Science@home — Science activities for babies, toddlers & kids

Palmar, Power, Precision, and Prints – Hands and fingers for all ages

May 3, 2012 Activities

Hands are one of the things that have made humans so successful, you could call them fundamental to what we are. But they aren’t unique or specialised. In fact it’s pretty much the opposite – every primate and lots of other little brown animals have hands. Horses’ hooves are specialised. We have been successful by [...]

Wordless Wednesday – Balancing Eggs

May 2, 2012 Energy and Change

This is actually very simple, there’s no trick. Just a little bit of salt and a steady hand. The girls tried it with other things to help too.

Quiz – the Amphibian Edition

May 1, 2012 Life and Living

Kermit said it’s not easy being green, but how much do you know about him? What are amphibians? Are they poisonous? Why are amphibians medically interesting? How big do they get? And what’s up the top? Photo by LoKiLeCh Answers here, with video of multi-coloured frogs.

Kid Questions: Why does my voice sound funny in the tunnel?

April 30, 2012 Energy and Change

There is a spot in our school where the classrooms and verandahs make a little tunnel about 10m long. The kids all love the echoey sound and it’s common to see them popping in and out and giggling madly. The little girl noticed it the other day when we were walking through the school and [...]

Electric Answers

April 27, 2012 Earth and Beyond

1. The word ‘electric’ comes from the Greek elektron, amber. Rubbing amber with wool or fur produces static electricity and the amber attracts small pieces of ash or paper. The Greeks thought it was a form of magnetism in non-metals. It wasn’t until 1600 that it was recognised as different. 2. Lightning is a [...]

Bubble Painting

April 26, 2012 Activities

Some bottles of food colouring were an excellent investment of about $5.50, we’re really cutting loose with them We’ve dyed eggs, used them for normal painting, marbling and now we’ve been bubble painting. In the last few weeks I’ve actually suggested it many times to have it flatly turned down, until a few days ago I just did [...]

ANZAC Day

April 25, 2012 General

For my international readers, today is ANZAC Day, one of the most important Australian public holidays. It commemorates the landing of the soldiers of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps in Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915. The photo above is of the dawn service at Kings Park in Perth, something I went [...]

Quiz – The Electric Edition

April 24, 2012 Energy and Change

Electricity isn’t just that thing that makes your computer and lights work. It’s all around and inside us as well. Where did the word ‘electric’ come from? How do lightning bolts work? Why do we need transformers? How does your body use electricity? How do the critters up the top use electricity? Answers here.

Birds Walk on Their Toes

April 23, 2012 General science

In fact so do a lot of other animals, this walking on ‘feet’ business isn’t as simple as it seems. If you have a look at this photo something looks distinctly wrong about that bend in the middle. (Photo by Frank Vincentz) And this one, that looks right for a finch, but isn’t it wrong [...]

Greening My Home

April 20, 2012 Babies

On Tuesday I posted about ways to save energy at home with practical tips. Today I thought I’d look at our home and make some public commitments of things I can realistically change. The house is fairly well designed – it was a pre-airconditioning house for the desert so is up on stilts with all bedrooms [...]