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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.

11 Frog & Toad Unit Study Resources

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

Image for The Frog (Animal Lives)

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.

Image for Frogs and toads;

Frogs and toads;

Frogs and toads;

Image for Tale of a tadpole

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

Image for A Toad for Tuesday 50th Anniversary Edition

A Toad for Tuesday 50th Anniversary Edition

Just in time for its 50th anniversary, this beloved classic tale of adventure, compassion, and friendship has been remade for a new generation of young readers, including text revisions and fully colorized original illustration on the cover. A favorite chapter book is back, for read aloud or read alone.

While on a journey to visit his aunt, Warton the Toad is captured by a surly owl who announces plans to eat Warton for his birthday dinner on the upcoming Tuesday. As he awaits his fate, Warton works gamely to make his remaining days as pleasant as possible while he also seeks some way to escape and tries to convince the owl to let him go.

Naturally, Warton and Owl talk. But what the pair don't realize is how quickly even the oddest of friendships may form.

Image for Rainforest Frogs

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)

Image for Frog (Life Cycle of a . . .)

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.

Image for Climbing Tree Frogs (Pull Ahead Books)

Climbing Tree Frogs (Pull Ahead Books)

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

Image for 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. 

Image for Frog & Toad The Complete Collection

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.

Image for Frog Growth Cycle

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.

Image for Anatomy Lab Soft Cover Frog Dissection Guide Book

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.

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

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

More Frog Resources

  • Grab my frog lapbook.
  • Look how to raise tadpoles
  • Frog Activities for Preschoolers
  • Hand Print Art: F is for Frog
Fun DIY Felt Frog Dissection With Frog Insides Labeled Mess Free (Free Printables)

Finally, look how to make this fun frog craft.

How to Make a DIY Felt Frog Dissection

Here is what you will need:

Fun DIY Felt Frog Dissection With Frog Insides Labeled Mess Free (Free Printables)
  • 2 sheets green felt
  • Red felt
  • Pink felt
  • Blue felt
  • Purple felt
  • Tan felt
  • Red string/yarn
  • Scissors
Fun DIY Felt Frog Dissection With Frog Insides Labeled Mess Free (Free Printables)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: biology, earthscience, frogs, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science, sciencecurriculum

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

  1. Plant Cells and Photosynthesis
  2. Plant Classifications
  3. Non-vascular Plants
  4. The Vascular System
  5. Leaves and Trees
  6. Plant Reproduction
  7. Plant Adaptation
  8. 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

More Botany Resources

Lewis and Clark Free Botany 1 and 2 Minibooks

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

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.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Homeschool Curriculum Review, Product Review Tagged With: botany, homeschoolscience, life science, middle school, middleschool, science, sciencecurriculum

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
  • Explaining Thunder And Lightning To Preschoolers Easy Sensory Bin
  • 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:

  • How Does a Hurricane Form YouTube
  • Hurricane and Tornadoes Cryptogram Worksheet
  • Atlantic basin tracking chart
  • 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.

Image for Eric Sloane's Weather Book

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.

Image for You Wouldn't Want to Live Without Extreme Weather!

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.

Image for If You Were a Kid Surviving a Hurricane

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.

Image for The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting

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.

Image for Weather: Explore Nature with Fun Facts and Activities

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.

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

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!

Image for Pet Tornado-Spin and Watch

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.

Image for Weather Science Lab  20 All Season Projects

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

Image for Peaceable Kingdom Sunny and Stormy Day Game

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)

Image for Board Game to Learn About Seasons and Weather

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

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

  • 9 Hands on Weather Activities for Kids and Awesome Weather Sensory Tray
  • 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer
  • Why Does A Rainbow Appear After A Drizzle | Magic Rainbow Experiment
  • Weather In A Bottle | How To Make An Amazing Tornado In A Jar
  • How to Make a Simple Wind Vane | Fun Wind Activities Middle School

How to Make a Rain Cloud In A Jar

You will need:

  • A clear glass jar
  • Water
  • Unscented shaving cream
  • Blue food coloring
Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning

Directions:

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: clouds, earth science, earthscience, elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, rain, science, sciencecurriculum, weather

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

December 26, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

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.

  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities
  • Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers
  • How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts
  • Easy and Fun Pinecone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

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:

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter 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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

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

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: elementary science, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, homeschoolscience, middle school, middleschool, physical science, science, sciencecurriculum, winter crafts, winter season

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

December 13, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free horse unit study for your horse loving kids. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more ideas.

If you have a horse loving middle school kid, I have a collection of resources for you.

I’ve herded up (corny pun intended) enough amazing resources to put together a fun and full horse unit study that will knock their saddle off.

You don’t have to have horses to have a horse lover on your hands, there is still plenty they can learn even if they can’t get out and ride. 

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

Choose a few items from each category to celebrate December 13th which is National Day of the Horse.

Or enjoy them in an equine themed unit study.

While I did gear this unit to mostly middle schoolers I included a few resources that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Books about Horses

First look at one or more of these books which can easily be a spine.

9 Books and Resources for Horse Loving Kids

Whether you add a book or two to use as a spine for your study or just for fun, your horse loving kids will enjoy them.

Image for Homeschooling With Horses

Homeschooling With Horses

A Homeschooling Journal for Horse Lovers! 365 Lessons and Activities. This Journal has a special focus on learning through logic and creativity!! It also covers every required subject! Perfect for 2nd to 4th grade, but fun for all ages.

This is the perfect Fun-Schooling Journal for students who love horses!

There are 365 activities in this book, and you can require your student to use 1, 5 or 10 pages per day, along with 6 library books, and your favorite math, history and science curriculum. You are free to use it any way you wish. That is the joy of fun-schooling with Thinking Tree Books.

Image for Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Knowing Horses: Q&As to Boost Your Equine IQ

Did you know that a miniature horse weighs just a few pounds, while a giant draft horse can weigh well over a ton? Or that from a standstill a mule can jump, kangaroo-like, more than five feet high?  With answers to hundreds of questions about behavior, physiology, training, and special breed characteristics, Knowing Horses has all your horse quandaries covered.

Image for Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

Horses: The Clearest Recognition Guide Available

This book is designed for all those who love horses. Tracing the evolution of equines, this guide also explains the difference between horses and ponies, looks at how different breeds evolved or were selectively developed, and examines equine anatomy and behavior. Packed with 250 vivid full-color photographs of more than 100 horse-breeds, it uses a systematic approach from Dorling Kindersley and the Smithsonian Institution to train readers of all experience levels to identify and appreciate the wide variety of horses in the world.

Image for Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life

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

Image for Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

Horse Life: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Riding Horses for Kids

The complete beginner’s guide to horses and riding for kids 8 to 12

This ultimate guide to horses for kids teaches you all about the basics of equine care―from anatomy to housing to bathing and feeding. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a horse of your own, you’ll learn how to ride, how to stay safe around horses, and how to develop a healthy and friendly relationship with them.

Image for Black Beauty

Black Beauty

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Black Beauty is a perennial children's favourite, one which has never been out of print since its publication in 1877. It is a moralistic tale of the life of the horse related in the form of an autobiography, describing the world through the eyes of the creature. In taking this anthropomorphic approach, the author Anna Sewell broke new literary ground and her effective storytelling ability makes it very easy for the reader to accept the premise that a horse is recounting the exploits in the narrative. The gentle thoroughbred, Black Beauty, is raised with care and is treated well until a vicious groom injures him. The damaged horse is then sold to various masters at whose hands he experiences cruelty and neglect. After many unpleasant episodes, including one where he becomes a painfully overworked cab horse in London, Black Beauty finally canters towards a happy ending

Image for Misty of Chincoteague

Misty of Chincoteague

Marguerite Henry’s beloved story of a wild horse’s gentle colt—winner of a Newbery Honor!On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.

Image for Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Breyer Freedom Series National Velvet Horse and Book Set

Horse and book set: National velvet is Enid Bagnold's unforgettable tale of a horse-loving girl with aspirations of jumping Glory. A story about perusing dreams and taking chances, National velvet follows the adventures of 14-year-old velvet Brown.

Image for The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

The Complete Horse Anatomy Colouring Workbook- Master Equine Anatomy By Colouring and Labeling

Whether you are a veterinary nurse or student preparing for an exam or just an ordinary horse lover seeking to learn more about this amazing domestic animal called ‘horse’ this colouring workbook is for YOU!

This book has been designed and structured to make you learn horse A&P easily and effortlessly. By colouring the images contained in this book, you will easily make visual associations with key terminologies and concepts.

Moreover include hands-on activities in your horse unit study.

Hands-on Activities about Horses

Include fun hands-on activities every chance you get for maximum impact.

When kids of any age are engaged and having fun with a subject, they love they will always learn more!

If you don’t have horses, sign up your child for horseback riding lessons in your area.

If horseback lessons are out of your budget or you just want to let your child work for it a little more, consider reaching out to a local barn and inquiring about work programs.

Sometimes they trade out manual labor (like mucking stalls and washing horses) for riding lessons.

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

Additionally, print this Free Horse Lapbook to offer a little structure to their lessons, learn about breeds, horse vocabulary, horse diet and more.

Here are a bunch of horse worksheets to print and work into your horse unit study for some writing practice.

Also, use How to Draw Horse. Even older children can benefit from drawing for developing fine motor skills and art appreciation.

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

Make this amazing Horse String art for an activity that will brighten up the walls.

Additionally, look at more information about this study guide.

ABOUT THE HORSE STUDY GUIDE

This printable packet is a 102 page printable pdf download.

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

Here are some of the topics included.

  • Equipment for horses
  • What is a horse
  • Horse Life Cycle
  • Caring for a horse
  • Parts of a saddle
  • Horses in history
  • Horses on the farm
  • Hooves
  • Wild horses
  • Pony vs horse
  • Donkey vs horse
  • Zebra vs horse
  • Arabian, Mustangs, Thoroughbreds, American Quarter, Appaloosa, American Paint, Clydesdale, Friesian, Morgan, Tennessee Walking, Shire, Percheron, Gypsy Vanner, Andalusian, and Shetland Pony Breed matching, sorting and matching activities
  • Horse quiz activity
  • Bingo activity
  • Name the horse activity
  • Anatomy of a horse hoof activity
  • Horse life cycle activity
  • Horse care matching
  • Parts of a saddle activity
  • Equipment I Spy activity

HOW TO GET THE HORSE PRINTABLE INFORMATION PACKET

You can get it now!

  • Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    Dynamic and Amazing Horse Study Guide For Young Learners

    $5.95
    Add to cart

More Hands-on Horse Unit Study Resources

Then put together a Horse Jigsaw Puzzle over the course of your study.

The middle schooler that loves crafting will adore this Felt Horse Stuffie Craft.

Label the parts of a horse. You can use a Breyer or other horse figuring and sticky note strips to have your child label the various parts of a horse rather than just filling out a boring old worksheet.

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

This Pool Noodle Hobby Horse Craft is geared to young children but what about having your tween or teen make some to donate to a children’s hospital or women’s shelter as a community outreach project?

If you do have a horse, have a friend with one, or visit a farm or stables you can assign this How to Make Molasses Horse Treat recipe to include some cooking to the unit study.

MORE HANDS-ON HORSE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • 10 Homemade Horse Treat Ideas for Horse-Loving Kids & Carrot Apple Treat
  • How to Make a Trojan Horse Craft | Fascinating Trojan Horse History
  • Horse Study Guide For Kids Who Love Animals
  • Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study

Further, add games to your study.

Horse Themed Games

Games help important facts stick and can make a boring day come to life.

4 Horse Games

Themed games should be a required part of every theme in my opinion.

Image for Horse-Opoly Board Game by Late For The Sky

Horse-Opoly Board Game by Late For The Sky

HORSE-OPOLY is a property trading game based on our equine animal friends. It's a game that actually encourages horseplay!

Includes paper money and a game board

Image for Fantasy Ranch Board Game

Fantasy Ranch Board Game

Take the reins at a real-life ranch and build your dream stable!

Quick and fun to learn with 6 levels of play for all ages

Fantasy ranch: ages 13+, play time 30-60 minutes

Image for Horse Academy Path

Horse Academy Path

Fun & Educational Toys: Horse Academy features 80 challenges for ages 7 – Adult.

Brain Games Build Skills: kids and adults can build upon their spatial insight, planning and problem solving skills while playing Horse Academy.

Puzzle Includes: Game board, Horse with Rider, jumping gates, booklet with 80 challenges.

Image for Breyer Freedom Series (Classics) Running Wild 2 Horse Set |

Breyer Freedom Series (Classics) Running Wild 2 Horse Set |

2 Horse set includes a red roan Stallion, and his Chestnut Pinto foal.

Authenticity: Breyer horses are sculpted in every color and breed imaginable with unmatched realism. Breyer model horses, which begin as artist’s sculptures, are handcrafted and hand-painted with airbrushes and paintbrushes – a process which is still done by human hands, not machines. Even today, No two Breyer models are ever exactly alike!

Finally, look at these videos.

Free Horse Unit Study for Your Horse Loving Kids

Combine fact filled videos and movies about famous horses, inspired by real events or completely fictitious stories to your horse unit study to make it exciting and less like work while they learn.

  • Sea Biscuit
  • Horses! Learn about Horses for Children
  • Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
  • Black Beauty
  • Secretariat
  • Horse Facts for Kids

2 CommentsFiled Under: My Unit Studies {Free Printables & Hands-on Ideas} Tagged With: earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, horse, life science, science, sciencecurriculum, unit studies, unit study, unit study approach

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