Home Page

Have you ever seen a unicorn? You might see one in the Arctic waters. Not a real unicorn, but a unicorn of the sea – a narwhal. A narwhal, which is a medium sized whale, earned its name from the “horn” protruding from its head. This is actually a tusk, a long tooth on its upper jaw. The tusk can grow up to 10 feet long, which can be half the length of its body. Scientist aren’t sure why male narwhals have a tusk. Is it to fight other males like a sword or is it a feature to impress female narwhals?

When I ask you to think of a bat, most of you will likely think, "I want to suck your blood". And you'd be wrong. Despite what we all learn from pop culture, bats don't like human blood. Even the dreaded vampire bat. So, in the spirit of Halloween, here are some facts about bats!

How is dirt made? And why do we need it? 

Soil is the top layer of the ground. It can be several feet deep or only a few inches. Rain, snow, ice, and sun break big rocks into tiny rocks. As leaves fall, twigs and branches break, and bugs die they mix with the rocks and create dirt. This process does not happen overnight, sometimes it can take thousands of years. 

The air and water in dirt gives plants important nutrients to grow and animals who live underground food and air to survive. 

At Christmas, you probably see images of elves everywhere, but do you know the history of elves? The idea of elves we have today comes from Norse mythology. The elves in Norse mythology were called the Álfar and were believed to cause illness, have strong magic, and be very beautiful. Elves were very popular in English fiction after the medieval period, where they were often considered to be a type of fairy and often seen as mischievous pranksters. 

When you hear the word “compost”, you might think of stinky food scraps or slimy worms… or maybe you think of fresh, healthy soil! Compost is a mixture of organic material which has decayed to become rich in minerals and nutrients. This mixture is then used to fertilize the soil and can help grow hearty and healthy plants or food.

Moles are small animals that spend most of their lives underground, burrowing tunnels with their sharp claws. Moles are active during the day or night, but you will know they are there from the piles of dirt left in the yard. Moles cannot see very well. They have very tiny eyes that are covered by a layer of fur.

Known as ‘The Last Frontier’ or ‘The Land of the Midnight Sun’, Alaska is the most northerly state in the United States. It is the largest state, and much of it lies in the Arctic Circle. It has a cold climate, and because it is so far north, during the summer the sun is up almost the entire day, and during the winter the sun sets very early. Imagine having daylight sun at midnight, or watching the sun set while you are eating lunch!

Pecan, wait . . . How do you even say this word? Some say it like Pee-Can, some like Pee-Khan, and still others say Pa-Khan. But before we get too far into pronunciation, let's talk about what a pecan is. Pecans are nuts that grow on trees. They are related to walnuts. Pecan trees can grow in most of the United States, but they will not bear nuts in areas that stay colder for longer. As for how to pronounce the word . . .

In 1912, the only way to cross the Atlantic Ocean was by ship. The trip took almost six days to complete. More people were traveling at this time and each new ocean liner was the fastest, the biggest, or the best ship to ever be built.

What has eight arms, three hearts, and a huge brain? One of the most fascinating creatures that live in the ocean, the octopus!