Nature in a Nutshell for Kids

Make bubbles that bounce! Stir up a tornado in a jar! Make elastic from a dandelion! Predict weather from cloud formations! Discover the beauty and wonder of nature all year round with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less, and the clear step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects are organized by season and help you learn about everything from why grass is green to how seals stay warm in icy arctic waters. You will find most of the materials already in your home, backyard, or neighborhood. The 112 activities in this book cover every aspect of the natural world, including plant and animal life, weather, ecology, rocks and minerals, the senses, the stars, and much more. You'll build a mountain the same way the earth does, find out whether your neighborhood ants prefer sugar or artificial sweetener, discover why maple seeds act like tiny helicopters, and explore the effects of acid rain on plants--all with the help of a leading educator. Children Ages 8-12.

Partial table of contents:

SPRING.

Acid Rain.

Closed Cones.

Cloud Creation.

Duck Feathers.

Easy Ecosystem.

Erosion Slant.

Hard Water.

Pond Inspection.

Seed Embryo.

Soil Sample.

Spring Hunt.

SUMMER.

Dense Dip.

Fish Age.

Greenhouse Heat.

Inside Shells.

Male Moths.

Moon Bright.

Night Sounds.

Ocean Foam.

Sand Colors.

Secret Place.

Shadow Watch.

Snail Study.

Spider Legs.

AUTUMN.

Ant Tracking.

Carrot Tops.

Cherry Soak.

Fruit Nuts.

Leaf Pigment.

Maple Flight.

Nest Inspection.

Quick Spoil.

Rotting Tree.

Tree Damage.

Water Speed.

WINTER.

Blowing Snow.

Cold Hands.

Crystal Study.

Frost Formation.

Ice Space.

Pond Melt.

Star Gaze.

Tree Age.

Winter Bubbles.

Nature and Environmental Organizations.

Glossary.

Further Reading.

Activity Index.