Book 11 activities
Try it at home: 150 science activities from Book 11
Every question in A Million Whys Book 11, The Animal Expedition, ends with a "Think like a scientist" idea. Here they are in one place. Each one links to its question page, with the video and the full answer.
Expedition 1: Fur, Feathers & Scales (25)
1. Why Do Mammals Have Fur or Hair?
Compare a winter coat photo of a fox with a summer photo (with a grown-up online).
Do this with a grown-up2. Why Do Birds Have Feathers Instead of Fur?
Find a feather that has fallen on the ground, and don’t pluck one from a bird. Look closely at the tiny hooks that hold the barbs together. Gently pull the barbs apart and smooth them back with your fingers.
3. What Are Reptile Scales Made Of?
Tape rows of paper rectangles onto cardboard so they overlap like scales, top to bottom. Sprinkle a few water drops and tilt it. How do the overlapping edges help water run off?
4. Why Do Some Animals Shed Their Coats?
If you have a pet that sheds, help brush it with a grown-up. Notice how much fur comes out in spring and fall. Why might the fur be thicker in winter?
Do this with a grown-up5. Why Do Polar Bears Look White If Their Skin Is Black?
Put ice cubes in a zip bag wrapped in a towel and crush them with a rolling pin. Compare the clear cubes with the white crushed ice. Many tiny surfaces scatter light, just like polar bear fur.
6. Why Do Peacocks Have Such Fancy Feathers?
Sketch a peacock’s eye-spot and use at least three colors. Count the rings. Why do you think a pattern with many bright rings stands out so well?
7. Why Do Pangolins Roll Into a Ball?
Curl up on the floor like a pangolin, with your knees tucked in and your arms around them. Which soft parts do you cover? Pangolins protect their belly the same way.
8. Why Do Frogs Feel Slimy?
Wet one sponge and keep another dry. Which feels more like frog skin? Watch a frog from a few steps away, and never touch wild frogs. Tell a grown-up if you find one.
Do this with a grown-up9. Why Do Armadillos Wear Armor?
Make an armadillo band from strips of cardboard taped in overlapping rows on a long strip of paper. Bend it. How do the joints let it curl? What happens if the plates are one solid piece?
10. Why Do Lions Have Manes?
Draw a lion with a mane in three styles: short, medium, and huge. Write two jobs a mane does. Which style do you think works best in a hot place?
11. Why Do Cats’ Fur Stand Up When They’re Scared?
Notice how the hairs on your arm stand up when you feel a cold breeze. Those are the same tiny muscles. What does it tell you about how cats and people are related?
12. Why Can’t a Turtle Crawl Out of Its Shell?
Feel your own backbone and ribs through your back and sides. Now imagine they were joined into a hard dome around you. That is a turtle’s shell. Which of your bones would be part of it?
13. Why Do Elephants Have Almost No Fur?
Wet the back of your hand and wave it in the air. Do you feel it cool? Elephants use water and mud the same way: as the water dries, it takes heat away.
14. Why Do Sloths Have Green Fur?
Look for green algae on a damp flowerpot, fence, or rock outside. Notice that it grows where it is wet and gets some light. Why would a sloth’s damp, shady fur be a good place for it?
Do this with a grown-up15. Why Are Blue Jays Blue Without Any Blue Color in Their Feathers?
If you find a blue jay feather outside, wash your hands afterward. Look at it with light behind it, then with light on the front. Does it still look blue both ways? What do you see?
Do this with a grown-up16. Why Do Lizards Drop Their Tails?
Draw a lizard before and after dropping its tail. Show the wiggling tail and the lizard running away. Never grab a wild lizard’s tail. Why is it better to just watch?
17. Why Do Worms Not Have Fur, Feathers, or Scales?
After a rainy day, look for earthworms on the pavement from a polite distance. A grown-up can help move one back to damp soil with wet hands. Why do you think they came out in the rain?
Do this with a grown-up18. Why Do Penguins Have Dense Feathers?
Put on a thin shirt and notice how warm you feel. Then add a jacket on top. Trapped air in the layers keeps heat in, just like penguin feathers. Which layer holds more warm air?
19. Why Do Hippos Ooze a Red-Orange “Sweat”?
Look at a bottle of sunscreen with a grown-up. Find the words that say it protects from the Sun’s UV rays. Hippos make their own sunscreen. Why would they need it?
Do this with a grown-up20. Why Do Some Animals Change Color with the Seasons?
Cut a white bunny and a brown bunny from paper. Put them on a sheet of white paper, and then on a brown one. Which bunny is harder to see on each? Why does the change help?
Do this with a grown-up21. Why Do Rhinos Have Thick Skin Folds?
Compare a thick raincoat and a thin T-shirt by lightly rubbing each with a rough surface like a piece of cardboard. Which one wears through first? How is that like rhino skin?
22. Why Do Bees Look Fuzzy?
Sprinkle a little cocoa powder on a fuzzy sock and on a smooth plate. Tilt each one. Which holds more powder? Watch real bees from a safe distance and notice the yellow powder.
23. Why Does Shark Skin Feel Like Sandpaper?
Stroke your hand along a piece of velvet or a short-haired pet’s coat in both directions. Does it feel smooth one way and rough the other? Shark skin is like that.
24. Why Do Birds Fluff Up Their Feathers When It Is Cold?
Fill two cups with the same warm water. Wrap one in a fluffy wool sock and one in a thin cloth. Check the water temperature after 15 minutes. Which stayed warmer, and why?
25. Why Do Animals Need Skin Care From Nature?
List three ways that both people and animals take care of their bodies, like brushing hair, washing, and cleaning teeth. Which ones are the same? Which are different?
Expedition 2: Super Senses & Signals (25)
26. Why Do Dogs Smell So Much Better than Humans?
Hide a cinnamon stick in one of three covered cups. Ask a friend to sniff to find it with eyes closed. Then try with a friendly pet if a grown-up says it is okay. Who is better at it?
Do this with a grown-up27. How Do Pit Vipers Sense Heat?
Ask a friend to close their eyes. Hold your hand near their cheek without touching and ask if they can feel the warmth. How close do you have to be? Snakes can feel heat from farther away.
28. Why Do Butterflies Taste with Their Feet?
Watch a butterfly or bee from a polite distance. How many leaves or flowers does it touch before it stays? Imagine tasting everything you step on.
29. Why Do Snakes Flick Their Tongues?
Ask a grown-up to hold a cotton ball with a little vanilla extract to your left and then to your right. Keep your eyes closed. Which side notices the smell first? How does a forked tongue help a snake?
Do this with a grown-up30. Why Do Chameleons’ Eyes Move Separately?
Cover one eye and try to reach for a pencil held by a friend. Is it harder to judge the distance? How does a chameleon use two eyes to aim?
31. Why Are Some Owls’ Ears at Different Heights?
Close your eyes while a friend snaps their fingers high, then low, at the same distance. Point to where the sound comes from. Is up and down harder to tell than left and right?
32. Why Do Elephants Hear with Their Feet?
Press your ear to a table while a friend taps the far end. Is the sound louder than through the air? Solids carry vibrations well. How might an elephant’s feet use this?
33. How Do Fish Feel the Water Moving Around Them?
Dip your fingertip into a bowl of still water. Have a friend gently make ripples with their finger a short distance away. Can you feel the ripples before you see them?
34. Why Does the Star-Nosed Mole Have a Nose Shaped Like a Star?
Close your eyes and use only your fingertips to figure out what some small objects are. Tap quickly and lightly like the mole. How fast can you identify each?
35. Why Can a Platypus Find Food with Its Eyes Closed?
Hide a marble in a bowl of dry beans. With your eyes closed, sweep a long spoon back and forth to find it by touch. How is that like a platypus feeling for food?
36. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?
Gently brush a feather near the hairs on your forearm without touching your skin. Do you feel the hairs move? A cat’s whiskers are much more sensitive. Never cut or pull a cat’s whiskers.
Do this with a grown-up37. Why Do Some Moths Have Feathery Antennae?
Draw a moth’s antenna as a feather with lots of branches. Then draw a straight stick antenna. Which would catch more scent specks drifting by? Count the “catch points.”
38. Why Do Deer Flash White Tails?
Invent a silent signal to warn your family of danger or call for help, using only a hand motion. Try it at a distance, across a room. Can the others understand it?
39. How Do Homing Pigeons Find Their Way Home?
Draw a map of your walk to a nearby park using landmarks like a big tree, a store, and a stop sign. Hand it to a friend and see if they can find the way by following your clues.
40. Why Do Rattlesnakes Rattle?
Fill a small plastic bottle with a few dry beans, seal it, and shake it. Hear the rattle. If you ever hear a real rattle, freeze, then slowly back away and tell a grown-up.
Do this with a grown-up41. How Do Mosquitoes Find People?
Draw a mosquito following four clues to find a person: breath, smell, warmth, and movement. Which clue works from farther away? Which do you think a long-sleeved shirt hides best?
42. Why Do Rabbits Thump the Ground?
Tap a rhythm gently on the floor with your foot. Who in the room notices first? Does it feel different if you are sitting on the floor or standing?
43. How Do Spiders Feel a Bug Land in Their Web?
Hold one end of a string while a friend holds the other end tight. Have them gently pluck the string. Can you feel it? Does a quick pluck feel different from a slow one?
44. Why Do Goats Have Rectangular Pupils?
Look at photos of a goat, a cat, and a human eye. Draw each pupil shape. Which one gives the widest view? Which one is best for seeing in dim light?
45. Why Do Sharks Sense Tiny Electric Twitches?
Rub a balloon on your hair and hold it near tiny bits of paper. Watch them jump. The electric force works at a distance. A shark can sense far weaker ones than this.
46. Why Do Prairie Dogs “Speak” in Chirps?
Invent two different claps or signals: one for danger from the sky, one for danger on the ground. Teach them to a friend. Can they tell which is which with their eyes closed?
47. Why Do Octopuses Taste with Their Arms?
Close your eyes and have a friend put a small safe food in your hand, like a cracker or grape. Can you tell what it is by touch and smell? How is that like an octopus tasting with an arm?
48. Why Do Meerkats Take Turns as Lookouts?
Play a lookout game with friends. One of you watches for a “predator,” while the others play. Switch every two minutes. What was good about taking turns?
49. Why Do Catfish Taste with Their Whole Bodies?
Look at your tongue in a mirror and notice the small bumps. Those hold your taste buds. A catfish has taste buds on its skin. Where would you put yours?
50. Why Can’t Snakes Blink?
Have a staring contest with a friend for 30 seconds. When do you blink? Why do people need to blink? A snake’s clear scale does the same job as your eyelids and tears.
Expedition 3: Families, Packs & Teams (25)
51. Why Do Wolves Live in Packs?
List three human jobs that are easier to do with a team than alone, like moving a couch or putting on a play. How are those teams like a wolf pack?
52. Why Do Baby Ducklings Follow Their Mother in a Line?
Play follow the leader with friends. How does staying in a line help the group stay together? What would happen if everyone wandered in a different direction?
53. Why Do Elephants Follow a Matriarch?
Ask an older relative or neighbor to share a tip from their memory, like the best fishing spot, the way to a place, or a recipe. What did you learn that you couldn’t easily look up?
54. Why Does a Beehive Have Just One Queen?
Draw a hive and label three kinds of bees: queen, workers, and drones. Write one job for each. Which type is the biggest group in the hive?
55. How Do Lionesses Hunt as a Team?
Practice a quiet teamwork game. Have two friends try to gently “surround” a pillow at the same time, while another stays on guard. Why is it easier with a plan?
56. Why Do Orcas Teach Calves to Hunt?
Teach a younger child or a sibling a safe skill you know, like tying a shoe or making a paper airplane. Show it step by step, then let them try. What did you learn about teaching?
57. How Do Ant Colonies Divide Up the Work?
Assign family chore roles for one evening, such as setting the table, clearing, and watering plants. Did the jobs get done faster when everyone had a role? How is that like an ant colony?
58. Why Do Birds Nest in Colonies?
Watch a flock of pigeons or gulls from a distance. How many take off at once when something startles them? Count the number of times you see one bird alert the others.
59. Why Do Beaver Families Build Together?
Build a cushion lodge with a family member. Make an entrance just big enough for you to crawl through. Who gathers “branches,” and who builds the walls?
60. Why Do Kangaroo Joeys Stay in Pouches?
Compare how long a joey rides in the pouch to how long a human baby needs to be carried by a parent. Why do you think these times are different?
61. Why Do Seahorse Dads Carry the Babies?
Carry a small stuffed toy in a pocket or a cloth pouch for an hour, being careful with it. What did you have to do to keep it safe? What would a seahorse dad do?
62. Why Do African Wild Dogs Vote with Sneezes?
Hold a pretend “sneeze vote” with your family to decide on a snack. Each person fake-sneezes once to vote for their choice. Did everyone agree? How is it like a pack’s vote?
63. Why Do Swans Mate for Long Partnerships?
Name two jobs that parents share in human families, such as cooking or picking up kids. How does working as a team help? Do you think swans have a similar schedule?
Do this with a grown-up64. Why Do Squirrels Sometimes Raise Orphans?
With a grown-up, read a story about a wildlife rescue. Who were the helpers? What did they do? If you see a baby animal alone, tell a grown-up instead of touching it.
Do this with a grown-up65. Why Do Zebras and Wildebeest Travel Together?
Make a chart of what zebras are good at, what wildebeest are good at, and how they help each other. Which animals in your life work as a team?
66. Why Do Naked Mole Rats Share Tunnels?
Build a blanket fort with friends and work together to make a tunnel under it without it collapsing. Who digs, who carries, and who watches the roof?
67. Why Do Starlings Fly in Giant Swirling Clouds?
Stand in a circle with friends. Choose one person to turn their body, and each person copies the person on their right. Watch the wave of turning go around the circle. How fast does it travel?
68. Why Do Baby Birds Open Their Mouths So Wide?
Set out three paper cups of different sizes. Toss pom-poms from a short distance. Which cup is the easiest to hit? How does a big, wide beak help a chick?
69. Why Do Orangutan Moms Stay with Young So Long?
List three things you are still practicing that take years to get good at, like reading, swimming, or an instrument. Why can it take so long to learn complicated skills?
70. Why Do Dolphins Babysit Each Other’s Calves?
Make a list of three ways people in your family or school help each other look after the little ones. How are these like a dolphin pod’s team?
71. Why Do Leafcutter Ants Farm Fungus?
Put damp paper towel in a clear container and sprinkle seeds like cress or beans on it. Keep it moist and in light. Watch the garden grow. What do your seeds need that the ants’ fungus needs too?
72. Why Do Wolves Bring Food to Den Pups?
Pack a small snack bag for a younger friend or sibling on your next walk. What would you pack for a hungry pup that is too little to walk far? How do wolves do it differently?
73. Why Do Emperor Penguin Dads Hold Eggs?
Balance a beanbag on your feet while you stand still. How long can you do it? Penguin dads stay still for two months! What do you think would be the hardest part?
74. Why Do Crows Remember Human Faces?
Notice crows or other birds near you. Do they come closer or fly away when you approach? Do they act differently with different people? Observe quietly from a distance, and write down what you see.
75. Why Do Animal “Families” Sometimes Include Friends?
Write a thank-you note to a person who helps you who is not in your family, such as a teacher, neighbor, or coach. What do they do for you? How is that like animal friends?
Expedition 4: Hunters, Hiders & Helpers (25)
76. How Do Jumping Spiders Hunt Without a Web?
Cover one eye and try to catch a soft ball tossed gently by a friend. Then try with both eyes. Which is easier? Spiders use two front eyes to judge distance.
77. Why Do Cheetahs Have Tear-Mark Lines?
Squint at a bright window with your hand held above your eyes like a visor, and then without. Which way glares less? How is that like the dark marks under a cheetah’s eyes?
78. Why Do Pelicans Scoop Fish with Their Big Bills?
Put some pebbles or dry beans in a tub of water. Scoop them up using a colander or strainer. What stays inside and what drains out? That is what a pelican’s pouch does.
79. Why Do Anglerfish Use Glowing Lures?
Make a fishing game with a string, a small magnet, and paper fish with paper clips. Dangle your “lure” and see which fish come to it. How does a lure help when you’re in the dark?
80. Why Do Venomous Snakes Have Venom?
If you see a snake outdoors, stay still, step back slowly, and tell a grown-up. Practice that plan with a friend. Learn which snakes live near you from a field guide or a nature center.
Do this with a grown-up81. Why Do Bombardier Beetles Spray Hot Liquid?
Mix a spoonful of baking soda with a little vinegar in a tray to see a fizzing reaction. The beetle’s mix is much hotter. Never try to catch or mix chemicals like a beetle.
82. Why Do Octopuses Squirt Ink?
Drop one drop of food coloring into a glass of water and watch the cloud spread. How could a cloud like that help an animal escape?
83. Why Do Some Caterpillars Look Like Snakes?
Draw a caterpillar with two big fake eyes. Show your drawing to friends for just one second. Do they think it looks like something else? Why can a quick glance be tricked?
84. Why Do Honeyguide Birds Lead People to Honey?
Hide a small toy, then guide a friend to it using only a special call or whistle. Can they follow your signal? Switch roles. How did you and your friend agree on the signal?
85. Why Do Oxpeckers Ride on Rhinos?
Make a chart of what the bird gets and what the rhino gets. Is there anything that is not so good for the rhino? Why do scientists say it is more complicated than a perfect friendship?
86. Why Do Arctic Foxes Follow Polar Bears?
Draw a food chain in the Arctic from seal to polar bear to fox. Add arrows that show who eats what is left. Why is scavenging a smart plan for a smaller animal?
87. Why Do Antlions Dig Tiny Pits in the Sand?
Slowly pour dry sand or sugar into a cone-shaped pile on a tray. Notice the angle of the slope. Poke the side near the bottom and watch it slide. Why does the ant slip?
88. Why Do Frogs Use Sticky Tongues?
Try to pick up grains of rice with dry fingers, and then with slightly damp fingers. Which is easier? Why does a little wetness help a frog catch food?
89. Why Do Eagles Have Talons?
Use kitchen tongs to pick up a wet sponge and a dry sponge. Which is easier to hold? An eagle’s grip works with curved claws to catch slippery fish too.
90. Why Do Gazelles Stot (Pronk) When Fleeing?
On a soft rug, try five stiff-legged hops with both feet. Stop if you feel tired. How hard was it? A gazelle in danger still manages it while running.
91. Why Are Dragonflies Such Good Hunters?
Have a friend roll a ball across the floor while you try to stop it by aiming ahead of it. Do you aim at where it is or where it will be? How do dragonflies do it?
92. Why Do Leaf-Tailed Geckos Look Like Dead Leaves?
Cut out a leaf shape from brown paper. Place it among real fallen leaves and ask a friend to find it. How long did it take? What would make it harder to spot?
Do this with a grown-up93. Why Do Remora Fish Stick to Sharks?
Press a rubber suction cup on a smooth tile and try to pull it off. How hard is it? A remora’s sucker uses the same idea, with the water pushing it tight to the host.
94. Why Do Vampire Bats Share Blood Meals?
Think of a time someone shared something with you. Write a thank-you note. Why do you think sharing makes friendships stronger, even for bats?
95. Do Birds Really Clean Crocodile Teeth?
Think of an animal claim you have heard and ask a grown-up to help you check it using a trusted source. Was it true, partly true, or a myth? Write it down.
Do this with a grown-up96. Why Do Sea Otters Use Rocks as Tools?
With a grown-up, use a smooth rock outside to crack a peanut shell on a towel. How hard did you have to hit it? What would happen if you didn’t have a rock?
Do this with a grown-up97. Why Do Army Ants Swarm?
Race a friend to move a pile of cotton balls with only your fingertips. Then team up with several friends. Is it faster in a group? How does a swarm of ants use teamwork?
98. Why Do Cuttlefish Hypnotize Crabs with Color Waves?
Wave a striped card back and forth in front of a toy crab while a friend tries to look only at the crab. Does the movement distract you? How might a cuttlefish use this to hunt?
99. Why Do Poison Dart Frogs Advertise Bright Colors?
Sort pictures or toys of animals into groups: “hide” colors and “warn” colors. Which animals use bright colors? Never touch bright wild frogs or insects. They may be unsafe.
100. Why Do Some Animals Help Raise Other Species’ Young (Brood Parasitism)?
Make four paper eggs with matching spots, and one with a different pattern. Hide them in a nest cup. Can a friend spot the odd one out quickly? Now you know the host’s challenge.
Do this with a grown-upExpedition 5: Homes Around the World (25)
101. Why Do Weaverbirds Weave Hanging Nests?
Try weaving: cut paper strips and weave them over and under in a grid. Then tie a knot in a piece of string using only one hand if you can. How do weaverbirds do it with beaks?
Do this with a grown-up102. Why Do Birds Choose Different Nest Materials?
Build two small nests from bottle caps: one from twigs, and one from soft material like cotton. Put a pom-pom “egg” in each. Which looks cozier? Which holds up better in a gentle breeze from a fan?
103. Why Do Termites Build Tall Mounds?
With a grown-up, hold a strip of tissue paper just above a mug of warm (not hot) water and watch it flutter in the rising warm air. Warm air rises in a termite mound, too. What do you think the chimney does?
Do this with a grown-up104. Why Do Burrowing Owls Live Underground?
On a warm day, with a grown-up, feel the soil on top of the ground and then the soil about ten centimeters down in a shady spot. Which is cooler? Why would an owl want to live down there?
Do this with a grown-up105. Why Do Tailorbirds Sew Leaves Into Nests?
Punch holes along the edges of two paper leaves with a hole punch. Lace them together with yarn into a cup shape. Could you stitch it with your hands behind your back, like a bird?
106. Why Do Polar Bears Dig Snow Dens?
Draw a cross-section of a polar bear den. Show the entrance tunnel, the sleeping room, the snow roof, and the air pockets. How does the shape help keep heat in?
107. Why Do Foxes Dig Dens with More than One Door?
Draw a map of a fox den with a nursery, a food storage room, and two exits. Mark the path out if one exit is blocked. Why is having a backup door such a smart idea?
108. Why Do Wasps Make Paper Nests?
Tear a piece of scrap paper into tiny bits and soak them in water. Mash them into a pulp, spread it thin on a screen or tray, and let it dry. You made recycled paper like a wasp does. Stay away from real nests.
109. Why Do Swallows Build Nests Out of Mud?
Mix soil with a little water to make a thick mud, roll small balls, and press them in a cup shape on a cardboard base. Let it dry. Is it strong? What could you add, like grass, to make it stronger?
110. Why Do Squirrels Build Leafy Nests High in Trees?
On a walk, look up into a tree after the leaves have fallen. Can you see any clumps of leaves and sticks? Draw one. Why do you think the squirrel builds it so high?
111. Why Do Moles Dig Such Long Tunnels?
Fill a clear plastic container with damp sand and use a spoon to dig a small tunnel. Does the roof hold up? Try with dry sand. Why does damp soil work better for tunnels?
112. Why Do Eagles Reuse Nests for Years?
Pretend each craft stick is one year. Add a stick to a model nest every day for a week. How big does it get? Why would a bigger nest need a strong tree?
113. Why Do Land Snails Seal Their Shell Doors?
Mix a spoonful of flour and water into a paste. Spread it on a plate and let it dry. Notice how it forms a hard crust. A snail’s slime door dries in a similar way. What happens if you add water?
114. Why Do Bats Roost in Caves?
Sit in a dark closet for a minute and notice how steady the temperature feels. Why is a stable temperature useful for a sleeping bat? Never enter bat caves, since it can harm them.
115. Why Do Spiders Choose Corners and Doorways?
Look for three spider webs inside or outside your home with a grown-up. Where are they? Guess why each spot is good for catching insects. Leave the webs alone.
Do this with a grown-up116. Why Do Ghost Crabs Dig Burrows on the Beach?
At the beach, dig a small hole in damp sand and compare the temperature on top of the sand to deep down. Which is cooler? Why would a crab want to be down there?
117. Why Do Flamingos Stand in Shallow Lakes?
Measure the depth of a puddle with a stick. How deep is it? A flamingo’s long legs let it wade where you’d need tall boots. What advantages does wading in shallow water give it?
118. Why Do Urban Foxes Live in Cities?
With a grown-up, list three kinds of wild animals you have seen near your home. Note how far you were from each. What is a safe distance, and how can you enjoy them from afar?
Do this with a grown-up119. Why Do Migratory Birds Need Stopover Wetlands?
Plan a pretend road trip on paper, with stops for snacks and gas. Then look at a migration map for a bird like a sandpiper. How are they alike? What would happen if a stop disappeared?
120. Why Do Coral Reef Fish Stay Near Home Ranges?
Draw a map of your own “home range”: your bed, kitchen, school, and favorite places. Which spots do you know best? How does knowing your area well help you feel safe?
121. Why Do Bees Build Honeycomb Out of Six-Sided Cells?
Trace around a coin to draw circles that touch each other. Do they leave gaps? Now cut out six-sided shapes from paper and try to fit them together. Which uses space better?
Do this with a grown-up122. Why Do Trapdoor Spiders Live in Burrows with Lids?
Make a trapdoor lid: tape a paper circle to the edge of a cup so it works like a hinge. Cover it with a little soil or leaves. Can your friend find the door?
123. Why Do Woodpeckers Carve Nest Holes in Trees?
In spring, listen for drumming in a park or forest. Draw a tree trunk cut in half with a nest hole inside. Which animals might use the hole next year?
Do this with a grown-up124. Why Do Tree Frogs Need Moist Micro-Homes?
Find the dampest and driest spots in your yard or park. Press a paper towel on each for a few seconds. Which one gets wetter? Where would a tree frog want to live?
125. Why Do Animals Share Habitats Without Always Fighting?
Make a chart of who you see in your yard or park at dawn, midday, and dusk. Which animals share the same space at different times? How does that reduce fights?
Expedition 6: Record Breakers & Rescue (25)
126. Why Is a Giraffe’s Neck So Long?
Use a string and tape to mark a spot 5 meters high on a wall or fence, with a grown-up. Stand beside it. How many of you would stack up to the giraffe’s head?
Do this with a grown-up127. Why Can Peregrine Falcons Dive So Fast?
Roll a marble down a steep ramp and a gentle ramp. Which gets going faster? Why does falling from higher up make a falcon faster? Time each roll if you can.
128. Why Can a Mantis Shrimp Punch So Fast?
Press one end of a ruler on a desk, bend the other end back with a finger, and let go to launch a pom-pom (not at faces). What stores the energy? How is this like the shrimp’s club?
129. Why Is a Cheetah the Land Sprint King?
Do a short sprint for 10 seconds, then notice your breathing and heart rate. How long does it take to recover? Why can’t a cheetah sprint all day?
130. Why Can Archerfish Shoot Water at Bugs?
Aim a water dropper or squirt bottle at a paper bug taped to a wall above a sink. Can you hit it? How does practice help? Archerfish also get better with practice.
131. Why Do Tardigrades Survive Extreme Conditions?
With a grown-up, soak a pinch of dry moss in water for a few hours. Look at it with a hand lens or a microscope. Tardigrades live in moss, but they are tiny. What else lives there?
Do this with a grown-up132. Why Can Some Animals Live for Hundreds of Years?
Use a long string to make a timeline, with 1 centimeter for every 10 years. Mark today and a Greenland shark that was born 400 years ago. How long is your timeline?
133. Why Do Tiny Shrews Have to Eat Almost All Day?
Count your pulse for one minute by feeling your wrist. Write the number. A shrew’s heart beats about ten times faster. Calculate how many beats that would be. Who would be hungrier?
134. Why Do Wood Frogs Freeze in Winter and Thaw?
Put plain water and sugar water in two ice-cube trays in the freezer. Check which freezes first. Does sugar change the freezing? How is that like a wood frog’s antifreeze?
135. Why Do Sperm Whales Dive So Deep?
Push an empty cup upside down into a tub of water. The air inside gets squeezed smaller. Push it deeper. What happens to the air? That’s how pressure changes with depth.
136. How Do Scientists Recognize Individual Animals From Their Spots and Stripes?
With a magnifying glass, look at the ridges of your fingertip. Press it on an ink pad or pencil scribble, then on paper. Compare your print with a friend’s. How can you tell them apart?
137. Why Do Wildlife Corridors Matter?
Design a cardboard eco-bridge over a toy road. What animals would use it? How would you make it feel natural for them, with trees or soil on top?
138. Why Do Rehab Centers Help Injured Animals?
Make a thank-you card for a local wildlife rehab center, or ask a grown-up what supplies they accept. Practice the plan: spot an animal, stay back, tell a grown-up.
Do this with a grown-up139. Why Should You Never “Rescue” a Fawn Alone?
Practice the plan with a friend: spot a fawn, stay back, tell a grown-up, and let a grown-up call the wildlife office if the fawn looks hurt. Why is leaving it alone the kind choice?
Do this with a grown-up140. Why Do Bird Windows Need Stickers?
With permission, help put bird-safe stickers or tape lines on one window in your home or school. Look at the window from outside. Can you still see the reflection through the markings?
Do this with a grown-up141. Why Do Bat Houses and Nest Boxes Help Wildlife?
Draw a nest box for a small bird like a chickadee. Draw a round hole about 3 centimeters wide, a roof, and a floor. Ask a nature club or grown-up how to build one safely.
Do this with a grown-up142. Why Do Zoos Run Breeding Programs?
Look for a sign at a zoo or aquarium, or in a book. Find one goal for helping a species, such as breeding, protecting habitat, or education. Write it down and explain it to someone.
143. Why Do Citizen Scientists Count Butterflies?
Count the pollinators you see in a flowery spot for ten minutes: bees, butterflies, and flies. Write down the numbers and the time. Do it again another day. Did the counts change?
144. Why Do Quiet Zones Help Nesting Birds?
Practice a “whisper zone” near a pretend nest. Walk quietly by it at a distance and talk softly. If you ever spot a real nest, watch from far away and don’t touch it.
145. Why Do Some Animals Sleep with Half Their Brain Awake?
Lie down and close your eyes for a minute, but listen carefully to every sound around you. Which sounds would wake you if you were a duck on watch? Draw a duck with one eye open.
146. Why Do Researchers Use Camera Traps?
Smooth a patch of soft dirt or sand outside and check it the next day for tracks. This low-tech trap shows who visited. Compare the prints with a field guide. Who stopped by?
Do this with a grown-up147. Why Is Habitat the Best “Rescue”?
With a family member, plant a native flower or tree that fits where you live, or help pick up litter at a local park. Which animals might use that place?
148. Why Can a Flea Jump So High?
With a grown-up, measure how far you can jump from a standing start. Divide it by your height. How many body lengths did you jump? A flea jumps more than a hundred.
Do this with a grown-up149. Why Should Curiosity Stay Kind?
Write a short “kind explorer” rule card, with three promises like stay back, stay quiet, and leave things as you found them. Share it with a friend and practice it on your next walk.
150. Why Do Scientists Still Discover New Animal Species Every Year?
With a grown-up, gently look under a flowerpot or log in a garden. Count the different kinds of tiny animals you find. Sketch them, then put everything back just as you found it.
Do this with a grown-up