Category: Activity ideas

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Inside Bird Eggs: Egg Anatomy Guide and Hands-On Classroom Activity

parts of an egg diagram and dissecting an egg
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Have you ever wondered “what’s inside a bird egg?” Or “Why do eggs have a yolk and a white?” This post offers educators and students information on the parts of a bird egg. This post discusses egg anatomy, including the functions of egg parts like the yolk and white, which you can observe when you crack an egg open. Read the definitions of each part of the egg and examine the egg diagrams in this post. At the end of the post, find the directions for a hands-on egg dissection science activity to try in your classroom or homeschool!

For Teachers: If you’re an educator planning to teach kids about eggs or bird life cycles, you may enjoy using my egg, bird life cycle, and nest teaching diagrams, which you can also find within my complete Bird Unit. The information and images in this post come from the Bird Unit. The unit is also packed with all the handouts, worksheets, activities, and science diagrams you will need for teaching kids ornithology, aka “bird science”. I think you and your students will love it (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

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Eggs and the bird life cycle

Baby birds hatch from eggs. Inside an egg, a chick develops while protected by a hard eggshell. The unborn chick is nourished by a yolk, which provides food as it grows.

Most birds lay their eggs in nests, which they build in trees, on the ground, on cliffs, or even on buildings. Nests come in several shapes and sizes, from tiny woven cups made of dried grass to huge platforms constructed from sticks. Parent birds sit on the nest to keep the eggs warm, an act called incubation. When chicks hatch, they use a special bump on their bill called an egg tooth to crack open the hard shell.

If you’d like to read more about the bird life cycle, then check out this blog post.

The Parts of an Egg (Early Stage)

These are the parts you’ll see when you crack open an egg from the grocery store. No embryonic bird has developed yet, but all the parts needed for growing a bird are in place:

Cuticle – a thin coating on the shell that helps keep bacteria from entering the egg

Eggshell – the hard outer layer that protects the egg and lets air pass in and out through tiny pores

Albumen (egg white) – a gel-like substance that cushions the contents of the egg and contains water and protein

Chalaza – twisted strands that anchor the yolk in place in the center of the egg

Yolk – the yellow part of the egg that provides food for a developing embryo

Blastodisc – a small spot on the yolk where development begins if the egg is fertilized

Air cell – a small pocket of air at the wide end of the egg

A diagram showing the names of the parts inside a bird egg
Find labeled and unlabeled egg anatomy diagrams for teaching and practice in my complete Bird Unit.

The Parts of an Egg (Late Stage)

If an egg is fertilized and a bird begins to develop, these parts are also found inside an egg.

Embryo – a developing chick inside a fertilized egg

Amnion – a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the growing embryo

Waste fluids – liquid waste made by the developing chick and stored in the egg until hatching

A diagram showing an embryonic chick growing inside of a bird egg and the other internal and external parts of an egg.

Science Activity: Egg Dissection

Crack open some chicken eggs and do an egg dissection. See how many of the parts from this article students can identify. Note that some parts might be more difficult than others to spot or may not be present in all eggs.

Materials (per group):

  • Chicken egg
  • Plastic or styrofoam plate/tray
  • Tools for picking apart the insides of the egg (e.g., toothpicks, plastic knives, plastic spoons)
  • Paper towels for cleanup

Directions:

  1. Crack open the eggshell by tapping it on the tabletop and prying it open with your fingers
  2. Pour the contents of the egg onto the plate. Set the shell aside.
  3. Use the tools to pick through the soft materials from inside the egg. Can you identify the yolk? Albumen? Chalaza?
  4. For each part you identify, discuss its function. How does its structure serve this function? (i.e., is it hard? Soft? Nutritious? Where in the egg is it located?)
Bird life cycles, eggs, and nest printables
Find these printable bird life cycle and egg teaching materials in my Bird Unit.

Read more about birds…

There’s more bird info in the Wild Earth Lab blog. Continue reading one of these blog posts:

Study this topic with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lessons on eggs and birds – I’ve already created them for you! The Bird Unit includes all the printable materials you need for studying bird life cycles, eggs, bird anatomy, adaptations, and more! You can also find the Bird Unit within my even more comprehensive Bird Bundle – which includes individual units on seabirds and shorebirds, freshwater birds, and birds of prey!

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Find your next topic from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other science and nature units in your classroom too!

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References and Further Reading

  1. Bird Spot (n.d.). Anatomy of an Egg. Available: https://www.birdspot.co.uk/bird-anatomy/anatomy-of-an-egg
  2. Clark, M., Douglas, M., Choi, J. (2018). Biology 2e. Open Stax. Ch. 29. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-5-birds
  3. Reeves, N., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. Open Stax. Ch. 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  4. Worley, K. (2016). Avian Eggs. San Diego Zoo. Available: https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/story-hub/zoonooz/avian-eggs

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Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle: a step-by-step guide + learning activities

diagram of a monarch butterfly life cycle on paper next to 4 colored pencils
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During their life cycles, monarch butterflies go through several distinct steps – known as metamorphosis. In this post, read all about the steps of monarch butterfly metamorphosis. I’ve also included links to download learning activities for teaching the monarch butterfly life cycle in your classroom.

Before we dive in: If you’re an educator planning to teach butterfly or insect life cycles, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my monarch life cycle diagram, which you can also find within my complete Insects Unit (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

My monarch butterfly life cycle diagram, reading, and practice worksheets.

1: Egg

The adult female butterfly lays her tiny eggs on the underside of a leaf. After a few days, the eggs hatch and the butterfly larvae, called caterpillars, are born.

enlarged illustration of the egg of a monarch butterfly

2: Caterpillar (Larva)

The caterpillar cannot fly because its wings have not formed yet. The caterpillar eats leaves and grows quickly. As it grows, it sheds and regrows its exoskeleton several times.

A watercolor illustration of the caterpillar of a monarch butterfly, by Wild Earth Lab

3: Chrysalis (Pupa)

The caterpillar hangs upside down and becomes a pupa, called a chrysalis. The chrysalis cannot move for a week or two. Even though it stays still, big changes are happening on the inside.

They chrysalis (pupa) of the monarch butterfly - a watercolor illustration by Wild Earth Lab

4: Butterfly (Adult)

The new adult butterfly breaks free from its chrysalis. It has wings now, but they are soft and look crumpled at first. Soon, the wings grow strong, and the butterfly is ready to fly. The adult butterfly sips nectar from flowers. It migrates south to its winter home in Mexico to stay warm.

Watercolor illustration of a monarch butterfly by Wild Earth Lab

Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Activities:

Try these activities for teaching the life cycle of a monarch butterfly!

1.) Color your own monarch life cycle diagram (FREE resource)

You can find the monarch life cycle coloring worksheet on my free resources page. You can access this free resource and all the other free resources when you join my email newsletter.

a diagram of a monarch butterfly life cycle on paper with colored pencils
2.) Monarch Life Cycle Diagram Printables (Paid resource)
My monarch butterfly life cycle diagram, reading, and practice worksheets.
Download
3.) The Monarch Story Booklet (Paid resource)
Put together (and color!) your own mini booklet telling the story of the monarch butterfly life cycle.
Download

Study Insects with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect insects lesson  – I’ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying insects.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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Parts of an Insect: with a free printable insect anatomy worksheet!

Insect anatomy worksheet
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In this post, we’ll discuss the parts of an insect and an insect’s three main body segments. At the end, download my free insect anatomy coloring worksheet and find links to more insect anatomy activities and materials – perfect for reviewing the parts of an insect in your classroom.

A note for educators: If you’re an educator planning to teach insects, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Insects Unit. It includes tons of insect anatomy activities and much, much more (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Head

1.The head is the front insect body segment. The head holds the eyes and antennae, which help the insect see, touch, and smell. Insects’ mouthparts are also on the head. Different insects have different-shaped mouthparts depending on what foods they eat.

Thorax

1.The thorax is the middle body segment. The legs are attached to the thorax. If the insect has wings, the wings are also attached to the thorax.

Abdomen

1.The abdomen is the rear insect body segment. Many of an insect’s organs are inside the abdomen.

Head-Thorax-Abdomen Coloring Worksheet

Legs

The legs are attached to the insect’s thorax. Insects always have 6 legs. Animals with a different number of legs are not insects, like spiders with 8 legs.

Wings (sometimes)

The wings allow some insects to fly. Not all insects have wings. If an insect has wings, they are attached to the thorax. Insects may have two or four wings.

Build-Your-Own Bee and Dragonfly Models for Teaching Insect Anatomy

Antennae

Insects have two antennae attached to their heads. The antennae help the insect sense the world around it. They are used for touching, smelling, and sometimes even tasting.

Specialized Mouthpart

Insects do not have teeth like you or me. Instead, they have a specialized mouthpart. This mouthpart is designed for the type of food each insect eats. It might be used for chewing, scraping, or even sipping. A great example is a proboscis, which is a long tube-like mouthpart of butterflies and moths. It lets butterflies and moths sip nectar from flowers the way you drink a milkshake through a straw.

I’ve Created this Insect Anatomy Worksheet (FREE)

You can find the insect anatomy coloring worksheet on my free resources page. You can access this free resource and all the other free resources when you join my email newsletter.

coloring worksheet with the parts of an insect

For more insect anatomy and insect lessons, try one of these…

You can find lots more insect teaching materials in the Wild Earth Lab shop. For the most complete and in-depth set of materials, I recommend my Insects Unit. Otherwise, find a la carte insect lessons below…

Build-Your-Own Bee and Dragonfly Models for Teaching Insect Anatomy
Head-Thorax-Abdomen Coloring Worksheet
Insects Classroom Handout, Vocab List, and Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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Insect Superheroes: 9 amazing superpowers of insects + classroom writing prompt

insects on a superhero background
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In this post, you’ll read about 9 amazing and real superpowers of insects that you might not have known about. Plus, scroll to the bottom for a classroom writing prompt inspired by insects’ incredible abilities.

A note for educators: If you’re an educator planning to teach insects, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Insects Unit (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Insects may be small, but they make up for it with incredible superpowers. Just look at what these cool critters can do—you’ll see that insects are like tiny superheroes living all around us!

1. Super Strength

An ant can carry 50x its own weight. A dung beetle can drag over 1,000x its own weight!

leafcutter ants carrying leaves on branch
Leaf cutter ants. Photo by Kirsten C. Staring on Pexels.com

2. Super Vision

Some insects can see types of light that humans cannot see. These include ultraviolet and infrared light, which are invisible to our eyes. Butterflies and bees can see ultraviolet light, while mosquitoes can see infrared light.

mosquito sucking blood on skin of unrecognizable person
Mosquitoes’ infrared-sensitive vision helps them detect body heat and find someone to bite! Photo by Anuj on Pexels.com

3. Super Tasters

Houseflies and butterflies can taste with the bottoms of their feet. Housefly feet are even more sensitive to sugar than the taste buds on your tongue!

4. Super Builders

Some types of termites build giant homes called mounds that can be twice as tall as an adult man. They are built to last too – some termite mounds are about 4,000 years old and are still in use. That’s nearly as old as the Great Pyramids of Egypt!

termite mound with rock and grasses on savanna
Through teamwork, tiny termites build giant homes.

5. Super Jumpers

A grasshopper can jump up to 20x its own body length!

6. Super Fliers

Every year, monarch butterflies fly up to 3,000 miles from their summer homes in the United States to their winter homes in Mexico. This long, yearly trip is called a migration.

monarch butterfly
This monarch has a long migration ahead of it. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

7. Super Pollinators

Bees help pollinate 80% of the flowering plants on Earth! About one third of all our food comes from plants pollinated by bees – including almonds, squash, and apples!

8. Space Explorers

Fruit flies were the first animals to be sent into space!

The fruit fly—Drosophila melanogaster
The fruit fly—Drosophila melanogaster by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is licensed under CC-BY-NC 2.0

9. Time Travelers

Dragonflies have been on Earth for about 300 million years. In contrast, humans have only been around for about 300 thousand years. That means dragonflies have been around 1,000x longer than humans!

Classroom Writing Activity

After you read about the superpowers of insects, try your hand at some insect-inspired creative writing:

Writing Prompt: Write a story about a superhero insect. What insect-inspired superpower does your hero have? How do they use it? Who or what do they help?

Find this activity and more in my complete Insects Unit

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect insects lesson – I’ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying insects.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
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Insect Mashups: drawing activity for teaching the parts of an insect (head-thorax-abdomen)

Insects drawn in 3 parts - head, thorax, and abdomen
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Insect Mashups is similar to the activity “Three Part Monster”. This is a playful insect drawing activity that reviews the three insect body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen) through drawing and teamwork.

Before we dive in: If you’re an educator planning to use this game to teach head-thorax-abdomen, I’ve got something you will love. Printable directions for this activity are included in my Insects Unit – a complete set of activities and printables for teaching insects (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Materials

This is a simple activity that can be done with minimal supplies. All you need is:

  • Paper
  • Drawing supplies
  • Creativity!

Directions

an insect drawn in three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen
Insect mashups drawing activity

Here’s how to play Insect Mashups:

  1. Students will play this game in groups of three.
  2. Before starting, instructors should introduce insect anatomy, emphasizing the three main body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen.
  3. Fold a paper to divide it into 3 equal sections.
  4. On the top section, the first student draws an insect’s head. Remember to include the antennae, mouthpart, and eyes!
  5. The first student will fold the top section back, so that the head is hidden.
    • Tip: Leave the bottom of the neck visible below the crease, so that the next student knows where to start drawing the thorax.
  6. Without looking at the head, the second student draws an insect’s thorax. Remember, the six legs and wings (if any) attach to the thorax – so draw those here too!
  7. The second student will fold the middle section back, so that the head and thorax are hidden.
    • Tip: Leave the bottom of the thorax visible below the crease, so that the next student knows where to start drawing the abdomen.
  8. The third student draws an insect’s abdomen. Does it have a stinger? Stripes? Does the abdomen light up like a firefly? Be creative!
  9. Each group should unfold their paper together to reveal the unique insect they created as a team.

Find this activity and more in my complete Insects Unit

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect insects lesson – I’ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying insects.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
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5 Engaging Water Cycle Activities for Students

Grid of 6 pictures showing kids working on water cycle activities outside and in the classroom
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Are you teaching the water cycle in your classroom or homeschool? The water cycle is a complex process with many stages that all work together to provide the freshwater crucial to our survival. Hands-on water cycle activities are useful to demonstrate the different steps in the water cycle and can make your lessons memorable for students. From measuring infiltration to calculating runoff, these 5 water cycle activities will enrich your lessons and deepen understanding.

photo of a piece of paper with the water cycle diagram
Water Cycle Diagram

A Note For Teachers: The activities covered in this post come from three of my complete units: the Water Cycle Unit, Science on the River Unit, and Soil Science Unit. You can purchase these units to receive all the printable worksheets, handouts, and diagrams for teaching these activities and more (plus you’ll support this blog with your purchase! ❤️).

1. Collect Precipitation

images depicting cutting a bottle in half then using the top half to make a funnel into the bottom half
Steps for making a DIY rain gauge from a plastic bottle.

Precipitation happens when water falls to the Earth’s surface in liquid or solid form. This includes water in the form of snowflakes, hail, sleet, or liquid droplets (rain). Precipitation falls onto land or into bodies of water. A lot of precipitation falls directly into the oceans.

Building a DIY rain gauge from a plastic bottle is a fun, hands-on activity to explore this key water cycle process. You just need an empty plastic soda or water bottle plus a few other household items!

But remember, rain is far from the only type of precipitation. If you live somewhere that receives snow in the winter, you can also collect and measure snowfall!

DIY RAin Gague Directions
Measuring Snowfall Directions
Printable Directions (in my Water Cycle Unit)

2. Observe Evaporation

A photo showing classroom handouts for teaching evaporation lab activities

Evaporation is the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas, called water vapor. Evaporation may happen anywhere that there is water; water evaporates from oceans, lakes, streams, soils, and even from raindrops as they fall.

Measuring evaporation is an easy activity that brings the process to life for your students. The basic idea of this lab is that you will have two jars, one with a lid and one without. You will observe the change in the water level in the two jars over several days due to evaporation.

Evaporation Lab Directions
Printable Directions (in my Water Cycle Unit)

3. Measure Soil Infiltration

sketches showing a tube being hammered into the soil then filled with water.
Steps for measuring soil infiltration rates.

Infiltration is when water seeps from the land’s surface down into the soil. This happens when rain falls onto the soil and seeps in. Water also infiltrates downwards through the bottoms of some lakes and streams. Conversely, groundwater may also flow upwards sometimes, into gaining streams and springs.

Measuring infiltration rates in different types of soils is a hands-on activity that helps students explore how water interacts with the ground. This soil infiltration activity also ties in perfectly with studies of porosity and permeability.

The general idea is that you’ll hammer a piece of tubing into the ground, so that the bottom forms a seal with the soil. Then, you’ll fill the tube with water, and time how long it takes the water to seep into the soil. The rate it seeps will vary between different types and textures of soil, so try this activity in a few different locations (e.g., sandy soil, loamy soil, organic-rich soil, etc…).

Soil Infiltration Activity Directions
Printable Directions (in my Soil Science Unit)

4. Calculate Run Off in Streams

painting showing three people taking measurements in a stream
Illustration showing students taking stream measurements for calculating stream cross-sectional area and discharge.

Runoff is when water flows downhill. This includes rivers, streams, and any water flowing over the Earth’s surface. Runoff happens thanks to gravity – surface water always flows from high to low elevation. You won’t see a stream flowing uphill. Little streams start high up in the mountains. They flow downhill, joining together to make big rivers. Rivers make their way to the ocean and mix with salt water.

You and your students can measure and calculate the rate of runoff in a small stream. More specifically, you can take simple measurements and use them to calculate the velocity of the flowing water. From there, you can calculate the stream’s discharge (e.g., gallons per minute). This stream measurements activity combines math, measurements, and science, making it a perfect addition to your classroom or homeschool.

Stream Measurement Directions
Printable Directions (in my Science on the River Unit)

5. Model Where Water is Stored

Water cycle diagram, measuring cups, free printable science activity guide for homeschooling, at-home-learning, or elementary school age children.
Printable activity directions and water cycle diagram from my free resources page

It’s hard to imagine just how little freshwater exists on Earth compared to saltwater. If you’re teaching the water cycle, your students might be amazed to learn that less than 3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater—the rest is saltwater. Fortunately, you can do a hands-on freshwater learning activity that uses simple kitchen measurements to help your students visualize these proportions. This freshwater visualization activity is a powerful way to help students truly understand how rare freshwater is!

Subscribers to this blog can download free printable directions for this visualization activity on the free resources page of my website. The free resources page is a collection of dozens of printable science & nature learning resources designed by me – including printable activity directions, my hand-drawn water cycle diagram, and much more! To access the free resources page, subscribe to my email newsletter. It’s a monthly digest of new blog posts about science and science education like this one, as well as occasional updates when I release a new unit or throw a sale in my shop.

Freshwater Visualization Activity Directions
Free Learning Resources Page

Study the Water Cycle with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect worksheets and handouts for these water cycle activities – I’ve already created them for you! The activities from this post come from these three printable units, available in my shop:

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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Stargazing Guide: Plan a Night Sky Field Trip for Kids

three children pointing at the night sky
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There’s nothing quite like stepping outside on a clear night and gazing up at the stars. A night sky field trip is a fantastic way to bring hands-on science and astronomy into your homeschool or learning group—no expensive equipment is required! With just a little planning, you can explore the wonders of the universe, from identifying constellations to spotting planets, meteor showers, and more. In this guide, you’ll find simple steps to help you prepare, along with tips for making your stargazing adventure a success. Grab a blanket, check the night sky forecast, and get ready for an unforgettable learning experience under the stars!

A Note for Teachers: If you’re an educator planning to teach the night sky, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete printable Night Sky Unit (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Purpose

The purpose of this field trip is to observe some of the night sky phenomena that your class studied during your space & night sky unit. Students can practice identifying night sky objects, including lunar phases, constellations, planets, and more.

Suggested Materials

  • Constellation information cards – printable cards are included in my night sky unit and also sold as individual printable sets for Zodiac and Northern Hemisphere constellations
  • Compass
  • A star chart
  • Flashlight
  • Warm layers
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Telescope (optional)
  • Student worksheets – available in my night sky unit

Preparations

  • To find constellations, I recommend finding a star chart for your location and season in advance. For example, you can find online star charts from websites like Stellarium Web or Sky and Telescope (external links).
  • In advance, look up any night sky phenomena you expect to observe. Here are a few helpful web links for staying in the know about what’s happening in the night sky (external links):

Directions

  1. Go to a dark, open area away from city lights and tall trees/buildings that block the view of the sky.
  2. Find the Moon and identify the phase.
  3. Use the compass to orient yourself. This will help you interpret the star chart.
  4. Use the star chart to identify constellations in your area.
  5. Northern Hemisphere only: use the constellation Ursa Minor to locate the North Star (Polaris). The North Star never moves in the sky, while the rest of the stars and constellations rotate around it over time. This makes the North Star useful for navigation.
  6. If it’s dark enough, find the Milky Way. The Milky Way looks like a grayish band across the night sky.
  7. Locate any planets currently visible in the night sky. Once you locate a planet, view it through your binoculars or telescope, if possible. Does it look different from the stars?
  8. Take note of any other night sky phenomena, which may vary depending on your location and the time of year. E.g., meteor showers, satellites, lunar eclipse, polar lights, etc…

Related Activities

Looking for more ways to explore outer space in your classroom or homeschool? Try this solar system distances lab or this constellations snack activity. You can also check out this list of 11 outer space activity ideas and this guide to 9 sun and star activities!

Everything you need to learn about the night sky:

Trying to plan the perfect Night Sky lesson for your classroom or homeschool to go along with your night sky field trip? I’ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying night sky objects and outer space!

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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6 Exciting Earth & Environmental Science Topics to Teach this School Year!

grid of pictures of environmental science subjects: flower dissecting, metamorphosis diagrams, metamorphic rock, tectonic plate diagrams, soil lab activity, and climate change lab activity
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Looking for fresh ways to teach science? This post is packed with inspiration and resources to help you explore animal metamorphosis, climate change, rock identification, soil science, plate tectonics, and flower anatomy with your students. I’ve included links to my other posts with hands-on activities, background info, printables, and study materials. Below, you’ll find everything you need to make these topics engaging and accessible in your classroom or homeschool.

Before we dive in: If you plan to teach earth & environmental science topics, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Science Units. They’re packed with all the handouts, posters, worksheets, activity directions, and other printable materials you’ll need. Plus, you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️

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Animal Metamorphosis

salamander life cycle diagram
Salamander metamorphosis diagram

Metamorphosis is a process where an animal’s body changes form at different stages of its life cycle. Many insects and amphibians go through metamorphosis, developing in two or more distinct stages, like a legless tadpole becoming a frog or a wingless caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

Understanding metamorphosis helps students see how organisms grow, adapt, and utilize different resources in their habitats throughout their life cycle. You can study classic examples of metamorphosis like frogs and butterflies – but these are far from the only examples! For instance, studying aquatic insects like caddisflies and mayflies is another excellent way to learn about metamorphosis – plus these critters are bioindicators and very likely found in ponds and streams near you!

Read About Metamorphosis (free)
Amphibians Unit (Purchase)
Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Puchase)

Arctic Sea Ice, Albedo, & Positive Feedback Loops

yellow arrows from the sun bouncing off of ice but not water

Are you searching for a science lesson that brings climate change to life in your classroom? Positive feedback loops are not just fascinating—they’re a powerful way to help students grasp the dynamics behind our warming planet. By teaching about positive feedback loops, like the relationship between sea ice, albedo, and temperature, you’ll equip your students with a deeper understanding of one of the mechanisms fueling anthropogenic climate change.

A great way to demonstrate positive feedback loops is with a hands-on activity.  For this outdoor educational activity, students can create a model of sea ice and ocean water albedo using aluminum foil and two tubs of water. Students will track the temperature in a covered and uncovered tub on a sunny day.

Best of all, studying sea ice and climate change also ties in with studies of the Arctic and Antarctica. Learning about our poles and the animals that live there is a great way to tie climate science and ecology together in your lessons. If you’re looking for a complete set of printable classroom materials for studying the Arctic and Antarctic, you’ll want to check out my complete Polar Bundle.

Read About Positive Feedback Loops & Sea Ice (free)
Hands on Sea Ice Activity Directions (Free)
Antarctica Unit (Purchase)
Arctic Unit (Purcahse)

Rock Identification & Formation

a box of rock samples
Identifying Rocks. The printable rock info cards (pictured here) are found within my complete Rocks and Minerals Unit

Rock identification is a wonderful way for students to connect classroom learning with the world around them. Learning rock ID is about more than just recognizing rock samples. Rather, learning about the different types of rocks means learning about how they formed and the underlying processes creating different rocks, like tectonic plate movement, weathering, and erosion!

You can do a rock identification lab activity. In this activity, students will sort common igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock samples. But there are also other great ways to study and review rocks. Try the Rock ID bingo game or print these Rock ID flashcards. Finally, you may also check out my post about 7 Rock and Mineral Activities for the classroom!

Read about the rock cycle (Free)
Rock Lab Directions (Free)
Rock Lab Handouts & worksheets (in my Rocks Unit!)
Rocks Bingo Game Directions (Free)
Rocks Bingo Game Printables (Purchase)

Soil Science

a jar with soil and water and a stopwatch on a table next to handouts and worksheets
A soil texture jar lab. The printable handouts and worksheets pictured here are found within my complete Soil Science Unit

Soil is often overlooked as a classroom topic, yet it’s a fascinating and practical area of science to explore with one’s students. Whether you’re introducing elementary schoolers to the basics of earth science or tackling advanced environmental science concepts with high schoolers, soil science offers countless opportunities for hands-on learning with real-world applications. If you need further convincing, here are five compelling reasons to incorporate soil science into your classroom curriculum.

There are many hands-on activities you can do when studying soil. First, try a soil textures jar lab or examining the organic matter content of soils. For a delicious soil-related project, make soil horizons parfaits to learn about the different layers in soils! Finally, for printable directions, handouts, and worksheets for all of these activities and more, check out my complete Soil Science Unit!

Complete Soil Science Unit (Purcahse)
Soil Textures Jar Lab Directions (FRee)
Organic Matter Demo Directions (FREE)
Soil Horizons Parfait Directions (FREE)

Plate Tectonics

boundary type diagrams
Printable tectonic plate boundary diagrams. These are available as a stand-alone printable set but also come in my complete Plate Tectonics Unit.

The theory of plate tectonics is a scientific theory central to the field of geology. This theory explains that the surface of the Earth is broken into large plates that are slowly moving and interacting with one another at different plate boundary types.

Plate tectonics is an important concept for students to understand. First, to help you get started studying plate tectonics in your classroom, I’ve put together this list of eight engaging and hands-on plate tectonics activities and projects!

Additionally, if you want to dive into all things plate tectonics, I recommend checking out my complete Plate Tectonics Unit. It includes printable materials to learn about the theory of plate tectonics and related topics like volcanoes, earthquakes, and the Earth’s layers!

Complete Plate TEctonics Unit (Purcahse)
Plate Tectonics Activity Ideas (Free)
Printable plate Boundary Diagrams (Purchase)
Read about different Boundary Types (Free)

Flower Anatomy

A photo showing classroom handouts for studying flower anatomy
Flower anatomy printables – this is one of many activities found within my complete Flowers Unit!

Lastly, studying the parts of a flower is a great way to teach kids about the plant life cycle and pollination! Plus, you can learn about flower anatomy in a hands-on way by dissecting a flower! This is an easy way to observe the main parts of a flower: carpel, stamen, petals, and sepals! Best of all, students can observe how each of these parts is built for its own special function – from attracting pollinators with bright colors to distributing pollen.

I’ve created several flower anatomy printables (pictured above) for my free resources page. If you’re new around here and would like to access the free resources page, all you need to do is subscribe to this blog’s newsletter to receive the link (you can unsubscribe at any time). If you’re already an email subscriber, you can head to the free resources page to download the flower anatomy printables and more via the link you received in your welcome email!

For a more complete set of flower and botany materials, be sure to check out my complete Flowers Unit – it’s full of lots of handouts, worksheets, diagrams, activities, and more! Or, you can also find the Flower Unit within my Botany Collection. It is a discounted collection with three plant-related units: Flowers, Pollination, and Fruit!

Flower Dissection Directions (FREE)
Read about the parts of a Flower (FREE)
Wild Earth Lab Free Learning Resources Page
Complete Flower Unit (Purchase)

Study Earth & Environmental with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect earth & environmental science teaching materials for these topics  – I’ve already created them for you! These sets include all the printable materials you need for studying these topics!

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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Learning in Nature: 5 outdoor educational activities to try this summer!

children with clipboards wading in a shallow river
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Are you a parent or educator looking for fun ways to take learning outside this summer? Whether you’re reviewing math and science concepts from the school year or looking for ways to connect with your local ecosystems, I’ve got you covered with these 5 outdoor educational activities!

In this post, you’ll find directions for nature activities for learning outside this summer! From catching aquatic macroinvertebrates to measuring the infiltration rates of soils, your students are sure to enjoy these fun outdoor learning activities!

Before we dive in: If you’re an educator or parent looking for fun outdoor educational activities, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my Earth & environmental science units (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Stream Measurements

painting showing three people taking measurements in a stream
Illustration of students measuring the width and depth of a stream!

For this activity, learn how to measure water flow with your students as a river field trip activity! With a few household items, you can collect river measurements. All you need are some simple measurement tools like a tape measure, yardstick, and stopwatch!

Water resource scientists, called hydrologists, collect stream measurements to ensure we are not using our water resources too quickly or in unsustainable ways. In this hands-on activity, students will not only practice math and measurements, but they’ll also learn about how scientists measure and study our rivers!

Directions for Stream Measurements

Catch Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

types of aquatic macroinvertebrates
A poster of the types of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
A cartoon of two people in a river using a net to catch aquatic insects
A diagram showing two students collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates in a stream using a net.

Catching aquatic macroinvertebrates is a memorable and educational field trip experience your students will love! Aquatic macroinvertebrates are little creatures like insect larvae and crayfish found at the bottoms of most ponds and streams. Just flip over a few river rocks or submerged logs near the shore of a pond and you’re likely to spot a macroinvertebrate underneath!

But here’s the cool part: macroinvertebrates are bioindicators – creatures that teach us a lot about the overall health of their ecosystems! That makes this outdoor activity a great way to review your classroom studies of biodiversity, bioindicators, entomology, or aquatic food webs. It’s also a great way to build connections with local ecosystems – almost any pond or small stream will work for this activity!

Macroinvertebrate Activity Directions

Measure the heights of trees using math!

A diagram showing how to find the height of a tree, with equations. Line 1: tree height above eye level equals distance times tan of angle. Second line: tree height equals eye level plus tree height above eye level.
This diagram shows how you can calculate the height of a tree using math!

Unless you are measuring a short seedling, you probably won’t be able to measure tree height directly because you can’t reach the top. So how do you measure something so tall? Answer: use an inclinometer and trigonometry!

I don’t know about you, but I think math is more interesting when we can apply it to real-world situations! If you’re reviewing trigonometry, right triangles, or angles in your classroom or homeschool, you and your students will love this tree-height applied math activity! In this simple learning activity, students will learn how to make a homemade inclinometer – a device for measuring the angle of inclination. Then, they will take measurements and calculate the height of a tree in this outdoor educational activity.

Tree Height Directions

Outdoor Experiment for Climate Change & Sea Ice

yellow arrows from the sun bouncing off of ice but not water
Sea ice is more reflective than ocean water.
two tubs of water, one covered in foil
Materials for a sea ice experiment.

A sunny summer day is the perfect time for this outdoor activity that’s all about heat, solar radiation, and reflection! For this activity, all you need is a warm sunny day, containers with cold water, foil, and a thermometer!

 In this outdoor educational activity, students will create a model of sea ice and ocean water albedo using aluminum foil and two tubs of water. Students will track the temperature in a covered and uncovered tub on a sunny day. It’s a great way to learn about albedo and the impacts of positive feedback loops in climate change.

Sea Ice Experiment Directions

Measure Soil Infiltration Rates

sketches showing a tube being hammered into the soil then filled with water.
Steps for measuring soil infiltration rate

Summer is the perfect time to study soils! If you have a summer garden, you know the importance of healthy and permeable soil. Measuring soil infiltration rates is an activity that you can easily do in your garden with a few simple household items.

Why study soil infiltration? Infiltration rates of soils are important for many reasons. First, they are important in agriculture – different crops require soils that drain at different rates. Soil infiltration also plays a role in natural disasters like flooding and landslides. Finally, infiltration is an important part of the water cycle – when water seeps into the earth, it becomes part of the groundwater. Humans access groundwater with wells – an important source of water for drinking and growing plants!

Directions for Soil Infiltration

Learn in Nature with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect materials for your outdoor educational activities– I’ve already created them for you! Check out my Earth and environmental science units, complete sets of printable learning materials with activities, posters, handouts, and more!

View All Units
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Fun Moon Phases Activity with Cookies

making the phases of the moon from cookies
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If you are teaching the phases of the moon, this popular snack activity with cookies is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! This yummy and fun activity is sure to make your lunar phases lesson a memorable one. In this post, you’ll find the materials list and directions for this activity, plus, I’ve created a free printable worksheet for this activity!

A note for teachers: If you’re an educator planning to teach the moon’s phases, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my printable Moon Mini Study, which you can also find within my complete Night Sky Unit (plus you’ll support my blog with your purchase! ❤️)

Moon Phases: background information

Earth has one big, bright moon – The Moon. Though it shines brightly at night, the Moon does not make its own light; it reflects light from the Sun. The Moon orbits Earth, just like Earth orbits the Sun. As it circles us, the Moon’s shape seems to change. These changing shapes, called phases, make the Moon appear to grow and shrink each month. In reality, the Moon doesn’t change size – we just don’t see the part that’s not lit up by the Sun.

For this activity, your students will learn 8 phases of the moon. These phases are:

  • New Moon
  • Waxing Crescent
  • First Quarter
  • Waxing Gibbous
  • Full Moon
  • Waning Gibbous
  • Third Quarter
  • Waning Crescent

Every 29.5 days, the moon cycles through all of these phases.

Phases of the moon diagrams

Materials

For the phases of the moon cookie activity, each student needs:

  • 8 Chocolate & crème sandwich cookies (e.g., Oreos)*
  • Spoon and/or toothpick for scraping/removing crème
  • A printed copy of the worksheet – available on my free resources page

*To save on materials, it is possible to do this activity with 4 cookies per student if students use both halves of each cookie and carefully split the creme filling to create all phases.

Directions

  1. Open up a cookie so that the crème is all on one side.
  2. Scrape away and remove enough crème from the open cookie to
    create a phase of the moon.
  3. Repeat until you’ve created all of the phases of the moon.
Chocolate creme-filled sandwich cookies making the phases of the moon set on a kids' worksheet
Making the phases of the moon from cookies!

Free printable worksheets for this activity

Current Email Subscribers: for your convenience, I made a printable version of the directions and a student worksheet for this activity. It’s available on the free resources page of my website (the link was in a welcome email sent when you subscribed – if you lost the link, follow the directions at the bottom of this page).

If you’re new here: consider joining my email community! My email subscribers:

  • Can access dozens of free science & nature printables on my free resources page! (including the worksheet for this activity!)
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moon phases sandwich cookie (e.g., Oreo) activity worksheets

What’s Next?

Looking for another space-themed snack activity for the classroom? Try this constellation snack activity using pretzel sticks and mini marshmallows!

constellation flashcards and constellations made from pretzel sticks and marshmallows

Study the moon with Wild Earth Lab!

There’s no need to scramble to put together the perfect set of moon lesson materials  – I’ve already created it for you! My printable moon mini study includes diagrams, worksheets, and activities for learning all about the moon and its phases!

Or, find all the moon materials plus more materials on constellations, eclipses, and more in my complete Night Sky Unit!

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
Build-Your-Own Bundle & Save!

Are you interested in reading more posts like this? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!

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