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life science

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

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

Today, I have 8 facts about African elephants and a cute paper plate elephant. Also, look at my pages Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports and 6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions for more ideas.

Do you need a great activity to go along with a study of Africa and its animals?

This simple paper plate elephant can be used for display and learning.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

I enjoy a craft that is inexpensive and can be used as an effective learning tool.

With this one, we can learn about the different parts of the African elephant.

For example, you can learn about why their ears are so large, why they have tusks, and compare them to Asian elephants.

Comparing African To Asian Elephants

African elephants are giant creatures that roam the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa and the rainforests of Central and West Africa in herds.

Their hide is much more wrinkled than that of their Asian counterpart.

And they have two “fingers” on their trunk while Asians only have one.

Another distinction between the two is the length of the tusks.

While African elephants have long tusks on both males and females, Asian elephants have short tusks that are generally only visible on the males.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Next, look at these facts about African elephants.

8 Facts About African Elephants

  1. The African Savanna elephant is the world’s largest land animal. The word “elephant” is actually Latin for “huge Arch”.
  2. August 12th is World Elephant Day; a day created to educate and bring attention to the plight of African and Asian Elephants.
  3. A baby elephant can stand within just 20 minutes of being born, a baby African Elephant weighs almost 200 pounds at birth.
  4. Elephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth and show when elephants are around 2 years old. These tusks will continue to grow throughout their lives.
  5. 90% of the African elephant populations have been wiped out in the last century.
  6. African elephants live in sub-Saharan Africa, the rain forests of Central and West Africa, and the Sahel desert in Mali.
  7. African elephants are made up of two living elephant species, the African bush elephant, and the smaller African forest elephant.
  8. African elephants live in a sunnier, hotter climate than Asian elephants do which is why their larger ears are better suited to them. Take a closer look at them, they also resemble the shape of the continent of Africa.
8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Look at more paper plate elephant activities.

Resources to Go Along With the Paper Plate Elephant

  •  Easy How to Draw an African Elephant for Kids Tutorial Video 
  • This elephant word search is a great simple activity for kids.
  • Grab a map, atlas, or globe, and have your child find locations where African Elephants live. We used a small plastic elephant to mark them as we went along. You can find the largest groups in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant
  • Fold an origami elephant, glue on long paper tusks and you have an African Elephant.
  • Need a good read-aloud? The Magician’s Elephant is a great option for the whole family to keep with the elephant theme.
  • Watch African Elephants from Amazing Animals on YouTube to learn more about them.
  • Add this African elephant family to your collection. Use for dramatic small-world play, in dioramas, sensory bins, and as inspiration for drawings and paintings.
  • Elephants of Africa by Gail Gibbons, a shorter living science book, makes a great resource book as well.
  • Peek in on the live elephant cam at Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa.

African Elephant – Paper Plate Elephant

You will need:

  • 2 paper plates
  • Grey craft paint
  • Black marker/pen
  • Scissors
8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Cut out 2 tusks and 2 ears from the smooth center of one plate and a trunk from the ridged edge.

When the body is done, trim to size.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Paint the other plate, the trunk, and the ears entirely gray and allow them to dry.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Flip and paint the other sides, as you will be able to see some of both sides in the final result.

Once your plate is dry, fold it in half, creasing it gently in the center.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Cut out the general shape of the legs, head (minus the trunk), and tail from both sides at the same time.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Add details to your elephant’s body, ears, and trunk like wrinkles and eyes with a fine-tipped black pen or marker.

Glue the tusk and trunk in between the fold of the paper plate.

Attach the ears to either side of the head.

You can now open your elephant and put it on display. It will stand nicely and look great as part of your collection.

8 Facts about African Elephants and a Cute Paper Plate Elephant

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Africa, crafts, elephants, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

July 13, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re learning what plants and animals did Lewis And Clark discover on their long journey. Also, grab more ideas on my page Lewis and Clark Fun Homeschool Unit Study and Lapbook.

The Corps of Discovery was an expedition that was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark.

This long journey was almost 8,000 miles.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

It was taken over the span of May of 1804 to September of 1806 and was made on foot, on horseback, and by canoe.

It led the group down the Ohio River, up the Missouri River, across the Continental Divide, through the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and to the Pacific Ocean.

Facts About What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover

The group was made up of almost 50 including 27 young soldiers, a French Indian interpreter, and Clark’s Slave, York.

One of the most famous members of the party, Sacagawea, joined the Corps of Discovery at about 16 years old.

During this time, they found many yet unknown plants and animals.

They recorded 178 plants and 122 animals that were not previously known to science.

In his journal, Lewis recorded and pressed, and preserved 240 different plant species and brought them back with him.

The expedition also brought back skins, skeletons, horns, a live prairie dog, a magpie, and many more specimens.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

They named many of the geographic locations after expedition members, peers, loved ones, and even their dog.

Additionally, they made maps of uncharted land, rivers, and mountains.

Too, they filled their journals overflowing with details about navigation, Native American tribes, and scientific notes about plants and animals.

The tales of their adventures sent many Americans westward in search of all the wonders that they found and more.

Lewis and Clark Exploration Hands-on Activities

Moreover, a Lewis and Clark unit study and lapbook lends well to tons of fun hands-on activities.

Activities are numerous and I a few here to get your creative juices flowing.

  • Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
  • 22 Free Lewis & Clark Activity Posters (You Don’t Want to Miss These)
  • Mighty Mississippi book & Sediment Activity
  • Cooking on the Trail
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition – The Ultimate Guide
  • Lewis and Clark Louisiana Purchase Edible Map
  • Hands-on History. Make a Char Cloth
  • How To Make An Easy Ink pot & Quill Pen with Berry Ink
  • Free Westward Ho History Cards
  • 10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages

Books About Lewis and Clark

Also, look at some of these books to add your study of Lewis and Clark’s trek.

15 Lewis and Clark | Sacagawea Exploration Unit Study Resources

Lewis and Clark is one of the most significant periods in American history and you can spend weeks exploring the lands and people west of the Mississippi with these fun books and resources.

How We Crossed The West: The Adventures Of Lewis And Clark

Appealing art and descriptive text bring Lewis and Clark alive for young adventurers. Carefully chosen text from Lewis and Clark's actual journals opens a fascinating window into this country's exciting history.

National Geographic Readers: Sacagawea

Explore one of the most recognized figures in American history with this biography of Sacagawea. Kids will learn about her crucial role in the Lewis and Clark expedition and her influential legacy.  The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers.

Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis & Clark

Commissioned in 1803 by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and open up this vast territory, Lewis and Clark felt it was the realization of a lifelong dream. Against the hardships of the wilderness, possible attack by hostile Indians, sudden blizzards and terrifying natural obstacles, these two men led the Corps of Discovery ably and nobly to complete their mission. Their Corps included American Indians from the Sioux, Mandan, Shoshone, Clatsop and Chopunnish tribes. Sacajawea, the only woman on the trip, was a Shoshone woman who contributed invaluable service as interpreter and guide. Daugherty's evocative sepia and black ink illustrations depict individuals of humor, vitality, passion, and strength.

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West

From the New York Times bestselling author the definitive book on Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the most momentous expedition in American history and one of the great adventure stories of all time.

The Truth About Sacajawea (Lewis & Clark Expedition)

The only book ever written that tells the eyewitness truth about this famous teenage Indian mother who was indispensable to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark: 1805: Volume II

On May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery set out from Camp Dubois, Illinois, heading westward under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his Second Lieutenant, William Clark. While Lewis led the group in terms of rank, the two men became de facto equals, giving their names jointly to a journey that would shape the future of the fledgling United States — the Lewis and Clark Expedition. This book presents journal entries taken directly from the expedition.

Sacagawea: American Pathfinder

Describes how Sacagawea found adventure guiding Lewis and Clark to the Oregon coast.

Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark (Third Edition): A Guide to the Trail Today

Take Your Own Journey through History on the Lewis & Clark Trail! Follow the journey of the Corps of Discovery from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello through the Midwest and the Rockies, to the Pacific Ocean and back with this detailed chronicle of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. This third edition of the classic guidebook features accessible text that combines the historical sites and color maps that merge the past and present in a user-friendly and entertaining way.

What Was the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

When Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the "Corp of Discovery" left St. Louis, Missouri, on May 1, 1804, their mission was to explore the vast, unknown territory acquired a year earlier in the Louisiana Purchase. The travelers hoped to find a waterway that crossed the western half of the United States. They didn't. However, young readers will love this true-life adventure tale of the two-year journey that finally brought the explorers to the Pacific Ocean.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (Graphic History)

In this epic graphic novel, follow the dramatic story of  the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 1804, these two explorers, along with their "Corps of Discovery," traversed the unmapped American West, leading to scientific discoveries, interactions with Native nations, and route to the Pacific Ocean. Dramatic illustrations and fast-paced text provide a "you-are-there" experience. With extensive back matter, including a bibliography, extended reading list, glossary, and further Internet sources, young readers will gobble up this action-packed comic book about one of history's most compelling moments.

The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country From Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad With 25 Projects

In The Oregon Trail: The Journey Across the Country from Lewis and Clark to the Transcontinental Railroad, readers ages 9 to 12 can delve into the explorations of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and other explorers. They can learn about the more than half a million people who followed during the nineteenth century. What challenges did these pioneers face on the 2,170-mile journey? How were Native American tribes and nations affected by this mass migration? Primary sources allow readers to feel like a part of the Oregon Trail experience while biographical sidebars will introduce the compelling people who were part of this time in U.S. history. Investigative, hands-on projects and critical thinking activities such as writing a treaty and researching artistic impressions of the Oregon Trail invite readers to further their understanding of life on the trail, early towns and forts, and the Transcontinental Railroad that followed the wagons into new lands and territories that would eventually become states.

Seaman's Journal

A trade paperback edition of the award-winning tale of the journey of Lewis and Clark. When Seaman, a Newfoundland dog, met his new master in August of 1803, he didn't know that he would spend the next three years on an adventure of more than 8,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean and back. Seaman's Journal is based on actual entries in Meriwether Lewis s journal describing Seaman, and it presents an account of the Lewis and Clark expedition as seen from the viewpoint of Lewis s dog. Join Seaman before the trip as preparations take place. Meet the Native American guides and friends they encountered along the way. And read of Seaman s love for Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman whose husband acted as interpreter and guide. Ages 5-8.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Join the Corps of Discovery to Explore Uncharted Territory

Describes the expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the unknown western regions of America at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities

Following Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery as they navigate the muddy Missouri River and begin a great adventure, this activity book is set against the background of the vast North American continent. It takes children from President Jefferson’s vision of an exploratory mission across a continent full of unique plants and animals through their dangerous and challenging journey into the unknown to the expedition’s triumphant return to the frontier town of St. Louis. Twenty-one activities bring to life the Native American tribes they encountered, the plants and animals they discovered, and the camping and navigating techniques they used. A glossary of terms and listings of Lewis and Clark sites, museums, and related websites round out this comprehensive activity book.

It's Her Story Sacajawea A Graphic Novel

Sacajawea was a brilliant, multilingual Shoshone girl who was torn from her home at a young age. In 1804, she set out with the Lewis and Clark Expedition, acting as an interpreter and guide across hundreds of miles of unmapped land to reach the Pacific Ocean. Almost 200 years later, she became the first Indigenous woman to appear on a US coin. This is her story.

List of What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover

Next, here is a short and longer list of what plants and animals did Lewis and Clark discover.

Have your child choose an animal and a plant from each list below and draw, paint, create a diorama, make a Minecraft scene, or write a report to create a wonderful science and history lesson all rolled into one little project.

The expedition was successful in discovering 178 plants and 122 animals, but I am giving you a quick list of 10 of the most common in each category.

If you want a full list you can find them linked below.

●     Animals

●     Plants

Then look below for a quick list of 10 in each category.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Animals

  1. Grizzly Bear
  2. Buffalo
  3. Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
  4. Mountain Goat
  5. Western Rattlesnake
  6. Red Fox
  7. Plains Gray Wolf
  8. White-Tailed Deer
  9. Striped Skunk
  10. Harbor Seal

Plants- They found plants that were edible, medicinal, and good wood for building just to name a few uses.

  1. Bitterroot
  2. Blue Elderberry
  3. Cottonwood Tree
  4. Wormwood
  5. Purple Coneflower
  6. Orange Honeysuckle
  7. Tansy
  8. Prickly-Pear Cactus
  9. Tarragon
  10. Cluster Rose
What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Next, we chose the Bitterroot flower. We chose this one because it has many uses and fascinating facts.

5 Facts About The Bitterroot Flower

  1. Lewis collected a blossoming Bitterroot specimen near Missoula, Montana, and it was named in honor of Lewis (genus name- Lewisia).
  2. It later became Montana’s State Flower in 1893.
  3. Native Americans used the flower and roots as medicine for sore throats and toothaches.
  4. The Bitterroot is also known as “the resurrection flower” for its ability to survive a year without water.
  5. Three different geographic features are named after the Bitterroot- Bitterroot Mountains, Bitterroot Valley, and Bitterroot River.
What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Finally, look how to make an egg carton Bitterroot flower.

How to Make An Egg Carton Bitterroot Flower

You will need:

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Watercolor paint
  • Scissors
  • School glue
What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Usually, when creating something from an egg carton we use the “cup” portion.

This time we are going to cut out the taller piece that separates each cup.

First, cut out as much of their height as you can.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Make long skinny cuts, creating point tips all the way around, almost to the solid end but not quite.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Repeat with a second one, you can make this one slightly shorter.

Set your cut pieces upside down and gently press to spread out the petals.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Glue one inside the other.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Watercolor the “petals” a bright pink, leaving a bit of the center unwashed.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

To create the stamen, you will need to trim off another piece of the egg carton and cut long skinny strips not quite all the way through.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Bend the tips down to make.

Paint the tips orange and leave the rest.

Glue inside the flower.

Allow the glue and paint time to dry.

What Plants And Animals Did Lewis And Clark Discover on their Famous Trek & Bitterroot Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: animals, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, lewis and clark, lewisandclark, life science, plants

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

July 12, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Putting your own middle school nature study together fits an unschooling, unit study, Charlotte Mason and eclectic homeschool approach. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my How to Homeschool Middle School.

I’m showing you how to put together a middle school nature study.

Besides, once you learn the general framework of a unit study, you can spend as much time or as little as you want on it.

You’ll learn how to do it easy peasy, make it a little more challenging, cover more than just simple nature study, and give you a list of wonderful books and other resources to go along with it.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

While nature study is wonderful you may want to be able to make it more well-rounded and use it as credit for their sciences.

It is possible to do that with a little more intentional planning.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study

You can still enjoy the carefree times of nature walks, simple observations, and nature-based art but it’s time to kick those things up a notch.

1. Expand What the Term Nature Study Means

First, build your curriculum on more subjects than just nature.

See how you can expand it.

While nature study is important and wonderful, you want to make sure that you are giving them access to multiple streams of learning.

For example, look for interesting videos, living books on a variety of topics, and deeper study into topics,

In addition, include parts of science that are not naturally in nature studies.

Encourage study and find ways to incorporate learning about electricity, rocketry, chemistry, anatomy, microbiology, and other topics.

2. Nature Journals Become Science Notes & Labs

These can be a great way to work on art and creative writing.

However, nature journals can easily turn to lab notes and physical documentation of what they have been learning.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

Too, journals show progress and can be used to highlight what interests your child.

More Nature Study Activities

  • How to Create a Fun Yosemite National Park Camping Curriculum | DIY Firestarter

But at this stage, you can start expecting a little more out of them, a little more writing, more challenges with their artwork, and expanding their interests.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

Instead of just drawing, take the next step to nature photography or classifying rocks with bulleted lists, add a bit more structure to the expectations.

3. Keep Records

No matter what your homeschool style you may or may not have kept more of a record than the smiling photographs and jotted notes that you needed.

You can also “reverse plan”, which just means you write down what you accomplish after it’s done rather than what you plan to do in advance. 

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

This helps you get a feel for if you are doing enough.

And I find it really encouraging to look back on all we accomplished that I might not have remembered without writing it down. Grab any notebook or paper pad and start writing it all down.

4. Offer Learning Baskets

Gather different types of books and resources like field guides, tools, specimens, and picture books, with a broad nature study scope as well as some specific to certain topics.

Then put them all together in a basket to create interest.

Next go with a specific nature topic of a mix to see where the current interests lie. You never know they may find a new passion!

5. Expand the bookshelf

Don’t sell those picture books yet!

There are many amazing nature study picture books that will appeal to middle schoolers and teach them so much more than any dry textbook would.

Don’t discount those books you may consider picture books and too young for middle schoolers. They are still a great resource and wonderful to use for art inspiration, identification, and research.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

Then here are more nature study activities and resources.

Other Nature Study Activities and Resources

  • Fun Outdoor Activities For Middle Schoolers Geocaching and Nature Study
  • 26 Free Nature Unit Studies for Multiple Ages
  • Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List

Also, add one or two of these fun nature lapbooks to your nature unit study for a hands on project.

How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List
  • Dynamic Honey Bee Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Honey Bee Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart
How to Put Together a Middle School Nature Study With Book List
  • Dynamic Famous and Historic Trees Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Famous and Historic Trees Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

6 Nature Study Books and Resources

Add one of these resources or books to your study about nature. They all give you a starting point or use one or two of them as a nature spine.

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.

Handbook of Nature Study

The Handbook of Nature Study is a classic Charlotte Mason text. A big book full of information on pretty much every area of nature study from tools to birds, weather, and rocks.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time.

Botanicum

Filled with both recognisable, and tropical flora, Botanicum is the ultimate companion guide to the variety of plants, and how they have evolved and grow.

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature - Jacket unfolds into a huge wall poster!

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

Nature Study & Outdoor Science Journal: The Thinking Tree Presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery

The Thinking Tree presents: A Creative Book of Observation, Drawing, Coloring, Writing & Discovery Through Nature, ideal for all ages (even adults!)

Creativity and discovery at its best, this journal is a bestseller among The Thinking Tree publications! Your nature-loving student will treasure this journal designed to ignite their wonder of the outdoors. With more than 180 lessons and beautiful illustrations, the Nature Study Journal invites the student to read, write, draw, color, explore and appreciate the outdoors while covering a variety of subjects such as science, poetry, observation instructions, and more.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Nature Based Activities Tagged With: botany, Charlotte Mason, life science, middleschool, nature, nature study, science, unit studies, unit study, unit study approach, unschooling

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

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

I have an easy wetlands paper plate habitat diorama. You’ll also love my post Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook

Creating a paper plate habitat diorama is a great way to incorporate a project that is super inexpensive and less work.

One thing I love about a diorama is that it can be done by everyone from preschool through high school and showcases each child’s imagination.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Not every project has to be a huge display.

Creating something small like creating a paper plate habitat diorama allows for a quicker project.

Some topics you don’t need a super deep dive into, and it is also very inexpensive.

We always have a pack of paper plates on hand for craft projects, quick lunches, or to use as a disposable paint palette.

Since we were gathering items from outside and drawing our own animals, we were able to complete this project for free.

5 Facts About Wetlands

The wetlands are defined as areas where water covers the soil or is near the surface of the soil all year.

This includes swamps, marshes, estuaries, mangroves, mudflats, ponds, deltas, coral reefs, billabongs, lagoons, shallow seas, bogs, lakes, and floodplains.

Look at these 5 facts about wetlands.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama
  1. About 30% of the Earth’s wetlands are in North America and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
  2. One of the largest wetlands in the world is the Pantanal which covers over 93,000 miles over Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay in South America.
  3. The Florida Everglades are sitting on a bed of limestone, which helps produce clean water for the state.
  4. Many of the plants that are found in the wetland either grow under the water or float on top of it.  But some grow out of the ground like trees. The 3 main types of plants found here are emergent, floating, and submerged.
  5. Wetlands can be made of saltwater or freshwater and sometimes they are a combination of both.

I referenced Wildlife Anatomy for ecosystems like wetlands.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

It is also a great reference for animals that live within the wetlands like alligators, along with Nature Anatomy which also includes many plants and animals.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

More Paper Plate Habitat Diorama Inspiration

Here are some more wonderful and creative ideas for using paper plates to create mini ecosystems.

  • Preschoolers will love making and playing with the Paper Plate Magnetic Duck Pond
  • How fun is this Paper Plate Aquarium Fish diorama?
  • Create a Mini Beach Scene, add in crabs and other animals you would see along the shoreline.
  • Here is an even smaller idea, How to Make a Paper Plate Mini-Diorama
  • This Fancy Mushroom Diorama could be made using paper platters or plates.

Now you can take this paper plate habitat diorama and use it for anything- desert, ocean, woodland, arctic, etc.. but for this one, I want to focus on giving you information and activities for the wetlands.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Decide for yourselves which wetland you want to create for your project, this will determine the type of flora and fauna you add to it.

Next, add some of these activities for studying about wetlands.

Activities for Learning About the Wetlands

  • Coral Reef Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Above & Below: Pond Unit Study, Hands-on Ideas, & Lapbook
  • Fun Hands-on Coral Reef Activities and Play Dough Invitation to Play
  • The Geronimo Stilton Series: Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam

Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Typically, in dioramas, we often use small plastic animals.

But because our paper plate habitat diorama is so much smaller we decided to draw our little animals to keep it lightweight and to keep the scale small.

If you would still like to include the plastic animals for your diorama or to use in sensory bins, etc.

This Safari Ltd River set has a lot of animals found in wetlands.

You will need:

  • A paper plate
  • Small pebbles
  • Small sticks
  • moss
  • Plastic animals- optional
  • Cardstock
  • Paints
  • Markers

First, fold the paper plate in half, creasing it sharply.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Open the paper plate and paint half of it green and half blue.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Squeeze a generous amount of blue, green, and tan onto your plate where you would like your water, and brush it out, leaving it thick so it has some dimension.

Water in wetlands is generally kind of murky and muddled so wanted it to look natural.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

While your plate is drying, have your child research and draw several wetlands animals for the habitat onto white cardstock.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Once the plate is dry, paint or use a marker to add trees in the background on the top half of the plate, against the sky.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Then, add moss, sticks, and small pebbles to the base. You can glue them down or leave them loose for additional play.

You can also create trees by hot gluing moss to small sticks, then secure them to the base with a little puddle of glue.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Add plastic animals or the paper ones your child drew to the scene.

How to Make an Easy Wetlands Paper Plate Habitat Diorama

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, earth science, ecosytem, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science, wetlands

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

July 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have 10 homemade horse treat ideas for your horse-loving kid and an easy carrot and apple treat recipe. Also, look at my Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

If you have a horse-loving kid and whether you have horses, they ride at a friend’s or family member’s, or even at a stable, I have a wonderful and simple recipe for a horse treat.

Beyond that I have links to more horse treat ideas, facts, and book suggestions to help you funnel their passion into a fun unit study.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

These horse treats are super easy and made with very basic ingredients.

And cooking is a great way to get kids in the kitchen learning measurements, how to follow steps, problem-solving, knife skills and so much more.

I should also note that they are good for dogs, goats, and chickens.

They love these treats as well so you can share them with all your barnyard friends.

5 Horse Facts

  1. Horses can’t breathe through their mouth. They have to breathe through their nostrils, unlike humans, who can do both.
  2. Because of the positioning of their eyes on the side of the head, horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision. They have a small blind spot directly behind them and directly in front.
  3. Horses carry their babies for 11 months.
  4. The scientific name for horses is Equus ferus caballus.
  5. Horses can sleep either standing up or lying down.

Also, add some of these books to your learning day.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

10 Horse Treats For Horse-Loving Kids to Make

Here is a great selection of 10 different horse treats that are fun to make, and horses will love- Because treats are a good way to make great friends with a horse,

  1. Pumpkin Horse Treat Recipe
  2. How to Make Horse Treats
  3. Happy Horse Treats
  4. How to Make Sugar Cubes for Horses
  5. DIY Doughnut Recipes (2 recipes here)
  6. Pill Hider Horse Treats
  7. Cake For a Horse.
  8. Healthy Banana Horse Treats
  9. Do It Yourself: Cake Pops for Horses Recipe
  10. Carrot Apple Muffin (recipe below)

HORSE STUDY GUIDE

This printable packet is a 102 page printable pdf download.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

Here are some of the topics included.

  • Wild horses
  • What is a horse
  • Horse Life Cycle
  • Caring for a horse
  • Equipment for horses
  • Parts of a saddle
  • Horses in history
  • Horses on the farm
  • Hooves
  • Pony vs horse
  • Donkey vs horse
  • Zebra vs horse
  • Arabian, Mustangs,
  • Thoroughbreds, American Quarter, Appaloosa, American Paint, Clydesdale, Friesian, Morgan Tennessee Walking, Shire, Percheron, Gypsy Vanner, Andalusian, and Shetland Pony
  • Breed matching, sorting and matching activities
  • Horse quiz activity
  • Bingo activity
  • Name the horse activity
  • Anatomy of a horse hoof activity
  • Horse life cycle activity
  • Horse care matching
  • Parts of a saddle activity
  • Equipment I Spy activity

HOW TO GET THE HORSE PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

  • Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    $5.95
    Add to cart

Then, don’t forget to grab this Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

Next, look at how to make this fun carrot apple oat muffin horse treats.

How to Make Carrot Apple Oat Muffin Horse Treats

This recipe makes 12 muffins but can easily be halved or doubled depending on your needs.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

You will need:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large carrots (1 cup)
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup oats
10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next, spray the bottom and sides of a muffin tin well.

Grate both carrots.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined thoroughly.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

Fill muffin tins ⅔ of the way full and pat down ingredients. You could also just spread it out in a pan to cut after baking or roll them into balls or little patties.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

Bake in a preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.

I like to leave mine just a little bit soft, but you can bake them until the moisture is mostly out for a crunchy treat if you like.

Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat

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

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