Studying Snakes
Studying Snakes The other day, as my husband was heading out the door, he had an unusual surprise awaiting him. Right behind the car was a huge black snake. We didn’t take out a measuring tape, but I would estimate the snake was at least four to five feet long. Our dog began barking at it, and the snake curled up in a strike
All About Bones
Whether your child is learning about animals or his own body, a study of bones is a good place to start. And you can find the supplies you need in your local grocery store – or your very own kitchen! What You’ll Need Disposable Pan Bleach Whole Chicken from the Grocery Store Tape Construction Paper Picture of a human skeleton Picture of a chicken’s
The Perfect Pet
There’s a new picture book out this fall – and I wrote and illustrated it! It’s published by Sylvan Dell Publishing, a company that combines math or science with a great story. In The Perfect Pet, a child uses animal classification to choose just the right pet. The story begins when Mom says “yes!” to a pet. To help him decide, the child starts
Nature Questions
This summer, we have had two different types of birds visiting our front porch. Each chose a different corner of the porch to build a nest – a good safe place out of harm’s way. Or so we thought. Birds #1 The first pair of parents were Carolina Wrens. They build a more enclosed nest, so we couldn’t see the hatchlings very well. But
Over in the Meadow
Over in the Meadow is a counting nursery rhyme written by Olive Wadsworth. The poem was put to music, and I remember my mom singing it when I was growing up. Today, there are lots of picture books illustrating the poem, so when I find one at our library, we check it out, take it home, and start singing. While it’s fun to see
Animal Dissection – Science in the Home
The other day, we found a large dead beetle intact. My son instantly asked to touch it, open it up to see how it looked inside. I was instantly grossed out. I have always been against using research animals and when I was in school I refused to dissect the frog. My son is extremely interested in the inner workings of all living things,
National Projects
Citizenship means being a member of and supporting one’s community and country. Conserving natural resources is part of this concept. As a citizen, my son participates in national citizen science projects understand the environment and benefit its wildlife. This also provides a way to connect with other people across the country in a fun and educational way. This idea took hold in 1900 when
Peterson Field Guides to Supplement Your Science Curriculum
If you haven’t yet used the Peterson Field Guides to supplement your science curriculum, you’re in for a treat. This series, founded by Roger Tory Peterson, is a valuable resource for students interested in learning about nature. What’s more, they’re available in formats for readers from fourth grade through adult. The field guides cover everything from plants and ecology to the seashore to insects,
