Biology
Biology -
Biology is the study of living things. Biologists are scientists that try to understand the natural world and the things that live in it. Plants, animals, fungi, protozoa, algae, bacteria, and viruses are included in the things that these scientists study.
It's Alive -
What is Alive? You are alive, a tree is alive. Rocks are not alive. Find out more about what is alive and what is not alive in the video It's Alive!
Plants -
Plants are amazing! Plants are living things that grow in the earth and they have a stem, leaves and roots. Plants include grass, flowers, trees, shrubs, cactus, mosses, ferns among many other things. They get energy directly from sunlight. They make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. Like our skin, plants have a cuticle, a waxy layer on their surface that helps to protect them. They have eukaryotic cells with rigid cell walls made of cellulose, chloroplasts (which help with photosynthesis), a nucleus, and large vacuoles filled with water. Plants can be seed producers and non-seed producers. To find a great list of plants in your area visit the Inaturalist.org website.
Try this fun building activity at home! Create a sponge seed house. This incorporates engineering and biology! Your children will have fun watching the houses come to life!
To do a fun experiment at home with plants visit the STEM Laboratory and make a Sprout-House.
Arbor Day - National Arbor Day is April 24, 2020
Arbor Day is celebrated on different dates depending on where you live. Check out this website for celebration ideas and to learn when Arbor Day is celebrated in your area - Arbor Day!
Celebrate Arbor Day in a personal way by planting a tree yourself.
Read a book about trees, and learn to identify trees in your yard and neighborhood.
Enjoy the outdoors.
Trees clean our air and create healthy communities. Plant a tree or visit the Arbor Day Foundation to learn more about trees!
Animals -
Animals come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, they are omnivores, carnivores and herbivores. We're animals too! There are so many different types of animals on our planet. We belong to a group called mammals. We can also learn about birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish! Visit the National Geographic website for kids to learn more about these different animals. On their website you can even learn about Prehistoric animals, such as dinosaurs and the woolly mammoth!
Vertebrates and Invertebrates
The main difference between vertebrates and invertebrates is that invertebrates, like insects and flatworms, do not have a backbone or a spinal column. Examples of vertebrates include humans, birds, and snakes. Vertebrates have a skeletal structure with a spinal column or backbone.
Frogs of Forsyth -
Frogs belong to the animal group called amphibians. Amphibians means two-lives. Frogs start their lives in the water as an egg and then move to a tadpole, and when fully developed they live on land. Frogs are cold-blooded which means that their bodies are the same temperature as the air or water around them.
Scientists have found frog fossils that date back to the Jurassic period over 140 million years ago.
Frogs are found all over the world, and in every climate, except Antarctica. They can be found near any, and every, body of fresh water but prefer ponds, lakes, and marshes, because the water doesn’t move very fast. Frogs cannot live in the sea or any salt water.
To find out about the frogs that live around your neighborhood visit Frogs of Forsyth!
To hear the different frog calls visit Frog Calls!
Birds -
Birds are beautiful animals that come in many colors, shapes and sizes! Whether you live in the city or the country you can see birds and observe their habits and habitats. The National Audubon Society has a website that contains lots of information about birds. Please visit their website to learn more! - National Audubon
Bird Fun Facts -
Birds have feathers, wings, lay eggs and are warm blooded.
Birds like to eat insects, seeds, plants and sometimes even small animals.
There are around 10,000 different species of birds worldwide.
The Ostrich is the largest bird in the world.
Scientists believe that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs.
Birds have hollow bones which help them fly.
Visit Kiddle.co for more fun bird facts and information about this amazing animal!
STEAM Project Ideas About Birds -
Bird Nest Challenge - See if you can build a bird nest as good as a real bird! You can use recycled materials you find at home. Shredded paper and bits of cloth work great!
Build a Bird House - There are many bird house kits that you can buy and put together yourself. You can also just make one out of wood. Before you begin your design you should read How to Create a Safe Bird House.
Build a Bird Feeder - One of the easiest bird feeders to make with your kids is the pine-cone, birdseed and peanut butter bird feeder. You will need a pine-cone, birdseed, peanut butter or sunflower butter if you're allergic to peanut butter, a paper plate, scissors and a string. Put peanut butter or sunflower butter on paper plate. Roll your pine-cone in the peanut butter then sprinkle the birdseed onto the peanut butter covered pine-cone. Tie a string on the top of the pine-cone and hang on a tree outside for birds to enjoy. You can get creative and tie several to a clothes hanger or tree branch and put outside for the birds to enjoy!
Learn about Bird Calls - This is a really cool website that teaches you to learn how to identify bird calls!
Chickens -
Chickens are domesticated fowl, a subspecies of red junglefowl.
Visit Sawnee's Chickens Online!
Meet Sawnee's Chickens -
Popcorn is a French Maran
Luna
Sunflower
Midnight
Sawnita
What type of chicken are they?
Sawnee has 4 Australorps (Black but are iridescent in the bright sun) and the speckled hen is a French Maran. We chose these breeds for their calm, kid friendly demeanor. They are robust egg layers and can handle the cold well.
What do they eat? What is their favorite snack? How much water do they drink?
Chickens are omnivores and enjoy eating fruits, vegetables, grains, table scrapes and even insects and grubs. You should not give chickens - "Citrus fruits, rhubarb, avocado, uncooked beans, green potato skins and onions are all unhealthy or even poisonous to chickens. Strong flavors that come from some vegetables like garlic can affect the flavor of eggs and should also be avoided."
Chickens drink about 1 pint of water per day. This is about .5 liters per day, per bird. So, if they drink about .5 liters per day and there are 5 birds how much water is needed? Answer: .5 x 5 = 2.5 liters or 5.28 pints (Pints multiply the volume in Liters by 2.113) Of course this is just an example, many factors determine how much a chicken drinks - heat, age, health, food consumption, etc.
Do they lay eggs?
Yes, chickens in their prime (first 2 years of life) can lay 1 egg per day.
What do we do with the eggs?
We donate the eggs to families in need and add the shells to our compost pile.
What is the difference between brown eggs and white eggs?
There is no nutritional difference between a brown egg and a white egg. All eggs start out white, but in certain hens the brown color on an egg is deposited on the shell in the hen’s “shell gland pouch,” also known as the uterus. The shell gland pouch is often referred to as the “paint station,” because that’s where pigment is deposited on the shell. Some "boutique" hens even lay eggs that are green to blue in color.
How long do chickens live?
Chickens can live 5 to 10 years.
Why aren't there baby chicks running around?
We don't have a Rooster! Therefore, the eggs that the chickens lay are not fertilized so they will not turn into baby chicks!
Can I help look after the chickens?
Yes, become a chicken tender!
Marine Life -
Marine Life includes all of the organisms and plants that live in the ocean and also in coastal estuaries. Do you miss going to the Georgia Aquarium? Fear not, you can visit virtual aquariums around the US thanks to NOAA's Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) Network. CELC has put together a list of online resources for you to enjoy learning and watching your favorite marine life! Visit their website - CELC!
Watch Georgia Aquarium's LIVE webcam - Ocean Voyager Webcam! If you love the ocean and all it has to offer then the Science Olympiad quiz event - Deep Blue Sea may be for you!
Cells -
Cells – Label parts of a plant cell and animal cell. Explain difference between structure of plant and animal cells. The differences between plant and animal cells are many:
Plant Cells are larger, have a cell wall, nucleus on the side, one vacuole, synthesize nutrients, and has plasmodesmata. Animal cells are smaller, no cell wall, nucleus in center, many vacuoles, cannot synthesize nutrients, no plasmodesmata. What is a plasmodesmata? In plant cells the plasmodesmata is a channel through the cell wall that allows molecules and substances to move back and forth as needed.
Parts of a Cell For Kids
Plant vs Animal Cells - Older Kids!
Why do we get sick?
You may want to know why do we get sick? Watch this video about Squeaks Caught a Cold!
What's in a name?
Why is the disease being called coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19?
The CO stands for "corona"
The VI stands for "virus"
The D stands for "disease"
The 19 is the year "2019" it was first identified in Wuhan China.
You may want to know more about the Coronavirus. The information below is from the CDC. The CDC is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.
Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.
What can I do so that I don’t get COVID-19?
You can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the spread of COVID-19:
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it in the trash right away.
Keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help keep germs out of your body.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps—wet, lather (make bubbles), scrub (rub together), rinse and dry. You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
If you don’t have soap and water, have an adult help you use a special hand cleaner.
Keep things clean. Older children can help adults at home and school clean the things we touch the most, like desks, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. (Note for adults: you can find more information about cleaning and disinfecting on CDC’s website.)
If you feel sick, stay home. Just like you don’t want to get other people’s germs in your body, other people don’t want to get your germs either.
What happens if you get sick with COVID-19?
COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems. From what doctors have seen so far, most children don’t seem to get very sick. While a lot of adults get sick, most adults get better.
If you do get sick, it doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What’s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home and school will help get you any help that you need.
If you suspect your child may have COVID-19, call the healthcare facility to let them know before you bring your child in to see them.
Why do I have to wash my hands?
Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or using a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol will help to remove dirt, germs or viruses that may be on your hands. It is especially important to wash your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom and it's a good idea to do throughout the day when you are at school or at home and even when you're out and about. Every time we touch a light switch, a pencil, a piece of paper, or anything we touch we are transferring what ever was on that surface to our hands. Washing your hands will not only help you to stay healthy but you're being kind to other people by not passing your germs on to them!
Why do I have to wear a mask?
Wearing a mask reduces your risk substantially (a lot) for spreading your germs and inhaling germs from other people. It is not a 100% guarantee but wearing a mask is a choice for trying to stay healthy and to keep the people around you healthy.