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At what temperature are Fahrenheit and Celsius equal? When checking what to pack for a holiday, you need to know whether the temperature is in Celsius or Fahrenheit. 40°F is winter coat weather, but 40 °C is a very hot day! Celsius and Fahrenheit are both temperature scales, it’s a bit like measuring the same … Continue reading “Fahrenheit, Celsius and a STEM Challenge”

Dandelions are so much more than an annoying weed. They can track the sun, turn into the puffballs we love to blow around, and survive year after year, all while providing a food source for pollinating insects. They are perfect for a spring science challenge as they are free and easily accessible. My five dandelion … Continue reading “Dandelion Science Experiments”

Have you ever wondered why the skin on your fingers and toes shrivels up in the bath when other body parts stay the same? In the past, people thought wrinkly skin was caused by the fingers and toes absorbing water, but this isn’t correct. When nerves detect that skin has been wet for a period … Continue reading “Why does skin get wrinkly in water?”

Hantavirus has been in the news a lot recently, but what is it? Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that usually infect rats and mice ( rodents ). Transmission to humans is rare, but infection then causes a severe respiratory illness. Cases of hantavirus infection are rare, but its high fatality rate makes it a public health … Continue reading “What is Hantavirus?”

Love or loathe them, dandelions are a common feature in spring. One day, there are just a few, then suddenly they seem to be everywhere. A combination of day length and increasing temperatures leads to a massive synchronised bloom in April or May. It might be tempting to get rid of the pesky weeds, but … Continue reading “Dandelion Magic Trick- Make Stems Curl in Seconds”

Celebrate all things spring with a FREE scavenger hunt! A scavenger hunt is a fantastic and inexpensive way to liven up a walk. To add to the fun, take a camera or sketchbook and draw or take a photo of what you can see! This idea also pairs nicely with my cloud spotting activity! FREE … Continue reading “FREE Spring Scavenger Hunt”

If you’re looking for a spring science project, the Great Spring Seed Race could be just the thing! It’s not a fast race, so you’ll need a few weeks and a little patience. The idea behind this activity is to plant several different seeds and make observations over time. It’s a great way for kids … Continue reading “The Great Spring Seed Race”

Submerging a dandelion in water always looks impressive, as the delicate puffball (seed head) appears wet in the water but is completely dry when removed. It’s a bit like a super high-tech rain coat. Several factors contribute to the waterproof properties of a dandelion seed head. Dandelion seeds are covered in tiny hairs called pappus, … Continue reading “Dandelion, Water and Surface Tension Investigation”

Have you ever wondered how plants know when it’s time to grow? It’s all down to something called photoperiodism. Plants have internal clocks that detect when daylight hours start to increase. What happens if it’s unusually warm but daylight hours are still short? When it’s warm but hours of daylight are short, or vice versa, … Continue reading “How do plants know when it’s time to grow?”

Can you save an egg astronaut from a sticky end? Test different materials to find out which protects an egg the best from a rocket launch and a crash to the ground! We used a mini baking soda and vinegar powered rocket, but you could also try this activity with a water powered bottle rocket … Continue reading “Save the Astronaut Egg”