Free on-line Pancake Science Magazine for children

Free on-line Pancake Science Magazine for children

I am very excited to share this latest project with you; this is an idea I have had for a while so I am delighted to have finally finished and published. I really hope you like it and that your junior scientists get plenty of entertainment from this Pancake Science Magazine.

Science Wows Pancake Science Magazine

Have a look through and see what you think, there are experiment ideas and a video link to show you how. It is crammed full of interesting facts… from who made the first pancake to the mathematical formula for the perfect pancake flip.

You’ll also find puzzles and quizzes and a free printable download if you prefer to print them off and let the children test their pancake knowledge. There are also some pancake jokes to entertain you all and Dr. Simple can be found throughout the magazine, a familiar face with a few costume changes!

There is a little colour coding for all the subjects covered, from chemistry to astronomy, to maths. So your kids can just dip in and choose their favourites, if they prefer.

I would really love to hear what you think and how your children find this magazine, if you have a minute to give me any feedback I’d be delighted.

I haven’t shown this to my own kids yet, but I think I have this rainy afternoon’s entertainment sorted now.

 

Hope you Enjoy!

 

Need a mobile friendly version? just click here! And this is a separate link to the free printable.

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we burp?

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we burp?

Dr. Simple is back answering some more great questions; this one came in from five-year-old Cathal, who can sometimes be found over at the lovely blog Bumbles of Rice.

Cathal wants to know…

Why do we burp?

And here is what Dr. Simple has to say on the matter…

Burp

 

 

Who knew the humble burp could be so interesting? Here are a few more burp facts that Dr. Simple didn’t mention…

  • Not all animals, can burp; chicken, rats and horse are among some that cannot.
  • The average person passes wind (through burps and farts) an average 20 times a day!
  • This can add up to three or more litres of gas a day!

********************

Thanks so much for your question, Cathal, and if anyone else has a question for Dr. Simple, just leave it in the comments below!

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we have five fingers?

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we have five fingers?

This week’s questions comes from the youngest junior scientist in the Science Wows household and he wants to know…

Why do we have five fingers?

 

As it is National Maths Week Dr. Simple is happy to be talking numbers.

FiveFingers

 

References:

1. Why do most species have five digits on their hands and feet?

2. What if our hands had six fingers?

3. Why do we have ten fingers?

 

 

 

A Simple Slice of Science – How can I make two of me?

A Simple Slice of Science – How can I make two of me?

This week’s question for Dr. Simple is a real gem and comes from six year old Abigail (you might find her mentioned here too)…

How can I make two of me?

I think if Abigail is asking these questions at the age of six then she will really go far, don’t you agree?

Here is what Dr. Simple has to say on the matter… and don’t adjust your screens if you think you are seeing double!

 

HowCanIMakeTwoOfMyself

 

Transmogrifier
Image source: http://calvinandhobbes.wikia.com/wiki/Transmogrifier

So there you have it! Hopefully a simple answer to a really wonderful question. It certainly opens up the discussion of whether we should be cloning or not. As a geneticist myself I wouldn’t be encouraging it, but I do have a much simpler answer… I reckon if Abigail could just build herself a Transmogrifier then she will really have nailed the whole cloning thing. She could turn herself into another Abigail and the job would be done!

If you do make one Abigail, can I borrow it?

A simple slice of science – Why do we yawn?

A simple slice of science – Why do we yawn?

This week’s question comes from seven year old Emily, who, I hear is always asking her mum questions… sometimes her mum even writes about it here.

Emily wants to know….

Why do we yawn?

 

Dr. Simple will try to stop yawning long enough to answer the question…. because yawning is contagious! See how many times you yawn while reading this and leave us a note in the comments below!

 

yawn

So, go on, tell us how many times did you yawn?

 

Further reading/references:

The surprising science of yawning

Different yawn, different functions?

In group/out group bias in contagious yawning

Individual Variation in Contagious Yawning Susceptibility Is Highly Stable and Largely Unexplained by Empathy or Other Known Factors.

 

A Simple Slice of Science – Why is the sea salty?

A Simple Slice of Science – Why is the sea salty?

This week’s question for Dr. Simple came in from a little boy who has just turned five and sometimes goes by the name of Spidey (you might find him here); He wants to know…

Why is the sea salty?

This is a great question  and Dr. Simple was delighted to “dive right in” and answer it!

Before Dr. Simple gets stuck in it might be a good idea to look at the definition of a sea and an ocean. Dr. Simple will use the word sea to mean both, which is commonly done, but there is actually a difference between the two words…

“seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet. Typically, seas are partially enclosed by land.”

 

SaltySea

A Simple Slice of Science – What makes the wind?

A Simple Slice of Science – What makes the wind?

This week Dr. Simple answers a question that comes in from a lovely little girl who can sometimes be found here; she would like to know…

What makes the wind?

 

wind

 

Did you like Dr. Simple’s explanation or did you find it “a load of hot air“?

Personally I preferred the little girl’s own explanation… she reckons the wind is made by the trees flapping their leaves! A much more simple, and beautiful, explanation, don’t you think?

Remember to keep your questions coming, just leave them in the comments below and Dr, Simple will be happy to answer!

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we hiccup?

A Simple Slice of Science – Why do we hiccup?

Here is something new to the blog… A Simple Slice of Science! With these posts I hope to answer a little science related question in 30 seconds or less. These posts will be presented by a new character on the blog…. folks, meet Dr. Simple!

Dr. Simple
Dr. Simple

 

What can I say about Dr. Simple? Well, he is a bit of a lab coat nerd, you can tell just by looking at him, right? The good thing about Dr. Simple is that he is a man of few words so a perfect candidate for presenting one science topic in 30 seconds!!

In a nutshell… Dr. Simple likes to keep it simple!

I am hoping that A Simple Slice of Science will become a regular spot on the blog, so if you have any science type questions that you wanted answered in a 30 second way, leave your question in the comments below and Dr. Simple will be only too happy to give an ever so simple answer!

First up… Dr. Simple has been struck by a little bout of hiccups! He thought it might be a good opportunity to tell you a little about what they are and how they work… all in 30 seconds!

 

Why do we hiccup?
Why do we hiccup?

I hope you like this new spot, please do leave me a comment telling me what you think, and remember… keep those questions coming!