• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

dy•nam•ic constant change, progress, activity

  • HOME
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reviews
  • About
tina robertson
  • 7 Step Planner
    • DIY Best Student Planner
    • DIY Easy Home Management Binder
  • Unit Studies
    • Creation to Ancients
    • Middle Ages to Reform
    • Exploring to Revolution
    • World Wars to Today
    • Science
    • Free Art Curriculum Grades 1 – 8
  • Self-Paced Homeschool Courses
  • Shop
  • Homeschool Helps
    • Dynamic Subscriber Freebies
    • Exclusive Subscribers Library
    • Ultimate Unit Study Planner

nature journaling

How to Make a Kid’s Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity

September 21, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Easy Bird Nest Activity

Nature lovers will adore this project how to make a kid’s fun and easy bird nest activity!

Hands-on, free, and so educational that it will become a favorite in your nature studies. 

Birds are fascinating from how they fly, what they eat, how they lay eggs, to how they build amazing nests to rest and raise their young in.

How to Make a Kid's Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity

A great way to learn about how birds build sturdy safe nests is to try and do it yourself!

Try to create a nest that is safe and warm for an egg and you gain a new appreciation for the amazing job these feathered creatures put together without the use of hands and those oh so helpful thumbs!

Build Your Own Bird Nest

Talk about what birds use a nest for, you may want to grab a couple of the books mentioned below.

Birds use nests as a safe place to lay and hatch their eggs.

Head outdoors and show your child how to gather up all the things a bird might use to create their nest.

If you can find one in your yard it will give you some clues as to what is used to put one together. 

How to Make a Kid's Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity

Need a little help? Look for dry twigs, green twigs and vines, bits of fluff from plants and animal fur, moss, and long leaves.

I added some bits of string to our pile since birds will use whatever they can find to construct their homes including animal fur, fabric, and other items left behind by humans.

Bring all your items in and place them in a pile so your child can see what there is to work with.

How to Make a Kid's Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity

Make a circle with some of the green bendable twigs and tie it off, if you need to use some of that string to secure it.

Add items to the inside to fill it in and build up to create that cup shape of a common bird nest.

How to Make a Kid's Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity

Braiding, twisting, tucking, and wrapping helps make your nest more solid and secure. Is your nest ready to hold an egg?

Grab an egg from the fridge and let your child test out their nest.

Birds and Bird Nest Vocabulary

Use these words to create spelling and vocabulary words for your child whatever age or level of learning they are at. 

Make flashcards, use them as story starters, have them drawer the definition

  • Nest
  • Beak
  • Raptor
  • Wingspan
  • Feather
  • Incubate
  • Nestling
  • Fledgling
  • Aviary
  • Hatchling
  • Rookery
  • Crest
  • Crown 
  • Hatch
  • Parliament
  • Tarsus

More Bird Activities For Unit Studies

Keep on expanding upon this activity by turning it into a full study with books, games, and some fun activities, I have lots of ideas for you below!

The Basement Workshop Store
  • Keep a watch on your backyard and make a Bird Color Bar Graph to keep track of what types of birds visit each day.
  • Make your own bird from a styrofoam ball and craft feathers to learn the anatomy of a bird.
  • Put together this free Bird Journal.
  • Make a bird feeder and/or a birdbath to attract more winged friends to your yard.
  • Make a Bird Nesting Bag to help local birds with extra supplies to put together their next.
  • Build a bird house to attract whatever kind of birds you would like. Check out pinterest for house plans for songbirds, woodpeckers, owls, and more.
  • Draw a Birds Nest in Chalk Pastel with this Youtube tutorial from You Are an Artist
  • Watch this Bald Eagle Cam in Washington, DC.
  • For young children pour a think layer of birdseed in a shallow pan and let them practice writing their letters with a finger.
  • Investigate the different types of bird nests- Burrow, cavity, platform, cup, ground, scrape, mound, pendant and sphere. Identify at least one bird for each type of nest.

Games about Birds

Look at these games about birds.

Books about Birds

A Nest is Noisy 

You’ll love these other nature loving and bird activities:

How to Make a Kid's Fun and Easy Bird Nest Activity
  • North American Robin Unit Study and Lapbook
  • How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • How Animals Cope With the Cold (Easy Nature Study)
  • How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Nature Based Activities, Science Tagged With: birdjournal, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, nature, nature journaling, nature study, science

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

September 18, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Bird Feeder With Kids Activity

How to make an easy jumbo stick bird feeder with kids is a fun project to do with the kids for a bird unit study or just because.

This diy bird feeder covers fine motor skills, problem solving, art, science, following directions, and more.

Making a bird feeder with kids is a great rainy day activity that gets kids asking questions and investigating with little prompting.

Too, creating a craft can just take a few minutes.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Craft sticks are a homeschool staple for a reason!

They can be used in so many ways and in this case they are the perfect material for a simple bird feeder that your kids can create with a little help from you. 

Here is the quick and simple list for this easy bird feeder:

  • Jumbo Craft Sticks 
  • Wood Glue/Craft Glue
  • Strong Twine
  • Bird Seed

Easy directions for making a fun nature craft bird feeder:

We used wide craft sticks as a base and the sides of our simple bird feeder but you can use standard sized if you like.

First, create a base platform by lining your sticks up, 7 jumbo craft sticks is the perfect width for laying the sticks lengthwise.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Our Journey Westward

Next, glue a stick across each end of your base.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Avoid using hot glue as the heat outside tends to soften the glue and your birdhouse will fall apart. Instead use a wood glue or tacky craft glue like E6000.

Use colored sticks or outdoor stain if you wish first on your craft sticks if you like.

Then, alternate two sticks in one direction and then two in the other until you have built it up as high as you like.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Allow glue to dry overnight to be sure its secure.

Then, slide 4 long pieces of twine between the top most sticks on each of the 4 sides, tie it off.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Finally, pull the 4 string straight up and tie the end into a knot about 12”-15” up, trim off excess.

Our Journey Westward
How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Fill with seed and place in a shady tree.

How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Also, to make your bird feeder last longer than just one season give it two coats of spray sealer before filling and allow it to dry thoroughly to make it water safe.

Bird Vocabulary for Nature Unit Study

Additionally, I’ve added some words for vocabulary, spelling, placing in alphabetical order, and handwriting practice.

  • Extinct
  • Endangered
  • Aviary
  • Talon
  • Beak
  • Flock
  • Flight
  • Wingspan
  • Migrate
  • Flitter
  • Raptor
  • Ornithology
How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

More Bird Activities For Unit Studies

Keep on expanding upon this activity by turning it into a full study with books, games, and some fun activities, I have lots of ideas for you below!

  • Make a Bird Color Bar Graph to keep track of what types of birds visit each day.
  • List 5 birds of prey, 5 song birds, 5 Water Fowl, and 5 birds that cannot fly.
  • Put together this free Bird Journal and and expand this activity into a full unit study.
  • Put together a Bird Nesting Bag to provide birds with some extra supplies for nest building.
  • List 3 birds that are now extinct and 3 that are endangered.
  • Make a sensory bin for younger children with bird seed as the base, add in nest building materials like sticks, and small plastic birds for some educational play.
  • Try making your own birds nest with found items in the yard like sticks, bits of string, grass, moss, and, vines.
  • Find out what your state bird is and draw a picture or paint a picture of it.
  • Research what 5 traits make a bird like feathers, wings, beaks or bills, laying eggs, and an adapted skeleton.
  • Use craft feathers as manipulatives for counting or to create a craft.
  • Use a roll of art paper and a yard stick to measure the wingspan of an eagle. Seeing it drawn really gives a better idea of size.

As well as spelling words, I’ve gathered up some bird writing prompts below.

Writing Prompts for Bird Unit Study

  • If you could be any kind of bird what would you be and why?
  • One day as I was flying high above I saw…
  • What do you think the birds are singing about? Put it into words.
  • You wake up and a giant eagle is waiting outside your window, you climb on his back, tell about your adventures.
  • What do you think birds do for fun?
  • What is your favorite bird and why?
How to Make an Easy Jumbo Stick Bird Feeder with Kids

Bird Games and Bird Books

Also, look at some of these fun games and books to add to your unit study about birds.

You’ll love these other resources for learning about birds:

  • Hands-On Nature Study: Bird Color Bar Graphing Activity
  • Hands-On Nature Study: Make a Fun Bird Nesting Bag
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Easy and Fun Nature Study: Beautiful Birds
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • Free Bird Journal – Hands-on Nature (Coloring & Identification Pages)
  • How Animals Cope With the Cold (Easy Nature Study)

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Nature Based Activities Tagged With: birdjournal, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolscience, life science, nature, nature journaling, nature study, science

How to Make an Easy Nature Paint Brush With Kids

August 22, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings.

If you are digging deep into a nature-based unit study or you just want a unique nature-based unit study add-on to do with your child, look no further.

These fun and simple diy nature brushes are an inexpensive and creative way to get your kids into the great outdoors exploring, creating, and coming up with unique new ways to use natural objects.

DIY NATURE PAINT BRUSH FOR KIDS

Toddlers on up to middle schoolers will enjoy gathering their own materials on their next nature walk or from your own backyard, creating paintbrushes, and then painting their unique masterpiece with their DIY tools.

This activity is perfect to go along a general nature study, a tree unit study, or an art unit study.

Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids.

You will need:

  • Craft sticks (or sturdy sticks)
  • Small rubber bands
  • Collected leaves, flowers, ferns, grasses, etc…
Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

Begin by taking your little nature explorer outdoors to collect leaves, long grasses, flowers and their stems, ferns, and any other material you think will make good “brushes”. 

It’s fun to experiment with the different textures and shapes so be sure you gather a large variety of different items.

Our Journey Westward

Next bring them in and straighten them up into little bundles, varying the size here and there.

Place one end of the bundle on the end of your craft stick and wrap a small rubber band around the end until it is tight and secure.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

The easiest way to do this is to wrap it around the opposite end and then roll it upwards over your brush.

DIY NATURAL PAINT BRUSH ACTIVITY

Use scissors to trim the ends of your leaves and grasses shorter. They are more like actual paintbrush bristles. Also, this makes a great fine motor activity for preschoolers. Of course, don’t use the same scissors we used. Just saying’.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

Next, challenge your child to paint a nature picture on a canvas or large piece of paper. 

Our Journey Westward

We practiced on a scrap piece of paper to see what texture and coverage each brush gave.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

Encourage them to experiment with different size brushes and see what types of textures you can make from the various brushes you have made, solid strokes, wispy strokes, tapping the canvas, etc..

The Basement Workshop Store

We went with a simple tree this time, but are eager to try more advanced art with them soon.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

You can use acrylic craft paint or try watercolors for a lighter look. 

Our Journey Westward
Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

Wash out your brushes when done or toss them into the compost bin and make more.

HANDS-ON NATURE STUDY

Why should you do nature studies with your child?

6 Reasons Why You Should Do Nature Studies With Your Kids

  1. Nature studies are the base for all science studies and creates a personal connection which helps your child later with more advanced studies;
  2. Spending time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine is calming and relaxing for you and your child. It is also a great way to get exercise and get the wiggles out;
  3. Nature study encourages your child to develop the skill of investigation;
  4. It is a great activity for the entire family and even the youngest member can appreciate and enjoy what nature has to offer;
  5. It gives your child a respect for the earth and their place in it; and
  6. Kids develop a greater understanding of the impact we all have on the earth.

Nature brushes are a great way to use natural materials to make art supplies and make science fun, but there are ways to expand this hands-on craft.

5 Ways to Expand On Nature Anatomy

Before making the paint brushes you can

  • use the items you have collected to identify which plant it comes from;
  • press flowers and leaves with this diy flower press;
  • make rubbings using the flat side of crayons;
  • sketch your findings in your nature journal; and
  • check out this list of nature inspired novels to use as read alouds.

In addition, use the app Inaturalist to help you identify what you find.

LIVING NATURE BOOKS

Don’t stop here, investigate further with some great nature books to turn this activity into a full unit study.

Use Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman.

Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids by Kim Andrews.

Exploring Nature Journal for Kids Observe and Record the Outdoors by Kim Andrews.

Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons.

Exploring nature with your kids can cover so many subjects when you use a unit study approach.

Creating your own diy nature brushes from items on your next nature walk is a fun way to bring science outdoors. Turn all sorts of leaves and flowers into beautiful rustic paintings. Look how to make easy nature paint brushes with kids. CLICK HERE!  
#diynaturebrushes #homeschoolnature #natureforkids #nature #scienceforkids #handsonnature #handsonart

Teaching about the outdoors is a natural way to learn which kids love. Not only can you include many different subjects, but adding a hands-on craft or two, makes learning stick.

You’ll love all the fanstastic ideas I have here for you to round out making these diy nature paint brushes with your kids.

Look at this list below:

  • 20 Nature-Inspired Kids’ Novels to Nurture Interest In the Outdoors
  • Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science
  • Foraging and Feasting Nature Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Wildflowers Unit Study & Lapbook
  • Hands-On Mixed Media Flower Art Fun Nature Study
  • Hands-On Literature Nature Study: Simple Tree Craft

What nature craft activities do you like doing with your kids?

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: DIY, Hands-On Activities, Nature Based Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, nature, nature journaling, nature study, science

The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest

April 23, 2017 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Join my Homeschool Dynamics by Tina Robertson Facebook Group where I share more free awesome resources.

The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest. Learning about the lush plants and fascinating animals of the Amazon Rain Forest makes for a fascinating homeschool unit study. Bring learning alive through hands-on activities, free guides and ideas for learning about the flora and fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest in this Ultimate Guide. Click here!

 

I fondly remember our family trek in the Amazon Rain Forest while living in South America and I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart when learning about it. Having studied the Amazon Rain Forest numerous times, we still find fascinating topics to study about.

In preparing this ultimate guide to the flora and fauna of the Amazon rain forest, I’ve attempted to further enhance a study of the Amazon Rain Forest by gathering resources that focus just on the flora and fauna of the rain forest.

Because of the sheer number of critters, creatures and creeping things as well as lush plants and trees that exists abundantly in the rain forest, I feel any guide can only touch the fringes of what can be learned. However, I do hope like my other Amazon Rain Forest resources, you’ll find this one equally helpful as you and your kids uncover the fascinating treasures of the Amazon Rain Forest.

Remember to add my HUGE free unit study Tropical Rain Forest – Amazon, or Amazonia in South America, which consists of multiple lapbooks for different ages, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon and Tropical Rainforest Amazon Free Resources – Teachers Guides, Crafts, Lesson Plans to this unit study.

General Amazon Rain Forest Links

Brazil Wildlife-Episode 1.
Rainforest Letter “R” Printables
.

Rainforest Animals Counting 1 – 10 Printable.
Rainforest Slideshow.
Virtual Field Trip – Amazon Rainforest.
Rainforest in a Box.
Rainforest Unit for younger children.
Animals of South America.
Animals of the Rainforest Worksheet.
Brazil Wildlife-Episode 2.
Rainforest Worksheets

Rainforest Word Search.
Rainforest Unit Study.
3-D Diorama of the Amazon Rainforest.
Amazon Interactive Scavenger Hunt.
Compare Flora and Fauna of the Temperate Forest and Rain Forest.
Make a 3-d triarama.
Rainforest Lesson Plans.
Rainforest Lesson Plans –  with Powerpoint
Rainforest Plant Database.
Amazon Water Cycle.


Rainforest Plant and Animal Coloring Pages.
Food of the Amazon.
Free Rainforest Curricula. PreK-8th
Rainforest Animals and Plant Life Video.
Free Plants and Animals in the Tropical Rain Forest Biome Cards.
Tropical Rainforest Biome – pdf with tons of pictures and facts.
Rainforest Teaching Resource – 17 pages.
Amazon Rainforest – interactive.
Rainforest Butterflies and more – video.
Amazon Interactive.
Lesson Plan: Rainforest Adaptations.
Food Chains in the Amazon.
Guide to Fruit in Brazil.
Design a Rainforest Postcard.
Life in the Tropical Rain Forest.
Exploring the Rainforest Documentary.
Trekking in the Amazon.
Rainforest Tree Root Systems.
Layers of the Rainforest – fine motor skills.
Journey into Amazonia – teacher resources.
Rainforest Curriculum.

FLORA OF THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST

Trees of the Amazon Rain Forest

Açaí Palm Tree.
Cacao Tree Facts.
How Chocolate Is Made – Video.
Chocolate Unit Study.
Bacuri Fruit.
Video of Bacuri Palm. Spanish
Jaboticaba (Brazilian Grape) Facts.
Jaboticaba Video.
Sandbox Tree.
Sandbox Tree – video.
Kapok Tree.
Kapok Tree – video.
Wimba Tree.
Palm Leaf  Printable Template.
Layers of the Rainforest.
Moriche Palm (Buriti).
Cupuacu Facts.
Cupuacu Pictures.
Jaca (Jackfruit).
Jaca Tree Video.
How to Clean and Eat Jackfruit.
Brazil Nut Tree.
Harvesting the Brazil Nut – video.
What is kapok?
Kapok Fiber – video.

Our Journey Westward

Plants of the Amazon Rain Forest

DIY Rainforest Terrarium.
Jambu (Toothache) Plant.
Maracuya (Passion) Fruit.
Passion Fruit Mousse Recipe.
Do Medicines Grow on Plants and Trees.
Bougainvillea.
Bougainvillea Tips and Facts.
Amazon Rainforest Plants.
Passion Flower.
Guarana Shrub Facts.
Guarana Fruit Picture.
Heliconia (Parrot Flower).
Bromeliad Facts.
Bromeliad Photo Gallery.
Red Passion Flower.
Amazon Water Lily.
Amazonian Giant Water Lily – video.
Hot Lips Flower.

Our Journey Westward

FAUNA OF THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST

Birds of the Amazon Rain Forest

Toco Toucan Coloring Printable.
Learn About the Toco Toucan.
Macaw birds in the Amazon.
How to Draw a Parrot.
Toucan Pattern Sheet.
Great Curassow.
Make a colorful Macaw craft.
Printable Blue Macaw craft.
Rufous Motmot.
Rufous Motmot babies
– video.
Cinereous Mourner
– video.
10 Birds of the Amazon.
Video – 10 Birds of the Amazon.
Toucan Worksheet.
Make a Perched Parrot Decorative Chair.
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher images.
Balancing a Parrot Craft.
Animal Corner
– Scarlet Macaw.
Harpy Eagle mom and hatchling.
How to Draw a Realistic Toucan
– video.
Rufous Motmot – video.

Mammals of the Amazon Rain Forest

Anteater.
Giant Anteater Facts.
Anteater Worksheet.
Color a Jaguar.
Another Jaguar coloring page.
Jaguar Biology, Ecology and Conservation.
How to ‘Speak’ Squirrel Monkey.
Squirrel Monkey – video.
Sloth Unit Study.
Sloth – video.
Giant River Otter – video.
Giant River Otter Facts.
Spider Monkey – video.
Monkey Grid Game – math.
Anteater Craft.
Silky Anteater Facts.
Capybara Facts.
Capybara Video.
Meet the Jaguar.
Looking for Jaguar: A Teacher’s Guide.
Jaguar – video.
Squirrel Monkey.
Sloth Facts.
More Sloth Facts.
Sloth Coloring Page.
Giant River Otter – video.

Howler Monkey Facts.
Howler Monkey – video.


Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon Rain Forest

Glass Frogs.
Glass Frogs of Amazon.
Tree Frog Craft.
Origami Frog.
Emerald Tree Boa Snake Facts.
Fer-de-lance Facts.
Fer-de-lance – video.
Poison Dart Frog Facts.
Blue Poison Dart Frog – facts and video.
Poison Dart Frog – video.
Black Caiman.
Paper Plate Snake.
Bromeliad Tree Frog.
Expert Care for the Emerald Tree Boa.
Snake Finger Puppets.
Bushmaster.
Bushmaster – video.
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog.
Golden Poison Dart Frog.
Tree Frog Art Project.


Aquatic Life of the Amazon Rain Forest

Piranha Facts.
Red Belly Piranha – video.
Arapaima (Pirarucu) Facts.
Arapaima Faces Extinction.
Tucunare (Peacock Bass).
Amazon River Dolphin.
Amazon River Dolphin – videos.
Amazon River Bull Shark.
Tamoata Facts.
Giant Wolf Fish.
Wolf Fish – video.
Tambaqui Facts.
Manatee Lapbook.
Amazon Manatee – facts, pictures and videos.
Amazon Electric Eel Facts.
More Electric Eel Facts.
Electric Eel – video.

Insects of the Amazon Rain Forest

Stick Bug Craft.
How to draw a Monarch Butterfly.
Make a replica firefly habitat.
Rain forest Beetles.
Jewel Caterpillar.
Katydids.
Barber Bees that Cut Your Hair – video.
“Flying” Spider of Amazon – facts and video.
Fishing Spider.
Blue Morpho Butterfly .
Blue Morpho Butterfly Craft.
Butterfly Life Cycle.
Creatures of the Amazon – Rhinoceros Beetle.
Glasswinged Butterfly.
Jewel Caterpillar – video.
Assassin Bug Facts.
Amazon Butterflies – video.
Brazilian Wandering Spiders.

Are you interested in more of my Ultimate Guides? Of course you are.

Read Lewis and Clark Expedition – The Ultimate Guide, Ultimate Guide to Learning Activities in a Jar or Bottle, The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers and The Unrivaled Guide to Civil War Activities for Kids.

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.


This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: amazon rain forest, animals, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, life science, nature journaling, plants, science, sciencecurriculum, ultimate guide

John Muir Spring Unit Study (and Hands-on Geography Ideas)

February 27, 2017 | 5 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

John Muir Spring Homeschool Unit Study. Include all of your children by doing this free hands-on spring homeschool unit study to kick off spring while learning about John Muir's love for the great outdoors. Click here to grab it! | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

No matter the age, most children still have a love for picture books. Recently, we read John Muir, America’s First Environmentalist and loved that book. It looks like you could use it for about middle school down to elementary. It’s just a great book no matter which ages you use it for. Not only are the pictures beautiful but a short biography read gives us a needed break in our day. Today, I decided to do a quick John Muir spring unit study as a way to celebrate spring and our love of reading picture books.

Look at this roundup and ideas for a multi-age unit study. Don’t you love including all of your children?

John Muir  – the Inventor, Environmentalist and Explorer

Muir and his inventions @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus. A machine which helps you to rise from bed.After reading the short biography, you find out that John Muir was not only an adventurer and nature lover, but an inventor. What a great way for a young person to spend his time.

Download this 2 page pdf to learn about a few of his inventions.

LANGUAGE ARTS

Grab some quotes for this 2 page pdf for copywork or write a persuasive essay about John Muir’s stance on preserving nature for generations.

SCIENCE

Nature Journals

John Muir had a love for nature journaling! See some ideas @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusFor the younger kids, about first or second grade, grab this free 3 page pdf John Muir Made a Difference with a free printable to jump start their nature journal.

Also, look at this hub page by my friend Barb for nature journal ideas and tips. You’ll love this round up.

And if you haven’t already downloaded this free WHOPPING 968 pages of Anna Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study, it’s a must have for studying about science and nature.

For your high school kids grab this free 8 page pdf lesson about Campsite Conversation which teaches about different points of view regarding how the environment should be cared for.Muir's dream of Yosemite becoming a national park comes true | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Glaciers

This is a helpful one page worksheet with questions and answers for key to learn about glaciers.

Wilderness and Remote First Aid

John Muir spent much of his life in the wilderness exploring. No doubt he had to have some knowledge of how to care for his health. Add in a slant about health care in the wilderness with this free 121 page guide for teaching about the wilderness and remote first aid.

GEOGRAPHY

In California

For about third or fourth grade, grab this free 4 page pdf John Muir in California to study about California landmarks.

For your high school kids, grab this free 6 page pdf John Muir’s Vision Lives On which is about land issues and how to preserve the natural beauty and issues surrounding that.

Muir off to explore Florida @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Around the World

You’ll love this free printable board game for learning about the places John Muir traveled.  Around the World in 76 Years.

Backpacking and hiking

The reason John Muir knew that the wilderness needed to be preserved was not only because he spent time outdoors, but he spent time hiking and exploring.

Grab this free 245 page unit study about backpacking and hiking.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS

Muir had a love for ice, the mountains and exploring glaciers. Look at some hands-on ideas @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

►Learn about the power of ice.

John Muir had a love for snow and blizzards and soon his obsession turned to glaciers. Look at this easy hands-on idea of how ice shapes mountains.

►Make an easy sand clock.

Also, he loved his inventions and was interested locks, water wheels and clocks. Look at this easy hands-on sand clock.

►Make a yummy metamorphic edible rock recipe.

Spending much of his time outdoors as he investigated mountains and cliffs, look at this easy Metamorphic Edible Rocks & Notebooking Pages.

►Make a simple compass out of things around the house.

And then learn how to make an easy homemade compass.

►Do this easy hands on activity with an egg to see how a plant digests their prey.

Also, Muir had a love for plants. Look at this easy hands-on activity to see how carnivorous plants digest their prey and grab the free notebooking pages.

►Make an easy pendulum clock.

Muir made a machine that helped him to rise from bed because he was focused on time. Make this easy pendulum clock.


I know all your kids will love this short picture book. Be sure to add  John Muir, America’s First Environmentalist to your collection and use it for a fun nature unit study.

Are you still in a spring sort of mood?

I have a couple more free unit studies you can do which have lapbooks. Click here to grab my North American Robin Unit Study and Lapbook, then strawberries are the very first spring fruit, so grab my Free Strawberry Unit Study and Lapbook and if that is still not enough, grab this Toads and Amphibians Lapbook and Unit Study.

Happy Spring!

Hugs and love ya,

Signature T

Don’t forget to follow BOTH of my Pinterest accounts for AWESOME pins.

Visit Tina Robertson’s profile on Pinterest.


Visit Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s profile on Pinterest.

This blog hop is organized by iHomeschool Network, a collaboration of outstanding homeschool bloggers who connect with each other and with family-friendly companies in mutual beneficial projects.

Click the image below to visit all the other blog articles from the homeschool moms of the iHomeschool Network.

5 CommentsFiled Under: Geography, Geography Based, Hands-On Activities, Science, Science Based Tagged With: art, geography, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, John Muir, middleschool, nature journaling, science, spring

Primary Sidebar

SHOP
HOW TO
BLOG

Footer

My Book – 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

Language Arts Luv (Because it works!)

All About Learning Press

Want EASY Planned Hands-on History?

Categories

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you need permission to print my free materials, please download and fill out this Printable Reproduction License.

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Site Design by Sharon Hujik · Log in · Privacy Policy