May Science Blog
Date: 24th May 2023 @ 3:18pm
Welcome to our May 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
LOUIS PASTEUR (1822-1895)
Louis Pasteur was a French Chemist who found that bacteria cause harmful diseases. He also discovered that bacteria can be killed by boiling, a process we call Pasteurisation.
You can see the effect bacteria and other micro-organisms have on food by leaving them in different conditions and observing what happens. We placed apple segments in vinegar, salt, water and air with some interesting results.
What to look for in nature in May
And just like that, it’s May. It’s been a glorious start to spring, with many plants flowering earlier than previous years. But who can we expect to spot in our gardens and countryside this month?
Magical bluebell carpets
Many insects love bluebells as an early source of food. Sometimes bees will nibble a hole in the top of each flower, allowing them to easily poke their proboscis, or tongue, in to sip the nectar. This means they won’t pollinate the flower as they bypass the pollen, but thankfully, bluebells can reproduce both by seed and via bulb propagation.
Tadpoles inbound
As we move into May, frog and toad spawn laid earlier in the year will be developing into tadpoles. Take a peek into a pond or the shallow edge of a lake and you might see tadpoles skittering into the depths. Frog tadpoles are black with brown or gold speckles, while toad tadpoles are all black. Over the next few weeks, the tadpoles will undergo metamorphosis, forming legs, then arms, lungs, and re-absorbing their tail.
Feisty dragons & fierce damsels
It’s almost time for our beloved dragonflies and damselflies to make an appearance. With their intricate wings, vibrant colouring, and (in the case of dragonflies) loud, acrobatic flight, these insects are an awesome sight. Yet today’s dragon and damselflies are miniatures compared to their eagle-sized Jurassic ancestors. As wetland insects, damsel and dragonflies cruise around lakes, rivers and ponds.
Struggling to tell the difference? Damselflies are dainty, with wings that close at rest. Their flight is a more gentle flutter too. Dragonflies are much bigger and chunkier, with wings that remain open at rest. Their flight is loud and impressive - they can fly backwards, hover, and often make hairpin bends at speed!
Fun Facts!
HUMAN FACTS
*The brain cannot feel pain.
ANIMAL FACTS
*Scorpions can be found on every continent except Antarctica!
FACTS ABOUT THE SUN
*Our Sun is a yellow dwarf star.
Try this at home:
Have a go at this month’s investigation, “Bean in a Jar”.
Why not share what you do in the Kid Zone on the School Blog?
Science Quiz
How much do you know about Food?
Here are 20 questions to test your knowledge.
1. The rice dish ‘paella’ comes from what country?
2. Deer meat is known by what name?
3. Are humans omnivore, herbivore or carnivore?
4. What food is used as the base of guacamole?
5. The range of vegetables, fruits, meats, nuts, grains, herbs and spices used in cooking are known as what?
6. True or false? India is the world’s largest producer of bananas.
7. What is the sweet substance made by bees?
8. Lures, reels, rods, hooks, baits and nets are common equipment used in what food gathering method?
9. True or false? McDonald’s has restaurants in over 100 countries around the world.
10. The ‘Pizza Hut’ franchise began in what country?
11. Foods rich in starch such as pasta and bread are often known by what word starting with the letter C?
12. True or false? Trans fats are good for your health.
13. What is another name for maize?
14. Fruit preserves made from citrus fruits, sugar and water are known as what?
15. True or false? ‘Beefsteak’ is a variety of tomato.
16. Dairy products are generally made from what common liquid?
17. Do coconut trees grow better in cold or warm climates?
18. True or false? Cooking food often transforms its chemical make up.
19. What is the popular food used to carve jack-o-lanterns during Halloween?
20. Chiffon, marble and bundt are types of what?
The answers will be on June’s Science Blog.
Here are the answers to the Space Quiz from April’s Blog:
1. Mercury
2. Saturn
3. Venus
4. Jupiter
5. Saturn
6. No
7. A star
8. Neil Armstrong
9. Mars
10. Gravity
11. No
12. An observatory
13. Hubble Space Telescope
14. The Milky Way Galaxy
15. Sputnik
16. Jupiter
17. Titan
18. Mars
19. No
20. Yes
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.
