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science

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

February 10, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today we are creating desert animal crafts including a pipe cleaner scorpion while we learn all about them and their habitat.

Desert animals have amazing adaptations that help them survive the harsh conditions they live in.

From thick fur to protect their skin and large flat feet to distribute their weight over the hot sand to long thick eyelashes and eyebrows to protect their eyes from sand.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

And there are a variety of animals that make their home in the desert.

For example, camels have humps to store fat and water.

And the pronghorn has a unique digestive system that allows it to extract the maximum amount of nutrition from the sparse vegetation of its habitat.

Now onto a variety of great books, facts, and activities to supplement your desert animal study.

BOOKS ABOUT SCORPIONS FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about scorpions.

4 Books About Scorpions

Add a few of these fun books to your home library.

Everything You Should Know About: Scorpions Faster Learning Facts

Are your children curious about Scorpions? Would they like to know if they really glow in the dark? Have they learnt how they digest their food or what a fat-tailed scorpion looks like? Inside this book, your children will begin a journey that will satisfy their curiosity by answering questions like these and many more!

Scorpions!: Strange and Wonderful

We have been taught to fear scorpions in any form. But scorpions usually sting either to subdue their prey or to protect themselves. In fact, Earth has two thousand scorpion species, but only a few dozen are deadly to humans. With vivid descriptions of scorpions' life cycle, body structure, habits, and habitat and beautiful, realistic illustrations, this new entry in the popular Strange and Wonderful series explores one of nature's feared and misunderstood creatures.

Drawing Scorpions - How to Draw Scorpions For the Beginner

Drawing tools Parts of a Scorpion Body Posture Black Emperor Scorpion Striped Bark Scorpion Amblypygi Whip scorpion

Curiositree: Natural World: A Visual Compendium of Wonders from Nature

Discover the interconnectedness of the natural world and learn why living things look and behave the way they do in a series of visually compelling information charts, maps, and cutaways, all illustrated in a nostalgic, vintage style. Packed with incredible facts about the natural world and the animals that populate it, the whole family will enjoy the full-page spreads grouped into the categories of habitats, species, and adaptations.

Also, look at these facts about scorpions.

5 SCORPION FACTS

  1. There are over 1,500 species of scorpions that are most common in deserts and other hot, dry regions but can also live in grasslands, savannas, forests, caves, and intertidal zones.
  2. Scorpions are arachnids and are related to spiders, mites, and ticks.
  3. Scorpions use their pincers to capture and crush prey, and their stinger to inject venom into their victims. The venom is a powerful neurotoxin that can cause pain, swelling, and even paralysis in humans. However, most scorpion stings are not fatal.
  4. Scorpions are nocturnal predators that feed on insects, spiders, and other small animals.
  5. They are capable of glowing under ultraviolet light, a phenomenon known as fluorescence, but scientists are still not sure exactly why. It could be as an aide in finding mates, navigating by night, or possibly detecting potential threats by sensing UV light in the environment.

Another fantastic resource is Curiositree Natural World.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Also, look at these easy desert animals crafts.

EASY DESERT ANIMAL CRAFTS

Explore 3 completely different desert habitats and learn How to Make A Desert Triorama About the Gobi, Sahara, & Antarctica to display the flora and fauna of each.

Popsicle Stick Camels are an adorable and easy craft for younger children.

While it is not a craft, multisensory ideas like this Desert Sensory Bin not only look like a piece of art but they also are good for building fine motor skills, imagination, and language development.

How precious is this Paper Mache Fennec Fox as a desert animal model? Great for presentations in co-op the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and Mexico or just as a final project for a desert unit study.

Snakes in The Desert is another sweet craft for younger kids to explore the reptiles that reside in a desert habitat.

The creepy crawly tarantula, specifically the Desert blonde tarantula can be found in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and Mexico Tarantula Printable Craft

This step by step guide on How to Draw a Scorpion will turn your child into an artist.

This video shows you the steps for Making Cardboard Armadillo, a resident of the deserts and semi deserts of north and south America.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Finally, look at how to make a pipe cleaner scorpion creation

PIPE CLEANER SCORPION CREATION

You will need:

  • 6 pipe cleaners
  • 2 small black beads
  • Pencil or dowel rod
  • Hot glue/tacky glue
  • scissors

First, bend one pipe cleaner in half.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Attach a second one by wrapping one end around the bend in the first like this.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Form a circle at the end of the 3 pipe cleaners to form the tail by twisting each side around once to hold it in place.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Repeat these steps all the way down the length of the pipe cleaners until you reach the end.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Wrap the end of another pipe cleaner around the base of the tail on the excess.

Hold a pencil or dowel against the excess pipe cleaner and wrap the one you just added around it, creating tight coils to the end.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Repeat with another pipe cleaner, overlapping your coils to create a thick portion for the head of your scorpion, remove the pencil by sliding it out.

Take the end of the pipe cleaner and bend it into two small mouth parts called the chelicerae which are the claw-like mouthparts then cut off the excess.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Take the ends of another pipe cleaner into a claw, slip it through the base of the head and repeat making a pincher on the other end too.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Cut the last pieces of pipe cleaner into 4 pieces.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Bend and then slip each one along the body, if you like you can secure the pieces with a dab of hot glue to help them stay in place better.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Put a dot of hot glue on the beads. And press them inside the curled pipe cleaner of the face area.

Easy Desert Animal Crafts And A Scorpion Creation

Bend the tail portion so it arches over the body. Give the pedipalps (pincers) a little curve inward as well.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: desert, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschoolscience, life science, science, scorpions

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

February 9, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Let’s explore some new and classic science fiction books for 4th graders that both boys and girls will love. Also, you’ll love my page Homeschool Curriculum for more ideas and grade level curriculum.

Too, look at my page The Best Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations.

Science fiction for kids is a genre of literature that explores themes of science, technology, and the future in a way that is engaging for young readers. 

Science fiction books for kids often feature elements such as space travel, time travel, alien encounters, and futuristic technology.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

These books can be a great way to spark a child’s imagination.

Too, it can get them interested in science and technology when they might not otherwise be while improving reading, vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

Check out this list of 10 of the best science fiction books for 4th graders.

And I will even throw in some hands-on ideas for multi-sensory learning and fun.

I have a tutorial for a paper plate Millenium Falcon.

You do know it did the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs right?

From robots to time travel and alien invasions, there is something fun for everyone here.

IDEAS TO GO WITH SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS FOR 4TH GRADERS

First, check out these hands-on ideas.

This is a list of Science Fiction books for middle schoolers but you will also find a simple How to Make a Time Travel Craft Inspired by The Time Machine Book.

Wow look at this robot kit that comes with everything your child needs to build and learn code to program their own robot.

Since Star Wars is a great topic for today’s theme here you can Make Cool Star Wars Soap and 15 Star Wars DIY Projects.

I just love this Wild Robot Mini Unit, we enjoyed these books so much, even as an adult I thought it was a wonderful story.

Let your child grab their favorite super hero figure and try this physics experiment Hands-On Super Hero Gravity for Kids.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Too, look at this post The Best Fourth Grade Homeschool Curriculum | Tips and Recommendations for more fourth grade ideas.

Next, look at how to make this paper plate Millenium Falcon.

PAPER PLATE MILLENIUM FALCON

You will need:

  • 3 paper plates
  • Grey craft paint
  • Markers
  • Paintbrush
  • Glue stick
  • Tissue paper or paper towels
  • Scissors
Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

First, paint the convex side of 3 paper plates grey, or you can leave them white and just brush some grey on to rough up the exterior of the Falcon. Set aside to dry.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Once the paint is dry you are going to take the second plate and draw some of the distinctive features of the Millenium Falcon on it like the cockpit, the forward mandibles, and concussion-missile tubes 

This fandom site has some great inspiration photos including a schematic of the ship or you can just use one of your own models.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Cut the drawings out of the paper plate.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Glue each piece into place on the plate.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Use markers to draw more details on the ship, it is mostly a dirty grey, some red, blue, a little black, and silvery colors for the most part.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Place tissue paper or paper towels in the center of the 3rd plate, making sure it stays inside the inner part of the plate

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Glue the top portion that you decorated on top of this one.

Hot glue dries the fastest but you can use whatever type of tacky glue you like.

Discover the Best Science Fiction Books for 4th Graders | Millenium Falcon Craft

Finally, look at these science fiction books for 4th graders.

SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS FOR 4TH GRADERS

Science Fiction Books For 4th Graders

Add these books to your reading day or to a unit study to learn science fiction.

The Wild Robot (Volume 1)

A robot named Roz opens her eyes for the first time on a remote, wild island and must learn to survive and navigate the world around her.

The Giver: A Newbery Award Winner

Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birth mothers produce new children, who are assigned to appropriate family units. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas.

Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Gradually Jonas learns that power lies in feelings. But when his own power is put to the test—when he must try to save someone he loves—he may not be ready. Is it too soon? Or too late?

Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs.

Star Wars Jedi Academy Series 7 Books Collection

Series: Star Wars Jedi Academy 7 paperback books - Star Wars Jedi Academy: Jedi Academy, Return of the Padawan, The Phantom Bully, A New Class, The Force Oversleeps, Revenge of the Sis, and The Principal Strikes BackSummary: This set includes all seven books from the NY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES Star Wars: Jedi Academy. Created by award-winning author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown, this series is a hit for readers of all ages. Whether you're familiar with Star Wars or if you're new to the galaxy, this heartfelt and hilarious adventure follows middle grader Roan as he navigates being a Jedi and dealing with bullies, aliens, robots, and even school dances.At Jedi Academy, students learn how to design droids, fight with a lightsaber, and use the Force!

Time Travel Inn (Choose Your Own Adventure)

Acclaimed children's humor author Bart King takes readers ages 8-12 on an interactive science fiction mystery adventure. Battle gladiators and escape from dinosaurs in this funny romp through time and space.

Your adventurous Grandmother Dolores makes you and your family the unlikely stewards of her Time Travel Inn in rural Wisconsin. You move from Florida to Wisconsin with hopes of investigating more about the inn, and your grandmother’s disappearance, but quickly learn the inn is an epicenter for time travel research gone awry.

Choose Your Own Adventure is the bestselling gamebook series of all time. Empowering generations of children through choice, it is widely commended for its appeal to reluctant readers.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor

In Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor, an uneventful experiment in Frank's garage/lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring his inventions—the robots Klink and Klank—to life!Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions . . . until Frank’s archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan.Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers.The Frank Einstein series encourages middle grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus raves, “This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to ‘keep asking questions and finding your own answers’ fires on all cylinders," while Publishers Weekly says that the series “proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful.”

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot

Meet Ricky Ricotta, a little mouse with a big problem!Ricky Ricotta lives in Squeakyville with his mom and dad. Ricky has a hard time making friends at school, and the neighborhood bullies are always picking on him. If only Ricky could find someone to be his best buddy and keep those creepy bullies away!Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a mad scientist named Dr. Stinky McNasty has created a Mighty Robot who is as gentle as he is powerful. Dr. Stinky plans to make the Robot destroy Squeakyville, but there's one little thing in his way: Ricky Ricotta! When Ricky rescues the Robot, an unlikely friendship begins. And Ricky discovers that a little mouse can be a BIG hero -- with some help from his new best friend!

Menace from the Deep

Emmet moves to Florida with his biologist father to investigate a strange, genetically engineered animal found dead in the Everglades, a creature that is the first of a new breed of man-made, apex predator that is about to be turned loose.

Space Case (Moon Base Alpha)

Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon.And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games.Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep...

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Book Lists Tagged With: 4th grade, book lists, books, science, science fiction

Easy Spring Activities For Preschoolers Science And Fun Busy Book

February 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some spring activities for preschoolers science and a fun spring busy book. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas

Spring is an ideal season to ignite your preschooler’s curiosity about the natural world.

Flowers are blooming, rain is coming and insects are in abundance.

Easy Spring Activities For Preschoolers Science And Fun Busy Book

It is a perfect time to discover the wonders of nature.

And hands-on activities and through play is how preschoolers learn best.

Take advantage of their natural curiosity to make spring activities for preschoolers science a fun topic.

First, look at some of these books.

BOOKS ABOUT SPRING FOR KIDS

You can read them aloud while they are doing hands-on activities or just sit down and read together for science.

10 Books About Spring for Young Learners

Grab some of these fun books about the spring season for kids.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms: A Springtime Book For Kids

Fletcher enjoys the sunny weather and the warmth of spring. But when he stumbles across snowy flakes gently floating to the ground, he spreads the news of winter’s return to all his friends. But spring is full of wonderful surprises for Fletcher and his friends.

Miss Rumphius

Barbara Cooney's story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went. Miss Rumphius received the American Book Award in the year of publication.

Blue on Blue

Join a farming family as they experience the full range of a thrilling seaside thunderstorm—from the wild wind and the very first drops; to the pouring, pouring rain; to the wonderful messy mud after the sun returns! With gentle, rhyming text and vivid artwork from a Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator, this sublime depiction of nature’s patterns turns a storm into a celebration.

Yucky Worms: Read and Wonder

Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.Back matter includes further information about worms and an index

Make Way for Ducklings

Mrs. Mallard was sure that the pond in the Boston Public Gardens would be a perfect place for her and her eight ducklings to live.  The problem was how to get them there through the busy streets of Boston.  But with a little help from the Boston police, Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack arive safely at their new home.

Plant the Tiny Seed Board Book: A Springtime Book For Kids

Beautiful collage-and-watercolor art follows the seed through its entire life cycle, as it grows into a zinnia in a garden full of buzzing bees, curious hummingbirds, and colorful butterflies. Children engage with the book as they wiggle their fingers to water the seeds, clap to make the sun shine after rain, and shoo away a hungry snail. Appropriate for even the youngest child, Plant the Tiny Seed is never the same book twice—no matter how many times you read it!

And for curious young nature lovers, a page of facts about seeds, flowers, and the insects and animals featured in the book is included at the end. Fans of Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, and Press Herewill find their next favorite book in Plant the Tiny Seed.

A Butterfly Is Patient:

Part of the incredible six-book Nature Books series from the award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long, A Butterfly Is Patient celebrates a dazzling variety of butterflies in all their beauty and wonder.Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these beautiful winged insects through watercolor illustrations that bring to life garden landscapes filled with flowers, vines, leaves, and sunshine.

An Egg Is Quiet:

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

As days stretch longer, animals creep out from their warm dens, and green begins to grow again, everyone knows―spring is on its way!Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the melting brook to chirping birds, they say goodbye to winter and welcome the lushness of spring.

Flowers Are Calling

In this rhyming poetic picture book, explore the wonders of natural cooperation between plants, animals and insects. Flowers Are Calling by Rita Gray and illustrated by Kenard Pak is "a sophisticated blend of scientific information and artistry" (Publishers Weekly).

Flowers are calling to all the animals of the forest, "Drink me!"—but it’s the pollinators who feast on their nectar.

In rhyming poetic form and with luminous artwork, this book shows us the marvel of natural cooperation between plants, animals, and insects as they each play their part in the forest's cycle of life.

Next, look at this fun list of ideas for spring activities for preschoolers science.

SPRING ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS SCIENCE

  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Grow a Rainbow
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • More Winter Science Activities for Preschoolers
  • 10 Egg Carton Crafts For 2 Year Olds and Fun Nature Color Match Activity
  • How to Make Hot Cocoa Cloud Dough | 8 Hot Cocoa Crafts for Preschoolers
  • Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun
  • How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning
  • Celebrate Snakes | How To Make A Fake Snakeskin Snake Craft Preschool
  • 7 Easy Cloud Crafts For Preschoolers | Types of Clouds Activity
Easy Spring Activities For Preschoolers Science And Fun Busy Book

Also, look at this spring busy book for preschool.

SPRING BUSY BOOK FOR PRESCHOOL

Then, I have this fun interactive spring busy book for preschool to nurture learning.

It is a 66 .pdf download.

It covers the following skills.

  • Spring spell
  • Season months
  • Umbrella color matching
  • Rainbow color matching
  • Shapes sorting
  • Let’s stack the cake
  • Count and match
  • Match the bird with house
  • Counting puzzle
  • Color matching
  • Butterfly wing match
  • Spring weather match
  • Alphabet matching
  • Sort objects by color
  • Match the numbers
  • Count the dots
  • More, Less or Equal
  • Photo Match
  • Fill in the missing number
  • Let’s dress for the rain
  • Let’s dress for the sun
  • Spring shadow matching
  • Insect sorting
  • Butterfly life cycle
  • Emotion matching
  • Sort by size
  • Spring animals matching
  • Fun in spring
  • Find and count
  • What comes next
  • Which is different

The busy book has pages of activities and pages of cut-out.

For example, print the pages and place them in a small binder.

Then print the cut out pages.

Have your child cut and glue the cut-out on the correct activity.

HOW TO GET THE SPRING BUSY BOOK

You can get it now!

All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store.

Downloads are INSTANT. When you pay, you will receive an email with a download link INSTANTLY. Depending on your internet connection, the email could be just 30 seconds or so, or a bit longer. The point is it will be soon, not a week later,etc.

Easy Spring Activities For Preschoolers Science And Fun Busy Book

The email with the download link will go to the email you used for paypal. If you used your husband’s paypal, your downloads will go to that email. Please check that email and your spam before emailing me telling me you can’t find it.

Please put my email tina @ tinasdynamichomeschoolplus dot com (take out the space and substitute the right symbol for dot) in your address/contact list so that your product does not go to spam.

MY GUARANTEE: To treat you like I want to be treated which means I know at times technical problems may cause glitches, so I will do everything possible to make your experience here pleasant. Also, you can email me at my personal email tinahomeschools at gmail dot com.

  • Dynamic Simple Spring Busy Book For Kids Who Love Learning

    Dynamic Simple Spring Busy Book For Kids Who Love Learning

    $3.75
    Add to cart

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, life science, preschool, preschool skills, science, spring, spring crafts

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

February 4, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Make a host of pine craft tree ideas using every amazing part of the pine tree from the cone to the bark as well as the needles. Also, look at my page Famous and Historic Trees Fun Nature and History Homeschool Unit Study.

Crafts that recreate pine trees with pipe cleaners, watercolors, and the like are great.

But how wonderful to teach your child to gather and use these parts for useful and practical applications like nature crafts that make beautiful decor and all natural cleaners.

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

Even if you have never foraged before, each part of the pine tree is evidence of its life cycle and growth even.

If you can find a pine tree to collect from in your area you can create one of these fantastic pine craft tree ideas.

Pine trees share these things in common:

They are a conical or pyramidal shape, evergreen, needle-bearing, and produce cones

There are 111 tree and shrub species of pine split between hard pines and soft pine types.

BOOKS ABOUT TREES FOR KIDS

9 Tree Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

You'll love using one of these books as a science reference or to use for art to inspire life science lessons.

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World

Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes…).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.

The Busy Tree

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups

This is a fantastic reference book to have on hand for tree studies.

It has great illustrations and covers everything from how a tree “eats and drinks” to types of trees, seeds, how they change in the seasons, why we need them and more

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

Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world.

Trees, Leaves & Bark (Take Along Guides)

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

Tree Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about magic of trees for children

Tree Full of Wonder is a vibrant, rhyming, educational and unique picture book showing the unbreakable bond between people and trees. For children ages 3-8. Kids will fall in love with nature and will become Protectors of the Trees.

The Magic and Mystery of Trees (The Magic and Mystery of Nature)

From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex “wood wide web” of roots, it’s no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.

Figurines of Pine, Elm, Juniper, Monkey Puzzle, Topiary, Petticoat, Aspen, Two Maples

Learn and Play: These figurines provide a fun and educational way to learn about different tree species, promoting environmental awareness and appreciation.

Fandex Family Field Guides: Trees

Bringing the world of TREES to your fingertips, FANDEX presents a foolproof field guide. Four visual keys--die-cut leaf, bark pattern, flower, nut or seed, and photo of the full tree--plus descriptions of habitat and more combine to give a complete picture of North America's forest and backyard trees.

In addition, TREES is a cultural history--of the mighty White Oak, California Redwood, Aillanthus, the tree that grows in Brooklyn, and the stately White Ash, as important for the bows of early Native Americans as for the baseball bats of today.

A great resource that has amazing illustrations and can be used for many nature studies is of course Nature Anatomy.

We were able to find information on pinecones, bark, trunk anatomy, ponderosa pines, spruce, bark, as well as foraging information.

I also really love using The Tree Book For Kids and Their Grown Ups to identify and learn about all different kinds of trees and their parts from root to seed.

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

I also have a FREE pine tree life cycle template for the younger kids to color, cut out, and put together to help them learn the most basic steps of the life cycle of pine trees.

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

Most of these pine craft tree ideas are great for all ages.

Some of the recipes and crafts that require tools will need more help or be geared toward middle and high school students.

But before we begin with all the craft ideas, let’s learn a little bit more about the life cycle of pine trees and what each part contributes.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF PINE TREES

Seed Germination

  • Pine seeds are dispersed from the trees and fall to the forest floor.
  • When there are favorable conditions, such as warmth and moisture, the seed then germinates and produces a small root and shoots.

Seedling Stage

  • The seedling develops a taproot that anchors it in the soil where it absorbs water and nutrients.
  • The shoot continues to grow, eventually developing needle-like leaves.

Sapling Stage

  • The young tree, which is known as a sapling, grows rapidly during this stage.
  • The branches start to form and the tree begins to take on a more conical shape.

Pole Stage

  • The tree continues to grow in both height and diameter.
  • The branches become more developed, and the tree’s crown becomes denser.

Maturity

  • The tree reaches its full height and spreads.
  • Cones, which are the reproductive structures of pine trees, start to develop on the branches.

Seed Production

  • The cones mature and release seeds, which are then dispersed by the wind.

Decline and Death

  • Eventually, the tree dies, and the decaying remains contribute to the forest ecosystem.
  • As the tree ages, it can become more susceptible to pests, diseases, and weather events.
Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable

Finally, look at these easy pine craft tree ideas.

EASY PINE CRAFT TREE IDEAS

Crab a basket and get together bark, limbs, sap, cones, and needles because you are going to want to make a lot of these fabulous pine craft tree ideas.

Needles

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable
  • Create this beautiful Clay Dish With Evergreen Pieces that can be used as a ring bowl, coasters, or even to hang up.
  • Learn How to Make a Handmade Hearth Broom With Pine Needles in this tutorial.
  • Craft useful and beautiful Pine Needle Baskets to keep or gift.
  • Use pine needles of various shapes and sizes to Make Your Own Bookmark With Waxed Paper.
  • DIY Pine Bath Salts and Gift Tag is a wonderfully relaxing craft that you can also enjoy while soaking in a hot bath. They make such pretty winter gifts too.

Bark

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable
  • Make use of found pieces of bark with my From Forest to Fun: Unique Crafts With Tree Bark, turning them into real or imagined creatures.
  • Craft Tree Bark Flower Vases to hold fresh or fake flowers year round.
  • This Rustic Tree Bark Lantern is beautiful indoors or out.
  • You could make an entire family of owls with How to Make Bark Owls and mount them on a board or canvas for display.

Resin

  • Learn How to Make and Use Glue From Pine Resin for a natural adhesive to use on many crafts.
  • After you learn how to gather it you can learn How to Make Pine Resin Salve as an alternative to store bought lotions and creams.
  • I bet this How to Make Pine Resin Soap is invigorating to use and smell in the shower, and what a practical craft idea.
  • Another way to make use out of every part of pine trees is figuring out How to Make Candles out of Pine Resin.

Cones

Easy Pine Craft Tree Ideas And A Free Life Cycle Printable
  • Take pine pines and pine needles and find out How to Create a Fun Yosemite National Park Camping Curriculum while you make a DIY Firestarter that is a beautiful addition to a backyard bonfire.
  • Craft this Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers and create a pretty unique bouquet to brighten up your home even in the dead of winter.
  • Did you know you could make a DIY Pine Cone Bonsai – How To Make A Pine Cone Bonsai ? I didn’t and I am just tickled to give this one a try.
  • Gather up a basket full of pinecones and learn How to Create Scented Pinecone Crafts that will give your home a warm natural look and a fresh earthy smell.

HOW TO GET THE FREE PINE TREE LIFE CYCLE PRINTABLE

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

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment |Free Printable

February 1, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some facts about oxygen for kids and a cool underwater flame experiment. Also, look at my post 4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

Oxygen is a fascinating gas.

And without it we wouldn’t be able to live.

The ancient Greeks thought air was made of just one thing, and they called it “aether.”

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Animals, humans, and even some microorganisms need it for survival.

And it helps us breathe, move, and stay alive.

And the best part? Plants, trees, and algae make the oxygen we need to breathe.

It is truly a life-giving gas.

CHEMISTRY BOOKS FOR KIDS

First, look at these books about chemistry.

12 Chemistry Books & Resources for Kids of All Ages

But first here are some resources that are a great introduction and more to chemistry for kids.

Superstars of Science

Discover fun facts about the greatest scientists from history through Basher's fresh and unique illustration style.

Did you know that Marie Curie used to keep radioactive materials in her pockets? Or that Mendeleyev literally dreamed up his famous periodic table? Superstars of Science tells the stories behind the big ideas in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, earth sciences, and engineering. Read about 40 great scientists including Newton and Einstein who produced theories that explained the way in which the Universe works, Crick and Watson who uncovered the structure of DNA, and Alexander Graham Bell who had the big idea that became the telephone. Each one of these greats of science has had some vital flash of insight that has changed the way we see the world and the way we live. Come meet the superstars of science!

Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction

Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us.

Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

This book is a classic in the field of popular science. Standard reading since the 1930s, it is one of the few histories of chemistry to concentrate on the lives of the great chemists. Through these dramatic and human stories, it gives an authoritative and entertaining account of the great discoveries and advances in this scientific field. After many printings in three previous editions, this book has been newly revised by the author for this fourth edition. Beginning with Trevisan and his lifelong search for the "philosopher's stone," the author narrates the lives and discoveries of such towering figures as Paracelsus and his chemical treatment of disease; Priestley looking for phlogiston and finding oxygen and carbon dioxide, Lavoisier creating a new language of chemistry; Dalton and his Atomic Theory; Avogadro and the idea of molecules, Mendeleeff arranging the table of elements under his Periodic Law; the Curies isolating radium; Thomson discovering the electron; Moseley and his Law of Atomic Numbers; Lawrence and the construction of the cyclotron; and more. Probably the most dramatic chapter in the book, the account of the development of nuclear fission, ends the story of chemistry at its most monumental achievement.

The Chemistry of Cola

You’ll be amazed at all you can learn from this favorite drink – what’s in it, why it fizzes, what you can do with it, the containers it’s in, and more!

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance-which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

52 Extreme Kids Chemistry Experiments Set - STEM Activities & Science Kits

If you want your child to be able to explore and complete some simple chemistry experiments without running around grabbing all the items an all in on kit is just the thing to add to your chemistry studies.

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters? The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Chemistry Fluxx Card Game - Science Games Card Games for Kids

 Chemistry EditionChemistry Fluxx is the perfect compound of chance, skill and strategy-use atoms and laboratory tools to match the current goal of the game and win! The rules are always changing in Fluxx. The Keepers, Goals, Rules and Action cards determine how the game will be played.

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture (DIY Science)

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work:

  • Purify alcohol by distillation
  • Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis
  • Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself
  • Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances
  • Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper
  • Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons
  • and much more

The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things

Written for lay readers, provides an introduction to the principles of chemistry and includes quotations from popular literature to show how chemistry and everyday life intertwine.

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (Cartoon Guide Series)

If you have ever suspected that "heavy water" is the title of a bootleg Pink Floyd album, believed that surface tension is an anxiety disorder, or imagined that a noble gas is the result of a heavy meal at Buckingham Palace, then you need The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry to set you on the road to chemical literacy.

You don't need to be a scientist to grasp these and many other complex ideas, because The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry explains them all: the history and basics of chemistry, atomic theory, combustion, solubility, reaction stoichiometry, the mole, entropy, and much more—all explained in simple, clear, and yes, funny illustrations. Chemistry will never be the same!

Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned ... But Probably Didn't!

AIR IS NOT OXYGEN is a fun way to brush up on essential science concepts you missed in school. (Admit it. You probably thought you had better things to do than study!) Clear, short chapters focus on mastering key concepts instead of memorizing facts. Dozens of optional hands-on activities make science come alive! In a style described as “Dave Barry meets Bill Nye with a touch of the Mythbusters,” award-winning author, Bill Morelan, debunks common misconceptions about basic science. Reflecting both the National Science Content Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN covers Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and Science Methods.A fun, informative read, AIR IS NOT OXYGEN helps fill the gaps in your science education. (Never be humiliated by science geeks again!) Perfect for sharing, or as a handy basic reference tool. Makes a great book for kids, too.

Then, look at these 10 facts about oxygen for kids.

10 FACTS ABOUT OXYGEN FOR KIDS

  1. Joseph Priestley discovered the gas we now know as oxygen in 1774.
  2. Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the universe.
  3. It comes from a Greek word that means “acid-former”.
  4. The air around us is made up of about 21% oxygen.
  5. It’s a colorless, odorless gas.
  6. Oxygen is important for fires to burn. Without oxygen, a fire can’t keep going.
  7. The air contains other gases, like nitrogen (about 78%) and small amounts of carbon dioxide. But oxygen is the one we need most to survive.
  8. Oxygen is also in water (H2O), which is why we need it to survive.
  9. Animals, humans, and even some microorganisms rely on it for survival.
  10. Oxygen is what makes fires burn and without it, fire can’t keep going.

Next, look at some of these hands-on activities.

MORE HANDS-ON CHEMISTRY ACTIVITIES

  • How To Make A Fun Periodic Table Notes Game With Kids
  • Easy Atom Model Project: How To Create A Fun Lego Version
  • 2 Fun Chemistry for Kids Experiments & John Dalton Notebooking Pages
  • 21 Fun Chemistry Homeschool Ideas for Kids
  • 10 Popular High School Chemistry Homeschool Curriculum
  • Easy Hands-On Science: Label the Atom Playdough Activity
  • Medieval Chemistry and Homeschool History – Fun Hands-On Activity
  • Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned … But Probably Didn’t!
10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Finally, look at how to do an underwater flame experiment to learn about oxygen.

HOW TO DO AN UNDERWATER FLAME EXPERIMENT & FREE PRINTABLE

Look at this list of supplies.

Supplies:

  • Large bowl (glass preferred for better visibility)
  • Tea light
  • Lighter
  • Water
  • Glass
  • Adult supervision required

First, gather all the supplies need.

Fill a large glass bowl with water.

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Carefully place an unlit tea light in the water.

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Light the tea light.

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Invert the glass over the lit tea light.

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Slowly and carefully push the cup to the bottom of the bowl. Wait a few seconds.

10 Facts About Oxygen For Kids | How To Do An Underwater Flame Experiment

Then slowly bring the glass back up and notice the tea light is still lit!

How is this possible?! Because of oxygen or air!

The air in the glass takes up spaces preventing water from entering the cup, allowing the flame to stay lit!

Will the flame go out?

Eventually, if the tea light stays under the water the flame will be extinguished because the oxygen in the glass will run out.

HOW TO GET THE FREE UNDERWATER FLAME EXPERIMENT PRINTABLE

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

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

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

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

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