February Science Blog

Date: 24th May 2023 @ 3:01pm

Welcome to our February Science Blog!

Do you love learning about the world around us? If so, you will love our Science Blog!

Each month you will:

• Learn about a famous scientist and their work
• Find out what to look out for in nature this month
• Discover fun facts about different areas of science
• Have a go at a scientific investigation
• Test your knowledge in our Quiz

We hope you have fun!

Scientist of the month

MARIE CURIE (1876-1934)

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She discovered two new radioactive elements and realised that radiation could be used to treat human diseases. Marie used her knowledge to improve X-ray machines, creating one that was small enough to fit in an ambulance.

Check out this fact file to lean more:

 Marie-Curie-Fact-File-A4.pdf

What to look for in nature in February

Frogspawn

Almost feverish levels of excitement over the first signs of warmer weather are a key feature of British culture. Towards the end of winter, we start watching the weather forecast like a small child listening for an ice cream truck. When the temperature increases even slightly, frogs can leap out of hibernation. The result is that there’s every chance of early frogspawn in February. Toads, perhaps more sceptical about British weather, hold out for longer before breeding.

Workaholic wood pigeons

We all have that friend or colleague who never feels cold, repels winter lurgies and puts the rest of us to shame by sticking to their running schedule religiously on the chilliest of mornings. In the nature world, there’s woodpigeons. While many animals are trying to conserve their energy this time of year, wood pigeons aren’t slowing down and in fact nest every month of the year. Their young are fed on a ‘milk’ that the parents make in their crops. Wood pigeons aren’t reliant on food such as caterpillars, abundant only in spring and summer, to feed their chicks.
If birds could talk, they might well give wood pigeon nests side-eye and mutter “quality over quantity.” Wood pigeons make rather iffy nests from just a beak full of twigs. Eggs have been known to fall straight through them.

Buzzing with lifeOn those glorious first sunny days at the end of winter, even couch potatoes can be tempted out of hibernation. As you walk into the light, perhaps blinded by your first rays of sun in weeks, listen out for the hum of bumblebees. Sunny days can draw out bumblebees, taking advantage of nectar from early flowers such as crocuses. Large queens bees will be looking for spots to start a hive after hibernation. Did you know there are 25 species of bumblebee native to the UK? Many are extinct or threatened.

Fun Facts! 

HUMAN FACTS

*An adult brain weighs three pounds.

ANIMAL FACTS

*Pufferfish teeth grow continuously.

FACTS ABOUT THE SUN

*The Sun is a colossal ball of helium and hydrogen gas and is the heaviest body in our Solar System.

FACTS ABOUT THE WEATHER

*A black blizzard is dirt and dust mixed with wind.

Try this at home:

Have a go at this month’s investigation, “Lava lamp”.

Lava-Lamp.pdf

Why not share what you do in the Kid Zone on the School Blog?

Science Quiz

How much do you know about electricity?

Here are 10 questions to test your knowledge.

The answers will be on March’s Science Blog.

Here are the answers to the Water Quiz from January’s Blog:

Need even more Science?

Starters for STEM are 10 activities that parents can use at home to help children develop their science, technology, engineering and maths skills. These activities are easy to resource and provide children with the stimulus to talk about the world around them. If you see a link, you can explore how to extend these activities, you will need to sign up, for free, to access these materials.

07_Starters for STEM_04 May.pdf