Jungle Investigation Box

BOOKS FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION

Through the Milky Way on a PB&J

School’s out for the summer and Sami and Thomas have big plans. They’ve built a spaceship in their tree house and are going to blast off for a tour of the solar system, but one of the planets holds a special surprise. Vibrant images and flowing verse bring this imaginative story to life. Space lovers and adventurers of all ages are sure to love this cosmic journey.

Archaeologists Dig for Clues

Find out how even the smallest bits of chipped rock, burned seeds, and stained dirt can provide clues to how ancient peoples lived.

How Big Were Dinosaurs? 

This fact-filled book puts dinosaurs next to modern animals so that you can see exactly how they size up and a huge fold-out chart compares the dinos to each other.

The Magical School Bus Lost in the Solar System

On a special field trip in the magic school bus, Ms. Frizzle's class goes into outer space and visits each planet in the solar system.

Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives

Read about all the exciting facts lots of different animals have while learning about the wondrous things that can happen in just one lifetime. 

The Beetle Book

Come and learn about a bug that no one ever actually thinks about...a beetle! The beetle world is vast: one out of every four living things on earth is a beetle.

The Moon Seems to Change 

Because the moon revolves around Earth, it seems to grow and shrink. Children can read about the phenomena of the moon's phases!

Minn of the Mississippi

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream.

Weird Science for Kids: Kitchen Chemistry

Unlike some science experiment books, Weird Science for Kids attempts to explain each experiment in simple, kid friendly language. This allows children to turn science into a yummy experience as well! 

Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World

Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison.

Make your own farm!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/animals/makeafarm.html  

Let kids have fun making their very own farm complete with animals, fences, feeding areas, barns and other farm structures. This simple make a farm lesson plan is aimed at younger kids who can use their imagination to help make the activities work effectively.

Paper Airplanes and Gliders!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/flight/paperairplane.html

Test your design and problem solving skills with these fun flight challenges. Make paper airplanes and gliders that can fly further and more accurately than your friends while learning about what makes them glide so gracefully in the first place.

Planets and Fascination!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/planets.html  

Planets have fascinated scientists and humans in general for years, after all we do live on one ourselves. By learning more about these amazing objects that orbit the same sun as Earth, we can learn more about our own planet. The beauty of the planets found in our solar system is that they are so varied, with each one offering a new insight into everything from chemistry to physics, geography and how our solar system was formed all those years ago.

Spaceship Exploration!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/space/makeaspaceship.html

Design and build your own spaceship, space station or satellite. What features will you add to make your creation safe as it travels in space? This is a fun space activity for students that will challenge their design and building skills as well as their general knowledge of space.

Robots!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/technology/robotactivities.html

Enjoy some great robot activities that your students will love. These fun robot ideas for kids feature activities that can be easily done in the classroom. Teaching robotics is a blast and even better if you’ve got some great activities organized that will challenge children and make them think more about what kind of role robotics plays in the modern world.

Photoshop!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/technology/photoshop.html

Use computers to manipulate digital photos in fun ways by learning the basics of Photoshop. These activities offer Photoshop fun for kids that will help teach them about effects and other digital photo editing techniques.

Take some of your own digital photos and complete the range of fun challenges. The activities are simple to try and make for some great lesson ideas.

Designing Lego Cars!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/technology/legocars.html

Students will have fun as they design and build a Lego car. This activity for kids will challenge their design skills as they try and build a vehicle that will fit they specific needs required of it.

Use the lesson plan and help your students build some cool Lego cars while allowing scope for more challenges if you have motors or Lego Mindstorms equipment available.

Recycling!...Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/earth/recycling.html

Teach kids about the importance of recycling with our recycling lesson plan. Try some fun recycling activities as children learn some important concepts along the way. Recycling is an important part of a wider goal to improve the way we look after our environment. Caring for planet earth has become a well publicized topic in the modern world and it’s up to everyone to do their part. Words like reduce, reuse, reinvent and recycle are helpful in reinforcing things that can easily be done to improve not only our local area but also the wider world we live in.

Earthquake Activity!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/earth/earthquake.html

Imagine that your city has just been hit be a huge earthquake. This disaster has led to emergency situations around the city including landslides, blocked roads and fires. Get students to think about appropriate ways to handle the situation, what kind of vehicles should they send out and how should they design and build them? Use this fun disaster activity and earthquake lesson plan to help kids understand the importance of a well thought out emergency plan for use after a major disaster.

Make a Fossil!

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/earth/fossils.html

Fossils offer an amazing insight into a world that was once very different to the one we live in today. Use this fossils lesson plan to extend students understanding of how a fossil forms and why they are so important to paleontologists studying extinct animals such as dinosaurs. With this fun activity kids can make a fossil and enjoy learning about the science behind it at the same time.