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Layers of the Earth Hands on Science Activity

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When teaching students about the structure of the Earth, this 3D layers of the Earth project really helps bring it to life. Using a hands-on activity like this helps kids be able to conceptualize what they’re learning and be able to retain it. 3D model made with modelling clay. Text reads "Layers of the Earth Science Project"This project is super easy to make with minimal supplies. Watch the video below to see exactly how to shape your layers of the Earth visual model. 

Layers of the Earth Activity:

To create this 3D model of the layers of the Earth, you will need just a few easy-to-acquire supplies. 

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Form a ball to represent the inner core. We chose red to represent the intense heat of the inner core.
  2. Next, roll out a circle of another colour and wrap around the ball and roll gently. This next layer represents the outer core.
  3. Each subsequent colour will need more modelling clay than the last. You will need a colour to represent the lower mantle, another for the upper mantle, and the outer layer for the crust.*
  4. Once your ball of 5 layers of modelling clay is complete, use a piece of waxed dental floss to cut the ball down the middle, revealing all the layers underneath.

*Be sure not to press the layers too firmly together so that the colours don’t mix.

Ways to expand on this activity:

Earth Books to go along with this science unit:

The Ultimate Book of Planet EarthThe Ultimate Book of Planet EarthThe Ultimate Book of Planet EarthMy First Book About Our Amazing EarthMy First Book About Our Amazing EarthMy First Book About Our Amazing EarthThe Big Earth BookThe Big Earth BookThe Big Earth BookEarth and Space Coloring Book: Featuring Photographs from the Archives of NASAEarth and Space Colouring Book: Featuring Photographs from the Archives of NASAEarth and Space Coloring Book: Featuring Photographs from the Archives of NASA

 

You may also be interested in these hands-on science activities for kids:

Melting Ice Experiment

Human Body Sensory Bin

Colour Mixing Sensory Bottle

2020 Pandemic Journal for Kids

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The 2020 Pandemic Journal for Kids is a powerful tool in helping your child focus on the positive, express their feelings in a healthy way, shift their thinking to gratitude and hopefulness, and create a memorable time capsule keepsake.

As much as we try to shelter our child from the stress of what’s happening in the world right now, we can’t shield them from it all. Their reality has been altered. School closures, not being able to hug grandparents or visit friends, not going out to the playground, movies, or even the store, and maybe hearing the hushed whispers of adults are just a few of the changes your child may be facing. 

Even though we are doing our best as parents to make things as normal as possible for them, chances are, they still carry with them some concern. Worry in a child may look like:​

  • teasing or arguing with siblings more than usual
  • being irritable
  • having trouble falling asleep or having nightmares
  • whining
  • outbursts or meltdowns
  • being rigid/inflexible
  • quick or easy to anger
  • easily frustrated
  • big emotions
  • asking a lot of questions
  • aggression

What can you do to help your child through this?

Offer hope. ​

Talk about the future without making promises you can’t keep. The statement “Someday, you’ll be able to tell your kids that you were 9 years old during the 2020 pandemic.” is very powerful. It conveys to them that this will not end the world. That they have a future to look forward to and it also helps them feel like what they are doing now will hold a place in history. 

Help them focus on the positive.

There is so much surrounding them that is difficult right now that it can be easy for kids (and adults) to slip into negative thought patterns. “It’s never going to get better.” “I can’t do …”

By helping them reframe what they are going through in more positive language, kids can shift their thinking to gratitude and hopefulness.

Give them an outlet for expressing their feelings.

When kids are able to identify their feelings, they can better manage them. By tracking their emotions, they can also learn to communicate about them. This helps parents and teachers be able to help them through even the most difficult emotions and enables them to equip their child or student with appropriate calm down strategies and tools to better manage those.

What the 2020 Pandemic Journal for Kids includes:

  • 19 printable pages
  • prompts to help kids document the journey for a time capsule keepsake
  • pages for them to help identify and process their emotions
  • new habit tracker 
  • gratitude journal 
  • encouraging colouring pages
  • ideas to help them focus on the positives
  • and more

How to Use the Journal:

Supplies needed:

Instructions:

  1. Download the pandemic journal.
  2. Print off the pages. You may want to make multiple copies of some of the pages such as the gratitude page and daily journal. 
  3. Have your child complete the pages of the journal.
  4. If you want to, you can hole punch the papers to keep them in a binder or duo tang. 

How to adapt the Pandemic Journal for Preschoolers:

Even preschoolers can easily use this tool. They can colour the title page and colouring pages, a parent can help them fill in the answers for the “my life during the pandemic page” by interviewing them and recording their answers, the Feelings Log pages can be completed by colouring, cutting, and pasting, and all the other sheets can be completed by drawing rather than writing. 

How to adapt the Pandemic Journal for Older Kids and Teens:

This tool can actually serve as an inspiration for your teen or older child to expand on this idea. Perhaps they will want to create a video journal or scrapbook of news articles to accompany their Pandemic Journal. Maybe they will choose to write a report on what they are learning through this experience or about the ways the world came together. 

They can use the pages in the journal to write their experiences, thoughts, and emotions as well as to document the experience through their eyes. Depending on the age, maturity, and personality of your teen, they also want to follow reputable news sources to create a timeline or even write a book about the pandemic as seen through their eyes.

To download your free copy of the 2020 Pandemic Journal for Kids, enter your email address in the box below.

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How to Talk to Your Child about the Pandemic

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April Emotions Printables for Kids

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It is so important, especially during hard times that kids learn to communicate about their feelings. With these April Emotions Printables, you can help your child process and talk about their feelings. This will also help them expand their vocabulary of different emotions which can also help them with empathy. April Emotions printables collage of pages printed out

The printable copywork pages help children associate the emotion word with the corresponding facial expression using adorable little Easter bunnies. They also offer extra printing practise.

Right now, kids may be experiencing a wide range of emotions and they likely vary from day to day or even from hour to hour. Keeping track of these feelings can be a healthy way for them to work through them. When kids can name their emotions, they can better manage them. That’s why this month’s My Feelings Log is particularly important to use. 

April Emotions Printables for Kids:

April Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

  • April Emotions Printable pages (download them here)
  • pen or pencil OR
  • plastic sleeve AND dry erase marker

If you the sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or slip them in a plastic page protector. Your child can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing. Or you can have them write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or pencil crayons.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

These worksheets can be a starting point for a talk about different emotions. You can further expand on this by having the child describe a time when they have felt that emotion. They can also come up with a story describing why the Easter bunny might be experiencing that particular feeling.

April My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

  • printed Feelings Log (download here)
  • scissors
  • glue stick
  • markers, pencil crayons (coloured pencils), or crayons
  • pen or pencil

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one icon each day to colour, cut, and paste to your log.
  2. At the end of the month, you can look back and see the various emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

The bunny emotion visuals can help children better identify and work through their own feelings in a way that feels less vulnerable. Once you know HOW they are feeling that day, you can help them dig into WHY they might be feeling that way. Together, you can then work on strategies for managing that emotion.

Simply enter your email in the box below to download the April Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can print them off to use them with your child at home or with your students.

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Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin

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Hands-on learning is the best kind of learning. Let kids explore farm animal science in this Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin. This lesson can be used with preschoolers and students in early elementary.popcorn seeds, dry noodles, chicken, egg, chicks. Text reads "Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin"

You can set up this sensory bin as part of a Farm unit. It’s a cute way to introduce the farm unit or set up a sensory station in your home or classroom. This is also a super cute activity to do in the springtime. 

Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

  • plastic bin
  • popcorn seeds
  • dry noodles (like the kind you use in chicken noodle soup ironically!)*
  • life cycle of a chicken pack
  • optional: scoops or spoons

Note: *I found my dry noodles at the bulk foods store.

Directions:

  1. Place the popcorn kernels and dry noodles in a plastic bin.
  2. Add the figures from the life cycle of a chicken pack.
  3. Invite your child to explore and play.

Ways to expand this activity:

  • Set out books about farm animals and/or chickens nearby to expand on this activity.
  • Talk about the sounds chickens make and have your child imitate the noise.
  • Discuss what kinds of things we use eggs for.
  • Make a recipe that uses eggs together. 
  • Learn more about chickens and raising chickens using the resources listed below.
  • Visit a local farm. 
  • Raise chicks. 

The stages of development of a chicken are:

  1. egg development
  2. hatchling
  3. chick
  4. pullet (adolescent)
  5. chicken

If your kids want to learn more about chickens, here are some resources to help you expand their knowledge:

Life Cycle of a Chicken Printable Cards

Chick to Hen Life Cycle Craft

Learn the 4 key stages of the chicken life cycle.

How to Collect and Clean Chicken Eggs

Chicken Farm Animals: Baby to Grown

Check out some of our other Life Cycle Sensory Bins:

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory BinBee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Easy At Home Science for Kids

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If your kids are like mine, they prefer hands-on science experiments over staring at a textbook. I used to be leery of messy experiments because of all the cleanup we had to do afterward, but after giving some a try, we all fell in love with this way of learning. I wish we had tried them sooner! You’ll be amazed at how fun at home science for kids can be. I’ve compiled an amazing list of science experiments that you can make in your own home. They are fun, hands on, safe for kids and many of them use materials you probably already have!

I think that you’re going to really enjoy setting up a schedule for science experiments with your children. They all focus on different topics in science and you will be amazed at how much they are going to learn. Chances are, you’ll learn a thing or two along the way too.

And both you and your kids will have fun along the way. That is learning at its best!

Easy At Home Science for Kids

10 Jello Science Experiments

These Jello experiments are so fun. Make science discoveries using just kitchen supplies.

Melting Ice Experiment

Kids are fascinated with this classic experiment. It makes a great science fair project too.

How Do Folded Mountains Form?

Sensory Sound Eggs

Use up those plastic Easter eggs and discern different sounds with this easy activity. It only takes a few minutes to set up.

Simple Science: Making "Groundwater"

Simple Science: Earthquake Experiment

Layers of the Earth Hands on Science Activity

Human Body Sensory Bin

Easy Science for Kids - Gravity Defying Beads

Easy Science for Kids - Chromatography

Magnets Unit

Balloon Rocket Boat

Texture Balloons

Sensory Smell Bottles

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Easy Lemon Battery Science Experiment for Kids

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Amazing Science: How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

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Make a Compass - Magnetic Science Experiment for Kids

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Leak Proof Bag - The Stem Laboratory

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How to Do the Egg in a Bottle Experiment

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Balloon Air Pressure Experiments for Kids

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Teaching Kids about Tooth Decay

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Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment

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At Home Chemistry: Cleaning Pennies with Ketchup

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How to Make a Papier Mache Erupting Volcano for the Science Fair

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How to Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

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Easy Rock Candy Tutorial

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Lava Lamp Science Project - How to Make a Lava Lamp

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Amazing Dying Flowers Experiment

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Make your own fossils from coffee grounds

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Easy Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment

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Can you dissolve the eggshell of a raw egg? – Go Science Kids

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Edible Butterfly Life Cycle - Life Cycles

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Moon Phases Activity for Kids

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Building Bridges Engineering Activity

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Erosion vs Weathering STEM Activities

Find the difference between weathering and erosion and use the scientific method worksheets.

If you’re new to teaching your child at home, it is easier (especially if you have more than one child) to do things in unit studies. That way, you can explore through books, sensory play, printable activity sheets, hands-on science experiments, and watching videos online.

Science Kits for Learning at Home:

Human Organ ApronHuman Organ ApronHuman Organ ApronPrimary Science Lab Activity SetPrimary Science Lab Activity SetPrimary Science Lab Activity SetDino Egg Fossil Dig KitDino Egg Fossil Dig KitDino Egg Fossil Dig KitSteve Spangler Science Geyser Tube ExperimentSteve Spangler Science Geyser Tube ExperimentSteve Spangler Science Geyser Tube ExperimentCrystal Mining Kit Gem ExcavationCrystal Mining Kit Gem ExcavationCrystal Mining Kit Gem ExcavationSmithsonian Crystal Growing KitSmithsonian Crystal Growing KitSmithsonian Crystal Growing KitNational Geographic Break Open 10 Premium Geodes Geology KitNational Geographic Break Open 10 Premium Geodes Geology KitNational Geographic Break Open 10 Premium Geodes Geology KitLego Chain Reactions Science & Building KitLego Chain Reactions Science & Building KitLego Chain Reactions Science & Building KitSnap Circuits LIGHT Electronics Exploration KitSnap Circuits LIGHT Electronics Exploration KitSnap Circuits LIGHT Electronics Exploration KitToysmith Mineral Science KitToysmith Mineral Science KitToysmith Mineral Science KitDIY Solar Power RoverDIY Solar Power RoverDIY Solar Power RoverAnatomy Models Bundle Set, Brain, Body, Heart, SkeletonAnatomy Models Bundle Set, Brain, Body, Heart, SkeletonAnatomy Models Bundle Set, Brain, Body, Heart, Skeleton

 

 

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Your Complete Guide to School at Home

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Where to Find Free Homeschool Printablesmother sits at table teaching a boy in a green shirt and girl in a purple shirt. Text reads "Mega List Free Homeschool Printables"

School at Home Sample Schedules

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Kids need the security of routine. Right now with everything in their world a little off kilter, they need it more than ever. I know that some of you suddenly find yourself teaching school at home unexpectedly. That may feel overwhelming and scary, but I’m telling you. You can do this. 
 
You were your child’s first teacher. You cheered them on as they took their first steps. You helped them learn their colours and shapes. You know your child best. I’m telling you. You can do this.Sample School at Home Schedules
 
I homeschooled for 19 years. Ironically, this year, most of my kids were in school and I now find myself with them all home again!
 
One of the things the most common questions I’m getting about schooling at home is how to set a schedule. This is obviously something that will vary by family due to circumstances, age of kids, and other factors. But I wanted to give you some general sample schedules to help you plan and find something that’s right for your family.
 
While it’s okay to relax and not keep a perfect schedule, right now, kids are needing some kind of a routine. With all the changes happening, one thing you can do to create a feeling of security for your child is to give them a routine they can count on. 
 
When school were first cancelled, I just assumed we would settle into some kind of natural routine because of all our years spent homeschooling. The first few days were chaos! There were lots of big emotions and little squabbles. It soon became obvious that we were not going to just naturally slip into anything positive. 
 
At the end of day three, we sat down and had a family meeting. We talked about the current situation and its challenges, acknowledged and validated everyone’s feelings, and laid out the new plan. We allowed the kids to have some input into the schedule and I wrote it up on the white board.
 
The next day went much more smoothly as the kids knew what was expected of them, what was coming up when, and they had the security of some structure. 
 
I’ve kept the time slots blanks on these sample schedules so that you can fill in what works for you. Some families are early risers and others, not so much. This is only meant to be a guide and jumping off point to help you create the best routine for your unique family.
 
It’s important to note that depending on their age, grade, and ability, kids only need between 1 and 3 hours of actual sit down schoolwork per day. You are not attempting to recreate a school in your home. Play and connection are still the most essential things you can provide your child with.
 
If you’re looking for information on how to help your kids learn during this time, check out Your Complete Guide to School at Home.

School at Home Sample Schedule:

Wake Up
Breakfast
 
Mindfulness          
Movement            
Reading              
Snack & Water
 
Schoolwork
 
Sensory Break      
Lunch
 
Chores                
  • include heavy work for mood and anxiety
Schoolwork
     
Play                    
Snack & Water
 
Art or Craft          
  • drawing, painting, paper crafts, art tutorial online
Movement
 
Dinner
 
Free Time            
Bedtime

School at Home Sample Schedule (religious):

Wake Up              
Breakfast
 
Devotions & Prayer
 
Movement            
Reading              
Snack & Water
 
Schoolwork
 
Sensory Break      
Lunch
 
Chores                
  • include heavy work for mood and anxiety
Schoolwork
     
Play                    
Snack & Water
 
Art or Craft          
  • drawing, painting, paper crafts, art tutorial online
Movement
           
Dinner
 
Free Time            
Prayer
 
Bedtime

Preschool at Home Sample Schedule:

Wake Up              
Breakfast
 
Mindfulness          
Music & Movement  
 
Snack & Water
 
Fine Motor       
Lunch
 
Chores                
  • include heavy work for mood and anxiety
Gross Motor        
Play                    
Snack & Water
 
Art or Craft          
  • drawing, painting, paper crafts, collage
Movement            
Dinner 
 
Free Time            
Bedtime

Preschool at Home Sample Schedule (religious):

Wake Up              
Breakfast
 
Prayer & Scripture
 
Music & Movement  
 
Snack & Water
 
Fine Motor       
Lunch
 
Chores                
  • include heavy work for mood and anxiety
Gross Motor        
Play                    
Snack & Water
 
Art or Craft          
  • drawing, painting, paper crafts, collage
Movement            
Dinner 
 
Free Time            
Prayer
 
Bedtime
To get printable versions of these sample School at Home Schedules, simply enter your email below. You’ll also receive our Parenting in the Pandemic email series designed to help you through these strange times.
 
 
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