How do you measure the speed of the wind? You make a wind anemometer.

 

How do you measure the speed of the wind?

Well you can do it using something called an anemometer.

With thanks to SCOPE on TEN, in this experiment, Junior Scientist Braeden shows us how we can make one at home and of course explains how it works!

Click here to find out how to do it at home.

A wonderful mix of Art and Science

This is a TED talk about a sculptor who makes mechanical representations of waves and water, sometimes using recycled materials and on a huge scale – amazing!

Have a look at this amazing TED talk about a sculptor who creates gravity defying art work!!!

Russian Scientists have grown a plant from 30,000 year old seeds…

Russian scientists have grown beautiful flowering plants using seeds stored by squirrels 30,000 years ago and preserved by the Siberian permafrost.

How amazing is that?

  According to the ABC science website at:

  http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/02/22/3436826.htm

this is the oldest ever plant tissue to have been brought back to life.

Lucky for us, squirrels store their seeds away for the winter!

Who was Newton and what were his laws?

If you have ever wondered about Sir Isaac Newton and his laws, then do I have a website for you!

It is full of fantastic information and cool animations to help you understand.

If you are feeling brave, there is even a quiz.

Have fun!!

The URL is http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/Newton/index.html or just click on the image below.

Looking for something to do in the holidays?

Thanks to Classrom Clip art for the image

Have a look at Fun Science Experiments on the National Geographic Kids site URL http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/funscience/

There are heaps of experiments to try…

Have fun!

Are you interested in geology?

If you are interested in the Earth, rocks, minerals, fossils and the like have a look at Geology for Kids by KidsGeo.com

The URL is http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/

You will find different chapters that talk about:

1. Examining the Soil
2. Earth, rocks and landforms
3. The Earth inside out
4. An introduction to erosion and
5. Erosion by water processes

The info is easy to read and there are lots of pictures to help.

One of the awesome things about this website is there is a big yellow button on the left hand side you can push to hear songs about different aspects of geology.

Have a listen to “The Ballad of the Fossils” or “The Rock Family” pretty funny!!!

Recent Rain and Water Storage Levels

If you have been wondering how the recent downpour has affected our water storage levels, have a look at these water management websites.

Melbourne Water URL: http://www.melbournewater.com.au/default.asp

If you are interested in learning about Melbourne’s Water Supply Network have a look here. The URL is http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/water_storages/water_supply/water_supply_network.asp

It is an interactive map that shows you the major reserviors, major catchment areas and the service reservoirs.

Goulburn-Murray Water’s website here or URL: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/ shows you the state of the 70% of Melbourne’s stored water that they manage.

Have a look at the graph of the storage level of the Hume Dam that went from 35.71% in July to 98.69% in November. Check out the other Storage Level tables here at URL: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/water-resources/storage-levels.

It really is amazing to see the difference.

Remember we are still on Stage 2 restrictions and the storage levels of our dams is 50.3% so continue to be wise with water

Cool science facts about dogs

After spending a week camping with our dog Bella I started thinking about how amazing dogs really are. Bella can smell a possum way up in a tree and she recognises the footsteps of all the members of our family. I knew dogs had a fantastic sense of smell and I had heard that they were colour blind but I wasn’t sure so I did some research to find out.

Here are some really cool science facts about “man’s best friend”, the dog!

• Dogs are not color blind – they see color, but their chromatic acuity is significantly less than humans’. This is for two reasons: (1) dogs have far fewer cone cells in their retina (cone cells are responsible for seeing color); and (2) dogs are dichromatic (they see only two primary colors – blue and yellow) whereas humans are trichromatic, meaning we see three primary colors – red, blue, and yellow.Humans have 7 times higher proportion of cone cells than dogs, meaning that when dogs do see colors, they are pale or faded. However dogs have a much higher concentration of rod cells, responsible for seeing black-and-white, and also much more sensitive in lower light conditions. For that reason, dogs have much better night vision than people.
• • Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_dogs_colorblind

• Although experts often disagree, there is scientific evidence showing that the domestication of dogs could have occurred more than 15,000 years ago.

• The most popular breed of dog in the world by registered ownership is the Labrador. With their gentle nature, obedience, intelligence and near limitless energy, Labradors make for excellent family pets and reliable workers. They often assist police and are a common choice as guide dogs.

• Dog have superior hearing than humans, capable of hearing sounds at four times the distance.

• Dogs have a remarkable sense of smell, they are capable of differentiating odors in concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans can.

• Domestic dogs are omnivores, they feed on a variety of foods including grains, vegetables and meats.

• Dogs communicate with each other using chemical cues (smells), body language (like tail wagging, head up and down, hackles up, rolling over ) and vocalisations (barking, whining)

• Dogs have three eyelids, an upper and lower eyelid and a third one inside the other two called a ‘haw’. It helps protect the eye from dirt and dust.

If you would like more information, here is where I found these awesome facts, have a look and see what else you can find out!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/pets/dogs.shtml

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/carnivora/domestic-dog.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_dogs_colorblind

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/dog.html

Looking for some cool interactive science activities?

Thanks to Phillip Martin for the clipart

Then look no further than Science Kids!

Science Kids is a NZ based website (judging from their web address) that says it is “the home of science & technology on the Internet for children around the world.”

Learn more about the amazing world of science by enjoying our fun science experiments, cool facts, online games, free activities, ideas, lesson plans, photos, quizzes, videos & science fair projects.

From their home page: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

The site is really easy to navigate (get around). Check it out!

Fantastic Website about Energy

As you may have read, we are learning all about energy at school at the moment.

We are interested in different types of energy, how it is made and how we use it in society.

One of the Fantastic Websites we have found along the way is from the Children’s University of Manchester in the UK.

They have created a site all about Energy! It is focussed on

energy and the environment and looks at renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

You can find it here and the URL is http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/energy/renewable.asp

The site is easy to read and find your way around (navigate). Check it out!!!

P.S. If you click on the link to their home page at URL   http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/

you will find more amazing interactive activities about science and other stuff too like Ancient Egypt and The Brain.

Awesome! Check it out!