Shaped Animal Science Report: Bats!

I wanted to share a Science lesson Miss K did as part of an Amazing Animal unit.

We had been learning all about (non feathered) Flying creatures and I asked Miss K to choose one species to write a report on. She choose Bats.

Miss K has been fascinated by them ever since we saw one outside a Star bucks (of all places). While crossing the parking lot we heard some commotion outside the store. Three men were pointing up and dancing around. They were seemingly terrified! It turned out there was a (very) tiny bat that must have decided to come out of his sleeping spot a few hours early. It was just sitting there looking at everyone and the kids thought it was hilarious that they were 'freaking out' about a little bat. They had just watched a Wild Kratts episode about Bats. I did explain that some Bats can make you sick if they bite you. Miss K pointed out that a Bat would bite you if you are yelling and screaming at it. Good point!

I had a Bat and Bat Skeleton image from Evan Moor and used this to create a shape book.
This Bat image and Bat Skeleton will also work well if you would like to make bat book too!

 One the second page Miss K wrote about what the different things that Bats eat.

 One the third page was a Bat Food Web.

 One the final page was a paragraph about the largest and smallest species of Bats.

Our Books


We loved the Little Red Bat By Carol Gerber. Little Bat is faced with a big decision and visits all the creatures in the wood to ask their opinion on whether she should fly south for the Winter. It is a good introduction to Bats, Migration and food chains. Christina Wald's illustrations are full of expressive but realistic Animals in detailed forest scenes. You will want to look closely at each page to make sure you don't miss something!


We love the National Geographic kids Magazine so Miss K wanted to borrow this title from the Library. It is full of information and the amazing photos that Nat Geo is known for. I really like this series as they appeal to a wide range of ages.


Merlin Tuttle's 'American Neighborhood Bats' surprised me. I had borrowed it for the Photographs but I ended up enjoyed reading the sections on how important they are and the many myths and fears that surround them. It is written more for adults but in a few years I think Miss K will enjoy it too.

Our Online Bat Resources:

Are Bats Blind? from Discovery Kids

Incredible Bats.com is a great site where you can 'X-ray a bat',  watch Bat Videos,  take a Bat Quiz and more.

Creature features -Vampire-bat @ Nat geo Kids

Bat rescue.org

Butterfly unit study

Our Earth day inspired project focused on helping local Monarch butterflies. If you haven't seen all the fun and learning we have been having then please go and check out Our Save the Monarchs posts and Pinterest board.

 

Miss K wanted to know more about all the local butterflies not just the Monarchs. All her reading and observations culminated into a colorful lap book.

 

 

The final product contains the printables from two free lap book as well as some of our own mini books.

Free Butterfly Mini Helper lap book by Home school bits

Butterfly Lap book from Home school Share

Title Page

 

We had just finished with a Hans Christian Andersen unit so Miss K added this quote from 'The Butterfly' to her title page.

 

 

The Lifespan tri-fold book was for Miss K to record the number days 6 different species spend in each stage of their life cycle. The Host plant flap book listed 20 different plants and the Caterpillars that use them as food sources.

Life cycle, Host Plants, Life span

 

Anatomy, Anatomy Glossary

 

The Anatomy of the Butterfly had us all amazed. Miss K would have happily spent several weeks learning about each species. A trip to Butterfly house got everyone even more excited!

Butterfly feeding

Butterfly or Moth, Wingspan, Texas Butterfly species.

 

Miss K is on the look out now for a pocket Butterfly Identification guide (and a flower guide...and one for trees). At the moment I am trying to decide between the Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take Along Guide for younger kids or get one that will be good for years to come like the Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths.

 

Mini Piwi had a week of Butterflies too!

 

Preschool Butterfly science and Food art

 

We have been seeing a lot of Monarchs and Painted Ladies in the park this week. What Butterflies have you noticed near you?

 

 

 

Family Mealtime Rescue! Book Review and Giveaway.

Today we are sharing a great way to get more from your family dinner time with John Avery Whittaker's Whit's Ends Meal time devotions.

Title: Adventures in Odyssey: Whit's End Mealtime devotions from John Avery Whittaker
Authors: Crystal Bowman and Trisha Goyer.
Format: Paperback 112 pages
Published: March, 2013 Tyndale House

If you are not familiar with fictional Adventures in Odyssey Radio Series, John Avery Whittaker is the owner of Whit's End Ice cream shop in the town of Odyssey. Kids from all over town come to this friendly mentor for advice. In this title (with a little help from some great authors) Mr Whittaker offers kids and their families over 90 Menus for five course Meal time devotions. Each one contains:

• A Mealtime prayer.
• A Fun activity as an Appetizer.
• The Main Course is a lesson or thought to ponder followed by Table Talk discussions
• Finally Vitamins and Minerals give you a way to creatively thank God.

You aren't limited to using these just at home either! The guide is small enough to take on picnics, to the yoghurt shop or wherever you happen to be eating.

This will definitely be a great way to get our family dinners back on track. The activities and lessons are fun and entertaining. Kids five and older would likely get the most out of this book but younger children would have no problem joining in too! I really liked the inclusion of the different devotions for extra special days of the year such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and Birthdays. 

We are excited to be able to able to share this with another family with our first Giveaway!

The Prize:
A paperback copy of the Whit's End Mealtime devotions,
Three Bible Character Masks and Play Kits! (Includes 4 Masks, Play book and teaching guide)
The Story Ruth
David and Goliath
Joseph and the Coat of many Colors

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions: Please use the Rafflecopter widget to enter. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers. One winner will be randomly drawn within 48 hours of the giveaway ending. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond. If they do not respond within this timeframe, a new draw will take place to find a new winner.  Amazon links are affiliate links.

Disclosure:  Paperback version and an e-book of this title was provided for my honest review by Tyndale publishing house and I have chosen to giveaway the hard copy version. Tyndale publishing, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google have in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered this giveaway.