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Posts Tagged ‘science’

Apr
20

Measure the Weather

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Family, Things to do

Spring weather is notoriously tricky. We planned to go out to the beach last week, but the weather forecast said intermittent rain. It turned into a beautiful day. A couple of days later, the sun was shining, so went trekked to the beach. But with the wind chill factor, it was close to freezing by the water. My ears are still thawing out.

With the unpredictable, off-and-on weather, it is a good time to do these indoor weather experiments with your children. They don’t take long, so when it warms up and the capricious sun comes out again, you can send your kids out to play.

Make a Cloud in a Jar
After we learned about clouds, (which I told you about in my last blog, Wondering About Weather,) we created a cloud in a wide-mouthed canning jar. Simply fill the jar with very hot tap water. Put several ice cubes on a small plate. Dump out the hot water. Immediately light a match, blow it out and drop the smoking match into the jar. Quickly set the plate of ice on top of the jar as a seal. As the warm air in the jar rises and meets the cool air falling from the ice plate, a cloud forms as the moisture collects around the smoke particles from the match. If you don’t provide the smoke, called condensation nuclei, the cloud cannot form. Try not using the match, and you’ll see. A few other sources of condensation nuclei in the air are dust, pollution and pollen.

: These hailstones fell in Sydney, Australia!

Freezer Hail Stones
During the wacky spring weather, large Cumulonimbus clouds can grow up to six miles high. Hailstones form when raindrops circulate within the cloud on air currents which rotate like a Ferris wheel in the cloud. At the top, the air is freezing. At the bottom it is warmer. The rain drops are tossed up and down in the cloud. As they go through the freezing and thawing process multiple times, layers of ice form. Finally, the hailstones become too heavy to stay in the cloud. Down they fall. Some hailstones can grow as big as marbles, golf balls or baseballs!

To make hailstones, give each child a plastic lid. Using an eyedropper, drop a couple “raindrops” of water on the plastic lid. Each drop should be separate from the others. Carefully place the lid in the freezer, being careful not to allow the drops to run together. After 40 minutes, remove the lid with the frozen drops, then add another drop of water to each frozen drop. Return to the freezer. Repeat this process two more times. Remove one of the homemade hailstones from the plastic lid. Flip it over and observe the rings with a magnifying glass.

Homemade Thermometers
If you already know that warm air rises and cool air falls, you can understand most weather phenomena. Who knew it was that simple! In making a homemade thermometer, you’ll see this principle at work again, just as in the hailstone Ferris wheel.

To make your thermometer, fill a small bottle almost half full of water. I used the 3oz. regulation size travel containers. Clear bottles of one inch in diameter or smaller work best. Add a drop of food coloring. Place a straw in the mouth of the bottle and cut it so it’s extending a couple inches above the opening. Seal the straw in the center of the opening using a bit of clay or play dough. No air should escape.

Next, warm the base of the bottle by placing it in a larger container of hot tap water. The colored liquid should immediately rise up the straw as the liquid heats up, expands and rises. If you take away the heat source, the colored water will immediately drop down as it cools down and contracts.

The next month of blustery spring weather should give you lots of opportunity to observe cloud forms, collect real hailstones and see your homemade thermometer go up and down.

-posted by Donna Detweiler, whose daughter recently commented, “Mom, I think the cold air and warm air are colliding today.” YES!

Tags: Donna Detweiler, parenting, science, Things to do

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Apr
13

Wondering About the Weather

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Things to do

Last year I first heard the saying, “The Weather Channel is old people’s MTV.” After I finished laughing, I thought, “No way!” In my opinion, anyone who thinks weather is boring must be wonder-challenged. They haven’t moved from, “Oh, it is hailing out there,” to “Hmmm, I wonder why it’s hailing out there!”

If you read my last blog, you know that I’m fascinated with the weather. For the past nine weeks, I’ve been teaching a weather unit at our homeschool science co-op. I hope I’ve helped the kids develop a sense of wonder about weather instead of simply observing it. It’s been so much fun and I’ve learned so much that I’d like to pass on to you some ideas for teaching your kids a few simple weather concepts.

Like a five layer cake wrapped about the earth, each layer has a specific job. The Latin root gives us a clue as to each layer’s role. They are ordered from closest to the earth to the farthest away.

Here's our atmosphere chart.

First, we studied the earth’s atmosphere.

Troposphere: Where the weather changes happen. Tropo=change. Sphere=circle.

Stratosphere: The second layer where the gas called ozone helps protect the earth from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Strato= layer.

Mesosphere: The middle layer, which is the coldest. Meso=middle.

Thermosphere: The hottest layer, which burns up meteors before they can strike the earth. Thermo=heat

Exosphere: The last layer where the Northern Lights happen and from which gas molecules exit into space. Exo=exit.

To help us remember the layers, we used strips of different colored paper to make a chart. I copied the info above and had them cut and paste the proper facts on each layer, as well as a cartoon symbol for each which I found on Google images. If you’re really clever, you can cut the layers out in a circle with the earth in the middle.

Next we learned about clouds. A mobile helped us visualize the four main types of clouds. The highest clouds in the sky are called Cirrus, which is Latin for wisps of hair. We took a 2”x2” square of light blue construction paper and glued wisps of cotton onto it. We used a short piece of yarn to tie this to the hanger so that it would be highest in our sky mobile.

Cumulus means heap in Latin. Cumulus clouds are the fluffy white heaps that invite the imagination to see poufy elephants or fluffy bunnies bouncing across the sky. We glued whole cotton balls to our next paper square and again punched a hole in the top, tied on a piece of yarn, this time a bit longer and attached it to our hanger.

Stratus in Latin means layer. Remember stratosphere? These low flat clouds lay across the sky in strips like lasagna noodles. We drew straight lines of Elmer’s glue on our next square, pulled apart a cotton ball and glued the fluff in several straight lines, then hung it on the hanger lower than the rest.

Cumulonimbus and Stratonimbus clouds include the word nimbus, which means rain in Latin. These clouds have dark bottoms because the moisture within them is soon to fall. We used a black marker to color the bottom of the Cumulus cloud to make it Cumulonimbus.

This week, we noticed the sky was covered with Stratonimbus clouds. We saw the expected rain begin to fall. We watched the high winds cause the tall pines to do the hula dance. On the sunny days, we were awestruck by the fluffy Cumulus clouds floating gently by. Today we woke up to a hail storm.

So, what’s so boring about the weather?

Next time I’ll tell you how we made a cloud in a jar, hail in the freezer and other fun weather experiments!

-posted by Donna Detweiler, who credits the excellent K-4 Glad Scientist curriculum for the cloud project above.

Tags: Donna Detweiler, parenting, science, Things to do

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Aug
7

Do Sharks Sing?

Posted in Bits and Pieces

Draughtboard Shark

Many songs have been written based on the haunting calls from whales or the playful sing-song chatter of dolphins. Shrimp sing to attract mates by making a sound similar to castanets and the many fish in the sea add to this oceanic opera with various sounds as well. But, I had to know, does my favorite ocean fish make a joyful noise?

Sadly, the answer is no. Unlike other fish and ocean mammals, sharks do not possess the organs necessary to make sound. Although they cannot sing, humans have given sharks a fin-up by creating one of the most emotionally powerful theme songs out there, John William’s attack song from the movie “Jaws.” One shark, however, is fighting for its own voice and perhaps theme song, the comical Draughtsboard Shark.

Scientists in New Zealand have joined several chuckling fisherman in the discovery of a shark that makes a barking sound. The Draughtsboard Shark is a member of the shark family that can quickly fill with water to appear larger to potential predators. Yes, even sharks have predators!

If caught by a net or quickly brought to the surface, a Draughtsboard Shark may inflate with air rather than water. Eventually the shark must relieve the pressure. When it does, the cardiac sphincter creates a sound that is considered rude at the dinner table. Perhaps this shark burp is merely a message relaying what could eventually be a compliment to the chef?

Nevertheless, this discovery once again proves that Jacque Cousteau’s original poetic thoughts of the ocean as a “silent world” are far from the truth. Although most sharks do not add to the natural cacophony of musical noises in the ocean, instead remaining a cool, sleek predator, there is one shark proving the exception to the rule. They do it in a humorous way too!

-posted by Miss Jesikah who is now curious if a Draughtsboard Shark’s burp or bark is worse than its bite?

Tags: Miss Jesikah, science

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Jul
27

Fond Memories….of Sharks!

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Things to do

Every family has quirks and strange traditions, for us it’s “Shark Week.” Every year for nearly 20 years, my family has gathered in late July and early August to celebrate our morbid curiosity surrounding the deadliest fish in the sea. (Did you know that sharks also live in some rivers and even fresh water lakes in South America?) Tales of sharks have captivated the imaginations of people from the sailors of old to the modern TV viewer of today.

Here are some of my favorite shark memories:

1. Growing up in Southern California near the beaches, sharks were an ever-present water companion. One year while out in a boat with my father and uncle, we saw some basking sharks. These funny looking sharks expand their jaws creating a “ballooned” mouth in order to feed on the plankton that floats on the surface of the ocean. I thought I would add to their nutrition by throwing them an Oreo cookie. To my delight, the lucky shark that discovered the Oreo cookie floating in its mouth ate it, chomping its mouth as I had hoped to see. shark-week-violette

2. At the age of four, I waited excitedly for my father to return from a fishing trip with his cousin. When we arrived, I was fascinated to learn that he had caught a blue shark that we would eat it for dinner. I loved every moment of actually having a shark in our house! I got to see and touch all of those sharp teeth. I even helped my dad cook the fillets and enjoyed every bite of my shark dinner. It’s ironic. People are so consumed with the fear of being eaten by a shark and here I was feasting on one!

3. My most recent shark memory happened the evening of July 27th last summer. We allowed our boys to stay up late; after all it was opening night of “Shark Week” and who can resist the combination of “MythBusters” and sharks? I was a week past my daughter’s due date and during the first shark show I had begun to feel contractions, which I was trying to ignore. The second show was a little too much for the boys so we tucked them into bed.

While kissing my boys goodnight, my water broke. Not wanting to miss a moment of the shark shows, my husband and I rushed the hospital and enjoyed great shark TV while I labored. What a great distraction! Our “little shark,” which is Violette’s nickname because she bites everything, was born the very next morning.

-posted by Miss Jesikah, who always can’t wait for “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel beginning August 2nd. To read more about “Shark Week” and even see pictures, read blogs or even play games, visit here.

She’ll also attend “Celebrate Sharks” at the Seattle Aquarium, July 28 – 30.

Tags: Miss Jesikah, science, Things to do

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Jul
5

A Whole New Elephant Stomp

Posted in Bits and Pieces

My family loves elephants. As a child, my sister lovingly called them “ah-tah-tah’s.” My children and I always go to see these social, loving, and intelligent mammals as our first stop at the zoo. Elephants are so adored at the Woodland Park Zoo there is a seating area just so people of all ages can sit and enjoy these wonderful creatures. When they play, eat or even walk you just can’t help but smile.

For decades, children in Kindermusik classes have stomped like elephants, raised their limb trunks, and made the well known trumpeting call. In fact, if you ask a child “What does an elephant do?” His or her first response is often to stomp around, even before making a trunk movement. Strangely enough, these elephant stomps have more to them than just awkward body mechanics due to their enormous size.

Scientists have recently discovered that for African Elephants, stomping is a way to communicate. These large mammals have sensitive feet that are able to detect the slightest seismic movement. The world of science has always known that elephants are very social creatures with strong bonds that often communicate with each other.

However, this latest discovery provides insight into the art of elephant communication beyond their audible calls. Stomping is in fact an elephant text message used as a way for an elephant to communicate with other elephants that might be foraging for food in the distance, either for purely social purposes or even for warnings of danger. Scientists have also observed that elephants are able to sense impending earthquakes and even severe weather, feeling the vibrations from distant thunder. What amazing science based on amazing animals!

Amazing elephants also provide fun and learning in many Kindermusik classes. Several classes, including “Zoo Train,” ABC Music & Me-Animals A-Dancing, and Sign & Sing feature “Elephant Stomp,” a fun and imaginative song where children get to magically transform themselves into massive elephants and practice their social skills in a dance. In Young Child 2 & ABC Music & Me: Sounds Abound, children use instruments to play sound effects for the story of “The Elephant & The Waterfall.” There is a lot of stomping going on when “Elephants Have Wrinkles” comes on in “Tell Me A Tale.” And, number sense gets a workout in “Confetti Days” with “One Elephant.”

- posted by Miss Jesikah, who hopes the next time you hear your little one stomping around either in play or in frustration, you’ll appreciate it as an effective form of communication, for elephants & for us!