Click Science and Discovery Magazine for Preschoolers and Young Children July/August 2015

It’s fun to work in Liz’s garden. Yeah! And at a penny a weed, our piggy banks will be full in no time. Uh-oh, Martin. The tomato plants look sick. You’re right, Amy. The leaves are all wilty and they’re curling up funny. Yuck! Look at all those little green bugs! They’re everywhere! I feel itchy. What are we going to do? They’re killing Liz’s tomato plants. Hey! Maybe if we asked them really nicely they’d eat the spinach instead. I see you found the aphids. Not to worry. I ordered a batch of ladybugs from my gardening catalog last week. Maybe they’re in the mailbox now. What? You bought bugs? I thought bugs were the problem. And they’re coming in the mail? We have more bugs than we need…

I like to work in my garden, but sometimes I just want to stop and smell the roses. Why, thank you, Click. It’s so nice to be appreciated. There’s a lot to like about you, Rose. You look good. You smell good. But—ouch!—what’s with the thorns? Hey, a plant has to protect itself. We can’t run away, you know. We need to stay rooted in the ground or a pot. But what do you need protection from? Not me! You’re OK. But, honestly, plants are constantly under attack. There’s always someone trying to eat us! Do you mean bugs that eat your leaves or sip your nectar? Yes, but actually, every animal on Earth either eats plants or eats another animal that does. Hmm, I do eat carrots and pears…

Try this experiment to see how water, warmth, and light affect the way a seed germinates, or starts to grow. What You Need 6 clear zip lock sandwich bags dried beans paper towels, cut in half What You Do Seal a few beans inside three plastic bags. These will be your dry bags of beans. Now make three bags of damp beans. Moisten three paper towel halves (they should be thoroughly wet but not dripping). Fold the wet towels in half, and place a few beans between the layers, leaving about an inch of space between the beans. Slide each towel and its beans into a plastic bag, and seal it. Place one set of damp and dry bags in a sunny window. Place one set in a warm, dark…

CAN YOU FIND WHAT ELSE DO YOU SEE Praying mantis Earthworm Aphid Bumblebee Snail Spider Mouse Green lacewing Ladybug Rabbit Deer Raccoon Garter snake Chipmunk Tomato hornworm Frog Raccoons will raid not only gardens but also garbage cans and homes if they can get in. A frog needs to live near water. It helps gardeners by eating mosquitoes and other insects. Rabbits eat mostly in the morning and evening. They love flowers and vegetables. Hungry deer will eat almost anything in a garden. Some of their favorites are apples, berries, and peas. Chipmunks mainly eat seeds, berries, nuts, and insects. Earthworms tunnel through dirt and eat dead leaves. They mix the soil and make it healthier for growing plants. A praying mantis hides among leaves. It stands so still that…

THE CACTUS HOUSE “This is the cactus I want,” says Grandpa. “You’re silly,” says Yo. “It’s way too big to fit in your house.” “I know,” says Grandpa. “And it can’t live in my garden. Cacti are desert plants.” “I know about deserts,” says Yo. “They’re mostly hot and really dry.” “Cacti can handle that,” says Grandpa. “When rain does come, they suck it through their roots and store it in their stems.” “Here’s one with lots of room for water,” says Yo. “I wouldn’t want to throw this prickly ball.” “And most animals wouldn’t want to eat it,” says Grandpa. “Pretty good protection, eh? Cacti don’t have leaves. They have spines or hairs instead.” “Here’s an old hairy guy,” says Yo. “That’s funny,” says Grandpa, “because it’s actually called…

It’s going to be a long afternoon. Aunt Jen and Uncle Pete are visiting, and that means I’m supposed to play with Adeline. She’s dancing around in the sunshine, flapping imaginary butterfly wings. I get down on my knees and pat some wet mud sitting in a shallow pan. “OK, Adeline,” I tell her. “You can sprinkle sea salt on this. Just a little. And I’ll mix it in.” She stops dancing and takes the salt shaker. “Salt? I thought you were growing a butterfly garden, Simon! From butterfly seeds!” I groan. This little girl has a lot to learn. But then I remember that I did too, when our family first decided to plant a butterfly garden. “Some butterflies want salt when they’re low on minerals,” I tell her.…