Science Photos and Other Stuff for Kids: July 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Ice in Arizona

My research shows that the usual low temperature in Arizona is 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Water freezes when the temperature of it's surroundings is 32 degrees. It was 23 degrees when these photos were taken! Brrrr! This was an unusually cold day in Chandler, Arizona! The ice in these pictures is very unusual, and is the result of freezing temperature and automatic sprinklers!

The photo above is ice on grass. The next photo is a close-up.

Click on the pictures for a larger view. In the photo above, notice how the individual blades of grass are encased in thick ice!

It was so cold that the water from the sprinklers froze as it flowed and as it dripped.

That is one super frozen tree!

Wow!

These photos were provided for you to see by Keith Emerson!

Thank you Mr. Emerson!

Hummingbirds

We're all used to seeing hummingbirds zipping around our yards! They move so fast that it's hard to get a good look at them! My friend took these wonderful pictures for me to share with you!

In the photo above, the hummingbird is likely collecting spiderwebs to use in the building of her nest. Have you ever touched a spiderweb, and it stuck to you? That stickiness is the very thing that makes it a perfect glue for Momma bird's nest building!

Here is a terrific link that will describe the construction process for you!

Hummingbird Nests

Would you like to know more about hummingbirds? I've added some links below for you to check out!

This photo is called a silhouette. I think this is a very nice outline of the hummingbird. I've added it just for you because it is so pretty!

sil·hou·ette [sil-oo-et] noun,
Definition: a dark image outlined against a lighter background.

All of the photos above were taken by my friend, Jack Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson!

This is a terrific video produced by National Geographic. If you click on their name it will lead you to the site where I found this video, and lots of other interesting animal videos especially for kids!

Here are a few links that you will enjoy if you would like more hummingbird information!

How to make a hummingbird feeder!

Wikipedia: Hummingbirds

Here is a fun activity for you!

Click on the Connect the Dots to make it larger before you print it! I found it here!
Connect the Dots ~ Hummingbird

My Advice to Parents

Take your children on walks in nature. It can be at the neighborhood park, just as long as there are bushes and trees. Encourage them to look closer, closer!

Point out little natural objects like spider webs, and the spiders in them. Notice little things, like acorns, feathers, rocks, tree bark, flower blossoms, anthills. You will find yourself noticing these things all over again.

Buy your child a magnifying glass. Very young children understand how to and LOVE to use them. You can usually find inexpensive plastic magnifiers at dollar stores and department stores (like Target) and of course drug stores. A nice glass magnifier has much better definition, but of course, they are breakable.

When they are ready, buy them a camera, and encourage them to use it. I know a five year old boy who has had a Fisher Price Digital camera for over a year, and his photographic observations just simply amaze his parents. It will be exciting to see what it is that your child sees as noteworthy.

Read The Barefoot Boy, By John Greenleaf Whittier. (also posted below.)

Be a child again with all the newness and wonderment attached. You will see their observation skills and curiosity increase exponentially. Their knowledge of the natural world will begin to rival The Barefoot Boy.