In the summer, trees are wonderful sources of shade. They grace the neighbourhood with their arching branches. Do your children want to study plants? Study trees! Trees are amazing. They can move water and nutrients from root to branch and from leaf to trunk. In the chloroplasts, green chlorophyll helps trees make food. It traps light energy so that plants can turn water and carbon dioxide and light into carbohydrates. That’s tree food. Study the ways in which water moves up the tree. As water evaporates from leaves, this pulls the remaining water up the tree. This is simple to … Continue reading →

In the summer time, the kids in our neighborhood stay out late. As dusk looms, a small tribe of parents emerges from the townhouses to bring the kids indoors for the night. This is the perfect time to pause and enjoy a night garden as part of your evening routine. For those of you who live in much warmer places, the night garden also gives you and your children a chance to enjoy resting in the garden. This summer has been a hot one, and going out in the noonday sun hasn’t always been a good and healthy option. As … Continue reading →

In the summer, leaves are all around us. They’re simply part of the atmosphere of summer: dappled shade, vigorous growing plants, and foliage that grows over other foliage in the garden. While people often study leaves in the autumn as the foliage changes colors, there are plenty of activities that you can do to explore the delights of the summer leaf as well. In the summer, leaves are working overtime. They begin at dawn long before you wake up, and they don’t stop working until the sun goes down. A summer leaf uses water, carbon dioxide and sun energy to … Continue reading →

Soil: what’s in it anyway? If you’re exploring the science of gardening this summer, you must explore the basis of garden life, and that’s garden soil. Ask a child what plants need to grow and they will often mention water and light. After some thought about what’s around the plant’s roots, they might mention soil as well. Often we consider soil to be the place where plants get water, and nothing more. But soil is much, much more than a place for water to hide. It’s a hive of activity, even if this activity is hard for us to see … Continue reading →

Survivor, manhunt: as a culture, we seem to be into survival skills of the television kind. However, when you turn off the television and venture out into the wild places around your home, you can experience the real survivors. These are the plants and animals that live in your forests, streams, and other wild places. Some of these survivors are successful because they are fantastic at hiding. Many animals use cryptic coloration to hide. Watch these survivors in action this summer. Using sticks that you place in the ground in a circle and tie together at the top, make a … Continue reading →

It’s summer. You go to the beach and return covered in sand. But what is this stuff that gets into your clothes, your hair, and your blankets? What is this material that fascinates children, especially when it is combined with water? Going to the beach is a lesson in engineering and geology. It’s also an opportunity for children to explore the properties of rocks and water. Yes, it’s called sandcastle building, and it’s educational! Grains of sand are the tiniest of rocks. They’re rocks that have been worn down by the action of the waves as they roll across the … Continue reading →

Going to the beach this summer? One of the delights of summer is shell-hunting on the seashore. Learn about shells with your children as you hunt for these tiny treasures. What is a shell? A shell is more than a pretty object that you find at the beach. It used to be an animal’s home. Many ocean animals have an organ called a mantle. This mantle concentrates calcium and forms calcium carbonate crystals. These crystals turn into a hard shell that grows as the animal grows. If you look closely at the edge of a shell, you will see the … Continue reading →

If you’re heading to the beach this summer, you’ll want to know about the tides so that you can explore the beach at low tide and enjoy the ocean at high tide. What is the tide and why does it happen? The tide occurs when the water in the ocean moves in and out from the seashore. The gravitational pull of the moon and the sun moves the water in and out around the earth. It’s amazing to think that something so far away has an impact on the water on the earth. Tidal influences and the pull of the … Continue reading →

A tide pool is a place that children gravitate to when they are looking for ocean creatures. These small, shallow pools are easy to access and fun to explore. Why are tidal pools full of life? They act as an oasis in the desert of the low tide. When the tide is in, animals can move easily across the beach. They find water, food, and hiding places everywhere. When the tide goes out, many animals move with it. Other animals like mussels hide from the heat of the sun and shut up tight. However, some animals continue to eat and … Continue reading →

When my oldest two were young they used to watch The Magic School Bus all the time. My 6 year old is not as familiar with the show but I think it is high time she becomes familiar. While, I would be just as happy getting rid of my TV, I feel this is one show that that exhibits quality and fun. So, I was super excited to see The Young Scientists Club has a kit called The Magic School Bus: Jumping into Electricity. I just knew it had to be full of fun and exciting activities to help kids … Continue reading →