Firefly at Baranti

Firefly Watching at Baranti

Baranti dam (water body) comprises of few hundreds acres of land. This tarn or lake is surrounded by Muradi hill on one side and Baranti Hill on other side encompasses with various bushes , shrubs along with woods alike sal, mahua, palash, pial etc.. The water of Baranti Lake and the jungle and bushes of Baranti makes this the perfect habitat for fireflies. So perfect, in fact, that thousands to millions of fireflies can be seen dancing in the trees and rippling through the water every evening. Just before the sun sets, when you are a few meters down and as the sun begins to set, be awestruck by the beautiful view of the sunset and feel yourself melt as the color of the sky changes to a deep orange and the sun falls into the calm lake waters.

Further, dark slowly takes this place in its lap , heart melted, and skies dark, signifies the start of another wonderful adventure. As the sky blackens, little sparkles start to appear. And suddenly, you see more and more, until the trees and the surrounding sky starts to shine with the dancing lights, that for once in your life you can't tell the stars apart from the fireflies. If all the lights overhead don't catch your attention enough, look down into the water and watch the river water river glow as the boat's movement activates the plankton's luminescence.

And when it is all over, you can't help but shed a little tear, thinking how beautiful the world really is..with the picture of lights from the water to the skies up above continues to dance in your mind.

Why Should I Do Citizen Science Projects like Firefly Watch with My Child?

Children are little scientists!

Hands-on science can help children think critically and gain confidence in their own ability to solve problems. Citizen science empowers kids to feel like they can be scientists, and that the data they collect makes a difference. When they know their data means something, children take it seriously. The most important point is to engage them in inquiry-based learning and stewardship of the environment.

Tips for engaging kids in science:

• Ask Questions! Being a scientist involves being curious, observing, asking questions, and learning how to find the answers. Children are natural “scientists” and when we encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, and explore in a safe environment, we give them the support that they need to become good scientific thinkers. It's also important to ask your child questions that will get him talking about his ideas and to listen carefully to his answers. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but that’s a great question. Let’s find out the answer together!”

• Parents Count! As a parent, you don't have to be a scientist or naturalist to help your child learn science. What's more important is your willingness to nurture your child's natural curiosity by taking the time to observe and learn together.

• Science as a hobby. Opportunities to involve your child in science everyday are all around us. Whether you watch birds, collect rocks, or identify shells at the beach, your child is learning that doing science is lots of fun.

• Learning to observe carefully and keep accurate records. These are important steps in learning about the scientific process. Encourage your child to keep a science notebook to record her observations, and emphasize how important it is to take the time to record data accurately.

• Mistakes are what science is made of! Encourage your child by letting him know that it's okay to make mistakes or admit he doesn't know something. Rather than telling him that’s wrong, try saying, “Well, that‘s interesting, but what about thinking about it this way…” and follow with questions that will lead your child to the right answer, or look it up together. Knowing that you are willing to listen will help your child gain confidence in his own thinking and encourage his interest in science.

• Have Fun! Enjoyment is a very important motivator for learning. Remember that doing science and learning together are great ways to share special fun times!

Tips for engaging kids in firefly observation:

 

• Make the process of collecting the data a game, “Firefly, firefly in the night, who will spot the first firefly tonight?” Whoever spots the first firefly gets a special sticker or prize.

• Start a “Firefly Friends Club” and invite some of the neighborhood children to come over at the same time every week to join in a group firefly watch. Make some membership cards and serve a few snacks after you’re done watching. Have each child make their own special “glow in the dark” shirt to wear to club meetings.

• Use an extra calendar and let your child put a fun sticker on every day that you’ve collected firefly data. Record the dates that you saw the first and last fireflies of the season in your area. Then each year you can compare these statistics to look for any changes.

• Let each child decorate a special “firefly notebook” to record any observations about fireflies.

Firefly watching supplies:

Firefly Watcher’s Backpack Supplies:

• To save paper and be green, use an erasable “write-on” to record firefly data (Use a permanent marker to write the format from the Firefly Watch Project data sheet on the write on board-then you only need to erase the numbers each time).

• Flashlight (turn your flashlight blue by taping a piece of blue acetate, or blue clear wrapping film, over your flashlight), bug spray, firefly notebook, data sheet, clipboard, and a pencil.

Tips for collecting firefly data:

• Bring a blanket and use that as a “home base” for all your equipment.

• Have every child go out and pick a special “spot” and ask them to watch for 10 seconds and count the number of fireflies they see.

• Everyone then comes back to the “blanket” and agrees on the average number of fireflies seen in 10 seconds. Record that number on your data sheet/board.

• Every child then picks a firefly to watch for a few minutes. Have them watch carefully to determine the color and count the number of flashes.

• Everyone comes back to the blanket and records their data on the sheet/board.

• Using flashlights, give the children 5 -10 minutes to record anything special in their notebooks that they observed that night.

• Play “Firefly Hide and Seek” (see instructions below).

• Go to the Museum of Science Boston Firefly Watch web site and input your data.

Fun ideas to do after collecting firefly data:

• Firefly Hide and Seek. Played either in the dark or at twilight. You need three or more players and a flashlight. One player is the “Firefly” leaving the group with the flashlight in hand while counting silently to 50. The rest of the players count to 100 and then start out to find the "Firefly." As the “Firefly” hides and runs from the rest of the players, she must flash her light every time she counts to 50. Once tagged, another “Firefly” is chosen.

• Bring a star chart and do some night sky watching. See what planets and constellations you can identify.

• Sit quietly for 5 minutes and listen for the sounds of the night. What sounds can you or your child identify?

• Study and watch the phases of the moon.

• Put a flashlight on the ground and watch what insects are attracted to the light.

• Have a “moonlight picnic” after your firefly watching session. Bring a few fun snacks and drinks to enjoy while you watch the stars.

Firefly experiments:   

1.  Experiment with Artificial Fireflies:

• When you break a light stick, the chemicals inside the stick combine and give you energy as glowing light, the same kind of “cool light” that fireflies make.

• Do you think temperature might affect a firefly’s brightness or flash rate? Put ice cubes in one pitcher and very warm (not too hot!) water in the other. Activate the light sticks and hold one stick in the warm water and one in the cold water. Wait 2-4 minutes.