SMART Science
By
Libby and
Robert Strong and Richard Pollack
This is the time of the year that farmers are preparing the soil and
plowing fields that will produce healthy fruits and vegetables for our
families to eat throughout the summer and fall.
One of the fun and educational activities you can do with your family
is to plant and take care of a small garden plot, window box, or
container planting.
In the area around the upper Ohio Valley, the last day of frost is
usually about May 10th, so it is the perfect time to plan, and plant
your garden. Brothers and sisters, moms and dads, and especially
grandparents will be happy to help out.
If you can share part of your family garden or create a garden area in
your back yard, that would be ideal. If you don’t have an outside area
to use as a garden, there are some very good alternatives to choose. A
window box or planter on the porch, or a “container planting” in a
large flowerpot can be just as much fun.
Before you begin to dig, think about where the sun will be shining, and
decide whether your plants like bright sun or shade. The seed packets
will usually tell you.
Some gardeners like to carefully plan out their garden, while others
like to scatter the seeds and see what happens. How can you mark your
garden to know what you’ve planted, and where?
As you dig in your garden, it will be interesting to find creatures
living in the soil. Earthworms are usually found, and are useful,
helpful partners. What other tiny creatures do you see that live in
your garden?
Visit smartcenter.org/worms/
Planting seeds, carefully watering, and waiting for your vegetables and
flowers to grow takes a lot of patience, but it’s exciting to watch the
sprouts pop out of the ground, put out their first tiny leaves, and
grow and grow! If you have favorite foods, like carrots, peas, corn, or
tomatoes; these would be good choices for you to try.
Sunflowers are fun and easy to grow, and can provide not only natural
beauty, but a source of food for birds and other wildlife in your back
yard. Later, as they grow very tall, you too may find that the
sunflower seeds are a tasty snack!
You can also visit a garden center to buy plants in small containers
that are ready to plant in your garden.
A favorite type of flower garden is a “butterfly garden”.
Butterflies, bees, and other flying insects will visit all summer and
into the fall. Visit this website to find out more about butterfly
gardens. Smartcenter.org/butterflygarden/
Comet Watch at
Brooke Hills Park:
String of Pearls... Comet(s) to pass Earth in May of 2006. The Near
Earth Object Foundation will host a comet watch at Brooke Hills Park,
Cardinal shelter on May 12th, 2006. Please visit smartcenter.org/whatsup/
for up-to-date listing of astronomy and other events.
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This is a great time to think about going to some fun and educational
summer activities and camps. This summer, the WLSC SMART-Center has
several camps for scientists of various ages and interests, as well as
other scheduled events and activities. Check the smartcenter.org website for
more information and applications.
Fun With Physics Camp,
June 15 & 16, 2006… For students entering Grades 2 – 7.
Grade level appropriate activites in sound, pressure, magnetism,
forces, motion, and more will be explored. Interact with the science
center's exhibits and build a physics toy.
Moon and Mars Camp, July 10 -
11, 2006… Space Science Activities for students in Grades 3 – 7.
Learn about our natural satellite, the Moon, and several of your
favorite planets such as Mars and Saturn through fun activities. View
the full moon, Jupiter, and Mars through telescopes at the family star
watch each evening. Make rockets (different kinds) and launch them. Use
of the Brooke Hills Park pool and miniature golf will be incorporated
into the activities for the camp. New activities for return campers!
Fun With Chemistry Camp, July
13 & 14, 2006… For students entering Grades 2 – 7.
Grade level appropriate activities are to be determined.
Middle School Girls Science Camp,
July 20 & 21, 2006… For students entering Grades 5 – 8. Learn
and have fun at the same time with other girls who love science. An all
female staff will engage the girls in interesting activities and
experiments in many areas of science. Interact with hands-on exhibits,
conduct investigations, experience the STARLAB, and participate in
engineering challenges. All new activities this year!
Nanotechnology Camp, August 17
& 18, 2006… For students Grades 6 – 8.
Grade level appropriate activites to be determined.
For more information on upcoming free astronomy events at Brooke Hills Park, visit our website: www.smartcenter.org/whatsup