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Cross Sections

A cross section is a side-view picture that you would see if you cut through something.

This picture shows a cross section of a branch from an almond tree.

Find something in nature that might look different on the inside than it does on the outside. If you can (and with adult help), open it up to see inside.

Draw a cross section picture of the nature object you found. Do you notice any patterns?

Compare the object's inside to its outside. Do they look the same or different? Why might that be?

Would you like to share your nature investigation with other Smart Pegs? Take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and add it to the comments section!

Like someone else’s ideas? You can reply to their comments, too!

 

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What do you hear?

What do you hear?

Science has shown that focusing on one of your senses can help calm your body and mind. Let’s give it a try!

Choose a place to sit. It could be inside your house or outside. Sit down and notice how you feel. Then get comfortable and close your eyes. Listen careful for a few minutes, keeping your eyes closed and your body still. Notice how you feel again after you open your eyes.

Tell us about what you heard and how you felt. How many different sounds did you hear? The longer you listened, did you hear more sounds that you hadn’t noticed before? Did you feel differently before and after focusing on your sense of hearing? Why do you think that is?

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Collect the rainbow

Collect all the colors of the rainbow.

Nature is full of so many colors! Write the colors of the rainbow on a piece of paper. Then go outside and look for something that matches each of the colors. Put them all together and take a picture. Or draw and color a picture of all of the things you found. Share your picture with us!

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Soap and germs model

Try this soap and germs model.

A model represents something in the real world. Scientists use models to study things they can’t easily see or touch.

Germs are things like bacteria and viruses that can make us sick. We can’t see germs without a super strong microscope, so let’s make a model to learn about them!

Do this experiment and then share your thoughts with us in the comments!

You need: a bowl of water, some ground pepper, and hand soap.

1 – Put about 5 shakes of pepper into the bowl of water. The pepper represents germs and the water represents your skin.

2 – In the middle of the bowl, gently stick your finger in the water. Hold your finger in the water for a few seconds and then pull it back out. Did you notice anything happen?

3 – Rub a drop of soap onto your finger. Make a prediction: What do you think will happen if you stick your finger in the water now?

4 – Gently stick your finger in the water again. Was your prediction right?

5 – Answer the question: How does this model represent what happens with soap and germs?

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Fort building challenge

We challenge you to a fort building competition!

Think you can make a cozy fort big enough to fit all the people in your house? Let’s find out! Start by gathering materials to make your fort. Good materials could be boxes, sheets, clothespins, binder clips, a chair, couch cushions, or anything else you might find. Be creative! (And be sure to ask permission to use the supplies you find!)

When your fort is done, share a picture and tell us about the most challenging part of building your fort. Did it fall down a couple times? Did you have any supplies that were the wrong size? Was it hard to make it big enough for everyone?

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How many science books?

Let’s collect some data!

Data is information that scientists collect to help answer a question about the world.

Let’s be scientists and collect some data today! Our question is: How many science books do most people have at home? Go around your house and count how many books you have about science topics. Then click the option below that matches your count and submit your data!

How many books about science do you have at your house?
Submit your data
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Crack the code

Crack the code

In 1838 Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed a system of dots and dashes that became known as the Morse Code. The code gave people a way to send messages to each other better and faster than before. It changed the way the world was able to communicate.

We used Morse code to spell a secret word!

Can you use the Morse Code chart below to figure out our word? After you figure it out, write your own secret word in Morse Code on a piece of paper. Take a picture and share it with us — let’s see if we can crack each others’ codes!

File:International Morse Code.svg
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My Side of the Mountain

Author: Jean Craighead George


Think as you read:

If you could take an adventure like Sam, where would you go and what would you like to learn?

Sam came across a lot of animals during his time in the Catskill Mountains. Make a list of the animals you came across in the book and share them here.

Sam used what he found in nature to make everything he had. Think about how he used things like a tree trunk, tree slats, animal skin and stones. What types of animals, plants, rocks, and other resources are available where you live? What are some things that you could do with them? Draw a sketch, record a short video or describe it in writing.

In the mountains, Sam didn’t have new reports to let him know what the weather would be like. Instead, he learned to tell what was coming by the signs around him: the color of the sky, what the animals around him did and the activity of the wind. Take some time to observe what different weather patterns bring where you live. What things in nature give you clues as to what kind of weather to expect?

Would you like to share your thoughts about this book with other Smart Pegs? Choose a question above and add your answer to the comments section!

Like someone else’s ideas? You can reply to their comments, too!

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Nim’s Island

Author: Wendy Orr

Think as you read:

How is nature protected on and around Nim’s Island?

What do you think would happen if there were no marine sanctuaries?

How can you help protect nature where you live?

Tell about a time when you came in close contact with nature. Draw a sketch of it, record a short video about it, or describe it in writing. Tell what you saw and where you were. And tell what you thought at the time and think about it now.

Would you like to share your thoughts about this book with other Smart Pegs? Choose a question above and add your answer to the comments section!

Like someone else’s ideas? You can reply to their comments, too!

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Letter M

Today, think of something that starts with the letter M that could be the focus of a nature investigation where you live.

 

Here are some examples: mountains, mammals, moon, mud

Go outside, look around and choose one of the things from your list. Spend some time sketching pictures of your letter M item in your nature journal.

On your journal page, make sure to include location information. WHERE did you find it? Include some timing information. What season is it? What time of day?

    Here’s an example: I chose mountains. I hiked up a mountain near my grandmother's house on a spring morning.

If you can, add some of the actual items into your journal (like a smear of mud from the mountain that you hiked).

Would you like to share your nature investigation with other Smart Pegs? Take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and add it to the comments section!

Like someone else’s ideas? You can reply to their comments, too!