Book 2 activities
Try it at home: 150 science activities from Book 2
Every question in A Million Whys Book 2, The Inside 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: Your Amazing Brain (25)
1. Why Do We Forget Why We Walked In?
Pick something to fetch from another room, like a pencil. Say your errand out loud before you leave the room. Then walk through the doorway. Did saying it out loud help you remember? Try it a few times, in different rooms, and compare what happens!
2. Why Do We Dream?
Keep a pencil and paper by your bed. Go to sleep as usual. In the morning, jot down one dream word right away. After a week, look at your words. Do you notice any patterns? Maybe the same word keeps showing up!
3. Why Can't We Tickle Ourselves?
Try a light touch on your own foot, and notice how it feels. Is it ticklish? Now let a grown-up try the same light touch, and only if you say yes. Compare the two. Which one felt more ticklish, and why do you think so?
Do this with a grown-up4. Why Do We Get Brain Freeze?
Next time you have a slushy or ice cream, take your first bites slowly. Pause now and then. If you feel it starting, warm your palate with your tongue. Then compare. Does slowing down help? Do not gulp!
5. Why Do We Yawn When Someone Else Yawns?
Watch a stuffed animal yawn, or a picture of one. Do you feel a yawn coming? Probably not! Now watch a real person yawn, and see what happens. Keep a little tally and share your results with your family. It is a fun experiment to try at the dinner table.
6. Why Do Songs Get Stuck in Our Head?
Next time a song is stuck, try to finish the song out loud. Sing the very last line, so your brain gets to complete it. Then switch to a different tune. Did the first loop stop? Tell a friend what worked.
7. Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep?
Ask a grown-up if you ever talk in your sleep. Ask what they heard and when. Remember, you may never hear yourself, because you are asleep. Write down what they tell you, and look for patterns.
Do this with a grown-up8. Why Does Practice Make Us Better?
Pick a small skill, like tying your shoes or writing your name. Time yourself with a stopwatch. Do it again on three days in a row. Did you get faster? That is your brain path getting smoother!
9. Why Do We Have Two Sides of the Brain?
Wiggle the fingers of your left hand. Now wiggle the fingers of your right hand. Which side of your brain helped? Both sides helped, because they work as a team!
10. Why Does the Brain Use So Much Energy?
After a long test or a hard day of learning, stop and notice how you feel. Are you tired? Are you hungry? Your brain has been burning lots of fuel, so a snack and a good rest may be just what it needs.
11. Why Do We Get Dizzy When We Spin?
With a grown-up nearby, and in a safe, open space, spin around twice. Then stop and stare at one spot. What do you notice? Does the spot seem to move? Record what happens, and explain why it happens using what you learned today.
Do this with a grown-up12. Why Do Smells Bring Back Memories?
With a grown-up's help, smell a spice, like cinnamon or vanilla. Notice what scene shows up in your mind. How do you feel? Write it down, and try another smell to see if a new memory appears. You might even find a happy memory you forgot!
Do this with a grown-up13. Why Do We Talk to Ourselves?
Next time you tie your shoes, whisper the steps as you go. First, cross the laces. Then loop, and pull. Try it a few times. Did whispering the steps help? You can use the same trick for homework or puzzles.
14. Why Does the Mind Go Blank on a Test?
Practice one calm breath before a quiz. Breathe in slowly through your nose, and out through your mouth. You can put a hand on your heart to feel it slow down. Notice how you feel afterward. Practicing when you are calm makes it easier on test day.
15. Why Are Some People Left-Handed?
Write your name with your right hand, then with your left. Time each try. Compare how neat each one looks. Which hand is your leader? Ask your family, and find out who else is a lefty.
16. Why Do We Jerk Awake When We Fall Asleep?
Notice if you ever jerk awake. Think about how tired you were that day. Keep a small note for a week. Is there a pattern? Maybe it happens more when you are extra tired! Be a sleep detective!
17. Why Can't We Remember Being a Baby?
Ask a grown-up what their earliest memory is. Ask how old they were. Then ask a few other people in your family. Do most people say about the same age? Compare the answers and see!
Do this with a grown-up18. Why Do We See Faces in Clouds?
Look at a wall outlet. Does it look like a surprised face? Look at some clouds and see what shapes you find. Draw what you see, and show a friend.
19. Why Do Sudden Sounds Make Us Jump?
Ask a friend to clap suddenly, when you are not looking for it. Notice how fast you blink. That is a startle reflex in action. Why do you think it is so fast? Now you know, it uses the fast alarm path!
20. Why Does Music Give Some People Chills?
Play a favorite song. Notice if your arms tingle. If they do, which part of the song did it? Write it down. Whether you get chills or not, that is perfectly fine.
21. Why Do We Get Deja Vu?
The next time you feel deja vu, stay curious. Notice what you were looking at. Write it down when you can. Do you see any clues? Maybe the scene looked like something you had seen before.
22. Why Do We Count Without Thinking?
Ask a friend to hold up three apples, or three coins, very briefly. Then have them hold up seven. Which one needed counting? Why do you think that is? Try it with different numbers. Scientists love to test ideas like this.
23. Why Does Chewing Help Some People Think?
Compare reading one page with gum, and one page without. But only try this if a grown-up says gum is allowed. Which page felt easier to focus on? Write down what you notice, and tell your family. Scientists love to test ideas like this.
Do this with a grown-up24. Why Do We Remember the First and Last Things on a List?
Ask a grown-up to read eight words, just once. Then write down the ones you remember. Which words stuck? What do you notice about your results? The first and last words are usually the winners. Scientists run experiments just like this one.
Do this with a grown-up25. Why Does Sleep Help Us Remember?
Learn five new words at night. Then go to sleep. Test yourself in the morning. How many stuck? Try the same thing with a shorter night, and compare. Scientists run experiments just like this one.
Expedition 2: Feelings and You (25)
26. Why Do We Blush?
The next time you feel embarrassed, notice if your ears get warm, too. Feel your cheeks with your hand. When does it happen most? Write it down, and be kind to yourself. Everyone blushes sometimes.
27. Why Do We Cry When We Are Sad?
The next time you feel sad, notice how your body feels. If a hug after tears is offered, notice if it helps you feel safer. Talk to a grown-up you trust about your feelings. Sharing feelings can make them lighter.
Do this with a grown-up28. Why Do We Cry When We Are Happy?
Watch a joyful movie scene with a grown-up. Notice what happens to your face. Did your eyes get wet? Write down what you noticed. Big feelings are a wonderful thing to explore. Scientists learn by noticing things like this.
Do this with a grown-up29. Why Do We Get Butterflies in the Stomach?
Next time, notice the butterflies before a game. Then notice them before a test. What is the same? What is different? Being a feelings scientist is a great skill. Scientists learn by noticing things like this.
30. Why Do We Laugh?
Try telling a tiny joke to a friend or family member. Watch to see if smiles spread. Do they? Talk about what made it funny. Here is one: why did the leaf go to school? Because it wanted to grow smarter! Scientists learn by noticing things like this.
31. Why Do We Get Angry?
The next time you feel angry, name the feeling out loud. Say, I feel angry. Then take one slow breath. If the anger feels too big, tell a grown-up you trust. Scientists learn by noticing things like this.
Do this with a grown-up32. Why Do We Feel Scared?
Make a list with one real danger, like a busy road. Then add one pretend scare, like a monster. Remember, a shadow is not a monster. If a scare feels too big, talk to a grown-up. Scientists learn by noticing things like this.
Do this with a grown-up33. Why Do We Feel Jealous?
Try writing your want in one word. What is it that you want? Maybe you want a bike, or time with a friend. Then try cheering for your friend. It feels good to be kind. Scientists learn by noticing things like this. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
34. Why Do Hugs Help?
Ask a safe person for a 10-second hug. Then try a 10-second self-squeeze. Which feels calmer? Write down what you notice. Only do the hug if you want to. Scientists learn by noticing things like this. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
35. Why Do We Feel Lonely?
Try sending one kind message to someone you like. Or sit with a pet or a grown-up for a few minutes. Notice if it helps. If you feel lonely a lot, tell a grown-up you trust. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
Do this with a grown-up36. Why Does Worry Feel Like a Tight Chest?
Try this. Put one hand on your belly. Breathe in slowly and count to 4. Breathe out slowly and count to 4. Notice if the squeeze eases. If worries feel too big, tell a grown-up. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
Do this with a grown-up37. Why Do We Giggle When We Are Nervous?
Watch for times when you smile or giggle when you feel unsure. What was going on? Write it down, or ask a friend if they do it, too. You might find that it is more common than you think. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
38. Why Do We Hide Our Face When We Are Embarrassed?
Next time you blush, try a small smile instead of a full hide. How does it feel? Did the people around you react? Write down what you noticed. You might be surprised that smiling can help. Feelings scientists love to notice things like this.
39. Why Does Kindness Feel Good?
Do one tiny kind act today, like sharing or saying thank you. Write down what you did. Then notice your body and write what you felt, like warm or calm. Last, write what you noticed. Did you want to help again?
40. Why Do We Copy Other People's Moods?
Find a quiet room with a friend or family member. Smile first, and keep it gentle and friendly. Watch to see if anyone smiles back. Can you explain why that might happen?
41. Why Do We Feel Brave After a Hard Thing?
Think about this past week. Pick one hard thing you already finished. Write it down in a sentence. Notice how it feels to see it. Does it feel brave?
42. Why Do We Need Friends?
Think about a friend you like. Name one thing that friend does that helps you. Maybe they listen, share, or make you laugh. Then think of one thing you do that helps them.
43. Why Does Music Change Our Mood?
Play one fast song and one soft song. Listen to the fast song first, and notice your feet. Then listen to the soft song, and notice your feet again. How did each song change your body and mood?
44. Why Do We Feel Bored?
Sit and be bored for two minutes. Stay calm, and notice what your mind wants to do. Then pick one tiny project, like a doodle or a paper boat. Did boredom help you find an idea?
45. Why Do We Feel Proud?
Think of something you practiced recently. Tell someone one thing you practiced, not just one trophy. Maybe it was shooting hoops or reading a page. Notice how your body feels when you share it.
46. Why Do We Get Stage Fright?
Pick the first sentence of something you want to say. Go to an empty room. Practice that first sentence out loud. Then say it again slowly. Does it feel easier?
47. Why Do We Miss People?
Get some paper and your favorite markers. Draw the person you miss. Then add one thing you like doing with them. Share it with them, or tell a grown-up about it.
Do this with a grown-up48. Why Do We Feel Calm in Nature?
Go outside for two minutes, with a grown-up nearby. Stand still and listen. Count how many different sounds you hear. How do you feel when the two minutes are over?
Do this with a grown-up49. Why Do We Sometimes Yawn When We Are Stressed?
Get ready for something new or a little scary, like a hard talk or a test. Notice if you yawn before it starts. Think about how your body feels right before. What do you notice? Write it down.
50. Why Do Feelings Show on Our Face?
Stand in front of a mirror, or ask a friend to watch. Make a smile with your mouth only. Then make a smile with your eyes, too. Which smile looks more real? Why do you think so?
Expedition 3: Super Senses (25)
51. Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?
With a grown-up, cut an onion near a fan. Have the grown-up do the cutting, while you watch from a safe spot. Notice whether fewer tears fall. Observe, compare, and discover!
Do this with a grown-up52. Why Does Food Taste Dull When We Have a Cold?
Get a grown-up to help with a safe snack, like a jelly bean. Pinch your nose closed and taste it. Let go of your nose while chewing. What changes when the smell arrives?
Do this with a grown-up53. Why Do We See in Color?
Find a colorful toy, and a dark closet. Look at the toy in the closet first. Then look at it in sunlight. What changes?
54. Why Do Our Ears Pop?
The next time you ride in a car up a hill, pay attention to your ears. Swallow a few times as you go up. Notice whether your ears pop. Why do you think swallowing helps?
55. Why Does Mint Feel Cold?
Taste a mint. Then sip some room-temperature water. Does the water feel colder than usual? Why do you think that happens?
56. Why Do We Get Used to a Smell?
Sit in the kitchen while someone cooks, or smell something yummy. Sit there for a few minutes. Then leave the room for a while. Come back. Does the smell seem stronger?
Do this with a grown-up57. Why Does Spicy Food Feel Like Fire?
First, ask a grown-up to pick the food and supervise. After a tiny spicy bite, sip some water. Try again with milk on another day. Which one cools your mouth better? Observe, compare, discover!
Do this with a grown-up58. Why Do We Sneeze?
For a day, notice what starts your sneezes. Was it dust, pepper, or bright sun? Write each one down. Can you find a pattern?
59. Why Do We Blink?
Ask a friend to help. Have your friend count your blinks while you read. Then switch places. Did you blink more or less than you thought?
60. Why Do We Have Two Eyes?
Get a sock and a target, like a bucket or a box. Stand a few steps back, and toss the sock with both eyes open. Then close one eye and toss again. Which is harder, and why?
61. Why Do We Have Two Ears?
Close your eyes. Ask a grown-up to snap their fingers on your left or your right. Point to where the sound came from. Did you get it right?
Do this with a grown-up62. Why Does Sugar Taste Sweet?
Ask a grown-up for a grape and a slice of lemon. Taste the grape first. Then taste the lemon. Which sensors win, sweet or sour?
Do this with a grown-up63. Why Does Cilantro Taste Soapy to Some People?
Ask your family members if they like cilantro. Write down who says yes and who says no. Ask each person how it tastes to them. Do they all agree?
64. Why Do We See Spots After a Bright Light?
Look at a lamp for just a second, then look away. Do not use a very bright light. Watch the afterimage spot fade. How long does it take to disappear?
Do this with a grown-up65. Why Does a Stuffed Nose Change Our Voice?
Record yourself saying one sentence with your nose open. Then record it again with your nose pinched. Listen back to both recordings. What changed?
66. Why Do We Itch?
Next time you get a small itch, pause. Use a cool cloth instead of your nails, just once. Notice if the itch gets better. Why do you think the cool cloth helped?
67. Why Does Darkness Make Hearing Feel Sharper?
With a grown-up, sit in a dark room. Close your eyes and listen. List five sounds you hear. Were any sounds new to you?
Do this with a grown-up68. Why Does Perfume Smell Strong Then Fade?
With a grown-up, spray a tiny bit of a mild scent. Wait two minutes. Ask someone who just walked in if they still smell it. Why might they smell more than you?
Do this with a grown-up69. Why Do We Feel Pain?
The next time you have a small bump, notice how it feels. Compare a bump with a tummy ache. Different pains give different clues. Always tell a grown-up if something really hurts.
Do this with a grown-up70. Why Can We Balance?
With a grown-up nearby, stand on one foot with your eyes open. Count how long you can balance. Then try again with your eyes closed. What changes, and why do you think that happens?
Do this with a grown-up71. Why Do Sour Foods Make Us Pucker?
Ask a grown-up for a tiny bit of lemon. Stand in front of a mirror. Taste the lemon, and watch your face. Which parts of your face move?
Do this with a grown-up72. Why Does Our Own Voice Sound Different?
With a grown-up, record yourself saying one sentence. Play it back and listen. Compare it to what you hear when you speak. How does it sound different?
Do this with a grown-up73. Why Do Eyes Water in the Wind?
On a windy day, go for a walk with a grown-up. Blink more often than usual. Notice if your eyes water less. Why might blinking help?
Do this with a grown-up74. Why Do We Have Eyebrows?
Stand in front of a mirror. Raise your eyebrows, then lower them. Watch how your whole face changes. What do you notice?
75. Why Do Some People Need Glasses?
Ask a grown-up to show you a magnifying glass. Hold it near a page and look through it. Move it closer and farther away. What happens to the picture?
Do this with a grown-upExpedition 4: Growing Up (25)
76. Why Do We Grow?
With a grown-up, find a wall where you can mark your height. Stand tall, and mark your height. Do it again once a month. How does your growth look over time?
Do this with a grown-up77. Why Do We Lose Baby Teeth?
Count how many adult teeth you already have. Grab a mirror, and open wide. Count each adult tooth, one by one. Write the number down. Then ask: which teeth are still baby teeth?
Do this with a grown-up78. Why Are We a Tiny Bit Taller in the Morning?
Measure at wake-up and after dinner. Ask a grown-up to help you stand against a wall. Measure your height right when you wake up, and mark it. Measure again after dinner, and mark that, too. Which mark is higher? Can you explain why?
Do this with a grown-up79. Why Do We Need Sleep to Grow?
Track your bedtime for one week. Write down the time you go to sleep each night. Write down how you feel when you wake up. Look at your notes after one week. What patterns do you notice?
80. Why Do Kids Have So Much Energy?
List three ways you used energy today. Think back over your day. Write down one way you used energy to move. Write down one way you used it to think. Write down one more. Which one used the most energy?
81. Why Do We Get Hungry So Often?
Notice hunger before lunch and after a long game. Think about how you feel before lunch. Think about how you feel after a long game outside. What is different about your hunger? Why do you think that is?
Do this with a grown-up82. Why Do We Get Growing Pains?
A warm bath or a gentle stretch may help. Ask a grown-up to show you a safe leg stretch. Try a warm bath or a cozy blanket. Notice if your legs feel better afterward. And remember to tell a grown-up how you feel.
Do this with a grown-up83. Why Do We Outgrow Clothes So Fast?
Check last year's jacket. Find a jacket or shirt from last year. Try it on, or hold it up against you. Are the sleeves shorter than before? That's growth in action!
84. Why Do Babies Have Such Big Heads?
Compare a baby photo with you now. Find a photo of yourself as a baby. Look at how big your head looks in the picture. Now look in the mirror. How did your proportions change?
85. Why Do Kids Learn So Fast?
Practice one trick for five days. Pick a small trick, like juggling with scarves or a new word. Practice it for a few minutes each day. Write down how it feels on day one and on day five. Did it get easier? Watch it stick!
86. Why Do We Have Belly Buttons?
Look in a mirror at your belly button. Is it an innie or an outie? Ask a grown-up if you can see their belly button, too. Compare them. What is the same? What is different?
Do this with a grown-up87. Why Do We Look Like Our Parents?
List one trait you share with a parent. Think of something you share, like a smile or your eye color. Then think of one trait that is just yours. Write down both. Where do you think each one came from?
88. Why Do We Have Different Hair Colors?
Look at family hair colors in daylight. Go near a window, or step outside with a grown-up. Look at the hair colors of your family members. Compare them with yours. How many different shades can you find?
Do this with a grown-up89. Why Do Some Kids Grow Faster?
Compare shoe sizes in your class. Ask friends what shoe size they wear, if they want to share. Write the numbers in a list. Look at how much they vary. Why do you think the spread is normal?
90. Why Do Some Kids Need Braces?
Ask a dentist what a bite is. Next time you visit a dentist, ask a question. What does it mean when your bite lines up? Write down the answer. Then check your own bite in a mirror!
91. Why Do We Have Fingerprints?
Make your own fingerprint. Press a fingertip on a washable ink pad or stamp. Press it gently on paper. Look at it with a magnifying glass. Is it a loop, a whorl, or an arch? It is fun to compare prints with friends and family.
92. Why Do We Get Freckles?
Compare arm skin in winter and summer, with a grown-up. Look at your arm today. Ask a grown-up to show you a photo from another season. What is similar? What is different? Why do you think that is?
Do this with a grown-up93. Why Do Hair and Nails Keep Growing?
Mark a nail with a tiny safe dot. Ask a grown-up to help you put a small dot of washable marker on a nail. Look at it each day for a week. Watch the dot travel up as the nail grows. How far did it move?
Do this with a grown-up94. Why Do We Shed Skin?
After a dry day, look for dust on a dark shirt. Wear a dark shirt for a day, if you have one. At the end of the day, look at it in bright light. Look closely with a magnifying glass. What do you see?
95. Why Are Some Kids Twins?
Ask what identical and fraternal mean. Ask a grown-up, or a twin you know, a question. What makes twins identical? What makes twins fraternal? Write down what you learn.
Do this with a grown-up96. Why Do People Have Different Skin Colors?
Everyone still needs smart sun care. Think about what you can use in the sun. Shade, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen all help. Pick your favorite sun helper. Then protect your skin every day!
97. Why Do We Get Scars?
Compare a small scratch with a deeper mark. Think of a small scratch that vanished. Think of a deeper cut that left a mark. What differences do you notice? Why might they heal differently?
Do this with a grown-up98. Why Do Growing Bones Need Calcium?
List two calcium foods you already eat. Look at what is in your kitchen. Find two foods that have calcium. Write the two foods down. Can you add a third one?
99. Why Do We Stop Getting Taller?
Ask a grown-up when they stopped growing. Choose a grown-up you trust. Ask when they stopped getting taller. Write down the age. Compare it with what you learned today.
Do this with a grown-up100. Why Do We Keep Changing as We Grow?
Write one thing you can do now. Think of something you can do today. It should be something you could not do last year. Write it down. Then pick one thing to learn next!
Expedition 5: People and Us (25)
101. Why Do We Live in Families?
Name two jobs your family team does. Think about your home. Name one job your family does, like cooking. Name a second job, like caring or cleaning. Which job do you help with?
Do this with a grown-up102. Why Do We Have Last Names?
Ask what your last name might have meant long ago. Ask a grown-up if they know your name's story. Does it come from a job, a place, or a family? Write down what you learn. Draw a little family branch!
Do this with a grown-up103. Why Do People Speak Different Languages?
Learn one hello in a new language today. Ask a friend or a grown-up for a new hello. Say it out loud three times. Teach it to someone else. Which language did you pick? Being curious about languages is a great way to understand other people.
Do this with a grown-up104. Why Do We Wave Hello?
Wave at a neighbor and notice if they wave back. Wave hello to a neighbor or a friend. Watch what they do. Do they wave, smile, or say hello? What does that tell you?
105. Why Do We Have Rules?
Pick one classroom rule and say what it protects. Choose a rule from your class or home. Who does it help? What could go wrong without it? Is it fair? Why? Thinking about why a rule exists is a great way to be a good citizen.
106. Why Do We Go to School?
Name one thing school taught you that home did not. Think about a skill you use every day. Where did you learn it? Write down one thing from school. How could you teach it to someone else? Learning never stops, and you can explore new ideas at school, at home, and outdoors.
Do this with a grown-up107. Why Do People Have Different Jobs?
List three jobs you saw this week. Look around your neighborhood. Write down one job you saw. Write down two more. How does each one help people? Some jobs do not even have a name yet, because they have not been invented.
108. Why Do We Use Money?
Pretend you have five tokens. Imagine you have exactly five tokens to spend. Think about what you need most. Pick your top three needs. Which one did you choose first?
109. Why Do We Celebrate Birthdays?
Ask how two families mark the day. Ask two friends or relatives how they celebrate birthdays. Write down each way. Look for what is the same. What is different? A birthday is a great time to look back at how much you have learned.
110. Why Do People Wear Different Clothes?
Check today's clothes. What job are they doing? Look at what you are wearing today. Is each piece for warmth, safety, or style? Do any show belonging? What job is each piece doing? Clothes are a wonderful mix of science, art, and culture.
111. Why Do We Tell Stories?
Tell yesterday in five sentences. Think about what happened yesterday. Tell it in five short sentences. Give it a beginning, a middle, and an end. Does it feel like a story? Everyone has a story, and yours is important.
112. Why Do We Have Cities?
Name one thing your town has because people live close. Look around your neighborhood. Find something shared, like a library or a park. Why does it exist? Who uses it? Planning a city takes many experts, like builders, scientists, and artists.
113. Why Do We Use Maps?
Draw the path from your bed to the kitchen. Take a blank piece of paper. Draw your room and the path out of it. Add symbols, like a door or a table. Can someone else follow your map?
114. Why Do We Help People?
Choose one tiny way to help today, like holding a door, or sharing a pencil. Do it with a kind smile, and without expecting anything back. Then notice how you feel inside. Do you feel warm, proud, or happy? Can you explain why helping makes a group strong?
115. Why Do We Have Teams?
Think of a team you already belong to, like your family, your class, or a sports group. Write down your role on that team. Then ask what job each teammate does, and how it helps everyone. Can you explain how splitting jobs helps the team?
116. Why Do We Write?
Think of one sentence you want to read again someday. Write it down carefully, in your best handwriting. Put it somewhere safe, and read it again next week. Can you explain how writing helps your future self?
117. Why Do People Move to New Places?
Ask a grown-up if your family ever moved. Ask why they moved, and where they moved from. Ask how it felt at the beginning, and how it feels now. Can you explain how people grow new roots in a new place?
Do this with a grown-up118. Why Do We Have Holidays?
Name one holiday that you know about. It can be a big one or a small one. Say one thing that the holiday asks people to remember. Ask a grown-up how your family celebrates, and what your favorite tradition is. Can you explain why holidays are good for the group?
Do this with a grown-up119. Why Do We Say Please and Thank You?
Count how many times you say thank you before dinner. Make a tally mark each time. Then look at your tally marks, and count them up. Can you find any patterns? Who do you thank most?
120. Why Do We Have Addresses?
Say your address out loud with a grown-up. Say it again, slowly, until it sticks. Ask a grown-up what your street name means. Can you explain how an address helps a helper find you?
Do this with a grown-up121. Why Do We Use Clocks?
Look at a clock in your house and find the hour. Think about what would happen if everyone arrived at a different time. Would the bus, the school, and the store still work well? Can you explain why we agree on one time?
122. Why Do We Have Libraries?
Visit a library, or look at a library shelf. Pick one new shelf that you have never tried before. Choose a book that looks interesting, and read a few pages. Can you explain why sharing books helps everyone?
123. Why Do We Work Together?
With a grown-up, pick a two-person job, like folding a big blanket. First try it alone. Then try it again with a helper. Which way was easier, and why? Notice how it felt to have a partner.
Do this with a grown-up124. Why Do Places Have Names?
Guess why your town, street, or park got its name. Then ask a grown-up, or look it up in a book. Write down what you find out. Can you explain why names are helpful?
Do this with a grown-up125. Why Do We Share Food?
Help set out one extra plate tonight, for someone who might visit. Ask everyone to share one thing about their day. Notice how the mealtime feels. Can you explain why sharing food brings people closer?
Expedition 6: Our World (25)
126. Why Do We Have Day and Night?
In a dark room, shine a flashlight on a ball. The lit side is day, and the dark side is night. Slowly turn the ball, and watch day change to night. Can you explain what the flashlight and the ball stand for?
127. Why Do We Have Seasons?
Look outside this month, and notice what time the sun sets. Write it down each week. Is the sun setting earlier or later? Can you explain how Earth's tilt changes the seasons?
Do this with a grown-up128. Why Does Weather Change?
For three days, look at the sky, feel the wind, and check the temperature. Write down what you see each day. Then compare your three days. Can you explain what changed, and why?
129. Why Does It Rain?
With a grown-up, watch a kettle steam. Stay back from the hot steam! Watch the steam turn into a little cloud in the air. Then think about where the water came from. Can you explain how this is like a cloud starting?
Do this with a grown-up130. Why Does the Wind Blow?
Wet a finger and hold it up. The side that feels coolest is where the wind is coming from. Feel which way the air is sliding. Can you explain why wind is moving air?
131. Why Are There Clouds?
Pick one cloud and watch it for five minutes. Does it change shape, size, or place? Draw what you see at the start and at the end. Can you explain why clouds keep changing?
132. Why Are Oceans So Big?
Look at a globe, or a world map. Find the blue parts, and the brown and green parts. Do you find more blue than brown? Can you explain why Earth is sometimes called the blue planet?
133. Why Do Mountains Rise?
Put a towel flat on a table. Then compare the wrinkles you made with the picture of mountains in your mind. Push the towel from both ends toward the middle. Watch the wrinkles rise up. Can you explain how this is like mountains forming?
134. Why Do Rivers Flow?
After it rains, go outside with a grown-up. Watch puddles and little streams on the ground. Notice which way the water flows. Can you explain why it goes that way?
Do this with a grown-up135. Why Is Earth Round?
With a grown-up, spin a ball that has a few drops of water on it. Watch where the drops go. Notice which drops stay on, and which fly off. Can you explain how this is like Earth's spin?
Do this with a grown-up136. Why Do Things Fall Down?
Hold a pebble and a leaf at the same height. Drop them together, and watch closely. Which path is straighter, the pebble's or the leaf's? Can you explain why the leaf floats and wobbles more?
137. Why Does the Moon Change Shape?
Look at the moon tonight, and draw what you see. Check the moon again in three nights. Draw it again, and compare your two drawings. Can you explain why the shape looks different?
138. Why Do Stars Look So Small?
Next time you see a faraway airplane, look at it closely. A far airplane looks like a speck, too. Now think about how big the plane really is. Can you explain why faraway things look smaller?
139. Why Is the Sky Blue?
Look up at the sky, but not at the sun. Look near the horizon, where the sky meets the ground. Is the blue paler there? Can you explain why, using what you learned about air?
140. Why Are Sunsets Orange and Pink?
Ask a grown-up to watch a sunset with you. Watch for ten minutes, and do not look straight at the sun. Notice how the colors shift from yellow to orange to pink. Can you explain why the blue goes away?
Do this with a grown-up141. Why Do Volcanoes Erupt?
With a grown-up, squeeze a ketchup packet gently, outside, over a plate. Squeeze slowly, and stop if it gets messy. Watch how the sauce finds a weak spot to push out. Squeeze slowly and stay gentle. Can you explain how pressure is like magma pushing out?
Do this with a grown-up142. Why Does the Ground Shake?
Rub two blocks of wood together, slowly. Feel how they stick and then suddenly slip. That sudden slip is like an earthquake. Can you explain how friction and stress work in this activity?
143. Why Do We Find Fossils?
Press a leaf into soft clay, and lift it away. Look closely at the print to see the veins in the leaf. Look at the print that is left behind. That print is a tiny fossil idea. Can you explain how it is like a real fossil?
144. Why Do Trees Help Us Breathe?
Sit under a tree, and notice the shade and the air. Notice how the air feels under the leaves. Take a slow, deep breath. Thank the tree in your mind. Can you explain how the tree helps you breathe?
145. Why Do We Recycle?
Check one trash item before you throw it away. Could it have gone in a recycle bin? Ask a grown-up about the rules in your town. Can you explain why recycling helps Earth?
Do this with a grown-up146. Where Does Trash Go?
Count how many wrappers you use in one lunch. Write the number down. Think about how you could use fewer tomorrow. Can you explain how using less helps?
147. Why Do We Need World Maps?
Find your country on a world map, or a globe. Then find one ocean, and trace a path to it. Say the names out loud. Can you explain why a globe is more accurate than a flat map?
148. Why Do Clocks Disagree Around the World?
Ask a grown-up to help you find a far-away city on a map. Look up what time it is in that city, such as Tokyo, right now. Compare it to your own time. Can you explain why the times are different?
Do this with a grown-up149. Why Do People Explore?
With a grown-up, explore one new block near your home. Bring a notebook and a pencil, and stay curious. Look closely, and notice things you have never seen before. Draw what you see. Can you explain what question you were trying to answer?
Do this with a grown-up150. Why Should We Take Care of Earth?
Pick one Earth habit that you can keep this week. It might be turning off lights, reusing a bottle, or planting a seed. Do it every day, and mark it on a calendar. Can you explain how your habit helps Earth?