Hey there! Today, we’re going on a fun adventure with Squeaks and his time machine. Squeaks wants to travel back to all the fun days he had with his friends, learning and exploring. Let’s dive into some of those exciting memories!
Do you remember the blobfish? It’s a deep-sea creature that looks a bit funny, but there’s a good reason for its appearance. The blobfish lives deep in the ocean, near the sea floor, where it’s dark, cold, and the pressure is super high. This pressure is like a big, tight bear hug from all the water above.
The blobfish has a jelly-like body that helps it survive in this harsh environment. It doesn’t have much muscle or bones, making it almost pure squish! This blobbiness helps it float above the ocean floor without using much energy. It just waits for food to float by, which sounds pretty neat!
One day, Squeaks learned how to make a compass with Mr. Brown. A compass is a tool that helps you find your way by pointing north. You can make one using a sewing needle, aluminum foil, water, and a magnet. By rubbing the needle with a magnet, you turn it into a magnet too!
When you float the needle on water, it points north because the Earth is like a giant magnet. This helps people and animals find their way around. Isn’t that cool?
On Halloween, Squeaks dressed up as a lion and learned how chocolate is made. Chocolate comes from cacao trees, which grow in warm, wet places. The beans from these trees are turned into chocolate through a long process involving roasting, grinding, and mixing with sugar and milk.
It’s amazing how much work goes into making chocolate, but it’s definitely worth it for the delicious treats we get to enjoy!
When Squeaks and his friends returned from a research trip, they thought about how animals travel long distances, or migrate, every year. Animals use different tricks to find their way, like landmarks, stars, and even an internal compass!
Some animals, like birds and bees, have a built-in compass that helps them know which way is north. This is something humans can’t do, but it’s fascinating to learn about how different animals navigate the world.
Squeaks may not have a real time machine, but he can always revisit his favorite days through videos and memories. And who knows what exciting adventures await in the future? Keep exploring and learning, and you’ll have plenty of amazing days to look back on!
Create Your Own Blobfish: Using playdough or clay, create your own version of a blobfish. Think about why the blobfish is so squishy and how it helps it survive in the deep sea. Once you’ve made your blobfish, try to squish it and see how it changes shape. Discuss with a friend or family member why being squishy is helpful for the blobfish.
Make a Simple Compass: With the help of an adult, gather a sewing needle, a small piece of aluminum foil, a bowl of water, and a magnet. Rub the needle with the magnet about 30 times in the same direction. Then, place the needle on a small piece of aluminum foil and gently float it on the water. Watch as it points north! Talk about how this simple tool can help you find your way, just like animals do when they migrate.
Chocolate Taste Test: With permission, try a small piece of different types of chocolate (dark, milk, white). Think about how each one tastes and what you like about it. Discuss with a friend or family member how chocolate is made from cacao beans and what steps are involved in making it into the chocolate we eat. Imagine what it would be like to visit a cacao tree and see the beans growing!
