plants Lapbook

Footer

Categories

Archives