Hi everyone! Today is a special day because we received some wonderful emails from Pilmuir Primary School in Scotland. The students asked great questions, and we wanted to share some of them with you. We can’t answer all of them today, but these questions are all about animals!
Our first question is from Shay, who asks, “What’s your favorite animal?” That’s a tough one because there are so many cool animals! I think every animal is amazing for its own special reasons. For example, parrots are fascinating. There are nearly 400 kinds of parrots, from big blue and gold Macaws to tiny parrotlets. They’re all so unique!
I also love porcupines. They have quills, which are thick, stiff hairs that protect them. Despite what cartoons might show, porcupines can’t shoot their quills. They just get stuck on anything or anyone who bothers them. And of course, I can’t forget about rats. One of my best friends is a rat named Squeaks!
Thanks for the question, Shay! Do you have a favorite animal? Let us know!
Our next question is from Brodie, who asks, “Why do snakes eat eggs?” Well, just like people, snakes eat eggs because they are full of energy and nutrients. Some egg-eating snakes in Africa and India have special body parts that help them eat eggs whole.
These snakes have jaws that open much wider than ours, allowing them to swallow an egg in one gulp. Once the egg is in their throat, they use spines inside their throat to squish it. Pretty awesome, right? We have to peel eggs before eating them, but some snakes don’t!
Chloe asks, “Do you like to do the show each week? And is Squeaks real?” Chloe, yes! I love getting excited about science and sharing cool information with you. It makes me incredibly happy. As for Squeaks, I’ll let him answer that question. –Squeaks squeaks– Did you hear that, Chloe? Sounded pretty real to me!
Our final question today is from Jack, who asks, “What animals live in the Amazon Rainforest?” Great question! The Amazon Rainforest is a huge forest that gets lots of rain. Because it’s always warm and has plenty of water, many living things call it home.
We’ve talked about some of them before on SciShow Kids! There’s the big cat, the Jaguar, and the slow-moving three-toed sloth. Plus, there’s the Amazon River Dolphin, which lives in the Amazon river and basin. Along with these animals, there are Black Spider Monkeys, Poison Dart Frogs, and many more!
Thanks for the question, Jack! We also want to thank Kai, Jade, and Grace for their awesome questions about car engines, life cycles, and aging. Those are big questions, and we hope to explain them in the future.
Thank you so much to Pilmuir Primary School for sending in your questions! If you have a question about anything, let us know by getting help from a grown-up and leaving a comment below, or send us an email at [email protected]. See you next time here at the fort!
Animal Observation Walk: Take a walk in your local park or garden with a grown-up. Look for different animals, like birds, insects, or squirrels. Try to notice what makes each animal unique. Do they have special colors, sounds, or movements? Draw a picture of your favorite animal from the walk and share what makes it special with your friends or family.
Egg Experiment: With the help of a grown-up, try a simple experiment to understand why snakes eat eggs. Take a boiled egg and gently squeeze it to feel how strong it is. Then, peel the egg and notice how it changes. Discuss why snakes might find eggs a good source of food. What do you think would happen if a snake tried to eat an egg with a hard shell?
Rainforest Animal Research: Choose an animal that lives in the Amazon Rainforest, like the Jaguar or the Poison Dart Frog. With the help of a grown-up, find a book or use the internet to learn more about your chosen animal. Create a small poster with fun facts and pictures about the animal. Share your poster with your class or family and explain why this animal is important to the rainforest ecosystem.
