My kindergartener and my 3rd grader have been studying the biomes of the world. This week, we learned about the marine biome. One of their favorite topics of the week was bioluminescence, so I decided we should try making some glowing ocean art. It ended up being such a fun project! Even my 14-year-old joined in! What is bioluminescence? Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light from a living organisms. Some examples of bioluminescent organisms include fireflies, glow worms, lanternfish, anglerfish, some species of jellyfish, some types of mushrooms, and some types of algae. Resources for Learning About Bioluminescence • SciShow Kids- Glowing Animals • BBC Earth Kids- Why Do Some Animals Glow • NOAA Ocean Exploration- Bioluminescence • National Geographic- How Bioluminescence Works in Nature Bioluminescence Art Project For this project you will need: •Black construction paper •Fluorescent paint or fluorescent colored highlighter pens (orange and yellow seem to work best) ...

Fibonacci Day is celebrated on November 23rd because when the date is written in mm/dd format (11/23), it forms a section of the Fibonacci sequence. In this post I share several Fibonacci inspired activities to try with your kids! What is the Fibonacci sequence? The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence of numbers in which each new number is the sum of the previous two numbers. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34... and so on. (1+1=2), (1+2=3), (2+3=5).... Fibonacci numbers are often found in nature. Some examples are the number of petals on a flower (typically 3, 5, or 8), the arrangement of scales on a pinecone, the number of digits on a human hand or foot, the number of legs an octopus has, the number of legs a starfish has, and the number of eyes on a human face. The Golden Ratio The Golden Ratio is a ratio between two numbers that equals approximately 1.618. If you divide a Fibonacci number by the previous number in the sequence, you get approximately 1.618. This ratio is important because it...

In this post I share instructions for a really cool science based art project- turmeric anthotype prints. If you've ever tried using Sunprint paper, this is the same concept, except you are making the photosensitive paper yourself. For this activity you will need: white paper, turmeric, alcohol (rubbing alcohol or vodka), a paint brush, something to print (leaves, sticks, rocks), baking soda, water, a spray bottle, a tray, and sunshine. *Turmeric stains, so be sure to work in old clothes or use a smock. Start by making a turmeric based ink/paint by mixing about a teaspoon of turmeric powder into 1/4 cup of alcohol. If you end up having a lot of chunks of turmeric after stirring well, you can strain it through a coffee filter, but we have found that this step usually isn't necessary. In an inside space, away from direct sunlight, paint your entire sheet of white paper with the turmeric ink. Then set it aside to dry in a dark space. While it dries, collect items to print. Leaves,...

Explore trees, plants, insects, fungi, birds, and more with this 40-page collection of nature study resources. The Ultimate Nature Study Pack includes nature study prompts, nature journaling prompts, journaling sheets, nature themed art challenges, nature anatomy diagrams, a weather tracking tree, a moon phase journal, a bird watching checklist, informational reading sheets, several nature based scavenger hunts, a leaf ID diagram, an animal track sheet, and more! Grab it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Ultimate-Nature-Study-Pack-12024121 Follow me on Facebook Instagram Pinterest Teachers Pay Teachers

  What is STEM? STEM stands for s cience, t echnology, e ngineering, and m athematics. A STEM activity is any hands-on activity that incorporates two or more of these distinct but related fields of study. A STEM challenge is an activity that encourages kids to explore, design, problem solve, and test within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  STEM activities and challenges are a great way to add more hands-on learning to your school days. STEM education strengthens problem solving and critical thinking skills and makes learning fun! In this post I share instructions for three STEM activities that require nothing more than paper, tape, scissors, and a little creativity! Test Paper Airplanes Challenge your kids to make and test different types of paper airplanes. Encourage them to try some common types (look up instructions online or in a library book) and try some designs of their own. Use a measuring tape to measure the distance each airplane flew...

Textbooks definitely have their place, but if we're being honest, they can be a bit boring. Since kids tend to learn best when they're interested and engaged, I try to keep textbook style learning to a minimum and incorporate a lot of hands-on and "outside the box" type learning. In this post I share some of my favorite ways to study history without textbooks or worksheets. Visit Historical Sites Visiting historical sites in your area or while you're on road trips is an excellent way to make history come alive. A quick Google search for "historical sites near me" should give you lots of ideas.  Go Antiquing Visit antique shops, thrift stores, and yard sales. Let your kids choose historical items to purchase and then research about them! Watch Documentaries Historical documentaries are an easy way to sneak in a little extra learning. Check any streaming services you subscribe to for interesting ones to check out! Visit History Museums Most cities have mus...

  My kids chose to study mushrooms this year, so I put together this mushroom study pack. I hope you all enjoy it as much as my family did! Printable Mushroom Mini Study Learn about different types of fungi, mushroom anatomy, fungi lifecycles, mushroom characteristics, and mushroom identification with this printable 12-page study pack. This pack includes vocabulary words, 4 informational reading sheets, a mushroom anatomy coloring sheet, a mushroom lifecycle diagram, a crossword puzzle, a Venn diagram, tips for identifying mushrooms, a nature journaling sheet, and a list of additional resources to check out. Grab it here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mushroom-Mini-Study-11726047 You may also want to check out: Dandelion Mini Study Follow me on: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Teachers Pay Teachers