Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of my favourite books, so I’m very excited about a new mini series of Alice themed science experiments and activities. My first activity is super simple. All you need is a pen, paper and a mirror! Alice encounters many strange things in Wonderland, including reversed time and a backwards…
When we talk about bacteria and viruses making us ill, we might also hear them referred to as pathogens. A pathogen is a general term for any microorganism that can cause disease. This post looks at how bacteria are different from viruses and includes a comparison table of viruses and bacteria. What is a pathogen? Bacteria, viruses, protists and fungi can all be pathogens. Differences between…
This activity uses a bit of science trickery to make an object that sinks in water, float in water. Why do things float in water? Objects are made up of very tiny molecules. Molecules can be packed in close together like in a rock or more spread out like in bubble wrap. The positioning of…
There are three main types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. Each are formed in a different ways. Sedimentary rocks contain rounded grains in layers. Chalk, shale and limestone are examples of sedimentary rocks. This activity is a very simple demonstration of how how sedimentary rocks are formed. Sedimentary rocks are formed when layers of…
Vaccines are a way to prevent disease. Vaccines introduce an inactive or altered form of a pathogen into the body. The altered pathogen contains the same antigen ( protein on the surface ) as the real disease causing agent. White blood cells produce antibodies specific to the antigen in the vaccine. If a vaccinated person…
Do you know how salt melts snow? Grit is often sprayed on roads to stop cars from skidding on very cold days. What we call grit is a mixture of salt, gravel and stone. When snow falls on a road with grit applied, it mixes with the salt, lowering the snow’s freezing point and stopping…
Have you ever wanted to create your very own rock lab? These rock investigations include five easy tests to help children group and identify rocks based on their appearance and properties. It’s a brilliant first introduction to rocks for kids, with lots of fun rock activities for kids of all ages. There’s also a free downloadable…
The inside of the Earth consists of four main layers. The inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. The crust is the thinnest of the layers and is made up of moving pieces called plates made from solid rock. There are two types of crust: oceanic and continental crust. This activity is a great introduction…
2020 was definitely the year for being very aware of how germs travel and spread between people. Luckily, our bodies have lots of ways to protect us from potential pathogens. This stretchy snot slime activity is taken from my latest book Gross Science, and illustrates the role snot plays in our immune system. Make a…
If you’re immune to a particular virus or bacteria it means you already have the right antibodies in your blood ready to fight the pathogen when it enters your body. What is Natural Immunity? There are two ways a person can be naturally immune to a pathogen. When antibodies are passed from a mother to…
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