For The Love of Kids
July 2008
Kids, what are you doing this summer?
I have adopted a few children for the summer from the neighborhood who shared with me they had nothing to do after school was out. I suggested a few things that could make their summer fun and not so boring. Below are the things we have decided to accomplish before the end of summer, we would like to share some of these things you.
Learning how to plant a few things in their very own garden.
It's been a long, wet spring but we finally have had some warm weather and our garden is starting to kick in! This year several of the neighborhood children and me decided to plant a few plants in the garden and have fun watching them grow. We decided on several different tomato plants. We picked Beefsteak, Early Girl, Cherry and a new variety the Pear tomato. All the tomato plants seem to be flourishing and are now in our garden along with a new upside-down tomato hanging planter.
We planted some carrots, straight eight cucumbers, pumpkins, green peppers, red potatoes and cherry belle radish. All are up and growing strong. We take turns weeding and caring for the plants and the garden is doing much better than the children thought, but the best thing of all it has turned into a fun project and the kids are already asking if we can do this again next year. Who knows maybe we have some new upcoming farmers in our future.
What a great way to pass the time - read!
The children and I have started a reading program on how we can make our garden and the soil of the garden better. Each time we get together the children and I have a small meeting and share what each of us has learned by reading. We then vote on the ideas that we want to try to improve the garden we have built together. Together we are learning and then applying what we have read but one of the things I see happening is we are sharing with each other our ideas and putting them to use. Each child plays a part in all the decisions.
Try a new tempting summer snack together!
(Adult supervision required.)
5 Cups Rice Crispy cereal
1/4 Cup butter or margarine
4 Cups mini Marshmallows
Popsicle sticks
Instructions:
Melt margarine in saucepan on stove. Add marshmallows, stirring constantly until melted. Remove from heat, add Rice Crispy cereal and stir until coated. Shape sticky Rice Crispy around a Popsicle stick. Let Harden. Enjoy sharing the treats together. I have written out the recipe for each of the children so someday they too can make it for their families.
We are having a fun summer. Learning, helping, and soon sharing our season vegetables with others. A self pride is being made and all will enjoy the blessings in the end.
Why do fireflies light up?
When I was a child and even now at a much older age, I have always wondered what made up the small lights in the fireflies or lightening bugs. Have you ever wondered the same thing? Here are some interesting facts I found while researching fireflies and their habits.
There are over 2000 species of fireflies living in the tropical and temperate regions. The size of a firefly is up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in length. Fireflies eat at night. Immature fireflies, or larvae, consume snails and worms. Adult fireflies eat nectar or do not eat at all. Offspring females lay eggs that hatch into larvae. The larvae metamorphose into pupae, which grow into adults. Life span is about one to three weeks. Did you know male fireflies attract females by sending out specific flash patterns of light? Some species can generate both red and green light. Fireflies produce a chemical called luciferin that reacts with oxygen to create light. Fireflies are actually beetles, not flies. They have special light organs on the underside of the abdomen. Both male and female are luminous, meaning that they light up. The rhythmic flashing patterns that they make are different depending on sex and species. It is believed that the flashes are part of a signal system for attracting mates. Flashing begins one hour after sunset at the rate of 3 flashes per second. It takes 15-20 minutes for flashing to build up from onset to peak. Only the male flash in synchrony. The display is most brilliant during a period of 2-3 hours after onset, but flashing continues at low levels until half hour after sunrise. Individuals synchronise by adjusting to previously observed flashing of neighbors, and newcomers quickly develop the synchrony of the tree. Trees which are close together may flash in time. Some scientists even believe the flashing is a warning system to predators that they taste bad. However, frogs eat fireflies in large amounts whenever they can.
During the summer, fireflies rest on plants or in trees during the day and fly around between dusk and midnight. They seem to like damp places. The firefly light is called a "cold light" because it produces no heat. It is produced when oxygen, breathed in through the abdominal trachea, or holes, combines with a substance called luciferin in the presence of the enzyme luciferase, in special cells called photocytes. It's a lot like the glow-in-the-dark light sticks that kids use at Halloween. The light stick has two separate compartments with a different chemical in each one. When you crack the stick, the two chemicals mix, and the stick begins to glow! It's the same with the firefly. As the molecules of the chemicals combine, they give a kick of energy and create a short burst of light. This chemical reaction is known as "chemiluminescence".
The Chinese thought these twinkling little creatures came from burning grass. A European legend warned that if a lightning bug flew in the window, someone was going to die. Aztecs used the term firefly metaphorically, meaning a spark of knowledge in a world of ignorance or darkness. American Indians collected lightning bugs and smeared them as decorations on their faces and chest.
As all living cells contain ATP in a rather constant concentration, injection of the firefly's chemicals quickly detects energy problems in human cells (different reaction between normal and cancerous cells). The firefly technique is used to study heart disease, muscular dystrophy, urology, antibiotic testing, waste water treatment, and environmental protection. Luciferin and luciferase are used in research on cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and heart disease. The ability of these insects to produce cold light (bioluminescence) has led to new flashlights and flares on the market today. Special electronic detectors, using firefly chemicals, have been placed in spacecraft to look for earth-life forms in outer space. When as little as one quadrillionth of a gram of ATP enters the rocket's detector, a flash of cold light is given off and the signal is recorded by scientists on earth. Other detectors warn that milk, food or water may be bacteria contaminated. I have learned how the fireflies play a role in our life and now you do to. Moments with Mary.
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