Good news for anyone staring down a chilly week of school: right now, all across Australia, it's National Science Week (15–23 August). Museums, libraries and science centres are throwing open their doors, and the best part is that your family is already invited — you don't even have to leave the house.
This year's theme is Seeds of Science, which is a lovely excuse to grow things, mix things, and generally make a happy mess. Here are a few winners you can do today with stuff that's already in your cupboards.
This one's pure magic and costs almost nothing. Pop a dried bean (the kind you'd cook with) against the side of a glass jar, with a scrunched-up damp paper towel holding it in place. Put it on a sunny windowsill and keep the towel moist.
Within a few days, a little root pokes down and a green shoot reaches up — and because it's against the glass, your kids get to watch the whole show. It's the sort of thing they'll check on every single morning. Perfect for the Seeds of Science theme, too.
Arrange coloured Skittles or M&Ms in a circle around the edge of a white plate. Gently pour warm water into the middle until it just touches the lollies — then don't touch it. Watch.
The colours race towards the centre and, for a few glorious seconds, make a perfect rainbow wheel before they mix. It works because the colour and sugar dissolve and spread out. Mostly, though, it just looks brilliant.
Line up three glasses. Fill the outer two with water, add a big squeeze of food colouring to each (try blue and yellow), and leave the middle one empty. Now bridge the glasses with folded paper towel, dipping each end into a glass.
Come back in an hour. The water has climbed up the paper and dribbled down into the middle glass — and where blue meets yellow, you get green. Like magic, only it's science. The water is creeping up tiny gaps in the paper, the same way a plant drinks.
If cabin fever strikes, National Science Week is the perfect nudge to get out. Loads of libraries, museums and science centres run free family events during the week — a quick search for what's on near you is well worth it, and many of the best bits are completely free.
You don't need to explain everything perfectly. You don't need to be a scientist. The whole game is simply asking "ooh, what do you think will happen?" before you start, and letting them guess.
That's it. That's science. A guess, a go, and a gasp.
(There is a bit more to it, but it’s a good start!)
So this week, embrace the mess, keep a tea towel handy, and let the kitchen become the most exciting laboratory in the country. Happy experimenting!
