VanCleave's Science Fun

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

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

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Home » Protozoa

Protozoa

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What is a Protozoa?

Protozoa are single-celled organisms that are most likely found in stagnant water. Look for protozoa close to the edge of ponds.
The word “protozoa” means first animals. Even young children can learn about protozoa.

Book jacket for Play and Find Out About Nature

The following material was provided by Amida, a homeschooling mom.

The activities for the paramecium and euglena  models shown come from Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out About Nature. Activities in this book are designed for young children, but can be adapted for older kids.

“When I think of science for the preschooler crowd, “protozoa” isn’t exactly a word that pops into mind. But after reviewing Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out about Nature, I thought, why not? As an art project, it’s definitely doable. The above paramecium was made by tracing and cutting out the soles of LS’s and her dad’s shoes. The smaller green outline (representing the body) was glued on top of the larger white one, which was cut up to form the cilia (hair-like structures used to move the organism). A glob of glitter in the center became the nucleus (the control center of the organism). LS was excited with the project.”

Comments from L.S. about paramecium:

“Paramecium are so silly because they look like feet!”
“They use their hair to move.”  ”
They live in pond water.”
“You need a microscope to see it.”

LS asked to make more water critters so we followed up with a model of a Euglena.
Comments from L.S. about euglena:
“Euglena are so silly they move up and down, up and down.”
“They look like pears.”
“The green circles make food.”
“They move using their tail!”
To give L.S. a sense of what these microscopic organisms really are, we took to Google and checked out some videos of these organisms swimming about.
Comments from Janice
Note: What is called the euglena’s tail is called a flagellum. The euglena propels itself forward by the whirling motion of the flagellum.