Featured Activity

Autumn Bug Hunt (from Eco-Fun by David Suzuki & Kathy Vanderlinden)
Fall is a perfect time to take a good look at some of the tiny creatures who share your neighborhood.

What you need:

• A pooter (see below for instruction)
• A large plastic container (for a scoop)
• Fallen leaves
• A large garbage bag
• A white cotton sheet or large piece of plain, light-coloured paper
• A magnifying glass
• A small spoon
• A small yogurt container
• Drawing material

To make a pooter:

• Get a small, clear jar with lid, 2 fat flexible straws, some plasticine, a small piece of nylon stocking, and some tape.
• With a nail and hammer, punch 2 holes in the lid large enough for the straws to fit into.
• Stick the straws into the lid and seal the spaces around them with plasticine. For your mouthpiece, cut the outside end of one straw down to about 6 cm (2 3/8 inches); tape the nylon piece over the other end of the straw. Screw the lid firmly onto the jar.
• To collect an insect, hold the long straw over it while you suck gently through the other straw. The insect will be drawn into the jar.

What to do:
1. First, make the pooter.

2. Collect a few scoops of fallen leaves and put them into the garbage bag. Scoop right down to the soil or grass level, where bugs are most likely to be.

3. Lay the sheet or paper on a worktable or the floor. Spread the leaves out over the sheet.

4. Examine the leaves carefully with your magnifying glass. When you find an insect, gently scoop it into the yogurt container. For very small insects, use your pooter.

5. When you have several insects, study them with your magnifying glass. Make detailed drawings of them. How many legs do they have? How are their bodies subdivided? Can you see any hairs? Look at the antennae on their heads, their mouth parts, and their color patterns.

6. If you have a book about the insects of your region, try to identify your bugs. Write their names under the drawings. Add an important fact about each. 7. When you have finished, return the insects and leaves to where you found them.

Here are some other great activities you can do to learn how to save energy in and around your home. Saving energy saves money too!

How energy efficient are you?...EcoKidsOnline efficiency game 
(Macromedia Flash required - download here)

AirJunk - have you ever noticed tiny particles in your air?
(Children's Museum, Boston, MA) www.hhmi.org/coolscience/airjunk/index.html

Welcome to EPA's Recycle City! www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm 

How much garbage does your family throw out?
EcoKidsOnline's garbage assessment activity
(Adobe Reader required - download here)

Energy conservation game featuring Captain Planet
www.turner.com/planet/static/energygame.html
(Macromedia Flash required - download here)

Make your own paper using old paper...just like a recycling mill does!
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/cool/paper.htm

Learn about toxic chemicals around your house.  Take a tour...
www.epa.gov/kidshometour/