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science

Exploring Seed Activity: How To Do A Sinking Seed Experiment

September 16, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re doing a fun and easy seed activity today. Also, look at this post Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)

Simple hands-on science experiments with nature spark fun and curiosity. And the best thing about this simple seed activity is that you probably have most of these supplies at home already.

This easy activity not only teaches kids about seeds and plant biology, but also develops key skills in observation.

Exploring Seed Activity: How To Do A Sinking Seed Experiment

In this sinking seed experiment kids will test different types of seeds by placing them in water.

Your child makes a guess if the seed will sink or float. Of course, you will want your child to record his results.

Further, you want to engage your child about why some seeds and others float.

BOOKS ABOUT SEEDS FOR KIDS

Next, add some of these seed books to your home library.

5 Fun Books About Seeds

Children of all ages love activities about seeds. Add a few of these books to your learning day or use as a unit study.

Image for A Seed Is Sleepy: (Nature Books for Kids)

A Seed Is Sleepy: (Nature Books for Kids)

This gorgeous book from award winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston offers children a beautiful and informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts, making it perfect reading material at home or in the classroom.

Image for Seeds Move!

Seeds Move!

Every seed, big or small, needs sunlight, water, and an uncrowded place to put down roots. But how do seeds get to the perfect place to grow? 

Image for A Seed is the Start

A Seed is the Start

Meet seeds that pop, hop, creep, and explode in this vividly illustrated introduction to the simplest concepts of botany. 

Image for From Seed to Plant

From Seed to Plant

With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination.

Image for Go Seed, Grow!

Go Seed, Grow!

Through wind, drought, fire, and water, a seed can be one of the most tenacious miracles on the planet. A seed is life, and life always finds a way. Follow how a seed magically beats the odds time and time again, to transform the world. 

Now, look at some other fun seed activities for kids.

MORE SEED ACTIVITIES

  • Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
  • How to Easily Make Fun Seed Tape With Kids
  • Easy Seeds and Gardening Unit Study for Kids (Middle – Upper Elementary)
  • Make Fun Seed Slime
  • Two Yummy Pumpkin Seed Recipes
  • Watermelon Seed Slime
  • Growing a Seed Activity For Kindergarten Science Kids Activity
Exploring Seed Activity: How To Do A Sinking Seed Experiment

Finally, look at how to do this easy sinking seed experiment.

SINKING SEEDS EXPERIMENT

Look at this easy list of supplies.

  • A clear jar
  • Water
  • A variety of fall seeds: apple seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and acorns.

Gather seeds. Collect different fall seeds such as apple, pumpkin, sunflower, and acorns.

Exploring Seed Activity: How To Do A Sinking Seed Experiment

Make predictions. Ask kids to guess which seeds will float and which will sink.

Fill the jar. Pour water into a clear container so the results can be seen clearly.

Test the seeds. Drop each seed into the water one at a time. Watch carefully to see if it floats on the surface or sinks to the bottom.

Talk about it. Discuss why some seeds float while others sink. (For example, lighter seeds or ones with air inside may float, while heavier ones usually sink.)

Extend the fun. Try the same experiment with other fall items like corn kernels, leaves, or pinecones.

BENEFITS OF THE SEED SINKING EXPERIMENT

  • Hands-on Learning – Encourages exploration of nature and everyday items.
  • STEM Skills – Builds early science understanding through observation, prediction, and testing.
  • Critical Thinking – Teaches kids to compare predictions with results and think about “why” something happened.
  • Curiosity & Discovery – Sparks excitement for simple experiments and builds a love of learning.

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

Backyard Science Fun and Amazing Spider Web Facts For Kids

August 30, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some amazing spider web facts for kids. And with a fun backyard search you can turn this into easy science.

Learning about spiders and spider webs is not just for young children.

Even middle school kids can find spider webs fascinating. And in your own backyard you can stir curiosity for all your children by simply getting outside to observe them.

Backyard Science Fun and Amazing Spider Web Facts For Kids

However, delve into understanding spiders better. Did you know they are a natural pest control?

And most spiders have venom but it’s normally just strong enough to paralyze an insect. Just a few can harm humans like the brown recluse and black widow.

Too, some cool spiders like the diving bell spider can live underwater.

Peacock spiders do colorful mating dances. They are really fascinating creatures.

BOOKS ABOUT INSECTS FOR KIDS

Next, look at some fun books about insects.

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

Image for When Insects are Babies

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

Image for We Like Bugs

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Image for Fabre's Book of Insects

Fabre's Book of Insects

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Image for Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Image for Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Image for Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Image for Insect Life

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

Image for The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Image for Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

Image for The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

Image for The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Then, look at some questions you can use when investigating them in your backyard.

Have your children write them down in their journal before heading out side so you don’t have to stop the fun.

MORE SPIDER ACTIVITIES

  • Fun And Easy Spider Craft: Insect Lessons For Elementary Students
  • Check out this Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects
  • What a neat idea, the LEGO Ideas The Insect Collection lets your child make a model of some common insects with their favorite building blocks.
  • Bugs Facts For Kids And Free Paper Bug Bracelets

SPIDER QUESTIONS FOR BACKYARD INVESTIGATIONS

  • Why do spiders build their webs in certain places?
  • How strong is a spider web?
  • What kind of bugs get caught in the web?
  • How long does a web last?
  • What happens when it rains?
  • Why do spiders have so many eyes? Does that make them see better?
  • What do spiders eat?
  • How long do spiders live?
  • Are all spider webs the same?

Next, look at some amazing spider web facts for kids.

AMAZING SPIDER WEB FACTS FOR KIDS

Spider webs are made from a net made of silk that spiders spin using a special part of their body called the spinneret.

This silk is crazy strong stronger than steel if you compare it by weight. Spiders follow special patterns depending on what kind of spider they are.

Backyard Science Fun and Amazing Spider Web Facts For Kids

Here’s a step-by-step look at how an orb-weaving spider builds its web.

  1. Spiral: The spider makes a sticky spiral that catches insects.
  2. Bridge line: The spider shoots a thread across a space (like between two tree branches).
  3. Frame: It adds more lines to create a base.
  4. Radial lines: These are like the spokes of a bike wheel.

And webs can stay together even in rain and wind. Different spiders make different kinds of webs, and we can study them to learn more.

Search near bushes, flower beds, under leaves, or along fences where spiders may build their webs.

Use a magnifying glass to look closely at the spider or its web. Notice details like body shape, number of legs, colors, and patterns.

In your notebook, sketch the spider or its web. Try to include as many details as you can.

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

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

August 26, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have rounded up some easy apple crafts. Too, you’ll love this fun and easy apple sailboat to keep your little one having fun. Too, you’ll love the other ideas I have on my page Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study.

No glue and no glitter. And no paint-stained fingers. It’s a low-mess, low-stress activity that can be done in under 15 minutes, using things you probably already have at home.

In addition, while having fun, you can naturally introduce science terms such as buoyancy, and balance and symmetry.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

And your little ones are learning foundational STEM principles through play.

Too, kids are learning how to think, create, problem-solve, and play all through an easy apple craft.

In addition, not every sailboat floats perfectly on the first try so your kids learn patience.

BOOKS ABOUT APPLES FOR KIDS

Next, I’ve rounded up some fun books about apples to make this a full unit study.

8 Fun Learning About Apples Books and Resources

You will of course need a few great books that not only teach but that your kids will enjoy, a fun game or two, and maybe a few other items to make a fun apple unit.

Image for Apples (New & Updated Edition)

Apples (New & Updated Edition)

Discover the well-loved tradition of growing and picking apples - a fruit that has been in existence for about two million years. Explore the history of the apple but also the way that families and farmers grow and care for apple trees today, from planting to selling, to turning them into delicious treats and using them for classic games like "bobbing for apples" .

Image for How Do Apples Grow?

How Do Apples Grow?

This is a clear and appealing environmental science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.

Questions addressed in this book include:

  • Did you know that when you bite into an apple, you're eating part of a flower?
  • Why do apple trees need bees to make apples?
  • How does the tree feed the growing apples and make them ready to eat?

Read and find out in the proven winner How Do Apples Grow!

Image for My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

In this simple yet lively book, preschoolers will be introduced to John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Lyrical text and bright, appealing artwork capture the essence of this important American and early conservationist who traveled the country planting apple trees. Little ones will enjoy engaging anecdotes about Johnny Appleseed, beginning with the young John, who liked to walk barefoot in the cool, quiet woods.

Image for Ten Apples Up On Top!

Ten Apples Up On Top!

Don't let the apples drop! Three animal friends practice balancing apples on their heads in this hilarious introduction to counting, illustrated by Roy Mckie. The sturdy board book teaches all about numbers, with a dose of signature Seuss charm. Kids will learn to count to ten--and want to start all over again!

Image for SmartGames Apple Twist Travel Puzzle Game with 60 Challenges

SmartGames Apple Twist Travel Puzzle Game with 60 Challenges

  • An "apple" game board with five twisting levels to create different puzzles!
  • Includes 60 challenges and is great for on the go fun.
  • Helps develop Spatial Insight, Problem Solving, Planning and Logic Skills
  • All SmartGames are made with the highest quality materials to ensure long product life
  • Set Includes twisting apple game board, 3 caterpillar puzzle pieces and challenge booklet
Image for How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)

Bake a delicious apple pie--and take a trip with this culinary global adventure!An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This picture book takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients for a delicious apple pie. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont! A simple recipe for apple pie is included.

Image for LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

Choose a level and push the letter tiles into the letter slot to reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills
Magnetic back makes it great for fridge play in the kitchen
26 magnetic letter tiles stick to the fridge and help kids learn the shape of each letter
Three photo tiles can be customized with your own photos for a unique, personalized play experience.

Image for Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Get your recommended daily allowance of facts and fun with Food Anatomy, the third book in Julia Rothman’s best-selling Anatomy series. She starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes — and what we dip them in. Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings. Everyday diners and seasoned foodies alike are sure to eat it up. 

Then, look at some easy apple crafts for all ages.

EASY APPLE CRAFTS

Next, look at these easy apple crafts for kids of all ages.

  • Apples Unit How to Make a Fall Kids Garland Apple Craft
  • Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
  • Apple Lapbook and Apple Unit Study.
  • Kids Fun Hands-on Apple Unit Make Dried Apple Slices
  • 8 Facts About Johnny Appleseed and Sweet Johnny Appleseed Cookies
  • Dried Apple Crafts: Hands-on Fun Shrunken Head Apple Craft for Kids
  • 10 Fall Apple Crafts and Make a Caramel Apple Craft on a Stick
  • Apple Themed Back to School Crafts & Fun Calming Apple Jar Craft
  • Fun Apple Crafts And How To Make Apple Butter & Pretzel Truffles
Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Finally, look at how to make this fun apple sailboat.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPLE SAILBOAT

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Large plastic bin
  • Water
  • Apples (cut in half)
  • Toothpicks
  • Small pieces of paper (for sails)
  • Child-safe scissors (to cut sails)
  • Straws (for blowing boats across the water)
Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Prepare the bin – Fill a large bin with water. Make the sailboats – Cut apples in half.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Cut small paper sails and poke them onto the toothpicks.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Push a toothpick into each apple half.

Easy Apple Crafts and How to Make a Fun Apple Sailboat

Launch the boats – Place the apple sailboats into the bin of water.

Race the boats – Give kids straws and let them gently blow air toward the sails to make their boats glide across the water.

Experiment & play – Try different sizes of sails, blow from different directions, or see how many boats can move at once.

Benefits for Kids:

  • Social Skills – Promotes cooperation and friendly competition when racing boats together.
  • STEM Exploration – Introduces concepts of buoyancy, wind power, and cause-and-effect.
  • Fine Motor Skills – Strengthens hand-eye coordination while building and sailing the boats.
  • Creativity & Imagination – Encourages playful storytelling as kids race or “sail” their apple boats.
  • Sensory Play – Water play is soothing, engaging multiple senses at once.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: apples, crafts, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

August 20, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have an easy DNA extraction from a banana fun experiment.

DNA might sound like something straight out of a high-tech laboratory. However, you don’t need fancy equipment or even a lab coat to explore it.

For example, you can pull visible strands of DNA from an everyday piece of fruit: a banana.

This simple experiment is safe, kid-friendly, and a great way to spark curiosity about biology.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

If you’re looking to dive deeper into food science The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science) offers an engaging look at their history, growth, and biology.

Combining science experiments like this with reading activities turns a hands-on project into a full learning unit.

Hands-on science like banana DNA extraction makes abstract ideas tangible for kids.Instead of just reading that “bananas have DNA,” they can see it with their own eyes.

THE BIOLOGY OF BANANAS

By pairing experiments with books like The Biology of Bananas, you help kids connect curiosity with deeper knowledge, creating a memorable learning experience.

The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Get ready to play (and learn!) with your food! Discover the truth about yeast, learn how to count calories, conduct experiments with rubbery eggs, and more.

Image for The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

The Biology of Bananas (Curious World of Kitchen Science)

Explore the key principles and practice of everyday science by using analogies, experiments and research with food and drink in the home kitchen environment.

Then look at more kitchen science experiments.

MORE FASCINATING KITCHEN SCIENCE IDEAS

Kitchen Chemistry: Cake Baking Experiment for Kids– Experiment with different ingredients to see the effect it has on the baking process.

Strawberry DNA Extraction – Similar to bananas but even more dramatic since strawberries have extra copies of DNA.

Raspberry DNA Activity For Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Build a DNA Model – Use candy to construct a delicious double helix you can snack on once you are done.

How to Turn a Pizza Into a Fun Edible Human Cell Model – Use toppings to represent cell organelles for a tasty biology lesson.

Food Chemistry: Gummy Juice Noodles Kids explore the magic of molecular gastronomy by turning fruit juice into long, colorful gummy noodles using gelatin or agar powder. This tasty activity introduces concepts like gelling agents, polymers, and the difference between liquids and solids.

Turn Milk Into Plastic–Using only warm milk and vinegar, kids can transform a liquid into a moldable substance called casein plastic. Afterward, the plastic can be molded into beads, buttons, or small trinkets.

Popcorn Science Mini Unit Study Which Brand Pops the Best?-This mini investigation compares popcorn brands to see which produces the fewest unpopped kernels. Kids record their observations, measure and graph results, and discuss variables that affect ws,Epopping—like moisture content, kernel size, and cooking method. It’s a perfect blend of snack time and STEM learning.

How to make Fizzing Lemonade. Edible Science for Kids-By mixing lemon juice and baking soda, kids create a fizzy, bubbly drink while learning about acids, bases, and carbon dioxide gas.

5 Facts About Ice Cream | How to Make Ice Cream In A Bag Science– Kids discover cool facts about ice cream and then make their own ice cream using milk, sugar, and ice in a sealed bag. Shaking the mixture chills it quickly while adding a dose of fun and a little arm workout.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Finally, look at how to extract DNA from a banana.

DNA EXTRACTION FROM A BANANA EXPERIMENT

First, you will need:

  • 1 ripe banana (the softer, the better)
  • Ziplock  bag
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dish soap
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Coffee filter or fine mesh strainer
  • Small clear glass or cup
  • Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl, chilled in the freezer)
  • Wooden skewer, toothpick, or popsicle stick
Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Peel your banana and place a chunk into the zip-top bag. Seal it and gently mash until it’s smooth and lump-free, this step breaks apart the banana cells physically.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

To make the extraction solution, mix the water, salt, and dish soap in a small cup. The salt helps release the DNA by breaking up protein chains, and the soap dissolves the cell membranes.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Pour the extraction solution into the bag with the banana mush.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Seal and gently mix for about 1 minute. Avoid shaking too hard—you don’t want to break the DNA into pieces.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Place the coffee filter over your glass and pour the banana mixture through it, letting the liquid drip into the glass. This separates the solids from the cell-rich liquid.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Slowly pour chilled rubbing alcohol down the side of the glass so it forms a layer on top of the banana liquid..

Because DNA is not soluble in alcohol, it will rise into this layer.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

In a few minutes, you’ll see white, stringy, cloudy material in the alcohol layer. That’s the banana’s DNA! Use the skewer or toothpick to gently spool it up.

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

Continue gathering more and more of the DNA

Easy DNA Extraction From A Banana Experiment For Kids

How it works:

Every living thing contains DNA, the genetic instructions for life. In bananas, DNA is stored inside the cell nucleus.

The mashing, salt, and soap help break down the cell walls and membranes, releasing DNA into the liquid.

Adding cold alcohol causes the DNA to clump together, making it visible to the naked eye.

BANANA DNA EXTRACTION EXTENSION ACTIVITY IDEAS

  • Banana Genetics – Learn about the differences between wild bananas and cultivated varieties, and how cloning is used in banana farming.
  • Compare Fruits – Try the experiment with strawberries, kiwis, or grapes. Which fruit gives the most visible DNA?
  • Banana Botany – After reading The Biology of Bananas, explore how banana plants grow, their reproduction process, and why most bananas in grocery stores are seedless.
  • Microscope Investigation – Place a drop of your banana DNA on a microscope slide and view it up close.
  • Banana Life Cycle Chart – Draw and label the stages of banana growth from flower to fruit.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: banana, DNA, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

August 16, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

II have some fun facts about sunflowers for kids and a fun Dollar Tree sunflower craft. Also, I have a free pattern template you can download at the bottom of this post. And look at my page Free Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook.

Sunflowers are bright, cheerful flowers that follow the sun. Young sunflowers love the sunshine so much, they turn their heads to follow it across the sky.

Also, you can include different science topics like plants, photosynthesis, life cycles, or seasons.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

Too, you can include topics like growth and their importance in nature, pollinators, seeds and agriculture.

And for art you can include color theory and spatial awareness.

In addition, include some easy math like counting seeds, measuring petals and discussing geometric shapes.

BOOKS ABOUT WILDFLOWERS

Then, add some books to include other flowers.

10 Wildflower Books & Resources For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Spring is especially a good time to learn about wildflowers but you can learn about them anytime. Add a few of these hands-on resources and books and you'll have a fun multiple ages unit study for your homeschooled kids.

Image for Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum

Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum

Botanicum, is a brilliantly curated guide to plant life. With artwork from Katie Scott of Animalium fame, Botanicum gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the pages of a beautiful book. From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a wonderful feast of botanical knowledge complete with superb cross sections of how plants work.

Image for National Geographic Pocket Guide to Wildflowers of North America

National Geographic Pocket Guide to Wildflowers of North America

With this basic beginner's field guide to North American wildflowers, all who enjoy nature and the outdoors can identify common wildflowers, from backyard weeds to dainty forest blossoms. In a logical, user-friendly, highly visual format, this new title offers key facts about 160 of the most common wildflowers and weeds, coast to coast, including Canada and Alaska.

Image for Wildcraft! an Herbal Adventure Game for Kids

Wildcraft! an Herbal Adventure Game for Kids

Unlike many kids games 4 and up that turn out to be too confusing for children, Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game, is a fun, strategic challenge that’s also easy to follow– NO READING REQUIRED. Because our learning board games feature clear illustrations and matching icons, even younger kids will learn what the different plants look like and can be used for. It’s the perfect fun game for family game night with kids, and ideal for beginners – no prior plant knowledge necessary!

Image for Wildflower Seeds: Bulk Mix of 21 Varieties

Wildflower Seeds: Bulk Mix of 21 Varieties

Wide Variety Of Flower Seeds: Our wildflower seeds will provide you with a vibrant selection of flowers in your garden. You will get 21 different varieties of annual seeds including Black Eyed Susans, California Bluebells, African Daisies and more.

Image for Wildflower Bingo Game

Wildflower Bingo Game

Do you know which flower got its name from its resemblance to the sombrero? What is the species of the bluebonnet? Lot of facts about North American wildflowers in this game.

Image for Wildflowers, Blooms & Blossoms (Take Along Guides)

Wildflowers, Blooms & Blossoms (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested. 

Image for Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Wildflowers

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Wildflowers

What do you call a garden filled with lots of flowers? A polli-nation! Nat Geo Kids is back with the newest fact- and photo-filled Ultimate Explorer Field Guide, and this one packs some real flower power! This guide to wildflowers will make kids stop and look for all kinds of blossoms blooming right under their noses. From buttercups to bladderworts, primroses to pitcher plants, kids will learn how, where, and when to spot these wildflowers in their backyard, down the street, or all over town! Jam-packed with tons of info, interactive prompts, tips for budding botanists, super stats, and jokes--it's the perfect companion for exploring the backyard or field trips, camping, or vacation. Durable and portable, it's just right for your pocket or backpack!

Image for Wild Flowers of North America (Science Nature Guides)

Wild Flowers of North America (Science Nature Guides)

Did you know that wild plants are still used for food, for medicines, and as dyes? Many of the plants growing in urban areas, in woods and by the side of roads are useful as well as being pretty. Other plants have small and less obvious how many have you seen and not realized that they were flowers? This book will show you the most common wild flowers and where you are most likely to find them. A nature guide designed for elementary grades 2-3, the book includes more than 20 easy-to-do science projects.

Image for Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America

Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How a First Lady Changed America

In this warm, engaging look at the life of a great First Lady, Kathi Appelt tells the story behind Lady Bird Johnson's environmental vision. Joy Fisher Hein's colorful wildflowers burst from every page, inviting us to share in Lady Bird's love for natural beauty. 

From a lonely childhood in the Piney Woods of East Texas to an exciting life in the White House, Lady Bird Johnson loved wildflowers with all her heart. They were her companions in her youth, greeting her everywhere as she explored wild forests, bayous, and hills. 

Image for Wild Flowers of North America: Botanical Illustrations by Mary Vaux Walcott

Wild Flowers of North America: Botanical Illustrations by Mary Vaux Walcott

Published in association with the Smithsonian Institution. What does it take to paint a wildflower that blooms for a single day in a deep forest? For Mary Vaux Walcott, it involved spending up to seventeen hours a day out of doors with her paintbox to capture the shape, movement, and colors of delicate petals and leaves.

Next, look at some activities about sunflower.

MORE SUNFLOWER ACTIVITIES

  • How To Make Sunflower Craft Like Van Gogh For Young Crafters
  • Bundled Q-Tip & Leaf Print Sunflower
  • Is Sunflower A Wildflower | How to Make a Canning Lid Craft
  • Beautiful Chalk Pastel Sunflowers
  • Paper Sunflower Collage Art
  • How to Make a Cute Sunflower Paper Craft
How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

Then, look at these fun facts about sunflowers for kids.

FACTS ABOUT SUNFLOWER FOR KIDS

  • Sunflowers are not just one flower. It is thousands of flowers.
  • They can grow super tall.
  • Birds and bees love sunflowers.
  • They come in different colors.
  • They’ve been planted in places with polluted soil (like near nuclear power plants and after oil spills) to help clean the ground.
  • Sunflower seeds make a tasty snack.
  • Sunflowers inspired artists.
  • A process called heliotropism is when young sunflowers face the sun.
  • They belong to the Asteraceae family, which also includes daisies, zinnias, and marigolds.
  • In addition to ornamental use, sunflowers are grown for biofuel, livestock feed, birdseed, and cooking oil.

Finally, look at how to make a Dollar Tree sunflower craft.

DOLLAR STORE PAPER PLATE SUNFLOWER CRAFT

First, look at this easy list of supplies:

  • Paper Plate – Dollar Store
  • Pom Poms, Black Tinsel – Dollar Store
  • Craft Paint – Golden Yellow
  • Cardstock – Brown, Green
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors 
  • Permanent Marker
  • PATTERNS Paper Plate Sunflower. Free template. You can grab it at the bottom of this post by adding your email.
How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP ONE

Gather all supplies. Base coat the inside of the paper plate with golden yellow acrylic craft paint.

Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP TWO

Download and print the Sunflower Patterns, then cut out with scissors. You can grab the template at the bottom.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

Trace the center of the flower once onto brown cardstock. You could also use colored craft foam or craft felt for this project.

STEP THREE

Cut out the flower center pattern with scissors making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP FOUR

Attach the brown cardstock flower center to the middle of the sunflower with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

STEP FIVE

Cut triangle shaped wedges from the paper plate with scissors to create the thick petals of the sunflower.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP SIX

Attach black tinsel pom poms to the brown sunflower center using a glue gun and glue sticks.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP SEVEN

Trace the leaf patterns onto green cardstock with a pencil.

You could also use colored craft foam or craft felt for this project.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP EIGHT

Cut out the leaf patterns with scissors making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP NINE

Outline the leaves and draw a center vein with a black marker.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

STEP TEN

Attach the leaves to the back of the sunflower with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How To Make A Dollar Tree Sunflower Craft & Fun Facts About Sunflowers For Kids

This is a fun activity to keep the kiddos busy with coloring, counting and motor skills.

Make this super cute paper plate sunflower kids craft in just about 30 minutes! 

HOW TO GET THE FREE SUNFLOWER TEMPLATE PATTERN

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1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

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

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