Easy nature and science investigations can be a family affair.
Nature provides an endless supply of interesting things to examine and explore. You don't need to leave your yard to learn about the world around you. Children love the outdoors and have a natural curiosity about the things they see. The bonus is getting them engaged in something away from the TV, computer and cell phones.
Birds of a Feather
Down feathers provide insulation to keep birds warm.
Birds have a variety of feathers that perform different functions in addition to allowing it to fly. Contour feathers provide color, shaping and defense against the elements. Semiplumes provide some insulation and some shaping. Filoplumes have a few barbs at the end and scientists think these assist the bird in keeping its feathers orderly. Down feathers are soft and airy, acting as insulation to keep the bodies of most birds around 40 degrees C. To examine the insulating properties of down feathers you will need two baby food jars, a bag of downy craft feathers, a pan, water, a tray of ice cubes, a stopwatch or clock with a second hand, 2 thermometers, paper, graph paper, 2 colored pencils and a pencil.
Pack feathers densely into one baby food jar. Put a thermometer into both the full and empty jars. Fill the pan half-full with water and add the ice cubes. Read and record the temperatures of both jars. Immediately put the jars in the pan without allowing any of the water to get into the jars. Thirty seconds after the first temperature reading, take another reading and record it. Continue reading and recording the temperature every 30 seconds for a total of five minutes. Chart the results on the graph paper with temperatures on the vertical axis and times on the horizontal axis. Use one color pencil for the feather-filled jar and the other color pencil for the empty jar. Why do campers and hikers like down-filled jackets and sleeping bags?
The World Under Our Feet
Make a Burlese funnel to examine the world of insects under our feet.
Many insects, including some so tiny you can barely see them, live and work in the ground beneath our feet. They are busy eating decaying matter and turning it into soil. An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects. To make your own Berlese Funnel, a tool used by entomologists to collect insects from the soil, you need a wide-mouth clear jar, several damp paper towels, a five- to six-inch diameter funnel, a piece of hardware cloth or window screen, a can, such as a small coffee can, open at both ends, a fist full of leaf litter and about one cup of rich soil.
Place the damp paper towels flat in the bottom of the jar. Cover the wide end of the funnel with the piece of hardware cloth or window screen and bend the edges over the sides of the funnel mouth. Put the small end of the funnel into the jar and place the can on the hardware cloth or window screen. Place the leaf litter into the can and put the soil on top of it. Place the Berlese Funnel in a sunny area and regularly check for "guests" that have dropped down into the jar. See how many arthropods you can identify. When you have examined the insects, put them back into the soil. Dampen the paper towels if you use the funnel again. Insects that live in the soil seek moisture. When the dirt dries out from the sun, they try to go deeper where it is still moist, and drop into the jar.
Leaf Discs
Take a nature walk to collect leaves to identify.
Learning to identify trees from their leaves is easier when you have a reminder of what they look like. You will need samples of leaves, a leaf identification book, polymer clay (such as Sculpey), waxed paper, a bowl with a large base, paper, pencil, a toothpick and tweezers, and an oven.
Collect leaves from your yard or a nature walk and bring them home. Identify them using the book and record the names on the paper so you remember which name goes with each leaf. Roll some of the polymer clay into a ball and place it between two sheets of waxed paper. Flatten the clay ball using the base of the bowl. Lift the top sheet of waxed paper and place a leaf on the clay disc. Replace the waxed paper. Flatten the disc with the base of the bowl until it is about one quarter-inch thick. Lift the waxed paper from the back of the disc. Label the back side of the disc with the tree name using a toothpick. Carefully remove the leaf from the disc using the tweezers. Follow the polymer clay directions and bake the discs in the oven.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
A nature scavenger hunt makes nature investigation fun.
A nature scavenger hunt is fun and educational. You will need paper and pencil for each person, a container for collecting and a magnifying lens. Before the hunt, search the hunt area and make a list for each child of things the children can find. Ideas can include feathers, stones, a pine cone, and berries eaten by wildlife. Allow the children 20 minutes to a half-hour for the hunt, depending on age. Examine your "treasures" and use the magnifying glass for a closer look.
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