science

How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

May 3, 2023 | 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a shark unit study, an easy shark STEM activity, and free shark notebooking pages. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies, Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook, and Coral Reef pages.

A shark unit study is a fun way to learn about these creatures of the deep even if you don’t live near the ocean, I would prefer not to study them up close anyway.

We can get up close and personal through videos, hands-on activities, fun facts, and fantastic books.

Did you know that, unlike many other bony fishes, sharks do not have a swim bladder that gives them buoyancy?

How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages

To help overcome their tendency to sink there are large amounts of oil in their liver that is less dense than seawater.

Also, sharks are made of cartilage rather than bone which is considerably lighter.

To demonstrate why that helps sharks float we are going to create a couple of sharks and perform a fun STEM Experiment.

First, look at some facts for your shark unit study.

Shark Unit Study Shark Facts

There are over 500 species of sharks.
Shark skin feels very similar to sandpaper.
The fastest shark is the Shortfin Mako Shark, clocked at 31mph with short bursts of speed up to 46 mph.
The largest shark is the Whale shark while the smallest is the Dwarf Lantern Shark.
Prehistoric sharks were called Megalodons.
Sharks are found in almost every ocean habitat from coral reefs to the arctic sea.
Sharks do not sleep as humans do, but instead, they have active and restful periods.

What are Sharks

Sharks are the ocean’s ultimate predators. Some sharks live in the cold polar waters and others prefer the warm tropical seas.

And a shark is a fish because it swims with fins and has gills.

However, it is a cartilaginous fish and not a bony fish.

Shark Food

Additionally, sharks vary in their diet and in the way they hunt prey.

For example, the tiger shark is famous for eating, anything even license plates.

And the white-tipped shark stays in deep water and is famous because it ate shipwrecked sailors during World War II.

In addition, sharks have larger brains than other fish and can have advanced hunting techniques.

Too, many sharks rely on camouflage and being able to sneak up on their prey.

Moreover, others are filter eaters. They swim with their mouth open, suck in water, and filter the food from the water.

Their meal consists of tiny animals and plants called “plankton” floating in the water.

Also, here are some shark vocabulary words.

pup – baby shark
dorsal fin – a fin on the back of a fish.
caudal fin – the tail fin.
pectoral fin – paired fins toward the front of the shark
cartilage – tough connective tissue which is not bone
marine biologist – a scientist who studies marine (ocean) organisms
cartilaginous fish – skeletons are made of cartilage like sharks, rays, and eels

Next, unit studies are best remembered by doing hands-on activities.

Shark Unit Study Hands-On Activities

I just love this fun Newspaper Shark Craft.
Play the Jawsome Shark Rescue Game to get everyone up and moving.
Digging For Shark Tooth Fossils Sensory Bin is a fun way to explore the senses.
DIY Sharknado – Science Fun For Kids Turn a serious topic into something a little silly.
Every unit study needs a couple of good snacks like these Shark Fin Cupcakes
Make the Shark Slime Recipe, it’s perfect to add to plastic sharks for hands-on fun.
Toddlers through Kindergarteners will love the Feed The Shark Alphabet Game

Homeschool Shark Unit Study Resources

Add one or two of these fun shark books and resources to your study about sharks.

Sharks! (Animal Planet Chapter Books #1)

Dive inside the world of sharks with this guide to the most incredible creatures in the sea. Photographically illustrated chapters highlight kid-favorite species such as Great Whites and Hammerheads, with a focus on behavior, senses, breeding, and feeding. Sharks! is the perfect overview for developing readers ready to explore this popular animal subject on their own. Special features include full-color photography throughout, "Meet the Scientist" sidebars, and "In Your Newsfeed" articles about amazing new discoveries.

DKfindout! Sharks

Supporting STEM-based learning, this fact-filled book for shark aficionados ages 6–9 is the ultimate guide to sharks, from hammerheads to great whites. Entertaining and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, quirky trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits, it’s the perfect book for any kid who can’t get enough of these ferocious fish.

Professor Noggin's Life in The Ocean Trivia Card Game

PLAY & LEARN: Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.

FUN FACTS: Explore underwater and learn about the amazing creatures in the sea. Discover facts about common mammals, plants and other Life in the Ocean.

Sharks Top Trumps Card Game

Find out if the Nurse Shark or the Tiger Shark is the most mysterious, or if the Spiny Dogfish Shark or the Whale Shark has been involved in the most incidents

Bag of Genuine Shark Teeth - Fossilized

30+ genuine (broken) fossilized shark teeth from Morocco! These are broken and partial teeth fossils! Each bag will have about 2-3 small full shark teeth, the other teeth will be broken and chipped!

LEGO Creator 3in1 Deep Sea Creatures Shark

This sea creatures toy building set features 3 sea animal figures: a scary shark, a posable crab with a box of treasure and a wide-mouthed Angler Fish

The dark-blue and white colored toy shark figure has an opening mouth, pointy teeth, posable fins, movable body joints and reflective eyes

Eyewitness Kits Shark Casting Kit

Fun
Educational
Learn While Having Fun
Comes With Everything You Need
PerfectCast 5 Times Stronger Than Plaster

Sharks 100 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

100 Piece Puzzle

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

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

6PC Realistic Shark Figurines Set

✔ SHARK FIGURINES BIG PARTY - Includes whale shark, hammerhead shark, tiger shark, blue shark, mako shark, zebra shark. Totally includes 6 sharks figurines. Kids would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

✔ REALISTIC EMULATIONAL DETAILS - This sea animal figures set was made by hand painted with high realistically detailed appearance, cute face and childish eyes. Their uniquely molded textures and richly painted details make the animals vivid. And all the animal figures stands up very well, they do not fall over. Children would like to spend more time to observe and play with them.

Too, I have some fun free shark notebooking pages.

So, look at the title of these 4 notebooking pages.

Sharks – What Are Sharks and About Shark Senses
What Do Sharks Eat
Shortfin Mako and White-Tipped Sharks
Great White Shark and Tiger Shark

In addition, here are more homeschool unit studies.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

MORE SHARK ACTIVITIES

How to Create a Hands-on Fun Shark Vocabulary Anatomy Activity

Finally, look at this fun sharks float STEM a;ctivity.

Shark Unit Study – How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity

You will need:

2 water bottles.
Craft foam
Sharpies
Vegetable oil
Water
A large container.

Fill two water bottles with the exact same amount of liquid – one with water and one with vegetable oil.

Decorate the bottles if you’d like to make them look more like sharks.

Use craft foam to make teeth and fins and then you can draw the details like eyes with a permanent marker.

Use hot glue for a quick secure drying adhesive but apply it to the foam rather than the plastic bottle and avoid touching with the metal nozzle.

Once everything has dried on your “shark“ you’re ready to test them out in the water.

A large storage tote is perfect for this experiment, fill it halfway full of water and drop in your sharks.

Now it’s time for observation and determining the results. What did you notice?

While the one with water stays somewhat afloat it is more weighted, the oil field shark floats much more effortlessly.

Pop in some plastic sharks and turn your tub of water into a fun sensory play activity as well.

How to Get the Free Shark Notebooking Pages

Now, how to grab the free shark notebooking pages. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

May 2, 2023 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have a hands-on way to show a sea turtle life cycle activity. Add my fun From Egg to Sea Turtle Nature Unit Study & Lapbook to make it for multiple ages.

This sea turtle life cycle activity lets your child create a unique art project while also including some marine science in their lessons.

Gather up a few supplies including a book or two and sit down with your little ones to create the full life cycle and then use it as a tool to teach as well.

Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

Ocean Anatomy gives a simple overview of different types of sea turtles as well as their life cycle, and some conservation information.

It is a great book to add to your library for all its wonderful content.

7 Facts about Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

Baby turtles use a small tooth called a caruncle to break out of the shell before heading to the water.
Once they are fully grown, they go back to where they were born to mate and start the cycle all over again.
The female sea turtle climbs ashore, digs a body pit and nest (or egg chamber), lays her eggs, and then covers the nest with sand.
It takes about six or seven weeks after being laid for the hatchlings to emerge and then head to the water.
Most species nest several times during a nesting season, every 2-4 years.
While it is not known exactly how long sea turtles live in the wild, scientists believe that their life span may be as long as a century.
There is not much known about their first few years. During the time they head to sea as newly hatched babies until they return to coastal shallow waters, up to 20 years. They are called the lost years because not much is known about this period in their life cycle.

Then add a few more resources to your marine life study.

Resources to Study the Sea Turtle Life Cycle

10 Sea Turtle Resources

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

Sea Turtles

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

I'll Follow the Moon

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

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

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

National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles

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

Tammy Turtle: A Tale of Saving Sea Turtles

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

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

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

Sea Turtle Scientist (Scientists in the Field)

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

4 PCS Sea Turtle Life Cycle

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

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

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

Follow the Moon Home

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

The Life Cycle of a Sea Turtle

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

Next, look at these videos

Sea Turtle Life Cycle
Wild Kratts |Incredibly Strong Sea Turtle.
Nat Geo Wild Surviving Sea Turtles

More Sea Turtle Resources

Also, add more hands-on learning ideas.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity

You will need:

Cardboard egg carton
Green and white craft paint
Green cardstock, construction paper, or craft foam
Black permanent marker
Scissors
Hot glue or craft glue

Cut out 5 cups from your egg carton (more if you want several eggs for the “nest”).

Paint 3 cups with various shades of green to make them unique, let your child add spots, etc.

Paint the remaining two cups white.

Allow all the paint to dry completely. While you are waiting, cut out 3 sets of 4 fins from green paper making them in 3 different sizes.

Set 1 white one to the side and leave it alone, this is an unhatched egg.

Cut one of the green cups down to a little more than half its size and glue it into the other white cup to create a hatching baby. You can even distress the egg a bit to show he is breaking it open.

Draw on little black eyes with a marker and glue the smallest fins as if he is pushing his way out of the egg.

Cut the second green cup down by about ⅓” and glue the medium-sized paper fins into place beneath the cup and add eyes. This is your juvenile turtle.

Finally, add the largest fins to the largest green cup and add eyes for your adult sea turtle.

They are ready to be a cute part of your lessons.

To give a better understanding of the life cycle you can use blue and beige paper or even sand if you have it placed on a tray to represent the water and sand.

Once you have that set up it is easy peasy to demonstrate the life cycle of sea turtles.

Share how sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach then head back to the water, then the babies hatch and head for the water until they are grown, and the cycle starts all over again.

15 Star Wars STEM Activities Ideas | Fun Flashlight Science and DIY Lightsaber

April 26, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some Star Wars STEM Activities for May 4th. Also, look at National STEM Day – Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects for more stem ideas.

May The 4th Be With You is a day we look forward to in our Star Wars-loving household all year long.

It’s a day to dig in (to the couch) and binge on all our favorite Star Wars episodes.

Spend the day eating Star Wars-themed food, enjoy a little Star Wars trivia, and soak up all the good fun of one of the greatest movie franchises.

15 Star Wars STEM Activities Ideas | Fun Flashlight Science and DIY Lightsaber

This year I wanted to include a little STEM to give it an educational slant.

I have gathered up a great list of Star Wars STEM activities.

And I am going to show you how to recreate one of the most iconic objects from the series while investigating flashlights and how they work.

If you don’t already know what STEM is, it’s an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Star Wars Stem Flashlight Science

First, look at this Stars Wars STEM flashlight science activity.

Some kids just naturally love to take things apart and explore the what, why, and how while others need a little push.

Either way, they are going to enjoy exploring what makes a flashlight work and learning what each of those components is called.

Grab an inexpensive flashlight for each child, once taken apart it may not work again, you can often find them at Dollar Tree.

What parts do you need for a flashlight?

Help your child identify each of the parts that make a flashlight work.

Explain that the batteries have different ends, positive and negative, and must be inserted in a certain way.

More Star Wars Activities

Make Cool Star Wars Soap and 15 Star Wars DIY Projects

Investigate the different parts and name them, what does each do?

Switch- Turning on the switch allows the power source to make a full circuit to the light source, giving the flashlight power.
Case- Protects the inner parts of the device.

Battery- Stores chemical energy and converts it to electrical energy to power the bulb.

Contacts- A strip of copper metal that allows electricity to flow from positive to negative terminals of the battery.

Spring-This is part of the circuit that transfers energy from the battery to the copper wire.

Transparent lens- Protects the glass bulb from breaking.
Light Bulb- Creates a light source.
Reflector- This reflects the bulb’s light into a steady focused beam.

I found this cool explanation of flashlight parts and how they are made for further study- How Are Flashlights Made?

Books about Star Wars

Second, add some of these Star Wars books and resources.

While origami is primarily considered an art it does incorporate aspects of math, engineering, and even computer science.

Grab one of these books for some fun Star Wars themed paper folding ideas.

Cooking is an excellent way to naturally work math and science into your child’s learning.

Turn it into intergalactic fun as well with a Star Wars Cookbook.

And if you are a fan of not only the movies but the man behind them, check out Who Is George Lucas from the Who Was series.

Now let’s use a second flashlight to create a fun DIY lightsaber for galactic war should we need it.

Star Wars Stem Activities DIY Lightsaber

You will need:

Bubble wand tube
Flashlight
Silver Duct or electrical tape
Colored tape or stickers

Take apart your bubble wands, and rinse well until all soap is removed from the plastic.

You can throw away the actual wand part; you just need to use the “sheath” that holds it. Allow it to dry completely.

Place the opening over the flashlight and secure it with silver duct tape and go as far up or down the handle of the flashlight as you like.

Cut small “buttons” out of colored tape or stickers.

We found these pricing stickers at Dollar Tree and cut some into squares. and apply them to the hilt of your lightsaber.

Click on the flashlight and it is ready for an epic space battle.

Additionally, I have more STEM related activities below.

More STEM Related Activities

Finally, look at these fun Star Wars themed STEM activities.

Star Wars STEM Hands-On Activities

I have some out-of-this-world activities and resources for you to enjoy with the whole family as you celebrate and learn at the same time for May the 4th and beyond.

15 Star War STEM Activities

It's fun to learn about STEM when you can add a Stars War theme to your day. Grab ideas here on this list.

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

1. Star Wars Science Activity Erupting Death Star

Baking Soda science is fun no matter what the theme, but this erupting Death Star idea is pretty cool!

Photo Credit: inspirationlaboratories.com

2. Star Wars Minifigure LEGO Math Game

Star Wars minifigures make this LEGO math game so much fun. Practice addition and subtraction using your favorite LEGO characters,

Photo Credit: kidminds.org

3. Star Wars Science: Defy Gravity the Easy Way

What I love about Star Wars is that it’s so easy to turn it into a lesson on any subject.

Photo Credit: kidminds.org

4. Sticks and Stones Ewok Catapult (with Printables)

We started by sketching different models and then experimenting with sticks arranged in different shapes to find the most effective design

Photo Credit: www.fizzicseducation.com.au

5. Star Wars Slinky Sounds!

The original blaster sounds heard in the Star Wars were made by the foley artist Ben Burtt who repetitively hit the high tension wires of a radio mast with a wrench!

Photo Credit: thefarmgirlgabs.com

6. Star Wars Slime

You’ll rule the galaxy with this easy DIY Star Wars Slime.

Photo Credit: www.sciencebuddies.org

7. Build a Mini LED Lightsaber | STEM Activity

Build your own mini LED lightsaber with a straw in this quick Star Wars-themed STEM activity.

Photo Credit: www.freehomeschooldeals.com

8. FREE Multiplication Mazes with Star Wars Theme

What better way to practice math skills for Star Wars fans than to learn with these FREE multiplication mazes with Star Wars theme?

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

9. LEGO Star Wars Science Ice Melting Activity

A LEGO Star Wars science activity and icy rescue with Star Wars LEGO minifigures.

Photo Credit: royalbaloo.com

10. Star Wars Paper Airplane Comparison

So with the topic of paper airplanes on the mind, we decided to test a few Star Wars themed paper airplanes!

Photo Credit: frugalfun4boys.com

11. How to Make a Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter out of Office Supplies

Make an X-Wing Starfighter out of office supplies!

Photo Credit: www.sunshineandhurricanes.com

12. ego Star Wars Printable Game Cards

Our Lego Star Wars Printable Game Cards provide exciting challenges for builders of all ages

Photo Credit: foodfunfamily.com

13. DIY Star Wars Sensory Bin for Kids

Sensory bins are a great way to supplement any themed unit study or simply just for fun.

Photo Credit: leftbraincraftbrain.com

14. Light Up May the Fourth Be With You Cards

Show your love for all things Star Wars with these awesome May the Fourth Be With You Light Up Cards

Photo Credit: leftbraincraftbrain.com

15. Star Wars STEAM Challenges for Kids

FREE printable Star Wars STEAM Challenge Cards.

Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet

April 25, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free homeschool chicken unit study and an anatomy of an egg hands-on felt activity. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

Spring is a great time to learn about farm life, like chickens.

A chicken unit study can take you through learning about the anatomy of chickens, their eggs, life cycles, habits, breeds, what products we get from them and what it takes to keep chickens.

Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity & Worksheet

If you have ever been to a farm supply store and heard the adorable peep of chickens from across the aisles, you know how appealing they can be.

But there is so much more to chickens than fluffy yellow chicks.

They provide us with eggs, meat, and even entertainment.

If you haven’t watched a chicken go after a bug or try to take it from another chicken, you don’t know what you are missing.

Chicken Facts

Chickens have an elaborate communication system with over 30 unique vocalizations that they use to communicate with other chickens. These sounds are used for mating calls, danger warnings, stress signals, and when they find food.
It takes only 20 to 21 days for chickens to hatch an egg once they begin sitting on their clutch of eggs.
Chickens can recognize and remember around 100 different faces of humans and other chickens.
You may think that chickens are herbivores, but they are omnivores. They will eat a wide variety of things from vegetables and seeds to bugs, and kitchen scraps, including leftover chicken.
There are more chickens on earth than any other type of bird.
Mother hens talk to their babies in the egg by making purring noises to them, the babies will even chirp back from inside the egg.

And I have a fun chicken coloring page and a chicken egg anatomy worksheet.

Chicken Unit Study Resources

The chicken life cycle can be used in sensory bins, on a science shelf, in dramatic play, with blocks, have your child build them a “coop” from blocks, and so much more.

Free Homeschool Chicken Unit Study and Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity

When you are pulling together resources for your chicken unit study don’t forget to include something fun like this Chicken Coop Building Blocks Set.

MORE HANDS ON ACTIVITIES CHICKEN UNIT STUDY

Free Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet For Kids & Hands-on Activity

10 Crafts With Styrofoam Egg Cartons | How to Make Easy Chicken Crafts

Chicken Unit Study Hands-On Activities

Create a Colorful Life Cycle Chicken Craft on stones to learn the life cycle.
A hide and peek Chicken and Chicks Craft is a great way to work on fine motor skills while also learning about how mother hens care for their babies.
Visit a working farm as a field trip if possible, to watch the chickens, ask questions, gather eggs if you can, check out feed and the chicken coop.
Make a cute Accordion Fold Chicken Craft in many colors.
This adorable Paper Plate Hen makes a great art addition to your study.
Consider raising some baby chicks of your own from incubator to hatching for hands on life experience, they are low maintenance and fun.
For the younger chicken tenders in your homeschool put together a Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin for hours of play.
Watch this video of chicks hatching on YouTube.

In addition, I have a chicken coloring page and anatomy of an egg if you have a child who wants to write and label the parts of the egg. Or your younger child can cut and paste to label the parts of the egg.

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

Then add some fun books and resources to your chicken unit study.

9 Books and Resources for a Fun Chicken Unit Study

Whether you’re wanting to do a chicken unit study or study chickens for the day, you’ll love these books and resources to add to your collection.

Chicks & Chickens

Cheep . . . cheep . . . cluck! Everything you ever wanted to know about chickens and eggs—except which came first. With bright watercolor illustrations and simple, clear language, nonfiction master Gail Gibbons shows young readers everything there is to know about chickens. See what different breeds of chickens look like, discover how eggs are laid and hatched, and learn how big and little farms take care of their birds. Key vocabulary words about chicken behavior and anatomy are introduced throughout Chicks and Chickens, and new words are reinforced in accessible language for young readers.

4 PCS Chicken Farm Animal Life Cycle Growth Model

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

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

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

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Learn the difference between a farrow and a barrow, and what distinguishes a weanling from a yearling. Country and city mice alike will delight in Julia Rothman’s charming illustrated guide to the curious parts and pieces of rural living. Dissecting everything from the shapes of squash varieties to how a barn is constructed and what makes up a beehive to crop rotation patterns, Rothman gives a richly entertaining tour of the quirky details of country life.

Where Do Chicks Come From?

Read and find out about eggs—and how baby chicks grow inside of them—in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

Learn how chicks develop, how they get the food they need to grow, and how a mother hen helps keep them safe in this introduction to the life cycle of a baby chick.

This is a clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. It's a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series are:

Chickenology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia

A great educational book, covering:• Different breeds of chickens, like Padovana and Silkie• The difference between roosters and hens• How chicks are formed in the egg• Chickens sounds and noises• Chicken anatomy and feather anatomy and colors• Chickens and eggs around the world• Chicken history and folklore• Raising chickens at home• Chickens as pets

LEGO Creator Easter Chickens 30643

These LEGO Chickens are a fun and easy add on for little ones joining in the fun.

Farm Animal for Kids, Chicken Coop

DETAILED & REALISTIC. Crafted with precision and authentic detail to create a lifelike toy that teaches and inspires toddlers and kids of every age; helps introduce children to animals. From the first sketch to the intricate finishing touches, we see value in every detail.

Farm Animal Chicken Coop Building Blocks

Chicken Coop Building Blocks. It contains a coop, twenty chicken and ten eggs.

Compatible with LEGO: It's made of LEGO-compatible bricks. It will enrich your MOC blocks. It can be put together with a lot of block scenes, such as farm, house, castle, village, animal and so on.

Farm Animals Figurines Simulated Farm Life

These little chicken figurines would also make a great addition to a chicken study, put them in a sensory bin with a little birdseed or cracked corn for hours of fun.

Lastly, I have a fun hands-on activity to learn the parts of an egg.

And this activity can be adjusted to fit a child of any age.

Anatomy of an Egg Felt Activity

You will need:

Tan felt
White felt
Yellow felt
Red felt
White yarn/string
Cardstock
Hot glue guns/stick

Cut an egg shape out of tan felt, you want to make it several inches tall so that you have plenty of room to label all the parts.

Trace the egg shape onto white felt and cut it out slightly smaller, leaving a very thin border for the shell.

Cut a small notch out of the bottom like this for the air sac.

Cut a circle of yellow to make the yolk, and add a small light circle on the yolk with a white crayon or paint pen.

Twist the white yarn from the top to the bottom of the eggshell and glue the yolk over top of it.

Write each of the parts of the egg on cardstock and cut them out Yolk, Eggshell, Chalaza, Shell, Germinal disc, and Albumen.

Or take it a step further and have your child type out their own labels for typing practice and to reinforce the new spelling words.

Now the egg can be put together and glued if you want it to stay permanent.

Or leave the parts loose so it can be built and rebuilt. Add the labels to mark each part of the egg.

Additionally, you can crack open a real egg to see the real-life parts. Have your child point out each one with a skewer.

How to Get the Free Chicken Egg Worksheet & Coloring Page

Now, how to grab the free chicken pages. This is a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Grab the freebie.
3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!
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Make Way For Ducklings Fun Duck Pond Playdough Invitation to Play

April 24, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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This activity for preschoolers about Make Way For Ducklings is fun to do for a spring theme. Also, you’ll love my Free Bird Unit Study.

Are you looking for an easy but engaging spring lesson to enjoy with your preschooler?

This is a fun way to work on learning without sitting down and “doing school”.

And you can read aloud while your child’s hands are busy.

Make Way For Ducklings Fun Duck Pond Playdough Invitation to Play

Grab a copy of Make Way for Ducklings and check out the sweet duck pond activity I have for you.

Make Way For Ducklings is a classic storybook that still holds up today even though it was written over 80 years ago.

It is a fun and simple story about two mallard ducks searching for the perfect place to raise their babies and their adventures once their 8 precious babies are hatched.

To go along with it I have a 2-ingredient playdough recipe that is so fluffy and smooth to the touch.

It is a fun and unique sensory experience for small hands to mold, flatten, shape, and squeeze,

Add a few pond-themed items and some other little trinkets to it while you read from the story, and you have a wonderful activity for preschoolers up to lower elementary aged children.

Facts About Ducks

But first, here are some facts about ducks that either your preschoolers or older child may enjoy.

It takes about 28 days for duck eggs to hatch.
In the wild ducks will usually eat fish eggs, aquatic plants, small fish, worms, and insects.
Ducklings can fly within 5-8 weeks of hatching.
Did you know that ducks have 3 eyelids and can see in color?
There are over 100 types of ducks and all of them have waterproof feathers.
You can find ducks all over where there are small bodies of water-wetlands, marshes, ponds, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
To protect themselves ducks can close one eye and put half their brain to sleep while the other half keeps watch.
Waterfowl is the term used to describe the group of birds which includes ducks, geese, and swans.
Also, some ducks eat aquatic plants, seeds from grasses and other plants, snails and other insects and invertebrates.
Bread doesn’t have good nutritional value for ducks. It can cause health issues if they eat too much.
A male duck is called a drake.
A female duck is called a hen.

Then add some hands-on activities.

More Duck Hands-on Activities and Resources

Head on over and check out this Make Way For Ducklings Unit Study and Lapbook to extend the lessons even further.
You may like the style of a Make Way For Ducklings FIAR Study.
Head out to a local pond if you have one and see if you can spot some ducks, take a long a little food if it’s allowed in your area to toss for them. Here is also a recipe for a lovely DIY Duck Food that is duck-safe and nutritious for them.
Make a paper plate duck, it becomes a great puppet for play.
Build LEGO ducks with just a few basic LEGO bricks.
Counting Ducks is a solid early math activity for toddlers.
How cute are these Rice Cake Duck snacks?
This big lot of rubber ducks would make fantastic counters for a math activity.
Make a pond-themed slime in addition to the playdough for an alternative sensory experience.

Too, add more bird unit study resources.

More Bird Craft Ideas and Resources

Also, here are some more fun bird crafts and activities.

Make Way for Ducklings 2 Ingredient Playdough Invitation to Play

You will need:

½ cup hair conditioner
1 cup cornstarch
Blue food coloring
Essential oil-optional

Other fun things to add:

Pond themed toys
Sticks and pebbles
Duck-shaped cookie cutter
Letter beads or tiles
Small blue glass beads

In a medium-sized bowl stir together hair conditioner and cornstarch.

You will need to get in it with your hands after the initial mixing to make sure everything is combined well.

The texture should be like a very soft marshmallow, if it’s too crumbly add more conditioner, if it’s too wet add a bit more cornstarch.

Once the texture is good, mix in blue food coloring to get to the color you want.

If you have a light or unscented conditioner you might want to add a few drops of essential oil to give it a calming scent, lavender is perfect for this making it a relaxing activity.

Remove from the bowl and knead for a few minutes to work food coloring through and improve texture further, I highly recommend gloves at this point.

To create a duck pond invitation to play, gather pond-themed toys such as these cute little ducks and fun things right from the yard like pebbles and small sticks.

Put them in a small, divided container such as a muffin tin and set them out with your 2 ingredient playdough for a fun sensory and imaginative playtime.

Your child can recreate the story, make up a new one, or just enjoy the simple playtime with this soft dough and add-ons.

Depending on the age of your child you can also add letter beads or tiles to practice beginning letters for things like duck, pond, hatch, egg, etc. or to spell out the words for older children.

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