google.com, pub-8985115814551729, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Free Printable Lesson Plans

Nature Science Detective Kits and cross-curricular activities with free printable plant and animal identification guides


Hello my Omschooligans! Looking for summer enrichment activities for kids that are hands-on? Here's are nature science lesson plans. Make nature detective kits to explore wildlife science concepts. Use this activity to welcome kids back to school. It makes a great end of the year party as well! Kids will love playing nature CSI investigators! Homeschooling parents will love these inexpensive, all-age-friendly science lessons. It's ideal for summer camp, too.

Nature Science Detective Kits materials (1 per student)

--large gallon size zipper bag or cheap carry-all bag to store supplies

--plastic magnifying glass (available in bulk at Amazon or Oriental Trading)

--one-subject notebook

--pocket folder (cheap at Amazon, Walmart, Staples, Target)

-- one pair disposable nitrile gloves (choose latex free)

--tweezers or cotton swabs (both would be useful, but use cotton swabs if you're looking to save money. plastic bulk pack tweezers are available at Amazon for around $8 for 30) Use these to collect specimens.

--3 or 4 specimen bags (snack size Zip-Loc)

--3-4 larger specimen bags (sandwich size Zip-loc)

--sheet of label stickers

--pen and pencil

-- roll of invisible Scotch tape

--several pieces of yarn or string

--box of crayons ($.25 at back-to-school sales)

--bug box for temporary observation (respectfully house and then release the critter) 

--Animal tracking guide (see links below for free printables)

--Tree and leaf identification charts (links below)

--measuring tape 

Use these free printable measuring tools in "Nature Detective" kits


These resources are excellent because they are designed to be printed, cut out, and taped together to create a full-length measuring tape:

  • Printable Rulers & Measuring Tapes: This site offers a great selection of PDF templates, including one-foot rulers that feature both centimeters and inches, as well as metric-only options.

  • LabelValue Free Printable Ruler: This resource is designed to be printed to scale (be sure to select "Actual Size" in your printer settings) and includes both inches and centimeters.

  • Timeless Templates: They provide specific downloads for both inch-based and metric measuring tapes, which are very useful for DIY assembly.

Important Tips for Accuracy

To ensure these tools are accurate for scientific observation:

  • Print at "Actual Size": When printing, always check your settings to ensure the document is set to "Actual Size" or "100% scale." Do not select "Fit to Page" or "Shrink to Fit," as this will alter the measurements.

  • Verify Scale: Most of these PDFs include a way to verify accuracy—often by comparing a printed inch to a real credit card or a known ruler. It's a great "quality control" step to have the students perform before they start their investigation!


Printable Animal Tracking Guides


Pro-Tips for Your Tracking Adventures

  • Laminate for Longevity: Since tracking is an outdoor activity often done in mud, snow, or damp conditions, printing these on cardstock and laminating them (or covering them with clear packing tape) will keep them protected in the field.

  • "Nature Detective" Kit Hack: Have the kids create a "Track Viewer" by cutting a square hole in the center of two pieces of cardboard (as suggested in some of the links above). This helps them focus on a single set of tracks at a time, making it easier to notice details like size and shape without getting overwhelmed by the surroundings.

  • Journaling Observations: Encourage students to draw the tracks they find in their nature journals. Even if they can't identify the animal immediately, sketching the shape, noting the number of toes, and measuring the stride (the distance between tracks) is exactly what professional field biologists do!

Printable Tree & Leaf Identification Resources

Tips for Your Tree Investigation Kits

  • Specimen Sorting: If you have collected leaves, have the kids use their identification cards to "sort" their findings. Laying the collected leaves out next to the corresponding cards is a fantastic way to practice categorization skills.

  • Seasonal Focus: Remind your detectives that trees change throughout the year. If you are doing this activity in winter, try to focus on the twig identification sheets, as many trees will have dropped their leaves by then!

Using Nature Detective Kits:

  • Make kit assembly part of the lesson. Set out supplies in stations and give students gallon zipper bag and supplies list. This provides experience in counting, sorting and organizing.
  • Using stickers, kids label notebook: Investigator (name)____________ or Detective (name)____________. Label bags: Exhibit A, B, C or Evidence. As evidence is collected, data and date should be added. For example: 'beetle exoskeleton 9-3-2015.
  • Go on nature investigation hunts around your neighborhood, school playground or camp. Assign students different items to investigate, native to your area. 
  • Students should not keep living specimens, but they might bring a bug box to temporarily house and examine a living critter.
  • Look for evidence of living creatures: 
    • bug carcasses
    • exoskeletons
    • fallen leaves
    • feathers
    • owl pellets
    • seed pods
    • rocks
    • fallen nest
    • bits of animal fur
    • bark samples
    • plant parts
    • wildflowers (pick just one)
    • rocks.
  • Have students draw living creatures, homes and habitats: spider's web, bird's nest, wasp's nest, rabbit hole, ant hill, scat (animal droppings). 
  • Students should record when and where they observed it. Students shouldn't touch but may observe scat (animal droppings) or dead animal remains. 
  • In class, have children discuss and hypothesize on findings at their level of reasoning. 
  • Students might create a natural history museum displaying what they have found. Students can act as young docent guides, explaining discoveries to visitors.

Nature Detective Measurement Activities

  • "Size of the Find": Have the students measure the length or width of items they have collected (e.g., leaves, rocks, or pinecones). They can record these measurements in their one-subject notebook next to their "Exhibit" label.

  • "How Tall Is It?": Use the large-print metersticks to measure features that aren't easily collected, such as the height of an ant hill, a patch of wildflowers, or even the diameter of a tree trunk.

  • "Scale Estimation": Before measuring, have students hypothesize the size of an object. This builds scientific reasoning skills. Ask: "Do you think this leaf is longer than 5 centimeters?" Then, have them use their printable ruler to check their guess.

  • "Life-Size Illustrations": Challenge the students to draw a creature or plant exactly to scale in their journals, using their rulers to ensure accuracy.

  • The Big/Small Hunt": Challenge students to find the smallest leaf and the largest rock in a specific area. Use their printable rulers to record the exact difference in size between the two.
  • "Tree Diameter Challenge": Since it's hard to measure a tree with a straight ruler, teach them to use a piece of string to wrap around the trunk, mark the length, and then lay the string against their ruler to find the circumference.
  • "Growth Tracker": Pick a specific plant (like a wildflower or a small sapling) and mark it with a small flag or stick. Have the students measure it once a week to track how much it grows over the course of the season.
  • "Shadow Measurement": Trace the shadow of a stick at different times of the day (morning, noon, and afternoon). Measure how the length changes as the sun moves across the sky.
⚠🔬Pro-Tip for Success: Remind them that in the world of science, accuracy matters. If they are measuring a bug, they should measure from the "head" to the "tail" consistently every time so they can compare their data with their friends' findings later!

Omschool Tips for Your "Nature Detective" Kits

  • Durability: Since you are doing this outside, print your rulers on card stock then laminate them (or using clear packing tape over the paper) to make them moisture-resistant. 

  • The "Transparency" Hack: If you have access to a printer that can handle clear sheets, print the rulers onto overhead transparencies. This is a favorite among teachers because it makes it much easier to measure "odd" or squishy things like leaves or flowers without damaging them!

  • Calibration Check: Before heading out on the trail, have the students perform a "quality control" check. Use a standard credit card or a known object to verify that everyone's ruler was printed at 100% scale.

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Nature Poetry Party Planner for Summer Enrichment Lesson Plans


Hello my Omschooligans! Summer vacation is almost here and parents, you may be wondering just what in the world you're going to do with your kids for three months. So, here are summer enrichment activities for kids. Host a writers workshop for nature poetry using these creative writing prompts. Or better still, call it a nature poetry party! That way, kids will be enthused about summer enrichment activities and not dread them like summer school (it's all in the wording!) Use these creative writing prompts for National Poetry Month. 

Surprise Party! 

Don't give the kids any warning. Just announce: "Time to D.E.A.R--drop everything and rhyme!"  Go for a wander in the woods or along the beach. Have kids find a cozy spot to meditate on the wonders of the great outdoors. Use them as creative writing prompts for nature poems. Poetry is the perfect venue to express the joy of nature and nature is the ideal subject for poems! Use these summer enrichment activities with all children. No one is too young or old for creative writing. Little ones can dictate their nature poems then illustrate with their wonderful pictures. 



Build on Writer's Block

Plan for creative writing blocks by coming prepared with some poem prompts and poetry frames (see links below). Sometimes the hardest part of writing poetry is knowing how to begin. So a quick discussion might include: 

  • What constitutes a poem? 
  • Do you have to follow a format? (no, you can just write what comes into your head. That's call free verse). 
  • What do you do when can't think of anything to write about? (suggestions include observing a specific thing in nature, like a tree. Or describe the cat cleaning himself.)
  • Remind poetry party guests that words are the the medium, like clay or crayons for an artist. And words are just thoughts and ideas on paper. 
  • Encourage kids to express what they're thinking or feeling as they observe nature. Then, just write it down. Don't worry about spelling, grammar or punctuation.
  • Combine fresh air, exercise, and science lessons in a nature poetry party. 
    • One of the best summer enrichment activities is to visit a nature trail. 
    • Have kids stroll and jot down sensations (be sure to use all the senses-- sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. 
    • Listen to the birds and describe their song. 
    • Sniff the trees and flowers. 
    • Taste the fruit (be sure it's safe) Some of my poems feature wintergreen berries my grandpa and I found in our Michigan dune woods rambles. 
    • Feel the water in the stream. Let the sand trickle through your fingers. 
    • Kids can jot thoughts down and arrange material into more cohesive nature poetry later. 

Nature Poetry Party: Activity Outline

  • Preparation

    • Gear Up: Gather notebooks, pencils, water bottles, and energy bars in a backpack.

    • Go Unplugged: Set a "no electronics" rule for the duration of the party.

    • Mindset: Frame the activity as a fun "party" rather than "summer school" to encourage participation.

    • Read some nature poems in advance to get creative juices flowing. Here are some from my blog The Writer's Garden. 

  • The Outdoor Experience

    • The Wandering: Head to the woods, a beach, or a local nature trail.

    • Mindful Observation: Find a cozy, quiet spot to observe the surroundings.

    • Sensory Collection: Use the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste—if safe) to gather material.

      • Example: Listen to birds, smell flowers, feel the texture of bark or water.

  • The Writing Process

    • Brainstorming: Write down observations—don't worry about spelling, grammar, or punctuation.

    • Drafting: Use poetry frames (see links below) to help overcome writer's block.

    • Support: For younger children, allow them to dictate their poems while you write them down; they can illustrate their work afterward.

    • Expression: Remind guests that words are simply tools—like crayons for an artist—used to express thoughts and feelings.

  • Sharing and Celebration

    • The Circle: Gather in a circle (e.g., under a tree) to share poems and thoughts with the group.

    • Enjoy some healthy snacks! Like GORP (good old raisins and peanuts) which is kind of a poem starter in itself! Or write about the umami taste of apple and cheese slices eaten together. (don't forget to clean up your area!)  

Free Printable Poetry Frames & Resources

Using structured frames can be a fantastic way to give children the confidence to start writing. Here are several places to find free printables:

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26 Summer enrichment activities for kids: Easy, at-home lesson plans from A to Z


Hello my Omschooligans! Summer's almost here (in the US) and I can't wait! Summer vacation means different things for kids and parents. Students rejoice in the holiday. Parents worry how time away from school will affect learning. The problem is compounded when children already struggle academically. Summer school is an option, but not very popular with kids. Tutoring is costly. Working parents or work-at-home parents lack time to tutor. How can you ensure that your child retains what he learned in school? Here 26 summer enrichment activities from A-Z and homework to practice, retain and learn lessons. Use for homeschooling families, charter public and parochial school kids. Perfect for all ages and content levels. 

Summer Enrichment: The A–Z Guide for Every Learner

Managing summer schedules can be a challenge, but these simple, effective activities can help keep your child’s skills sharp while keeping the summer fun.

The "Core Four" Pillars of Summer Learning

  • Ask for help: Enlist friends, family, or seniors to assist with subjects like math or reading. Look for free summer enrichment programs at local schools. And now, with the advent of AI, you can ask for help with any subject. Google Gemini helps me make many of the cool lesson plans on this blog. 

  • Borrow and browse: Use your local school and library resources to access textbooks, workbooks, and games for free. Browse the internet for free tutorials on YouTube. 

  • Create: Encourage hands-on development through singing, drawing, painting, building, dancing, sewing, and cooking. 


  • Discipline: Establish a routine to help children organize their day and set priorities. This is especially important for children with autism or who find school challenging. 

Daily Enrichment Activities

  • E – Exercise: Keep the brain active by keeping the body moving. 

    Five Daily Exercises for Kids

    ExerciseBenefitsHow to Do It
    Jumping JacksImproves cardiovascular health and coordination.Start standing with feet together, jump feet out while clapping hands overhead, and jump back to start.
    Bear CrawlsBuilds full-body strength and core stability.Get on hands and knees, lift knees slightly off the ground, and crawl forward, backward, or sideways.
    Frog JumpsDevelops leg strength and explosive power.Start in a deep squat position, then jump forward like a frog, landing softly back in a squat.
    Plank HoldStrengthens core and back muscles.Keep the body in a straight line, balancing on forearms and toes (or knees for beginners) and hold steady.
    High KneesIncreases heart rate and agility.Jog in place, lifting your knees up as high as possible toward your chest with each step.


    Tips for Making Exercise Fun

    • The "Timer Game": Challenge them to see how many reps they can do in 30 seconds, or see how long they can hold a plank before "collapsing into a pile of giggles."

    • Narrative Movement: Turn the exercises into a story—e.g., "We are moving through the jungle, so we have to bear crawl across this river and jump like frogs over the lily pads!"

    • Pair it with the Routine: You can add a section to the checklist created previously called "Daily Movement" to help them stay consistent.

    • Lead by Example: Kids are much more likely to participate if you join in with them. It becomes a bonding experience rather than a chore.

  • F – Fix: Build problem-solving skills by repairing household items with guided tool use.

  • G – Garden: Teach patience and biology through the therapeutic, interactive art of gardening.

  • H – Hire: Let an older child mentor your younger one in reading or math practice.

  • I – Investigate: Explore the natural world by examining local flora and fauna.

  • J – Join: Take advantage of local summer reading programs, day camps, and museum events.

  • K – Keep a Journal: Boost writing and critical thinking skills; encourage sketching alongside entries.

  • L – Listen: Practice active listening to improve your child’s communication skills.

  • M – Make Friends: Facilitate social learning by getting to know neighbors and peers. They don't have to be your age. Seniors make great friends! 

  • O – Organize: Give children responsibilities that allow them to practice managing their own time and space.

  • P – Play: Remember that play is a child’s vital "work" (as championed by Maria Montessori).

  • Q – Question: Encourage deep thinking by asking open-ended questions like "How?" and "Why?"

  • R – Relax: Ensure there is dedicated downtime to recharge—you can't pour from an empty cup!

  • S – Serve: Volunteer in your community to teach compassion and life lessons.

  • T – Teach by Modeling: Switch roles and let your child "teach" you to assess their understanding.

  • U – Understand: Accept your child’s unique learning style and be patient with the process.

  • V – Visit: Take field trips to local landmarks and points of interest.

  • W – Write: Encourage diverse forms of writing, from poetry and graphic novels to neighborhood newspapers.

  • X – Explore: Uncover the hidden history and businesses in your own town.

  • Y – Yard Sale: Build real-world math and money-handling skills through shopping or hosting a sale.

  • Z – Zip to the Library: Make your local library your one-stop shop for summer resources and events.

    My Daily Success Checklist

    GoalActivityStatus
    Morning HabitMake my bed neatly, feed pets☐
    Self-CareBrush teeth (2 minutes), play outside☐
    ResponsibilityDo one chore (e.g., set the table, sort laundry)☐
    KindnessHelp someone (e.g., clear a dish, share a toy)☐
    EducationRead a book (at least 15 minutes)☐
    CreativityWork on a craft project☐
    OrganizationOrganize one part of my room (e.g., desk, bookshelf)☐

    Tips for Success

    • Use Visual Cues: For younger children, adding stickers next to completed tasks provides immediate positive reinforcement.

    • Establish a Routine: Encourage completing "Morning Habits" right after waking up and the "Organization" task right before dinner or bedtime.

    • Keep it Flexible: Let them choose which part of the room to organize each day; choice increases their sense of control and willingness to participate.

    • Celebrate Consistency: If they complete their full list for the week, consider a small, non-material reward, like picking the movie for family movie night or choosing a special weekend activity.

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Free Bible lesson plans, printable coloring pages and Christian craft projects and object lessons for VBS


Hello my Omschooligans! With the official school year nearing a close and summer vacation nearly upon us, it's time for Omschool to begin thinking Vacation Bible School! Teacher Omi and Opi are Catholic Christians but you don't have to be Catholic to use these Bible lesson plans. We are an open-arms teaching community and offer these activities for anyone who wants to use them! 

Here are free printable Bible coloring pages and VBS lesson plans, craft projects and object lesson science experiments to use them in.. And the owners of these sites ask as I do, that you only use our work in approved ways for personal or homeschool use or in non-profit classrooms. 

Free Printable Bible Coloring Pages

These sites offer high-quality, free PDF printables covering a wide range of Bible stories and themes:

  • Ministry-To-Children: Offers a vast collection of over 450 free, original Bible coloring pages. They are categorized by topic, such as Creation, the Gospels, and the Fruit of the Spirit, making them easy to navigate.

  • Sunday School Store: Provides a variety of professionally illustrated coloring sheets and bundles, including specific collections for holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.

  • Kids Bible Lessons: A great resource for original line drawings, including a 66-page coloring book covering every book of the Bible, as well as specific sets for prayer and memory verses.

    Recommended Sites for Catholic Coloring Pages

    • CatholicMom.com: An extensive collection that is perfect for liturgical living. They offer coloring pages for Feast Days, Sunday Gospel activities, Mysteries of the Rosary, and seasonal liturgical themes (Advent, Lent, Easter).

    • The Catholic Kid: A great resource that organizes saint coloring pages alphabetically. This makes it very easy to find a specific saint if you are planning a lesson around their feast day.

    • Catholic Playground: Known for beautiful, high-quality illustrations. Many of their pages also include short background stories about the saints, which is very helpful for catechism or homeschool lessons.

    • The Little Rose Shop: Offers a variety of faith-filled printables, including Marian apparitions, the Rosary, and other devotional themes.

    • Sock Religious: Provides a wide variety of free digital downloads featuring many popular saints and Holy Family scenes.

    Quick Tips for Catholic Liturgical Living

    • Feast Day Calendars: Check CatholicMom.com at the start of each month to see which saints or liturgical seasons are coming up so you can plan your "coloring time" accordingly.

    • Create a Binder: As suggested by many catechists, you can have children color one page a week and keep them in a binder to create their own personalized "Book of Saints" throughout the year.

Free VBS Lesson Plans

If you need structured curriculum for Vacation Bible School or teaching series, these organizations provide comprehensive, downloadable resources at no cost:

  • Ministry-To-Children: Features 7 complete, free VBS curriculum programs. Each includes a director's manual, lessons, activities, and craft ideas for various themes like "Armor of God" and "Fruit of the Spirit."

  • Stuff You Can Use: Offers 6 distinct, themed VBS programs (such as "Set Sail" and "Mission: Deep SEA"). These are designed to be engaging, 4-day programs that focus on helping kids grow in their faith.

  • MinistryArk: Provides a "Mission:Possible" VBS series that is excellent if you are looking for a global or travel-themed curriculum. It includes lesson outlines, games, and creative craft ideas.

  • DLTK's Bible: Offers a variety of VBS-style lesson plans, including themes like "Fully Rely on God" (F.R.O.G.), parables of Jesus, and lessons on the Fruit of the Spirit.

  • Trueway Kids: An excellent resource for weekly Bible lessons, including detailed outlines, stories, games, worksheets, and crafts tailored for different age groups, from babies to preteens.


♻️ Omschool Bible Craft Projects 

Turn recycled "trash" into treasures while learning God's Word! Perfect for VBS and Sunday school! 

1. Cardboard Tube "Armor of God"

Ingredients: Toilet paper rolls, cardboard pieces, recycled milk jugs, aluminum foil, glue dots or stapler, markers.

Method: Wrap tubes in foil to create "silver" cuffs or shields. Cut breastplate from flat cardboard. Cut helmet from milk jug, leaving a chin strap. Cover in foil. Use markers to write "Faith" or "Truth" on them as you discuss Ephesians 6.

2. Egg Carton "Fruit of the Spirit" Garden

Ingredients: Recycled egg cartons, potting soil or coconut coir peat pellets (very reasonable priced and and easy to use from Amazon) paints/crayons, paper scraps. 

Method: Cut egg cups into individual "bowls." Paint each one a different color and write a fruit (Love, Joy, Peace, etc.) on each cup. Add one peat pellet to each and plant a different herb, vegetable or fruit seed in each. Keep them in your Tree Fort as a reminder to "grow" these fruits in our lives each day. Then transplant them when they have sprouted. 

Object lesson: read Bible passage about the different types of soil and how each helps or hinders the seed (the fruit of the spirit) growth. 

3. Cereal Box "Bible Story Diorama

Ingredients: Empty cereal box, tape, construction paper.

Method: Cut the box open to make a flat landscape. Draw a scene from a Bible story (like Noah’s Ark) across the cardboard canvas! Add recycled materials to give scenery and animals "texture" such as fabric for fur, cotton for lamb's wool and clouds, tin foil for stars, and green cardboard scraps for plants and trees. 

Object lesson science Experiments to pair with VBS craft projects

Jesus used object lessons to teach us how to live and love. We call them parables. He used everyday objects and situations as relatable metaphors. We can do likewise. 

Armor of God object lesson

🛡️ The "Protective Gear" Science Lab

Goal: Test how different materials handle environmental "attacks."

Instructions:

  • Step 1: Wrap your "Body" (sponge) in one of the materials (Fabric, Plastic, Cardboard, or Foil).
  • Step 2: Apply the "Attack" (Water for rain, Marble for impact, Fork for armor testing).
  • Step 3: Observe! Did the material keep the "Body" underneath dry, smooth, or dent-free?

Bible Connection: Just as we need specific gear to survive a storm or a fall, God gives us the "Armor of God" to stand firm against whatever comes our way!




🧪 Science Experiment: The "Protective Gear" Challenge

In this experiment, students will test different materials to see how they stand up to various "environmental attacks" (simulating real-world protection).

The Setup:

  • The "Body": Use a sponge or a small cardboard cutout to represent the person being protected.

  • The "Attacks": 

    • Hard Hat (Impact): A small marble dropped from a height of 6 inches.

    • Suit of Armor (Abrasion/Sharp Objects): A plastic fork or sandpaper to scratch the surface.

    • Safety or sunglasses (Eye protection from bright lights) 

    • Precipitation: A spray bottle filled with water.

The Materials to Test:

  1. Fabric (Cotton): Represents everyday clothing (minimal protection).

  2. Plastic Bag/Cling Film: Represents waterproof gear (rain protection).

  3. Thick plastic cut from laundry soap bottle: Represents a "hard hat" (impact protection).

  4. Metal can: Represents "armor" (sturdy, hard surface).

  5. Tinted clear plastic: sunglasses

📝 Experiment Worksheet: Protective Gear Analysis


Experiment WorksheetExperiment WorksheetExperiment WorksheetExperiment Worksheet
Protective Material
Protective Material
Cotton Fabric
Protective Material
Cardboard/Aluminum
Protective Material
Heavy Plastic
Protective Material
Tinted Plastic
Tested Against
Tested Against
Water Spray
Tested Against
Dropped Marble
Tested Against
Impact (Hard Hat)
Tested Against
Bright Light (Sunglasses)
Result (Pass/Fail)
Result (Pass/Fail)
Result (Pass/Fail)
Result (Pass/Fail)
Result (Pass/Fail)
Why did it work or fail?
Why did it work or fail?
Why did it work or fail?
Why did it work or fail?
Why did it work or fail?

The Sower, seed and soil experiment


Pair the Parable of the Sower, which can be found in Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, and Luke 8:4–15 with the Fruits of the Spirt garden to teach important gospel object lessons. 

In this parable, Jesus describes a sower scattering seeds that land on four different types of soil, representing how people receive the "word of the kingdom" (the Word of God):

  • The Path: The seed is snatched away by the birds (representing the evil one/Satan).

  • Rocky Ground: The seed springs up quickly but withers because it has no deep root (representing those who hear the word with joy but fall away when trouble or persecution arises).

  • Among Thorns: The seed is choked by thorns (representing those who hear the word but are distracted by the "cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches").

  • Good Soil: The seed produces a crop, multiplying many times over (representing those who hear, understand, and bear fruit).&nbsp

    🌱 The Parable of the Soil Experiment

    Which "heart" will the seed grow in?

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Small containers (recycled yogurt cups work great)
    • Soil types: 1. Gravel/Rocks, 2. Sand (the path), 3. Hard-packed dirt mixed with weeds (thorns), 4. Potting soil (good soil)
    • Fast-growing seeds (like radish or bean)
    • Water & sunlight

    Method:

    1. Fill each container with one of your four soil types.
    2. Label them based on the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13).
    3. Plant 2 seeds in each.
    4. Place them in a sunny spot in the Tree Fort and water them equally.
    5. Observe for 7–10 days. Document which seeds sprout and which struggle!

    Discussion Question: How does our "heart" (our attention, our priorities) act like the soil in these cups? Which cup represents a heart that is ready for God's Word?

    ;

Animal Body Coverings Object Lesson

Pair this with the Noah's Ark craft project to demonstrate symbiosis. God created each species with a unique body covering to meet specific needs of
  • safety from predators (camouflage)
  • temperature control (warmth or cool)
  • protection from elements
  • mode of movement 
God designed them to adapt to their environment and them placed them in the environment in which they would adapt best. Use this chart that students can fill out to explain why each covering matches habitat. 
Animal Habitat Body Covering God's Design Purpose
Polar Bear Arctic Tundra Thick fur & blubber Keeps warm in extreme cold; helps with buoyancy.
Duck Lakes & Ponds Waterproof oily feathers Keeps the duck dry and insulated while swimming.
Desert Lizard Hot Desert Thick, dry scales Prevents water loss and protects from the hot sun.
Arctic Hare Snowy Plains White fur coat Provides camouflage against snow to hide from predators.
Fish Oceans & Rivers Overlapping scales & slime Reduces friction for speed; protects against parasites.
Explore and discuss other animal body coverings and body styles and how they help the animal adapt. Some animals might be: snakes, zebra, elephant, parrot, squirrel, monkey and whale. 

⚖️ Usage Terms

All Omschool lesson plans are created with love for our fellow homeschooling families and teachers!

These resources are provided free of charge for personal use and non-profit classroom settings. Please do not sell or redistribute these materials for profit. If you'd like to share, please link back to this blog!

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