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Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

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

I have a fun homeschool solar system unit study and hands-on planets activity today. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page and Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages page.

Further, our solar system is made up of our star, the sun, and the 8 planets that are bound to it by gravity, as well as asteroids and comets.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

How did you memorize the order of the planets?

Was it a funny little sentence or was it through classes and papers? Probably a combination of both.

We used this mnemonic.

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles or Mars, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. 

Besides a homeschool solar system unit study can be informative. And fun if you include lots of hands-on activities which allow your child to learn while having fun.

Hands-on Solar System Unit Study Activities

Here is a full list of hands-on activities, books, games, and more to help you round out your solar system unit study.

Younger children will enjoy this simple activity How Planets Orbit The Sun to learn about orbit.

If you have a LEGO loving learner they will really enjoy learning how to Build a LEGO Solar System.

And How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket.

Moreover little hands especially like to be busy.

This DIY Solar System Playdough Kit lets them work on fine motor skills while learning, it is a great quiet activity while listening to you read aloud.

Learning can be fun and delicious. Try out these Solar System Cookies.

This Homeschool Solar System Unit Study s a great companion study with my About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study

Upper elementary and middle schoolers will really enjoy this Pick a Planet Activity where they choose a planet and make a brochure to persuade visitors to come.

Also, create a Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark).

These Earth Cookies are the perfect companion to a lesson on our home planet.

In addition, add some of these fun books to use as a spine or main text in this solar system unit study.

Resources and Books to Learn About the Solar System

11 Astronomy Resources & Books

Add one or two books to your unit study or use one as a spine for studying about space.

The Planets

From the burning surface of Venus to the freezing darkness of Neptune, Gail Gibbons takes children on a tour of our planetary neighbors—which are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather.

The Planets

With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe.

Who Was Neil Armstrong?

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind."

Find the Constellations

Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.

New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.

Where Is Our Solar System?

Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun. 

Signs and Seasons Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy

Gorgeous. Worth every penny! Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy

The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the best-kept secrets

Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe. 

Basher Science: Astronomy: Out of this World!

Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed. 

Stargazer's Guide to the Night Sky, The

The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.

Solar System Puzzle Wooden Space Toys for Kids

【Planet Toys for Kids】Our wooden solar system puzzle is the PERFECT CHOICE for you and your kids as it is made from natural wood, vivid planet patten with well designed. This preschool learning activities is suitable for 3+ years kids and represents the perfect activity to learn through play!

Solar System Planetarium - DIY Glow In The Dark Astronomy Planet Model

The Solar System Planetarium set teaches children about the wonders of the solar system. Just assemble, paint and learn.

This set includes planets, stencils, squeeze glow paint pen, rods, string, a fact filled wall chart and 10 sets of Kidz Quiz questions.

Too, add these videos to your unit study.

  • The Planet Song– Learn the 8 planets that make up our solar system with a catchy tune.
  • Planets of Our Solar System from Homeschool Pop.
  • Generation Genius is free and offers this this video on The Solar System and lots of other resources like discussion questions and reading material to go along with it.
  • Incredible Facts About the Planets in Our Solar System is a quick way to learn tidbits about each of the amazing planets in a short amount of time.
  • Let’s Make the Solar System | Arts and Crafts! | SciShow Kids.

The sun, an average star, is the central and largest body in the solar system.

Four planet Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called the terrestrial or Earth planets.

They formed in the inner part of our solar system.

The larger planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune consist mostly of dense fluids like liquid hydrogen.

Additionally, grab these free resources to learn about the solar system.

  • STEM Engagement at NASA
  • E-books from Nasa
  • Sorting the Solar System Free downloadable lesson plans where your child learns that the solar system is not just limited to the planets.
  • Fun Solar System Scavenger Hunt
  • How Big is the Solar System?

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

More Best Homeschool Unit Studies

  • Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
  • Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
  • Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
  • Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
  • Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern

Grab a copy of my Astronomy Lapbook and learn about the solar system and more.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
  • Dynamic Astronomy Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Astronomy Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

Further, look at this easy activity to learn about the solar system hands-on.

Homeschool Solar System Unit Study Hands-on Planet Activity

You will need:

  • Black Foam Board
  • Colorful Cardstock/construction paper
  • White Cardstock
  • White paint
  • Various circle objects
  • Watercolor paints
  • Paintbrushes
  • Glue Stick

Directions:

Decide if you want to layout your planets in various places in orbit or in a straight line on one side.

You may choose to adjust the size based on nearness to the sun or actual size in comparison to the sun.

In addition, you can use a drafting compass for making your circles, but it was fun scouring the house for circle items like bowls, cups, knickknacks, jars, etc. for tracing.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Trace your round objects on cardstock, making the largest circle for the sun.

Check google for reference or use a book to decide on which colors to use.

I used The Planets by Gail Gibbons to get a general idea of base color and variations.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Cut out each circle.

Use watercolors to add details to each of your planets, alternatively you could do this with crayons or markers as well, I just love the look the watercolors give.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Allow the paint to dry completely, it shouldn’t take too long.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Moreover, if you want to add stars to your solar system, splatter the foam board with a little white paint and add tiny dots for stars and comets before adding your planets.

Glue your sun to the center of the board.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Trace circles with a pencil around the sun to create light lines for orbits, large bowls or platters work great for this. You can create 8 for each of the planets if you have space.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Lastly, begin adding the planets to the board with glue in order of closeness to the sun – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and finally Neptune.

Write or type – sun and names of each of the planets on cardstock for labeling.

Have your child glue them into the correct place.

Fun Homeschool Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: astronomy, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, planets, science, solar system, space

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

April 5, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

To celebrate National Wildlife Week, I have 6 world wildlife day activities to learn about African lions. Also, look at Easy Hands-on Science: Animal Camouflage Activity Hunt for more fun.

Lions are bold, beautiful, and powerful, making them fascinating subjects in books, movies, artwork, and in zoos.

Nearly all wild lions live in Africa.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

They prefer the grassy plains and open woodlands.

Grassy plains and open woodlands make an excellent hunting are and easy defense of a territory.

Also, they spend 16 to 20 hours a day sleeping and resting.

More African Wildlife Activities

  • Simple and Fun Wildlife Craft Mountain Gorilla Layered Art Project
  • Interesting Facts For Kids About Africa | Cute Handprint Cheetah
  • The Genus Panthera includes four species- lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards. Panther refers to different animals including leopards, mountain lions, puma, cougars, or jaguars.
  • Young lions begin as cubs with spots and rosettes that fade as they mature.
  • A pride of lions is most often made of females and their cubs, as well as a male or small group of males.
  • Lions are listed as “vulnerable” on the threatened species list. Sadly, there are thought to be as few as 23,000 lions left in the wild.
  • A lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles away.
  • Lions live anywhere from 8-25 years in captivity, maybe only up to 10 in the wild.
  • There is such a thing as a hybrid lion. The offspring of a lion and a tigress is a liger, and the offspring of a tiger and a lioness is called a tigon, and a leopon is the offspring of a lion and a leopard.
  • Females do 90% of the hunting for the pride while males stay behind for protection.

If you want a wonderful book which covers lions and so much more wildlife the newest installment of Julia Rothmans anatomy series is a must-have addition to your bookshelf.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Wildlife Anatomy has so much to offer to wildlife studies that it can stand on its own as your spine.

Also, add some of these other books for fun literature reads or to learn facts about lions.

Fun Resources to Learn About Lions

Add some of these fun books to learn about African Lions and their habitat and geography.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

In Wildlife Anatomy, Rothman captures the excitement and distinctive attributes of wild animals around the world. The book is packed with hundreds of her charming, original illustrations, detailing the unique features of animals of the rainforest, desert, grasslands, oceans, and much more. From lions, bears, and zebras to monkeys, mongoose, bats, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and much more, Rothman's visual guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion's claw and a wild horse's hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther Not a Panther? and What Makes Aardvarks So Odd? 

Bravelands #1: Broken Pride

A lion cast out from his pride. An elephant who can read the bones of the dead. A baboon rebelling against his destiny.

For generations, the animals of the African plains have followed a single rule: only kill to survive. But when an unthinkable act of betrayal shatters the peace, the fragile balance between predators and prey will rest in the paws of three unlikely heroes.

Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds

Joy Adamson's story of a lion cub in transition between the captivity in which she is raised and the fearsome wild to which she is returned captures the abilities of both humans and animals to cross the seemingly unbridgeable gap between their radically different worlds. Especially now, at a time when the sanctity of the wild and its inhabitants is increasingly threatened by human development and natural disaster, Adamson's remarkable tale is an idyll, and a model, to return to again and again

Library Lion

 A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.

Lions at Lunchtime

"Where are the lions?" Jack wonders when the Magic Tree House whisks him and his sister to the vast plains of Africa. Before he can find out, Annie starts to help hundreds of wildebeests cross a rushing river. Next they follow a honey of a bird and meet an awesome Masai warrior. Jack hopes any lions will just stay away. Jack is about to be very disappointed…

National Geographic Readers: Lions

Roar with lions in this exciting reader. Through beautiful and engaging photos, kids will learn all about these majestic big cats. This level 1 reader is carefully leveled for an early independent reading or read aloud experience, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

A Lion to Guard Us

Featuring a heroine with faith, courage, and a great deal of grit, this acclaimed historical fiction novel portrays the realities faced by three children hoping to find a new home in an unknown land.

Next, look at some activities to celebrate learning about lions.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

And if you’re studying about Africa, look at How to Make a Kids’ Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask to go with these hands-on lion activities.

World Wildlife Day Activities

  • Visit a local zoo or wildlife sanctuary and check out these beautiful big cats firsthand. Bring binoculars to get a closer view.
  • Pull out Wildlife Anatomy and flip through the amazing information and illustrations. Look at the topics your child can research or even trace these illustrations.
  • 6 Facts About Mountain Lions and How to Make a Fun Mountain Lion Diorama

Pride of Place

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Then the difference between an Asiatic and an African Lion is another slant.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

And how fun is this Anatomy of a Claw.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Too, When is a Panther Not a Panther.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Finally, learn about the Predator versus Prey relationship.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

As you can see this book covers lions well, but you will find a lot of animals and information in it including ecosystems, food webs, hunting, and animals from the adorable panda to hippos and many in between.

  • Celebrate Lions all week by snuggling up with a read-aloud every day.
  • Turn this little pride into a wonderful dramatic play addition, add it to a sensory bin, use them as drawing inspiration, or hide them around the house or outdoors, and play “hot and cold”.
  • Open your atlas and find Africa, this DK First Atlas was a great resource for a large map with details and photos.
  • 9 Grab some popcorn and settle down, and watch The Lion King together.

World Wildlife Day Activities Create LEGO Lion Portrait

Next, do this easy hands-on lion activity.

You can use whatever LEGO you have on hand at home, but we did this using only the bricks found in this Large Creative Brick Basic Box to make it easier to find the pieces we needed.

However, feel free to encourage your child to substitute and make it work for them.

 You will need:

  • Small LEGO Baseplate
  • Yellow and brown LEGO
  • LEGO eyes
  • Lion picture for inspiration.

Directions:

Build the basic face shape in the center of the baseplate by starting just below the centerline, creating a 4×6 rectangle with yellow bricks.

Place one 2×6 centered underneath and 2 single yellow bricks at the top on either side for ears.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Create the lion’s mane by filling in all the way around the yellow basic face shape with brown bricks.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

Add two eyes.

Place one 2×2 yellow brick in the center for a muzzle, top with a single brown round stud for the nose.

Put a 2×6 brick under the center of the main.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

That’s it, your fantastic lion is ready to be admired.

Encourage older children to build something more complex, either a more detailed portrait or even perhaps a 3D lion laying out surveying the grasslands like this one.

6 World Wildlife Day Activities to Learn About African Lions

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

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

April 4, 2023 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This time of year is perfect for fun hands-on honey bee activities to buzz deeper into their lives and learn more about them. Also, grab more ideas on my Honey Bees Unit Study page.

Bees are fascinating little creatures that fly even though they should not be able to,

They spend their days gathering pollen, making honey, and building amazing little worlds to store it in.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

Today we are going to create and explore the various cells in a hive.

It is a great activity for all ages.

Some of your kids might need a little more help than others creating it but even toddlers as you can see here will enjoy exploring and building the hive.

Honey Bee Facts

First, look at some honey bee facts.

  • Each beehive is made up of thousands of hexagonal thin-walled fragile cells.
  • Bees create hexagonal shapes for their cells because the six-sided cells fit perfectly without leaving any space in between, circles would leave wasted gaps.
  • The queen honey bee is about twice the length of a worker.
  • Each hardworking little honey bee only makes about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
  • The tiny tips of the antennae of a honey bee have more than 300 taste sensors.
  • The ancient Egyptians and other civilizations used honey as food, medicine, and as a beauty treatment.

Next, add some of these fun books about bees to your nature study.

8 Honey Bees Unit Study Resources & Books

Add some of these fun resources to your bees unit study or spring unit study.

Bees: A Honeyed History

One part science, one part cultural history, and countless parts fascination, Bees: A Honeyed History celebrates the important role that these intriguing insects have played in our ecosystem throughout the ages, and today.

The Beekeeper's Bible: Bees, Honey, Recipes & Other Home Uses

Part history book, part handbook, and part cookbook, this illustrated tome covers every facet of the ancient hobby of beekeeping, from how to manage hives safely to harvesting one’s own honey, and ideas for how to use honey and beeswax. Detailed instructions for making candles, furniture polish, beauty products, and nearly 100 honey-themed recipes are included. Honeybees, which are critical in the pollination of popular US produce such as almonds, apples, and blueberries, are actually not native to the Americas. The honeybee that you see dancing from flower to flower in farms and gardens originated in Europe. The introduction of the honeybee began with European colonization of the Americas; before that, wild native bees, other insects, and some birds and mammals pollinated the native flowers of the continent. The honeybee’s ability to pollinate crops, produce honey, and be easily domesticated precipitated the growth in beekeeping all over America.

Flight of the Honey Bee: Read and Wonder

Follow the flight of a honey bee as she searches for nectar to sustain her hive and, along the way, pollinates flowers to produce seeds and fruits. Nature lovers and scientists-to-be are invited to explore the fascinating life of a honey bee.

Life Cycle of a Honey Bee

Honey Bees are fascinating creatures which have been kept by humans for centuries. Now you can explore the life cycle of the honey bee without being stung. Watch as it grows from an egg, to a larva, and to a pupa before finally emerging as a mature adult.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Always a favorite when doing any kind of nature study, there are a few pages that cover different types of bees, common nectar sources, and bee anatomy. If you don't have this set already I cannot recommend it enough for nature studies.

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

One of the companion books to Nature Anatomy, the farm version covers all parts of farming, machinery, and crops but it also caught my eye because it even covers Beekeeping for aspiring beekeepers. It goes over bee terminology, parts of a bee, the parts of a hive, types of bees, flower parts, and beekeeper essentials. These books really put a lot of info into compact parts.

The Life and Times of the Honeybee

Why do beekeepers use smoke machines when collecting honey? Can a bee really sting only once? Why do bees "dance"? In concise, detailed text and abundant illustrations that range from the humorous to the scientific, Charles Micucci offers a wide-ranging and spirited introduction to the life cycle, social organization, and history of one of the world's most useful insects.

The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive

When the Magic School Bus turns into a beehive, Ms. Frizzle's class learns firsthand about how workers, drones, and the queen bees live together. Readers will be abuzz with knowledge as they discover how honeybees find food; make a comb, honey, and beeswax; and care for their young, all from the bee's perspective.

Third, look at these 7 honey bee activities.

7 Honey Bee Activities

Besides, hands-on is the best way for learning to stick.

1. Make a Bee Sensory Bin.

Take a bee life cycle set and use it as a base for a sensory bin or put it out on your bee themed science shelf.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

2. Learn about the different types of cells in a comb.

Visit BeeManiacs to learn a little more about the different cells of a honey beehive.

3. Taste honey straight from the comb.

You can grab honey from your local produce stand if you can’t taste it straight from the comb.

If you have a friendly beekeeper locally, consider planning a field trip to see how the process works firsthand.

4. Make honey slime.

DIY Honey Slime is a great sensory activity for your little beekeepers.

5. Honey bee play activity.

Littles will love this Beekeeper Dramatic Play.

6. Create a bee lapbook.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity
  • Dynamic Honey Bee Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    Dynamic Honey Bee Lapbook for Multiple Ages

    $4.00
    Add to cart

Look at the fun felt craft below.

7. Make a fun felt beehive.

Also, you’ll love these other bee activities.

Fun Bee Activities for Kids

  • Make a Mason Bee Habitat
  • Labeling Parts of a Honey Bee LEGO Fun Activity For Kids
  • Fascinating and Fun Honey Bees Unit Study and Lapbook for Kids

Finally, look at this fun hand-on honey bee felt comb.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

How to Make a Felt Honey Bee Comb

You will need:

  • White felt
  • 2 shades of yellow felt
  • 3 shades of brown/tan felt
  • Yellow and gold paint-optional
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Printout of a hexagon shape on cardstock
7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

I found a hexagon on Google and reduced it to 20%.

You can make your hive cells any size that you would like larger or smaller. Print on cardstock so it’s a bit sturdier to use as a template.

Use a pencil to trace the hexagon for as many cells as you would like on the yellows and the two lighter browns.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

Cut them out and trim them if needed by holding the template over the felt to make sure they will line up nicely.

Make a Felt Honey Bee Comb

You are going to assign one color for each cell- eggs and larvae, pollen, honey, and brood cells.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

If you want to add a bit more detail to your hive use paint to add details.

Make “dripping” honey on some of your uncapped cells and paint other solids to represent the capped honey cells.

I did this with a mixture of yellow and gold paint.

For pollen cells, simply make yellow “pollen” dots by dipping the handle end of your paintbrush into paint and dotting the cells.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

Allow the paint to dry fully.

Use the white felt to cut small eggs and a few small larvae.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

While the paint is drying, cut out your beehive.

I did a beehive shape like you would see hanging from the limbs with Winnie the Pooh dipping his hand in.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

You could make a man-made beehive frame or any other type you like.

I found a lot of great examples of different beehives in Bees a Honeyed History.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

Finally, assemble the cells in your beehive.

In a real beehive honey cells are at the top with pollen cells below.

Then the pupae and egg cells, brood cells further down, and a peanut-shaped queen cell at the bottom which we made by using two hexagons together.

You can glue them down if you like but if you have younger children, I recommend leaving them loose so they can take them apart and rebuild it over and over.

Using bee figurines to play with and explore the hive.

The bee life cycle set from Safari Ltd. is perfect to demonstrate the different stages of bees you would find in the hive.

You can also create a little honey bee by twisting yellow and black pipe cleaners together and cutting them off at about 1” long, twist on a small piece of white pipe cleaner for wings.

Another great extension for this activity is heading outside to find flowers either in the garden or growing wild to investigate pollen firsthand.

7 Honey Bee Activities And Explore a Bee Hive With Felt Activity

5 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: bees, crafts, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science, spring, spring crafts

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

April 3, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free Charlotte’s Web homeschool unit study today with fun hands-on ideas. Also grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

Charlotte’s Web is not only a wonderful story for reading aloud or independent reading time, but it also lends itself beautifully to a wide-open list of topics to study beyond just the title.

Here is a free Charlotte’s Web Unit Study with a bushel of ideas for you whether you want to spend a week or a whole month learning about Wilbur, Fern, and Charlotte.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Charlotte’s Web will keep you busy with new vocabulary, learning about things like characters, plot, setting, and point of view.

And of course, it is a wonderful setting to learn all about farm life including the animals that live there. 

To make the book more than just a read you will have to get creative by pulling something from the theme of the book for each of your main subjects.

Facts about Charlotte’s Web Book

I have a few ideas ready to get you going as well as some interesting facts to share with your farmhands.

  • The E.B. in E.B. White, the author, stands for Elwyn Brooks
  • Zuckerman’s farm in Charlotte’s Web was real. E.B. White based it on the farm he grew up on in Maine.
  • Fern did not become a character of the book until the last draft of it was written.
  • Garth Williams, who illustrated Charlotte’s Web is also well known for his illustrations for the entire Little House on The Prairie Series.
  • Wilbur was inspired by a sick pig that White had tried to nurse back to health. Unfortunately, the pig died.
  • Charlotte’s full name is Charlotte A. Cavatica which is a clever reference to her species class, Araneus Cavaticus or the common barn spider.
  • E.B. White won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1978 for all his writings and works.
Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

More Charlotte’s Web Resources and Activities

  • 8 Pig Facts and a Cute Wilbur Paper Plate Charlotte’s Web Craft

Moreover, grab some of these books to enhance your unit study.

Charlotte's Web Unit Study Resources

Add some of these books to flesh out your unit study if you're studying about farm animals, geography of Main or spiders.

Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books.

The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

This handsome box set provides hours of enlightening entertainment for those curious about farm life, the natural world, and food. Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Rothman presents Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy in a specially designed slipcase with 10 framable prints. Rothman’s popular line drawings offer a whimsical and educational guide to life on a farm, nature’s hidden wonders, and delectable tidbits from kitchens and pantries around the globe.

Insects and Spiders (Nature Explorers)

With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations, Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these bewildering bugs. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.

Pigs

With clear, simple text and bright, well-labeled watercolors, Gail Gibbons explores the truth about pigs. Digging up truffles, competing in county fairs, grunting and squealing to communicate-- these flat-snouted farm animals are complex and surprisingly talented.

DK Super Readers Level 1 A Day on the Farm

A Day on the Farm is a beautifully designed reader all about a day in the life of a farm, with eggs hatching, milking time for the cows, sheep shearing and lots of hungry baby animals!

I'm Trying to Love Spiders

I’m Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from heir awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you’re sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there’s heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears .

National Geographic Readers: Spiders

You don’t have to look far to see a spider’s web—in the corner of the window, on a fence, or in a bush—spiders make their homes everywhere. And there are so many kinds of spiders! Some red, some blue, yellow, and more…all fascinating. Amazing photography and easy-to-understand text make Spiders a hit in this National Geographic Kids series.

Assorted Farm Animals Toys

Teach your child about the different farm animals and the sounds they make; Set up an interactive playtime to collaborate with your child to count and sort the animals.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

But Farmer Brown's problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes.... Doreen ronin's understated text and Betsy Lewin's expressive illustrations make the most of this hilarious situation. Come join the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown's farm upside down.

On the Farm

From the bull to the barn cat to the wild bunny, the farmyard bustles with life. The rooster crows, the rams clash, the bees buzz, and over there in the garden, a snake — silent and alone — winds and
watches. David Elliott’s graceful, simple verse and Holly Meade’s exquisite woodcut and watercolor illustrations capture a world that is at once timeless yet disappearing from view — the world of the family farm.

First, here are some fun resources.

  • Nice 16 page pdf Educator’s Guide
  • The Power of Words in “Charlotte’s Web”
  • Character Analysis 42 free pages
  • 12 page free Teaching Guide
  • YouTube Charlotte’s Web (Full Audiobook)
  • YouTube FARM ANIMALS & THEIR SOUNDS (Part 3) Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, & K-3

Next, look at some unit study science ideas.

Unit Study Science Ideas for Charlotte’s Web

One of the most enticing things about a unit study is being able to tie a lot of subjects to one theme. Look below at ideas for each topic.

Farm Theme Ideas

Choose one of the main character animals like pigs, spiders, rats, geese, or sheep to study. Your child can

  • Watch videos.
  • Write a report.
  • Create a diorama.
  • Paint a picture.
  • Make their animal out of clay.
  • Read books about various animals on the farm.

A great reference book to research farm life, as well as farm animals, is Julia Rothman Farm Anatomy with its beautiful illustrations and great information snippets on a lot of topics.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Also, add some fun farm math.

Math Ideas

Use manipulatives to make math hands-on.

  • Use plastic animals as counters for simple addition and subtraction, skip counting, or sorting for the littlest of hands.
  • Measure plastic farm animals, take a poll on everyone’s favorite farm animals, and graph it.
  • Older kids can map out a farm on graph paper and figure out the scale, area, and perimeter.
  • Give simple math a twist by giving farm-themed math problems like “If I had 100 pounds of pig feed and each of my 3 pigs eats 5 pounds per day, how long will it last?” If Zuckerman’s truck had to go 40 miles to the fair and they traveled at 22 mph how long would it take to get there?

Moreover, add some fun hands-on geography.

Geography Ideas

  • The story of Charlotte’s Web takes place in Maine, take this time to learn a little about the state.
Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
  • Practice map skills and have your child draw a map of the farm where Wilbur lived including the farmhouse, barn, trees, and any other places they feel are significant.

Language Arts

  • Grab a list of spelling words for the story from Vocabulary.com to practice vocabulary and spelling by using words in sentences, flashcards, and other ways.
  • Draw a spider web with white crayon on white paper, weaving words throughout the lines, and give your child watercolors to reveal the words. As they appear, have them say the word and spell it out loud.
  • Have your child write their own short story about a farm by hand or on the computer.
  • Use farm-themed prompts for journaling- For example, “One morning I woke up and ran outside to the barn to find…”.

Below I have another fun and simple spelling activity.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study Spelling Web Activity

You will need:

  • Black cardstock
  • White chalk or a white paint marker
  • Hairspray
  • Letter tiles or beads
  • Spelling words list
Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Grab a piece of black cardstock or construction paper and draw a circle in the center with chalk.

Next, draw lines coming out from the circle all the way to the edges of the paper.

You can make it any size you like, depending on the child.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Draw a line straight across the middle for spelling words and then a few more lines all the way across from edge to edge.

To get the webbed effect you want to slightly arch your small lines in between the big lines, going all the way around.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Finally, if you use chalk, set it so that it doesn’t smudge by spraying it with hairspray and allowing it to dry fully.

Set out your web, spelling words, and the letter tiles-scrabble tiles, letter beads, or lacing letters.

Free Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas

Leave a CommentFiled Under: My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: farm, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolanguagearts, language arts, languagearts, science, unit studies, unit study

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

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

This mushroom unit study is a fun topic to study any time of the year. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.

While you can find many species of mushrooms year-round the very best time to get out and study them in nature is in the fall and in spring.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Besides, even if you are not able to find any mushrooms in your backyard, fields, or woodland areas there are still plenty of fun hands-on free mushroom unit study and kid’s learning activities to be found.

You can gather resources from the library or Amazon to put together a wonderful nature study on mushrooms so easily.

But first, let’s learn a few fun and fungi facts.

5 Funky Mushroom Facts

  1. Mushrooms grow in all 50 States.
  2. Mushrooms are like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and must take their nutrients from other materials.
  3. Just one Portabella mushroom can have more potassium than a banana.
  4. There are over 30 species of mushrooms that glow in the dark.
  5. The name for those who collect and eat mushrooms from the wild is a Mycophagist. 

Next, add some fun books.

9 Mushroom Unit Study Books

Grab some of these fun books to learn about mushrooms, the part of a mushroom and the life cycle.

Mushrooms: How to Identify and Gather Wild Mushrooms and Other Fungi

This mushroom foraging book is packed with vital information that will help you identify the exact types of mushrooms you are looking for when you’re out foraging. You’ll learn how to identify the caps, stems and gills, which all have different physical characteristics like shape and texture, and color.From the Neobulgaria pura and the Mitrula paludosa, discover newly-found fungi species and complex ones which can only be viewed microscopically. The detailed illustrations and identification charts will help you name the mushrooms you find or hope to search for. 

Back to the Roots Organic Mini Mushroom Grow Kit

GROW YOUR PLANT ALL YEAR-ROUND: This organic mushroom indoor kit allows you to grow your own crop all-year round; Just place the box near a window with indirect light, mist twice a day, and you'll see delicious, beautiful mushrooms growing within a week; Included in this kit is an organic plant-based soil infused with mushroom spawn and a booklet with instructions

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides)

Featuring a durable vinyl binding and over 700 full-color identification photographs organized visually by color and shape, the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms is the perfect companion for any mushroom hunting expedition. Each species is accompanied by a detailed physical description, information on edibility, season, habitat, range, look-alikes, alternative names, and facts on edible and poisonous species, uses, and folklore. A supplementary section on cooking and eating wild mushrooms, and illustrations identifying the parts of a mushroom, round out this essential guide.

The Mushroom Fan Club

Elise Gravel is back with a whimsical look at one of her family’s most beloved pastimes: mushroom hunting! Combining her love of exploring nature with her talent for anthropomorphizing everything, she takes us on a magical tour of the forest floor and examines a handful of her favorite alien specimens up close. While the beautiful coral mushroom looks like it belongs under the sea, the peculiar Lactarius indigo may be better suited for outer space. From the fun-to-stomp puffballs to the prince of the stinkers―the stinkhorn mushroom―and the musically inclined chanterelles, Gravel shares her knowledge of this fascinating kingdom by bringing each species to life in full felt-tip-marker glory.

Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum

The 2017 offering from Big Picture Press's Welcome to the Museum series, 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.

Ridley's Funky Fungi

FUN FAMILY GAME: See if you have what it takes to be the mushroom master in Funky Fungi from Ridley's Games! In this card-collecting game that will definitely grow on you, forage for the best fungi to be the first player to reach ten points and win the game.

Let's learn about mushrooms

Introduces the characteristics and uses of a variety of mushrooms and discusses some of the beliefs and customs connected with this plant family.

Katya's Book of Mushrooms

Mushrooms are exciting to find, beautiful to look at, fascinating to identify, and delicious to eat. When you know what to look for, a mushroom hunt is as safe and enjoyable as a treasure hunt. Katya Arnold ranges through the world to find hundreds of varieties of mushrooms, as well as fascinating anecdotes and fun facts that make these wonders of nature exciting and immediate. A walk in the woods will never be the same!

Mushroom Unit Study Lesson Plans and Resources

  • Lesson Plan for Teaching about Fungi
  • Fungus Files K to 6 Educator’s Guide
  • More awesome mushroom activities here.
  • Yeasts, Molds and Mushrooms Teachers Guide
  • Guide about morel mushrooms

Vocabulary words about mushrooms

  • cap – The cap or the top of the mushroom protects the gills.
  • gills – The gills are the structure that produce the spores, and the spores are similar to seeds.
  • mycelium – The spores germinate into mycelia which are root-like threads that usually grow underground, similar to a root.
  • fungus – any of numerous plants lacking in chlorophyll, including yeasts, molds and mushrooms.
  • asexual – Showing no sexual differentiation (no male or female forms)

Hands-on Activities for Mushroom Unit Study

Get out and explore your own backyard, woodland area, or local state or national park and see what you can find to study firsthand.

We found this growing in a flowerpot that was in the shade and stayed very damp.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

This was growing on the side of a picnic table, which we think might be Turkey Tail.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

And several different types of lichen growing on trees.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

MORE MUSHROOM ACTIVITIES

  • Fungi Fun: 11 Unconventional Mushroom Gift Ideas for the Adventurous Spirit
  • How To Design A Mushroom Preschool Sensory Tray
  • Free Life Cycle of a Mushroom Worksheet & Fun Meringue Mushrooms
  • The app iNatrualist is great for helping to identify individual mushroom species, just capture an image of any you find with your phone and plug it in, search for suggestions and you can figure out what you have found.
  • Make these super fun mushrooms for snack time while you study all about them.
  • Try growing your own small batch of oyster mushrooms in just 10 days with this kit.
  • Make a mushroom spore print to get a reverse detail look at the underside of a mushroom, the gills.
  • There is a wealth of great mushroom activities at Treehouse Magazine for middle to upper elementary ages, including printable pdfs with math, crosswords, puzzles, spore prints and more.
  • Make a Felt Mushroom to label. It’s such a fun craft. You will find the directions below.
  • Print these Mushroom worksheets like labeling the parts of a mushroom, coloring pages, life cycles, etc.
  • Play Mushroom themed games like Morels or Funky Fungi.
  • Take the kids to the grocery store or farmers market and check out the different types of mushrooms. Bring some home and try a new recipe together.

Then here is a cute and simple dot to dot mushroom print for the wee little ones.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

In addition, look at more best homeschool unit study ideas.

Best Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

I have many different themes.

  •  Unit Study Egg to Sea Turtle Lesson Plans & Lapbook
  • Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern
  • Learn About Daniel Boone Hunting With a Fun Deer Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • How to Plan And Start an Easy Gardening Unit Study for Kids
  • Pirate Unit Study Ideas and Free Pirates Lapbook
  • Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
  • Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
  • Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
  • Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Finally, look at this fun hands-on mushroom activity.

Parts of a Mushroom Labeling Activity

You will need:

  • Red, tan, and white felt
  • Black permanent fine-tip marker
  • Scissors
  • Craft/school glue or hot glue
  • Cardstock
Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Directions:

Cut out a red slightly oblong piece of red felt for the cap whatever size you like for your labeling activity.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Cut tiny white pieces for the “spots” on your mushroom.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Next, cut longer skinny white strips for the “root” or mycelium.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Further, trace the red mushroom cap onto tan felt but only cut out the bottom third.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

This will be the underside of the mushroom to show the gills.

Draw the gills as curved lines with a fine permanent marker.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Cut a curve along the bottom of the red cap to show more of the gills.

Also, from the tan color, you will also cut your rectangular stem as well as the volva and ring as seen here in the book we used for reference.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Too, the ring wraps around near the center of the stem and the volva is the cuplike structure at the base with natural edges and shapes rather than straight across.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

We went back and added a little brown marker to the edges of our tan pieces to help differentiate the parts on the stem after we glued it together.

However, learn from us and make it easy on yourself. Do this step right after cutting.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Begin assembling your mushroom by gluing the tan gills to the red cap with the stem in between.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Next, wrap the ring around the stem and glue it in place as well as the volva.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Moreover, add your little bits of white with glue to the cap.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Transfer your mushroom to a tray and add a layer of grass and dirt beneath with brown and green felt.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Add your mycelium to the soil.

Write -mycelium, ring, cap, gills, volva, and stem on cardstock and use them to label each of the parts.

Additionally, you can also use felt to create other mushroom species like Honey Mushrooms.

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

Or Hen of The Woods. Finally, we had so much fun creating our mushrooms. Going to give them a try?

Fun Hands-on Free Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities

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