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Nature Study: Why Skunks Are Good For Gardens!

As parents, we often teach our children to avoid certain creatures in the garden, like skunks, due to their pungent odor and reputation for mischief. However, what if I told you that these striped critters are actually unsung heroes in the garden ecosystem?  In this blog, we'll explore why skunks are beneficial for your garden and why they deserve our appreciation. Skunks as Gardeners 1. Natural Pest Control Skunks have a voracious appetite for many garden pests that can wreak havoc on your plants. They are especially fond of insects like beetles, grubs, caterpillars, and even small rodents like mice and voles. By preying on these pests, skunks help keep their populations in check, reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides. 2. Soil Aeration Believe it or not, skunks are great gardeners! Their habit of digging for food helps aerate the soil, allowing oxygen and nutrients to penetrate deeper, which promotes healthier plant growth. Additionally, their digging can help expose a

100+ Fun Science Experiments! #STEMATHOME

A list of over 100 science experiments you can try at home:

1. Create a tornado in a bottle using water and dish soap.

Tornado in a Bottle!

2. Create a rainbow using a prism and sunlight.

3. Oobleck: Mix cornstarch and water to create a non-Newtonian fluid that behaves strangely.

Oobleck in the making!

4. Build a homemade thermometer using a plastic bottle, water, and a straw.

5. Make a homemade lava lamp using oil, water, and Alka-Seltzer tablets.

6. Explore surface tension by creating a bubble solution and making giant bubbles.

7. Conduct the classic Mentos and soda eruption experiment.

8. Make slime using glue, borax, and water.

9. Investigate static electricity by rubbing a balloon against your hair and seeing what objects it can attract.

10. Build a simple circuit using a battery, wire, and light bulb.

11. Test the absorbency of different materials using water and a stopwatch.

12. Create a homemade compass using a magnet and a needle.

13. Grow a bean plant in a jar with wet paper towels.

14. Study the effects of air pressure by crushing a soda can with hot and cold water.

15. Make an egg float in water by adding salt to it.

16. Investigate density by layering liquids of different densities in a jar.

17. Study the greenhouse effect by comparing the temperature inside and outside a sealed container in the sun.

18. Build a DIY balance scale using a ruler and household items.

19. Rainbow Paper towel: To make rainbow paper towels, place water with different colored ink or food coloring in separate cups. Dip one end of a folded paper towel into each cup, allowing colors to blend and spread.

20. Make a lemon battery using a lemon, zinc and copper electrodes, and wires.

21. Explore chromatography by separating the colors in markers using filter paper and water.

22. Make a simple electromagnet using a nail, wire, and battery.

23. Investigate the effect of acids and bases on eggshells by soaking them in vinegar and other liquids.

24. Edible Solar Eclipse: Use cookies and candies to model a solar eclipse. 

25. Study the properties of magnets by seeing what objects they can attract.

26. Build a simple periscope using mirrors and cardboard tubes.

27. Make a Cartesian diver using a plastic bottle, water, and a straw.

28. Explore the Bernoulli principle by blowing between two balloons suspended on strings.

29. Study the concept of inertia by rolling marbles down ramps of different inclines.

30. Create a homemade rocket using a film canister, water, and Alka-Seltzer tablets.

31. Test the effectiveness of different insulating materials by wrapping them around a cup of hot water.

32. Investigate the properties of light by shining it through different materials and observing the results.

33. Build a homemade telescope using lenses and cardboard tubes.

34. Study the properties of sound by making and playing homemade musical instruments.

35. Create a model lung using a plastic bottle, balloons, and a straw.

36. Test the strength of different shapes by building structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows.

37. Study the effects of friction by sliding objects of different materials down a ramp.

38. Make a cloud in a jar using hot water, ice, and hairspray.

39. Explore the concept of buoyancy by making boats out of aluminum foil and seeing how many pennies they can hold.

40. Study the behavior of gases by inflating balloons using various substances (baking soda and vinegar, yeast and sugar, etc.).

41. Build a simple pulley system using string and a toy car or basket.

42. Investigate the effects of temperature on the rate of chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar.

43. Study the properties of acids and bases by testing the pH of different household substances.

44. Make a solar oven using a pizza box and aluminum foil.

45. Explore the concept of convection by observing food coloring in hot and cold water.

46. Test the absorbency of different types of paper towels using water and a stopwatch.

47. Build a simple wind turbine using cardboard, paper cups, and a fan.

48. Investigate the behavior of waves using a slinky or a rope.

49. Study the properties of different types of soil by observing their texture, color, and water retention.

50. Make a kaleidoscope using mirrors and a cardboard tube.

51. Create a model of the solar system using Styrofoam balls and wire.

52. Investigate the properties of acids and bases by mixing them with indicators like cabbage juice or litmus paper.

53. Study the effects of temperature on the density of liquids by mixing them together in a container.

54. Build a model of the water cycle using containers, heat sources, and plastic wrap.

55. Make a homemade thermometer using a glass bottle, alcohol, and a straw.

56. Explore the concept of osmosis by soaking eggs in various liquids and observing their changes.

57. Test the conductivity of different materials using a simple circuit with a battery and light bulb.

58. Study the effects of pollution on water by adding oil, food coloring, or other substances to a container of water.

59. Investigate the effects of light on plant growth by placing plants in different locations around your home.

60. Build a model of a volcano using clay or playdough and baking soda and vinegar for eruption.

61. Study the behavior of magnets by seeing how they interact with each other and with different materials.

62. Drop raisins into a glass of clear soda and observe as they "dance" up and down due to the bubbles of carbon dioxide.

63. Explore the concept of density by layering liquids of different densities in a glass.

64. Test the absorbency of different materials using water and a stopwatch.

65. Study the properties of acids and bases by testing the pH of various household substances.

66. Fill a shallow dish with water and sprinkle black pepper on the surface. Dip a finger coated in dish soap into the water, and watch as the pepper instantly moves away from the soap.

67. Investigate the effects of temperature on the rate of chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar.

68. Explore the behavior of gases by inflating balloons using different substances (baking soda and vinegar, yeast and sugar, etc.).

69. Test the conductivity of different materials using a simple circuit with a battery and light bulb.

70. Study the properties of acids and bases by mixing them with indicators like cabbage juice or litmus paper.

71. Investigate the effects of light on plant growth by placing plants in different locations around your home.

72. Build a model of a volcano using clay or playdough and baking soda and vinegar for eruption.

73. Study the behavior of magnets by seeing how they interact with each other and with different materials.

74. Make a simple electromagnet using a battery, wire, and iron nail.

75. Explore the concept of density by layering liquids of different densities in a glass.

76. Make a rainbow in a paper plate by pouring warm water over skittles.

77. Study the properties of acids and bases by testing the pH of various household substances.

78. Pour milk into a shallow dish and add drops of different colored food coloring. Then, dip a cotton swab into dish soap and touch it to the surface of the milk to watch the colors swirl and mix to make rainbow milk.

79. Investigate the effects of temperature on the rate of chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar.

80. Explore the behavior of gasses by inflating balloons using different substances (baking soda and vinegar, yeast and sugar, etc.).

Balloon inflated with
baking soda & vinegar

81. Test the conductivity of different materials using a simple circuit with a battery and light bulb.

82. Study the properties of acids and bases by mixing them with indicators like cabbage juice or litmus paper.

83. Investigate the effects of light on plant growth by placing plants in different locations around your home.

84. Build a model of a volcano using clay or playdough and baking soda and vinegar for the errupting lava.

85. Create a homemade battery using coins, vinegar, and paper towels.

86. Study the effects of pollution on plant growth.

87. Investigate the principles of aerodynamics by building and testing paper airplanes of different designs.

88. Make a Cartesian diver using a plastic bottle, water, and a ketchup packet.

89. Study the principles of buoyancy by making a Cartesian diver using a plastic bottle, water, and a straw.

90. Test the effectiveness of different natural cleaning solutions (vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda) compared to commercial cleaners.

91. Explore the concept of centrifugal force by spinning a bucket of water overhead without spilling it.

92. Create a homemade compass using a magnetized needle and a cork floating in water.

93. Edible Ocean Layers: Use different flavors of Jell-O to represent the layers of the ocean.

94. Make a homemade barometer using a glass jar, balloon, and straw.

95. Study the effects of gravity by dropping objects of different masses and shapes from a height.

96. Explore the concept of capillary action by placing lettuce, celery or white flowers in colored water and observing the change in color.

Waiting to see capillary action
in white flower


97. Test the effectiveness of different sunscreen brands using UV-sensitive beads and a UV lamp.

98. Study the behavior of yeast by observing its fermentation process in sugar water.

99. Investigate the principles of aerodynamics by building and testing paper helicopters of different designs.


How to Make a Paper Plane

100. Make a homemade stethoscope using a funnel, tubing, and a balloon as the diaphragm.


Take Away

Feel free to mix and match these experiments based on your (your child's) interests. Checkout the blog on Science Supplies to make sure you have all the materials you may need - ready and available!

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