Learning By Doing

Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity

View the June 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Photo © Dreamstime.com. This science experiment is interesting because it defies gravity. First get a funnel and a ping-pong ball. Then set the ball in the...

Oatmeal-Box Planetarium

Oatmeal-Box Planetarium

View the June 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Cylindrical cardboard boxes, of the type at least one brand of oatmeal comes in, can be used for projecting beautiful images of star constellations on the...

Salamander Incubator

Salamander Incubator

View the April 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Spotted Salamander eggs. Photo © Dana Atkinson. “Sooooo squishy!” George exclaimed as he cupped a grapefruit-sized salamander egg mass in both his...

Frosty Bubbles

Frosty Bubbles

View the February 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Frozen soap bubble. Photo © Don Komarechka. The clear globe with frost patterns caught my eye. I had to do a double-take. Just what was I seeing?...

Wildflower Arranging

Wildflower Arranging

Fireweed in Rocky Mountains. Photo © Dogwood Ridge. The scenarios are endless. A slope covered with goldenrod and daisies…the first autumn olives opening…a dogwood in full bloom…a facet of my brain...

Viewing Crystals with Polarized Light

Viewing Crystals with Polarized Light

Epsom salt crystals. Photo © Maria Carver. Viewing crystals with a microscope is lots of fun! Home grown crystals from sugar, salt, and other household items, are beautiful on their own, but some...

Raising Mealworms

Raising Mealworms

Eastern Bluebird eating mealworm. Photo © Dreamstime.com. Thank you to the Amstutz family who asked about raising mealworms for bluebirds (February issue). I can hear and see your bluebirds’ happy...

How to Build a Rustic Cottage Flower Planter

How to Build a Rustic Cottage Flower Planter

STEP 1:Build a simple 24” x 36” x 8” box with a bottom, using sturdy old fence boards. STEP 2:Now you are ready to construct the cottage front. Cut five weathered barn boards to make a cottage...

How to Make a Porch Light Birdhouse

How to Make a Porch Light Birdhouse

House Wren. Photo © Kevin Shank. Find a wall-mount porch light.Take the top off.If the wiring is still in the light, tear the wiring out.Take the panes of glass out.Spray the panes of glass with...

Building a Horse & Wagon Flower Planter

Building a Horse & Wagon Flower Planter

When I first saw the article about the flower planter contest, right away I started thinking about what my project was going to be. I thought about making a horse and wagon, and I decided to try...