When butterflies emerge from the chrysalis, they are considered adult butterflies.  Care and feeding of adult butterflies is important to successfully complete a butterfly life cycle experiment.  Adult butterflies do not have jaws that allow them to chew plant material as they did when they were caterpillars.  Instead, they have a long, straw-like tongue called a proboscis through which they can consume liquid material. Butterflies are an example of an insect that goes through complete metamorphosis.

The caterpillars diet normally consists of one type of plant, depending on the species. The most popular butterfly used in classroom studies is the Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui. They are available through many different sources and they are a cost effective option. In nature, the larva feed on the mallow plant. In classroom studies, a prepared diet is the best option. The caterpillars each constantly during this time period. The larval stage lasts approximately 4 weeks. The habitat should not be too large as this will make it difficult for the caterpillars to find the food source. If this happens, the larva could starve. One unusual characteristic of the caterpillar is that it has 8 pairs of legs to assist in climbing. After the last molt, only the front 3 pairs will remain.

After the 3-4 weeks spent as a caterpillar, the larva will attach itself upside down and form the crysalis. When the chrysalis has hardened, they should be transferred to a larger container, normally a net type habitat. The filter paper that the larva attaches to can be attached to the top of the net using a paper clip. In 7-10 days, the adult butterfly will emerge.  A few hours will pass before the adult is ready to fly.

When your butterflies emerge from their chrysalis, you should place a shallow container of sugar water into the bottom of their habitat or butterfly net.  They will consume this during the week to 10 days you have them in the habitat prior to release.

Though butterflies can adapt to a fairly wide range of temperatures, it is best to keep their habitat at room temperature and away from direct sunlight through windows.  The time periods listed above can vary depending on the temperature, amount of food and the concentration of larva.

Ant History

Ants are insects that evolved from wasp-like creatures over 100 million years ago. Today there are over 12,000 species of ants that have been classified.

Ants form colonies that range in population from a few dozen living in small natural cavities to millions that live in larger structures they build in the ground. The colonies consist of three types of ants. Sterile, wingless females, fertile males, and fertile females referred to as queens. The sterile female ants serve as soldiers or workers in the colony.

Ants work together in colonies to build their habitat and recreate. The process can be fascinating to watch for children and adults alike. Due to the fact that most ant colony behavior takes place beneath the ground, humans must use ant habitats or ant farms to observe ant colony behavior.

Ant Farming

The ant farm is designed to study ant and ant colony behavior by offering a great observation tool for the classroom or just for fun. Myrmecologists study ant behavior, and with an ant farm you can take a look into the world of myrmecology (the study of ants).

Ant Farm Types

The Ant Farm by Uncle Milton is a classic ant farm that has a green farm scene with a clear viewing pane surrounded by a green frame. The farm is usually filled with sand, dirt, or other media. These ant farms have a low price point making them accessible to classrooms and families of all budgets. In order to properly care for your ants, you will need to open the ant farm and make sure the ants have food and water. The down side is that this increases the chances of the ants getting out of the farm and into places you do not want them.

In recent years the Ant Farm has been modernized with improvements to visibility. A modern alternative ant farm is the AntWorks Illuminated Habitat

AntWorks Illuminated Habitat

The AntWorks ant farm is completely see through thanks to a gel that NASA developed when studying ants tunneling at zero gravity. The gel holds nutrition and water so that you do not have to provide the ants with nourishment. The AntWorks Illuminated Habitat is available with either red, green, or blue gel. The setup also includes LED lighting in the base so that you can view the ants at night. All of this is housed in a tightly sealed 6.5L x 6.0W x 1.25D clear acrylic habitat to minimize ants escaping into your house, lab, or classroom.

Set Up

Set up of the green AntWorks Illuminated ant farm was easy using the provided instruction manual. After assembling it and testing the LED lights the next step was to go out and find some ants. There are two options for getting your ants, you can either send in the coupon provided with the kit or find your own ants. After finding the ants, they were put into the ant farm which was covered with a towel for 3 days to allow the ants to get used to their new home. After adjusting to life on the ant farm the ants have created a spectacular tunnel system that looks even better in the dark with the LED lights on. They are fascinating creatures to watch and learn from.

For more information, Wikipedia has in depth information about insects including ants . You can always call Heath Scientific as well.

In a previous post on warblettes, we conducted a small experiment demonstrating the absorption characteristics of warblettes.   There is a small summary below that you can use as a refresher, or you can view the actual warblette experiment.

Warblettes Lab Activity

As mentioned in the previous post, warblettes are co-polymers that absorb up to 200 times their volume in water.  Warblettes are perfect for science fair experiments, in the classroom, or just as a fun activity for your family. Warblettes, which are sometimes referred to as water marbles, are non-toxic and come in clear, red, blue, green, and yellow colors.

The basic absorption experiment we posted on warblette absorption is a simple experiment that uses household objects.  Warblettes can be used for much deeper science and educational learning.  Heath Scientific has created a lab manual for this purpose.

The warblette lab activity book has activities for every age student. There are 13 activities ranging from math and graphing to cellular biology. You can use warblettes to demonstrate potential and kinetic energy, change over time (graphing), man-made and natural polymers, and light refraction. The labs include explanations and procedures. If needed, modify the activities to fit your students abilities or needs.

The Labs Cover:

1.) Calculating Volume – Math
2.) Observation Skills
3.) Polymers and Water Absorbtion
4.) Absorption of Household Liquids
5.) Water Absorption and Time
6.) Water Absorption and Temperature
7.) Advanced Measurement – Volume, Calipers, Averaging, and Reading Charts
8.) Graphing – Line Graph
9.) Potential Energy – Comparing Diameter to Rolling Distance
10.) Varying the Height of an Inclined Plane
11.) The Effects of Acidity on Water Absorbtion
12.) Light Refraction
13.) Density

Both the warblettes and the lab activity book are available at Heath Scientific, which has been providing educational supplies for over 20 years.

Warblettes are co-polymers that can absorb up to 200 times their volume in water. The warblettes water marbles are perfect for science fair experiments, in the classroom, or just as a fun activity for your family. These water marbles are non-toxic and come in clear, red, blue, green, and yellow. Heath Scientific offers a warblettes lab activity book that includes 13 activities that focus on different subjects like math, graphing, and cellular biology, perfect for science fair projects and classroom experiments. The procedures for running each experiment are explained and the labs can be modified to meet your specific needs.

Enough about the details lets take a look at the Warblettes in action!! As mentioned they are able to absorb 200 times their volume in water. Our experiment compares the warblette, aluminum foil from a chewing gum package,  and a piece of paper towel. This will show the differing amounts of absorption between the water marble and these other household items.

First the paper towell, foil, and the warblette were placed in water bottle caps, then each cap was filled with water.  (Note that we are using bottle caps as they are easily accessible in the home.  If you wish to measure liquid absorbtion in milliliters, a beaker or test tube will need to be used).  The items were left alone for 8 hours allowing them to absorb as much water as possible.

The picture below shows all of the items after 8 hours of absorption time. As you can see the aluminum foil absorbed no water, which was expected as metal is a virtually non-absorbent material. The paper towel absorbed a little more than half of the water in the cap. Paper towels are designed to clean up spills so it makes sense that this would be the case. Finally the warblette absorbed all of the water available in the cap, we even filled it a second time and it absorbed this too! The warblettes actually lock the water away so that they are not wet to the touch like the paper towel is.

Here is a picture of the warblette before the introduction of any water, as you can see it is very small in comparison to a dime.

This is the warblette at the end of the experiment; note the drastic size change after the absorption of water.

Warblettes have superior absorbent properties when compared with the aluminum foil and paper towel. This is an example of an easy and fun experiment that can be done with simple household items. The lab activity book offers more challenging experiments that are better suited for science fairs and classroom experiments. To find more experiments like these visit Heath Scientific, a family owned and operated company, which has been providing teachers, parents and students with educational supplies for more than 20 years. They offer warblettes and many other science supplies, science fair kits, and other fascinating products.

It has been five days now since we planted a sunflower seed covered in our post Growing A Sunflower Seed – Childrens Learning Activity and this morning provided evidince that germination was successful as a couple of small green sprouts could be seen in the potting soil.  We removed the seran wrap from the top of the paper cup, added a few teaspoons of water, and placed our Sunflower sprout in the window sill to garner some spring sunlight.

We will provide another update once our Sunflower is ready to be planted in a bigger container and when it blooms.

The growth stages of a plant can be fascinating for children as they are able to watch a tiny seed turn into a living organism. In some cases the result will display beauty like the sunflower in this activity or the result will be edible like vegetables produced by a tomato plant or corn stalk.  Though a plant learning exercise can require patience, it does provide both parent/teacher and child the routine activity of checking on the plant’s progress on a daily basis.

Materials Required for ‘Growing A Sunflower’

• 3 sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup of potting soil
• a small paper cup
• 1/3 cup of luke warm water
• saran wrap to cover the cup during germination

The Activity

With all items in the materials list present, the child should be introduced to the seeds.  Then, the child can be shown the following video that will give them a vision of the sunflower learning activity and its outcome.

Once this is complete, the following steps should be followed.

1)  Place potting soil into the paper cup.  Do not pack it as you will want the soil to be loose.

2)  Take a pencil or other narrow object and create three holes in the dirt.

3)  Have the child place a seed in each hole and then cover with a little more soil.

4)  Pour the water into the cup and then cover with saran wrap.

5)  Place the cup on a window sill or classroom cabinet surface.

Sunflower Germination

The seeds will need to go through a germination process over the next week to two weeks.  Water is extremely important during this process.  This is why the cup has been covered with saran wrap in order to keep moister in the cup.  Once the germination process is completed, the saran wrap will need to be removed.  You can do one of two things: the first is to simply remove the saran wrap after the first week; the second is to wait until you see the seed sprouting through the dirt and then remove the wrap.

Sunflower Growth

After germination, place the sunflower in a well-lit area and provide water on a daily basis.  DO NOT over water your sunflower.  Once the sunflower has several inches in height, it should be transplanted to an outside flower pot or garden as your new sunflower will need room, sun, and water to flurish.

This post takes a look at the Hydro-Splitter Kit offered by Heath Scientific. The Hydro-Splitter Kit is a science fair project for kids that educates them about electricity and the electrolysis of water.

Other projects similar to the Hydro-Splitter are also available from the Heath Scientific website. The website offers science supplies as well as other science projects cover a wide range of topics from carbon to light and optics kits. These kits offer a cost effective way for parents to enrich their children’s minds while having fun at the same time.

General Information

Water is made up of twice as many hydrogen molecules as oxygen molecules; this is why the chemical formula is H2O. Electricity breaks this formula down when introduced into water. The molecules split with hydrogen appearing at the cathode and the oxygen will mix with one hydrogen molecule making hydroxide.

Supplies Needed

- 1 Beaker
- 2 Carbon Rod Electrodes
- 1 Acid/Base Indicator
- 3 Alligator Clip Wires
- Salt
- 2 Droppers
- 9 Volt Battery- not included in the Hydro-Splitter Kit

Experiment Procedure

The carbon rod electrodes are connected to the battery with the alligator clip wires. Fill the beaker with 200 milliliters of water along with 25 drops of acid/base indicator and a pinch of salt. Adding a second 9 Volt battery can increase the speed of the reaction.

Results

There will be more hydrogen molecules than oxygen in the water and the electrode that the hydrogen is drawn to will have more bubbles. The water around this electrode will be blue; the water around the other electrode where the oxygen is drawn will be pink. This kit allows for a cost effective way to explain the concepts of electricity and voltage.

Founded by Pat and Heath Nichols, Heath Scientific is a provider of educational supplies located in Cedar Hill, Texas. Major suppliers of Heath Scientific include AntWorks, Thames & Kosmos, Uncle Milton, and Can You Imagine. If you are interested in hosting a school fundraiser, or obtaining science related educational tools, contact Heath Nichols at Heath Scientific by email at heath@heathscientific.net or by phone at (972) 291-4223.

Fire-Bellied Toad

The following information is general care information for a fire-bellied toad and is provided by Heath Scientific. Heath Scientific has a full supply of live critters for educational institutions and home school environments. See the Live Critter section of our website.

Temperature – 72-88F

Light Requirements – Indirect sunlight (Classroom lighting)

Feeding – 2-3 crickets, twice a week. For easier care, a larger number of
crickets can be added (1 dozen) with a small piece of potato for nutrition.

Habitat – Semi-aquatic. Use spring or tap water treated with chlorine remover. Add water to a level equal with the top of the gravel. The Toads will often hide under a damp piece of moss.

Handling – Do not handle with dry hands as this may damage their skin.
Do not handle frequently. Wash hands before and after handling.

Care – Change water 1 time per week. Dirty water can allow contaminates

General Information:

Fire bellied toads are members of the genus Bombina. this genus has 4-5 different species. The most common species in the pet industry is Bombina orientalis and is found in NE China and Korea. The dorsal side is light brown to bright emerald green with shiny black spots. The ventral side is marbled red and black. The Bombina species is both diurnal and nocturnal, live in groups and are largely aquatic.They will float on the water with their legs out, soaking up the sun.

In The Wild

Bombina spawns throughout the summer and “rest” from the end of October to March. During this time they will hide under damp leaves for moisture and protection. When frightened, the toad will lay on it’s back, displaying the red belly. These bright colors can frighten away predators. The main predators consist of large aquatic frogs and snakes. When food supply is short or the concentration of animals is too high, cannibalism is a common occurrence. When laying eggs, they will attach them to floating plants or inside hollow spots in rocks.

In Captivity

The fire bellied toad needs a habitat that is well ventilated to prevent fungal infections. Indirect sunlight will assist in hindering fungal growth and provide certain vitamins. Breeding in captivity is more common in  orientalis than other species. Many hiding places, clean water source and proper over-wintering are necessary for breeding success. One interesting fact is that captive bred toads develop a yellow belly instead of the normal red. Experts say that supplemental canthaxanthin can reverse this phenomenon.
to enter through the skin.

Betta (Fighting Fish)

The following information is general care information for a beta fish and is provided by Heath Scientific. Heath Scientific has a full supply of live critters for educational institutions and home school environments. See the Live Critter section of our website.

Temperature – 72-88F

Light Requirements – Indirect Sunlight (Classroom lighting)

Feeding – Prepared tropical fish bites (Betta Bites). 2-3 pellets (or flakes) per day. If the fish is overfed, frequent water changes may be necessary.

Habitat – Slow moving or standing water.

Handling – Never touch a fish with dry hands as this will damage their slime coat. Bettas can jump and require a lid or lower water level.

Care - Use distilled water or tap water with chlorine remover added. Aclimate water to room temperature prior to adding to tank. Change the water when it becomes cloudy.

Volume Density Experiment