Urticaceae
Some plants have tiny hairs. These hairs can sting you. They have a liquid inside. This liquid makes your skin feel bad. Some people use these plants for medicine. Do you like plants?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleLife Science articles — Page 112
Read about living things, from cells and plants to animals and the human body. Choose an article below; its reading controls let you move between the available levels.
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Urtica dioica
Some plants can sting you. This plant has tiny hairs. They act like little needles. They can make your skin burn. Some people cook them for food. You must be careful! Do you like green plants?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleUsnea
Some things look like hair on trees. They are called beard lichen. They can be green or red. They grow where the air is clean. This helps us know the air is good. Do you see any on a tree?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleUtahraptor
The Utahraptor was a big dinosaur. It lived a long time ago. It was a hunter. It had a big claw on its toe. This claw helped it catch food. It was very strong. Do you think it was fast?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleUtricularia
Some plants eat small bugs. They live in wet soil or water. They have tiny traps that look like little bags. These bags suck in food very fast. They help the plant grow. Do you like looking at plants?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleUvula
Look in a mirror at your mouth. You will see a small part hanging down. It is like a tiny grape. It helps you swallow food. It also helps you talk. Can you feel it with your tongue?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaccines and autism
Doctors study how we stay well. They look at shots for kids. These shots help keep us safe. They do not cause autism. We can trust our doctors. Do you like staying healthy?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaccinium
Many plants grow sweet berries. Some are blue and some are red. You might eat them! Blueberries and cranberries are in this group. They like to grow in wet soil. Do you like to eat berries?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaccinium myrtillus
This is a small bush. It grows blue berries. You can eat them. They can turn your tongue blue! They make yummy jams too. Do you like blue fruit?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaccinium vitis-idaea
This is a small plant. It has red berries. The berries taste tart. People make jam with them. They stay green in the snow. Do you like red berries?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVachellia
These are thorn trees. They grow in warm places. They have sharp thorns. The thorns keep animals away. This helps the trees stay safe. Do you like trees?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVachellia tortilis
This is a big tree with thorns. It grows in hot, dry places. The tree has small white flowers. It can help the soil stay good. Animals eat parts of it for food. Do you see the long thorns?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleValine
This is a tiny part of food. It helps build our bodies. We get it from meat and beans. Our bodies cannot make it alone. We must eat it to stay well. Do you like eating beans?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVampire squid
The vampire squid lives in the deep sea. It has a dark cloak. It can glow in the dark. This helps it hide from big fish. It is a very cool animal. Do you like glowing things?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVanessa cardui
The painted lady is a butterfly. It lives in many places. It flies very far to find food. These butterflies love bright flowers. They can even fly over the sea! Do you like butterflies?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaquita
The vaquita is a small sea animal. It lives in the warm sea. It is very small and grey. Some fishing nets can hurt them. We must help them stay safe. Can you help us protect them?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVariant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease
Some people get a brain sickness. It can come from bad meat. This sickness makes it hard to move. It can change how you act. It is a very serious thing. We must stay safe. Have you heard of it?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVaricella zoster virus
A tiny germ causes chickenpox. It can make itchy spots on your skin. This germ can stay in your body for a long time. It can cause a different sickness later. It is good to stay healthy. Do you feel well today?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVascular plant
Some plants have tiny tubes inside. These tubes carry water to the leaves. They also move food around. This helps plants grow very big. Most plants we see have them. Do you see big plants outside?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVechur cattle
These are very small cows. They live in India. They are the smallest cows in the world. They give us good milk. This milk helps us stay well. Can you see how small they are?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVeliidae
Small bugs live on water. They can walk on top. Their legs help them stay up. They live in big groups. They like ponds and rivers. Do you want to see them?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVelvet crab
This crab has soft hair. It feels like velvet. The crab has bright red eyes. It lives in the sea. We can find them near Scotland. Do you like crabs?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVeneridae
Venus clams live in salt water. They have hard shells. Many people eat them for food. They come in many shapes. We can find them in the sea. Do you like clams?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVentricle (heart)
Your heart has two big parts. These parts push blood. One part sends blood to your lungs. The other part sends blood to your body. This helps you live. Do you feel your heart beat?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVenule
Tiny tubes carry blood back. They are very small. They join to make a vein. This helps your body work. They are part of you. Can you feel your blood move?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVenus flytrap
This plant has tiny jaws. It snaps shut on bugs. The plant eats bugs for food. It lives in wet ground. It is very cool to see! Can you find one?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVernalization
Some plants need the cold. They stay quiet in winter. The cold helps them get ready. Then they can grow flowers in spring. This helps them make seeds. It is like a long nap. Do you like the cold?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVertebra
Your back has many small bones. They stack up in a line. These bones help you stand tall. They also help you bend. They keep your body strong. Do you know your spine?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVertigo
Sometimes your world feels like it is spinning. You might feel like you are swaying. This can make you feel sick. It can be hard to walk. It is a type of dizziness. Have you ever felt dizzy?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVesicle (biology and chemistry)
Tiny bubbles live in your cells. They hold food and things the cell needs. These bubbles help move things around. They keep things safe inside. It helps the cell work well. Do you have tiny bubbles in you too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVespertilionidae
These are evening bats. They fly in the dark. They eat bugs for food. They live in many places. Some sleep in caves. Do you like bats?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVestibular system
Your ears help you stay up. They tell you when you move. This helps you keep your balance. It also helps you see well. It is a very cool way to move! Can you try to stand on one foot?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVeterinarian
A vet helps animals stay well. They fix hurts and boo-boos. They also help pets grow strong. Vets care for many kinds of animals. This job is very special. Do you have a pet at home?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVetulicolia
These were old sea animals. They lived in the water. They had two main parts. One part was a big front. The other part was a tail. They used the tail to swim. Do you like to swim too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVibrio
Tiny bugs live in salt water. They look like little commas. Some can make you sick. This happens if you eat raw fish. They can move very fast. Do you like the sea?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVibrio cholerae
Tiny germs live in the sea. They look like little commas. These germs can make us sick. We must drink clean water to stay well. It is good to wash our hands. Do you like clean water?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVictor A. McKusick
Victor was a doctor. He studied how families pass things down. He looked at many people to help. This work helps us stay well. He was a very smart man. Do you want to be a doctor?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVictor Chang
Victor Chang was a kind doctor. He helped fix hearts. He helped many people stay well. He was a hero to many. People still remember him today. Do you want to help people too?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVictoria amazonica
This is a giant water lily. It has very big leaves. The leaves float on the water. They can hold a lot of weight. These plants live in the warm Amazon. They are very special. Do you want to see them?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVictoria (plant)
The giant waterlily is a huge plant. It lives in the water. Its leaves are very big. They float on top. Some leaves can even hold a person! Can you imagine a leaf that big?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVietnamese Pot-bellied
This is a small black pig. It has short legs. It has a big belly. People in Vietnam like them. They are a special kind of pig. Do you like pigs?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVigna
These are many types of beans. They grow in small pods. The flowers can be blue or purple. We eat these beans for food. They can be soft or crunchy. Do you like to eat beans?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVigna aconitifolia
The moth bean is a small plant. It grows in dry places. It has yellow flowers. The plant makes tiny beans. These beans are good food for us. They help us grow strong. Do you like beans?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVigna mungo
This is a small black bean. It grows on a bushy plant. People in India love to eat it. It helps make food like dosa. It is very good for you. Do you like beans?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleVine
A vine is a plant. It has very long stems. Some vines climb up trees. Some vines crawl on the ground. They reach for the sun. They help the plant grow big. Can you find a vine?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleViper
Vipers are special snakes. They live in many places. Most vipers have long teeth. These teeth help them hunt. They help the snake stay safe too. Do you like snakes?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleViperfish
The viperfish lives in the deep sea. It has very long teeth. It can make its own light. This light helps it find food. It also helps it hide. Do you like deep sea fish?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the articleViral disease
Tiny germs can get inside you. They go into your cells. This can make you feel sick. Some germs cause a cold. They can also cause the flu. We can wash our hands to stay well. Do you wash your hands often?
Early Reader · Change the reading level on the article