science

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

June 3, 2024 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We really love to do rock activities that are easy. Also, look at my Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

There are so many different hands-on activities to do when learning about rocks.

We did a Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages activity a while back and today we decided to whip out an edible rock cycle fudge. (yum)

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge | Hands-on Rock Activities & Free Notebooking Pages

Your kids will love seeing the different processes of the rock cycle while making rock cycle fudge. This is great for your middle school kids to do.

Make Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

Let the younger ones measure and stir the ingredients when they are not hot.

Otherwise, turn this activity over to your kids. Yes, easy activities are my style.

Let’s go. Here is what you need.

Microwave | two bowls (one needs to be microwave safe)
spatula
wax paper
thin cookie sheet
liquid and dry measuring cups
1/2 cup silt (sweetened condensed milk)
1/2 cup quartz crystals (sugar)
1 T. sediment (softened butter)
1 cup limestone pieces (marshmallows)
1/4 cup or more sandstone pieces (we used walnuts because we love them, but pecans are fine too)
| 3/4 cup basalt pieces (chocolate chips)
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Add the milk, sugar and softened butter in microwave safe mixing bowl and stir to mix. Set aside.

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

In the second bowl combine the one cup of marshmallows, 1/4 cup of walnuts or pecan pieces, 3/4 cup of chocolate chips, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Place the mixing bowl with the milk, sugar, and butter in the microwave.

Microwave it three times for 45 seconds each.

After each time, take it out, stir, and microwave again.

After the third time, pour the marshmallows, walnuts and chocolate chips into the bowl.

Everything should start melting.

(By the way since the mixing bowl has been microwaved 3 times, it’s hot. So your kids may want to use an oven mitten.)

If it’s not hot enough and melting, stick it in the microwave again and give it a few more seconds.

Pour out onto wax paper which is placed on a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.

Or, if you’re like us and can’t wait that long, stick it in the freezer for a while and cheat.

Here are some questions to ask about the rock cycle.

What is the rock cycle? It’s how rocks are formed, it’s how rocks breakdown, and it’s how rocks form into other rocks.
How is the fudge similar to the rock cycle? (Magma is chocolate, different pieces are sediment and when it cools, it’s igneous rock.)
What is sediment? (Metamorphic rocks can break down and turn into sediment).
What happens when we apply heat to a sedimentary rock?
What is magma?

Look at some other hands-on rock activities I’ve rounded up and love.

Rocks Unit Studies

Free Grand Canyon Unit Study.
Geology Leader Notebook 92 pages.
Free Homeschool Geology Unit Study And Easy DIY Eggshell Geode
Hands-on Science: Rocks & Minerals Unit.
Rocking the Cycle Unit Study 45 pages.
4th Grade What are Minerals? 61 pages.

Rock Printables, Lesson Plans and Activities

Now, look at some rock printables, lesson plans and activities.

Living Books About Rocks

And my favorite rock living book with hands-on activities.

6 Rock Unit Study Books & Fun Resources

Whatever grade you're teaching, you'll love adding one of these books or resources to your day.

1. A Rock Is Lively (Family Treasure Nature Encylopedias)

From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.

2. LED Lighted Pocket Microscope

A pocket microscope is a great addition to a science shelf or to add to your bag for nature walks.

3. Rock Cycle Kit, 12 Pieces - Includes Metamorphic, Igneous & Sedimentary Rocks

You can grab a set like this one to start your collection, it contains rocks from each of the 3 types- Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous.

4. My Book of Rocks and Minerals: Things to Find, Collect, and Treasure

Identify colorful gemstones, sparkly crystals, the toughest rocks, and ancient fossils. Packed with fun facts, information, and extensive photos all about the rocks and minerals that make up the world around us.

Basher: Rocks & Minerals: A Gem of a Book

Simon Basher is back with another zany primer to science! Following his 3 successful titles on the basics of chemistry, physics, and biology, BASHER SCIENCE: ROCKS AND MINERALS is an in-depth look at the ground beneath our feet. Like his other titles, Basher presents these topics through charming and adorable illustrations and pairs them with basic information told from a first person perspective. He develops a community of characters based on the things that form the foundations
of our planet: rocks, gems, crystals, fossils and more. And what's more, he makes it understandable, interesting, and cute. It's not what you expect out of a science primer.

Everybody Needs a Rock (An Aladdin Book)

Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you.

Media About Rocks

More Ideas for Edible Rock Activities

Free 3 Notebooking Pages

Next, use my pages below to add your child’s thoughts about rocks.

3 Types of Rock Definition Page
How Are Rocks Formed, Define Weathering, & Describe the Rock Cycle
The ABCs of Rocks.

How to Get the Free Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the freebies. They are subscriber freebies.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

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

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.

Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

May 29, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Have you ever considered foraging for a dandelion kids activity? Also, look at my Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook.

I highly recommend foraging as an elective as well as part of your science/nature studies for everyone from preschool to high school.

Art of Foraging | How to Make A Dandelion Kids Activity Soap

You don’t have to go far to find a treasure trove of plants and flowers to forage, even as close as your own backyard.

Weeds and flowers can be used for everything from topical creams to tummy, soothing teas and soaps.

It puts a whole new spin on picking flowers for mom.

Books About Foraging for Kids

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

They make for great unit studies.

9 Foraging & Feasting Books & Resources For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add one or two of these books and resources to your learning day. Foraging and feasting covers many unit study topics from science and history to geography and nature study. Bring your day to life with these fun books and resources.

The Foraging Bible for Beginners: How to Identify, Harvest, and Prepare Healthy and Delicious Edible Wild Plants

Whether you're a novice forager searching for a starting point or an experienced enthusiast wanting to expand your skills, this comprehensive guide has got you covered.

Foraging with Kids: 52 Wild and Free Edibles to Enjoy With Your Children

In today’s world of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and a growing detachment from the food that we eat, it has never been more important to encourage children to put down their screens, get outside and engage with the natural world around them. Foraging with Kids is a fun, practical book for parents to work through with their children that encourages families to interact with their environment and gain knowledge and practical understanding of the natural world through exploration and play.

The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

A guide to 32 of the best and most common edible wild plants in North America, with detailed information on how to identify them, where they are found, how and when they are harvested, which parts are used, how they are prepared, as well as their culinary use, ecology, conservation, and cultural history.

Wildcraft! an Herbal Adventure Game/Family Game: Learn 25 Herbs

FORAGING FUN FOR ALL - Gather the family and go on an imaginary adventure foraging plants through forests, trails, and waterfalls! Wildcraft!, one of our educational games, introduces the wonderful world of herbs to kids as young as 4 years old.

Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods

Planning an outdoor adventure? Make sure to consult this information-packed and photo-filled North American field guide—arranged by season and region—before you go! Already a huge success in previous editions, this must-have field guide now features a fresh new cover, as well as nearly 400 color photos and detailed information on more than 200 species of edible plants all across North America.

Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook

Foraging & Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi and illustrated by Wendy Hollender is a truly beautiful book. It contains lavish art work and innovative recipes for those who want to eat local bounty. This wonderful volume highlights easily obtainable local foods and traditional foodways.

(Kids Herb Book: For Children of All Ages) [By: Tierra, Lesley] [Mar, 2000]

Great for unit studies.

Herbal Adventures: Backyard Excursions and Kitchen Creations for Kids and Their Families

Discover the flavors and uses of common wild plants with this herbalist guide featuring recipes and tips on foraging right outside your door.When we think of wild plants with medicinal or culinary benefits, we typically think of something exotic and obscure. But many of the plants growing in our own neighborhoods can be just as useful and tasty as anything sold in a health food store. In Herbal Adventures, herbalist Rachel Wolf reveals the properties and uses of ten common plants—including chickweeds, dandelions, catnip and others.

Indian harvest: Wild food plants of America

The Fascinating Story Of Early American Foods

And you can’t convince me that a bouquet of wildflowers isn’t just as beautiful as one made up of roses.

Today we’re learning about one simple flower that is typically looked at as a weed.

It can be turned into a moisturizing soap with many benefits.

The humble dandelion.

Did you know that the entire dandelion is edible?

From petals to roots, every part of this wonderful flower can be eaten.

Additionally, it can be used in everything from jelly to lotions and soaps.

We are going to use it to create a dandelion infused oil first.

Then use that oil to create a rich moisturizing soap that is great for detoxing skin, clearing up acne, cleaning out pores, and is ultra moisturizing.

Need an educational benefit for this activity?

How about life skills, math, science and nature study, and possibly even entrepreneurial experience?

Homemade soap after all is a great homemade item for homeschoolers to create and sell.

Besides that, it’s fun to do a simple project like this with your kids just for the pure fun and joy of working side by side with them.

Next, look at some facts about foraging.

What is Foraging

Foraging is the act of gathering wild food.

This is in the form of flowers, mushrooms, leaves, wild growing fruits, seeds, nuts, truffles, and herbs.

Your collection can be used for eating, creating beauty, self-care products and medicinally.

You should always take care when foraging, especially if you plan on eating what you find you want to make 100% sure that you have identified the correct plant.

A fantastic app to help identify plants is iNaturalist, just snap a pic and search.

Too, you want to collect from an area that has not been sprayed with any pesticides. Rinse your treasures when you bring them home.

Foraging Activities for Kids

If you want to learn more about this simple flower include this Fun Kids Dandelion Flower Unit Study and Easy Tea Recipe & Notebooking Pages.
Take a look at my Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook and get a closer look at wild foods for eating and health. In this book unit study you will learn all about living from the land, identifying plants, and ideas for cooking them

Finally, look at how to make this fun dandelion soap.

Dandelion Soap

You will need:

Soap base-any
Dandelion oil
Shea butter
Beeswax
Silicone m old
Optional-essential oil

To make dandelion infused oil:

Dandelions
Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

First, make dandelion infused oil.

Later, it will be added to the soap. And you can also use it for other creams or on its own.

Dry 1 ½ cups of fresh dandelions either with a dehydrator or you can lay them on a paper towel on a sunny counter or windowsill for a few days.

Add the dried flowers to a mason jar.

Start with the mild unscented oil like fractionated, coconut oil, castor, oil, or light olive oil.

Let it sit for a week at minimum, shaking several times throughout the week.

After one or two weeks strain the oil through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to keep all the

solid flower parts out.

Directions:

I don’t measure my pour soap precisely. I just eyeballed it.

Cut up the pieces into 1-inch cubes.

Place them in whatever mold you use to be sure that it will mostly fill.

Also, you will add a little oil to this as well.

Once you have your cubes chopped up, place them, shea butter, and beeswax in a microwave safe container.

We used a glass measuring jar.

Heat it up for one minute.

Stir and then heat in 30 second increments.

Heat in 30 second increments until the soap is completely melted.

Whisk to combine everything.

Once melted, stir in dandelion oil and essential oil if you are using it.

Carefully pour the mixture into your molds, filling, not quite to the top rim.

To remove bubbles, you can spritz it with a little spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol. This will help the back of the bar have a smoother finished look.

Let your soap sit overnight to harden and dry out, then carefully remove it from the mold.

Store soap in a cool dry place wrapped loosely in waxed paper.

Are Daisies Wildflowers | How to Make a Wildflower Pounding Towel

May 25, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Have you wondered if daisies are wildflowers? You’ll also love my Wildflowers Unit Study.

Or do you have questions about the beautiful flowers in fields, along the road, and in your own backyard?

I’ll help you answer some of those questions.

Are Daisies Wildflowers | How to Make a Wildflower Pounding Craft

I have some wonderful resources for a wildflower study, and show you a simple and inexpensive craft that fits perfectly along with our topic.

A wildflower is a flower that grows in the wild. Wildflowers are not intentionally seeded or planted.

Common wildflowers are spread throughout the United States.

For example, there are Butterfly Weed, Black Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Sage, Yarrow, Hyssop, and Phlox.

Wildflowers are found along highways, at the edge of forests, filling up fields, and in your own backyard.

They come in many different colors, sizes, and species.

For example, there are 20,000 known wildflower species in the United States.

Wildflower Books For Kids

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 of these other questions and answers about wildflowers.

Are Daisies Wildflowers And Other Questions

Are Daisies Wildflowers? Yes, daisies are wildflowers and they come in a variety of colors and species.

Do wildflowers grow everywhere? Yes, wildflowers can grow pretty much anywhere but they do need at least 6 hours of sunlight and well drained soil. You will not find them on Antarctica.

How do you use wildflowers? Wildflowers are used as food, medicine, bug repellant, and for making essential oils.

Why are wildflowers so important? Besides the fact that they are so pretty to look at, wildflowers impact the environment in big ways from improving the health of the soil to pollination which helps our food supply.

What is the difference between annual and perennial wildflowers? Annuals last for the season they’re planted. But perennials come back every year.

In addition, add more of these hands-on wildflower activities.

More Wildflowers Crafts

Fun Kids Activity How to Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
California Landmarks With Naturalist John Muir | How To Make A Poppy Craft
Facts About Wildflowers And a Fun Felt Texas Bluebonnet Craft
Learn How to Easily Make a Simple and Fun Kids DIY Flower Press to preserve all the beautiful wildflowers you find on your nature walks.

Finally, look at how to make this adorable wildflower pounding towel craft.

How to Make a Wildflower Pounding Craft

You will need:

Lots of colorful fresh flowers/greenery
PFD fabric or cotton tea towel
Cardboard or a large board
Waxed paper
Hammer

First, gather up a nice variety of colorful wildflowers.

Scout out your yard, an empty field, or even use a store-bought bouquet before it begins to dry out.

You want to make sure your flowers or plants have plenty of pigment and moisture for a good transfer.

If you use PFD fabric it is already prepared to accept dye well.

If not, you want to treat your tea towels with alum using the following steps:

Wash the fabric in cold water (no detergents or fabric softeners.
Dissolve 2 teaspoons of alum powder in 1 gallon of water that is warm.
Soak the fabric in the bath for about 20–30 minutes.
Wring it out and allow it to dry naturally.

Spread and smooth your towel out flat on top of cardboard or scrap wood.

Then place your flowers and greenery how you like it.

You will get a better impression if you lay them face down.

Cover flowers and towel with wax paper.

Pound all over the paper, hitting the flowers until you have completely crushed them up into the cloth.

Carefully peel up a little bit of the flowers to make sure that the color and shape has transferred.

If there is not enough color lay them back down and repeat, pounding them out.

Continue until the color has transferred to your liking. I went back out and gathered more after the first attempt because it wasn’t enough.

Shake off all the flower residue and either place in a hot dryer for 20 minutes or press well with an iron to seal in the color.

This type of tea towel is purely decorative, the colors will not hold up to repeated use and washing. It makes a lovely gift to wrap another gift in or tuck into a pretty basket.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

May 23, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making edible beach sand and shells. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook and free Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.

It’s a fun snack that is a great way to end or even begin a beach unit.

It is almost as fun to make it as it is to eat it, but not quite.

You can do this project just for a fun beach theme.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells: A Creative And Delicious Recipe

Also, it makes a great starter for discussions on different colors of ocean water, the different colors and types of sand and what creates that sand.

In addition, you can learn about all the different varieties of seashells.

If you are lucky enough to live near a beach, you can incorporate a field trip to study beach sand up close.

Sigh, it’s a tough job but someone must do it.

Next, look at some of these books about the beach and ocean.

Books About the Beach and Ocean

16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children in color

Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.

This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton

Seaside Naturalist: Seaside Naturalist

Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.

The Big Book of the Blue (The Big Book Series)

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

Scott O'Dell Set: Island of the Blue Dolphins + Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Underwater Picture Book for Kids)

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (Illustrated 1875 Edition):

A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

An introduction by W. D. Howells.

Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.

A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.

Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia

Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet!

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.

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

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

The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!

Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!

All About Bioluminescence: Deep Sea Animals

Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.

Treasure Island (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.

Oceans and Seas!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.

Discover the Oceans: The World's Largest Ecosystem (Discover Your World)

From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.

Pagoo

An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.

Next, look at these facts about beach sand.

Colors of Ocean Water

Because most white pudding still has a yellow tint it is going to make your ocean more green than blue.

This is a great opportunity to understand why oceans run the gamut from blue to green and all shades in between.

The oceans are often blue because water absorbs those colors in the red part of the light spectrum. Much as a filter does this leaves behind colors in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see, showing them as light to brilliant shades of jewel blue.

Some oceans appear greener due to the presence of algae and plant life. Photosynthetic organisms contain chlorophyll which looks green. Depending on the type of phytoplankton the ocean may look anywhere from blue green to emerald green.

Also, look at these facts about beach sand.

5 Fascinating Facts about Beach Sand

Sand is often made from silica but is not a single mineral, rather it is made up of multiple minerals like quartz, feldspar, mica, magnetite, etc. This composition of minerals varies with the region that it is found in.
Sand comes in a rainbow of colors. The variety of colors is because of the composition of minerals and ph levels with other components. Black sand is rich in volcanic ash, white is full of quartz, pink is due to the single-celled organisms called foraminifera.
It takes thousands of years for a single grain of sand to form as larger minerals like quartz go through decomposition and erosion into small fragments.
The Sand Sea, located in the heart of the rich Sahara Desert, is the oldest desert in the world.
The World’s Tallest Sandcastle was Made in Germany and stood almost 70 feet tall.

Next, look at these other beach activities.

Hands-on Beach, Ocean and Sea Shells Activities

Finally, look at how to make your own edible beach sand and shells.

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells

You will need:

White melting chocolate
Seashell silicone mold
One package of graham crackers
Vanilla pudding
Blue raspberry drink packet
1/4 cup brown sugar
Food coloring – optional
Small paintbrush

First, prepare pudding according to package directions and then stir in as much or little flavoring/color you like.

Now, even though the vanilla pudding is white it does have a bit of a yellow tint to it so when you add the blue, it’s going to turn it a pretty green/teal.

It’s just another discussion on how bodies of water are colored differently and why.

Remember that mistakes or near misses are just great opportunities for discussion.

This gave us an intro to talk about how the ocean water in different parts of the world are very different colors.

Place pudding in the refrigerator to set.

Add graham crackers and brown sugar to either a powerful blender or a food processor.

Pulse until very fine, like beach sand then set aside.

Finally, on to the seashells- you can leave them white or you can buy various colors of chocolate melts, we decided to give them a little bit of color by brushing a small amount of food coloring onto the mold.

Next place your desired amount of melted chocolate in a microwave safe container and heat for one minute ,stir, and then heat in 30 second increments each time until it is completely melted.

Carefully spoon melted chocolate into the seashell molds. You can pop it in the refrigerator if you like to harden it quicker.

Carefully remove each from the mold.

Now all that’s left is assembling your edible beach, grab a shallow bowl and spoon half of your ocean water/pudding on it.

Sprinkle your graham cracker mixture on the other half for beach sand, slightly overlapping area and then with your edible seashells.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

May 15, 2024 | Leave a Comment
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Not only is it a fun new medium but this ladybug watercolor picture is a great way to incorporate science into your art project. Look at my Free Kids Insect Unit Study.

Instead of printing a worksheet to have your children label, have them paint their own beautiful ladybug picture.

Then use watercolors and label each part. It’s not a lesson they would soon forget.

How to Make a Fun Ladybug Watercolor Labeled Picture

Did you know that a group of ladybugs is called ‘a loveliness’ or ‘a bloom’?

What a wonderful name!

The ladybug has an exoskeleton made of a protein like the one that forms our hair and fingernails.

First, look at some books to add to your study.

Books About Ladybugs

7 Ladybug Resources & Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Want to learn more about the amazing ladybug? Check out some of these resources to make a wonderful immersive study around this little insect. Grab a favorite book from the library or Amazon to make sure your ladybug journey is full of hands-on fun and learning. You can even raise ladybugs in their own tiny world.

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

A beautifully illustrated, informative book for children introducing them to bugs that creep, crawl, bite, fly, and more.

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.

Ladybug

McClung, in explaining the vision and purpose for his books, remarked "practically all my books deal with wild animals and the natural environment. Unfortunately, more and more of the vital habitat that wildlife needs for survival is being polluted or destroyed by the activities of Homo Sapiens.

Insect Lore Live Ladybug Growing Kit

Includes voucher for 10 to 13 ladybug larvae and all the food they need to grow into adult ladybugs included

Ladybug at Orchard Avenue

Ladybug encounters many predators while hunting for food and searching for a winter home. Ladybug's bright red coloring helps to keep her safe, but will she find enough food and a safe shelter for the winter months ahead? Reviewed by the Smithsonian Institution for accuracy, Ladybug at Orchard Avenue is a fun and informative story with beautifully detailed illustrations.Watch your children have a blast reading and learning about the animals that live in an American backyard!

Life Cycle Kit Science

Life Cycle Matching Card Set: Contains a set of plastic animals of the life cycle of a Ladybug. It helps demonstrate the life cycle of animals with beautiful 3D designs that entice kids to learn!

Ladybugs

Everything you ever wanted to know about ladybugs— and why they're crucial to our environment. When you think of a ladybug, you might picture a little red beetle with seven black spots on its back—but did you know there are thousands of types of ladybugs, spread across the world?

A Ladybug's Life (Nature Upclose)

Ladybugs are a farmer's best friend-they eat the bugs that would otherwise harm plants. Nature Up close series uses beautiful watercolors to depict each creature's world from its unique perspective. Simple text describes the creatures' movements and activities.

Next, here are some more facts about ladybugs.

Ladybug Facts

Its body has three distinct parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen.

The head houses the ladybug’s mouthparts, compound eyes, and antennae.

Beneath the protection of the elytra, which is the colorful spotted covering are their flight wings. These spots warn predators that they are not.

Ladybugs, also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles are very much considered a beneficial bug rather than a nuisance.

They help to rid areas of aphids, mealybugs and other crop destructive pests that would otherwise take over healthy plants.

With almost 400 different kinds of ladybugs in North America these pretty little flyers are plentiful which is a good thing.

Also, they help pollinate flowers and fruits, especially in the winter months.

Just like the beautiful butterfly, ladybugs have four stages before they complete their metamorphosis.

They start out as tiny eggs that hatch into larvae, then the pupal stage, lasting around two weeks.

Finally, they become adult ladybugs, and their hidden wings appear.

Looking for a few more ideas for using your watercolor supplies?

Here are 4 more nature watercolor tutorials to look at that will help you cover art to science study, as well as some geography in one project.

Nature Watercolor Tutorials

I just love this video tutorial for Watercolor Fireflies In a Jar, it has such a fun magical summer feel to it.
You would almost think that you had visited yourself when you painted a Galapagos Islands Animals Fun and Simple Watercolor Flamingo Tutorial .
This Beautiful Watercolor Butterfly Painting combines oil pastels and watercolor for a lovely art project.
While resist paintings have been around for ages this Bee Art Activity | Watercolor Crayon Resist puts a fresh new spin on it.
Dive deep and create a magical tropical Jellyfish Art Project for Kids for an ocean themed study.

More Insect Activities

Finally, look at how to do this ladybug watercolor art.

Ladybug Watercolor

If you are going to learn about an insect, the lovely garden friend the ladybug is an excellent subject and makes for a pretty picture as well.

Young children can be given small slips of paper with the basic parts on it.

If they are not quite writing yet while older children can get more detailed, even labeling the scutellum, central line, femur, tibia, tarsus, and tarsal claw.

You will need:

Watercolor paints
Watercolor paper
Container of water
Large circle object for tracing
Pencil
Ruler
Fine line marker
Paintbrushes

You can absolutely free hand your ladybug if you like but I find it really helpful to trace a circular outline and then freehand from there.

Use a bowl or something similar to lightly trace a circle into the center of your page.

Paint a light wash of black down the center of the circle for the abdomen and a larger black half circle at the top for the pronotum (which covers the ladybugs thorax).

Allow to sit until mostly dry.

Now, fill in the circle with 2-3 coats of red to get the shade you desire.

Let it dry or use a blow dryer to help speed it up but you want it completely dry before you begin adding more details.

Once the red is dry paint on the head and 6 jointed legs.

Fill in black dots with a couple of thick coats of paint.

Use a fine line marker to outline the ladybug and sharpen the edges, this will really give it a completed look.

Take a ruler and make lines where you would like your child to label the parts, the older the child the more detail you can get.

You can simply have them label “legs” or more detailed like “foreleg, middle leg, hind leg”.

Once you have created your lines and everything is dry, have them neatly fill in the parts.

science

Make Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

Edible Rock Cycle Fudge

Rocks Unit Studies

Rock Printables, Lesson Plans and Activities

Living Books About Rocks

And my favorite rock living book with hands-on activities.

Media About Rocks

More Ideas for Edible Rock Activities

Free 3 Notebooking Pages

How to Get the Free Notebooking Pages

Books About Foraging for Kids

What is Foraging

Foraging Activities for Kids

Dandelion Soap

Wildflower Books For Kids

Are Daisies Wildflowers And Other Questions

More Wildflowers Crafts

How to Make a Wildflower Pounding Craft

Books About the Beach and Ocean

Colors of Ocean Water

5 Fascinating Facts about Beach Sand

Hands-on Beach, Ocean and Sea Shells Activities

How To Make Your Own Edible Beach Sand And Shells

Books About Ladybugs

Ladybug Facts

Nature Watercolor Tutorials

More Insect Activities

Ladybug Watercolor

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