VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

Flowers

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Generally by mid-October, flowers are non existing in Central Texas. But we have had rain–yea!! The grass is green and plants are producing flowers. We are all going crazy over the rain. My ponds are full and overflowing–first time in about three years. While the cactus is not blooming, the photo shown is so beautiful […]

Migration: Monarch

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Each year there are four generations of Monarch Butterflies. 1. The first generation emerge in the early spring in March and April. 2. The second generation emerges in late spring in May and June. 3. The third generation emerge in summer in July and Augus. 4. The last and fourth generation of the year emerge […]

Nature Studies: Leaf Rubbing

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Notes from Janice’s Desk Whether it is a nature study or a class in physics remember I start off with an activity or experiment that is Easy and Fun. I admit that while I have no choice about getting older, there is no requirement that I have to grow up. That is why I never […]

Kids Want to Know:Flying Fish?

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Notes from Janice’s Desk Kids often ask questions that adults don’t know the answers to, but are as interested in knowing the answers. For example: Can fish really fly? Actually, what are called flying fish are fish with a streamlined torpedo shape which helps them gather enough underwater speed to break the surface, and their […]

Snake in the John

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Notes from Janice’s Desk A neighbor called and ask if  we knew how to get a snake out of the toilet. More information revealed that it was a large snake and was wound around in the toilet with only a loop of its body visible in the bowl. Thinking the snake was so coiled around […]

Science Fair Projects: Botany

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Notes from Janice’s Desk In the United States, science fair projects generally start in autumn. Even though this is not our plant growing season indoors plant projects work very well. Botany is the study of plants. The picture shows tomato plants grown from seeds planted at different times. This is one way to compare the […]

Skin:Watersoaked

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Notes from Janice’s Desk There are various explanations of why fingers and toes wrinkle when  they are soaked in water for a time. Most scientists suggest that the tough outer layer of skin made up of dead keratin cells is responsible. But an exact reason cannot be given because it is not known –yet. In […]

Color

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Notes from Janice’s Desk Color is listed as a physical property of a material. This is because most people see colors the same way. . This is because most people Color is listed as a physical property of not a  a property of the nervous system of the animal perceiving the light. Revise the following […]

Sense of Smell

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Notes from Janice’s Desk You smell things, such as a French Fries, because molecules leave the food and enter the air. When this air containing molecules from the French Fries enters your nose, special cells on the surface inside your nose capture the molecules. These special smelling cells have hairlike bristles covered with a slippery […]

Butterfly: Proboscus

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OOPS! Proboscus , Proboscis is the correct spelling for this insect feeding tube. Only vertebrates (animals with backbones) have teeth as we know them. Invertebrates (animals without a backbone),  such as some  biting and chewing insects, including caterpillars, are  have structures that function like “teeth.” These mouth parts, called mandibles, have small, sharp projections used […]