Bats, Books, Bugs, and Bonbons!
This October, be sure to carve out time for some fa-BOO-lous STEM activities that have kids exploring bats, books, bugs, and of course, sweet bonbons!
BATS
How do vampires get around on Halloween?
On blood vessels!
Bats have long been connected to vampires because like vampires, bats love to drink blood! Well, not exactly. According to bat specialist, Dr. Cylita Guy, there are only three species of bats that drink blood, the other 1,400 species feed primarily on rodents, insects, and nectar. Dr. Guy, a recent guest on Spotlight with Scientists in School, dispels common myths and misconceptions that these adorable flying mammals are often up against. Watch the upcoming interview to learn more about bats and their superpowers on Thursday, October 21st, on our Facebook page here.
Click here to catch all of our exciting Spotlight and career pathway videos on our YouTube channel!
Photo credit: Mark Dumont
BOOKS
What’s a pumpkin’s favourite genre?
Pulp fiction!
Dr. Cylita Guy is an urban ecologist, data scientist, and published children’s book author. Chasing Bats and Tracking Rats, is a non-fiction book with STEM and social justice themes and a focus on why understanding urban nature matters. Dr. Guy also discusses wacky tools scientists often use during fieldwork, things like ratmobiles and bug vacuums! Check out this fun and educational read ideal for 9-12-year-olds.
BUGS
What did the spider say to the fly on Halloween?
The web is the trick and you are the treat!
For some, Hallowe’en isn’t complete without spooky decorations. The usual suspects include rats, skeletons, clowns, and spiders! This October, decorate your walls with this colourful activity that combines science and art. Print our FREE educational resource, Thumbprint Bugs, and spend a spooky afternoon painting spiders and bugs with tiny thumbs and finger-paint. Get creative, get messy, and learn what bugs your spider will have for dinner!
Learn more about the wonderful world of bugs by booking a virtual workshop for your classroom!
Intriguing Invertebrates
Who has thousands of teeth? Who can float on water? Are you intrigued? Students will learn about the invertebrates in their own backyards by creating models of these creatures. Physical characteristics, habitats they live in, the way they move and eat will be investigated with hands-on and engaging activities.
Workshops are curriculum-aligned. Intriguing Invertebrates is geared for Grade 1 and Grade 2 classrooms, depending on the provincial educational guidelines. For more info, check out your province-specific catalogue.
Enjoy combining science and art? Stay tuned as we get ready to launch a new community workshop, Science Meets Art!
Science Meets Art!
Explore perception as you use shadows, colour, motion, and light to create art from science! You’ll make a puppet, a spinning top and a kaleidoscope, as well as design your own galaxy. As Albert Einstein said, “The greatest scientists are always artists as well.”
Workshop is geared for kids ages 4-12.
BONBONS
Where do ghosts buy their Halloween candy?
At the ghost-ery store!
Where there’s Halloween, there’s candy! But did you know there is a lot of sweet science that goes into making candy?
Explore the surprising science hiding in a bag of Skittles! Candy Chemistry, a virtual hands-on workshop, is perfect for Halloween events and birthday parties. Students explore solubility, buoyancy, reactivity and investigate the odds of finding their favourite colour. How sweet it is!
Check out our complete list of community workshops available. Workshops can be hosted by libraries, after-school programmes, day-care centres and more!
Happy Halloween!
Credit: All “humerus” jokes were sourced from halloweenjokes.com
