![\"garden](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GardenScienceExperimentsForKids-3.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Leaf (We used a nasturtium leaf)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Dish filled with water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Rock<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGo outside and pick a large leaf off a plant. Fill a dish with water and place the leaf inside. (You might need to use a rock to keep the leaf submerged.) Put the bowl in direct sunlight. After a few hours, you should see bubbles forming on the leaf\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSunlight is weaker and not as plentiful in the winter, so plants conserve their energy by entering a state called dormancy in which they drop their leaves and stop growing. But in spring, when sunlight and water are abundant, the plants can start growing again \u2013 and their leaves help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A chemical in the leaves called chlorophyll takes in sunlight, water from the plant\u2019s roots, and carbon dioxide from the air. The chlorophyll recombines these ingredients to create glucose \u2013 which the plant uses for energy and to eventually make the plant\u2019s cells \u2013 and oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plant doesn\u2019t need the leftover oxygen, so it expels this chemical element through the leaves. By placing the leaf in the water, oxygen exits the leaf as bubbles \u2013 photosynthesis in action. (Bonus: By seeing the oxygen we breathe come out of leaves, kids will understand why plants are so important to the environment.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a mini greenhouse \u2013 and learn how seeds sprout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GardenScienceExperimentsForKids-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Seeds (We used rocket, but you could use seeds from a citrus fruit.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Small container (like an old spice jar or yoghurt container)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Large, clear container that will fit over the smaller container (like a large glass jar or a litre pop bottle cut in half)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGather your seeds. (If you want to use citrus seeds, rinse them off to remove any bacteria, then let them soak for 24 hours.) Fill a small container with soil and place seeds a couple of centimetres down, then moisten the soil. Next, place the larger container on top of the smaller container and put the mini greenhouse in a sunny spot. After a few days you should see the plants start to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"garden](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GardenScienceExperimentsForKids-5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Pan or microwave-safe dish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 50g sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 5 clear dishes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 4 pieces of white paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 1 piece of red paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDuring the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"garden](\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/GardenScienceExperimentsForKids-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Index cards or paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Marker or pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Flower (We used a rose, but tulips, lilies and daffodils also work well) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGo outside and pick a large leaf off a plant. Fill a dish with water and place the leaf inside. (You might need to use a rock to keep the leaf submerged.) Put the bowl in direct sunlight. After a few hours, you should see bubbles forming on the leaf\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSunlight is weaker and not as plentiful in the winter, so plants conserve their energy by entering a state called dormancy in which they drop their leaves and stop growing. But in spring, when sunlight and water are abundant, the plants can start growing again \u2013 and their leaves help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A chemical in the leaves called chlorophyll takes in sunlight, water from the plant\u2019s roots, and carbon dioxide from the air. The chlorophyll recombines these ingredients to create glucose \u2013 which the plant uses for energy and to eventually make the plant\u2019s cells \u2013 and oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plant doesn\u2019t need the leftover oxygen, so it expels this chemical element through the leaves. By placing the leaf in the water, oxygen exits the leaf as bubbles \u2013 photosynthesis in action. (Bonus: By seeing the oxygen we breathe come out of leaves, kids will understand why plants are so important to the environment.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a mini greenhouse \u2013 and learn how seeds sprout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Seeds (We used rocket, but you could use seeds from a citrus fruit.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Small container (like an old spice jar or yoghurt container)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Large, clear container that will fit over the smaller container (like a large glass jar or a litre pop bottle cut in half)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGather your seeds. (If you want to use citrus seeds, rinse them off to remove any bacteria, then let them soak for 24 hours.) Fill a small container with soil and place seeds a couple of centimetres down, then moisten the soil. Next, place the larger container on top of the smaller container and put the mini greenhouse in a sunny spot. After a few days you should see the plants start to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Pan or microwave-safe dish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 50g sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 5 clear dishes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 4 pieces of white paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 1 piece of red paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDuring the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Index cards or paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Marker or pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Flower (We used a rose, but tulips, lilies and daffodils also work well) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sunlight is weaker and not as plentiful in the winter, so plants conserve their energy by entering a state called dormancy in which they drop their leaves and stop growing. But in spring, when sunlight and water are abundant, the plants can start growing again \u2013 and their leaves help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A chemical in the leaves called chlorophyll takes in sunlight, water from the plant\u2019s roots, and carbon dioxide from the air. The chlorophyll recombines these ingredients to create glucose \u2013 which the plant uses for energy and to eventually make the plant\u2019s cells \u2013 and oxygen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plant doesn\u2019t need the leftover oxygen, so it expels this chemical element through the leaves. By placing the leaf in the water, oxygen exits the leaf as bubbles \u2013 photosynthesis in action. (Bonus: By seeing the oxygen we breathe come out of leaves, kids will understand why plants are so important to the environment.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a mini greenhouse \u2013 and learn how seeds sprout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Seeds (We used rocket, but you could use seeds from a citrus fruit.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Small container (like an old spice jar or yoghurt container)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Large, clear container that will fit over the smaller container (like a large glass jar or a litre pop bottle cut in half)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGather your seeds. (If you want to use citrus seeds, rinse them off to remove any bacteria, then let them soak for 24 hours.) Fill a small container with soil and place seeds a couple of centimetres down, then moisten the soil. Next, place the larger container on top of the smaller container and put the mini greenhouse in a sunny spot. After a few days you should see the plants start to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Pan or microwave-safe dish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 50g sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 5 clear dishes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 4 pieces of white paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 1 piece of red paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDuring the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Index cards or paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Marker or pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Flower (We used a rose, but tulips, lilies and daffodils also work well) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Seeds (We used rocket, but you could use seeds from a citrus fruit.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Soil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Small container (like an old spice jar or yoghurt container)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Large, clear container that will fit over the smaller container (like a large glass jar or a litre pop bottle cut in half)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGather your seeds. (If you want to use citrus seeds, rinse them off to remove any bacteria, then let them soak for 24 hours.) Fill a small container with soil and place seeds a couple of centimetres down, then moisten the soil. Next, place the larger container on top of the smaller container and put the mini greenhouse in a sunny spot. After a few days you should see the plants start to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Pan or microwave-safe dish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 50g sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 5 clear dishes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 4 pieces of white paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 1 piece of red paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDuring the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Index cards or paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Marker or pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Flower (We used a rose, but tulips, lilies and daffodils also work well) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGather your seeds. (If you want to use citrus seeds, rinse them off to remove any bacteria, then let them soak for 24 hours.) Fill a small container with soil and place seeds a couple of centimetres down, then moisten the soil. Next, place the larger container on top of the smaller container and put the mini greenhouse in a sunny spot. After a few days you should see the plants start to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBy covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOnce the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Pan or microwave-safe dish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Water<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 50g sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 5 clear dishes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 4 pieces of white paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – 1 piece of red paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHeat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\nLater, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDuring the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- – Index cards or paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Marker or pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Flower (We used a rose, but tulips, lilies and daffodils also work well) <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- – Scissors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By covering the plant with a clear container, you\u2019ve created a mini greenhouse that mimics warmer, humid springtime weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds need three things to sprout: water, oxygen, and warmth. The greenhouse helps trap heat from the sun and moisture from the soil, creating the perfect microclimate to encourage seeds to germinate. When the seed coats sense that the moist soil has reached about 19o<\/sup>C, it sends a signal for the seed to crack open and allow water and oxygen inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the seedlings sprout, the humid greenhouse environment helps the plants to grow. That\u2019s because plants inhale carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes on their leaves called stomata, which open up in humid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon seedlings will start to sprout outside the greenhouse as spring gets underway. Find out why gardening with kids<\/a> can be a great learning experience, in our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heat the sugar with 200ml of water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside to cool. Fill four clear dishes with regular water and place them on top of white paper. Fill the last dish with the sugar water and place it on top of your red paper. Set the dishes in a row outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the next few days, watch to see if bees<\/a> come to the dishes. Which one do they fly to first? A few days after you\u2019ve seen the bees at the sugar-water dish, move the dish \u2013 along with its red card \u2013 to another spot. Do the bees follow it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Later, switch cards so that the red card is now under a dish of plain water. What happens in the next two days? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now leave the cards where they are but switch the sugar-water dish with another dish of plain water with white paper beneath. How do the bees respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the winter, bees huddle together in a state of hibernation to survive cold temperatures. When warm weather arrives, the bees leave the hive in search of their food \u2013 nectar \u2013 which is sugary water created by plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bees find food by sight and smell. They can\u2019t see colours quite like humans can, but they can distinguish colours, patterns, and even ultraviolet light. Brightly coloured flowers (i.e., the red paper) create a bull\u2019s-eye for honeybees and other pollinators \u2013 it\u2019s why flowers are so colourful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bees have great memories, so once a bee associates something with food, it\u2019s likely to return. The buzzers will probably be drawn first to the red card but might also find the sugar water by smell, even without the red card. Watch to see if they follow the coloured paper and how quickly the bees find the new location of the sugar water.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTest bee memory \u2013 and watch these animals learn<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n You’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cool science: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dissect a flower \u2013 and see how plants reproduce<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nYou’ll need: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What to do: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n