Category Archives: Biology
Beginning Bee Keeping
We started a new family hobby. We decided to start beekeeping as a way to learn and enjoy our new bee pets and also get fresh honey for our family. They also do wonders for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. I’m … Continue reading
Optical Illusions
The eye is made up of two different types of light receptors called cones and rods. Cones are necessary for color vision and to see well in bright light. Rods are necessary for seeing in low light. The two experiments … Continue reading
DNA Extractions
Nathan extracted DNA from peas this past week. The stringy, white, snot-like stuff is the DNA. The DNA looks remarkably like . . . snot. That would be because both DNA and snot are made of similar proteins. It’s a … Continue reading
Dichotomous Key
To help in identifying objects like rocks, plants, animals, sea shells or other stuff, knowledgeable people create dichotomous keys. When using these keys you answer questions about the object always beginning with number one and following the directions as you … Continue reading
Bird Call Craft
CJ made this awesome bird call for cub scouts and we wanted to share it here. You just need a 2x1x1inch piece of hardwood and a round screw eye. Drill a hole in the end of the hardwood slightly smaller … Continue reading
Recycled Regatta Boat
CJ built a “recycled” boat for his cub scout Rain Gutter Regatta last week. In case you’re not familiar with the famed Rain Gutter Regatta, the kids build boats, usually from cub scout supplied kits, and race them down water-filled … Continue reading
Homemade Hummingbird Feeder
My kids are involved in the Cub Scout and Boy Scout organizations, which we LOVE! CJ needed to make a bird house or feeder and study an animal by observing and reading about it for one of his cub scout … Continue reading
Drumming on Your Ears
We can hear because of sound waves bouncing off our ear drums. To see how this works get a wide-mouthed glass bowl and stretch plastic wrap across it very tightly. It must be tight or this will not work. Now … Continue reading
Ocean in a Bottle
Studying the ocean with kids is awesome because there is so much to explore. There’s also a lot we don’t know about the ocean; use those things to spark great discussions and creative thinking. This is a simple experiment that … Continue reading
Fascination With The Microscope
The other day we were learning about ants and insect parts so I got out the microscope. We have a high school/college lab quality microscope (so worth the money once your kids are teens). Tim took these pictures using just … Continue reading
Plant Growth
For a great introduction to plants make a poster board showing what a plant needs to grow and then plant a terrarium containing all the ecosystem necessary for plant growth. You need: potting soil one or two small plants a … Continue reading
Ants
Ants are an easy example of insect life to find just about anywhere. Take a jar and shovel and go flip over a few logs or look near the sidewalk. Dribble a bit of fruit juice on the sidewalk a … Continue reading
Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
I probably shouldn’t be writing this in the spring, eh? But it’s such a cool experiment that I just couldn’t wait! In autumn we watch leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, and red. . . why? Try this experiment: … Continue reading
Rabbits
With Easter coming our way I thought we’d all better brush up on our rabbit knowledge. They are much more than just cute, furry little hoppers. Rabbits are mammals. Many people mistakenly think they are rodents, but in fact, they … Continue reading
Idaho Tree Distribution
Ponderosa Pine Certain trees grow in certain places for very good reasons. Try making a species distribution map for Idaho. We’ll choose six common species. There are of course many more, but the map gets complicated enough with just six. … Continue reading
Desert Animals Activity
To learn about deserts with kids from K through 8th start by talking about some of the features of a desert. Make a list together of things and conditions you might find in the desert. Older kids should come having read a book or two on … Continue reading
Mad Scientist: Alexis Carrel
Alexis Carrel was a French Scientist who won the Nobel Prize in 1912 for developing methods of suturing veins and arteries. His work and methods have saved thousands of lives and are still very much in use in surgeries today, especially in the area of … Continue reading
Eyes
Eyes are some of the most complex structures of the body. They use light and electrical impulses to allow our brains to see our surroundings. Human eyesight is our strongest of the senses. Our eyes have a lens that focuses … Continue reading
Tigers
A few fun facts on tigers: Tigers are endangered. Wild tigers in Asia (their natural habitat) may soon disappear. Tigers keep their claws sharp by pulling them into a protective sheath (they are retractable) No tigers have identical stripes. Most … Continue reading
Cool Plant Art
I love this idea for plant art. Kathy is an art teacher who posts lots of neat art ideas on her blog. This is one of her latest. It would go perfectly with the plant, garden, and native habitat studies … Continue reading
Making a Native Habitat Garden
Seeing animals and plants in their native habitat is invaluable. Hopefully every child gets to spend some time in nature, away from cities and asphalt. But you can create a native habitat right in your own backyard, perhaps even on … Continue reading
Frogs
First teach some frog facts. Here’s a fun way to do it. Place a dozen or so “lily pads” with frog facts written on them into a large bowl. Call the bowl the pond. Then have the kids take turns … Continue reading
Life Cycle of the Butterfly
I did this activity with young kids, from ages 4 to 7. We made butterflies from coffee filters and paint, then pasted them onto a piece of construction paper with other stages of the life cycle. Here’s how we did … Continue reading
Parts of a Flower
A tissue paper flower plus. You can use this activity to teach about the parts of a flower. It could easily be used for elementary or high school depending on how many parts you expect the kids to memorize. Materials: … Continue reading
Health For Young Kids
Most of the things taught in health class in elementary schools is basic stuff you teach kids during the course of family life. Things like brushing teeth, washing hands, using common sense safety measures, eating balanced healthy meals and so … Continue reading
Bending Turkey Bones Experiment
Don’t throw away all your turkey bones after dinner! Save a few to try this cool experiment. (It also works with chicken bones for anytime of year.) Gather a couple of pint jars (with lids), and some vinegar. 1. First, … Continue reading
Plant Survey
Real botanists out in the field do plant surveys like this one. The purpose is to find out how many of a particular species is present in a particular place or to discover the distribution and populations of many plants … Continue reading
Backpack Plant Press
Pressing plants is useful for making collections. You can keep the plant leaves, dried out and flattened in a notebook or file. Here’s how to make your own plant press. Cut two pieces of wood so they each measure 5″ … Continue reading
Sweet Tooth Decay
My kids have dentist appointments coming up and I already feel nervous. No matter how many times I tell them how important it is to brush their teeth well, it doesn’t seem to sink in. I exhaust myself going over … Continue reading
Hummingbirds
I spend a lot of time planning what to teach my kids. I think about how they learn, what they are interested in, and what can make learning fun for them. I research and search for great books and websites. … Continue reading
