January 28

Animals in the Winter

How do animals cope with frigid temperatures and snow during the winter months? What is this cardinal doing to stay warm?


Some animals hibernate, while others brumate. Some birds, mammals and insects migrate. Other insects die but leave eggs behind. Mammals may grow a thicker fur coat. Fish and frogs will move to the bottom of ponds where it is warmer. Others have adapted to the cold and continue to forage or hunt for food. Birds fluff up their feathers to trap air for insulation. The related posts provide more information.

Watch full screen.

Not just birds migrate. Watch full screen.

One of my favorite nonfiction winter books about animals.

Related Posts

Animal Tracks in the Snow

Winter Fur

Hibernation mini unit

Turtles Brumate

Geese in the Winter

Birds in Cold Weather

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January 26

The Beauty of Ice

Snow is something many of us look forward to in the South, but not ice! Ice brings power outages, dangerous driving conditions, and fallen trees, especially the top-heavy pine trees. Do you know the difference between sleet and freezing rain? Watch full screen.

Well, freezing rain arrived and I took a quick walk outside to capture the beauty while trying to ignore the damage to my garden.


A Study of Ice (Multidisciplinary Approach)

Icebergs

Melting and Freezing Lab

Ice, Ice Baby

Do You Wonder – Ducks in Frozen Ponds

Ice Bubbles

Ice Spike

Ice Sculptures and More

Include a cooking activity with your study of ice at home or at school. Fun choices would be popsicles, shaved ice or an icee.

Young scientists will enjoy excavating ice. Use a plastic container and fill it with small toys – such as a Lego or plastic animals. Then fill the container with water and carefully set it in the freezer. After the water freezes, remove the block of ice from the container. What could you use to chisel the ice away?

Let’s learn about forces. Watch full screen.

Multidisciplinary units are my favorite! Incorporate social studies with a study of Iceland. Watch full screen. Tectonic Plates Lab

Continue with more landforms as you research ice caves. Watch full screen.

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January 19

Bees in the House!

My husband and I started finding dead or dying yellow jackets in our home. At first, we thought they had constructed a nest in the attic, so we had it treated, but we continued to find them in the bathroom, living room, and basement. We stopped walking around barefoot and I feared that I would wake up to these aggressive bees swarming above me!

My husband researched their behavior and spoke to several exterminators. The theory was that the bees were dying due to the cold weather. We were finding them in the toilet and bathtub because they were searching for water. On a warm day, we discovered how they were entering the house on the second story near our bedroom.

The second exterminator believes that they are not yellow jackets, but another kind of wasp that mimics yellow jackets. Yellow jackets usually build their nest underground and are very aggressive.

The saga continues.

Related Posts

Honeybees

Mud Daubers

Hornets

Carpenter Bees

Bumble Bees

Cicada Killing Wasp

Parasitic Wasps

Category: All About Mrs. Bright, Science | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 14

Little Bird – Big Voice

The song of the Carolina male wren is one of the loudest in the woodland choir. Unlike other songbirds, they will sing throughout the day and all through the year. Even in the winter months, their song is a standout. Read more at All About Birds

This small brown songbird is easily recognized by its large white eyebrow stripe. They are opportunistic nesters, mate for life, and don’t migrate.

Watch full screen.

Watch full screen.

Winter is the ideal time to study birds in the South. They are drawn to bird feeders and easier to view in the forest after leaves have fallen. Migratory birds are also present.

Related Posts about Woodland Birds

Woodpeckers

Pileated Woodpecker

Cardinal

Brown Thrasher

Goldfinch

Chickadee

Eastern Towhee

Birds of Many Colors

Birds in the Cold

Merlin App

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January 12

Let it Snow!

With temperatures reaching an unseasonable 70 degrees, it doesn’t feel like winter here! After a discussion about the conditions necessary for snow to fall and how a snowflake forms, my young scientists made insta-snow with a super absorbent polymer in science lab. It was a sensory experience that encouraged creativity and communication skills. The room was filled with their imaginative stories, an early literacy skill! Check out more photos on my Instagram account – pbright2.



Snowflake Bentley had a passion to capture snowflakes in the early days of photography. His story should always be included in the study of snowflakes. Watch his biography full screen.

Watch this informative video from TED Ed about how snowflakes form their hexagonal shape full screen.

Now, watch real snowflakes form full screen.

What is the difference between flurries and a blizzard? Watch full screen.

Watch this engaging animated video about anticipating snow full screen.

Related Posts

Check out the labs and lessons below for a variety of multi-disciplinary investigations. If you try any of these or have other ideas, please share in the comments.

Snowball Catapult

Snowflakes and More

Igloo

Snow Experiment

The Perfect Snow Day

Crystal Snowflakes

Art Project for Crafters of All Ages

Snow People – One of my favorites!

Snow Paint

Snow Structures

Foil Painting

Making Snow and Again and Once More

Check out some more winter-themed science activities.

Category: Art, Engineering, Math, Science, Social Studies | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 5

Enchanted Woodland Trail

The annual Enchanted Woodland Trail at the Chattahoochee Nature Center opened on December 14 and will be available to view through February. These structures are tiny architectural and engineering feats. My favorites ones below are those that were constructed with natural items or recycled materials. Which buildings will withstand the winter weather? Visit CNC to see more.




Related Posts

Enchanted Woodland Trail 2024

Enchantled Woodland trail 2023 (literature connections)

Category: Art, Engineering, Science | 1 Comment on Enchanted Woodland Trail
December 17

Living Things Lab

I am the science enrichment teacher for learning pods at the ColLab. After observing the skulls of deer and comparing pinecones and evergreen needles, we investigated roly polies. A preassessment provided insight into our background knowledge of pill bugs.

Facts We Learned:

Pill bugs, also called roly polies, potato bugs, and isopods, are not bugs at all, but crustaceans and therefore related to shrimp, lobsters, and crayfish. They are the only terrestrial crustacean.

Roly polies breath through gills and must consequently live in a damp habitat. They are more active at night.

When threatened, pill bugs roll into a ball. Armadillos use the same defense mechanism.

Pill bugs have 14 legs (seven pairs).

They grow by molting a hard exoskeleton.

As decomposers, they eat rotting vegetation on the woodland floor.

Eggs are carried in a pouch under the female.





Watch full screen.

Add this nonfiction picture book with photos of isopods to your science collection:

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December 15

Photo Cards

In addition to sharing the photos I’ve taken on this blog with you; I’m also using them to design cards for friends and family. I enjoy sharing the beauty of creation with others! Your children or students will have fun making their own cards with the photos they have taken.





I’ve also drawn some whimsical designs on cards. (Mushrooms are next.)

My daughter is grown with a child of her own, but we made cards for her grandparents when she was young. These are some of her masterpieces and easy models for your artists.


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