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Cicadas: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.}

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. 

If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free printables,  here in the FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded! 

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

CICADAS 

INTRO: For a girl who was born and raised in Southern California, CICADAS were something I had no experience with whatsoever…until one weird summer when we returned to visit my husband’s family in Mid-Missouri. They were everywhere. I mean….everywhere. It was the craziest experience, one which our six-year-old son found fascinating but his mama found downright disturbing. But, since that time, I have learned quite a bit about the creatures and find them truly fascinating. Whether you live where CICADAS will be emerging this summer or not, your kids should enjoy learning all about these interesting insects! 

READ: Considering CICADAS are viewed by many as one of the most fascinating creatures, I think there should be more and better book options out there on the subject. I mean, how many stories of roly-polies and ladybugs do you see highlighted on the evening news? Gail Gibbons and Tish Rabe, please take note! But there are certainly enough to teach your kiddos about CICADAS!

Cecily Cicada by Kita Helmetag Murdock and Patsy Hemetag is a book written TWICE by a mother/daughter team. They first wrote the book in 2004 and then updated it for the 2021 CICADA emergence.  It’s a cute fiction book that does a great job of showing little the life cycle of CICADAS with a lot more than a diagram. They also include some lovely choice of words that adds to the sweetness of the book. The  FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack has two pages to complement the book; one for vocabulary and one for comprehension. 

Cicadas! Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle is probably the best non-fiction option available. It is fairly thorough covers both periodical and annual CICADAS along with their life cycle, body parts, etc. There is a one-page scavenger hunt in the FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack. The scavenger hunt would work with any non-fiction resource on the subject. 

Cicada by Shaun Tan is a unique picture book for sure. My library had it cataloged in the Young Adult Department and I think that was probably the right choice. Though it could be read to younger kids and followed up with a conversation that connects the story to the life cycle of the CICADA, it is certainly a wee bit dark and sad in places. It does end on a happy note for the CICADA, but might cause kids to question the happiness of humans. There is one writing activity in the FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack.

My Life as a Cicada by M. Eigh is a fiction book with very cartoony illustrations, which are not my favorite, but it does do a good job of portraying the life cycle of a CICADA from the insect’s perspective. It also explains the pesky termites that it has to deal with, which most other books don’t cover. Overall, it’s a good option, especially for younger kids. 

WRITE: The FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack includes a couple of writing activities. There is one designed to accompany the book, Cicada by Shaun Tan. But there is also one that is great for kids of all ages, regardless of where they got their CICADA info. It asks the student to write a sentence or two about the CICADA’s life underground and illustrate it. Then it asks the student to do the same about life above-ground. 

There is also a Venn Diagram so kids can compare and contrast the CICADAS and butterflies. 

There are additional writing activities and prompts found in the CICADA Fact Pack. More info about that below. 

LEARN: There are quite a few printables in the FREE Cicadas Unit Study Printable Pack including a list of Ten Cool CICADA Facts plus some questions to go with it. 

There are also two pages covering a CICADA’s body parts and

a couple of pages covering the life cycle of the CICADA. 

For a more thorough and detailed pack, check out the CICADA Fact Pack. It includes a detailed explanation of the life cycle, more information on the body parts and a map of the current broods. It also includes questions to answer, pages to label and a crossword puzzle to complete. Use code 25OffCicadaPack to save 25% off the current price!

CREATE: With their simple bodies, CICADA art is fairly easy to create! This how-to-draw a CICADA tutorial is a simple nine-step process. This CICADA paper craft includes a free template. This toilet paper tube CICADA is kinda funny looking but totally endearing! And this origami CICADA may not be the easiest of the bunch but is a great lesson in following directions and creates a fun keepsake. 

ENJOY: As mentioned above, my personal experience with CICADAS is limited to that weird summer in Missouri plus one lone bug last summer here in Kansas. But, that experience in Missouri sure left a lasting impression. I even remember that the local frozen custard shop was making CICADA frozen custard. And it was selling out every day! It ended up making national news and they had to stop selling it.  Turns out, there was concern from the FDA about eating the crunchy critters. But, there are currently a ton of ideas of how to eat actual CICADAS but I just can’t contemplate that concept. Other than those icky ideas,  the selection of CICADA-themed snacks is pretty limited. I did find these cupcakes but I would not call them easy to make but you might find a clever way to adapt them. But this sweet and salty CICADA snack is way more my style, both in the ease of making and choice of ingredients. It just takes two types of pretzels, a big chocolate peanut butter cup, a Nutter Butter cookie and a couple of red M&M’s. 

EXPLORE: One of the most fascinating things about CICADAS is the molting process and this cool three-minute video shows it off perfectly! This video includes text that explains a bit more about CICADAS but is also short enough for any age. This site includes links to CICADA sounds along with other CICADA tidbits. But, this four-minute video from Sci Show Kids is my favorite. It’s designed for the younger crew but also speaks clearly about CICADAS to all ages! 

Manatees: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.}

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. 

If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free printables,  here in the FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded! 

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

MANATEES 

INTRO: I think MANATEES are some of the coolest animals on earth and I feel so blessed to have been able to see several of them while living on an island off the coast of Belize. The experience was like something out of a movie with an old rickety wooden boat that was being propelled by wiry men with long sticks. We had to be very still and very quiet and very patient. Especially patient. But, the patience paid off and we were able to see several of their enormous, slow-moving bodies emerging, exhaling, inhaling and then just as slowly submerging again. Over and over and over again. It was mesmerizing and I could have stayed there all day if given the opportunity.  If you have a kid who might be mesmerized by these unique mamamls, I hope this MANATEE Unit Study will offer some guidance in how to teach about these cool creatures! 

READ: All About Manatees by Jim Arnosky is a great option to start a Unit Study on MANATEES. The author is has written nearly 100 nature and wildlife books for children and does a beautiful job of describing what MANATEES are, what they eat, where they live and more. He also illustrated the book, using what looks like watercolors which creates the most lovely underworld setting! It’s a great way to get all of your MANATEE facts in one place, and if you use the mini Book Companion Fact found in the FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack, you can extend the learning beyond the pages of the book. You can also use those printable pages with nearly any non-fiction book about MANATEES. 

National Geographic Kids Manatees by Laura Marsh is a non-fiction chapter book perfect for young independent readers. It includes on-page definitions, vivid photographs and simple facts. It makes a great single resource on the subject of MANATEES, especially when combined with the one-page scavenger hunt found in the  FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack. You can probably find all of the answers to the scavenger hunt with nearly any non-fiction book about MANATEES {or internet search.}

Another great non-fiction option is Oceans Alive Manatees by Anne Herriges. It’s listed as a level 2 reader but it’s definitely an easier read than the Nat Geo book mentioned above. My library had a copy. Maybe yours will too!

Manatee Scientist: Saving Vulnerable Species by Peter Lourie is a great option for older kids. It tells the true stories of three scientists in different parts of the world who are dedicated to saving MANATEES. 

There are lots of fiction books about the sweet MANATEE! You’ve got Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs, which tells the story of Sam, a MANATEE calf. It does a great job of weaving in MANATEE facts along with the adventure Sam takes us on. 

Another cute fiction book is Mary Manatee by Suzanne Tate. It focuses on the real danger that MANATEES face: propeller boats. But it does so in a gentle way. 

A funny, fantastical option is I’m a Manatee by John Lithgow. Yes, THAT John Lithgow. If you’re not aware, the actor is also a singer/author and has several titles to his name. The book comes with a CD, which makes reading it both extra fun and extra educational. It’s a silly book but does weave in several facts about MANATEES amongst the fun rhyme and fantastical approach. It also has gorgeous illustrations! The FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack includes one comprehension page and also a writing activity for the book.  

But my favorite fiction book about MANATEES is This is a Sea Cow by Cassandra Federman. It’s a hilarious story about a MANATEE that takes issue with the way a second-grader portrayed it in her book report. The MANATEE comes to life and corrects all of the student’s misinformation. It’s a very clever way to educate readers about MANATEE facts. It’s also a great way to transition into writing….

WRITE: In the FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack, you’ll find a Venn Diagram that is perfect to compare/contrast MANATEES and cows that would be super fun to use with This is a Sea Cow by Cassandra Federman but would also work without the book.

And, as mentioned above, there is also a fun writing activity based on the book, I’m a Manatee by John Lithgow but can be used without the book. There are two levels included, one for younger writers and one for writers who can do a bit more. 

LEARN: If your kids love to learn with printable pages, there is one page of Informational Text with questions found in the FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack along with two labeling activities. Or you can find a couple of more in-depth options on my MANATEES Pinterest Board. These other options are from other content-creators and are not free, but you might want to check them out {and I clearly need to add a full-on MANATEE Fact Pack to my list of resources to make…there’s just not a ton out there!}

In the FREE Manatees Unit Study Printable Pack, you will also find two MANATEE body part diagrams to complete. One asks the student to simply label 6 parts while the other asks the student to label and explain six different body parts. 

CREATE: Ya know I’m all about simple art so drawing is not usually my go-to suggestion. But with the simple, and delightfully squishy, body shapes that MANATEES sport, they are fairly easy to draw! Here is a set of directions on how to draw one. You could then cut out your hand-drawn MANATEE and place it on its own habitat! This option seems fairly simple and uses markers and pipe cleaners.  This next craft,  though, takes paint, patience and grass clippings but it is super cool and more than just a wee-bit realistic, so, though it’s not easy-peasy super quick, I am suggesting it anyhow. 

ENJOY: There are not a lot of ideas for MANATEE foods! But, I did find just enough to fill a whole day at least! Start the day with this cute MANATEE waffle breakfast, then enjoy a MANATEE-shaped sandwich for lunch and end the day with some MANATEE-shaped hot stuffed crescent rolls for dinner! Be sure to serve a big salad with dinner…since that’s what MANATEES would eat! 

EXPLORE: There are several options for videos/movies about MANATEES. The Octonauts on Netflix has an episode {Season 2, Episode 10} where they save a group of MANATEES from a storm. The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That also has a MANATEE episode {Season 2 Episode 6} about a mom and baby. For something more documentary-like, National Geographic has a quick three-minute video.  But this 15-minute option, put out by Fort Pierce Manatee Observation and Education Center, is so good that it could serve as the base of your entire MANATEE Unit Study.

Other than packing a bag and heading to FLORIDA, or at least the local aquarium, there are not too many sciencey ideas out there, but this post includes a super cool idea about making a “Caution: MANATEE Area” obstacle course.

And, lastly, no MANATEE Unit Study would be complete without recommending Larry’s Silly Song, Barabara Manatee, from VeggieTales. It teaches NOTHING about MANATEES but it’s so ridiculous that your kids won’t ever forget the Unit Study! 

Sea Turtles: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.}

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. 

If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free printables,  here in the FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded! 

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

SEA TURTLES 

INTRO: Despite how they are portrayed in Finding Nemo, SEA TURTLES are not uber laid-back creatures with no cares in the world. In reality, they face many dangers from the get-go and are fierce survivors with amazing instincts! 

READ: As mentioned in several other UNIT STUDIES {TORNADOES,  HURRICANES and HONEYBEES to name a few,} any book by Gail Gibbons is a great way to begin a new Unit Study! Her books are always filled with well-documented factual information, presented in a kid-friendly way and accompanied by lovely illustrations. And Sea Turtles by Gail Gibbons is no exception! The book covers the parts of a SEA TURTLE as well as the various kinds of SEA TURTLES along with their migration and egg-laying habits.  The FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack includes a mini book companion pack for this book, though the pages would work well with other non-fiction  SEA TURTLE book as well. 

National Geographic Kids Sea Turtles by Laura Marsh is a non-fiction chapter book perfect for young independent readers. It includes on-page definitions, vivid photographs and simple facts. It makes a great single resource on the subject of SEA TURTLES, especially when combined with the one-page scavenger hunt found in the  FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack. 

Little Sea Turtle and the Song of the Sea by Sheridan Cain is a lovely picture book that shows the process of a SEA TURTLE hatchling from the time it breaks from its egg until it is safe and sound in the sea. It’s told partially in rhyme with encouraging words from the sea. The  FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack includes a sequencing page as well as a writing activity. 

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies is another sweet story about a baby SEA TURTLE trying to make it safely to the sea. 

A great non-fiction option that shows real-life people, including kids, that try to help SEA TURTLES is National Graphic Kids Mission: Sea Turtle Rescue by Karen Young. 

WRITE: As mentioned above, there is a writing activity designed to work with Little Sea Turtle and the Song of the Sea by Sheridan Cain but it also works perfectly well without the book. There are two levels included in the  FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack. One for early writers who would only need to fill in one word and one for writers who can complete a compound sentence. 

There is also a writing activity that asks the student to compare and contrast SEA TURTLES with tortoises using a Venn Diagram.

LEARN: In the  FREE Sea Turtles Unit Study Printable Pack, you’ll find one page of SEA TURTLE info that is perfect for a simple introduction. But if you desire more printables on SEA TURTLES, In All You Do has a free SEA TURTLE life cycle pack that is great for younger kids and Hess UnAcademy has a free printable pack that explores a bunch of different aspects related to SEA TURTLES and is geared for kids of different ages. 

CREATE: With their simple shapes and geometric shell designed, SEA TURTLE crafts are both plentiful and fairly easy. I absolutely love this glueless paper option and this paper bowl option too! And, because I am a sucker for suncatchers made with contact paper and torn tissue, this SEA TURTLE suncatcher is probably my favorite! This seashell SEA TURTLE definitely takes more time and patience but it would make a super keepsake to remember all that was learned during your SEA TURTLE Unit Study. And if you don’t have easy access to shells, this painted rock version is very similar and just as cute! 

ENJOY:  There’s not a whole lot in the way of easy SEA TURTLE foods. I did find this SEA TURTLE waffle and banana breakfast, these SEA  TURTLE quesadillas and a few different ways to make SEA TURTLE apple and kiwi snacks. But, that’s it, unless you are into super serious food art, like the mom at Lunarbell Art, which I totally am not but maybe you are! 

EXPLORE: For a fairly simple science experiment that helps kids better understand a SEA TURTLE’S migration instincts, check this out.  For a hands-on way to experience the importance of ocean clean-up, this looks pretty cool. And if watching short videos is your thing, Disney Junior has a two-minute option great for the younger crew,  National Geographic has a three-minute option,  and then there is a four-minute option from See Turtles {that’s not a typo!}

Honeybees: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.} 

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. 

If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free printables,  here in the FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded! 

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

HONEYBEES

INTRO: Before creating this UNIT STUDY, I would not have said that HONEYBEES are cool at all but I’ve decided that they really are the coolest! From their crazy organized communities to the amazing impact they have on the food chain to so much more…there is a lot to be wowed by! 

Whether you have a little bug-lover or an older entomologist in training, this HONEYBEES UNIT STUDY hopefully has something to offer you and your kids! 

READ: As I mentioned in both the TORNADOES and HURRICANES Unit Studies, Gail Gibbons is a great way to begin a new Unit Study. Her books are filled with well-documented factual information, presented in a kid-friendly way and accompanied by lovely illustrations. And The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons is no exception! The book shows the process of making honey from the moment two kids put out a beehive on a hill to eating honey on toast. It also explains the lifecycle of the HONEYBEE. The FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack includes a mini book companion pack for this book, though the pages would work well with other non-fiction  HONEYBEES books as well. 

Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole is yet another great  book to read! Done in MSB’s classic style filled with a group of fictitious kids, an extra-adventurous teacher and a magical school bus combined with loads of factual tidbits, it’s great for several ages and skill levels. Plus, there is a free one-page scavenger hunt found in the FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack. The book is NOT necessary to find the answers to all of the questions. Most non-fiction books or Internet searches on HONEYBEES would provide the info needed to complete the scavenger hunt. 

Show Me the Honey by Tish Rabe is a book written in the Cat-in-the-Hat’s amusing style that tells a story about attending the Queen Bee’s celebration. And to increase the understanding of the book, there are some mini Book Companion Pack pages found in the FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack including a sequencing activity. 

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall  is an absolutely delightful picture book that starts with a single HONEYBEE in a field. It then takes the reader on a lyrical journey through the process of making honey. It’s truly a lovely book that combines the feeling of fiction with the science of non-fiction. My library had it. I hope yours does too!

The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco is another delightful picture book. It tells the story of an entire series of townspeople who follow a HONEYBEE in search of honey. It’s funny and sweet! 

WRITE: In the FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack, you’ll find two different writing activities. One, which comes with both primary and secondary-styled lines, simply asks the student to write three sentences to help describe BEE.

The other activity, which has no lines to allow for kids of all ages and abilities to complete it, asks the student to describe what they both find hurtful and helpful about HONEYBEES. As you can see, the activity is designed in such a way that the hurtful part is a very minimal portion and the helpful part is huge in comparison. I think it’s important to recognize that HONEYBEES can indeed be scary {and hurtful} while also, of course, highlighting the enormous good they contribute. It’s okay to be a wee bit nervous of their stingers while also respecting what they do for the world!

LEARN: If you want an easy-to-use printable page that describes the basics of a HONEYBEE, you’ll find that in the FREE Honeybees Unit Study Printable Pack. 

If you want a printable that covers more including their body parts, the life-cycle and the different roles of each HONEYBEE, check out this paid product.  

CREATE: With their simple shapes and geometric color designs, HONEYBEES are pretty easy to replicate with crafts. And ya know I am all about simple when it comes to art!  Here is a simple paper plate honeybee {though it’s pretty round so maybe it’s a bumblebee, ha!} Here is another paper plate version but with torn paper, which is one of my favorite forms of art! It’s great for littles because, well, NO SCISSORS! But, it’s also great for older kids because there is something more artistic about rough edges and imperfect pieces that appeals to tweens and up. And here is a unique yarn-wrapped bee craft. Again, it’s kinda bumbly-looking so I would just cut the shape not as round if you want it to look more like a HONEYBEE.   These rock bees take a little more work and patience but are uber-cute and would last forever to serve as a fun keepsake! And to go with any of those crafty HONEYBEES, here is an egg carton beehive that is too cute!  And, here is a not-so-simple realistic beehive craft that truly looks like the real deal! 

ENJOY: Just like with crafts, when it comes to snacks to enjoy for a Unit Study, I am all about simple. Well, and they need to be yummy too! Thankfully, yummy HONEYBEE snacks are easy to come by if you just look for anything with honey! Personally, I’d make one of my all-time favorite snacks: Honey Maid Graham Crackers and peanut butter. And maybe I’d throw in some of my husband’s favorite candy, Bits-o-Honey. But if your kids expect more than my lazy ideas, but you still want to take it easy,  you could quickly whip up a sweet snack mix with Teddy Grahams or whip up a plate of these honey nut apples. For some more elaborate ideas, try these soft honey cookies, this crunchy honey concoction or this honey butter which you can serve with bread or fruit! For a super cool hands-on activity that actually shows off some chemistry too, try making a batch of this honey taffy!

EXPLORE: This six-minute video does a great job of explaining how HONEYBEES make honey. And a simple, yet powerful hands-on {well, more like nose-on} experience to better understand HONEYBEES can be found here. To see {and taste} what makes the HONEYBEES’ honeycomb bubbly, try this experiment. To explore more about pollinators, but not necessarily HONEYBEES, check out this great collection of ideas of how to get kids involved or this amazing way to simulate pollination using Cheetos. 

Hopefully, something in this UNIT STUDY will get your kids excited to find out what all the buzzzzzzzzzzzzz over HONEYBEES is about! 

Hurricanes: A UNIT STUDY Read~Write~Create~Explore~Enjoy~Learn

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{This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for details.}

Each UNIT STUDY includes suggestions of books to READ, ideas to WRITE, crafts to CREATE, more to EXPLORE, snacks to ENJOY and other ways to LEARN about a specific topic! To read more about the concepts behind my UNIT STUDIES, read this. If you find it handy to have a simplified printable of these suggestions, you can find one, along with several free printables,  here in the FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack.

Otherwise, read on for a more detailed version with links embedded!

{Note: The links are pink! Just think, “pink link” if you are wanting to follow a link to something.}

 

HURRICANES

INTRO:  For a girl who was born and raised in sunny Southern California, weather was something we claimed to have the best of, and while it was lovely most days, turns out it’s actually kind of boring. But living in Central America for a year taught me that there was a whole lot more to weather than sunny skies and the dreaded May Gray that appeared over the ocean in the early mornings. Just a couple of months into my time in Belize, HURRICANE Keith hit the area and I learned how to prep for, hunker down during and clean up after a HURRICANE.  Though this UNIT STUDY won’t prep your family for a HURRICANE, hopefully, it will give you enough info to at least give your kids a basic introduction to what some call the most violent storms on earth. 

READ: Hurricanes by Gail Gibbons A great place to begin any  UNIT STUDY is with a book by Gail Gibbons.  Her books are filled with well-documented factual information, presented in a kid-friendly way and accompanied by lovely illustrations. And her book about HURRICANES is no exception. My library’s online resource even had a video version of the book! And, there is a mini book companion pack ready to be printed in the FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack. 

Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane by Joanna Cole is another great book to introduce HURRICANES. Done in MSB’s classic style filled with a group of fictitious kids, an extra-adventurous teacher and a magical school bus combined with loads of factual tidbits, it’s great for several ages and skill levels. Plus, there is a free one-page scavenger hunt found in the FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack. {Note: the book is NOT necessary to find the answers to all of the questions. Most non-fiction books or Internet searches on HURRICANES would provide the info needed to complete the scavenger hunt.}

Hurricane by David Wiesner is a sweet fiction book about the experience of a HURRICANE.  It’s actually a recollection from the author about how he and his brother turned a downed tree, caused by a HURRICANE, into a variety of imaginative adventures. It does somewhat downplay the impact of what a HURRICANE can do but it’s a great example, especially for little ones, to see how others experienced a storm without much damage. The FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack includes a sequencing activity as well as a simple writing prompt based on the story. 

What Was Hurricane Katrina by Robin Koontz Unlike the book mentioned above, this book does not downplay or sugarcoat what it’s like to experience a HURRICANE. Part of the very popular What Is/Who Is series, it’s written for kids aged 8-12 and shares a lot of first-hand knowledge about one of the deadliest storms to have hit the United States, HURRICANE Katrina. 

Marvelous Cornelius by Phil Bildner is also about HURRICANE Katrina but is a fictitious tale based on a factual man who lived and worked in New Orleans, before, during and after Katrina struck in 2005. It’s less about the HURRICANE itself and more about the resilience of the people who dealt with the aftermath. It’s told in a folk-talesy fashion with exaggeration, alliteration and repetition. My library had it in stock. Hopefully, yours does too. 

WRITE: As mentioned above, there is a simple writing activity included in the FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack that could be used after reading Hurricane by David Wiesner , but it would be a great practice in imagination whether you read the book or not!

Included in the FREE HURRICANES Unit Study Printable Pack, you’ll also find a writing prompt that asks kids to work through the differences between a HURRICANE Watch and a HURRICANE Warning. Not only is it good practice in the art of finding differences, it could also prove to be handy to have that safety knowledge in the future. 

LEARN: If you want an easy-to-use printable pack that teaches all about what causes HURRICANES, check out this resource from Hess UnAcademy. It’s not free but it’s fairly inexpensive and well worth the few bucks! 

CREATE: This hands-on activity is a simple craft to cut out but can also be used to experiment with. And this HURRICANE in a jar is a fun visual to create for little ones. This edible HURRICANE dough is made with marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar and sprinkles, so it’s nothing but pure sugar but looks easy to make, fun to manipulate and nummy to nibble on. So, it’s part something to create but also a snack to enjoy. 

ENJOY: This leads me to other fun  HURRICANE-related snacks….which basically don’t exist. Pinterest has HURRICANE cookies, cake and popcorn posted but, none of them look like HURRICANES or seem to have a history based on HURRICANES {that I could find anyhow,} so I’m not really sold on their HURRICANEiness. I think what I would do, seriously, is use a HURRICANE shopping list and make an entire day’s worth of meals of food that people stock up with to prep for big storms and pending electricity outages. 

EXPLORE: This 3-minute video from National Geographic provides a great intro to HURRICANES which gives an awesome explanation of what causes HURRICANES and what makes them dangerous. And this article from NASA does an excellent job at showing how HURRICANES form and also links to a short video. 

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