Free Printable Worksheets on Caves, Paleontology, Bats, Fossils, Deserts

Archaeology is one of the most fascinating branches of science and caves are one of nature's most alluring geological landforms to explore. Caves are a separate biome all their own. They've been used as habitats by animals and people. Bats are cave dwellers and dinosaurs dwelt in caves. Mystics have sought divine enlightenment living as hermits in caves. Ancient people left hieroglyphics on walls of caves, like those at Lascaux, France. Caves yield up a treasure trove of fossils and teach valuable lessons in archaeology and paleontology. Teachers and homeschool families, if you're planning a unit on caves (and you really should) here are free printable lesson plans on cave-related subjects of fossils, bats, archaeology, paleontology, habitats, geology, spelunking and earth science.

The National Parks Service has free printable lessons on the U.S. national park at Carlsbad Cavernsin New Mexico. There's curriculum for elementary school in the free printable booklet About Bats, Caves and Deserts. For middle school students, the NPS Carlsbad Caverns website features free printable archaeology lessons on Caves, Canyons, Cactus and Critters. High school students explore geology, spelunking, Global Positioning Systems and orienteering in the Chihuahuan Desert Lab school. Materials are designed to be used with interpretive visits but some may be used as stand-alone lessons in class. Check out the cool activities on fossils, bats, paleontology and other cave phenomena.

Also from the NPS, are free printable materials on Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. There are free coloring pages, word games, puzzles and lesson plans in the Junior Ranger section. Kids will love the printable Trog Tour booklet (trog is short for super cool fossils called troglodytes) The Making Connections series from Mammoth Cave National Park features books for grades K-3, 4-5 and 6-8. There are 83 pages of free printable paleontology lesson plans for teachers and homeschool parents. And be sure not to let young archaeology students miss the free printable Fossil Identification Guide with coloring pages of fossils to label.

Lascaux Culture has interactive lesson plans on Lascaux cave drawings. Explore paleontology and archaeology with the prehistoric paintings, There are cave maps, images, videos and timelines. The website has interpretive information detailing the images, their purpose and their significance. You can access the site in several languages including English, but the educational "resources" link is available only in French.

Easy Fun School has free cave diorama lesson plan. The diorama is easy to make and uses cheap, household materials.has free printable animal habitat coloring pages. Students can research which animals live or hibernate in caves. This site has other free printable habitats dioramas. Crayola offers a free craft template to show interior cave rock formations.

Cave stalactites grow downward from the ceiling. The word comes from the Greek "to drip" (stalactites resemble icicles). Stalagmites grow up from the cave floor and look like upside down icicles. In Greek, the word means "trickling." Use these activities to demonstrate how stalactites and stalagmites grow. Crystal Cave in Wisconsin offers tours and family activities to explore this famous cave. Here are free printable geology lesson plans on archaeology, paleontology, bats, and fossils.

Mousekin children's book series lesson plans for life science

Hello friends of the Omschool! Teacher Omi here with some beloved children's literature classics from my childhood! Just in time for Children's Book Week and Earth Month in April, here are kids books that for preschool and emergent readers on nature. And these books star a little creature named Mousekin in his many woodland adventures. 

Using the Mousekin book series, by Edna Miller, you can teach complete units in life science. With Mousekin, childrean explore camouflage, hibernation, ecosystems, habitats, symbiosis and more. Edna Miller, a naturalist and children's book author introduced us to Mousekin, a white-footed mouse, with her first book Mousekin's Golden House, in 1964. 

Here are lesson plans using the Mousekin books in preschool and elementary life science activities. Each Mousekin book contains a glossary of science terms and animal species, as well as suggested reading and further reference.

Mousekin's Golden House (1964) Perfect for Halloween, fall and autumn harvest lesson plans. Looking for a place to hibernate in winter, Mousekin discovers how other forest animals prepare for winter. When Mousekin finds a discarded carved jack-o-lantern pumpkin, he makes it into a cozy winter den. Children will learn about how eastern woodland habitat creatures ready themselves for winter.

Mousekin's Christmas Eve (1965) Our furry friend finds another cozy nest when he finds himself unexpectedly indoors for the holidays. 

Mousekin Finds a Friend (1967) Seeking safety yet again, the little white-footed mouse discovers an ally in s surprising way. He learns more about predator, prey and also community relationships in the animal kingdom. 

Mousekin's Family (1972) Through the eyes of a young mouse, we see how different animal species raise their families in the wild. 

Mousekin's Birthday Lovely story of gestation, birth and care of a family of white-footed mice. Beautifully drawn images. 

Mousekin's Woodland Sleepers  (1970) Companion book for Mousekin's Golden House, Mousekin's Woodland Sleepers explores in more detail how different species hibernate, including where they hibernate and how winter sleep cycles work. Mousekin meets a hibernating woodchuck, bear and chipmunk. Mousekin also learns about predator/ prey relationships in winter, including the predatory screech owl, skunk and fox who do not hibernate. Excellent book on habitats.

Mousekin's ABC (1972) Excellent forest field guide and reference book.

Mousekin Takes a Trip (1976) Mousekin ends up in a new environment with new creatures when the house he's wintering in migrates south! 

Mousekin's Close Call (1978) While eluding a hungry weasel, Mousekin explores how different creatures protect and camouflage themselves and their young. Mousekin's Close Call shows different predator/ prey relationships, habitats and how the food chain works in an eastern woodland forest.

Mousekin's Mystery (1983) A forest fire leaves Mousekin homeless and fills the forest with an eerie glow. Mousekin discovers bioluminescence from the fox fire fungus. This book explores habitats and symbiosis also.

Mousekin's Thanksgiving  (1985) In his quest for winter food stores, Mousekin discovers that some creature is eating his winter stores, but in the process, making more winter food stores available. Mousekin's Thanksgiving explores how creatures rely on each other in a symbiotic relationship within habitats.

Mousekin's Easter Basket (1986) Perfect for spring lessons, Mousekin explores different nests and eggs in his search for shelter. Perfect book to help children identify how birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles design their nests and protect their young.

Mousekin's Lost Woodland (1996) Mousekin's beloved home is destroyed when the shared pond is drained to build a new house. Teaches children about deforestation, wetlands protection and ecology. 

There are a few I may have missed as Edna Miller was a prolific writer, penning Mousekin stories for over 30 years.