Biology Basics: Kingdoms

6kingdoms

As a homeschool mom, I have delved into the world of science with some particular aims in mind, specifically feeding curiosity, developing admiration in the beauty and design of creation, and finding the fun! Sometimes learning terms mean very little to young ones, and I hope to inspire both memory and understanding by creating visuals that are sticky for kids brains. By sticky I mean, let's make it stick!

You are welcome to download our FREE handy-dandy PDF with a little poster of playful visuals, facts that explain the terms, and a mini quiz to help with little minds recall what they learn. 

Here is some information you might want to know about these 6 Kingdoms of living things!

Animalia is the kingdom of animals. Animals include invertebrates like insects, and vertebrates like mammals and birds. Six important aspects of animals are: 
1.     Animals are multicellular, which means they have many cells.
2.     Animal cells do not have cell walls. 
3.    Animals consume food. 
4.    Almost every animal reproduce sexually.
5.    Animals are able to move at some time during their life.
6.    Animals have nervous systems and respond to the things they sense around them. 

Plantae is the kingdom of plants. Important characteristics of plants are:
1.     Plants are multicellular.
2.     Plant cells have cells walls and unique organelles.
3.     Plants produce food through a process called photosynthesis. 
4.     Plants usually can’t move because they are rooted to one place. 
5.     Plants reproduce sexually or asexually. Some reproduce with seeds through pollination, others through spores, or even asexually as with rhizomes or tubers.  

Fungi are multicellular decomposers like mold, moss, and mushrooms, but a few of them can be single-celled, like yeast. Fungi digest their food outside themselves and then absorb it. This process decomposes dead things and turns them into useful things like soil. They do not produce food through photosynthesis like plants do, so they don’t need light!

 Protista has the sound "tea" in it and has a large variety of organisms that all fit into one pot, or kingdom, that is. Most are single-celled organisms, but some have many cells, like algae. Protista have a nucleus, organelles, and sometimes chloroplasts. Some can move with little hair-like things called cilia, or tail-like flagella. They get their food either through photosynthesis like plants do, ingestion like animals do, or both! 

Archaea (has the sound ark in the beginning!) are single-celled organisms, meaning they are so tiny they cannot be seen without a microscope. Archaea do not have a nucleus and can live through all sorts of extreme conditions and temperatures. 

Bacteria are single-celled organisms that have a cell wall, but they do not have organelles or an organized nucleus. Some are helpful, such as producing vitamins or food. Others are harmful and cause disease, so wash your hands before you eat just in case you picked up some unhelpful bacteria!

Enjoy your free resource from Jolie Canoli, and stop by again- there's more to come!

Goodness Granola

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I love granola. I am a sucker for yogurt and berries and granola, or granola and milk, and I will eat these at all times of day, which includes night. Want a healthy breakfast? Granola. Time for lunch! Maybe I'll just make it easy and have granola. Uh oh, I'm hungry but it's not quite time for dinner... granola. Dinner? Granola. You get the picture... of me eating granola for dessert. 

Yeah, granola is an anytime food for me. This recipe is simple, but has all the notes of honey, coconut, cinnamon and vanilla that makes granola so irresistible. Those sweet flavors also make it forgivable to hold off on some the sweetener and still enjoy treating yourself to its yummy goodness throughout the day... and night. 

This recipe is also flexible, which means you can add the nuts you prefer, and even add special things like chia seeds or flaxseeds to up your omega 3s, or chocolate chips or dried fruits like dried blueberries, raisins, chopped dates, etc. You can also omit the coconut if you have some terrible tastebud disorder that causes you to not absolutely LOVE it like I clearly do. You can even half the honey to 1/4 cup and it still tastes delicious. 

 

Goodness Granola

4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cups nuts (chopped almonds, pecan halves, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc)
1/2 cup flaked coconut (I use unsweetened)
1/2 cup coconut oil melted
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, nuts, and coconut in a large mixing bowl. Pour in melted coconut, honey, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir to combine. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the granola over the sheet. Put in the oven for 10 minutes, then pull out and gently stir. Return to over for another 5 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Serve when cool. If adding dried fruit or chocolate chips add once it has cooled.

Yield 5 cups

 

 

 

Dogs: Be part of the story!

Dogs are such wonderful creatures. Each one is so unique and wonderful in its own special way. I asked followers to post a picture of their dog with one word. Here's what came out of it all!

   Follow Jolie Canoli on Facebook to join more stories! 

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Ode to Dogs

I love your smell. I love your touch.
I love to be with you so much.
You’re my hero, you’re my friend!
My love for you will never end.

Grab my leash, I’m by the door.
Ready, steady, let’s explore!
Let’s go sniff! Let’s go smell!
I can smell things really well.

Let’s go find the stinky trees!
I might find squirrels, I might find fleas.
Let me show you where to go!
I’ll lead the way ‘til you say no.

Sometimes I’m wild, a running blur,
A firecracker burst of fur.
I’ll light your life with lots of fun,
Making it a better one.

I can do so many things!
Bark! Jump! Run! Even try to sing!
Pet my belly, I’ll roll over!
Sit and stay, or come on over.

I’ll shake your hand when we meet,
Just be sure you have a treat.
I’ll give you kisses by the ton,
Wet-nosed whisker slobber ones!

You can instagram my face,
I’ll get you likes from every place.
Just picture me upon your lap,
A cuddle bug for every nap.

I like to sleep, I like to eat-
Ice cream, carrots, cheese and meat.
I like to ride in your cool car
With windows down like a superstar.

I like to bark, I like to chew
I’ll makeover your leather shoes.
But of everything there is to do,
My favorite is to be with you.

You’re my hero, my joy and cure.
Without you I’d be lost for sure.
You’re number one, there’s no competing!
You are the greatest human being.

Bugs

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Crawling and inching, 
  Squirming and worming
Small slimy friends
  make the night life-affirming
Whether six legs or eight
  or one hundred or none
Bugs keep on squirming
  by the stars or the sun
Whether screams from the girls
  or the hollers of boys
These silent sweet creatures
  sure bring on the noise
But they’re helpers! They’re ladies! 
  They’re gardeners and poets!
Just look and then listen, 
 and soon you will know it.