sciencecurriculum

Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)

April 11, 2023 | 20 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Last year when spring rolled around, I shared a free Bird Journal along with a Bird Identification page. Also, grab more information about birds on my page Hands-on Bird Unit Study and Lapbook.

Tiny had been coloring birds for a few years before I shared it last year.

Also, I wanted something that could be used both as a coloring journal AND to print a page over and over when we identified birds.

Free Bird Journal - Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)

So this free printable bird journal includes the following pages.

Colorful front page for your journal
owl coloring page
raptor or hawk coloring page
cardinals coloring page
heron coloring page
emeral toucan coloring page
spoonbill coloring page
sulphur crested cockatoo coloring page
cross bill coloring page
bob white coloring page
quetzal coloring page
vulture coloring page
song sparrow coloring page
catbird coloring page and
a beautiful Bird Identification Page which you can print over and over as your children discover new birds

So this year and as all kids do, he has grown up a bit more and wanted the Bird Identification page changed around to allow room for a larger sketch and less coloring.

Moreover, in the download I included a “field guide” page.

Just add the field page into a page protector and add to your notebook.

Using a 3 ring notebook worked best for us so could keep adding to it each year.

Additionally, if you want to delve into more spring learning look at the NaturExplorers.

However because I know you still may have younger sweeties and kids who probably like to color, I have added a few more bird coloring pages to the Bird Journal.

Free Bird Journal

I also updated the Bird Identification page to allow room for a larger sketch and to use for an older child.

We want to get in the habit of bird watching year around so I created this page so that the season could be easily marked when we’re bird watching.

More Fun Learning About Birds Activities

Also, I have so many fun activities for your kids to learn about birds.

But we only seem to do it when we have spring fever.

Grab this free and fun Bird Journal which includes high quality coloring pages and bird identification page which allows plenty of room for sketching and noting birding details. CLICK HERE to grab it!

More Coloring Pages

20 Fun Home School Education Coloring Books to Pair With Unit Studies

In addition, add some fun bird books to use as referenced for the bird journal.

11 Fun Resources and Books to Learn About North American Robin Birds

Studying about North American Robin birds is fun to do anytime of the year with all ages. You'll love adding one ore more of these resources to your study.

1. All About Robins

A robin is one of the most familiar and beloved of all birds that are found throughout North America. You may see robins running across lawns or going after earthworms in your yard or a park. You can also find robins by listening for their clear, melodic singing.There are many facts about robins that most people don’t know. If your children have ever wondered about robins and how they grow from chicks to adult birds, this book is for them. The book contains dozens of beautiful photos of robins from the time they first hatch, to when their mother feeds them, until they take their first flight. It also includes many little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists.

2. Model Backyard Birds Toys

Set of bird figurine toys, which contains 7 different small plastic birds. The weight of bird figure toy is 96G / 0.2LB. The set of small plastic bird contains 7 pieces of toy birds, such as robin, bluebird, oriole, woodpecker, etc. Please refer to the picture for the actual size and color.

3. Big Book of Birds

The book draws in children and parents alike with captivating information about and charming illustrations of hummingbirds, peacocks, flamingos, bald eagles, secretary birds, puffins, red-crowned cranes, and more. The book also invites young bird-watchers to protect birds where they live and make their gardens bird-friendly. The text is chatty, funny, and full of remarkable facts.

4. A Nest Full of Eggs (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Named a Best Children's Science Book of the Year by Science Books & Films, this picture book shows how the birds develop inside their eggs during the spring; how they mature into fledglings in the summer; how they learn to fly in the fall; and how they leave for warmer climates in winter—only to return when spring comes around again.

5. BACKYARD BIRDSONG GUIDE EASTERN AND CENT (cl) (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Suitable for beginning bird watchers, Backyard Birdsongs is an interactive handbook of birds and their songs. With a touch-button electronic module that contains common vocalizations of seventy-five species from across eastern and central North America, this volume offers a truly sensory way to identify and get to know local birds. Crisply detailed, scientifically accurate illustrations accompany each entry, and up-to-date range maps provide clear geographical reference points. With an introduction that will inspire readers to look out their windows and venture into the field, this unique book gives people of all ages an exciting entryway into the subtle art of using birdsong to identify birds.

6. A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home (Nest for Celeste, 1)

Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of black-and-white drawings, A Nest for Celeste is a short novel that tells the story a mouse living in the 1800s and his friendship with John James Audubon’s young apprentice. While enjoying this sweet amd appealing story, young readers will also learn about nineteenth-century plantation life and the famous naturalist who was known for his paintings of birds and American wildlife.

7. An Egg Is Quiet: (Picture Book, Kids Book about Eggs)

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.

8. Robins!: How They Grow Up

Robins are the most familiar and beloved of all birds, found throughout North America and celebrated as one of the first signs of spring. But there's a lot about them that most people don’t know! In this visually stunning picture book that features comic-book panels combined with painterly illustrations, Eileen Christelow tells the story of two young robins’ first year, and reveals plenty of little-known facts that are sure to captivate young naturalists. Narrated with humor and filled with kid-pleasing details, this fascinating account of how robins grow up includes an Author’s Note, Glossary, More About Robins, and Sources.

9. Rob the Robin: A Tale of a Feathered Friend

Join Rob the Robin on his adventure as he discovers first the difficulty of surviving a long winter and then the wonders of spring. Written as an early reader, this tale is sure to delight children with captivating photography and pictures that visually tell the story in such a way that will interest both readers and non-readers alike.

10. The American Robin

In this book, Roland Wauer offers a complete natural history of the American Robin for a popular audience. Combining his own observations as a field naturalist with data gleaned from the scientific literature, he described the American Robin from every angle - appearance and biology, distribution, behavior, life cycle, and enemies and threats. In addition, he explores the legends and lore surrounding robins ("Whoever kills a robin redbreast will never have good luck were they to live a thousand years") and offers suggestions for attracting robins to your yard with favorite food, water, landscape plantings, and nesting places.

11. American Robin Plush Authentic Bird Sound

Kids and adults love this bird stuffed animal and are captivated by its realistic sound. They are also great baby toys and used as sensory toys. With one squeeze, Audubon birds produce beautifully authentic bird calls provided by the Cornell lab of Ornithology’s bird recording archives.

Are y’all planning any special project for spring?

How to Get the Free Bird Journal

Now, how to grab the free bird journal. This is a subscriber freebie.

1) Sign up on my list.
2) Download your freebie NOW!
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Fun DIY Felt Frog Dissection With Frog Insides Labeled Mess Free (Free Printables)

March 9, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This diy felt frog dissection with frog insides labeled is tons of fun without the mess. Grab the other ideas on my Frog and Toad Amphibians page.

If you want to cover dissection with your kids but they (or you) are just too squeamish to do the real thing this felt frog is a fun change.

We are creating a frog from the inside out.

Fun DIY Felt Frog Dissection With Frog Insides Labeled Mess Free (Free Printables)

And we’re getting those frog insides labeled and sorted out a little easier with a fun and adorable diy felt dissection frog.

By performing this makeshift dissection, your child will be able to identify the major organs, tissues, and systems of the frog.

This can be a total diy.

For example, we literally googled dozens of photos and frog dissections and quickly sketched out body parts.

Also, you can add more frog body parts like ovaries, cloaca, esophagus, gullet, voice box, spine, and even a skeleton made from pipe cleaners if you’d like to go more in depth.

I love that this project is reusable over and over for lessons, quizzes, and it would even make a great activity for a co-op as well.

More Frog Study and Frog Insides Labeled Resources

Of course, you want to include books, printouts from online, and a pair of tongs for removing and placing all the pieces.

I think our frog looks so fun and inviting on a nice tray and appreciates the lack of mess that a real dissection makes.

14 Frog Unit Study Resources

Add a book or two or some fun hands-on resources to your unit study.

The Frog (Animal Lives)

Superbly detailed drawings capture the elusive frog in its watery realm, as it captures its prey with a sticky tongue, feeds its young, and leaps from place to place to escape from predators.

Tale of a tadpole

The natural world doesn't work the way fairy tales do, but it still has its fair share of enchantments. With text and pictures that are both scientifically accurate and totally true to the comedies of family life, this is a happily-ever-after tale of unexpected transformations

Rainforest Frogs

Rainforest Frogs Haiku by Caley Vickerman Illustrated by Mark Lerer Foreword by Franco Andreone Designed and Edited by Susan Newman Frogs Are Green, Inc is proud to announce… Rainforest Frogs Order your copy now! Free shipping in the USA if you order directly from us! $11.95 | 52 pages softcover | Full color Rainforest Frogs profiles ten exotic and endangered amphibian species. Table of Contents Foreword by Franco Andreone Blue Poison Dart frog Amazon Milk frog Yellow-Banded Poison Dart frog Northern Glass frog Tiger’s Tree frog Golden Mantella Red-Eyed Tree frog Flat-Head Bromeliad Tree frog Tiger-Leg Monkey Tree frog Rabbs Fringe-Limbed Tree frog (Toughie)

Frog (Life Cycle of a . . .)

Do tadpoles have legs? Why do frogs live in water? How do frogs catch food? Explaining concepts through stunning photographs and simple text, 'Life Cycle of a Frog' takes an in-depth look at this familiar but fascinating animal.

Ice King Bear Plush Giant Frog

Scientific name of this frog is Conraua goliath (The largest frog in the world).

Product size is 22 inches length from head to soles of the feet, big size.

Soft, huggable material built to high-quality standards and hand wash best.

Suit for kids toy, funny party props, early education animals, cute decorations in house.

Climbing Tree Frogs (Pull Ahead Books)

Introduces the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitats of North American tree frogs

Frogs

How far can frogs jump? Why do their eggs look slimy? Answer these questions and many more in this illustrated introduction to amphibians, and learn about the unique role frogs play in the environment. With her signature bright, well-labeled diagrams and simple text, Gail Gibbons introduces the habitat and life cycles of frogs, and gives a brief overview of common frog behaviors. Important vocabulary is introduced, defined, and reinforced with kid-friendly language and clear illustrations—plus a page of intriguing frog trivia.

Frog and Friends

Frog and Toad

Frog & Toad The Complete Collection

This collection brings together all of Arnold Lobel’s engaging, warm and funny stories about Frog and Toad, and features a special foreword by Julia Donaldson. A collectable classic treasury that every child should read and own. Julia Donaldson says “I hugely admire and envy Arnold Lobel; he is my hero”. Once upon a time there were two good friends, a frog and a toad… From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other – just as best friends should be.

Frog Growth Cycle

This Forg life cycle set is a fun for children with an interest in insects and nature explore. And also it is a great teaching and learning tool for homeschoolers and preschoolers teaching.

Anatomy Lab Soft Cover Frog Dissection Guide Book

Fully Illustrated Guide: Each study guide is fully illustrated and conveys the complete dissection through illustration.

Visualize the Steps: the dissection guides depict anatomically correct step-by-step procedural illustrations helping the student visualize key organs and anatomy aiding in the overall dissection process.

Frog-Development Paperweight Specimens

The frog development paperweight specimen is a 100% natural insect incased in clear resin block, you can observe its development all life stages very clearly from any angle.

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

Category: NatureIn a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers. This is a nature tale like you've never seen before!

Frogs Toy Mini Vinyl Realistic Frog

Rich in style: the plastic frogs toys contain 12 different types and each type includes 3 pieces, allowing you to combine and match for beautiful and personalized decorations at your will, which can give rein to your imagination and creativity

Quality material: the realistic frogs toy decorations are made of quality PVC material for safety and wearing, which are odorless; They are also easy to clean and can be applied many times, providing a comfortable touching experience for you

You can either put your felt frog together and then have your child “dissect” the frog and label the parts as they come to them.

Or let them create it, put it together and take it apart, and then label it, etc.

Let your kid decide the setup of this felt frog from start to finish.

This will help the information stick better.

If your child is in middle school, they prefer some independence in their studies.

Younger children might need you to do more of the upfront work or at least more assistance.

5 Fascinating Frog Facts

The largest frog is the Goliath Frog that can weigh up to 7 pounds.
The smallest frog is Paedophryne amauensis, this little guy is less than ⅓ of an inch long.
Frogs don’t drink water directly but rather they absorb it through their skin.
The North American Bullfrog is the type of frog used most often for dissections.
Frogs in captivity have been known to have a lifespan of over 20 years; it is unknown how long in the wild.

In addition, be sure you add my free lapbook to your study.

More Frog Resources

Finally, look how to make this fun frog craft.

How to Make a DIY Felt Frog Dissection

Here is what you will need:

2 sheets green felt
Red felt
Pink felt
Blue felt
Purple felt
Tan felt
Red string/yarn
Scissors

You can either trace the crude frog outline I made for you or have your child draw it out on paper.

To make the felt model easier to work with you want to have them draw it fairly large, using the majority of the paper.

Cut out the paper outline and use it to trace onto the green felt.

Fold the felt in half and cut the outline out of two layers.

That is one layer of green felt and one layer of pink.

The pink will help us create the muscle tissue layer.

Next, cut out the internal organs from paper to use as a template to cut out of various felt colors.

Again, here is a crude sketch but you can free hand the general shapes as well.

You can keep all the organs from one system the same color if you like, such as all digestive organs pink, respiratory purple, etc.

To assemble the frog lay out one of your green body shapes and then run red thread from the “heart” to each of the 4 limbs creating the arteries.

Assemble the organs in roughly the correct spot, cover with the pink frog layer and then the second green one.

You can leave it uncut and just simply remove the top layers.

Also, you can have your child create a dissection then cut and fold the pieces back and hold the flaps in place with tacks or stick pins.

Finally, create labels for each of the parts on cardstock.

How to Get the Free Frog Body and Body Parts Outline

Finally, how to grab the free frog body and body parts outline for the felt. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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

Botany Homeschool Curriculum Review of Botany in 8 Lessons Grades 4-8

March 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I’m having a guest review a botany homeschool curriculum. I have more tips on my how to homeschool middle school page.

When looking for a science curriculum, particularly a botany homeschool curriculum for middle school I wanted something that would put most of the responsibility into the students hands.

Botany Homeschool Curriculum Review of Botany in 8 Lessons Grades 4-8

But I didn’t it so challenging that it was frustrating.

Like you, I am always searching for a just right curriculum.

Although I favor the unschooling approach, I love unschooling or relaxed schooling with some structure to our schooling days.

We do a combo of fully child led learning and some structured that is still child interest led.

To do this I asked my son what science topic he wanted to learn about, and he chose botany.

Next, I went through and picked out 4 or 5 various curriculums that I thought would be a good fit.

And let him choose from reading the sample pages and directions on those and this was the botany homeschool curriculum that he chose Botany in 8 Lessons.

Botany Homeschool Curriculum

We had both the hard copy of the student text as well as the pdf for the teacher and student sections.

I highly recommend getting the pdf and downloading just the pages you need if you are opting to just do level 1.

I have to say we have both really enjoyed the curriculum. My son is 14 and would be considered a freshman in public school.

He struggles with dyspraxia/dysgraphia, ADHD, Aspergers, Tourette’s, OCD, and anxiety. That’s a lot for a kid to deal with.

I really liked that this was an open and go science curriculum which didn’t require a lot from me other than encouragement and some accountability.

The fact that he could do most of it independently really helped his confidence also.

I think this would still be a fun and still educational botany curriculum even for highschoolers.

In addition, there are a few ways your student can cover Botany in 8 Lessons.

If you assign lessons twice a week you finish in about 8 weeks,

Or you can stretch it out and do Lesson 1, level one on the first week, and level two the next week, and so on. If you include extra activities like videos, work in the garden and field trips, you can get 16 weeks out of it.

About Botany in 8 Lessons Grades 4-8

We chose to do science twice a week, making each lesson cover two weeks.

So on week 1 he read a few pages from that lesson and chose 1-2 activities at the end of the level 1 to complete.

The next week he would read level 2 and complete 1-2 of the suggested activities.

I loved that there were choices for the activities at the end of each lesson.

Instead of just assigning one activity and telling your child to do it, there is flexibility.

It made it less of a battle if I told him to pick an activity for one of the days he worked on science.

And I chose one for the other ( to make sure he wasn’t always opting for the easy way out) , or you could assign all of them over the course of the week.

You can see here in the first lesson there were 6 to choose from at the end of the lesson from completing a crossword to computer research.

I did sit with him through most of the first couple lessons.

I could encourage him and make sure that he understood and was able to do the work independently.

Botany Topics

He chose to use his computer to look up Plant Cell Micrographs for the first activity.

You can see all the topics covered over the 8 lessons here in the table of contents:

And each lesson has 2 levels; the 8 topics covered are:

Plant Cells and Photosynthesis
Plant Classifications
Non-vascular Plants
The Vascular System
Leaves and Trees
Plant Reproduction
Plant Adaptation
Plant Diseases

There are consumable pages in the back that make up the additional activities like lapbook.

And a board game to put together and play.

The hard copy has simple and colorful illustrations for each topic and gorgeous vintage botanical prints to look at for reference.

Botany Course

Additionally, there are pictures of botanists like Carl Linnaeus.

He was the first define the system that created the basic biological taxonomy, identifying, classifying, and naming organisms which we still use today.

The variety of activities makes it a multisensory curriculum and I love that for pretty much any of the learning styles.

The author recommends that younger students or those with a limited interest in science just complete the level 1 activities.

Moreover, older children or those who wish to dive deeper into botany should complete both levels.

The activities in both sections are great additions to your learning time though.

Finally, the bibliography gives you some books including the ISBN to check out from the library or add to your own shelves.

Here are two of my personal favorites that we used to add to the unit.

First, add Botanicum.

This is an oversized book with gorgeous vintage looking prints of everything from wildflowers, to mushrooms to trees and more.

The series is geared towards younger than middle school, but I think this series is a fantastic picture reference book for older kids as well.

Next, there is Nature Anatomy.

This is a favorite reference of ours that we use for any kind of nature science study.

There are a lot of illustrations and snippets of information on trees, leaves, flowers, mushrooms and ferns.

The only other thing I added to the study was a digital microscope to look at specimens we gather as well as some prepared plant slides.

We also used the app inaturalist which was fantastic for photographing and helping to identify plants in our yard via flowers, bark, and leaves.

More Botany Resources

Lewis and Clark Free Botany 1 and 2 Minibooks

How to Purchase Botany in 8 Lesson

►Product Name: Botany in 8 Lessons
► Two Ways to purchase 1) Amazon in paperback 2) in Digital Downlaod
►Website: Ellen Mchenry Basement Workshop
►Grade Level: 4 to 8
Note: This could be used for a high school if you add in more activities
►Type of product: These is a physical product or digital product.

Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

February 5, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun weather unit study for kids who love hands-on learning. Also, grab my other tips and ideas on my Free Earth Science Lapbook and Best Homeschool Unit Studies pages.

Too, February 5th happens to be National Weatherperson Day.

So, I thought this was the perfect time to put together a fun weather unit study full of hands-on resources, books, and videos.

Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

I also have a simple activity that is very low prep and easy to set up.

You’ll probably have the three things you need on hand.

We’re make a rain cloud in a jar to allow the kids to explore and understand how clouds and rain work.

Weather is the way the air around us changes. Weather is made up of these different things:

Temperature
The Sun
Precipitation (rain and snow)
Clouds
Wind
Humidity

It can be hot, cold, wet, dry, still, or moving.

Weather is a constant meaning that it is something that we can observe and measure around us every day.

And it can really mess up our plans like ruining a park trip with a stormy day but it is very important to us.

MORE WEATHER RESOURCES

Fun Felt Weather Chart & Free The Magic School Bus Kicks Up A Storm Worksheet

Meteorology For Kids Made Fun: Amazing Potato Straw Experiment | Free Printable

Hurricane Weather Resources

Even as devastating as they can be, even hurricanes have a purpose.

They provide a global heat balance, build new islands, bring rainfall to places that need it, break up bacteria and red tides.

Look at these hurricane weather resources:

Hurricanes Lesson
The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane. Lesson Plan
What Are Hurricanes?

You can make your weather unit study as quick as a day or an ongoing constantly learning and growing topic.

There is no shortage of resources, or weather changes for that matter so the length of your study is totally up to you and your child’s interest in the topic.

For example, look at the weather books and resources.

10 Weather Unit Study Resources & Books

Add a few of these resources to your weather unit study for hands-on learning.

Eric Sloane's Weather Book

"Amateur weather forecasters (which includes just about everyone) will find this volume an informative and entertaining account of the why and how of the weather." — The Nation. In simple language, Eric Sloane explains the whys and wherefores of weather and weather forecasting — and does it in a style that's universally appealing.With humor and common sense shining through in a book that's also lively and informative, Sloane shows readers how to predict the weather by "reading" such natural phenomena as winds, skies, and animal sounds. This beautifully illustrated and practical treasure trove of climate lore will enlighten outdoorsmen, farmers, sailors, and anyone else who has ever wondered what a large halo around the moon means, why birds "sit it out" before a storm, and whether or not to take an umbrella when leaving the house.

You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Extreme Weather!

This series takes readers (Ages 8-12) on a historical journey, examining how people coped in the past and how they developed ingenious ways to make life safer and less unpleasant. Each book features full-color cartoon-style illustrations and hilarious speech bubbles to heighten interest, making the series attractive even to reluctant readers.It's a nuisance when it rains on a picnic. It's a tragedy when a tornado destroys a neighborhood. Some plants can grow only in hot, dry conditions; others require cold temperatures at certain times of year. And if the Arctic and Antarctic were less cold, melting ice would raise sea levels around the world and cause widespread flooding.

If You Were a Kid Surviving a Hurricane

If a hurricane was heading toward your home town, what would you do?

Readers (Ages 7-9) will enjoy the thrilling story of Carrie and Dan, two friends who find themselves caught in the path of a major hurricane. Along the way, they will learn how hurricanes form, how weather scientists track and study these storms, what people do to protect themselves from wind and flooding, and much more.

The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting

With experiments, observations and activities children ages seven to thirteen will learn to predict the weather by understanding the science behind it. From foggy mornings to sunny afternoons to our changing seasons, weather forecasting is a year-round, practical science that children will have fun learning about.

Weather: Explore Nature with Fun Facts and Activities

How is a forecast predicted? What makes a rainbow? Packed with facts and activities, this book has these answers and more, and is a perfect introduction to the world of sun, snow, and rain for kids who are curious about nature.

With amazing facts about fun topics like thunder and lightning, Weather lets kids have fun and be innovative as they learn through simple activities like cloudspotting and making a barometer. It includes information on weather found in every season of the year, so kids can discover how weather works no matter what it's doing outside.

What Makes a Tornado Twist?: And Other Questions About Weather

Is each snowflake unique? What comes first: thunder or lightning? What causes the seasons? Charming illustrations, clever charts, and fun text help kids learn whatever they want to know about wild weather. No matter their question, the fascinating answers are right here!

Pet Tornado-Spin and Watch

Nature's most destructive force can be observed and enjoyed in the palm of your hand Hold Pet Tornado from top or bottom and rotate wrist form amazing funnel clouds Includes educational information aboutEF-0 to EF-5 tornados and is a perfect addition to a weather science curriculum or for your future meteorologist Great Stress reliever and the perfect desk toy.

Weather Science Lab 20 All Season Projects

Discover The Wonderful World Of Weather Science With This Scientific Weather Science Lab Kit Designed To Educate The Budding Meteorologist On The Mysteries Of The Climate And Teach Your Young Scientist How To Chart And Predict It.

Spark Your Kid'S Curiosity & Imagination: Including 20 All-Season Activities For All Climates, This Weather Project Kit Covers A Wide Range Of Weather-Related Subjects And Boosts Children'S Cognitive Skills.

Make A Cloud In The Bottle: Measure Temperature With A Real-Life Thermometer, Atmospheric Pressure With A Barometer, Keep Your Head In The Sky To Identify Clouds And Create Fluffy Snow Without Freezing Temps

Keep Children Busy Come Rain Or Shine: Let Your Kids Set Up Their Weather Station Indoors Or Pick The Right Spot For Their Experiments Outdoors. Encourage Them To Take Notes, For The Most Accurate Forecasts

Peaceable Kingdom Sunny and Stormy Day Game

LEARNING AND GROWING: Nourish your child’s social-emotional well-being through this matching-and-sharing game from Peaceable Kingdom that has three difficulty levels adaptable to your child’s age.

HOW TO PLAY: Read the book together, then use your memory skills to find the “sunny” and “stormy” matches from the book before the moon comes up. Use the sun, cloud and rainbow tokens to share the highs and lows of your own day as a family.

WE WIN TOGETHER: Talking about feelings in an age-appropriate way can nurture emotional health and encourage confidence, compassion and kindness. Sunny Stormy game and book help kick-off important conversations between kids and parents.

3 PART, 3 LEVELS: The game’s storybook, memory game and sharing activity can be done all together, or separately, and have three levels of experience to adapt to older and younger children.

INCLUDES: Full-color Picture Book, 24 Game Tiles, 1 Game Puzzle, Heart Pouch with 3 Sharing Tokens, Instructions (For ages 3 and up)

Board Game to Learn About Seasons and Weather

SMART GAMES FOR LEARNING ABOUT THE SEASONS: Easter in spring, Halloween in fall, Christmas in winter. You go sailing in summer and see butterflies in spring. Children love playing and learning about the seasons, holidays, activities, and events with our educational board game.

EASY GAMEPLAY FOR BOARD GAMES: Win the season card by matching different props with the correct season card. The first player to collect the 5 season cards wins the game. This game can be played in multiple ways. Watch the video to know more!

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR KIDS GAMES: Review each picture card, have discussions, and guide kids to sort cards across categories. Gain knowledge about fruits, animals, activities, holidays across the different seasons. Build language, reasoning skills, season identification and categorizing, logical, creative, and critical thinking. "

In addition, add some tornado weather resources.

Tornado Weather Resources

How Tornadoes Work
Tornado Alley
Build your own tornado simulation chamber!

Tornado Lapbook
Tornadoes violently rotating columns of air
Characteristics of a tornado
What is a tornado?

Also, look at some of these vocabulary words.

Weather Related Vocabulary Words

equator – an imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres
meteorologist – an expert in or student of meteorology or studying the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather.
evacuate – remove (someone) or leave from a place of danger to a safer place.
lightning – the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder.

typhoon – a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.
low pressure – condition of the atmosphere in which the pressure is below average
high pressure – a condition of the atmosphere in which the pressure is above average
precipitation – is the release of water from the atmosphere to the earth’s surface as a solid or liquid. It includes rain, snow, hail, sleet and dew.
humidity – is how much water vapor is in the atmosphere.

Moreover add these fun ideas for a hands-on weather unit study.

Hands-on Weather Unit Study Ideas

Make lightning
This pet tornado is fun and gives your child a close up but safe look at how the wind moves during a tornado.
Create a weather-based art project like this rainbow Tissue Paper Craft.
Make a Tornado in a Bottle from Fun Learning For Kids.
Grab a Weather Science Lab kit and you will have all the supplies you need on hand to perform 20 all season weather related activities and experiments.
Watch the weather forecast on TV together for a week, talk about how you should dress and if there are any preparations or changes in your schedule that you should make due to the weather.
Make a DIY Weather Vane, challenge your older kids to take it to the next level.
If you have a budding meteorologist on your hands, you might consider investing in a Weather Station, this guy shows indoor and outdoor temps and humidity, barometric pressure, moon phases, and the forecast. This would be a great tool for tracking and recording weather patterns.
Erosion Hands-on Easy Homeschool Science Activity
Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Additionally, look at a weather disaster timeline.

Weather Disaster Timeline

1900 Massive hurricane hits Galveston, Texas
1906 Massive earthquake on April 18 hits San Francisco.
1906 Typhoon with tsunami kills 10,000 people after hitting Hong Kong
1915 Earthquake in Avezzano, Italy kills 29,980.
1940 The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapses due to a wind-induced vibrations.
1946 A 40-foot tsunami in Hawaii kills more than 170 people.
1957 Hurricane Audrey kills more than 500 people in Louisiana and Texas.

More Weather Unit Study Hands-On

How to Make a Rain Cloud In A Jar

You will need:

A clear glass jar
Water
Unscented shaving cream
Blue food coloring

Directions:

Fill the jar ¾ of the way full with water, the water represents our air.

Top with a couple inches of shaving cream, this represents clouds.

Give your child a squeeze bottle of blue food coloring or a pipette to add it a drop at a time. This will be our rain.

Explain to your child as the cloud fills up with the water (food coloring) it can no longer hold it, so it drops rain into the air and it falls to the ground just like in a real cloud.

You can repeat this experiment over and over.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

December 26, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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I have two fun candy cane hands-on winter experiments today. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Candy canes are plentiful right now and did you know that they make for a tasty, easy, and inexpensive item for science experiments?

Your kids will love tasting and exploring the world of science with these two simple hands on science experiments in honor of National Candy Cane Day on December 26.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

These experiments are a great way to introduce all sorts of scientific terms like hypothesis and bonds.

You can encourage them to make educated guesses (hypothesis) document results, make observations, and learn about how experiments work in general.

Don’t forget to save some to munch on while you learn about them.

Cool Candy Cane Facts

They were first made in 1670 but didn’t make their way to American until 1847.
Candy canes were once white, no one is sure when the red stripe was added but looking at images prior 1900, they were always white.
The world’s largest candy cane was 63 feet tall and was created in 2011.
Candy canes have no fat or cholesterol.
Two billion candy canes are made each year.
The hooks were created by hand until 1921 when a machine was invented to do it.
The original candy cane flavor was originally used as a medicine for indigestion and nausea and then the oil was also used to help cover up the flavor of more unpleasant medicinal concoctions.

Furthermore, add some other hands-on candy cane activities.

Candy Cane Hands-on Activities

Before you begin investigating watch How Candy Canes Are Made on YouTube.
Here is another fun experiment you can do with candy canes Fizzing Candy Canes.
Make some Candy Cane Paint to add some art.
Use candy canes as counters and manipulatives for math, measure the length, grab various sizes and let your younger child arrange them in size order.

More Winter Unit Study Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

Now, let’s have some candy cane fun.

For these two winter science activities, you’ll want to grab the supplies below.

Two Candy Cane Science Activities

Here are all the supplies you will need to gather so that you can complete both experiments:

Mini Candy Canes
Clear bowls or cups
3-5 liquids-water, sprite, milk, vinegar, etc
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
paper/pen

Now, let’s make this first one which is bending candy canes.

1. Bending Candy Canes Science Activity

For the first experiment we are first going to let your child attempt to bend a candy cane fresh out of the package, it just breaks right? Ask them why they think that is? How were candy makers able to bend it in the first place?

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread out several candy canes on parchment lined sheet.

Bake for 7-10 minutes. Start checking at 7 minutes because you want to pull them out before they begin to distort and melt.

Immediately remove parchment paper from pan and place on a flat surface away from the hot pan.

Your child can immediately pick them up and begin bending them into shapes.

You can make letters, shapes like hearts or knots, or even a cute little candy can make like this one.

You’re just a couple of minutes the candy cane will harden again into its new shape.

You can repeat the process in the oven with candy canes after they’ve hardened or with fresh ones to continue experimenting with what you can do.

2. Melting Candy Canes

Now we are going to test and see which liquid melts candy canes the fastest.

So, you will want to check this one often. We put ours in the bowls and forgot for about 45 minutes and came back to this.

First, choose your liquids, I would suggest no less than 3 to get a good reading and probably not more than 6 to keep it manageable.

Whatever number you choose to test, place that many clear bowls or cups on a surface where they will not be disturbed. Add a mini candy cane to each.

Measure exact amounts of each of the liquids and pour over the candy cane.

This is a good time to explain that when conduction an experiment like this you want to keep everything the same except for the one variable that you are testing, in this case the type of liquid.

Write each of the liquids onto a small slip of paper and place it in front of each container to keep track.

Check after 5 minutes to see how much they have dissolved; these ones were noticeably smaller.

After the first 5 minutes you want to change to every minute or two because it seems to go so much faster after that.

At less than the 10-minute mark we had a clear winner when we came back, and the vinegar had completely dissolved it.

Be sure to have your child record their guesses (hypothesis), then list the types of liquids (variables), and finally their results.