Science in the Summer....A Multisensory Lesson on Bioluminescence

Growing up in the Southwestern part of the United States, there was not much "science" that one could experience outside. Other than the tumbleweed that flies through the pavement during a short sandstorm or the occassional snake that you might see while hiking, the urban Southwest is really boring in comparison to the vast wildlife in the Southeast.

That is why the season that I always look forward to when it comes to nature gazing is summer. For over eight years now, I have been privilege of watching fireflies roam through the humid air every evening. On occassion, I will see them dancing and lighting up their lower abdomen. This scientific process where the firefly will light up the bottom part of their tummy is called bioluminescence. This is also one of the only times where I feel like a four year old who is standing outside waiting for these harmless but eternally amusing organisms hover over our garden.

If you would like to create your own "natural light" with the assistance of a firefly, here is a quick lab set up:

1. Grab a medium sized (12oz or more) plastic water bottle.
2. Remove the label from the bottle and poke a few small holes in the bottle using sharp scissors.
3. Retrieve some grass and a few drops of water to keep the "plastic ecosystem" firefly friendly.
4. Slowly, but surely, collect your fireflies (make sure that you have at least one female and one male in the bottle so that they can entertain each other) and usher them into their "plastic ecosystem".
5. After you have collected enough fireflies to your liking, turn off the lights where you plan to use your "natural lights".
6. Watch the fireflies glow:)
7. Release your fireflies back into their natural habitat.

We had conducted this science lab and were entertained for a little over a half hour!

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.