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STEM

Explore The Great Outdoors: Nature STEM Activities For Homeschool Freebie

February 27, 2026 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a free printable with fun nature stem activities for homeschool. Besides, too much indoor activity can be the cause of burnout.

And nature stem learning combines creativity, curiosity and hands-on for a science study that is hard to beat.

When studying nature is confined to worksheets, it can feel abstract. However when kids interact with bird feeders, trees and track moon phases they are actively engaging in learning.

Explore The Great Outdoors: Nature STEM Activities For Homeschool Freebie

This freebie helps you turn everyday outdoor moments into meaningful STEM learning.

And instead of memorizing facts, children practice recording results observing, predicting and testing.

One of my favorite reasons for sharing this STEM in the wild freebie is that you can use it for multiple ages to teach at once.

NATURE STUDY BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, here are some fun books to use with your kids and to add to your home library.

10 Nature Study Books for Young Kids

Add these fun books to your home library or to introduce nature study to your little learners.

Crow Not Crow

New York Times bestselling children's author and beloved birder, Jane Yolen, and her son, Adam Stemple, have teamed up to write this gentle tale of a father introducing his daughter to the joys of bird-watching using the "Crow, not Crow" method for distinguishing birds. Elizabeth Dulemba's delightfully warm illustrations bring the story to life.

Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids: 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the Outdoors

Explore the great outdoors with this hands-on activity book for ages 6 to 12!

Track, explore, discover, and create! This incredible choice in nature books for kids is full of activities you can bring on your adventures through your backyard, the park, the woods, and beyond. No matter the weather or where you live, Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids shows you how todive into fun and games like crafting bird feeders out of fruit, pressing flowers, or building a sundial to tell the time. Get ready to get your hands dirty and your imagination revving as you get active outside.

Owl Moon

CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER • A soothing, poetic picture book that lovingly depicts the relationship of a young child and her father alongside humankind’s relationship to the natural world. A verbal and visual treasure for the whole family!I had been waitingto go Owling with Pafor a long, long time.Late one winter night, a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.But there is no answer.Wordlessly, the two walk along, for when you go owling, you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes, there isn't an owl, but sometimes, there is.

Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story

This picture book biography examines the life and career of naturalist and artist Anna Comstock (1854-1930), who defied social conventions and pursued the study of science. From the time she was a young girl, Anna Comstock was fascinated by the natural world. She loved exploring outdoors, examining wildlife and learning nature's secrets. From watching the teamwork of marching ants to following the constellations in the sky, Anna observed it all. And her interest only increased as she grew older and went to college at Cornell University. There she continued her studies, pushing back against those social conventions that implied science was a man's pursuit. Eventually Anna became known as a nature expert, pioneering a movement to encourage schools to conduct science and nature classes for children outdoors, thereby increasing students' interest in nature. In following her passion, this remarkable woman blazed a trail for female scientists today.

THE BURGESS ANIMAL BOOK FOR CHILDREN: Original Color Illustrated Edition

Discover the timeless magic of nature through Peter Rabbit's eyes in this enchanting educational adventure! The Burgess Animal Book for Children combines storytelling and learning in a way that has captivated young minds for generations.

This stunning edition features:- 54 vibrant color and 19 sepia-tone illustrations that bring the animal kingdom to life- Original unabridged text that has educated and entertained children since 1920- Chapter quizzes to reinforce learning- Bonus online quiz access for interactive engagement

Perfect for:- Young nature enthusiasts ages 6-12- Homeschool families seeking an illustrated North American wildlife book for their engaging science curriculum- Parents who want to combine entertainment with education

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

See the world in a whole new way with acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman's beautiful nature guide book.Nature Anatomy combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.Also available in Julia Rothman's Anatomy series – Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy,Farm Anatomy, and Wildlife Anatomy.

From Seed to Plant

Flowers, trees, fruits—plants are all around us, but where do they come from? With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination.  Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow.  The book includes instructions for a seed-growing project, and a page of interesting facts about plants, seeds, and flowers.   A nonfiction classic, and a perfect companion for early science lessons and curious young gardeners.

Fun With Nature (Take Along Guides)

Fun with Nature helps kids discover the incredible world in their backyards. It is a compilation of seven bestselling titles: Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies; Frogs, Toads and Turtles; Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards; Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks; Tracks, Scats and Signs; and Trees, Leaves and Bark. This entertaining book is filled with fascinating facts and awesome activities.

The Keeper of Wild Words: (Nature for Kids, Exploring Nature with Children)

A touching tale of a grandmother and her granddaughter exploring and cherishing the natural world.Words, the woods, and the world illuminate this quest to save the most important pieces of our language—by saving the very things they stand for.When Mimi finds out her favorite words—simple words, like apricot, blackberry, buttercup—are disappearing from the English language, she elects her granddaughter Brook as their Keeper. And did you know? The only way to save words is to know them.• With its focus on the power of language and social change, The Keeper of Wild Words is ideal for educators and librarians as well as young readers.• For any child who longs to get outside and learn more about nature and the environment• A loving portrait of the special relationship that grandparents have with their grandchildren

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

Julia Rothman's series of Anatomy books are beloved by children and adults alike. In Wildlife Anatomy, Rothman captures the excitement and distinctive attributes of wild animals around the world. The book is packed with hundreds of her charming, original illustrations, detailing the unique features of animals of the rainforest, desert, grasslands, oceans, and much more. From lions, bears, and zebras to monkeys, mongoose, bats, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and much more, Rothman's visual guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion's claw and a wild horse's hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther Not a Panther? and What Makes Aardvarks So Odd? Rothman's characteristic combination of curiosity and an artist's eye makes this wildlife treasury rich and full, and promises new discoveries every time it's opened.

Then, look at more stem inspired activities.

STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Summer Cool Stem Projects For All Ages Free Printable
  • 3 Easy Penguin Activities And Penguin Slide STEM Activity
  • 3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love
  • Famous Stem Figures And Easy Stem Activities At Home
  • Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House
  • Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Also, look at more nature activities.

NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  • Simple Nature Study for Preschoolers: Explore Nature with Playdough Prints
  • 10 Easy Nature Tips for Reading Nature’s Signs Freebie
  • Creative Ways To Have Fun With Nature | How To Make A Dried Orange Fox Ornament
  • Nature’s Rhythms: Get Your Free Phenology Wheel Nature Tracker
  • Wonders Of Nature: How To Make A Shoebox Rainforest Diorama
  • Fall Nature Crafts & How To Make A Pumpkin Nature Collage
  • How To Make A Nature Sun Catcher Wand
  • Fun Nature Study Ideas and a Free Nature Tracker
  • Crafting with Nature: DIY Flying Squirrel Craft You’ll Love
Explore The Great Outdoors: Nature STEM Activities For Homeschool Freebie

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

HOW TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE NATURE POWERED PROJECTS FOR LEARNING

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

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

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

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

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

June 3, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Another fun messy summer science is how to make a lime and lemon volcano science experiment. Also, look at my page Free Homeschool Volcano Unit Study.

Also, look at my page Free Earth Science Lapbook & Unit Study Ideas.

This isn’t just messy fun, it’s also a cool science experiment. For example, you can learn chemistry, reactions, and even talk about what is the scientific method.

When you mix lemon or lime juice with baking soda, you get a fizzy eruption Actually, we’re using both lemons and limes.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

We’re creating a chemical reaction between an acid and a base.

For instance, lemons and limes have citric acid and the base is baking soda. Its real name is sodium bicarbonate.

When these two mix, they form a gas called carbon dioxide.

BOOKS ABOUT VOLCANOES FOR KIDS

Next, add some fun science to your hands-on experiment today.

Add one or two of these living books I’ve rounded up.

12 Volcano Books & Resources

Add one or two of these books to learn about volcanoes and add some hands-on ideas to learn about the types of volcanoes.

Volcanoes

Did you know there are four main types of volcanoes? Or that volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or extinct? The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is an extinct volcano. It’s about 40.5 million years old!

Birth Of an Island

Simple explanation of how an island is formed. B/ W sketch illustrations.

R&R Games The Table is Lava Family Game

As Dawn breaks, mount kahlualualuau is spewing its fiery lava down onto meepleville. The natives are frantically trying to escape the rivers of lava and remain on safe ground. Whoever’s tribe survives the eruption with the most Meeples shall be the winner!

Volcano: Eruption and Healing of Mt. St Helen's

In this extraordinary photographic essay, Patricia Lauber details the Mount St. Helens eruption and the years following in Volcano: Eruption and Healing of Mt. St. Helen's.Through this clear accurate account, readers of all ages will share the awe of the scientists who witnessed both the power of the volcano and the resiliency of life.

The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia

Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.

All About Volcanoes (A True Book: Natural Disasters) (A True Book (Relaunch))

Conditions on Earth are becoming more and more extreme and kids want to learn about it!

Is it true that, at any given time, about 20 volcanoes are erupting somewhere on Earth? Yes! Sometimes volcanoes erupt with a big, dangerous bang. Other times they spit out lava so slowly that you could walk faster than it flows.

How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World

‘[An] irresistible account of a child’s imaginary 8,000-mile journey through the earth to discover what’s inside. Facts about the composition of the earth are conveyed painlessly and memorably.’ —SLJ. ‘An exciting adventure. . . . Illustrations [by Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont] explode with color and action.’ —CS.

Volcanoes! (National Geographic Readers)

The cool story of volcanoes will intrigue kids and adults alike. Hot melted rock from the middle of our planet forces its way up through cracks in the Earth’s crusts, exploding violently and sometimes unexpectedly in volcanic fury that can terrorize populations for months, even years.

National Geographic Readers: Erupt! 100 Fun Facts About Volcanoes (L3)

Kids will burst with excitement as they learn all about the science and wonder of volcanoes in this new National Geographic Kids Reader.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Ultimate Volcano Kit – Erupting Volcano Science

UNFORGETTABLE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS – This is a great hands-on experiment kit for any science fair; the updated mold and instructions make it easy to assemble a sturdy volcano form and realistic paint colors give the volcano a lifelike look.

Natural and Earth Science Educational Flash Card

This set of 48 cards features a colorful illustration on one side and informational facts on the other side.

The Magic School Bus: Blasting off with Erupting Volcanoes

MIX YOUR OWN LAVA: Use the included mixture to form your own “lava” and experiment with explosions by making your own volcano erupt!

Also, add more activities to do with lemons.

MORE VOLCANO ACTIVITIES

  • Amazing Volcano Facts For Kids & Awesome Lemon Volcano Experiment
  • Mini Volcano Book and Label Layers of Earth Mini Book
  • Celebrate National Vinegar Day With A Hands-on Study of Volcanoes
  • Free Homeschool Volcano Unit Study and Fun Apple Volcano
  • How To Make A Mountain Volcano | Mighty Mount Kilimanjaro With Geronimo Stilton
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Finally, look at how to make this lemon volcano science experiment.

HOW TO MAKE A LIME AND LEMON VOLCANO SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 Lime
  • Cutting Board
  • Kitchen knife
  • Spill Tray
  • Food coloring (green, blue, red, and yellow)
  • Dish soap
  • Baking soda
  • Measuring Spoon
  • Popsicle stick or tongue depressor

Gather all the supplies needed.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Cut the ends of each lemon and lime off to make them flat.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Then cut the lemon and lime in half, making 4 total halves.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to each of the lemons and limes.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Squeeze the dish soap onto each lemon and lime half.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Add a spoonful of baking soda to each lemon and lime.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Then, using the popsicle stick, poke into the lemon and lime to release the juice and create an “eruption.”

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

Why does this happen? The reason is the chemical reaction of acids and bases releasing carbon dioxide. Lemons and limes are full of citric acid.

How To Make A Lime | Lemon Volcano Science Experiment

The acid reacts with the baking soda to make the reaction. The dish soap helps capture the bubbles that we can see. The food coloring is for fun and makes the eruption more colorful.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, lemon, lime, science, STEM, volcano

Famous Stem Figures And Easy Stem Activities At Home

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

I have some fun STEM activities at home. And I have a free notable figures in stem printable.

The 5 notable figures I have today are Albert Einstein, Jane Goodall, Nikola Tesla, Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson.

Each of these famous STEM people has made incredible contributions to the world.

Kids should explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and math through fun experiments, building projects, coding, and more.

Famous Stem Figures And Easy Stem Activities At Home

Too, learning about STEM is more than a subject, it’s a way to teach kids how to think critically.

Besides, we’re teaching kids about life skills. STEM helps a child to cultivate patience and to learn how to not give up when a solution to a problem is not obvious.

Also, what I have learned in teaching STEM is that it is about more than technology. It is a way for children to foster their creativity skills.

For example, many solutions are out of the box. STEM activities at home create an environment where a child is not rushed and can try varied approaches to problem solving.

And in their future, careers and jobs will focus on STEM.

Let’s keep it fun though.

BOOKS ABOUT FAMOUS SCIENTIST FOR KIDS

First, look at some of these notable stem figures and famous scientist.

8 Notable STEM Figures

Add some of these books to your reading day about science and famous inventions.

Michael Faraday: Father of Electronics

Charles Ludwig retells Michael Faraday’s remarkable life story in fictionalized form. Here is the father of the electric motor, the dynamo, the transformer, the generator. Few persons are aware of the brilliant man’s deep Christian convictions and his determination to live by the Sermon on the Mount. For ages 12 to 15.

Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity

Einstein's astonishing theory of relativity transformed every aspect of physics-from the study of atoms to the study of stars. Relativity is described here in simple, accurate language that young readers can comprehend.

Nikola Tesla, Electrical Genius

Electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) was indeed an electrical genius. In language suitable for both young and old, author Arthur J. Beckhard describes all aspects of Tesla’s personal and professional life, including Tesla’s childhood and his education at primary school, at the Higher Real Gymnasium, and at the Polytechnic Institute; his years working for the telegraphic engineering department of Austria, then as an engineer in Paris, and then as an employee of Thomas Edison in America; his substitution of alternating current for direct current—a simpler and more economical method of converting electrical into mechanical energy; his rotary magnetic field, which was used in transmitting the power of Niagara Falls to nearby cities; his independent research at his own electrical laboratories in New Your City; and much more. Originally published in 1959 as part of Messner Publications' "Men of Science" series

Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the
country.

Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson

As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex equations with the support of a professor who saw great promise in her. But ability and opportunity did not always go hand in hand. As an African American and a girl growing up in an era of brutal racism and sexism, Katherine faced daily challenges. Still, she lived her life with her father’s words in mind: “You are no better than anyone else, and nobody else is better than you.”

Grace Hopper: The Woman Behind Computer Programming (Little Inventor)

Computers touch our lives everyday, in countless ways, but how do they know what to do? How do we communicate with them and they with each other? Language! Grace Hopper was a pioneer in computer programming, a woman whose scientific research led to computer-language tools and technology still in use today. Her story is filled with trial and error, and readers can follow the journey step by step.

Who Is Jane Goodall? (Who Was?)

Jane Goodall, born in London, England, always loved animals and wanted to study them in their natural habitats. So at age twenty-six, off she went to Africa! Goodall's up-close observations of chimpanzees changed what we know about them and paved the way for many female scientists who came after her. Now her story comes to life in this biography with black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Great Inventors and their Inventions

Can you imagine how different life would be without the printing press? It's unlikely you'd ever have held a book. And your clothes would look very different without the invention of spinning and sewing machines. Without boats, trains, and planes, even our diets would be changed.Read about the fascinating creators of these inventions and the struggles they faced. Some got rich, some fought for every penny, but they all changed the way we live our lives today. Inventors profiled in this collection include James Watt (the steam engine), Elias Howe (the sewing machine), Cyrus McCormick (the reaper), John Gutenberg (the printing press), Alexander Graham Bell (the telephone) as well as many more.This reprinting is complete and unabridged featuring all the original illustrations and reformatted text for easier reading.

Then, look at these stem activities at home.

Add them to your science day.

STEM ACTIVITIES AT HOME

  • Hands-on Ancient Mesopotamia: Easy STEM Irrigation Activity
  • 100 Brilliant STEM Activities Using Everyday Items
  • STEM and Geography: How to Build an Ancient Viking Ship
  • STEM: Build a Da Vinci Parachute Activity
  • Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House
  • National STEM Day – Popsicle Sticks for Creative DIY STEM Projects
  • Kids Fun Pumpkin Catapult STEM Challenge for Medieval Unit Study
  • 11 Awesome Beach Theme STEM Activities | Quick Sunscreen Painting Experiment
  • How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse
  • How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity
  • 8 The Water Princess STEM Activity Ideas and African Clay Pot Craft
  • How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study
  • Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
  • 5 Easy Bat Stem Activities and Create a STEM Bat Habitat
  • How Do Sharks Float STEM Activity Free Shark Unit Study & Notebooking Pages
  • 15 Star Wars STEM Activities Ideas | Fun Flashlight Science and DIY Lightsaber
  • Dive Into STEM Learning With An Exciting Jello Earthquake Experiment

Next, look at a few facts about these 5 notable STEM figures which you can use alongside the free printables.

FACTS ABOUT STEM FIGURES & ABOUT THE FREE PRINTABLE

There is 1 page per famous STEM figure. Each page has facts along with a few activities or two.

Add these pages to your notebooking pages or lapbook.

Look at my post How to Turn Boring Worksheets into Fun Minibooks – From Boring to Interactive to fold them into minibooks.

The five scientist this freebie is focused on are: Albert Einstein, Jane Goodall, Nikola Tesla, Grace Hopper and Katherine Johnson.

And here are a few facts about each one.

ALBERT EINSTEIN FEW FACTS

  • He is known for the Theory of Relativity.
  • The famous equation E = mc², helped us understand the relationship between energy and matter.

JANE GOODALL FEW FACTS

  • She is known for being an Primatologist, Ethologist, and Anthropologist.
  • She was the first to study chimpanzees in the wild.

NIKOLA TESLA FEW FACTS

  • He was known for being a pioneering inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and physicist.
  • Tesla invented the first remote control in 1898.
Famous Stem Figures And Easy Stem Activities At Home

GRACE HOPPER FEW FACTS

  • Grace Hopper was one of the first people to work on computers.
  • Grace Hopper created the first compiler. It is a tool that translates computer programming code into a language that computers can understand.

KATHERINE JOHNSON FEW FACTS

  • Katherine Johnson was an African American woman mathematician who worked for NASA.
  • She helped send John Glenn into orbit.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE NOTABLE FIGURES IN STEM PRINTABLE

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

When you sign up to follow me, you get access to this freebie.

1) Sign up on my email list to follow me and get this freebie and many others.
 2) Grab the printable.
3) Last, look for my emails in your inbox as a follower. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Science Tagged With: Albert Einstein, elementary science, Grace Hopper, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, high school science, homeschool, homeschoolscience, Jane Goodall, Katherine Johnson, Nikola Tesla, science, STEM

Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House

December 12, 2024 | 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun electricity stem lighting up a shoebox activity.Also, look at my post 4 Weeks Free Physical Science Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

Learning how electrical circuits work are important science skills for kids 4th grade and up.

When you understand how electricity works, you can begin to troubleshoot electrical devices and can even begin to build and design your own inventions!

Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House

It’s important for kids to get hands-on experimenting when learning the different parts of a circuit.

When they have an opportunity to practice using electricity, they’ll soon see the importance electricity plays in our everyday lives.

This highly engaging electrical activity will challenge kids to design their own homes by providing each room with a light, fan, and switch!

 I love it when you can combine creativity in a learning project!

BOOKS ABOUT ELECTRICITY FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books to add to your learning day.

5 Electricity Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Learning about electricity is a fascinating subject for kids to learn about. Add one or two of these books to your home library.

Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity!

Why do the lights in a house turn on when you flip a switch? How does a remote-controlled car move? And what makes lights on TVs and microwaves blink? The technology around you may seem like magic, but most of it wouldn’t run without electricity. Electronics for Kids demystifies electricity with a collection of awesome hands-on projects.
In Part 1, you’ll learn how current, voltage, and circuits work by making a battery out of a lemon, turning a metal bolt into an electromagnet, and transforming a paper cup and some magnets into a spinning motor. In Part 2, you’ll make even more cool stuff as you:–Solder a blinking LED circuit with resistors, capacitors, and relays–Turn a circuit into a touch sensor using your finger as a resistor–Build an alarm clock triggered by the sunrise.

Switch On, Switch Off (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Read and find out about electricity in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

It seems like magic! It's not—it's electricity. But how does a light actually work? In this clear and simple book learn all about electricity, how it's produced, and how it can be used.

At the end you'll learn how to conduct safe, fun experiments that will let you generate electricity yourself!

Electrical Circuit Experiment Kit White

  • Size: Battery case: ( L X W X H): 57 x 30 x 13 / 2.24 x 1.18 x 0.51inch.
  • Material: The mini bulb is a kind of tungsten wire bulb, made of glass, metal, insulation materials.
  • Application: Used for electrical experiments in primary and middle schools/home DIY circuit test.

Oscar and the Bird: A Book about Electricity (Start with Science)

Start with Science books introduce kids to core science concepts through engaging stories, fresh illustrations, and supplemental activities. When Oscar the kitten finds a tractor in a field and accidentally turns on the windshield wipers, he is full of questions about electricity. Luckily, Bird knows the answers! With the help of his friend, Oscar finds out how electricity is made and stored, which machines need electricity to work, and why we always need to be careful around wires, batteries, plugs, and sockets. Back matter includes an index and supplemental activities.

Nikola Tesla, Electrical Genius

Electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) was indeed an electrical genius. In language suitable for both young and old, author Arthur J. Beckhard describes all aspects of Tesla’s personal and professional life, including Tesla’s childhood and his education at primary school, at the Higher Real Gymnasium, and at the Polytechnic Institute; his years working for the telegraphic engineering department of Austria, then as an engineer in Paris, and then as an employee of Thomas Edison in America; his substitution of alternating current for direct current—a simpler and more economical method of converting electrical into mechanical energy; his rotary magnetic field, which was used in transmitting the power of Niagara Falls to nearby cities; his independent research at his own electrical laboratories in New Your City; and much more. Originally published in 1959 as part of Messner Publications' "Men of Science" series.

Electrical Shoebox House STEM Activity

When I was a kid in school, I was intimated by science and especially electricity.

I had that stereotypical thought that science was for boys and way too difficult for me to understand.

When I was thinking about classes to teach for my up and coming tutorial year, one word kept jumping at me: STEM.

STEM is a highly used buzz word for educators across the world. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

I was terrified to teach STEM, but I knew if I wanted my kids to be comfortable with science, I was going to have to get over my fear of it. And boy am I glad I did.

If you’re feeling uncertain about your abilities to teach STEM, don’t. Just jump in and do it.

To do this activity you’ll need:

  • a shoebox
  • alligator clips (at least 4)
  • 2 AA battery holders with wires connected
  • 4 AA batteries
  • one motor
  • one switch
  • 2-3 miniature light bulbs
  • tape
STEM Activity - Lighting Up a Shoebox

To begin this activity, your kids will need a good grasp of how a circuit works. You can always have them play around with the circuits to practice lighting up all of the light bulbs and the motor.

EASY HANDS ON HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE

When they have a pretty good understanding of the concept, it’s now time to build the house. First, section off the different rooms of the shoebox. You can use scraps of cardboard to be the dividing walls.

Lighting Up a Shoebox House

Once the walls are up, it’s time to wire the house.  

You may need box cutters to cut holes in the walls (shoebox) to run the wires from the outside of the shoebox into the inside.

Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House

Tape may be needed to secure the power source on the outside of the house.Now it’s time to hook up your electricity.

Challenge your kids to light up two rooms of the house and run one fan.

Then, if you want to add a little bit of design into your challenge, your children can cut out a door and design furniture.

This highly engaging electrical activity will challenge kids to design their own homes by providing each room with a light, fan, and switch!Click here to make this fun and easy hands-on homeschool science activity!

It really is a tiny house! What a cool way to learn about electricity!

Want to see a really cool shoebox house? Take a look at this video Shoebox House STEM Project

Get even more ideas for teaching hands-on science in your homeschool below!

MORE ACTIVITIES ABOUT ELECTRICITY

  • How to Make a Homemade Electrical Switch
  • Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla
  • Electricity Hands-On Homeschool Science Activity

Written by Christa at Little Log Cottage School.

3 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Science Tagged With: electricity, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, science, sciencecurriculum, STEM

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

April 3, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making our own Lego Swiss Family Robinson stem challenge and encourage kids to use critical thinking, planning, engineering skills, problem-solving, as well as creativity to create their unique treehouse. Also, you’ll love more ideas on my post Swiss Family Robinson Unit Study.

A wonderful thing about homeschooling is that you can take a book like Swiss Family Robinson and go as in-depth as you like.

For example, you can create learning experiences and activities for this literature.

However, you can also cover everything from math to geography to science.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

The Robinsons built their island treehouse using simply what they found around them.

Too, they got parts and pieces scavenged from the shipwreck.

Challenge your child to do the same with LEGO.

Beyond just creating a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson treehouse let’s look at some other fabulous STEM projects.

When I think of Swiss Family Robinson stem, I think of survival skills.

This book is the perfect time to dive deeply into some basic life skills.

They can be learned to be used in survival situations but also can be applied to day-to-day life.

More Resources for Learning About Swiss Family Robinson & Survival Activities

  • Where Did Swiss Family Robinson Land And Their Unique Homes | Cave Activity
  • From Switzerland to the Author of Swiss Family Robinson Quick Study
  • How to Create Swiss Family Treehouse Blueprints With Kids
  • What is the Swiss Family Robinson About | Simple Jeopardy Style Game
  • How to Make Adorable Swiss Family Robinson Book Characters Bookmarks
  • Exciting Swiss Family Robinson Activities | From Oyster To Pearl
  • The Swiss Family Robinson Fun and Easy Movie Night Ideas
  • Embrace Island Life: How To Eat A Coconut Like Swiss Family Robinson
  • Animals in The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Parrot Craft
  • Lost In Adventure: 10 Books Like Swiss Family Robinson
  • How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse
  • Survival to Inspiration The Swiss Family Robinson Book | Brick Book
  • How To Make A Swiss Family Robinson Map | Easy Swiss Geography
  • DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas
  • Simple Candle
  • Hunting Deer
  • How to Plan And Start an Easy Gardening Unit Study for Kids
How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Next, look at these books and resources.

Books to Learn About How The Swiss Family Robinson Lived

8 Books & Resources for Learning About The Swiss Family Robinson

Add some of these books to your unit study of The Swiss Family Robinson and their adventures on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Robinson (Illustrated Classic): 200th Anniversary Collection

More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.

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

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

Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Become a nature detective with this illustrative, engaging and fun Take-Along-Guide. You may not know where to look, or what to look for, but animal signs are everywhere and this guide will help you learn how to read them. You'll learn how to spot and identify common clues that 17 wildlife species leave behind in the woods, in the fields and along ponds.

Swiss Family Robinson Movie

The heroic tale of the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community.

Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids

From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set

Bear Grylls The Complete Adventures Collection 12 Books Set: Titles In This Set: The Blizzard Challenge The Desert Challenge The Jungle Challenge The Sea Challenge The River Challenge The Earthquake Challenge The Volcano Challenge The Safari Challenge The Cave Challenge The Mountain Challenge The Arctic Challenge The Sailing Challenge

Knot Tying Kit | Pro-Knot Best Rope Knot Cards, two practice cords and a carabiner

By Pro-Knot, the number one trusted name in Knots with over 7,000 5 Star reviews! This complete knot tying KIT includes everything you need to learn and practice how to tie 23 essential rope knots. The six card/twelve page waterproof plastic card set contains 23 best all purpose rope knots
clearly illustrated and described, bound together with a no-rust brass grommet in the corner!

Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles

Edible wild plants are nature’s natural food source, growing along roadsides, sprouting in backyards, and blooming in country fields. North America’s diverse geography overflows with edible plant species.

Swiss Family Robinson STEM Ideas

  1. Head outdoors and take the Survival Skills Challenge: Building a Shelter to see if you can create a shelter using just a few basic items.
  2. In my Homeschool Literature The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Raft Craft you can learn about terms like buoyancy and challenge your student to build a raft that not only floats but bears weight.
  3. Try the Survival Skills for Kids – FIRE STARTING CHALLENGE, while you may not need it for a shipwreck it will come in handy.
  4. Father was even able to construct a water wheel, check out this Water Wheel STEM Activity to make one on a smaller scale and learn how it works.

Throughout the building ask questions to encourage critical thinking and assess their comprehension and retention.

Of course, answers will vary.

But here are a few questions that you might ask and some of the possible answers.

What materials did they use?  Trees, sailcloth, bamboo, rope, wood planks. They even used geometry to determine how high it needed to be.

Why did they build their treehouse where they did? Proximity to water, food, good trees for building at the right height, etc.

How did they get materials up the tree? They fashioned a pulley to move materials up and down the tree easily.

LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge

For this challenge, you don’t need to follow instructions, rather this is a great time to encourage your child to use their critical thinking skills to build a structure that holds up, bears weight, and fits the needs of the “family”.

But just to give you a framework I’m giving you simple steps to have them follow and the way that I did it.

Allow them to build and learn.

For instance, decide whether it’s best to build on top of the tree base or to build the structure first and then place it on top, etc

You will need:

  • LEGO Baseplate
  • LEGO Bricks
How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Start with a big base plate and add a little “sand and water” with smaller flat blue and tan plates.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Start with a smaller base plate as the base of your treehouse.

To make it a little easier or let your child completely fashion one from smaller pieces for more of a challenge for older children.

Add a bit of border for walls and 4 corners.

Make the corners the height that you would like the treehouse to be.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

For the next part, they will want to build trunks of the tree.

They need to support the treehouse and figure out where they should be placed to support it best.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

For the roof, we found it easiest to build one that was a little larger than the size of the base floor of the structure.

Then, place it on top.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

And then came the fun part, adding greenery.

Use it all over the roof.

And show it coming out of the sides of the structure to make it look more like it was inside of a tree.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Now you can put your treehouse on top of the “tree trunks”.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Don’t forget to create a ladder for going up and down.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

You can stop there, or you can continue to challenge your child’s creativity.

For example, have your kids add flora and fauna to the base, build structures for the animals, or recreate a scene from the story.

How to Build a LEGO Swiss Family Robinson STEM Challenge Treehouse

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, STEM, Swiss Family Robinson

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