Junior College participated in this year’s online Science in the City event through a number of online activities for different age groups - from young kids to adults. The seeds of interest in science were certainly sown as participants enjoyed the various activities prepared by staff & students of the JC departments.
Sowing seeds of knowledge
Join us as we explore sowing seeds of knowledge! We will be exploring the human brain which is an organ that stores and processes knowledge. The brain controls the whole human body. You will be learning about this fascinating organ through a number of activities we have prepared. You can also follow some interesting links from various sources on the internet.
We will also be tackling the plant life cycle - the life of a plant from seed to plant. To top it all up we will be explaining how to sow seeds to grow your own beanstalk!
Start off by watching this interesting video about the brain.
- Video: Brainy Bites (recommended age 8+)
- The 3D Brain (recommended age 8+)
- Colour the Brain (recommended age under 10 years)
- The Brain (recommended age 8+)
- Brain Wordsearch (recommended age 8+)
- Test your knowledge (recommended age 10+)
Brain Wordsearch XL
- Some fun and challenging activities for your brain (recommended age 8+)
Now that we have learnt about the brain, let's grow our own beanstalk!
- Bean in a jar (recommended age 8+)
Watch this video to see how a seed grows into a plant. (recommended age 8+)
For the older students. (recommended age 10+)Sowing the seeds of curiosity
As the need for highly trained researchers grows, in this year’s Science in the City 2021 event, the Department of Chemistry at the G.F. Abela, Junior College opted to shine a light on two scientists at the College - Ms Maria Magro and Dr Noel Vella.
Despite their different backgrounds, both researchers have one important aim in common, to actively sow the seeds of curiosity into the budding scientists of tomorrow. What does the term ‘research’ mean? What is their research about? What motivates them? We invite you to watch the video to find out more.
- Video: Meet the researcher
Preparing ‘Bubbling Wizard’s Brew’
Everyone enjoys seeing the cloudy white fog generated when solid carbon dioxide, dry ice, is placed in water. Magicians and theatre productions often use it to generate a foggy effect. Have you ever wondered what physical and chemical processes occur to produce this fog? In this video, we would like to share with you how dry ice, a molecular crystal, can be used to prepare the creepy, spooky ‘Bubbling Wizard’s Brew’ effect.
CAUTION: Adult supervision is recommended if experiment is attempted at home. Never handle solid carbon dioxide with your bare hands.
- Video: Dry Ice
Department of Geography & Home Economics
In line with this year's theme: Sowing Seeds, our department is presenting a set of 7 posters with information related to the importance of soil and the seeds that grow in the soil – food, our source of nourishment.
The posters will help you appreciate the complex dynamic systems that tie soil conservation, food security and climate change.
Test your knowledge through the quiz provided by using this link.
- Sowing seeds (recommended age 11+)
- Mill-ħamrija għal fuq il-mejda
Mathematicians and scientists come up with several ideas and with hypotheses. These can be regarded as seeds which develop in proven facts and theories that are then harvested when used in various sciences. Here we will be discussing the Fibonacci sequence, which is used and observed all around us. Various activities, crafts and problems for all ages and abilities were developed on this idea.
Next to each activity, the intended age of the child attempting it is marked. Please note that this is just a guideline; different students have different abilities. Furthermore, if students are being accompanied (and encouraged) by an older person, then they can also work on activities intended for older students.
“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it …” Albert Einstein. So if you are interested in the magical word “energy” and have young children, introduce them to this term by watching our video (3 to 12 years old), construct games and play! If you are older than thirteen years of age, watch some experiments on energy (recommended age 13+). If you are sixteen years or over, consider watching our video (recommended age 16+) to see what type of clean and sustainable energy can be produced in the future. Enjoy!
- Video: Fusion (recommended age 16+)
- The boat experiment Template 1 / Template 2
- The cats and mouse experiment Template 3 / Template 4
- The butterfly experiment Template 5 / Template 6
Video: Experiment of Electromegnetism, Magnetism and Static Electricity (recommended age 13+)
Department of Environmental Science & Physical Education
You are what you eat from your head to your feet! Food is a daily occurrence. We use it for nourishment, health and growth. We have prepared the following clip about the basics of nutrition. It tackles the different nutrients that should be present in our diet and their importance. It also tackles calories, what they are, and their function. The clip also goes through the way one should use nutrition labels found on food packaging. If you need any further information you can contact us on this link.
- Video: Nutrition