Caithness International Science Festival and the Magic of Water: A Day of Discovery
Have you ever tried to balance a paper clip on the surface of a bowl of water. It takes skill, steady hands and to be honest small fingers help. Yesterday 85 pupils from P6 and P7 from Wick (Noss Primary) were learning about freshwater and the wildlife that depend on it.
The High Life Highland Ranger Service have been working with the Caithness Science Festival for many years now and this year our theme is Puddles to Ponds - freshwater ecology.
After a brief presentation by Paul about the importance of freshwater to our wildlife, they pupils divided into four workshops.
Workshop one explored the species of freshwater fish you get in the North of Scotland and the pupils were spell bound as they played fishing game using magnets to learn about the hazards our fish have to face.
Workshop Two included a fascinating demonstration of the properties of water, the water cycle, how water condenses and the processes of evaporation. Using pipettes the pupils made their very own rain clouds. Luckily the clouds did not escape outside. Then the children finished with a rowdy game to show how water is really just hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Workshop three explored the mini-beasties that live in our ponds and lochans. This is where the paperclips come into play. They were meant to be water skaters that live on the surface of the water and catch any unlucky insects that happens to fall on the water. One drop of washing up liquid destroyed the surface tension and the paperclips would sink. Just think of what would happen when the smallest drop of pollution gets into our ponds. They also learned about complicated food webs which tied in great diving beetles, backswimmers, tadpoles and even Struan when he went fishing.
The fourth workshop was about our much loved amphibians. Everyone knows about frogs and frog spawn but what about toad spawn and even newt eggs?
Everyone had fun and hopefully learned a lot. The pupils were a great credit to their school, engaged and enthusiastic and the north highland ranger team look forward to coming back next year.
FAMILY FUN DAY
This Saturday two of our Rangers will be at the Caithness International Science Open Day in Wick.
DATE: Saturday 23rd March, 2024
TIME: 12:00 pm
DURATION: 4 Hours
LOCATION/FORMAT: Wick High School
SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES
FREE ENTRY
Join us for an exciting family fun day at the Caithness International Science Festival on 23rd March! Enjoy interactive stands, workshops, and displays from the Highlife Highland Countryside Rangers, RSPB, Wick Voices, and many more, covering everything from historical insights to environmental conservation. Highlights include SPOT by NRS Dounreay, a cutting-edge robot dog, and engaging exhibits by the Glasgow Science Centre on human body capabilities. Plus, don't miss Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show for an all-ages science extravaganza. It's not just a learning opportunity; it's a celebration of curiosity and discovery for scientists, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a fun, educational day out. Let's celebrate our love for science and nature together!