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watermelon

4 Week Free Watermelon Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

May 27, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a 4 week free watermelon unit study including many hands-on activities. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more unit studies.

Watermelons are more than just delicious; they can be used as a wonderful summer theme with plenty of uses.

For example, you can learn math, science, art, and practical life skills. There are books, games, stickers, and all kinds of watermelon theme resources to use.

4 Week Free Watermelon Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

Also, diving into the biology of a watermelon and the life cycle of the plant is a fun summer study.

In addition, you can learn about the watermelon in cultures around the world. Too, learn about the nutrition and health impact of watermelon.

And I have plenty of ideas and hands-on activities to try.

RESOURCES AND BOOKS ABOUT WATERMELON FOR KIDS

Next, look at these books to add to your unit study.

5 Watermelon Books & Resources

Add these fun books about seeds, gardening and watermelons. You can use them for a unit study or add to your home library.

Watermelon, Watermelon

"Watermelon, Watermelon" is a delightful sing-along book by award-winning songwriter and music therapist Stephanie Leavell. Perfect for ages 1-7, this rhythmic and catchy story is based on Stephanie's beloved children's song. The book features bright, captivating illustrations by Sarah Pilar Echeverria, making it an engaging read that young children will request again and again.

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Julia Rothman starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes–and what we dip them in.Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings

The Watermelon Seed

Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read.

Where the Watermelons Grow

When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren't there, Della worries that it’s happening again—that the sickness that put her mama in the hospital four years ago is back. That her mama is going to be hospitalized for months like she was last time.

With her daddy struggling to save the farm and her mama in denial about what’s happening, it’s up to Della to heal her mama for good. And she knows just how she’ll do it: with a jar of the Bee Lady’s magic honey, which has mended the wounds and woes of Maryville, North Carolina, for generations.

Bananagrams Word-a-Melon: Family-Fun Word Search Game for Kids Age 6+

  • WORDY-FUN: Word-a-Melon is the family-fun word search game by Bananagrams
  • FLIP THOSE TILES: Take turns rolling the die, flipping the cardboard letter chips and creating words with the overturned letters
  • USE YOUR MELON: Unused letters are flipped back over so players must be sure to remember where they are!

Then, look at these ideas for a 4 week watermelon themed unit study.

WATERMELON BASICS WEEK 1

6 Watermelon Facts

  • Dissect a watermelon and label its parts.
  • Draw the life cycle of a watermelon, from seed to fruit or put together these Free Watermelon Life Cycle Printable Puzzles.
  • Research and present interesting facts about watermelons.
  • Taste test different varieties of watermelon.
  • Here you can learn How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning that is fun for little learners and can incorporate math, science, language arts, and more.
  • A watermelon is 92% water.
  • Every part of the watermelon is edible from the rind, to the seeds, to the flesh.
  • It is technically both a fruit and a vegetable.
  • The world’s heaviest watermelon weighed over 350 pounds.
  • There are over 1200 varieties of watermelon worldwide.
  • Some Japanese farmers grow watermelon in cube-shaped containers.

Next, look at these math and science activities.

4 Week Free Watermelon Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas

MATH & SCIENCE WEEK 2

  • Practice counting and measuring with watermelons- use cloth measuring tapes for circumference, rulers for height and width, a simple scale to compare weight. Count the seeds inside.
  • Explore the density and buoyancy of watermelon by floating it in a small pool or tub.
  • How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment
  • Conduct a watermelon seed germination experiment.
  • How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

ART & LITERATURE WEEK 3

  • Make Watermelon Button art for a cute decor piece that will make a sweet addition and brighten up your shelves.
  • Create your own Watermelon Sponge Stamped Tea Towels
  • Read and discuss “The Watermelon Seed” with younger children and “Where the Watermelons Grow” for upper elementary through early middle school.
  • Write a short story or poem about a watermelon adventure.
  • Play a word game like Bananagrams Word A Melon,

Finally, look at some ideas about cooking.

COOKING & NUTRITION WEEK 4

  • Research the nutritional benefits of watermelons, then read the packaging on watermelon juices, fruit roll ups, and other watermelon flavored items to compare the nutrition labels.
  • Learn How to pick the perfect watermelon, this is a great natural step for life skills.
  • Make watermelon juice or smoothies.
  • Create a watermelon salsa, salad, or this Watermelon Fries recipe with a yummy coconut lime dip.
  • Discuss food safety when handling fruits.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, science, unit studies, unit study, watermelon

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

May 25, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Nothing screams summer more than an exploding watermelon theme experiment. Also, see my 4 Week Free Watermelon Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

The exploding melon experiment is a perfect example of physics and engineering in action.

Just so you know this is one of the coolest and messiest science activity we’ve done. Be sure to do this outside for a fun summer day.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

The idea is simple: you stretch rubber bands around the middle of the melon, one at a time.

Eventually, the melon explodes, shooting juice and pieces everywhere.

However, there is a lot of science to learn from this simple experiment.

KIDS BOOKS & RESOURCES ABOUT WATERMELON

First, add some of these books and fun resources.

5 Watermelon Books & Resources

Add these fun books about seeds, gardening and watermelons. You can use them for a unit study or add to your home library.

Watermelon, Watermelon

"Watermelon, Watermelon" is a delightful sing-along book by award-winning songwriter and music therapist Stephanie Leavell. Perfect for ages 1-7, this rhythmic and catchy story is based on Stephanie's beloved children's song. The book features bright, captivating illustrations by Sarah Pilar Echeverria, making it an engaging read that young children will request again and again.

Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of Our Edible World

Julia Rothman starts with an illustrated history of food and ends with a global tour of street eats. Along the way, Rothman serves up a hilarious primer on short-order egg lingo and a mouthwatering menu of how people around the planet serve fried potatoes–and what we dip them in.Award-winning food journalist Rachel Wharton lends her expertise to this light-hearted exploration of everything food that bursts with little-known facts and delightful drawings

The Watermelon Seed

Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read.

Where the Watermelons Grow

When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren't there, Della worries that it’s happening again—that the sickness that put her mama in the hospital four years ago is back. That her mama is going to be hospitalized for months like she was last time.

With her daddy struggling to save the farm and her mama in denial about what’s happening, it’s up to Della to heal her mama for good. And she knows just how she’ll do it: with a jar of the Bee Lady’s magic honey, which has mended the wounds and woes of Maryville, North Carolina, for generations.

Bananagrams Word-a-Melon: Family-Fun Word Search Game for Kids Age 6+

  • WORDY-FUN: Word-a-Melon is the family-fun word search game by Bananagrams
  • FLIP THOSE TILES: Take turns rolling the die, flipping the cardboard letter chips and creating words with the overturned letters
  • USE YOUR MELON: Unused letters are flipped back over so players must be sure to remember where they are!

Next, look at more fun summer themed activities.

MORE WATERMELON THEME ACTIVITIES

  • How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning
  • Math Game: Roll & Cover
  • How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning
  • Seed spitting measurement
  • Quilled Pendant
  • Sponge Painting

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

Finally, look at how to do this experiment.

EXPLODING WATERMELON EXPERIMENT

You will need:

  • A medium-sized watermelon
  • 400-600 rubber bands
  • Safety goggles

The very first step is to put on your safety goggles. 

Ensure that all observers also have their eye protection in place. This cannot be stressed enough – flying watermelon pieces can cause serious eye injury.

Choose a flat outdoor surface and set down the watermelon. 

If you are using protective sheeting, lay it down before placing the watermelon. 

Have your camera or phone ready to record the event. Consider the lighting and the angle that will best capture the explosion.

Apply the first layer, carefully placing rubber bands around the circumference of the watermelon. 

Ensure that they are distributed somewhat evenly around the widest part of the fruit.

There’s no specific pattern required, just aim for relatively uniform coverage.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

Layer by layer, continue adding rubber bands, one at a time. 

As you add more, you will start to feel the tension increasing. The rubber bands will begin to bunch together and press firmly against the watermelon’s rind. 

Try to weave the new rubber bands in among the existing ones to distribute the pressure as evenly as possible. 

Using a mix of rubber band sizes can help achieve better coverage and prevent too much stress on a single point.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

Once you have applied a significant number of rubber bands, pause and observe the watermelon closely. 

MELON EXPERIMENT

You may start to hear subtle cracking or popping sounds emanating from the rind.

These are indicators that the pressure is building and the watermelon’s structural integrity is being challenged. 

Be patient; the explosion won’t happen instantaneously.

Keep adding rubber bands. As the pressure intensifies, the watermelon will likely begin to deform slightly. The area around the equator will appear compressed, and the rubber bands will be tightly stretched. 

The cracking and popping sounds may become more frequent and pronounced. 

This is the exciting phase where the internal forces are nearing their limit, you can see how one end of the watermelon is bulging and catch where it was just beginning to burst.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

Eventually, the cumulative pressure from the rubber bands will exceed the tensile strength of the watermelon rind. This will result in a sudden and often surprisingly powerful explosion.

The watermelon will rupture, sending chunks of rind and flesh flying outwards. Be prepared for a loud noise and a shower of watermelon debris. Maintain a safe distance during this stage.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

Almost as cool as the explosion was that the rubber bands formed a tight rubber band ball when the watermelon pushed through them.

How to Conduct an Exploding Watermelon Theme Experiment

The exploding watermelon experiment  illustrates several key scientific concepts:

SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS MELON EXPERIMENT

Energy Release: The potential energy stored in the stretched rubber bands and the compressed watermelon is suddenly released during the explosion, propelling the fragments outwards.

External Pressure: The rubber bands exert an external compressive force on the watermelon. Each rubber band contributes a small amount of tension, and the cumulative effect of hundreds of these bands creates significant pressure directed inwards towards the watermelon’s core.

Internal Pressure: Watermelons, like many fruits, have a high water content, which contributes to internal turgor pressure. This internal pressure pushes outwards against the rind, helping the fruit maintain its shape.

Tensile Strength: The watermelon rind possesses a certain amount of tensile strength, which is its ability to withstand being pulled apart or stretched. The rind can endure a certain level of external pressure before its structural integrity is compromised.

Accumulation of Force: Individually, a single rubber band exerts a relatively small force. However, by applying a large number of rubber bands, these small forces add up to create a substantial overall pressure. This demonstrates how multiple small forces can combine to overcome a greater resistance.

Material Failure: The explosion occurs when the total external pressure exerted by the rubber bands exceeds the tensile strength of the watermelon rind plus its internal pressure. At this point, the rind can no longer withstand the forces acting upon it, and it ruptures catastrophically.

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

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

June 2, 2024 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I’m showing you how easy it is to make a summer theme watermelon sensory bin that is perfect for play and learning. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

What may seem just like a fun container of rice is so much more than just play!

There are many benefits to sensory bins for preschoolers.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

And they can introduce a fun standalone theme like watermelon or be used as a springboard for a small unit study.

If you have not introduced sensory bins yet this is a perfect easy starter one that can be made into any size

You can spend a little time learning about how watermelons grow, planting your own seeds and watching them develop, and even taste testing different varieties to fill it out even more.

Make the entire week wildly watermelon themed with these additional sensory ideas which I have below.

Too, learn why sensory bins are such a wonderful part of preschool development.

Wild Watermelon Sensory Ideas

Grab Food Anatomy from the Julia Rothman series and learn a little bit more about different varieties of this delicious summer treat.

Include a taste test before or after the sensory bin to include even more of your child’s senses.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

We have also learned How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning, another great activity to involve several of the 5 senses and build hand muscles.

Make a Watermelon Squish Bag for a sensory treat that doesn’t make a mess.

I love that everything is contained in a tidy gallon zip top bag.

While slices of watermelon are fantastic on their own try putting a twist on it and get your kids in the kitchen learning all about following directions, measuring, and kitchen safely with a Kid Friendly Watermelon Slush.

These tempera paint sticks make for great painting projects and keep the mess to a minimum,

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

They worked fantastically for a quick W is for watermelon picture.

Watermelon Moon Sand is a unique texture that kids love to play with (messy warning, this stuff sticks and spreads).

8 Benefits of Using Sensory Bins

Next look at the benefits of using sensory bins in your homeschool.

  1. Sensory bins are a calming activity where children can play independently or with others.
  2. Scooping with cups or spoons builds fine motor skills.
  3. Picking up items with fingers or tweezers develops grasp important for prewriting.
  4. Prompt cognitive development as children sort,
  5. Talking about what they find or are doing in the bin builds language development and vocabulary.
  6. Adding letters introduces literacy skills like letter identification, sounds, and building words.
  7. Counting and measuring objects in the sensory bin introduces early math concepts like counting, sorting, and volume.
  8. When playing with others it teaches children to share through cooperative play.
How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

Finally, look at how to make a watermelon sensory bin.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin

You will need:

  • Uncooked rice
  • red/pink food coloring
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Black beans or sunflower seeds
  • Containers and spoons
  • Optional-watermelon scent
How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

First, measure out enough uncooked rice to fill about 2” depth in whatever container you have chosen.

Stir in either liquid or gel food color along with enough hand sanitizer to help spread the color all around until you have reached your desired color.

Mix it up well and then spread out the rice as flat as you can, using a baking sheet if you like.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

Stir in scent at this time if you are going to use it as well.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

Lay your rice out in the sun to dry and stir every so often, the alcohol in the hand sanitizer helps it to dry fast.

Transfer rice to a shallow container for your sensory bin.

Sprinkle on some black beans or sunflower seeds for watermelon seeds

These are great for counting and sorting.

I happened to have sunflower seeds on hand and loved the way they looked as watermelon seeds.

Add in fun items for exploring like spoons, cups, bowls, mason jar rings, measuring cups and spoons.

You want items that can be used for filling, pouring, scooping, investigating volume, etc.

Next, include some letters to hide like W’s or even those to spell out w-a-t-e-r-m-e-l-o-n for a quick language lesson.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

I also included 4 wooden craft sticks to play with and these can also be used to form a w.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

Have your child sort out the watermelon “seeds” for counting.

How to Make a Watermelon Sensory Bin for Play and Learning

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, preschool, sensory bin, summer, summer crafts, summerideas, watermelon

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

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

Summer is rapidly coming to an end but there is plenty of time to enjoy this watermelon seed slime. You may also love my page Free Summer Unit Study for more ideas.

Watermelon is easily one of the most popular summer snacks and themes so there was no way I was skipping over the fun of this one.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Slime is a surefire hit with kids every time and this is a unique, borax-free slime recipe that they will love to stretch, squeeze, and watch it ooze.

August 3rd is National Watermelon Day,

if you enjoy celebrating the simple things as well as the big ones like I do then this is a great activity to do with your child before cooler weather takes over.

5 Watermelon Facts

  1. Watermelons are made up of 92% water and 8% sugar.
  2. You can eat the whole thing, not just the delicious red flesh but the rinds and seeds too!
  3. Watermelons can grow to epic sizes, the record is held by Christopher Kent from Sevierville, Tennessee, in 2013. This winner weighed in at 350.5 pounds.
  4. The famous writer Mark Twain loved watermelon; he called it the food of angels.
  5. The record for watermelon seed spitting was set in 1995 and was 75 feet 2 inches.

Encourage your child to research some fun facts about watermelon on their own, like how many varieties there are. (More than 1200)

What colors do watermelons come in? (red, light pink, yellow, orange, and white)

How long does it take to grow one (65-100 days)

Watermelon is a delicious treat that can be enjoyed on its own, with salt, and feta cheese, made into popsicles, infused into water, or in many other ways.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

 Be sure to grab a watermelon to enjoy with your child for National Watermelon Day while you explore a few of these ideas below.

10 Watermelon Seed Ideas to Enjoy

  1. Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest– Kids love gross stuff like being given free rein and even encouraged to spit. They won’t even realize that they are learning about graphing and measurements at the same time.
  2. Sensory Watermelon Dough is a fabulous sensory activity that makes a great base for a sensory bin or a canvas for practicing letters and numbers.
  3. Watermelon Squish Bag is another great sensory activity that little hands love.
  4. The Watermelon Seed Popsicle Stick Watermelon Slices
  5. Watermelon Kiwi Pops I couldn’t gather up watermelon ideas without at least one tasty snack, these look so yummy.
  6. Q Tip Watermelon Seeds for a good fine motor activity for little hands working on those pre-writing skills.
  7. PomPom Painted Watermelon Craft is a simple low prep activity that only requires paper, paint, and pompoms.
  8. No Cook Watermelon Sensory Rice– Make this watermelon-themed sensory rice for a sensory bin or bottle. Hide letters and numbers in it for your child to find or count out the “seeds”.
  9. Watermelon Seed Math is a great way to practice simple math skills like counting or more challenging addition and subtraction problems.
  10. Watermelon Seed Slime- See below for instructions.
How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Finally, look how to make fun watermelon seed slime.

How to Make Watermelon Seed Slime

You could use watermelon seeds or black beans as the seeds in this slime but I wanted to avoid any real food additions to keep it from spoiling quicker from the moisture.

You will need:

  • 2-4 oz. bottles of school glue
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 2-3 Tbsp. Contact eye solution
  • Red gel or liquid food coloring
  • Black craft foam
  • Watermelon scent-optional
How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

First, pour your glue into a large bowl or measuring cup.

I buy mine by the gallon so I can easily measure out 8 oz. into a glass measuring cup but if you use 4 oz bottles you can just empty both into any bowl you like.

Mix in gel or liquid food coloring to get the shade you like.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Stir in scent if you are using any, a good essential oil is a fun way to add another sensory aspect to this activity.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Add the baking soda and be sure to mix it until smooth and completely combined.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Now, stir in your contact solution and mix until it begins to pull away from your container and is no longer sticky.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Watermelon Seed Slime

Cut little watermelon seed shapes from craft foam. 

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Stir them into the mixture.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

At this point, you can remove it and need it with your hands for a few minutes.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

If you want to make a cute little jar for storing, take any jar you have with an airtight lid like a little pickle jar, mason jar, etc.… and paint the entire thing dark green on the outside.

Allow it to dry.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

Paint lighter green squiggles over the dark green and allow it to dry.

You now have a cute little watermelon rind container to hold the watermelon in, a great idea for gifting too.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Your slime should keep a couple of weeks or more depending on how much it is used and how well it is stored.

How to Make Fun Watermelon Seed Slime For Summer Learning

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, slime, summer activities, summer crafts, summerideas, watermelon

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