Science Smarts: What goes bump in the night
By PATTY ROOKS on September 4, 2021.
I hope everyone has settled into the first few days of school. It was hard getting back into the routine of early mornings, but I think we have it figured out! We have a few days to recuperate as the last long weekend of summer is here. This also made me think, we should not waste this beautiful weekend, we should get out and enjoy it and why not do a bit of science too! You never know how long the beautiful evenings will last here in southeastern Alberta. Let’s get started! Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment. Materials • Outside area to go for a walk in • Flashlight • Red cellophane and tape (optional) • Sugar • Measuring cup • Water • Stove • Heat proof pot • Wooden spoon • Fruit roll up • Bug collection boxes • Science notebook • Pen or pencil • Ribbon • Jar • Paintbrush • Tweezers • Partner Procedure • During the day, plan out the route you will take in the evening. Along the route, make sure you find a nice big tree and tie a ribbon around it so you can remember which one you want to use. Write all of this information down in your science notebook. • Return home and ask permission and help to use the kitchen stove. • Measure 125 mL of sugar. Carefully pour this into the pot. • Measure 250 mL of water and pour into the saucepan. • Unwrap the fruit roll up and place in the sugar water mixture. Stir well. • Place the pot on the stove over low to medium heat, stir well until the fruit roll up dissolves and you have nice thick syrup. • Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool completely. • Pour the mixture into the jar. • At least one hour before your “hike,” take the jar of syrup and paintbrush back to the tree you found during your route planning. • Paint several layers of syrup on the tree. • As it becomes dark out, take your flashlight, notebook, pen and your walking partner on the route you planned. • Be careful and QUIET! Keep all of your SENSES alert. • Listen for the call of animals that are nocturnal (come out at night). You may hear crickets chirping, coyotes yipping, howling foxes, frogs croaking, owls hooting, just to name a few. Record these in your notebook. • Use your flashlight to catch glimpses of bats swooping to catch bugs or the glow of a cat’s eye. Shine the light on insects as well; some have compound eyes that will reflect and refract if you shine the light across them at about 90 degrees. • Do not forget to go to the tree you painted with syrup. • Insects will be attracted to the syrup. They will be having a “snack” as you observe them. • How many different kinds of insects and creatures can you find? • Use the tweezers to take some home to study further. What is going on? You need to keep all of your senses alert in the dark because not all of them will work as well as they do in the daytime. Your senses include; sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. For instance, you will not be able to see as well once you go outside. It will take some time for your sense of sight to adjust in the dark night. Take a moment and be careful so you do not fall and get hurt. Turn on your flashlight, just do not look at it directly as this will affect your night vision. Even better, if you have a piece of red cellophane, cover your flashlight with it as this will help preserve your night vision. Take some time to look and listen. Do not be afraid of the creatures out in the night just because you cannot see them. Many different insects and creatures come out at night that you may never have the chance to see unless you get out and investigate! Have fun! Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook or make an appointment to visit us at #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca. 46-45
