Showing results by author "Amy Tao" in All Categories

Do you know how the anatomy of the eye allows us to see colors? Learn about the part of the eye called cones. Cones are like sensors that detect colors. The more cones a person or animal has, the more colors the eye perceives. Can you guess if your pets see you in full color, or if you see your pets in full colors?

Have you ever wanted to live in Antarctica? What kind of house would you live in? A snow house, of course! Follow the instructions to learn how to build a snow house. What is a snow house made from and what tools do you need to build it? Guess what the first step is to build a snow house?

Can you guess when trees stop growing–they don’t stop! Their massive roots keep them in the ground and require plenty of water, sunshine and nutrients from the soil to help them grow. Trees are the oldest, largest and tallest living things on Earth, with the oldest part of the tree being its strong, woody middle. Find out how a maple tree gets its start! How does a tree grow?

What kind of insect protects itself with bright colors, warning insect eaters to stay way–a ladybug! Learn about insects and animals that live together in a garden. Interacting together, these living organisms have a lot in common! Some can help a garden grow strong and others can cause a lot of trouble. Raccoons like to eat the seeds and berries while spiders help by eating the pesky insects.

Birds are easier to hear than they are to see. If you want to encourage more birds to visit your backyard–learn how to build a bird feeder and a bird's nest! What types of birds will you find? Learn two simple ways to help birds live and to observe them in your own backyard!

Animals have unique skills to live, find food or escape becoming a predator’s meal! Animals that live in snowy places have athletic skills like strength need to compete in Winter Olympics sports. The snow leopard can leap 30 feet high and run fast! Seals can glide across the ice on their bellies like athletes competing in tobogganing. What skills do prairie chickens and red-crowned cranes have?

Got a pair of old tights, an empty can or a plastic bottle that you plan to throw away? You can upcycle those old things and turn them into new items you can use! Upcycling is recycling in a better way! Learn how to make a decorative pencil holder, a draft dodger to keep the cold out, or turn plastic bottles into bowling pins. What things can you create to reduce the use of plastic and metal?

What makes fish great swimmers–and how do they breathe underwater? Different animals use their body in different ways to take in air, food, and water. Learn how fish use gills to take in oxygen from water, much like humans use lungs to breathe in oxygen from the air. Whales, dolphins and sea turtles come up for breath–are they fish? In ocean life, guess which fish have gills and which are not fish!

The wind moves air. The heat from the sun warms the earth’s surface, warming the air above it. Warm air is lighter than cold air, so the warm air floats up to the sky! Why are some places windier than others? Learn what happens on a sandy beach when the air over the beach rises. Does the air become hot? Can you see hot air? Try the hot air experiment to find out how to see hot air rise!

The Elly award goes to the animal with the best nose! Learn about different animals’ noses and how their noses help them to survive in different ways.

Did you know a flounder, a type of fish, develops from an egg to a full-grown adult in 2 years? Take a journey through deep waters to see how flounder change and grow to be as much as one foot long.

Dogs are amazing creatures with amazing bodies! Discover how fur protects their delicate skin, and which body parts gives them balance. Did you know dogs can wiggle their ears in many directions? Learn more facts about dogs and how their unique anatomy is different from other animals.

Surviving in the desert heat can be dangerous–from deadly shifting sands to a lack of food and water, learn how animals like the Dromedary camel uses its eyelids to shield it from swirling sand, how Sandgrouse chicks soak up water from feathers on their fathers belly, and how the kangaroo rat never takes a drink!

Reusing your trash to make toys can be lots of fun–and decrease pollution and waste! Things we use around the house get old and we throw them away. What if you use them to make toys or gadgets that make life better? Experts think reusing things may be better than recycling! Learn how to make a piggy bank from a plastic can or a train with egg cartons. What things can you create by reusing?

Have you ever had an idea for a new product or service? That is the first step towards becoming an inventor! Learn the process of inventing something new to solve an everyday problem. Brainstorm! Draw! Make a model! Test! Does it solve the problem? Become an inventor today!

Animals have different-looking ears, yet, help them to hear! Some animals have large floppy ears like the bunny, who points each ear in different directions–hearing two sounds at once! The harbor seal that has no ears, yet hears through holes that close when it dives! Whether floppy or unnoticed–these animals have ears perfect for hearing!

Do you think you are a good climber? You probably can't beat a mountain goat! Known as Kings of the Mountain, they can climb the steepest of mountains, even as babies! Learn the special anatomical features of their bodies that allows goats to seemingly climb straight up mountains and even jump nearly 12 feet in the air. Do you think you can go toe-to-toe with the goats?

Some animals have skin that will shock you! Well, they may not actually shock you but the skin has unique abilities that might surprise you. Learn how certain animals are able to change their appearance by changing skin color or texture, how others can make you sick with their poison, or animals whose skins peel off. Just imagine what it would be like to live in these skins!

Firefighter Greg has an important job to do–he helps people who are in danger of being hurt by fire. He has a lot of equipment to help him do his job. A computer inside the fire truck shows Firefighter Greg exactly which house to go to. Ladders, rigs, and tools help get the job done! Can you name other equipment that will be needed for Firefighter Greg to help others, and be safe? How can you be safe at your house to prevent fires?

Firefighter Greg has a physical job to do so he stays strong and fit. He gets up early in the morning and sleeps where he works. Did you know that Firefighter Greg practices putting on his safety gear–in less than one minute? Or that his gear–helmet, facemask, air pack, boots and jacket–weighs 75 pounds? Find out how firefighters practice putting out fires in a training tower!