Showing results by author "Amy Tao" in All Categories

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?

Have you ever wondered why birds have beaks? They don't have hands like we do, so they need another way to help themselves. Learn all the ways birds use their beaks, and see how different birds have different types of beaks that allow them to catch their meals.

It's easy to tell the difference between a mouse and a bear. But some animals are harder to tell apart—unless you know what to look for.

People use different ways to stay warm in the snow, and animals have unique ways to stay warm, too! Learn how these animals keep their bodies warm in the winter weather. The muskox sheds its furry undercoat each spring and grows a new one every winter. A seal has an extra layer under its fur coat called blubber–this thick layer of fat lies under the seal’s skin and is a great way to hold heat!

Do you know where your clothes come from? Learn about the processes of making certain materials that are used in clothing! Guess what plant or animal that rubber boots come from? What material is made from plastic bottles? You’ll be surprised to learn how the clothes you wear everyday are manufactured!

What would we do without wheels? We use wheels for all kinds of things, including transportation. Learn about alternatives for transportation other than the wheel! Do you use any of these different ways of moving around?

Do you know how buildings you see in your city got there? Before buildings are built, machines that move the ground are used! The excavator or digger move old ground away, preparing the space for a new building! A driver sits in the cab where all the fun begins! The tools to control the machine are inside the cab. Levers control the arms which do all the digging. How does the digger’s body move?

What does the school you attend look like? Does it have two floors? Does it have a playground? Look at the building plans the architect has drawn for Hopperville’s new school. Next, the old building needs to be removed with machines like a crane and a wrecking ball. Only the excavator can build a big, deep hole for the building. Find out what the surveyor does!

Did you know that sound vibrations make music? Learn how different musical instruments like guitar, drum, xylophone, and trumpet, make sound vibrations from the movement of strings or air—that together make music! Follow the activity to make your own instrument from straws! Experiment with short and long straws to discover which makes a high or low sound.

People visit the doctor at least once a year–even when they’re not sick! Doctors ask questions to check that your mind and body are healthy. Doctors use different tools to find out if you’re healthy like stethoscopes, thermometers and blood pressure cuffs. The nurse will measure your height and weight, too! Find out other ways doctors check if you’re healthy?

Germ Busters are on patrol! See the Germ Busters fighting bad germs in your blood marking them for destruction. The Busters are a team of antibodies that come from medicine you get from a shot. They are weak germs that can’t make you sick. Germ Busters keep protecting you from germs if they get inside your body again. Will you join the Germ Busters to fight the germs?

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?

Do you know how the buildings in your city got there? Before buildings are built, different types of machines that move the ground are used! Some are large like the excavator or digger that moves old ground and dirt away, preparing the space for a new building! A bulldozer clears away old stones and dirt. The scoop, called the loader, does many jobs–it smooths, scrapes or carries dirt away?

If you plan to visit one of the coldest, windiest places in the world, you’ll need to be prepared! Antarctica's roads are covered with packed snow and ice, requiring special vehicles and snowmobiles to drive on this slippery land. A bus named ‘Ivan the Terra’ carries 56 people and has tires big enough to keep the ground from sinking! Learn about other vehicles that transport cargo and people.

Have you ever wondered about all the shapes it takes to design and build structures like buildings or bridges? Different shapes like squares, triangle and rectangles are used in construction, but which shape forms the strongest? Follow the activity using straws and string to find out which shape is the strongest, sturdiest construction?

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?