Toy lion figurines

Under the Sun

Under the Sun

Welcome to the first ever Terralive blog post! Every month we will share a new theme with you, with educational facts about real-life animals and fun ideas for creating your own crafts.

Kicking things off for summer is our first theme: Under the Sun! As we welcome back the warm sunshine, we’re focusing on the animals that live under the sun – in the jungles, rainforests, and deserts of the world.

King or Queen of the Jungle?

The lion is often called the King of the Jungle, but did you know that lionesses actually play a very significant role in their family? While lions are the protectors of the pride, their female counterparts do most of the hunting.

The lioness is a superior hunter because she is better at sneaking up on her prey – she is nimble, stealthy, and her fur blends into the grass (a lion’s mane makes him easier to spot).

Lionesses are also faster and can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour – woah!

Sensory Play: Build Your Own Rainforest!

Want to feel like you’re exploring the leafy rainforests of the Amazon with all its beautiful wild animals? This easy-to-make craft will transport you there in no time.

Added bonus: it’s a great place to store your miniature animal toys!

Here’s what we created using these supplies but remember, this is your rainforest – build it any way you like!

You will need:

  • A cardboard box
  • Construction paper
  • Artificial/real leaves and moss
  • Marbles
  • Modeling clay
  • A collection of different-sized rocks
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Potting soil
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Terra Jungle World bucket

  1. Decorate the box: Color your own rainforest design on construction paper, cut it to size, and glue it to cover your cardboard box. You could also find a leafy background online like we did!
  2. Go green: Grab some artificial leaves and moss (or pick your own from outside)
  3. Add some water: Use marbles to create a stream, adding your rocks around it. You can hold everything in place with the clay
  4. Mix textures together: Bend your pipe cleaners to create tree branches, and add the soil underneath for a different texture
  5. Gather your animals: There are lots of different animals in the Jungle World bucket, including a giraffe, zebra, and elephant. Bring them all together in your Terra universe!

Don’t forget to send us pictures of your masterpiece for the chance to be featured on our Instagram page. We can’t wait to see all your creations!

Cold Blood, Warm Climate

Did you know that reptiles are cold-blooded animals? This means they can’t generate their own heat, so they need to live in a hot climate. This includes sandy deserts, tropical rainforests, and even some US states, such as Florida and Arizona.

Reptiles – including slithery snakes, lively lizards, and crawling crocodiles – are covered in a scaly skin, which protects them from rough surfaces and the harmful UV rays of the sun.

They shed this skin a few times a year and grow a fresh one, like a brand-new coat!

Thank you for taking a trek with us through some of the world’s scorching-hot habitats. Join us next month when we grab our snorkels and get ready to explore what lies under the sea!