Fun Biology Projects You can Try in Your Backyard

Biology lectures have always been fascinating. You must have been curious as to how photosynthesis occurs in plants, or how your heart pumps blood for your entire body.

At some point, you must have contemplated trying out a few experiments yourself too!

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Well, now that most of us are stuck at home in quarantine, this is the perfect opportunity to try out some biology projects in your backyard. You can try them out by yourself or with your kids. This will ensure a fun and enjoyable way to learn biology.

Obviously, given the current situation, you cannot go out of your house to buy supplies. We highly recommend that you do not go out either. Hence, we have curated a list of interesting projects which can be executed with easily available household supplies.

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Make a microscope at home

Materials required

  1. A plastic cup
  2. Cling wrap
  3. Rubber bands
  4. A pair of scissors
  5. Water
  6. Any interesting specimen of your choice which you want to look at

Procedure

The first step is to use the scissors and cut a clean hole in the bottom of the plastic cup. This would act as the access point to get your specimens into the bottom of the cup.

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The next step is to take the cling wrap and stretch it around the mouth of the cup. Secure the cling wrap with the help of a rubber band.

Then take a specimen of your choice and place it inside the cup through the hole in the bottom of the cup. Pour a small drop of water on the cling wrap.

The water essentially acts as the lens which magnifies the specimen inside the cup. Look at the specimen through the drop of water and watch the magic unfold!

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Add vibrant colors to your garden flowers

Materials required

  1. Fresh white flowers
  2. Food coloring of different colors
  3. A pair of scissors
  4. Water
  5. Clear jars

Procedure

Go around for a walk in your backyard and pluck some fresh white flowers. Trim the bottom of the stems neatly with the help of a pair of scissors. Carefully, keep these flowers aside.

Take the glass jars and fill them half with water. Now, take the food coloring of your choice and pour a few drops of them in different jars.

Mix them thoroughly. Take your flowers and cautiously place one flower in each jar.

After a few minutes you will notice that the petals of the flowers start changing colors as per the solution they are dipped in. If you are looking for multi-colored flowers, you can swap the flowers from one cup to another after the petals have changed colors.

Pro tip: If you want your flowers to obtain a beautiful half-and-half color, you can intricately split the stem of the flower using a blade.

Explore the hidden colors of leaves

Materials required

  1. Coffee filters
  2. A pair of scissors
  3. Pencils
  4. Tape
  5. Isopropyl alcohol
  6. Clear jars
  7. Colored leaves
  8. A mortar and pestle

Procedure

Collect leaves of various colors. You must know that these leaves are actually green in color but the chlorophyll is hidden under a layer of colored pigment. You can easily find such leaves in your backyard.

The next step is to grind the leaves using a mortar and pestle. If you do not have them handy, you can simply tear the leaves using your hands. However, remember to tear them into tiny pieces so as to ease out the process.

Put the leaves into a jar, then add two tablespoons of water and isopropyl alcohol into it. Then, cut the coffee filters carefully into neat strips.

Roll the strip around a pencil and place it over the jar of leaves in such a manner that the strip is just touching the surface of the solution. Secure the strip to the pencil using tape.

Set the jar aside and let it rest for the night. The next day, pull out the strips and allow them to dry. You will notice that the pigments from the different leaves have travelled up the coffee filters. Fascinating, isn’t it?

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The bottom line

Biology does not have to be all geeky and boring. You can make it a fun-filled affair right in the comforts of your backyard using some basic household supplies.