Men Free Blog

The things about Hello Kitty fanatics is that they take something Hello Kitty that is already unbearable like the Hello Kitty hotel room (which one would assume could never get any worse) and combine it into a video with a song that takes it to as yet unknown nauseating level (warning: play the video at your own risk…)

I warned you. After listening to that once, I would rather have to listen to someone scratching their fingernails against a chalkboard for hours on end than listen to that again. Of course, my wife thinks it’s the “cutest thing ever” so it’s only a matter of time before it makes it way onto her playlist - ahhhh, the things I get to look forward to living in Hello kitty Hell…

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As toys go, sidewalk chalk is pretty inexpensive. You can probably buy a pack of four pieces at your closest dollar store, in fact. So though this recipe for sidewalk chalk won’t save you any money, it definitely has all the necessary ingredients for an early childhood craft — it’s quick, it’s simple, and it’s fun.

Whether you’re caring for a large group of kids this summer or are just looking for an afternoon activity to entertain your own brood, this craft is a good choice. The recipe using plaster of Paris makes a chalk that’s softer than the store-bought version, so kids’ pictures are brighter and more vibrant. And since you’re adding the paint yourself, you can create custom colors. Finally, like all sidewalk chalks, the artwork will wash away during the next rainstorm.

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by Wendelynn Gunderson  June 27, 2005 

An ant farm in a jar is an easy summer science project for younger children. This simple ant jar uses materials you’ll have at home and will provide hours of interesting fun for the kids.
Do you have a future entomologist in your family? An entomologist is a scientist who specializes in insects. Ants fascinate kids and a small ant colony is easily made and maintained by young children.  This project is ideal for kindergarteners and early primary grade students.  With parental help, a four year old will be able to manage this as well.  An ant jar is a good home schooling science project.  Students will learn about ants environmental requirements, food needs and of course, will be able to observe the colony behavior in a controlled way. Simple as is may be, this ant jar provides training in observation that helps develop a questioning mind. 

Making the Ant Jar
You will need:

1 quart or larger clear glass jar
1 8 – 10 inch pie plate
1 2 inch deep pan, larger than the pie pan, to hold water
Soil
Pencil
String
Water
Ants
 Directions: Fill the both the jar and the pie plate about two-thirds full with soil. Set the jar into the bowl of soil.  Settle the jar into the soil so that it is level and stable.  Place the pie plate into the larger pan and add at least 1 inch of water to the pan.  The water acts as a moat to keep your ants from escaping.  If you use a quart jar, you can substitute a soup bowl for the pie plate and a 10 inch pie plate for the water pan.

Don’t cover the jar.  Ants are curious and active creatures who will appreciate being able to wander over the top of the jar and into the surrounding dirt. They may crawl over the edge of the pie plate, but when they hit the moat, they will turn back to the soil mound. Ants won’t cross water, so you don’t have to be concerned about an ant invasion in your kitchen!  Your child will probably enjoy watching the ants test the water with their antennae, rather like how we dip a toe into the pool to test the water temperature.
Finding Ants
You need about 100 ants for your ant jar.  You’ll probably find all the ants you need in your own back yard.  Use a pencil to collect the ants.  They  will easily climb onto the tip of the pencil and you can transfer them to your new ant jar.  Unless you are able to find a small, active ant mound where you can collect an ant queen, your ant jar will last from four to six weeks, the average life span of worker ants. A word of caution about collecting your ants; ants are territorial and if you collect ants from 2 different colonies they will fight and kill each other.  Stay in one part of your yard once you begin collecting your ants. 

If you do find an active ant mound, you can collect it. Collecting an ant colony is easiest after a rain shower, when the soil is moistened.  To collect a small ant colony, use a garden trowel to cut a circle around the mound approximately the same diameter of the jar you are going to use.  Fold a section of newspaper into a cone shape and fold up the bottom of the cone.  Dig out a cylinder of dirt and carefully move it into the newspaper cone.  Transfer the soil and the ants into the jar. 

When you collect an ant mound, you may also collect the queen. You will recognize her by her significantly larger size, large abdomen, and the additional three eyes between the normal two eyes on her head. If you are fortunate enough to have a queen, your ant jar colony will have a significantly longer life span.

Once the ants are in their new home, you should begin to see tunneling activity within 2 or 3 days.  Look close to the bottom of the jar for the first tunnels to appear.  The soil will be dampest there.

 Feeding the Ants
Make a simple feeding chart to help your child keep track of when to give the ants water and new food.  Be careful not to overfeed or water. It is best to water on one day and then feed 2 days later.  Ants like variety in their diet.  Tie the string to the pencil and attach food for the ants onto the string.  Lay the pencil across the top of the jar to suspend the food just at soil level. Good food choices for ants are slices of soft fruit such as apple or banana that have been dipped in honey or sugar water.  They also eat bits of meat, cheese, bread, and candy.  Feed the ants once a week.  Ants also need water.  Add a teaspoonful of water to the soil jar every third day.  Be careful not to make the soil too wet.
Ants, Ant, Ants
 A magnifying glass makes it easy to observe the ants.  Be careful about using the magnifying glass in direct sunlight or you may have fried ants!  Ants prefer darkness so you’ll want to keep the jar in a shaded location.  Ants are sensitive to vibrations, so once you create their new home, don’t move it around.  Too much movement stresses ants and they will die sooner.

Have your child observe one ant closely for several minutes and record what he sees. An ant’s body is divided into 3 segments, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.  The head is connected to the thorax by a very skinny neck.  The thorax is connected to the abdomen at the waist.  Ants don’t have skeletons; instead, they have rigid outer shells that protect their inner organs.  Using the magnifying glass, your child will be able to see the ants mouth and watch how it’s jaws work.  Ants use their jaws the way humans use their hands, for carrying, digging, and tearing off bits of food.  The eyes will be easily identifiable.  Most ants have 2 eyes; some have 5 and some ants have no eyes at all.  Blind ants use their antennae to feel their way around their world. 

All ants will continually wave their antennae.  Ants use their antennae to discover information about the world and the objects they encounter.  Using their antennae, they can detect the size of objects and determine whether they can climb over it or if they will have to go around it.  The abdomens of some ants contain stingers.  Ant stings can burn and will become slightly raised red bumps at the site of the sting. An ant sting will itch for a few say and it may become infected, but it is rarely a health threat.  If you do get stung, wash the area with soap and water as soon as you can. Apply a past of baking soda and water or calamine lotion to the sting. There are over the counter anti-itch creams that may be applied as needed.

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Spring has sprung, and for that I am thrilled beyond words. Like Anna, though, I detest bugs swarming around me, ruining a good outside moment.

Anna’s fly trap is a good start, but if the flies, mosquitoes and ticks still want a piece of you, making your own all-natural insect repellent with essential oils is easy to do.

You may have on hand many essential oils that will work, and after the break we will discuss those and give some recipes that are bug-specific, but we’ll also learn about some essential oils that are proven to deter mosquitoes better than DEET.Most pungent smelling essential oils, like lemongrass, lemon myrtle, citronella, geranium and lemon tea tree have some insect-repelling properties, especially mosquitoes and black flies. The same goes for most mints, like peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils, which send ticks fleeing. Even strong herbal essential oils, like thyme and rosemary will help, as will patchouli (which some may argue would repel people as well!) and cedarwood.

All these choices are both good and bad. Since you probably have at least a few of these handy, you can experiment with your own blends and find what works for you. However, there is not a lot of science to back most of these up and you probably want something that you know will work.

Something that science has proven to repel mosquitoes ten times better than DEET? Send some my way, and fast! I am writing about catnip essential oil. Just a one-percent solution wards off those skeeters as well as 5% up to 25% DEET, which is a whole lot of chemical, folks.

Neem oil has been shown to be effective to keep away sandflies and mosquitoes just as effectively as chemical repellents at only a 2% dilution. The drawbacks? This stuff stinks, so you really have to blend it with something pleasant-smelling so you don’t repel yourself!

Lemon eucalyptus is another essential oil that science has shown to be as effective as chemicals in repelling mosquitoes. This one smells rather pleasant if you like lemony scents, so it is a good choice to mask the odor of neem if you want to use it.

Mosquito Repellent for People
I like to use a based of fractionated coconut oil. It is light enough that you can put this formula in a spray bottle, yet it stays on better than something water based. And hey, if my skin can get a little moisture out of the deal then that is a great bonus in my eyes.

60 drops catnip essential oil (this is a 5% dilution)
20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
2 oz. fractionated coconut oil
You can add whatever you like to help this smell better from the list above, but be sure to keep the total percentage of essential oils under 15% for safety.

Tick Repellent for Dogs
Never use essential oils on cats, but this blend has been effective on my dog for years. Ticks seem to dislike the minty / herby / woody scents the most. Always use a water-based solution for fur.

15 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops cedarwood essential oil
4 oz. distilled water
Always shake well before applying, and avoid your dog’s face. Spray liberally elsewhere and repeat as needed. My dog has never gotten a tick while wearing this blend and it smells fabulous.

I suppose we should all be off to enjoy the great outdoors, bug free!

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My two sons love ants. Like most children, and the lucky adults who still manage to see real wonder in things, they find these tiny insects fascinating. They enjoy learning about the ant colony’s structure, talking about their incredible strength, and the perfect efficiencies in their work.

You don’t have to stand over that sand hill on your driveway to study ants in their environment. The best way to watch ants in a controlled way is to make your own ant farm. You’ll need the following materials:

1 quart or larger clear glass jar
1 8 – 10 inch pie plate
1 2 inch deep pan, larger than the pie pan, to hold water
Soil
Pencil
String
Water
Ants
After the break I’ll explain some important considerations in creating the ant farm.
These instructions for making your own ant farm seem to be the most simple and humane way to create a controlled but natural environment where we can learn about the ants without disturbing them too much. You’ll want to collect about 100 ants to start your farm.

The ants won’t cross the moat to gather food, so under your care, it will be your responsibility to ensure their proper nourishment. They will need water once every three days and food once a week. Bits of fruit, cheese, meat, and bread all make great ant food (which explains why they crash our picnics!). If you are working with children, have them draw up a feeding chart where they can track what was given at what time.

This is just one of the many backyard science experiments you can try out this summer. Keep checking us out for more wonderful ways to explore the outdoors and learn more about the world around us.

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