Many animals, including walruses, penguins and monkeys, huddle in groups to keep warm. The centre of a huddle of Emperor penguins can reach 24℃ when the air temperature is as low as -40℃!
Watch a video about how huddling works here!
Fantastic news! We’ve just added a game-changing feature to our reading resources: Discussion questions! Starting from issue 99, our teachers have crafted engaging questions to accompany our non-fiction texts, designed for whole-class or paired discussions in response to the new reading framework.
What’s in it for you?
Imagine your pupils not just reading, but actively discussing high-quality science content. These questions go beyond comprehension – they spark curiosity, encourage collaboration and fuel a passion for science exploration.
Why you’ll love it:
Get access to a world of resources:
Ready to elevate your reading sessions? Customize a school package or subscribe as an individual teacher. Gain access to 1,600+ science resources aligned with the National Curriculum and Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.
Don’t miss out – start the adventure today!
Hooray! It’s time to celebrate a remarkable milestone as Whizz Pop Bang reaches its 100th edition. We are thrilled to share this exciting moment with all our teacher enthusiasts and young learners. To mark this special occasion, we have an incredible treat in store for our dedicated readers – the chance to win a class set of Edible Science booklets! We are giving away 100 in total! These delightful booklets make perfect Christmas presents for your class, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Will you be one of our lucky winners?
To be in with a chance of winning, simply leave the number of pupils you have in your class in the comments.
This competition closes at midnight on 30th November 2023 and is open to UK residents only. For full terms and conditions visit whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions
Unleash the Wonder: A Guide to Hosting an Unforgettable Primary Class
Science Party
Are you looking for something fun and educational to reward your class with? Maybe it’s got to the end of term and you want to do something a bit different for an afternoon. Our science class party pack is just what you are looking for. The good news is it’s inexpensive to resource and is guaranteed to excite your class.
What does the pack contain?
There are six experiments to do:
Each experiment has its own set of instructions so you can be flexible about how you organise the afternoon. You could set up stations in the classroom for the children move around and follow the instructions to do each activity, or you could do them together step by step as a whole class. We have given you all the scientific explanations but kept them on a separate page so you can choose when to share them with your class.
If you want more party science experiments buy a copy of our 100th issue of Whizz Pop Bang
Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:
Prices from as little as £205 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.
We’ve also launched a new individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.
Are you looking for some help and ideas for teaching about microorganisms in year 6? Here is how to use our downloadable teaching resources in your unit of work on living things and habitats.
Yeast is a microorganism and a type of fungus. It is used to make bread soft, squishy and full of bubbles! The yeast feeds on sugar in the dough, releasing bubbles of carbon dioxide gas as a waste product. The dough gets filled with bubbles, making it rise. In our lesson pack, pupils will investigate what yeast requires to grow. In this controlled experiment, pupils will plan their own investigations, making sure they only change one variable at a time.
More science reading links…
From our Fantastic fungi issue, we have three reading resources for year 6 that link to the topic and will spark your pupils’ curiosity. Carl Linnaeus is an important historical scientist for year 6 to learn about. He was a botanist and doctor whose ideas on naming and sorting organisms are still used today!
Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:
Prices from as little as £197.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.
We also have an individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.
Professor Lynne Boddy is a woodland fungi expert at Cardiff University and she told us all about her amazing career in Whizz Pop Bang 99: Fantastic Fungi.
Lynne has written a beautiful book, Humungous Fungus, an exploration of all things fungi which will amaze young readers, and open their eyes to the fungi thriving all around them and we’ve got four copies to give away!
Simply answer this question in the comments for your chance to win a book.
Which one is a part of a mushroom?
a) Gill
b) Hill
c) Spill
Good luck!
This competition closes at midnight on 31st October 2023 and is open for UK residents only. For full terms and conditions visit whizzpopbang.com/terms
Humongous Fungus, written by Lynne Boddy and illustrated by Wenjia Tang. DK, £12.99. Out Now.
Carl Sagan was an astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, professor and science communicator who was fascinated by extra-terrestrial life. You can read about him in Whizz Pop Bang 98: Aliens!
Carl was involved in American space exploration since it began in the 1950s. He put together messages that were sent into outer space in the 1970s on the Voyager Golden Record.
Read more about space in these out-of-this-world issues of Whizz Pop Bang!
Copies of the Golden Record were carried by Voyager I and Voyager II. They contained:
The discs contained diagrams that explain where Earth is and how to play the record. Scientists spent a long time working out how to communicate these messages to aliens!
Here are some examples of things that were included on Carl Sagan’s Golden Record. You can find a full list of everything that was included here.
We can’t include the photographs and diagrams included on the Golden Record because of copyright but you can see some of them here. These show some of the same subjects that featured on it.
If you want to find out more about fantastic scientists like Carl Sagan, subscribe to Whizz Pop Bang, the awesomely amazing science magazine for kids! Learn about inspirational scientists of the past and present every issue – our readers are the in credible scientists of the future!
Helen Scales is a marine biologist, writer, broadcaster, teacher and scuba diver who stars as our Science Hero in Whizz Pop Bang 96: Coasts. Read more about her in this issue, now available in our shop. She tells us all about her exciting job, including some of the books she has written, and we’re so excited to have five sets of two of these books to give away to mini marine biologists!
Scientists in the Wild: Galápagos by Helen Scales follows a group of marine biologists as they set sail to study the amazing wildlife and habitats of the Galápagos. To get the job done they will climb volcanoes, get sneezed on by marine iguanas, watch dancing birds, launch a deep-diving submersible and explore the dazzling underwater wonders of Galápagos.
Great Barrier Reef by Helen Scales (released 6th July 2023) introduces this incredible, intricate Australian ecosystem to young readers. Discover the plant and animal inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef in this beautifully illustrated book, then find out what we can all do to ensure its survival.
To enter the competition, simply answer the following question in the comments:
Where is the Great Barrier Reef?
a) Australia
b) South America
c) Antarctica
The competition closes at midnight on 31st July 2023. For full terms and conditions, please visit: https://www.whizzpopbang.com/terms-and-conditions/.
Want to know more about Whizz Pop Bang – the awesomely amazing science magazine for kids?
Do you know a mini-scientist who is learning about the ancient Egyptians at school? Or are they just fascinated by history and science and want to discover more about this interesting time period?
Inside issue 55, ANCIENT EGYPT, kids will get to unravel the mysteries of mummies, decipher hieroglyphics, and even create their very own mummy! They’ll also explore tomb matching games, make papyrus, play the Pharaohs’ board game, and crack secret codes. It’s a perfect mix of fun and learning that’ll keep them engaged and entertained.
“DNA is the blueprint for life, so studying ancient Egyptian DNA helps us unlock the secrets of the mummies, such as their family history and the diseases they carried.”
Dr Konstantina Drosou
In each issue, Whizz Pop Bang features a remarkable scientist, and this time we introduce Dr Konstantina Drosou, a Lecturer in Biomedical Egyptology. Dr Drosou sheds light on the significance of studying ancient Egyptian DNA. Dr Drosou’s expertise adds a new dimension to the exploration of ancient Egypt, offering young readers a glimpse into the fascinating world of scientific research and discovery.
In addition to the ancient Egypt activities, Issue 55 delves into the intriguing history of the toothbrush. Children will learn about the evolution of dental hygiene and the inventors who paved the way for modern oral care. Find out how the ancient Egyptians’ chewing sticks and toothpicks turned into today’s toothbrushes.
If your child is fascinated by ancient Egypt, or they are covering this topic at school and need some extra support, this magazine will provide valuable educational content. The activities, experiments, and historical information will deepen their understanding of this ancient civilization. By engaging in hands-on projects, children will gain a more comprehensive knowledge of the ancient Egyptians. Whizz Pop Bang’s ANCIENT EGYPT Magazine is an excellent supplement to their primary education, offering a fun and interactive way to explore this captivating subject.
As a teacher, you strive to make learning exciting and memorable for your students. Whizz Pop Bang’s ANCIENT EGYPT Magazine can be a valuable resource to enhance your ancient Egypt curriculum. The magazine’s activities and experiments align with the national curriculum, providing an engaging supplement to your lessons. If you are have a subscription to our ever-growing library of teaching resources, you can even incorporate the magazine’s content into your teaching plans. Use the downloadable lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation provided and create interactive and engaging classroom experiences. These resources enable you to bring ancient Egypt to life and ensure that your students not only gain knowledge but also enjoy the learning process.
For families who home educate, Whizz Pop Bang’s ANCIENT EGYPT Magazine will come in really handy to help your children. Designed to be educational and engaging, it allows parents to create a well-rounded curriculum for their children. With its hands-on activities and experiments, the magazine caters to different learning styles, making it ideal for homeschooling environments. By incorporating the magazine into your home educating, you can provide your child with a comprehensive understanding of ancient Egypt while fostering their curiosity and love for learning.
Whizz Pop Bang is committed to making learning fun and accessible. By creating engaging content that aligns with the national curriculum, we support both parents and teachers in their quest to provide children with a well-rounded education. Whether your child is exploring ancient Egypt for their own interest or you’re seeking innovative ways to teach the topic in the classroom or at home, our ANCIENT EGYPT Magazine, Issue 55 is an excellent educational resource.
Unleash the wonders of ancient Egypt and watch your child’s love for learning flourish. Spark curiosity, foster exploration, and make learning about ancient Egypt an exciting adventure with Whizz Pop Bang.
Have you got a copy of the magazine? If you do, here’s a helpful kit list of items you’ll need to be ready for the activities featured in this issue. Don’t worry there’s still loads of science fun to be have even if you don’t have every single item on the list!
Are you looking for planning resources for teaching forces in year 5? Here’s how you can use our new downloadable pulley investigation resource to easily create a memorable lesson that produces the sticky knowledge Ofsted will be looking for…
An investigation into pulleys
Our pulley investigation requires pupils to build a simple pulley and then add more to create a pulley system. They will compare the difference that adding more pulleys makes to the force used by measuring. A bucket is added to one end and pupils use a form of measurement, e.g. weights from the maths cupboard or a non-standard unit such as Unifix™ cubes, to record the results and help them come to a conclusion about why pulleys are useful.
How should the lesson be recorded?
Should pupils record every step of a practical lesson? From my experience, no, as this kills the enjoyment and does not reflect what they have learned. However, there are benefits to revising learning to help the knowledge to stick. Revisiting the lesson the next day is beneficial. In upper key stage two, pupils should be practising writing up part of their investigation in a passive voice.
Guided reading
To help consolidate pupils’ learning, why not introduce some forces-themed reading into your English sessions? Download our fascinating reading comprehensions linked to this lesson pack.
Whizz Pop Bang magazine and teaching resources are brilliant ways to enhance your school’s science teaching:
Prices from as little as £197.99 per year for a copy of Whizz Pop Bang magazine through the post each month and whole-school access to our ever-growing library of downloadable teaching resources, with unlimited teacher logins.
We’ve also have an individual membership option so teachers and home educators can access all of our amazing downloadable resources for just £20 for the whole year.
