Whizz Pop Bang Blog – Page 39 – Awesomely amazing science magazine for kids

Science trousers!

Posted on 22nd November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

What could be better than curling up on the sofa with your favourite magazine? Young Arthur has the answer to that question, when it comes to reading his favourite magazine it’s all about wearing the right clothes too.

“I really really love your magazine. Receiving it is the thing I look forward to the most. I love it so much I asked my mum to make some science clothing for me…. so this month I got to enjoy reading your magazine wearing my science trousers. If you look closely you will see planets, microscopes and anything a scientist will need. In fact I think it actually has all of your science equipment hidden on it!
Thank you for the magazine.”
Arthur (age 6)

Arthur’s Mum followed up with this lovely message, and news of more science-lovers in the family…

“Arthur absolutely loves science and pours over your magazines all the time. In fact he took the issue ‘Going underground’ down to a caving friend (who has done a lot of work on Wookiee hole) the other day and showed him. Both Arthur and my caving friend were occupied reading your magazine for the next few hours. Thank you so so much for it.

I have also had to make Arthur’s sister some science clothes because she is becoming as excited as Arthur about the magazines and she is only 2! He will sit down and read them to both his sister and brother as soon as they arrive! Best magazine ever!

Thank you”

Anthea

How adorable is this photo of Arthur’s little sister in her science dress!

little girl wearing science dress — *Arthur’s little sister experimenting, wearing her science-themed dress 🙂*

Thank you to Arthur, his Mum and sister for sending in this glowing review for Whizz Pop Bang 🙂

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Science jokes for World Science Day

Posted on 13th November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

To celebrate World Science Day on 10th December we ran a competition for our online fans to win 12 awesome Whizz Pop Bang magazines, all stored neatly in a binder. We asked people to send in their science jokes, only those suitable for kids, and we’re very pleased to say we had loads which is very good news for our editors who love a good science joke ?

We decided the winning joke needed to be right for our readers, so 6 to 11-year-olds, and the sort of joke that really makes you chuckle. But how could we choose from over 50 jokes?! Well, luckily we have a group of kids at hand who took great pleasure in reading every single one, and whittling it down to their top five favourite, then three, then two and finally after much debate… one.

Want to see the long list? We thought you would…

‘Technically the glass is always full: 1/2 water and 1/2 air’
From Alexandra Vakula Douglas

‘How do you tell the gender of a termite? Put it in water. If it sinks, it’s a girl ant. If it floats, it’s a buoyant’
From Lisa Taylor

How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it!
From Megan Sian

‘How do you organize a space party? You planet’
From Ebony Ava Johnson

‘What do clouds wear underneath their trousers? Thunderwear’
From Clare Lee

Why didn’t the Sun go to university? Because he already had a million degrees!
From Meldra Liepa

Why should you never trust an atom? Because they make everything up!
From Sophie, age 9 / Helen Foster-Henson

I’m reading a book on anti-gravity – it’s really hard to put down
From Lucy Goodridge / Catharine Francesca

What do spacemen do on long trips? They play astronauts and crosses
From Suzanne Cawley

As you can see the process involved print outs, cut outs, different coloured pens, ticks and an awful lot of deliberation!

But we have a winner, one joke that made us all laugh – the kids and the grown ups… the winning science joke is…

Why didn’t the Sun go to university? Because he already had a million degrees!
From Meldra Liepa

Congratulations to Meldra and her family who have won 12 issues of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine in a binder! Happy experimenting!

Which joke is your favorite? Tell us in the comment box??

Wish you’d won? Just make sure you put a subscription to Whizz Pop Bang on your Christmas list ?

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Stargazing tips for kids from space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE

Posted on 13th November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

As the nights draw in and it gets dark earlier it’s the perfect time to pull on your hats and gloves and get outside to start stargazing! Before you venture out we’ve got some top tips from space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE. And if you’re keen to learn more about the night sky, enter our online competition to win a copy of STAR FINDER FOR BEGINNERS signed by Maggie ? ? ?

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WIN! STAR FINDER for beginners

Posted on 7th November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | 50 Comments

KIDS! Do you love star-gazing and finding out all about the wonders of the night sky above us? Have you ever tried spotting a constellation? With this brand new book you’ll learn how to identify ‘pathfinder’ stars and discover more than 20 constellations. Also includes a glow-in-the-dark night-sky viewer!

The good news is we have five copies signed by BBC TV star Maggie Aderin-Pocock, so get your entries in to win! Simply answer this question by leaving your answer in the comment box below:

What are stars made of? A) Hot gas B) Shiny Aliens C) Sparkling moon dust

Whilst Maggie was busy signing the books for our lucky winners we asked her for some top tips for star-gazing, this is what she said…

With stargazing it’s all about location, location, location. Find somewhere away from the streetlights, I try to go to the back garden or go with an adult to an open field.
It’s good to have a clear night, cloud stops us from seeing the stars and if the moon is too bright it can also be hard to see the stars.
If you do get a clear night it can be cold so wrap up warm, but remember to let your eyes adjust to the dark. If you need light carry a red torch as this has less effect on your eyes as they adapt to the dark.
Best of all enjoy yourself. There is so much to see with just our eyes, the Moon, stars planets and comets. Have fun!

Thanks Maggie, you’re a super star!

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Online competition to win SPACE RACERS kit by Isabel Thomas

Posted on 7th November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

Whether you’re age eight or 108 there’s something really exhilarating about making paper rockets and imagining you can really zoom off into space! Which is why we’re over-the-moon happy to announce we have FIVE Space Racer kits to give away for our November online competition, to link in with the November issue of Whizz Pop Bang science magazine Planetary Adventures.

To enter this competition we’d like to know what you love most about Whizz Pop Bang magazine. Send in a photo or video of you with your favourite issue, telling us which pages you read first, or which experiment is the best or who you do your experiments with in your family and why it’s so much fun. Email your entry to win@whizzpopbang.com with SPACE RACERS in the subject box by 12pm GMT on 30th November 2017.

Space Racers contains everything you need to press out and make your own paper rocket models. From the rocket that made the first manned space flight, Vostok K, to the future of space travel, the Skylon space plane. Use the easy to use, step-by-step instructions to build eight historically accurate rockets and two imaginary rockets, which are left blank for your own designs. A separate booklet introduces you to the exhilarating world of rocket science and space exploration, and includes fun and detailed fact files for each rocket. Published By Laurence King, priced £22.50.

Space Racers Make Your Own Paper Rockets is written by the hugely talented Whizz Pop Bang science writer, Isabel Thomas.

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In memory of Michael Welland

Posted on 2nd November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

We were deeply saddened to hear that Michael Welland, one of our Whizz Pop Boffins, passed away last month.

Michael was a geologist and sand expert who advised Whizz Pop Bang on all things sandy and rocky, and taught us everything we know about building amazing sandcastles. He was enormously supportive and enthusiastic about the magazine from the start. Always full of fantastic suggestions and inspiring ideas, Michael was a real asset to have on board. He will be greatly missed.

Our February issue, which will be all about gems and crystals, owes a lot to Michael’s ideas and will be dedicated to his memory.

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#ReadingRocks_17 Conference

Posted on 1st November 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | Leave a Comment

On Saturday 14th October we took Whizz Pop Bang to Reading Rocks 2017, a teach meet event for like-minded, book-ish primary school staff and librarians, to discuss ways to make reading rock for EVERY single pupil.

This year’s #ReadingRocks_17 Conference included talks by educational experts Mary Myatt and Teresa Cremin, as well as author SF Said who all gave their advice on how to encourage reading for pleasure, how to engage reluctant readers and the importance of reading to a class everyday. One teacher said “I open a book and the class goes quiet”, prompting a discussion on how much kids love listening to stories and learn so much from being read to, as well as reading themselves.

We were delighted to be involved in such a positive and forward-thinking event, surrounded by teachers who want to make a difference and find new ways to engage kids in reading for pleasure. We chatted to lots of teachers to find out how they use Whizz Pop Bang in class, and to offer our top tips such as using our magazines in guided reading sessions as well as for science and topic work.

Pupils choosing science magazines — *Pupils choosing their favourite science magazines*

The Reading Rocks event is part of a rich reading culture at The District CE Primary School in Merseyside. The school won the Innovation in Education Award at The Educate Awards in 2015, and is up for the literacy award once again, thanks to its pioneering approach.

The school has a ‘Reading is STEMsational’ project set out to develop boys’ reading with a focus on STEM subjects. The impact of the project has been vast – 77% of Key Stage 2 boys reported that STEM year has encouraged them to read more. Whilst Whizz Pop Bang is very much a gender-neutral magazine, the teachers have used the magazines for this scheme, helping both boys and girls to enjoy reading about the wonderful world of science!

*Win 24 back issues of Whizz Pop Bang in these super tidy binders*

Everyone who visited the Whizz Pop Bang stand was invited to enter a competition to win 24 back issues of in two of our super handy binders. With the help of this Class tools app we’ve selected a winner, congratulations to Aidan Severs from Dixons Manningham Primary school in Bradford… enjoy with your budding young scientists!

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WIN! Operation Ouch ‘The HuManual’ by Chris and Xand van Tulleken

Posted on 5th October 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | 54 Comments

Is there anything more disgusting than sick, poo, snot and verrucas? NO!!! Which is exactly why kids absolutely LOVE reading books all about the human body. This brand new book Operation Ouch The HuManual by doctor duo Chris and Xand van Tulleken couldn’t be more revolting. Every page you turn will guarantee to turn your stomach too, in fact this book comes with a warning: DO NOT READ WHILST EATING.

We just know Operation Ouch The HuManual will appeal to Whizz Pop Bang readers which is why we’ve got hold of four copies to give away. Get ready for the gross factor!

To enter this online competition simply answer the following question:

A giraffe has more neck bones than you… true or untrue?

Answer in the comment box below before midnight on 31st October, good luck 🙂

Hint: read the current issue of Whizz Pop Bang to find out the answer! To buy this issue visit our online shop here.

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Whizz Pop Bang science magazine for kids day of the dead skulls

The Whizz Pop Bang Halloween issue is out!

Posted on 2nd October 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | 1 Comment

SPECTACULAR SKELETONS

The brilliant science of bones. Did you know that, weight for weight, bone is stronger than steel? Yes, your skeleton is made up of some spookily awesome stuff! Get stuck straight into the bare bones of this issue by crafting a scary skull mask, experimenting with some brilliant bendy bones and building your own model skeleton.

Buy this issue here and get crafting some seriously spooky stuff ready for Halloween ?

Activities included in this issue: make a ball and socket joint, bend a real bone, make a bendy back bone, make a moveable skeleton, craft an x-ray machine and make a Halloween skull mask. Loads of awesome science fun for kids!

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All you need to know about SEEDS

Posted on 25th September 2017 | by Rachael Tapping | 2 Comments

Follow the ingenious journeys of seeds with our SUPER SEEDS issue! Learn about seed dispersal with our simple experiments and activities, like this dandelion model test to show just how far seeds can travel.

Dandelion test flight

You will need:

Sheet of A4 paper
Ruler
Scissors
Pencil
Tape

What you do:

Fold the paper into quarters and cut along the lines
Take one of the quarters and rule a line as shown
Cut lots of slits along the longer section, trying to make them less than 0.5 cm apart
Roll the uncut area of the paper around your pencil as tightly as you can and secure with sticky tape
Pull out the pencil and gently push down the paper strands so that they fan out in all directions

You should find:

You’ve made a model dandelion seed! Try dropping it from a height as a test flight. Throw it upwards into a strong wind and see how far it will go.

To buy a copy of this issue, SUPER SEEDS, visit our back issue shop here. Back issues are £3.75 with FREE delivery to UK mainland, international delivery £1.50.

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