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These simple leaf science activities for preschoolers are perfect for a fall science unit!

15 Simple Leaf Science Activities for Preschoolers

August 24, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

As the air gets cooler and the days get shorter, it won’t be long before we start to see leaves fall off the trees in our neighborhood.

Down here int he South, it takes a little longer for us to see evidence of fall. But once it starts, it’s glorious.

Leaves are always one of my favorite early childhood themes. And they’re also wonderful opportunities to explore science with little ones.

Which is why I’m sharing this list of 15 simple leaf science activities for preschoolers!

Leaf Science Activities for Preschoolers

These are simple (and engaging) leaf-themed science ideas for preschoolers and kindergartners.

And they also include sensory fun, math skills, and more!

See the full list below.

Be sure to check out our fun Fall Leaves Count and Match Game for more preschool learning inspiration!

These simple leaf science activities for preschoolers are perfect for a fall science unit!

15 Simple Leaf Science Activities for Preschoolers

As leaves fall off the trees, we get so many opportunities to explore science. We’re literally watching it happen right in front of us.

We can learn about leaf colors and how they change, compare types of leaves to learn about tree species, and much, much more.

Since preschoolers love to go outside, this is a wonderful time of year to explore nature with them.

15 Simple Leaf Science Activities for Preschoolers

So these simple leaf science ideas make learning about nature even easier!

If you decide to try any of these this year, I’d love to know which ones your students liked the most!

Fall Playdough Mats

Simple Leaf Activities for Preschoolers

These simple leaf activities for preschoolers are a wonderful addition to a fall early learning unit!

There are hands-on ideas here for STEM construction, science experiments, observation activities, nature learning, and more!

Printable Leaf Identification Flashcards

Take these printable leaf identification flashcards out for a nature walk! Perfect for helping little ones learn the names of common leaf varieties!

Photo Credit: alittlepinchofperfect.com

Easy Fall Leaf Science Experiment: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids -

Show preschoolers how chlorophyll affects the color of leaves with this simple experiment! This is also good for learning about colors.

Photo Credit: preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com

Preschool Leaf Science Experiment

Explore textures and states of matter with this preschool leaf science experiment. Also includes ideas for sensory play!

Photo Credit: teachpreschool.org

Preschool Leaf Science and Math Exploration

Examine how leaf textures change over time with this leaf exploration activity. Use the suggestions to add a few math concepts as well!

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Salt Crystal Leaves Science Experiment and Fall STEM Activity for Kids

Make actual leaf art through this crystallization science experiment! Easy enough for little learners!

Photo Credit: buggyandbuddy.com

Science for Kids: Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves

Watch leaves "eat" in real time with this simple science activity. Good for teaching children about the importance of water too!

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Best fall simple science for kids - why do leaves change colour?

Show preschoolers how leaves change color with the seasons! This is a beautiful and easy color experiment for little ones.

Photo Credit: preschooltoolkit.com

Observing Autumn Leaves Preschool Unit

Preserve leaves with preschoolers to see how leaves change after falling off trees. This is also good for exploring why leaves need tree roots to live.

Photo Credit: gosciencekids.com

Autumn STEAM: tracing the veins of a leaf – Go Science Kids

Add a few art activities into your fall science unit with this STEAM idea. Show kids the veins in each leaf and then use those as an art activity!

Photo Credit: www.shareitscience.com

Science Experiment: The Hidden Colors in a Leaf

You only need a few basic supplies to try this chromatography experiment. It's great for showing preschoolers the hidden colors in fall leaves!

Easy Nature STEAM: Leaf Painting for Kids

Explore the patterns and textures of leaves with this simple leaf painting STEAM activity. Make prints and then examine how leaf vein patterns vary!

Photo Credit: www.science-sparks.com

How to Preserve Leaves - Easy Fall Science For Kids

Collect lots of fall leaves, pinecones, and acorns and see how to keep for a memory book! This idea is perfect for a fall preschool table.

Photo Credit: alittlepinchofperfect.com

Autumn Leaves STEAM Absorption Art and Free Template -

Make gorgeous leaf art with this absorption activity! And teach preschoolers how water affects paper too!

Photo Credit: www.creativelittleexplorers.com

Exploring Leaf Shapes - Nature Walk Activity

Show preschoolers how to make scientific observations with this leaf shapes examination activity! Little ones can collect leaves and compare them with others.

Photo Credit: theeducatorsspinonit.com

FALL STEM Challenge for Kids: Building Leaf Sculptures

Add some STEM learning into your fall leaves unit with this challenge. Preschoolers will love turning leaves into structures that stand up!

How to Make a Leaf Garland

One of our favorite leaf science activities is making a leaf garland.

It’s such a simple way to explore how fall leaves change over time and add a little fall decor to the home.

Plus, kids can try their hand at making art patterns and exploring colors as they work.

Simple Fall Leaf Garland

See how to make a simple DIY Fall Leaf Garland with little ones for yourself!

Looking for more preschool fall learning ideas? Try some of these!

Make up a batch of this scented pumpkin pie playdough to have some fall sensory fun with the kids! You only need a few household ingredients!
Use simple supplies to make this easy fall color matching activity for preschoolers! Perfect for fall preschool lessons!
These no prep fall counting worksheets for preschoolers feature a fun farm theme! Use them for classwork or at math centers!

Farm Fun Bundle TPT Quote Box Ad
Use the print or digital version of this nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity to teach students about animal sleep habits!

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity

July 13, 2020 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Teach kids about the animals who are active during the day and those that come out at night with this fun nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity!
Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity - Look! We're Learning!

Have you ever seen a possum in real life?

Growing up in the country, I knew that they existed. But it took several years before I actually saw one scurrying away in the early morning hours.

It was like catching sight of Bigfoot.

I knew that there were animals that were awake when I was asleep at night, but to actually see one was memorable.

If you’re teaching students about animal sleep habits, this printable and digital Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity can help!

Simple Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity

Most kids love to learn about animals and my students are no exception.

So when we were starting to learn about these kinds of animals, I wanted to find a way to make a simple, hands-on activity they’d love to do.

Read on to see how to get your copy of this Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals activity!

And, for more fun with science, don’t miss our All About the Solar System unit!

Use the print or digital version of this nocturnal and diurnal animals sorting activity to teach students about animal sleep habits!

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity

I remember learning about nocturnal animals when I was a kid, but we didn’t talk much about diurnal animals (at least not using the term “diurnal”).

So in case this term is fairly new to you as an educator, “diurnal” simply means that they are active during the day like you and me!

The printable activity is super duper easy. You’ll only need the following supplies: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Color printer with ink
  • Printer Paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (if you want to make a set that lasts)

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Activity for Kids

It contains flashcards (pictures and labels) of 16 animals: eight are nocturnal and eight are diurnal.

Some of the animals in the product include:

  • Hawk
  • Gorilla
  • Bee
  • Raccoon
  • Elephant
  • Possum
  • Butterfly
  • Dog
  • And 8 more!

Printable Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Lesson

At the back are four sorting mats for kids to separate the nocturnal animals from the diurnal animals.

Plus, there’s an answer key included as well as a full set of instructions.

Printable Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Lesson

You can also use this for a one-time learning Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting activity.

Just skip the laminating and have students cut and paste the animals on the correct mat.

If you use it at science centers, add hook and loop sticky dots to the back of the cards and onto the mat squares for easy reuse.

 

Scroll down to get your copy of our print or digital Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Activity!
 

Kids’ Books about Nocturnal Animals: 

Read more about nocturnal animals with these books for kids!

1. Daylight Starlight Wildlife by Wendell Minor
2. Where are the Night Animals? by Mary Ann Fraser
3. Moonlight Animals by Elizabeth Golding
4. Night Animals by Gianna Marino

 

Resources about Nocturnal Animals:

Learn more about these animals with these helpful websites!

1. The Great Nocturnal Hat Hunt Game – PBS Kids
2. Nocturnal Animals from Around the World – World Wildlife Fund
3. Seek and Find Nocturnal Animals Game – Sheppard Software
4. Nocturnal Animals Lapbook – Homeschool Share

 

And don’t miss these other science activities!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Learn about the fascinating world of sharks with this printable shark food chain game!

Teach students how frogs develop and grow with this printable frog life cycle sequencing activity! Perfect for hands on science lessons!

 

To get your copy of the printable Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Printable Nocturnal Animals Sorting Lesson for Kids

>>>Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity<<<

Want to use this as a digital activity that students can complete from home?
Click the image or the link below to grab the digital Nocturnal Animals Sorting Activity for use with Google Slides!

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting Digital Product

>> Digital Nocturnal Animals Sorting Activity <<

 

Or get them both in a print and digital BUNDLE!

>> Print + Digital Nocturnal Animals BUNDLE <<

Be sure to check out all of the great Nocturnal Animal Posts from the 2nd Grade Blogging Team!

Bat Science Experiments: Echolocation Activities from Preschool Powol Packets

Creating Growing Patterns with Nocturnal Animals from Life Over C’s

Nocturnal Animal Report: Hedgehogs from Crafty Kids at Home

Bats in a Cave Sight Word Game from Creative Family Fun

Nocturnal Animals Writing Tray and Word List from Lemon Lime Adventures

 

 

These bug identification printables are so fun for teaching kids about common insect species in the neighborhood!

Free Bug Printables Pack for Kids

April 29, 2020 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Free Bug Printables Pack

Happy spring everyone! I love this time of year.

The warmer weather, the longer days, the brighter skies – it’s all great stuff! It’s just the BUGS that bother me.

When I was a child, I was deathly afraid of almost everything that had more than four legs. (Except potato bugs. They’re adorable.)

But I’ve been learning to love bugs along with my kids, who think they’re awesome. So I thought I’d share a free Bug Printables Pack with all of you!

Fun Bug Identification Printables for Kids

This would make a great science resource to cover before heading out on a nature walk.

You could also pair it with a unit about insects, spring, summer, or ecosystems!

Read on to get your copy! And don’t miss our fun list of kids’ activities about insects!

These bug identification printables are so fun for teaching kids about common insect species in the neighborhood!

Free Bug Printables Pack

This free Bug Printables Pack has over 25 pages of insect-themed fun!

To use this set of insect identification printables, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (if you want to reuse the flashcards in the future)

Printable Insect Identification Worksheets for Kids

This resource includes:

  • A set of bug flashcards (labeled and blank)
  • Bug identification pages with color pictures and traceable names
  • And insect coloring pages

Printable Bug Identification Worksheets

Students can practice reading the correct names for each insect and then tracing the names themselves.

Printable Insect Identification Cards for Kids

Use the insect identification flashcards to help kids learn how to quickly spot common insects in the neighborhood.

Printable Bug Coloring Sheets for Kids

And don’t forget to use the coloring pages for a quick art activity!

If you want to reuse this activity later, laminate the pages and let students write on them with dry erase markers. Perfect for science centers!

Scroll down to get your free Bug Printables Pack!

Don’t miss these other spring activities for kids!

This butterfly life cycle activity is such a fun way to help kids learn how butterflies grow! Great for science during spring and summer!

Share an easy summer craft with the kids and make this easy paper ladybug craft! So fun for little hands!

Share these lovely children's books about butterflies with your kids this spring to learn more about these amazing insects!

 

To get your copy of our free Bug Printables Pack, click the image or the link below to download it!

Printable Bug Identification Lesson for Kids

>>> Free Bug Printables Pack <<<

Farm Fun Bundle TPT Quote Box Ad

Try some of these simple 15 minute science experiments for a quick at-home science lesson with kids!

15 Science Experiments You Can Do In 15 Minutes

March 20, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Try one of these easy 15 minute science lesson!

There’s nothing that keeps kids interested in learning like a great science experiment!

But if a science activity requires a lot of supplies or if it takes a super long time to show results, it can be tough to keep the kids interested long enough to observe it all the way through.

Plus, who has time or space to work on a science experiment for days on end?

And that’s why I love these easy 15 minute science experiments!

These activities are simple, quick, and educational – perfect for learning at home or in small groups!

Easy 15 Minute Science Experiments

Read on to see the list below.

If you’re looking for a quick science lesson plan you can use with kids, don’t miss our Superhero States of Matter activity! It’s a science lesson, an experiment, and an observation journal in one!

Try some of these simple 15 minute science experiments for a quick at-home science lesson with kids!

15 Science Experiments You Can Do In 15 Minutes

1. Gather a few supplies and let the kids learn how to make an egg float!

2. This seed jar experiment does need a few days to complete, but it only takes a few minutes to set up! And the kids won’t mind watching their seeds sprout!

3. Get the kids outside with this super cool colorful exploding baggie experiment!

4. Your kids will go nuts for this awesome hot ice experiment! And it only takes about 10 minutes!

5. Ever wonder how pinecones open in the fall? Set up this easy science experiment to learn how pinecones open!

15 Minute Science Experiments

6. Did you know that light can actually change direction? Try this simple activity to observe how light refracts in water!

7. Penguins are ingeniously designed. They swim around all day, but manage to keep themselves dry! Help the kids do this activity to learn how penguin feathers stay dry!

8. Add some glittery fun to your science lesson with this DIY sparkly explosion!

9. Plants will be growing all over the place over the summer. Try this colorful experiment to study how plants take in nutrients!

10. Let the young learners get involved with this cute expanding marshmallows experiment! And be sure to let them sneak a few as a snack. 

11. Learn how cold air and water interact and create your own condensation!

12. Have you ever found an old penny on the ground that looked green? See how this happens with this turn a penny green activity!

13. It won’t be long before we’re watching the beautiful fall leaf colors in the neighborhood. Get ready for fall with this experiment that demonstrates how leaves change colors!

14. Heat is a powerful form of energy. It can even travel through solid matter! Set up this easy experiment to learn how heat conducts energy through metal!

15. Shock your kids by showing them how leaves “breathe” with this leaf respiration experiment!

15 Minute Science Experiments for Kids

I hope you love using these simple 15 minute science experiments! Let me know which one you loved the most!

Need more fun science activities for kids? Don’t miss these!

This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

This butterfly life cycle activity is such a fun way to help kids learn how butterflies grow! Great for science during spring and summer!

These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!

These easy 15 minute science experiments are so simple kids can do them at home! These make excellent science activities for small groups too!

This list of easy 15 minute science experiments is part of the Useful Tasks You Can Do in 60 Minutes linkup at iHomeschool Network! Stop by to see even more quick activities you can accomplish in your homeschool!

iHomeschool Network Useful Tasks You Can Do in 5 to 60 Minutes

This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

Simple Science Experiments: Floating Egg Experiment

March 18, 2020 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

It’s time for another one of our simple science experiments!

This time, we’re learning about salinity and floating with a simple floating egg experiment.

My boys are entering first and second grade, respectively.

These are excellent ages to introduce science experiments – especially ones that are low-prep, inexpensive, and simple to do, right?

Easy Floating Egg Science Experiment for Kids

Check out how we learned about salinity by making an egg float!

This would also be a great science lab for small groups or science centers.

If you enjoy this activity, don’t miss our colorful celery experiment or our superhero states of matter experiment!This easy Floating Egg Experiment is a neat way to teach kids about salinity and how it affects weight!

Simple Science Experiment: Floating Egg Experiment

Like all of our science experiments, this one is super easy and requires absolutely no scientific expertise.

To complete this easy science activity, you’ll need the following:

  • Clear glass
  • Egg
  • Salt
  • Spoon

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We started by cracking open the Usborne First Encyclopedia of Science. (This is an affiliate link.)

It’s an excellent, hands-on introduction to scientific concepts for kids in grades 1-4.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

The boys and I read the section about floating together.

We learned that there are places on Earth where water is so salty you can actually read a newspaper while you float along!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

In the book, we read the instructions to learn how to recreate the same type of environment that allows human beings to float in salty water.

Then, we were off and running!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We gathered the supplies and got to work.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

We poured each glass half full of water.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Then we added 10 teaspoons of salt to one of the glasses.

(Don’t put any salt in the other glass of water.)

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

Like so.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

When we placed an egg into the glass that didn’t have salt in it, the egg sank right to the bottom like normal.

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float!

But when we added an egg to the glass filled with salty water, it floated right to the top.

The kids got a kick out of watching me push it down, only to see it pop right back up!

Easy Floating Egg Experiment - Look! We're Learning!

And that’s how salinity works! Salty water is denser (heavier) than plain water.

So heavy, in fact, that it can support the weight of heavier objects like an egg.

Neat!

This entire floating egg experiment took about 10 minutes from start to finish.

So if you’re looking for a super quick science experiment, this one’s perfect!

This easy floating egg science experiment is so fun for kids who are learning about salinity! Great for science at home too!

Stop by to see our other science learning ideas!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Learn about displacement and salinity with this super simple floating egg experiment! This easy science experiment is great for kids who are learning at home!

These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!

15 Fun Weather STEM Activities for Kids

February 11, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

STEM activities for kids are super popular these days.

And with good reason! If you can incorporate several subjects into a hands-on activity, it’s always a hit with students.

With spring rapidly approaching, it’s a great time to learn about weather with kids. And these fun weather STEM activities make this topic easy and fun!

These simple STEM experiments are perfect for small groups, weather units, science centers, after school, homeschooling, and more!

15 Fun Weather STEM Activities for Kids

If you’re feeling intimidated by teaching STEM, using a familiar science concept like weather is a great way to get started. 

Personally, once I started using STEM projects with students, I found that it wasn’t nearly as overwhelming as I thought it would be. 

And, with a fun concept like weather, it’s easy to get kids excited about these hands-on science projects!

Read on to see the full list of fun weather activities for kids. And for more ways to work with STEM, don’t miss our list of easy STEM activities for early grades!

These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!

15 Fun Weather STEM Activities for Kids

1. Coffee Can Condensation – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Hands-On Weather Graphing Activity – Rainy Day Mum

3. International Weather Tracking Activity – Mama Smiles

4. Wind Science Experiment – Teach Me Mommy

5. Build a Wind Turbine – Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

6. DIY Lightning Experiment – Learn Play Imagine

7. Rain Cloud Weather Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

8. Make a Tornado In a Bottle – Gift of Curiosity

15 Simple Weather STEM Activities for Kids

9. Snowstorm In a Jar Experiment – B-Inspired Mama

10. DIY Pudding Cup Anemometer – Parenting Chaos

11. Make a DIY Thermometer – Lemon Lime Adventures

12. DIY Hurricane Experiment – Inspiration Laboratories

13. Shadow Towers STEM Challenge – No Time for Flashcards

14. Kite Flying Wind Activity – KC Edventures

15. Solar Heat STEM Activity – STEAM Powered Family

Did you enjoy these Weather STEM activities for kids? Take a look at these other science learning ideas!

Ready to teach the kids about space? This printable solar system science unit study is perfect for exploring the members of our solar system!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

Teach students about animals with this animal diets and habitats sorting activity! Such an easy way to learn about animal science with young learners!

Follow my It’s Science! Pinterest board for more ways to make learning science fun!

These fun weather STEM activities for kids are perfect for spring science experiments at home or in the classroom!

Teach students about animals with this animal diets and habitats sorting activity! Such an easy way to learn about animal science with young learners!

Animal Diagram! Habitat and Diet Animal Sorting Activity

July 17, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

We’ve learned quite a bit about animal diets and behavior with our kids. But it can be tough to keep all the information straight in your head afterward.

Who lives where?

Who eats what? 

And, once you learn that some animals live on both land and water and that some animals eat both meat and plants, it can get really confusing.

So we’re sharing a fun and simple animal science lesson for keeping up with animal diets and habitats – a Venn diagram animal sorting activity!

Printable Animal Sorting Venn Diagram for Kids

This is such a cute animal science activity for early grades! Plus, it can work as a science center activity you can reuse!

See how to get your hands on a copy below! And, for more ways to learn about animal behavior, take a look at our nocturnal and diurnal animal sorting activity too!

Teach students about animals with this animal diets and habitats sorting activity! Such an easy way to learn about animal science with young learners!

Habitats and Diets Animal Sorting Activity

To use this printable animal sorting activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick

Printable Animal Diets and Habitats Sorting Activity for Kids

This product includes a cut and paste animal diet activity, as well as a cut and paste animal habitat activity.

Printable Animal Habitat Sorting Activity

For the animal habitats lesson, kids can cut out each animal and then practice sorting them according to whether they live in water, on land, or both!

Animal Diet Sorting Activity for Kids

For the animal diets activity, they can cut out the animals and then practice sorting them according to their diet. 

Be careful! Some animals eat both plants and meat!

And, if you need a little refresher on which animal goes where, there’s an answer key included for each activity!

Scroll down to get your copy of our Diets and Habitats Animal Sorting Activity!

Want to learn more about animals with the kids? Check out these other learning ideas!

These printable bird identification flashcards are perfect for a fall or spring unit study! Teach kids how to identify the birds they see in the neighborhood!

Pick up these printable sea monster notebooking pages to learn more about incredible creatures of the deep!

Learn about the fascinating world of sharks with this printable shark food chain game!

For more ways to teach science, be sure to follow my It’s Science Pinterest board!

To get your copy of our Animal Diagram! Habitats and Diets Animal Sorting Activity, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Animal Diets and Habitats Sorting Activity

>>> Venn Diagram Animal Sorting Activity <<<

Learn about what animals eat and where they live with this fun Venn diagram animal sorting activity! Perfect for science centers and early learners too!

Ready to teach the kids about space? This printable solar system science unit study is perfect for exploring the members of our solar system!

All About the Solar System Printable Unit

June 27, 2019 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

This printable pack teaches kids all about the members of our solar system! Such a great idea for an outer space unit!

Are you ready for a printable unit that is out of this world? 

We love sharing printable units with you guys! So far, we’ve shared several, including All About Snowflakes, All About Flowers, All About Beaches, and All About Leaves.

This time, though, we’re heading up into the universe to learn All About the Solar System!

This solar system printable unit is packed with awesome outer space learning activities for elementary-aged students!

Printable Solar System Unit for Kids

This is an excellent science unit for helping students get to know more about the planets that are in the solar system along with our Earth. 

Read on to see how to get your copy! And, for more ways to learn about science, try some of these super cool water science experiments!

Ready to teach the kids about space? This printable solar system science unit study is perfect for exploring the members of our solar system!

All About the Solar System Printable Unit

To use this All About the Solar System printable unit, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Pencils
  • Laminator (if you want to keep and reuse the flashcards)

All About the Solar System Science Unit

This printable science lesson includes over 25 pages of activities!

Inside, you’ll find the following:

  • An introduction to each member of the solar system, with a fun mnemonic device for remembering the planets in order
  • A trace and write page for each planet in the system, as well as the sun and moon
  • A cut and paste solar system diagram activity where kids can label the planets in order (with answer key)
  • A solar system word unscramble activity (with answer key)

Learning About the Solar System Unit

Kids can learn about each member of the solar system with this science unit. 

Solar System Printable Science Lesson for Kids

Along with the introduction to each planet, kids can practice writing the names of each planet they learn.

All About the Solar System Printable Science Unit for Kids

A fun solar system jumble activity is included too!

Printable Solar System Diagram Activity for Kids

Break out the scissors and glue for this solar system diagram!

If students are unsure which planet goes where, the introductory lesson is a great reference for them to use as they work!

Printable Solar System Flashcards

Plus, our Solar System flashcards are inside!

Scroll down to get your copy of our All About the Solar System Printable Unit!
Love this printable unit? Don’t miss these posts!

Share a trip into space with the kids when you read these amazing books about the solar system together! These would make perfect read alouds for a solar system unit!

This fun solar system-themed edible playdough is a perfect sensory activity for summer!

These easy STEM activities for kids are great for building enthusiasm to learn science, technology, engineering, and math!

See more ways to teach science at home on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

Learn about the members of the solar system with this printable All About the Solar System Unit for Kids! Such an awesome way to explore space with elementary ages!

To get your copy of our All About the Solar System Printable Pack, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

All About the Solar System Science Lesson

>>> All About the Solar System Printable Unit <<<

Learn about the common butterfly species we see each year with these printable butterfly identification cards! Wonderful for a spring or summer nature walk in the garden!

Free Printable Flashcards: Butterfly Identification Cards

May 13, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to share a new set of free printable flashcards with you (finally!).

We’ve been talking about spring for the past few weeks, but summer is around the corner and that means butterflies!

I’m not the biggest fan of bugs in general, but butterflies hold a special place in my heart. They’re beautiful, but they’re also incredible!

They go through the most amazing transformation known to scientists: the metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Any creature that can do something like that is amazing in my book.

Today, I’m sharing a new set of flashcards: Butterfly Identification Cards!

Printable Butterfly Identification Flashcards for Kids

These are perfect for learning to spot butterflies that live in your area!

If you love these, don’t miss our easy Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft for kids! And add our list of lovely children’s books about butterflies to your kids’ reading list!

Learn about the common butterfly species we see each year with these printable butterfly identification cards! Wonderful for a spring or summer nature walk in the garden!

Free Printable Flashcards: Butterfly Identification Cards

To use these butterfly identification cards, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (for keeping the cards durable)

Butterfly Identification Flashcards for Kids

These colorful butterfly flashcards can help kids (and adults) learn to identify eight butterfly species, including:

  • Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Green Birdwing
  • Peacock Swallowtail
  • Theseus Morpho
  • Malabar Banded Peacock
  • Monarch Butterfly
  • Common Buckeye
  • Peleides Blue Morpho

Printable Butterfly Identification Flashcards

These would be wonderful for a spring nature walk!

Put all of the cards on a ring and take them with you to see how many different species you spot in your neighborhood!

Printable Butterfly Identification Flashcards for Science

Scroll down to get your free butterfly identification cards!

Don’t miss these other spring learning ideas for kids!

These fun insect activities for kids are perfect for learning about our creepy-crawly animal friends!

This simple toilet roll butterfly craft is such a fun spring craft for kids to make!

Picture Books about Bugs

Get more spring fun on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Use these butterfly identification cards to teach your kids about butterflies this spring!

Butterflies are all around us! Learn about common species in your neighborhood with these printable butterfly identification cards for kids!

To get your copy of our free butterfly identification cards, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll receive these, and lots of other printables, in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

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Ready to tackle science with your kids? Here's how to plan a science summer full of learning and fun!

How to Plan a Science Summer with Your Kids

April 8, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Science is one of those homeschool subjects that I always end up putting off.

When I first started homeschooling, I would push it towards the end of the day when we’d finished all of our other subjects.

Science takes a while, because you have to gather up your supplies, set up any experiments, conduct them (which takes a considerable amount of time with kids), and then discuss what you learned.

After a few years, though, I really wised up and started saving science until after the homeschool year ended. So, instead of having school from August to May, we became year-round homeschoolers and planned a science summer with the kids. 

How to Plan a Science Summer With the Kids

I love saving science for summer, because I don’t have to worry about rushing through it after we’ve done our other subjects.

And what’s more, we have more time in the summer to explore the kids’ scientific interests with summer camps, field trips, and outdoor experiments.

Read on to see how you can plan a science summer with the kids this year!

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Ready to tackle science with your kids? Here's how to plan a science summer full of learning and fun!

Images c/o: Wavebreakmedia & pressmaster / depositphotos

How to Plan a Science Summer

Choose simple science experiments to try.

Is anyone else out there a chronic overplanner? I am. I can spend countless hours trying to research experiments for the kids to try and then run out of steam right when it’s time to actually do them.

That’s why I love BookShark. All of the science experiments are already planned for you. And what’s even better is that the experiments are age-appropriate, so you won’t have to test it and see if it’s too advanced for your child. 

BookShark Science Experiments for Kids

Plus, the experiment instructions are on DVD and you can see the experiment performed, which will give you an idea of what to expect after it’s done. A great way to avoid unexpected messes!

Schedule your experiments by week or concept.

Once you’ve chosen your simple science experiments, it’s good to plan how many you want to do each week or how many you want to for each scientific concept.

BookShark Science Curriculum for Grade 1

The BookShark InquisiKids science curriculum (for Level 1) has 100 different science experiments for kids to try, which is a LOT. So we’ll be narrowing down our choices to about 25 or so. 

That way, we can conduct two science experiments per week of our science summer.

Do a science experiment supply check.

Now that you have all of your science experiments planned, you’ll need to do a quick supply check. It’s always better to have your supplies set aside now than try to do it right before you conduct an experiment.

Trust me on this. I’ve had to shelve several science activities over the years because I *thought* I had something that turned out to be missing.

Setting Up a Science Summer with BookShark

With BookShark, you receive the needed supplies for your experiments along with your science curriculum, which is super handy.

But if you’re using a different program or your own experiment ideas, make a quick list of your needed supplies and head to the store before you get started. You’ll thank yourself later.

Ready to tackle a science summer with your kids? Take a look at BookShark’s complete curriculum options, including science, to make summer science planning a snap!

Don’t miss these other science learning ideas for the kids!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Is choosing a secular science curriculum for your homeschool a challenge? Try these pointers to find the program that will work for your family!

And see even more ways to make science fun on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

Animal science isn't complete without a lesson on animal diets. See how we learned about herbivores and carnivores with BookShark!

Learning about Animal Diets with Kids

January 14, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My kids, like almost all kids, love learning about animals. We’ve studied animal habitats, animals who are nocturnal and diurnal, and animals who hibernate already.

With our youngest, though, it was time to learn about animal diets: which animal eats what. And nothing makes that concept more real than a field trip to interact with actual animals.

Oh – and our animal diets lesson from BookShark was a huge help too!

Learning about Animal Diets with BookShark

Read on to see how we learned about herbivores and carnivores with our small students!

And for more hands-on ways to study animal science, don’t miss our Sharks Food Chain Game for kids!

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Animal science isn't complete without a lesson on animal diets. See how we learned about herbivores and carnivores with BookShark!

Studying Animal Diets with Kids

We started our lesson with a section in BookShark’s Level 1 animal science curriculum. BookShark uses a book-based approach to learning and science is no different.

BookShark Animal Diets Lesson

In the Usborne Book of Animals, we examined how different animals eat different things. Some eat plants and seeds (herbivores), while some eat other animals (carnivores).

BookShark Animal Diets Printable Lesson

Interestingly, you can usually tell which animal eats what by looking at the shape of their mouths and the shape of their teeth. That is, if you can get close enough to one to actually check that out.

After a bit of reviewing, our first grader learned how to distinguish the carnivores and herbivores.

But, there’s nothing like seeing animals firsthand to help kids remember what they learned!

Learning about Animal Diets

So we took a trip to a nearby wildlife refuge to see some herbivores and carnivores up close!

We saw bison. (herbivores)

Visiting a Wildlife Refuge to Learn about Animal Diets

We met chickens. (herbivores)

Observing Animal Diets

This positively regal turkey was quite a sight. (herbivore)

Studying Animal Diets at a Wildlife Refuge

The tropical birds were gorgeous, but incredibly loud too. (herbivores)

Feeding Animals at a Wildlife Refuge

The kids even got a chance to feed deer by hand. (herbivores)

Learning about Herbivores and Carnivores

From far away, we spotted a white tiger. (carnivore)

As you can see, you can also tell what eats what by how close you’re allowed to get to the animal. šŸ™‚

Studying Animal Diets with Kids

A very friendly zebra came up to the fence to meet us. (herbivore)

Close Encounters with Animals at a Wildlife Refuge

This sweet donkey was docile enough to be petted. (herbivore)

Observing Animals Who are Omnivores

Finally, we met a grizzly bear, which we learned eats both plants and met (primarily fish). So we had a chat about the animals who aren’t really herbivores or carnivores – they’re omnivores.

Which is what most humans identify as too. I think my kids might be dessert-ivores, though.

If you want to get a closer look at how you can learn about animal diets with the kids, take a look at BookShark’s curriculum to see how the program covers animals for early learners!

Stop by to see these other ideas for studying animals!

Help early learners get to know some of the wild creatures who live at the zoo with these printable zoo animal flashcards for kids!

Learn about the fascinating world of sharks with this printable shark food chain game!

Use these printable polar animal notebooking pages to learn about winter animals and the regions where they live!

And get more ideas for learning animal science on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

December 20, 2018 by Selena Robinson 7 Comments

Superhero States of Matter Printable Pack

It’s time for another of our second-grade activities this week and today is all about states of matter for second graders.

Superheroes are all the rage right now and Pooh is a huge fan of them as well. So, when it was time to talk about states of matter in science, I thought I’d add a little “superpower” to our lesson. And I’m sharing it with all of you today!

Superhero States of Matter Printable Science Lesson for Kids

Read on to see how we learned about states of matter with our Superhero States of Matter Printable Pack! By the way, be sure to grab our free Superhero Student Planner Pages as well!

Learn about the states of matter with this fun printable superhero states of matter lesson for elementary students!

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

To use this superhero states of matter for second graders activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Pencils

Superhero States of Matter for Second Grade

This printable second grade science lesson includes everything you need to demonstrate the three states of matter with a simple experiment.

Printable States of Matter for Second Grade Lesson

The supply list tells you what you’ll need and the instructions, which are written to students, explain how to perform each step.

Superhero States of Matter Science Lesson

Printable observation sheets allow students to analyze the experiment’s results.

Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Lesson

How to Use the Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson

In the second grade, one of the science objectives to cover involves discussing the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. To help Pooh see how matter can change state and to help him grasp the concept, we did a simple science experiment with water.

States of Matter for Second Graders

The prodcut explains exactly how to do the experiment – step by step. It’s written in a way that second-graders should be able to understand the directions on their own.

But a couple of the steps require adult supervision, so this activity should not be done independently.

States of Matter for Second Graders

We started by observing how water changes from a liquid to a solid after freezing.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Then Pooh wrote down his observations.

States of Matter for Second Graders

After the ice melted, we observed how the water had changed (once again) into a liquid.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Then it was time to learn about the third state of matter: gas! (This is where kids need adult supervision.)

States of Matter for Second Graders

As the water slowly boiled away, Pooh was excited to learn that it was evaporating – converting itself to steam (a gas). He wrote down his final observations and reviewed the experiment’s results.

States of Matter for Second Graders

Look! An actual gap-toothed smile!

Pooh had a blast with this and it was a “super” way to learn about the three states of matter in an hands-on manner.

Printable States of Matter for Second Grade Science Experiment

Scroll down to get your copy of our Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson!

Like this post? Stop by and see these other science experiments you can try!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

And get more tips for teaching science in your homeschool on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

To get your copy of our Superhero States of Matter for Second Graders Science Lesson, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Superhero States of Matter Lesson

>>> Superhero States of Matter Science Lesson <<<

Don’t forget to visit this week’s posts by the rest of the 2nd Grade Blogging Team!

Super Math Skip Counting from Sugar Aunts

Free Math Printable for Inequalities with Addition from Life Over C’s

Superhero Pattern Stones from Rainy Day Mum

Super Hero Reading Logs from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

I am a Super Hero! Writing Prompt from Creative Family Fun

Superhero Contractions Memory Game from School Time Snippets

Superhero Cityscape Art Project with Van Gogh from Preschool Powol Packets

Create your own Superhero Comic-Photo-Strip from Crafty Kids at Home

Super Hero Self Portrait from Still Playing School

Is choosing a secular science curriculum for your homeschool a challenge? Try these pointers to find the program that will work for your family!

How to Choose a Secular Science Curriculum

May 10, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When you think of a “secular” homeschooler, what comes to mind? You might think of a parent who supports evolution, practices atheism, or chooses not to follow religious beliefs. There are secular homeschoolers who fit this description. In fact, I personally know some who do.

But, this doesn’t describe our family. We’re deeply religious, but we still choose to use a secular science curriculum. Why?

It’s because many faith-based homeschooling programs include tenets that we do not personally subscribe to – particularly when it comes to science. So, we’ve always preferred a secular science curriculum that we can teach, while including our religious point of view.

Still, that’s made choosing a science curriculum somewhat difficult, because many secular programs don’t line up with what we want to teach our kids either. Fortunately, we’ve found one we like. Through our search this year, I discovered a few tips that helped us choose a secular science program.

Disclosure: I am a BookShark brand ambassador and am receiving free curriculum as part of my role.

Is choosing a secular science curriculum for your homeschool a challenge? Try these pointers to find the program that will work for your family!

Images c/o: StockUnlimited

How to Choose a Secular Science Curriculum

1. Consider your educational goals.

First, think about what you want your children to learn this year:

  • Do you want them to get an introduction to the universe, to the science of Earth, or a look at the wide world of wildlife?
  • Are you ready for them to tackle basic chemistry or physics?
  • Do you want the kids to try lots of experiments themselves?

Science programs vary greatly. Some feature hands-on experiments and activities, while others are more lecture-heavy. Take your children’s readiness into account when deciding which program to try.

2. Decide which scientific principles are important to you at this age.

In the homeschool world, kids may learn at different grade levels, depending on the subject. A child who’s reading several grade levels ahead may need to stay at their current grade level or even *gasp* take a step back to get a good foundation in science.

That’s fine! Think about the age of your child. What scientific principles do you want your child to learn now? Look for a program that will cover those topics.

For our rising first-grader, we wanted to get an overview of all scientific branches: geology, biology, physics, and chemistry. So when we selected our first grade science program, we chose one that would give her an introduction to all of these.

3. Browse the program to look for possible areas of contention.

Once you narrow down your selections to a few programs, take a look at the scope and sequence, as well as the learning objectives, to see if there are any topics that may be a problem for your family.

Personally, I didn’t want to go through the trouble of finding (and purchasing!) a secular science curriculum only to skip several chapters of it. So I carefully read the program overviews to see if what was taught would suit us, or at least be easy to adapt for our family.

How to Choose a Secular Science Curriculum for Homeschoolers

This year, we’ve decided on BookShark for our youngest child. She’s entering first grade this fall and BookShark’s science curriculum is an excellent fit for what we want her to learn this year.

While BookShark isn’t strictlyĀ secular, it’s faith-free. It doesn’t promote evolution, but it also doesn’t promote the “young earth” viewpoint. We can simply discuss what scientists have come toĀ know and we’re excited to see what we can learn.

I’ll be sharing more of our journey with BookShark throughout this upcoming school year!

Read these other tips for choosing homeschool curriculum for your family!

Are you overloaded with homeschooling materials? Here's what to do when you have too much homeschool curriculum.

Think you're behind on homeschool planning You're not. You don't need a lot to homeschool, even if you're a newbie!

See more tips for teaching science on my It’s Science! Pinterest board!

These simple water science experiments for kids are easy to set up and fun for learning about science!

40 Simple Water Science Experiments for Kids

April 16, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Add some easy science fun to your learning day with these simple water science experiments for kids!

Warmer weather means lots of water play and, for us, that means plenty ofĀ simple water science experiments to try with the kids!

Since we’ve been homeschooling, I’ve learned that science doesn’t have to be a complicated subject to teach.

Many scientific concepts sound complicated (and really are amazingly intricate), but showing kids how they work doesn’t have to be complex.

Fun and Simple Water Science Experiments for Kids to Try

Turns out that you can use a few household supplies and demonstrate how scientific principles work in a kid-friendly way!

And that’s why I’ve rounded up 40 easy water science experiments that would be great to share with kids – either indoors or outdoors!

Don’t miss our list of science experiments that you can do in just 15 minutes too!

These simple water science experiments for kids are easy to set up and fun for learning about science!

40 Simple Water Science Experiments for Kids

1. Simple Light In Water Refraction Experiment – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Milk Jug Water Wheel Experiment – J Daniel 4’s Mom

3. Float Vs Sink Experiment – Teach Me Mommy

4. Leak-Proof Bag Science Experiment – Fun Learning for Kids

5. How to Make a Lava Lamp – Coffee Cups and Crayons

6. Measuring Water Beads – Blue Bear Wood

7. Water Balloon Parachute – Fantastic Fun and Learning

8. Food Coloring Fluid Mechanics Experiment – Mama Smiles

9. Measuring Buoyancy Experiment – KC Edventures

10. Color Mixing Experiment – Science Sparks

11. Tide Pool Science Experiment – Buggy and Buddy

12. Floating Peep Boats – Sixth Bloom

13. Traveling Water Experiment – The Wise Owl Factory

14. Simple Water Displacement Experiment – Life with Moore Babies

15. Ripple Water Experiment – J Daniel 4’s Mom

16. Why Does Water Rise STEM Experiment – STEAM Powered Family

17. Make a Rain Cloud In a Jar – Coffee Cups and Crayons

18. Water Xylophone Sound Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

19. Growing Mint in Water – Sloely

20. Sticky Ice Experiment – Capri Plus 3

See more of these awesome simple water science experiments on page 2!

Pages: 1 2
These easy STEM activities for kids are great for building enthusiasm to learn science, technology, engineering, and math!

45 Easy STEM Activities for Kids

April 2, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

These easy STEM activities for kids are great for adding some hands-on fun to learning science, technology, engineering, and math!

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities are a staple in our homeschool lessons. It allows my kids to have fun and learn at the same time. One minute they might be mixing potions for a science project and the next working on a math activity.

But, of course, STEM learning isn’t just for homeschoolers. And that’s why I’ve rounded up 45 awesome and easy STEM activities that work great for classroom activities or after-school activities if you don’t homeschool.

Take a look at the list below to find some cool hands-on learning activities for teaching STEM subjects! And, for more science fun, check out our list of 40 spring science ideas for kids!

These easy STEM activities for kids are great for building enthusiasm to learn science, technology, engineering, and math!

45 Easy STEM Activities for Kids

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

1. Floating Egg Experiment – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Expanding and Bouncing Egg Experiment – Blue Bear Wood

3. Simple Skittles Science Experiment – East Coast Mommy

4. Bottle Rockets – STEAM Powered Family

5. Nature Engineering Challenge – Share It Science

6. Build a Catapult – Science Sparks

7. Newspaper Trees – The Wise Owl Factory

8. Fidget Spinner Inertia Experiment – From Engineer to SAHM

9. 3D Phases of the Moon Activity – KC Edventures

10. Felt Circle Fractions – In Our Pond

11. DIY Inventor’s Box – Little Worlds Big Adventures

12. DIY Lego Launcher – Thriving STEM

13. Pipe and Water Play – Moms and Crafters

14. DIY Anemometer – Capri + 3

15. Compare Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Materials – Mother Natured

16. Wheels On the Bus Motion Experiment – J Daniel 4’s Mom

17. Shark Coding Game – Life with Moore Babies

18. Build a Straw Hexbug Maze – Buggy and Buddy

19. Straw and Circle Glider – Red Ted Art

20. Weather Vs. Erosion Experiment – The Natural Homeschool

21. Building Block STEM Challenge Cards – Life Over C’s

22. Foaming Dragon Science Experiment – The Joys of Boys

23. STEM Paper Columns – Creekside Learning

Visit the next page for more easy STEM activities kids can do!

Pages: 1 2
These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

40 Fun Spring Science Ideas for Kids

March 8, 2018 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

Learn about science with the little ones with these fun spring science ideas for kids!

Springtime is a great time of year to explore science with little ones! The weather is warming, the bugs are coming back above ground, and there are flowers growing everywhere!

If you’re looking for a way to make science fun this spring, these awesome spring science ideas are just what you need! There are so many great activities for exploring plant science, water, animals, and even hands-on experiments you and the kids will love this spring!

By the way, if you’re looking for even more fun spring activities, take a look at our rainbow playdough mats for fine motor practice!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

40 Fun Spring Science Ideas for Kids

1. Floating Egg Experiment – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Seed Jar Science Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Make a Rainbow – Life with Moore Babies

4. Parts of a Flower Learning Center – The Preschool Toolbox Blog

5. Dyeing Carnations Science Experiment – Kitchen Counter Chronicles

6. Make a Snail Habitat – Preschool Powol Packets

7. Chicken Life Cycle Printables – Natural Beach Living

8. Nature Scavenger Hunt – Crystal & Co.

9. Eggshell Seed Growing Science Experiment – Little Bins for Little Hands

10. Grass Caterpillars – Red Ted Art

11. Insect Investigation – Share It Science

12. DIY Butterfly Garden – Mosswood Connections

13. Egg Drop STEM Project – Buggy and Buddy

14. Kid-Made Nesting Supply Station – Thriving STEM

15. Butterfly Life Cycle Craft – The Preschool Toolbox Blog

16. Dissect a Seed Lab – Preschool Powol Packets

17. Planting Seeds with Kids – Buggy and Buddy

18. Make a Roly-Poly Habitat – Fantastic Fun and Learning

19. Grow a Pizza Garden – Share It Science

20. Simple Bug Hotel – Red Ted Art

Pages: 1 2
Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Science Experiments: Simple Light Refraction Experiment

December 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 9 Comments

This simple light refraction experiment for kids is an awesome way to learn about the properties of light!
Simple Light Refraction Experiment - Look! We're Learning!

We’re continuing with our simple science experiments this week by taking a look at light refraction. I found a great light refraction experiment video on YouTube and decided to try it with Tigger.

Full disclosure: I didn’t know that refraction was what this experiment demonstrated. I actually had to look it up first. But the experiment is super easy and quick, so that’s a big plus!

Simple Refraction of Light Experiment

Check out this easy way to teach kids about light with this simple light refraction experiment!

And, if you like this one, try some of our other science activities, including how to make an egg float and our easy heat conduction experiment!

Study the properties of light with this simple light refraction experiment!

Simple Light Refraction Experiment

Watching the original light refraction experiment on YouTube will give you a great look at what’s involved in this activity. But you really only need four things:

  • A sticky note (I used a Post-It)
  • A marker
  • An empty transparent bottle
  • Water

Experiment on Refraction of Light

Draw two arrows on a sticky note.Ā Make sure that each arrow points in a different direction. Stick the note to a blank wall.

Next, fill up the water bottle. Oh – put the lid on before you do this too! You don’t want water spilling out when you move the bottle around…lol.

Simple Refraction Experiment

The alternating arrows on the note point to the left and the right. Let the kids gradually move the water-filled bottle in front of the sticky note. As the bottle moves in front of the sticky note, something amazing happens.

Investigating Light Refraction

The arrows appear to change direction! The top arrow, which points to the left, appears to point to the right. And the bottom arrow, which points to the right, appears to point to the left!

Simple Light Experiment

Move the bottle back to see the arrows return to their original directions.

So what exactly is going on? We learned that refraction occurs because light bends when it passes through substances, such as water and plastic.

As the light travels through a substance, it becomes concentrated into a focal point, usually near the center. After light passes through the focal point, the rays cross over each other and cause images to appear reversed.

Turns out you can’t believe your eyes after all! šŸ™‚

Books with Simple Science Experiments:

If you liked this simple science experiment, take a look at these books with even more easy activities! (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  1. Science is Simple: Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers
  2. 365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials
  3. The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book
  4. Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments

Don’t miss the rest of our Simple Science Experiments!

Simple Science Experiments - Colorful Celery

Simple Science Experiments: Make an Egg Float

Simple Heat Conduction Experiment

For more science homeschooling ideas, follow my It’s Science board on Pinterest!

P.S. Get more fun learning ideas in our email newsletter!

Learn about what sharks eat to live in this fun shark food chain file folder game!

Sharks! – A Shark Food Chain Game

September 28, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

My kids, like most kids, just love sharks.

They are totally fascinated with how powerful they are, how quickly they swim, and how they eat pretty much everything.

In fact, I think that last one might be the thing they like most about them.

So I was ecstatic to get a copy of the gorgeous picture book “How to Survive As a Shark” from Innovation Press! As we read the book, we learned so many things about sharks that we didn’t know before, including how they sleep and what they eat!

And that gave me the idea to turn the shark’s diet into a fun file folder game!

Read on to see how to get a copy of this shark food chain game for your students!

Shark Food Chain Game

Learn even more about marine animals with our list of beautiful books about dolphins for kids to read!

They’ll love studying how these animals survive in such a harsh environment, even when sharks are swimming around!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.

Learn about what sharks eat to live in this fun shark food chain file folder game!

How to Survive As a Shark: Shark Food Chain Game

Most people (me included) think that sharks are at the top of the ocean food chain.

But they’re not! There’s an animal that eats sharks!

That was just one of the cool facts we learned from the gorgeous picture book “How to Survive As a Shark” by Kristen Foote and Erica Salcedo.

By the way, if you want to get the book for your kids, you can check it out through this affiliate link: How to Survive As a Shark.

How to Survive As a Shark

In this story, a young shark gets taken under the “fin” of an older shark who’s survived some tough ocean battles over the years. He lost his eye in one and wears a wicked cool eye patch as a result.

Through the book, kids learn how sharks are born, what they eat as they grow, and what eats them! (I won’t tell! You have to read the book!)

After sharing the story together, we decided to make a simple shark food chain game to help my kids remember what sharks eat.

Shark Food Chain Game

To use this shark file folder game at home, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • One file folder
  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Cardstock
  • Brass fastener
  • Glue stick

Printable Shark Food Chain Board Game

Full assembly instructions are included in the product.

Basically, you print the game and glue it inside the file folder. Page one should appear on the left side and page two should appear on the right.

Cut out the game spinner (with arrow) and the two game pieces.

If you want the spinner to really work well, print it on cardstock or you can glue it onto cardstock after printing.

Use the brass fastener to attach the arrow to the spinner and you’re ready to roll!

Studying the Shark Food Chain

With this game, players take the journey of a young shark from infancy to adulthood. Seaweed is one of the shark’s first foods.

Learning About the Shark Food Chain

As they grow, they consume larger and larger prey. As adults, sharks may eat squid and even dolphins!

Playing a Shark Food Chain Game

This game is designed for two players. Kids can use the included game pieces to travel the board.

Playing a Shark Food Chain File Folder Game

The game spinner lets them move from one to four spaces.

As they land on spaces with directions, they get to move forward or back.

Shark Food Chain File Folder Game

The first one to the end wins!

This is such a neat way to learn what sharks eat and it helps to reinforce what they learn in the book in a fun, hands-on way!

Scroll down to get your copy of our Shark Food Chain Board Game!

Learn about the fascinating world of sharks with this printable shark food chain game!

Try some of these other ways to learn about the ocean!

Dolphin Facts for Kids

Pick up these printable sea monster notebooking pages to learn more about incredible creatures of the deep!

Books about Dolphins for Kids

To get your copy of our “Sharks! Shark Food Chain Game”, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Shark File Folder Game

>>> Printable Shark Food Chain Game <<<

Learn how to say the planets in our solar system in espanol with these printable spanish solar system flashcards!

Printable Spanish Flashcards: Spanish Solar System Flashcards

June 29, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Summer is a wonderful time for learning about the night sky and the stars and planets that live there. If you’re teaching your children to speak Spanish, theseĀ Spanish solar system flashcards are excellent for reviewing the planets of the solar system and working on Spanish vocabulary! Since there’s an English set included, these are also good for ESL students who are practicing their English.

Read on to see how to get your copy of these printable Spanish flashcards and how you can use them to work on Spanish language skills with the kids!

Printable Spanish Flashcards about the Solar System

Enjoyed these? Don’t miss our All About the Solar System printable pack, which features a lesson about the members of the solar system, a solar system diagram activity, a word jumble, and more!

Learn how to say the planets in our solar system in espanol with these printable spanish solar system flashcards!

Printable Spanish Flashcards: Spanish Solar System Flashcards

To use these Spanish solar system flashcards, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Laminator
  • Scissors

Solar System Flashcards in Spanish

This product includes five sets of flashcards:

  • One set of solar system flashcards with pictures and Spanish names
  • One set of solar system flashcards with pictures and English names
  • One set of flashcards with just the pictures of the solar system members
  • One set of flashcards with just the Spanish names
  • And one set of flashcards with just the English names

English to Spanish Solar System Flashcards

A pronunciation guide is also included. So you’ll have no trouble saying the Spanish names correctly!

Spanish Solar System Flashcards

Along with the eight planets, this set includes cards for the sun and the moon. They’re members of the solar system too! šŸ™‚

Printable Spanish Solar System Flashcards

We spent some time sifting through the English and Spanish sets. We gathered the English cards in one pile and the Spanish cards in another.

Solar System Flashcards in English and Spanish

Then we spent some time matching up the sets in both languages!

Solar System Spanish Flashcards

The pictures are a big help with this activity. So if you want to challenge the kids, have them match the flashcards that show the names only!

Scroll down to get your copy of our Spanish Solar System Flashcards!

Check out these other solar system learning ideas!

Kids Books about the Solar System

This fun coffee solar eclipse craft is a wonderful outer space activity for kids!

This printable pack teaches kids all about the members of our solar system! Such a great idea for an outer space unit!

And see more fun science activities to try with your children on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

To get your copy of our Spanish Solar System Flashcards, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Spanish Solar System Cover

>>>>> Spanish Solar System Flashcards <<<<<

Fun Science Experiements Every Month

These fun insect activities for kids are perfect for learning about our creepy-crawly animal friends!

25 Insect Activities for Kids

October 10, 2016 by Selena Robinson 11 Comments

Kids just love learning about insects! Maybe it’s because they’re so small. Or because they make grown adults (like myself) flee in terror. Either way, bugs are a super popular topic for learning in our family.

If you have budding entomologists in your home, they’ll love theseĀ insect activities for kids! There are printables, hands-on experiments, crafts, and games for kids of all ages who want to find out more about these amazing, creepy-crawly creatures!

For more buggy fun, try these cool picture books about bugs for kids to read!

These fun insect activities for kids are perfect for learning about our creepy-crawly animal friends!

25 Insect ActivitiesĀ forĀ Kids

1. Bug Printables Pack – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Insect Sensory Bin – Stir the Wonder

3. Melting Insect Sensory Painting – Crayon Box Chronicles

4. Insect Small World – Childhood 101

5. Draw the Missing Half Insect Printables – Adventure in a Box

6. Insect Play Dough Prints – Learning 4 Kids

7. Insects Unit Study – Gift of Curiosity

8. Insect Emergent Readers – The Measured Mom

9. Montessori-Inspired Insect Unit – Living Montessori Now

10. Insect Nature Study Printables – Homeschool Creations

11. Insect Investigation Worksheet – Kitchen Counter Chronicles

12. DIY Insect Memory Game – Kids Activities Blog

13. Insect Hotel Activity – Teach Beside Me

Hands On Insect Activities for Kids

14. Picture Books about Bugs – Look! We’re Learning!

15. Insect Counting Cards – Pre-K Pages

16. Build an Insect Activity – Handmade Kids Art

17. Insect Movement Game – Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

18. Insect Do a Dot Printables – Housing a Forest

19. Insect Lab Nature Investigation – Inner Child Fun

20. Indoor Bug Hunt – No Time for Flashcards

21. Melting Insects in Ice Activity – Learning 4 Kids

22. Learning about Insect Body Parts – Gift of Curiosity

23. Bugs in a Jar Math Game – The Measured Mom

24. Insect Alphabet Matching Game – Pre-K Pages

25. Ladybug Learning Activity Pack – Look! We’re Learning!

Insect Activities for Kids - Look! We're Learning!

Don’t miss these other fun bug-themed activities!

Free Bug Printables Pack

Picture Books about Bugs

These printable ladybug playdough mats are so fun for preschool motor skill practice!

Find more ideas for teaching kids about animals on my It’s Science Pinterest board!

This post is part of the 31 Days of ABCs series! Read on to see other great posts!

31 Days of ABC - October 2016 | Alldonemonkey.com

After taking a break last year due to the arrival of Baby #3, we are back with one of my favorite series, the 31 Days of ABC! You can look forward to 31 more days of activities, crafts, books, apps, and more, all dedicated to teaching young children the alphabet.

I am so happy to be working with an amazing group of kid bloggers, who will be sharing their amazing ideas with us in the coming days. And this year for the first year we are also adding a giveaway, so be sure to scroll to the end and enter for a chance to win!

So join us as we jump, skip, hop, and read our way through the alphabet this October!

31 Days of ABC

Teaching the ABCs – October 1

All Done Monkey: Creating a Preschool Letter of the Week Curriculum

A – October 2

Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails: Apple Scented Glitter Glue and Apple Craft

B – October 3

Witty Hoots: How to Make Fabulous Button Bookmarks

C – October 4

Preschool Powol Packets: Construction Truck Preschool Action Rhyme

D – October 5

ArtsyCraftsyMom: Printable Dinosaur Alphabet Sequencing Puzzle

E – October 6

Preschool Powol Packets: Elephant Art Project and Thailand Lesson

F – October 7

Spanglish Monkey: Spanish-English ABC Flashcards

G – October 8

Royal Baloo: Simple Ghost Painting Project

H – October 9

Peakle Pie

I – October 10

Look! We’re Learning!

J – October 11

All Done Monkey

K – October 12

Preschool Powol Packets

L – October 13

Raising a Trilingual Child

M – October 14

Creative World of Varya

N – October 15

Peakle Pie

O – October 16

For the Love of Spanish

P – October 17

Little Hiccups

Q – October 18

All Done Monkey

R – October 19

Sugar, Spice & Glitter

S – October 20

Crafty Mama in ME

T – October 21

Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes

U – October 22

Witty Hoots

V – October 23

Creative World of Varya

W – October 24

X – October 25

All Done Monkey

Y – October 26

Our Daily Craft

Z – October 27

123’s – October 28

Hispanic Mama

Prewriting – October 29

Sugar Aunts

Books, Songs, & Apps – October 30

The Jenny Evolution

Alphabet Clip Cards – October 31

The Kindergarten Connection
Find more great resources in 31 Days of ABCs 2013 and 2014!


Studying Animal Predators with Scanorama Interactive Books

Interactive Homeschool Science with Scanorama Books!

September 20, 2016 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I cannot tell you how much my boys love learning about animals. They get so excited when they get a chance to see animals up close or even just to read about them. A lot of it has to do with their fascination with theĀ Wild Kratts, which is just fine with me!

In particular, my sons love studying animal predators. As typical boys, they love learning about big, strong animals that eat other animals. So I was psyched to get to try the Scanorama seriesĀ from Silver Dolphin Books! One of the books is calledĀ Deadly Predators, which I just knew would be a huge hit with my kids. And they ended up loving it even more than I thought!

See why the Scanorama seriesĀ isĀ so popular with kids (even kids who don’t love to read) and enter to win one of your own below!

Disclosure: I received this product in exchange for this post and I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Reading about Animal Predators with Scanorama Interactive Books

How Do Scanorama Interactive Homeschool Science Books Work?

If you’re kind of puzzled about the name “Scanorama”, I get it. At first, I wondered what it was all about too. Here’s the simple explanation:

Titles in theĀ Scanorama seriesĀ let kids scan over images of animals and get an X-ray view of their skeletons. Did I mention I have typical boys? They were truly wowed by that feature, as you’ll see later on.

Oh – and see that book about dinosaurs peeking out from behind the Deadly Predators book? Read on for something awesome involving that one. šŸ˜‰

Scanorama Deadly Predators Book

There are three different titles in the Scanorama seriesĀ available from Silver Dolphin Books:

  • Scanorama: Deadly Predators
  • Scanorama: Dinosaurs
  • Scanorama: Amazing Animals

We got a look at the first two. Take a look at the Scanorama series in action below. (This page is from the Deadly Predators book.)

Studying Tiger Bones

Scanning Tiger Vertebrae

Viewing Tiger Bones

See how kids can “scan” over the image and investigate how the animal’s skeleton contributes to its prowess? That’s just super, duper neat.

Reading about Fierce Reptiles

Plus, there is a LOT of information in each book about the kinds of animals covered. The Deadly Predators book contains sections about several types of predators, including scorpions, reptiles, big cats, sea mammals, and more.

Oh, and fair warning: There is a section about spiders, which contains vivid, full-color pictures of spiders. (Just so you don’t do like I did and drop the book in sheer terror when you come to that part.)

Learning about Big Cats with Scanorama Homeschool Science Books

When I handed theĀ Scanorama seriesĀ book Deadly PredatorsĀ over to my boys, they had a short conference about which section of the book they wanted to cover first.

Exploring Deadly Animal Predators

And, as I expected, they reached a unanimous decision: Big Cats. So big cats it is!

Reading about Big Cats

In the section, they got to examine five different big cats. And, since they’re already huge fans of wildlife, they knew some of the information. But, they were impressed at how long each animal was. I don’t think they had realized just how long a tiger can be before!

Exploring Scanorama Predators Books

When they discovered the “scan” picture of the tiger, they truly came to life!

Studying Animals with Scanorama Interactive Books

I had to keep telling them, “No. Wait. Let your brother have a turn.” and “You just did it. Let him try!” and “Okay, okay, everyone will get a chance.” I literally had two boys fighting over aĀ book.Ā That is an actual first in our household.

Reading Scanorama Books Together

Even our preschooler wanted to get in on the fun!

Watching a Video about Big Cats for Kids

Then we watched a short video about big cats. The boys really enjoyed it, as you can see.

Actually, they were laughing at the way the lady in the video says “jaguar”, but they were still learning something, I swear!

Learning about Big Cat Carnivores

Finally, we took a look at the different kinds of prey each big cat eats.

Matching Predators with Prey

And the boys did a quick matching activity using the diagram in the Deadly Predators book.

Predator and Prey Matching Activity

Finito! And we had all that fun just from one section of one book in theĀ Scanorama series!Ā Be sure to stop by and browse all three book titles and pick up one your kids will get excited about too!

Studying Animal Predators with Scanorama Interactive Books

Want one of these books for your family? Enter to win the Scanorama book of your choice from Silver Dolphin! TEN WINNERS will receive one of the three Scanorama books: Deadly Predators, Dinosaurs, or Amazing Animals! To enter, just use the Giveaway Tools widget below! (Books will be shipped to US or Canadian addresses only.)

Entry-Form

To learn more about the awesome books available from Silver Dolphin, follow the company on social media:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Now – for ANOTHER giveaway! šŸ˜‰

Scanorama Dinosaurs Book

Remember that Scanorama book about dinosaurs I mentioned earlier?

Reading about Armored Dinosaurs

It’s just as awesome as the one about predators!

Viewing Dinosaur Skeletons

Right down to the scan-and-see-inside-the-creatures feature!

Scanning Dinosaur Skeletons

If you have kids that are dino-crazy, they’re sure to love this book!

Examining Dinosaur Skeletons

So I’m giving it away to one of my readers! To enter the giveaway, stop by the Look! We’re Learning! Facebook page at 8:12 p.m. EST tonight! It’s the easiest contest in the world to enter, I promise. šŸ™‚ Full rules will be posted and the giveaway will be open for a week, so you have plenty of time to enter and win!


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Hi! I'm Selena, an A.D.D. mom married to an A.D.D. husband. We're parenting two kids with A.D.D., one with A.D.H.D., and an energetic elementary learner.
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