Creative Science for Kids

Radiation science – X-rays

Get X-cited with five fascinating fast facts about x-rays, a deep dive into x-ray images in medicine, a question about x-ray safety, some history of x-ray science, and a shadowy activity for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:24 X-rays in medicine
04:22 Are X-rays safe?
05:43 History of X-ray science
07:31 Properties of light activity
You will need: a dark room, a torch, and a flexible drinking straw.

Freaky forces – air

Let’s take a deep breath and feel the force with five fascinating fast facts about air pressure, a deep dive into the power of the wind, a question about how air pressure is used to predict the weather, some history of atmospheric science, and a forceful falling experiment for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
Astronaut David Scott dropping a hammer and a feather on the Moon:NASA, Astronomy Picture of the Day, The Hammer and the Feather (2011) https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111101.html
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:48 Forces in air and the power of the wind
04:50 How is air pressure used to predict the weather?
05:58 Some history of barometric pressure and air resistance
08:27 Paper drop experiment
You will need: two pieces of paper that are the same size and shape. For example, two pieces of A4 size photocopy paper.

Cosmic science – into the unknown

Let’s get cosmic with fascinating fast facts about the universe, a deep dive into the life cycle of stars, a question about the distance from Earth to outer space, some history of cosmic science, and a galactic activity for you to try yourself at home.
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:48 The life cycle of a star
04:54 How far away is outer space?
06:05 Space telescopes, Edwin Hubble, and Henrietta Swan Leavitt
08:14 Swirling spiral galaxy activity
You will need: a large round bowl, water, a splash of milk, a dessert spoon, and food colouring in a dropper bottle

It’s a joke – the science of laughter

Description: Let’s lighten the mood with fascinating funny facts about laughter, a deep dive into what happens in your brain when you giggle, a question about tickling, some history of the science of laughter in humans and animals, and a funny activity for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:58 What happens to our bodies when we laugh
05:12 Why can’t I tickle myself?
06:59 Laughter in humans and animals
08:52 Not tickling activity
You will need help from someone you a close to, like a sister or brother, close friend, or a parent.

See this – science of light

Let’s brighten up your day with fascinating fast facts about light, a deep dive into rainbows, a question about colour blindness, some ideas about how light energy is used in technology, and a colourful activity for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
03:21 Light spectrum and rainbows
04:50 What does it mean if someone is colour blind?
06:51 Light in technology
09:10 Rainbow CD activity
You will need an old CD or DVD, a torch, a piece of paper, and some coloured pencils.

Wrap it up – festive science

Wrap it up – festive science
In the last episode for 2023 we look back at fast facts about sound, electricity, and liquid nitrogen in preparation for the Creative Science Christmas Show being performed in Sydney primary schools. The Creative Science for Kids podcast will return with new episodes in early 2024.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Sound science recap
02:20 Electricity recap
03:48 Liquid nitrogen recap
 

Tiny science – nanotechnology

Let’s go nano with fascinating fast facts about nanoscience, a deep dive into nanoscale structures in living things, a question about nanotechnology, some history of quantum dots, and a nano activity for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
03:10 Nanostructures in living things
05:13 What are some examples of nanotechnology
07:12 History of quantum dots
08:58 Bubble colours activity
You will need bubble mix, a small dish, and a round bubble wand.

Spaced out – Solar System science

It’s time to lift off with fascinating fast facts about the Solar System, a deep dive into The Moon, a question about living on Mars, some history of Solar System science, and a planetary activity for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:52 The Moon
04:48 Can humans live on Mars?
06:50 History of planetary science
08:33 Arm span Solar System activity

Super cool science – liquid nitrogen

Let’s go sub-zero with fascinating fast facts about liquid nitrogen, a deep dive into how people use liquid nitrogen, a question about the safety of liquid nitrogen, some ideas about how cryogenic liquids are made, and a chilling experiment for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:53 Uses for liquid nitrogen
04:25 How dangerous is liquid nitrogen?
06:33 Making liquid nitrogen, the temperatures of other cryogenic liquids
08:47 Frozen lettuce activity
You will need two fresh lettuce leaves, a fridge and freezer, and a plate.

Attractive science - magnets

Be drawn in with fascinating fast facts about magnets, a deep dive into what makes a magnet magnetic, a question about how animals use magnetic fields to navigate, some ideas about the many uses for magnets, and a very attractive experiment for you to try yourself at home.
 
Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.
 
https://www.creativescience.com.au
 
Episode content:
00:00 Introduction and fast facts
02:37 Which metals are attracted to magnets?
03:55 How do animals navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field?
05:25 Many uses of magnets
07:04 Magnetic wire activity
You will need a magnet and two paperclips.