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mountains

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

January 18, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Geronimo Stilton is trekking his way up mighty Mount Kilimanjaro in book #41 of his exciting globe-trotting series. Be sure to grab more Geronimo Stilton Books and Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports ideas and crafts on my pages.

If I wasn’t so tickled by all the adventures this mouse has and the fun way he shares them with us I would be downright jealous of all the places he gets to go.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Here is the book Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro (Geronimo Stilton, No. 41).

He has even made his way through time and space.

Now, Geronimo Stilton is headed to Africa to climb to the top of Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro.

And we are going to join him as we learn about the 5 climate zones that make up this majestic mountain.

From the base where you find the civilization zone to the peak where the Arctic zone lies, we are going to explore the flora, fauna, and more of each layer.

Additionally, I’m showing you how to make an easy-torn paper Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro that you can label with the different zones.

Also, I’m giving you information on each zone to read as you create your mountain masterpiece, and some additional resources to turn a simple book into a thrilling learning adventure.

5 Layers of Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro

  • Civilization- At the base of Kilimanjaro, 6,000 ft and below you will find this zone. Here, where it was once scrubland and forest, you will find many small villages, livestock, and small farming areas that people have set up in the fertile volcanic soil at the base.  Some of the main items grown here are coffee, avocados, mangos, and bananas.
  • Rainforest – At 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet there is the rainforest zone with mild temperatures and wet weather. This is the zone where you are most likely to see one of the many creatures that make their home here. Blue Monkeys (Diademed Monkey), Servals, Jackson’s Chameleon, Aardvark, White Necked Raven, and Bush Babies are just a few of these beautiful creatures in the rainforest of Kilimanjaro.
How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton
  • Moorland- This zone is found at  9,200 to 11,000 ft altitude, temperatures begin to drop rapidly and the forest gives way to scrubby shrubs and grasses, magnificent views but very little animal life.
  • Alpine Dessert- Keep going, we are almost there!  At 13,200 to 16,500 feet you might find just small hardy plants, very few flowers, and sparse grasses but plenty of volcanic rock. You might spot the occasional eland (a large antelope) that happens to be the world’s largest antelope at this height, but animals do not typically venture to this zone with almost no rain.
  • Arctic Desert/Zone- WE have reached the top at 16,500 to 19,340 ft and temperatures average 10-40 F during the day and drop to -15-20 F at night. This high altitude gets about half the oxygen level that you would find at sea level. There is no plant or animal life here except for the odd lichen growing in the bitter cold and you will be able to spot glaciers at this level.

Geronimo Stilton Books 1-20

Geronimo Stilton Books 1 - 20

It is not necessary to go in order, each book is its own stand-alone story, and the main characters are properly reintroduced each time.  So, you can choose the books based on your child's current interest, the season, or a unit study topic.

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye

Who Is Geronimo Stilton? That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure. Here on Mouse Island, my books are all best-sellers! What's that? You've never read one? Well, my books are full of fun. They are whisker-licking good stories, and that's a promise!Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye. It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered a mysterious map. It showed a secret treasure on a faraway island. And before I could let out a squeak of protest, Thea dragged me into her treasure hunt! In no time at all, we'd set sail for the island. It was an adventure I'd never forget....

The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid (Geronimo Stilton #2)

I'm off to Egypt! I climbed onboard a crabby old camel that would take me across the desert to the Great Cheese Pyramid. There, among mummies and hieroglyphics, I would learn the secret of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient Mouse World....

Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House (Geronimo Stilton, No. 3)

I was lost in a dark, spooky forest! Until I stumbled upon Curlypaw Cannycat's Castle.

I'm Too Fond of My Fur! (Geronimo Stilton #4)

Well, my books are full of fun. They are whisker-licking good stories, and that's a promise! I'm Too Fond of My Fur! I was on my way 'round the world to Mouse Everest! The trip was long and dangerous. I almost froze my tail off on the way. And then I was kidnapped by the Abominable Snowman! Yes, it was truly an amazing adventure....

Four Mice Deep in the Jungle (Geronimo Stilton Funny Tales)

Enter the world of Geronimo Stilton, where another funny adventure is always right around the corner. Each book is a fast-paced adventure with lively art and a unique format kids 7-10 will love.I have never been a brave mouse... but lately, my fears were taking over my life! Soon I was too afraid even to leave my mousehole. That's when Thea and Trap decided to cure me. They dragged me away on an airplane (I'm afraid of flying!) all the way to the jungle. There I was forced to eat bug soup, climb trees as high as skyscrapers, swim in raging rivers, and even wrangle snakes! How would a 'fraidy mouse like me ever survive?

Paws Off, Cheddarface! (Geronimo Stilton, No. 6)

Who Is Geronimo Stilton? That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure. Here on Mouse Island, my books are all best-sellers! They are whisker-licking good tales, and that's a promise!__PAWS OFF, CHEDDARFACE!It was the strangest thing... all across New Mouse City, rodents kept telling me I'd done things I had no memory of! I soon discovered why... there was a Geronimo look-alike out there, pretending to be me. He'd even fooled my sister Thea! And worst of all, he was trying to take over my newspaper. I had to find a way to strike back -- but how??

Red Pizzas for a Blue Count

They are whisker-licking-good tales, and that's a promise! Red Pizzas for a Blue Count My troublemaker cousin was trapped in Transratania! And before I could even squeak, my sister, Thea, dragged me along on her rescue mission. Little did we know that Transratania is the land of vampire bats! Holey cheese, bats give me mouse bumps! Why? Well, there's nothing a bat likes more than sinking its teeth into a nice, juicy mouse....

Attack of the Bandit Cats (Geronimo Stilton, No. 8)

Oh, what a day! I had just published New Mouse City's first phone book -- and almost every single number was wrong! My customers were out for my fur. So when Thea, Trap, and Benjamin asked me to join their quest for a legendary island covered in silver, I agreed. But no sooner had we set out than we were attacked by a ship of pirate cats! They mousenapped us and threatened to make us their dinner. Would we escape with our lives... or find ourselves in the soup?

A Fabumouse Vacation for Geronimo (Geronimo Stilton, No. 9)

Sometimes a busy businessmouse like me needs a nice, relaxing vacation. But of all the rotten rats' luck -- every time I tried to get away, disaster struck. My aunt Dizzy Fur's mouse hole caught on fire, my office was flooded, and our printing press broke down! When I was finally ready to depart, all the good trips were booked up. I was stuck in a flea-ridden old hotel, sharing a room with a bunch of Gerbil Scouts! I couldn't wait to get back to my comfy home in New Mouse City....

All Because of a Cup of Coffee (Geronimo Stilton, No. 10)

I, Geronimo Stilton, was in love! I went out for a cup of coffee one morning and laid eyes on the most beautiful rodent I'd ever seen. Unfortunately, I immediately tripped over my paws and ended up with my tail in a toaster! I was one mortified mouse. But I was determined to prove that I wasn't a complete stumblemouse. So I decided to join my family on their most daring adventure yet -- a journey to the eighth wonder of the world! There I made a discovery so truly amazing, I knew I could win the heart of my darling ratlette....

The Phantom of the Subway (Geronimo Stilton, No. 13)

When my sister Thea told me a ghost was haunting New Mouse City's subway tunnels, I knew I had to get the scoop for The Rodents Gazette! So I set off with Thea, Trap, and my assistant editor Pinky Pick. We soon discovered that Sally Ratmousen, the editor of The Daily Rat, was also on the trail of the mysterious ghost. But we were all in for the fright of our wee mouse lives... because the ghost turned out to be a CAT!

The Temple of the Ruby of Fire (Geronimo Stilton, No. 14)

It was my most thrilling adventure yet! My old friend Professor von Volt had discovered the location of the famous Ruby of Fire. And before I could let out a squeak of protest, my sister Thea had dragged me into race to be the first to find the legendary gem. The jewel was protected by thousands of ancient booby-traps -- a 'fraidy mouse's worst nightmare? Would I make it through with my fur?

The Mona Mousa Code (Geronimo Stilton, No. 15)

Do you like art? I do! So when Thea heard that there was a secret map hidden beneath Mouse Island's most famous painting, the Monamouse, I knew we had to get the scoop! Together we began to investigate, and soon we discovered secret clues that led us to the most fabumouse secret. And it all lay beneath the streets of New Mouse City!

A Cheese-Colored Camper[GERONIMO STILTON #16 CHEESE-CO][Paperback]

My grandfather William Shortpaws -- also known as Cheap Mouse Willy -- was back at The Rodent's Gazette, and he was determined to torture me. He wanted to publish a guide book to Ratzikistan, the Siberia of Mouse Island. And he ordered *me* to go there to write it! But as you know, dear reader,

Watch Your Whiskers, Stilton! (Geronimo Stilton, No. 17)

Cheesecake! A mysterious one-eyed rat was trying to steal The Rodent's Gazette from under my snout! I had to stop him -- but how? My business manager, Shif T. Paws, came up with a plan. He arranged for me to appear on a TV quiz show. If I won, the Gazette was safe. But if I lost -- SQUEAK! -- I had to give up my tail!

Shipwreck on the Pirate Islands (Geronimo Stilton, No. 18)

My sister had come up with a new way to torment me. She'd combined my two least favorite things - travel and ghosts! Thea had heard rumors of a haunted pirate treasure buried on a desert island. And before I could say "avast ye scurvy rats," she'd dragged me into her treasure hunt!

My Name Is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton (Geronimo Stilton, No. 19)

Have you met my very young assistant editor, Pinky Pick? She is only thirteen years old, but she is one of the cleverest mice I've ever known. If you've ever wondered how Pinky came to work for me at The Rodent's Gazette, this is the book for you! It's a looooong story... and one that's full of adventure, laughs, and of course, like all of my books, lots of embarrassing moments for yours truly!

Surf's Up, Geronimo! (Geronimo Stilton, No. 20)

Ah, there's nothing like a relaxing vacation on the beach! I would spread out by the crystal-clear water with a good book. What more could a mouse want? At least, that was the plan. But somehow, my vacations never seem to go according to plan. Instead of a beautiful seaside resort, I found myself in a fleabag hotel that was falling down around my ears! Oh, would I ever be able to relax and enjoy my vacation

Geronimo Stilton Book List Activities

Also, look at these other crafts to go with the books.

  • Top 5 Reasons to Love Geronimo Stilton And Geronimo Stilton Book List 1-20
  • Geronimo Stilton Race Against Time And Make Pottery Like Ancient Greeks
  • Geronimo Stilton Back in Time Second Journey Through Time and Fun Mayan Mask
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activity Craft Fun Dragon Eggs
  • Geronimo Stilton The Second Journey Through Time Sun King Fun Medallion
  • The Journey Through Time Book And Knights Armor Engraving Fun Kids Craft
  • Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Time Warp Fun Lost City of Atlantis
  • Race Against Time Build a Fun Greek Water Clock
  • Out Of Time Fun Sir Francis Drake Ship Craft
  • Stilton Journey Through Time Series Fifth Journey Fun Eiffel Tower
  • 10 Things to Learn From The Fun Geronimo Stilton Chapter Books
  • The Fourth Journey Through Time Fun Cleopatra Collar
  • Learn About Mozart The Eight Journey Through Time Geronimo Stilton Series
  • The Geronimo Stilton Book Fourth Journey Fun Egypt Game
  • Geronimo Stilton Journey Through Time Craft a Fun England Tower Guard
  • Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
  • Down and Out Down Under Make a Fun Edible Coral Reef
  • Field Trip to Niagara Falls Summary And Fun Corn Craft
  • The Journey Through Time #2: Back in Time Colosseum Craft
  • The Race Against Time Geronimo Stilton Activities: Fun Edible Spine
  • #2: Back in Time Mayan Craft
  • The Curse of The Cheese Pyramid Barbie Mummy
  • Who Is Geronimo Stilton Rodent Notebooking Page
How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro Resources

  • We used this graphic for inspiration to create the 5 layers for our mountain volcano project below.
  • This page in Geronimo Stilton is a great inspiration for talking about just what you would need to pack for such a high adventure. Compare Geronimo’s list with this Kilimanjaro Packing list from the climbing Kilimanjaro site, how did the mouse do? What about packing for a shorter hike in your area? What would you take? Encourage your child to use planning and critical thinking skills to create a list.
How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton
  • Watch Discovering Kilimanjaro Mountain: A Kid’s Adventure to the Top of Africa.
  • I also found this great partially animated video- Let’s Take a Hike: Crash Course Kids #30 that talks about how the geosphere affects biosphere for a wonderful science lesson.
  • Here is a printable that is both a coloring page and a maze depicting Mount Kilimanjaro and a few of the animals found nearby.

Lastly, look how to make this mighty Mount Kilimanjaro volcano.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano

You will need:

  • Patterned colorful scrapbook paper
  • A large piece of scrap cardboard
  • School  glue
  • Foam brush
How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

First, cut a large scrap of corrugated cardboard to the size you would like your project to be.

Choose 2-3 shades of blue paper for the sky, 4 different shades or patterns for the various layers, and a very white or light one for the top layer.

If you use scrapbook paper that has a white core it has a really neat effect when torn and creates more visual interest.

Tear the paper into small pieces, ripping it toward you will make the white core of the paper show and make really cool borders on some of the pieces.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Continue tearing and making piles of each color. Determine what patterns will represent each layer and separate them.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Next “paint” on a thick layer of glue to make your mountain volcano the size and shape you want it.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Begin adding pieces to your mountain, I started at the top.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Then we found it helpful to add a couple of pieces to one side for each of the layers to kind of define them, so we didn’t go over and there was room for each layer.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Continue adding the correct colors for each layer, adding more glue if needed.

Geronimo Stilton | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro Craft

Once you have covered every layer, paint on another layer of glue over the paper to help press it down.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Paint the sky portion around it with a thick layer of glue and repeat adding torn paper in blues.

Once filled in, paint a layer of glue over the top again.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Let the glue dry, it will probably require an overnight drying period.

Now you can write or type and print the names of each of the layers and place them in the correct spot- civilization, rainforest, moorland alpine forest, and arctic zone.

How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Africa, geography, Geronimo Stilton, hands-on, hands-on activities, mountains, volcano

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

December 27, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Read up on these Andes Mountain facts for kids while you complete this felt mountain craft that is fun to create and beautiful to display anywhere in the house. Also, you’ll love my Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas.

The Andes Mountains are a massive range that extends throughout a lot of South America and have attracted millions of visitors over the years.

Tourists come to see Machu Picchu, Cotopaxi, La Raya Mountain Range, Lake Titicaca, and Rainbow Mountain.

When searching for an idea for a neat hands-on activity to go along with learning about the Andes Mountains we got caught up in the beautiful stretch of Rainbow Mountain, part of the Andes of Peru.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Rainbow Mountain is layered with the most colorful ribbons of sediments in turquoise, lavender, gold, red, and more.

It is known as Vinicunca, or Winikunka, and also called Montaña de Siete Colores which means Mountain of seven colors.

So, I wanted to focus our project here on these colorful peaks.

But I have lots of great information, facts, and resources to make your study of the Andes mountain range fun and full of learning.

Books About South America

First, look at some of these books about South America. We gravitate toward living books.

13 Resources for a Study of South America

Add some of these fun books and resources to your study of South America.

South America (Rookie Read-About Geography: Continents)

An incredible variety of climates and biomes span the territory of South America. As a result, the continent contains some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth.

Rookie Read-About: Continents series gives the youngest reader (Ages 3-6) an introduction to the components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Readers will get to know each continents' geography, history, and wildlife. In this book readers learn about the continent of South America, including the geography, native animals, people and more.

Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas!: With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids (Explore Your World)

A full-color, compelling book for ages 7 to 10 offers a deep dive into the three sophisticated ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica―the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas― through hands-on STEAM projects, essential questions, and loads of fascinating facts!

Why were there more than 3,000 steps built at Machu Picchu? Why did the Aztecs roam Mexico for nearly 200 years before finding a place to settle? How did the Maya study the movements of the stars and the planets? Ancient Civilizations: Aztecs, Maya, Incas! With 25 Social Studies Projects for Kids takes kids ages 7 to 10 on a guided tour to experience the history, culture, economics, and daily life of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas.

Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

A man, his burros, and his books bring joy to children in remote Colombian villages in this inspiring book based on a true story by celebrated picture book creator Jeanette Winter.Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution—a traveling library! He buys two donkeys—Alfa and Beto—and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.

Secret of the Andes (Puffin Newberry Library)

An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors. 

My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas

In the sequel to On the Pampas, the author recalls her first year on the small Argentinian ranch purchased and managed by her mother, in an account that includes a visual dictionary of the Spanish words and geographical terms used in the text.

Tales from Silver Lands

Atmospheric woodcuts illustrate this Newbery Award–winning collection of 19 South American folktales. Charles J. Finger heard the tales firsthand from native storytellers, whose fables of talking animals, witches, giants, and ordinary people in supernatural settings provide remarkable insights into regional values and culture. The first of the stories, "A Tale of Three Tails," tells of an age when the rat had a tail like a horse, the rabbit had a tail like a cat, and the deer's tail was plumed like the tail of a dog. "The Magic Dog" recounts an act of kindness to a stray animal that helps overcome a witch's curse. In "The Calabash Man," the creatures of the jungle assist a suitor in winning his bride, and in "El Enano," a greedy troll's insatiable appetite leads to his downfall. Packed with adventure and full of surprises, these and other stories emphasize the importance of hard work, courage, and loyalty.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

In 1911, Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and “discovered” Machu Picchu. While history has recast Bingham as a villain who stole both priceless artifacts and credit for finding the great archeological site, Mark Adams set out to retrace the explorer’s perilous path in search of the truth—except he’d written about adventure far more than he’d actually lived it. In fact, he’d never even slept in a tent.

Journey to the River Sea

With the memorable characters and plot twists she brings to her best-selling fantasies, acclaimed author Eva Ibbotson has written a hair-raising novel, set in turn-of-the-last-century Brazil.Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she's dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson's lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alco

This Place Is Wet

Can you imagine living in a place where there is so much water some houses need to be built on stilts to protect them when the river rises? Or where it is so wet that some plants can grow on the sides of trees with their roots gathering water from the air? In This Place Is Wet, you'll find out all sorts of things about what it's like to live in the rain forest of Brazil. Try to imagine living there!

Bolivar: American Liberator

It is astonishing that Simón Bolívar, the great Liberator of South America, is not better known in the United States. He freed six countries from Spanish rule, traveled more than 75,000 miles on horseback to do so, and became the greatest figure in Latin American history. His life is epic, heroic, straight out of Hollywood: he fought battle after battle in punishing terrain, forged uncertain coalitions of competing forces and races, lost his beautiful wife soon after they married and never remarried (although he did have a succession of mistresses, including one who held up the revolution and another who saved his life), and he died relatively young, uncertain whether his
achievements would endure.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Ada Ríos grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. She dreamed of playing the violin, but with little money for anything but the bare essentials, it was never an option...until a music teacher named Favio Chávez arrived. He wanted to give the children of Cateura something special, so he made them instruments out of materials found in the trash

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book: Coloring Pages of Ancient Mexico Civilizations for Adults and Teens

Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book – Fun And Education For Adults and TeensMake the perfect gift for anyone who loves coloring! Enjoy this Mayans Aztecs Incas Coloring Book for Adults and Teens. Click the cover to reveal what’s inside!About this book:

  • 40 original pages drawings of Symbols, Warriors, Masks and Mandalas.

The Inca Empire (A True Book: Ancient Civilizations) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Explore the Inca empire, including how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built, and why it disappeared.

A True Book: Ancient Civilizations series allows readers to experience what makes each ancient civilization distinctive and exceptional as well look at its influence on the some of the practices of the modern world. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.

7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

  1. The Andes Mountains are the longest mountain chain in the world at 5,530 miles long and stretch through 7 different South American countries- Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina
  2. They were formed due to the tectonic activity between the South American and Nazca plates, simply put it means that two tectonic plates pushed together and one lay above the other, disrupting the Earth’s surface.
  3. The majority of Andean peaks are volcanic with an estimated 150 to 160 active volcanoes along the Andean Volcanic Belt.
  4. Did you know that the Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire islands in the Caribbean are the peaks of an extensive submerged continuation of the Andes?  In Patagonia, many islands are also part of the mountain chain. 
  5. The Amazon River originates in the Andes mountains at an elevation of 5,598 miles, less than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
  6. The summit of Mount Chimborazo in the Andes is the highest point of elevation on Earth when measured from the Earth’s center.
  7. The Andes are a very biodiverse system, if you were to take a trip through the mountains you might see many of the over 3,700 species of animals that live there, including alpaca, chinchilla, llamas, mountain tapirs, guinea pigs, spectacled bears, and more.
How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Next, look at more Andes mountain facts for kids and South America resources.

More Mountain Facts for Kids and South America Activities

  • Try this Torn Paper Mountain Landscape Art Tutorial for another unique mountain project.
  • How To Make A Blue-Footed Booby Bird Craft
  • 7 Facts About the Inca Empire & Make a Fun Incan Ruins Model
  • A good resource can be used for more than one specific theme, Mountain Ranges of the World contains information on mountains and how they are formed as well as artistic views of ranges including the Andes and more
  • 9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
  • Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial

Finally, look how to make a felt mountain craft.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft

You will need:

  • Cardboard
  • Colorful craft felt
  • Hot glue, tacky, or school glue
  • Scissors
How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

First, cut whatever size span of mountains you want from cardboard, corrugated cardboard is nice and sturdy and this is a great upcycle for old Amazon boxes.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Next, you want to cut a lot of very thin strips, with some size variations out of the colors of felt you have chosen. You could also use yarn if you have that on hand instead.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

“Paint” your cardboard mountains with a thick coat of glue all over. Originally, I was going to use hot glue but it dries quickly.

Plus, I wanted to allow for building time. An older child could hot glue a piece at a time if they want a quicker drying project.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Begin pressing your strips of felt into v patterns on the mountain.

Starting from the outside or inside, whatever they prefer. Let the excess hang off the sides, you will fix that when it’s dry.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Continue until your mountain(s) are completely covered.

Allow it to dry overnight and then trim off the excess along the edges of the mountains.

If you are layering mountains instead of making just one you can attach them to one other.

Leave it at that or mount them on a larger piece of felt glued to another piece of cardboard to give it a background.

How to Make a Felt Mountain Craft | 7 Andes Mountain Facts For Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, mountains, south america, The Andes

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

June 6, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

How to make paper mache mountains is a fun way to learn geography, learn about the Chimborazo mountains and South America. Also, I have this page Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

June 3rd is celebrated as Chimborazo Day by many in Ecuador.

Chimborazo is an ice-capped inactive mountain.

Any of the geography of South America holds a special place in my heart since we lived there for a few years.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

With an elevation less than that of Mount Everest, the Chimborazo of the Andes wins the award for being the highest point on earth because it’s the furthest point from earth’s center.

This is a great opportunity to learn about it and a few other famous mountain ranges around the world by learning how to make paper mache mountains. 

We are going to learn how to make paper mache mountains with a new medium, rather than flour and water that can mold easily.

Too, we are going to make our own mod podge mixture.

Facts about Chimborazo

  • The Chimborazo is a dormant volcano that erupted 1,400 years ago.
  • The word Chimborazo either means “women of snow” or “mountain of ice.”
  • Although it’s not a hard mountain to climb, the high altitude can make you sick.
  • It is 20,565 ft high and on the equatorial line. So, it makes it the closest point to the sun on planet Earth.
  • Alexander von Humboldt in 1802, traveled to modern day Ecuador to climb Mount Chimborazo.
  • In many dialects of Quichua or Quechua, “chimba” means “on the other side” as in “on the other side of the river” or “on the opposite bank.
  • It is a stratovolcano.
How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

More Facts about Mountains

  • Other famous mountains include The Matterhorn, Mount Fuji, Denali, Mont Blanc, Everest, and Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • The largest range of mountains is in the Atlantic Ocean known as The Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
  • Mountains cover roughly one-fifth of the earth’s land surface.
  • 75 percent of the world’s countries have mountains in them.

What Is A Mountain?

The dictionary defines a mountain as “a large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level.

Mountains are made from rocks and soil.

In addition, mountains must be higher than 1968.5 feet otherwise they are classified as a hill.

How Is A Mountain Formed?

All mountains are formed by the movement of tectonic plates in one of three ways:

  • Volcanic explosion
  • Tectonic faults 
  • Tectonic collision

When the boundaries between two tectonic plates move further apart, the result is described as a divergent boundary.

When two plates collide, the outcome is called a convergent boundary.

What Kinds Of Mountains Are There?

There are 5 different types of mountains.

  1. Fold Mountains
  2. Fault-block Mountains
  3. Dome Mountains
  4. Volcanic Mountains
  5. Plateau Mountains

Next look at some of these other resources about mountains.

Resources for Learning About Mountains and How to Make Paper Mache Mountains

  • Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids
  • 6 Unit Study Resources: Mountain Men – Explorers of the West
  • How Does the Power of Ice Shape Mountains
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America & Mountain Climate Zones Minibooks

Additionally, look at resources for learning about South America.

South America Activities

  • 9 Free South America Country Reports for Kids Notebooking Pages
  • Free South America Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • Appreciating the Culture of South America Through Dance
  • Free Machu Picchu Mini Book & Completed South America Lapbook
  • South America Unit Study– Colorful Free Printable Map
  • South America Geography Salt Dough Map + Printable Pennants
  • South America Unit Study resources

Then, add some vocabulary words.

Vocabulary Words About Mountains

Here is a small list of vocabulary words you may run into while studying mountains.

  • Mountain-Large natural elevation of the earth’s surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level.
  • Mountain Range-A mountain range is a series or chain of mountains that are close together.
  • Peak-The pointed top of a mountain.
  • Ridgeline-The topmost edge along a mountain ridge.
  • Valley-A low area of land between hills or mountains.
  • Elevation-Height above a given level, especially sea level.
How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Finally, look how to make these fun paper mache mountains.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains

I bought foil, a roll of brown shipping paper, and masking tape a Dollar Tree with plenty of everything left over for future projects.

If you have a newspaper or other supplies already on hand you can use that and save a little more money.

This is a super messy project.

You will want to lay something down indoors like a plastic tablecloth or head outside for this one.

Also, keep a wet rag nearby for wiping little hands coated in the glue mixture.

You will need:

  • Craft paper or Newspaper 
  • School glue
  • Water
  • Masking tape
  • Aluminum foil
  • paint/paint brushes
How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

First, prepare your base by cutting a square of cardboard or using a foam science board to be a little larger than you would like the base of your mountain to be.

Ball up paper to form the bulk and the basic shape of your mountain on your baseboard”. Use masking tape to hold it all together and secure it down to the board. Continue stacking and adding until you have a good general size and shape.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Cut or tear your paper into long 1” strips, but you can also just use random ragged shapes, it will all work out.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

In a medium bowl mix together 2 parts glue to 1 part water, combining well.

Paper Mache Mountain Craft

Toss in a couple of handfuls of paper and make sure they are all covered with the mixture.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

 Run each strip of paper through the glue mixture until well-saturated. Scrape off some of the excess using the side of the bowl.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Begin layering your strips over the form you made, overlapping a bit. You can go in any direction, don’t smooth out every piece, you can crinkle some and bunch them up a bit to create ridgelines and dimensions. Be sure to add some to the base to create the texture of the land around the mountain.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

I like to cover everything with a layer or two of aluminum foil to smooth out some of the rough areas and hold everything together because it’s pliable. You can also use it to help form your shape. Remember that you don’t want everything perfect, you want it to appear rough and natural as it would in nature.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

With this kind of well-built-up base and this type of glue mixture, I find that 3 or 4 layers are often sufficient to create even and well-covered surfaces. It also seems to dry much quicker, especially if you put it out in the sun.

Allow it to dry completely.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Paint your mountain as well as the flatland.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Once dry you can add snowcaps, shadows, and any other details you want to the painted portion, dry again.

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

To add a little more interest and texture you can use glue.

You can use this technique to recreate Chimborazo or any other mountains you like!

How to Make Paper Mache Mountains to Celebrate Chimborazo Day

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolgeography, mountains, paper mache, south america

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

January 26, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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Trekking through the Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail was an arduous journey. Too, I have more ideas and activities on my Westward Ho Unit Study and Lapbook.

The Rocky Mountain National Park was established in Colorado on January 26th, 1915.

In honor of this amazing National Park, I thought we would take a virtual trip by creating a miniature section of the Rocky Mountains with a diorama.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

And to be more specific, we’re creating it as it might have looked along the Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail section.

How exciting and scary a time it must have been.

The Rocky Mountains are distinctive and easily identifiable just by their silhouette but are unique depending on where you are along the western mountain chain.

We were inspired by this amazing drawing of the Cherokee Pass through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It is by Daniel Jenks from 1859.

And we created this fun and large diorama with just a few different simple items.

But first look at these facts about the Rocky Mountains.

Rocky Mountain Facts

  • The Rocky Mountains stretch through more than 3000 miles and over 6 states which are New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
  • Rocky Mountain is one of the nation’s highest national parks.
  • There are many indigenous people living in the Rocky Mountains like Bannock, Sioux, Blackfoot, Cow People, Apache, Kutenai, and more.
  • There is a super volcano in the Rocky Mountains called Yellowstone Caldera. It’s located in the Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
  • The Rocky Mountain National Park is open all year.
  • In 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition became the first scientific reconnaissance of the Rocky Mountains; they gathered a lot of important information as well as specimens.
  • There are over 250 different bird species which live in the Rocky Mountain National Park.
  • The Rocky Mountains are rich with natural resources like gold, silver, copper, tungsten, zinc, molybdenum, and lead.
  • The Rockies have over 100 separate ranges.
  • Bighorn sheep are the symbol of Rocky Mountain National Park and there are over 400 residing in the park.

Westward Expansion Resources

Also, add some of these fun books.

10 Westward Expansion Resources

Add in a few books and resources to bring the study of the Oregon Trail to life during the United States expansion of the west.

Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail (The Way It Was)

Your Life as a Pioneer on The Oregon Trail, has some funny illustrations and great information for this unit study.

Little House on the Prairie Series 7 Books Collection

Of course ALL the Little House Books are some of the best about pioneer life.

The Ingalls are the most famous pioneers and westward moving families.

Westward Expansion (A True Book: Westward Expansion)

A True Book: Westward Expansion takes readers on an amazing journey to a fascinating time in U.S. history when the country was experiencing dynamic change and expanding westward.

The Oregon Trail 4-Book Paperback Box Set Plus Poster Map

In this boxed set, choose your own trail and complete the journey to Oregon City with all four paperbacks in this exciting series! It's 1850 and your first goal is to get your family, covered wagon full of supplies, and oxen to Chimney Rock on time. 

The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley Boardgame

  • It's a race to Willamette Valley as you join the wagon train and seek your fortune in the West!

Apples to Oregon:

Apples, ho! When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too.

Locomotive

It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to
ocean

The California Gold Rush and the '49ers

Try your luck, and search for your fortune in California! Follow the joy and heartbreak of the '49ers during the California Gold Rush.

Daily Life in a Covered Wagon

In 1853, the Larkin family loaded up their wagons and headed west in search of a new life. But how did they do it? What did they eat? How did they survive sickness, and attacks from cattle thieves? Drawing on diaries and letters, and illustrated with photographs of actual object from the past, Daily Life in a Covered Wagon explored what life was really like on the wagon trail.

Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

Illustrations and simple rhyming text follow Mother, Father, and Baby John as they make the difficult journey by wagon to a new home across the Rocky Mountains in the fertile Sacramento Valley of California. By the creators of Gold Fever.

Additionally, learn about some of the animals which lives in the Rocky Mountains.

Rocky Mountain Animals and Birds

If you were a pioneer heading west through the Rocky Mountain Oregon Trail, what type of wildlife would you see?

This is the perfect next step to create a mini study from this project.

Let your child choose one of the animals that are common to the Rocky Mountains and create a report, write a story, paint a picture, or create a presentation on their chosen animal. 

  • Brown Bears
  • Coyote
  • BigHorn Sheep
  • Black Bear
  • Mule Deer
  • Mountain Lion
  • Gray Wolf
  • Elk

Also, look at some of the birds.

  • Yellowthroat
  • Red Crossbill
  • Nuthatch
  • Dipper
  • Meadowlark
  • Towhee
  • Song Sparrow
Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Additionally, here are more hands-on Westward Expansion Activities.

Hands-on Westward Expansion Activities

  • Pioneer Living and Cloth Dyeing (Hands-on History)
  • Hands-on History: Make Maple Snow Candy – Pioneer Activity
  • 10 Westward Expansion History Fun Coloring Pages
  • Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple
  • Fun No Sew Pioneer Rag Doll For Kids Westward Expansion Activity
  • Pioneer Peg Dolls For Kids Westward Expansion Hands On Activities
  • 7 Educational Movies for Kids About Westward Expansion
  • Free Westward Ho History Cards
  • National Bison Day: Make Fun Oregon Trail Bison Jerky With Kids

Finally, look at how to make this Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail diorama.

Besides the little Safari Ltd. Toob animals you can get everything used in this diorama from Dollar Tree with plenty of supplies left over for future projects.

How to Make a Rocky Mountain Oregon Trail Diorama

You will need:

  • A foam board
  • Paper bags
  • Newspaper
  • Aluminum foil
  • Craft paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Blue and green cardstock
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Put puddles of brown, gray, and green paints on a paper plate.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Wad up a small piece of newspaper up and dip it in your paints.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Press the newspaper around the foam board as if you were sponge painting.

Cover the foam board with a light coat of the mixed colors to represent the rocks, grass, and earth.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Use a beige paint to create a trail going through the mountains. Set aside to dry while you begin working on the mountains.

Open 3-4 paper bags.

Slip them over your hand/arm one at a time and take the same paints and newspaper and cover all sides and the top of the bag.

Rocky Mountain Oregon Trail Diorama

You can leave some spots bare as the brown from the bag will blend in as earth.

Slip over a jar or something and allow it to dry completely.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Stuff the bags loosely with newspaper and foil as you like but not so full that you can’t “mold” it.

You just want them to give your bag some structure.

Twist and mold the bags to create the sharper angles and peaks of the Rocky Mountains silhouette.

Hot glue the base of the mountain along the back of your base board to secure into place.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Pinch and shape the mountains as needed to fix them up.

To create a water feature at the base of the mountain, tear up some blue paper in whatever shape you like and glue down.

Cut a bunch of green triangles of different sizes then make little cuts on each side to make pine trees.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Fold ⅛” piece of the bottom over and then glue them onto the board with the largest in front and the smallest closest to the mountains.

This creates some perspective.

Create the snow peaked caps by drizzling paint on the top and brush lightly just a little down the sides.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Finally, add some of the wildlife you would see traveling through the Rocky Mountains.

This North American Wildlife Safari Toob provided the bulk of the animals used here.

Rocky Mountains Oregon Trail Fun Large Diorama Craft for Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: diorama, hands on history, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, mountains, Oregon Trail, westward expansion, westwardho

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