John Lockyer
Sometimes animals are lost, sick, or injured. The animals can be pets, but they might also be wild animals. People who save these animals are very important. Some of them are experts, like vets and nurses, but many of them have no training at all. They are ordinary people who just want the animals to be happy, clean, and safe. What would you do if you saw a homeless, sick, or injured animal?
3) Fossils
Fossils are the ancient remains of living things preserved in rocks. They are usually formed from plants, bones, or shells. Scientists who study fossils are called paleontologists. Fossils show paleontologists what life was like on Earth when the animal or plant died. Which plants or animals do you know about from fossils?
4) Soccer
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. More than 100 million people in 150 countries play soccer. Every four years these countries play each other for the World Cup. Players need many skills to play soccer. What are the most important skills a soccer player needs?
You already know that an owl is a wise animal, and that a snake can be charmed by music. You know how kangaroos move so far and so fast, and you know what sound mice make. But do you know about an animal called the laughing hyena? Its call sounds like a long, loud laugh or a giggle. Read what happened to this laughing hyena.
Giant pandas belong to the bear family. They live only in China. They eat bamboo and they have a special pad on their front paws called a sixth finger. They use the finger to hold the bamboo. Why are giant pandas disappearing? Will they become extinct? How can they be saved?
7) Rice is Nice
Do you eat rice sometimes? What do you eat with the rice? What do you use to eat it? Rice belongs to the grass family, and it is grown in many countries of the world. People eat many different rice meals. What is your favourite rice meal?
The Arctic and Antarctica are the wildest places on Earth. After millions of years, they have hardly changed. In the oceans, there are huge icebergs and tiny sea creatures. On the ice, there are polar bears, penguins and people. The Arctic and the Antarctic are important, special places. Would you like to go there?
10) The Rainforest
Our world needs rainforests. The plants in rainforests help to clean our air and replace the oxygen we breathe. Without rainforests our planet would die. In hot countries, they are called tropical rainforests. Do you know where in the world the rainforests are?
11) Which Way Next?
What happens when you are not sure about which way to go? How do you find the right direction? What are some things you can use to help you find your way? A compass is useful if you are in the bush or at sea. What does it look like? Do you know the four main directions on a compass?
12) First Flight
Every year, hundreds of millions of people travel by plane from one part of the world to another. Today people can eat, sleep, and watch movies on a plane. They can be in the air for hours. The first plane that ever flew had no cabin, no seats, two propellors, two wings and only a small engine. It stayed in the air for just 12 seconds!
13) Hibernation
Sleep is a part of our lives. Why do we need sleep? What happens if we don't get enough sleep? Do animals need sleep? Some animals like a leopard need a lot of sleep. Why is that? Hibernation is a very long sleep. Do you know any animals that hibernate? Why do animals hibernate?
14) Big Tunnels
Some tunnels are natural and some are built by people. Sometimes it is difficult to get from one place to another, so people have built tunnels. What are tunnels built through or under? Have you been through a tunnel? What does it feel like to be inside a tunnel?
15) Cycling for Fun
"Cycling helps us get from one place to another. Cycling is healthy. Cycling is good for the planet. It does not make pollution like cars, buses and trains. When we are cycling and the wind is rushing past us, we feel free and happy. There are many ways we can cycle. Let's find out about some of them."
16) Turn Up the Heat
Warm, hot, boiling are words we connect with heat. Do they all mean the same? How are they different? Can you think of some others? Arrange the 'heat' words in order of hotness. Can you think of some things that are warm, hot, boiling? Now imagine living without heat. How would our lives be different?
18) Code Red
What are some other words for fear? Different people are scared of different things. What things frighten you? How do you know when you are frightened? These feelings sometimes give people courage and strength to do things they thought were impossible.
Places in the daytime are exactly the same at night. But in the dark, some places become scary because the light makes strange shadows and the sounds seem louder and closer. Can you think of a time when you were scared in the dark? This story happened in ancient alleyways and tunnels that were used long ago by pirates and smugglers.
20) The Bone
What do we call people who dig up old bones? What do old bones tell archaeologists? Why is it important for us to know what people were like long ago? Let's find out about a different bone digger.