Showing results by author "Amy Tao" in All Categories

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!

Learn what bird has the ability to sleep while flying through the sky–the albatross! With a wingspan of 10 feet, this sea bird glides over the warm Southern waters looking for squid and fish to eat! They spend most of their time flying except when eating or feeding babies. Parent duty is shared by these loyal birds who stay with their mate for life. Guess where the albatross flies to lay its egg?

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!

Did you know your eyelids close and open 10 to 20 times a minute! Your eyes have parts that work together. The pupil lets light into your eyes. The iris controls how much light gets in. The cornea, a bowl-shaped layer, covers and protects your eyeballs. Discover how hairs on your eyelashes protect your eyes from germs and dirt, and other ways your eyes help you see and keep you safe!

Germs are everywhere and make your body sick. Never fear–the body is a germ-fighting machine designed to fight these intruders and keep you healthy. If you get a cut, blood clumps together to stop bleeding. Mucus, the sticky goo in your nose, catches germs to help you sneeze them out. Eyelashes and eyelids form tears that block some germs! Discover ways the body fights to keep germs out.

Did you know that scientists can track animals? By tracking animals, scientists can see where animals migrate to and from. These trackers can be big or small and are different depending on the kind of animal being tracked. Learn about the different technology that is used for tracking!

Go on an adventure with Polly as she learns how to use special names to categorize shapes! Any closed, flat shape with at least three straight sides is called a polygon. Did you know a quadrilateral—or a shape with four straight sides—can have several names? You can call one a parallelogram, a rhombus, a trapezoid, or even a square! What shapes can you recognize?

Thing aren't always what they seem! Did you know different things such as milk, oranges, and butterflies can look different as they get older? With this book, children will learn how life cycles affect the colors of different things. What else can change how it looks as it gets older?

Cats are fascinating creatures! They have different traits that make the way they see, hear, smell, and even move very different from humans. Some might say that they can do all these things better than you can! Do you know the differences between cat and human senses?

Do you know how your ears can hear? Did you know they’re responsible for other things, too? For one thing, they keep you balanced on your feet! Learn about the anatomy of your ear and how its structure allows you to hear all the different noises you experience every day.

Have you ever wondered how your senses work? Learn about the interesting ways your senses allow you to perceive the world around you by doing the fun tests with some friends! Learn about how your sense of smell and taste are affected by completing these fun activities!

The nose helps your body do more than just sniff and smell yummy foods! Without your nose, your favorite foods won't taste as good, your lungs won't have the warm air needed to stay healthy, and germs from outside your body will have an easier route in! Did you know your body makes mucus to wash away germs that find their way in your body? Discover how fabulous your nose really is!

When volcanoes blow their top, watch out! They can blast out dangerous lava, rocks, ash, and steam that can contain clouds of poisonous gas. But when lava cools, it becomes rock, which in turn creates new land.

Reduce, recycle, and reuse. We can all help Earth, if we choose. In this poem, kids learn about the differences between recycling, compost, and hazardous waste.

Tiny creatures called microbes live in, and on your body that can be helpful. But some are bad like bacteria and viruses–in fact, they can make you sick! Your body needs medicine called antibiotics to fight and kill these germs so you can feel better. You must get a different medicine called a vaccine to keep from catching a virus.

Imagine if the sunlight could not reach where you lived–the weather would be cold and slippery! The sun does not shine directly on the Arctic and Antarctica, causing the surrounding waters to freeze solid. The earth is tilted as it rotates around the sun, preventing the polar regions from getting enough sunlight. Can you guess how long it takes the earth to orbit the sun?

Have you ever wondered what lifts a big, heavy airplane up in the sky without falling down? This article explains how their wings and air keeps planes—and birds, too—flying high! Learn how wings work just by blowing on a piece of paper in a fun experiment.

Slither into the scaly world of the mighty python! Learn about all the parts that make the python such a strange and misunderstood creature. See how its anatomy allows it to be more than just a limbless tube-like animal! Gain knowledge about this reptile’s habits and senses.

Have you ever heard of a bug hotel? There are some insects that help plants by spreading pollen and improving the soil, but they don’t always show up in every garden. To help encourage them to move in, some gardeners build little houses for them!