Kid’s Corner: Discover the World with Ollie

Ollie the owl in a frame

Welcome to Ollie’s Nature Adventure!

Hoot hoot, young explorer! My name is Ollithicus, but you can call me Ollie.

I’m here to guide you through the amazing world of nature. Are you ready for an adventure? Click on any section below to start exploring!

Animal Adventures

Plant Quest

Nature Lab

Seasonal Experiment

Explorer’s Toolbox

Experiment Station

a girl in a lab coat

Colorful Celery: Watch how plants drink water

Seed Germination Station: Watch seeds sprout and grow

Phototropism Test: Observe how plants grow towards light

  • Mini Greenhouse Effect: Demonstrate global warming principles
  • Cloud in a Jar: Create a cloud to understand weather phenomena
  • Wind Power Workshop: Build a simple pinwheel to explore wind energy
  • Erosion Exploration: Demonstrate how water shapes landscapes
  • Acid Rain in Action: Show the effects of acid rain on plants and materials

Composting Corner: Learn about decomposition and start your own compost.

Soil Scientists: Explore different types of soil and what lives in them

Earthworm Habitat: Study how worms aerate soil

  • Water Cycle Wonder: Create a mini water cycle
  • Rainwater Detective: Test rainwater quality
  • Hummingbird Haven: Create a nectar feeder to attract and observe hummingbirds
  • This experiment teaches kids about hummingbird diets, behavior, and their role in pollination.
  • Materials:
  • Clean, empty plastic bottle
  • Red paper or paint
  • Sugar
  • Water
  • String or wire for hanging
  • Steps:
  • Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water. Boil the mixture to dissolve sugar, then let it cool.
  • Clean the plastic bottle thoroughly.
  • Cut small feeding holes near the bottle’s neck.
  • Decorate the bottle with red paper or paint (hummingbirds are attracted to red).
  • Fill the bottle with the cooled sugar water.
  • Hang the feeder outside in a quiet area.
  • Safety note: Remind kids to change the sugar water every few days to prevent mold growth.
  • Leaf Rubbing Art: Create artwork while learning about leaf structures
  • Natural Dye Discovery: Extract colors from plants

Nature Games

Nature’s Art Studio

Nature Gallery: Show off YOUR pictures!

Nature Explorers: Read, Write, and Create!

Nature Storytelling Studio

Imagination Station

Young Naturalist’s Journal

Reading Suggestions

Click Here for more Reading Suggestions

Junior Citizen Scientist

Welcome to the world of citizen science!

Welcome to the world of citizen science! Here, you can be a real scientist and help make important discoveries. Each type of scientist below has exciting projects you can do at home or in your community. Let’s explore and contribute to real scientific research!

a cartoon of a boy playing with a bird

Scientist of the Month: Interviews or stories about real scientists and their day-to-day work.

Scientific Method for Kids: Learn the basics of how scientists approach problems

Hey, young scientists! Want to know how to solve nature’s mysteries like a pro? It’s time to learn about the Scientific Method! This is the super-cool way that scientists figure things out. It’s like being a detective, but for science!

Here’s how you can be a Science Detective in 6 easy steps:

1. Ask a Question: 

   – This is where you wonder about something. Like, “Why do leaves change color in fall?”

   – Think about what makes you curious!

2. Do Some Research: 

   – Learn more about your question. Ask grown-ups, read books, or look things up online (with permission, of course!).

   – It’s like gathering clues for your investigation.

3. Make a Guess (Called a Hypothesis):

   – Based on what you learned, what do you think is the answer to your question?

   – This is your best guess, but it’s okay if it turns out to be wrong! Sometimes, being wrong is a fun way to learn!

4. Test Your Guess (Experiment):

   – Time for the fun part! Set up an experiment to test if your guess is right.

   – Remember to change only one thing at a time, so you know what caused what.

5. Look at Your Results:

   – What happened in your experiment? Write it down or draw pictures.

   – Did things turn out like you thought they would?

6. Share What You Learned:

   – Tell others what you discovered! This is how all scientists learn from each other.

   – If your guess was wrong, that’s okay! Scientists learn from mistakes too.

Remember, real scientists often go back and repeat steps or try new experiments. Science is all about being curious and never stopping to learn!

Now, are you ready to be a Science Detective?

Check out some simplified versions of actual scientific activities from the following scientific professions:

Introduction: Botanists are plant detectives! They study all types of plants, from tiny mosses to giant trees. These scientists help us understand how plants grow, how they make their own food, and how they’re important for the air we breathe and the food we eat.

  • Experiment 1: Grow plants in different conditions to study plant needs
  • Experiment 2: Extract plant pigments using chromatography
  • Experiment 3: Study tropisms with bean plants
  • Activity 1: Create a herbarium with pressed leaves and flowers
  • Activity 2: Start a mini vegetable garden
  • Activity 3: Identify and map trees in your neighborhood
  • Phenology for Kids: Observe and report on seasonal changes in plants and animals.

Mammalogists are fur and whisker specialists! They study all kinds of mammals, from tiny mice to enormous elephants, and even humans. These scientists help us understand how mammals live, behave, and adapt to their environments.

  • Experiment 1: Set up and monitor a wildlife camera
  • Experiment 2: Study the insulating properties of animal fur
  • Experiment 3: Investigate mammal teeth and diets
  • Activity 1: Study and identify animal tracks
  • Activity 2: Create a mammal habitat map of your area
  • Activity 3: Observe and record squirrel behavior in parks

Marine biologists are ocean explorers! They study all kinds of sea creatures, from tiny plankton to enormous whales, and the underwater worlds where these animals live. These scientists help us understand how to protect our oceans and the amazing life within them.

  • Experiment 1: Create a mini ocean in a bottle to study water layers
  • Experiment 2: Build a model coral reef to learn about marine ecosystems
  • Experiment 3: Simulate ocean acidification using shells and vinegar
  • Activity 1: Beach cleanup and microplastic identification
  • Activity 2: Create a tide pool identification guide
  • Activity 3: Track migrations of marine animals on a world map

Ichthyologists are the underwater investigators! They study all kinds of fish, from colorful reef dwellers to deep-sea creatures. These scientists help us learn about the incredible diversity of fish and how to protect their watery homes.

  • Experiment 1: Create a mini aquaponics system
  • Experiment 2: Study how fish scales work
  • Experiment 3: Investigate how different shaped objects move through water
  • Activity 1: Study fish adaptations through observation at a local aquarium
  • Activity 2: Monitor a local stream or pond for fish activity
  • Activity 3: Create a model showing how fish gills work

Ecologists are nature’s puzzle solvers! They study how living things interact with each other and their environment. These scientists help us understand the connections between plants, animals, and their habitats, and how to keep our planet’s ecosystems healthy.

  • Experiment 1: Create a mini-ecosystem in a terrarium
  • Experiment 2: Study decomposition in different environments
  • Experiment 3: Investigate the water cycle with a mini greenhouse
  • Activity 1: Map out a local food web
  • Activity 2: Conduct a biodiversity survey in different habitats
  • Activity 3: Monitor and record seasonal changes in an ecosystem
  • Citizen Science Project 1: Phenology for Kids – Observe and report on seasonal changes in plants and animals
  • Citizen Science Project 2: Water Quality Testers – Learn about and test local water sources (with adult supervision)

Environmental scientists are Earth’s guardians! They study how humans interact with nature and find ways to protect our planet. These scientists work on solving problems like pollution, climate change, and how to use our natural resources wisely.

  • Experiment 1: Create a mini water filtration system
  • Experiment 2: Study the greenhouse effect with a terrarium
  • Experiment 3: Investigate soil erosion with a homemade stream table
  • Activity 1: Conduct an energy audit of your home or classroom
  • Activity 2: Create and maintain a compost bin
  • Activity 3: Design and implement a recycling program
  • Citizen Science Project: Plastic Police – Track and reduce plastic use at home or school

Ornithologists are the detectives of the bird world! They study everything about birds – how they fly, sing, build nests, and where they travel. By learning about birds, these scientists help us understand how to protect different species and their habitats.

  • Experiment 1: Build and monitor a bird feeder to study bird behavior
  • Experiment 2: Create different bird calls using simple materials
  • Experiment 3: Test different materials for nest building
  • Activity 1: Participate in a local bird count
  • Activity 2: Make a bird migration map
  • Activity: Participate in a local bird count

Entomologists are bug experts! They study the fascinating world of insects and other small critters like spiders. These scientists help us understand the important roles insects play in nature, from pollinating flowers to breaking down dead plants and animals.

  • Experiment 1: Create an insect hotel and observe its inhabitants
  • Experiment 2: Study ant behavior with a simple maze
  • Experiment 3: Observe butterfly metamorphosis (seasonal)
  • Activity 1: Conduct a backyard insect survey
  • Activity 2: Make an insect classification key
  • Activity 3: Create a butterfly garden

Herpetologists are experts on cold-blooded creatures! They study reptiles like snakes and turtles, and amphibians like frogs and salamanders. These scientists help us learn about these amazing animals and why they’re so important for healthy ecosystems.

  • Experiment 1: Create a model frog habitat
  • Experiment 2: Study the effects of temperature on reptile behavior using toy lizards
  • Experiment 3: Observe how tadpoles develop (seasonal)
  • Activity 1: Survey local ponds for frog populations
  • Activity 2: Make plaster casts of reptile tracks
  • Activity 3: Create a reptile and amphibian field guide for your area

Meteorologists are weather wizards! They study the Earth’s atmosphere, including temperature, air pressure, and moisture. These scientists help us understand and predict weather patterns, from sunny days to powerful storms.

  • Experiment 1: Build a simple weather station
  • Experiment 2: Create a cloud in a jar
  • Experiment 3: Make a wind vane and anemometer
  • Activity 1: Keep a daily weather journal and make predictions
  • Activity 2: Track and map the movement of weather systems
  • Activity 3: Study the effects of weather on plant growth
  • Citizen Science Project: Weather Watchers – Record daily weather and contribute to climate data

Paleontologists are time-traveling detectives! They study fossils to learn about animals and plants that lived long ago. These scientists help us understand how life on Earth has changed over millions of years and what the world was like in the time of dinosaurs.

  • Experiment 1: Make fossil casts and identify them
  • Experiment 2: Create sedimentary rock layers with fossils
  • Experiment 3: Compare dinosaur and modern animal footprints
  • Activity 1: Participate in a simulated fossil dig
  • Activity 2: Create a timeline of Earth’s history
  • Activity 3: Design your own dinosaur based on paleontological evidence