Addysg

Happy New Year Bulb buddies! I hope you all had a fun Christmas.

It has been a very stormy in the last few weeks in many parts of the UK. Weather scientists at the Met Office say that this is due to the jet stream – a narrow band of fast moving winds high up in the atmosphere. The jet stream blows from west to east across the Atlantic Ocean and can bring us stormy weather.

December 2013 was the windiest month in the UK since January 1993. It has also been very rainy - in Scotland December was the wettest month since 1910. That means it hasn’t rained that much in Scotland for over 100 years! What has the weather been like where you live?

All this rain and stormy weather has meant that there have been floods in parts of England, Wales and Scotland, and sadly some people’s houses were flooded at Christmas. In areas close to the seaside giant waves also caused flooding.  

SUPER SCIENTIST CHALLENGE:

Why do some areas flood and others don’t? Use these maps to investigate!

Study the first map of Aberystwyth in Wales, where there has been flooding. Can you see the wiggly lines called ‘contour lines’ that show the shape of the mountains and hills? Can you see the sea and the river shown in blue? When rain falls in the surrounding area it runs down the hills into the river then into the sea. If there is very heavy rainfall the river may flood. If it is very stormy there may be very large waves. Where do you think it might flood? Hint – flooding can happen in low lying areas and areas near rivers and the sea. This link has some animations about the different factors that cause a flood.

Study the second map from the Environment Agency – the purple areas show where there is risk of flooding. Is the flood risk where you thought it would be?

Now you can investigate the area where you live…

First search for your school on the first map. Can you see any contour lines? Where is the high land and the low land? Is there a river, lake or the sea nearby? Where might it flood?

Next search for your school on the second map. Make sure you tick the two boxes ‘Flood Warning areas’ and ‘Flood Alert areas’ on the left of the page, flood risk areas will then show up in purple. Is there a flood risk in your area? Is the flood risk where you thought it would be?

We've had some lovely, poetic and evocative examples in our Dylan Thomas themed family workshops these past couple of weeks, lots of laden christmas trees, roaring fires, burning christmas puds, snow boots and snowmen, and stocking full to bursting point to name but a few, here are some photos of some of them.

Inspired by the amazing Peter Blake exhibition 'Llareggub' (Peter Blake illustrates Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas) we are going to be enjoying extracts from Dylan Thomas' 'A Child's Christmas in Wales' in the Clore Discovery Centre and making lovely bags to store our own festive treasures.

As can be seen from the photograph of our prepartations the activity will involve lots of ribbon, shiny bells, the wonderful words of Dylan Thomas and a chance for you to share your favourite Christmas memories.

Nadolig Llawen / Happy Christmas

Nadolig Llawen - Gyfeillion Bylbiau!

Ni allaf gredu mai dyma'r wythnos gyfnodi olaf yn 2013! Llongyfarchiadau am gadw cofnodion tywydd dros y chwe wythnos diwethaf! Nid oes angen i chi gadw mwy o gofnodion yn awr tan yr wythnos gyntaf yn Ionawr, 2014. Gallwch adael eich bylbiau yn yr ysgol dros y Nadolig ac ymlacio tan y flwyddyn newydd. Yr wyf yn gobeithio y byddwch yn cael Nadolig gwych ar ôl gweithio mor galed y tymor hwn!

Rydym wedi cael tywydd ofnadwy yr wythnos hon, felly yr wyf yn gobeithio nad oedd ddifrod storm neu lifogydd yn eich ardal leol chi. Mae'r tywydd wedi achosi rhai problemau ofnadwy i bobl ar draws y DU - gweler y tywydd mewn lluniau http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/feeds/25232374

Dywedodd Ysgol Gynradd Manor (Swydd Rydychen): Rydym yn drist iawn i ddweud bod yr holl potiau wedi chwythu drosodd. Tybed beth yr hoffech i ni ei wneud? Prof.P: Gyda'r tywydd ddiweddar, rwy'n siŵr bod llawer o'r potiau wedi chwythu drosodd ac angen ail-potio. Peidiwch â phoeni bydd eich bylbiau yn iawn os ydynt yn cael eu lleoli yn ddiogel yn ôl i'w potiau.
Os gwelwch yn dda ddod o hyd i fy atebion i'ch sylwadau isod.

Nadolig Llawen oddi wrth yr Athro'r Ardd a Bwlb Bychan!

Eich cwestiynau:

St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, Leyland: Dear Professor Plant. On Tuesday and Friday this week, we think our temperature was so high because the sun was shining right on our thermometer. It felt so much colder - our teacher’s car thermometer showed 3 degrees. Next week, we are going to move our thermometer to a different place where the sun will not shine directly onto it. Love from Mrs Thompson's Year 1 Class. Prof:P: You've done the right thing here, it's important that thermometers are not placed in direct sunlight or they will show higher temperatures.

Raglan VC Primary: Rainfall on Mon included the weekend rainfall. A crocus bulb was starting to shoot (20/11/13), we covered it with a handful of compost. Prof.P: This is a good idea to keep the bulb warm but as long as the crocus bulb was planted 10cm beneath the soil then you shouldn't need to cover over any shoots in future.

Ysgol Bro Eirwg: Cwestiwn oddi wrth Rhys: Pam mae angen dwr ar y bylbiau? Athro'r Ardd:Ond angen rhoi dŵr i eich bylbiau os yw'r pridd yn y potiau yn mynd yn sych i gyffwrdd. Ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn dylai fod digon o ddŵr o'r glaw. Mae bylbiau yn amsugno ddŵr drwy eu gwreiddiau. Mae'r dŵr yn helpu'r planhigyn i tyfu eginau a pharatoi i flodeuo yn y gwanwyn.

Manor Road Primary School (Lancashire): It's been a blustery but fairly dry week here in Lancashire. Our bulb labels have suffered in the winds but hopefully the bulbs will be snug in their pots! Prof.P: Sorry your labels are ruined but glad your bulbs are safe :-)

Burscough Bridge Methodist School: Tuesday there was a small layering of snow. Prof.P: How exciting! Also bulbs need cold weather to trigger their growth at this time of year - so all good for the bulbs.

Ysgol Rhys Prichard: Tuesday rainfall fell as sleet. Thursday was the first real frost this winter. Prof.P: Again, this is great for the bulbs to trigger their growth.

Arkholme CE Primary School: There are some difficulties on a Monday morning because sometimes it might have rained over the weekend. Prof.P: Don't worry Arkholme - we expect all the schools taking part to have a higher reading on a Monday so this is not a problem.

Greyfriars RC Primary School: hi our bulbs are doing fine and the leaves on the trees in the school garden have fallen. The Scots Pine still has its needles. From Airlie and Athen. Prof.P: Yes the Scots pine is one of our few native plants to remain green in the winter. Can you think of anymore? These plants are often mentioned in carols.

The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School: The weather is very varied each day; sunshine, cloud, breeze. On Sunday night it froze hard so even though the temperature was high in the sunshine, the compost in the pots was frozen. Prof.P: this is good for the bulbs at this time of year it tells them that it is winter now and that spring is on its way in a few months.

St. Ignatius Primary School: Again the bulbs have been vandalised over the weekend. The pots have been moved or tipped over. Our janitor is out at the moment trying to fix them and get everything back to normal. We are very upset and disappointed by this but we will continue to look after our plants as best we can. Prof.P: Very sorry to hear that this has happened again but delighted to hear that you are determined to continue. Is there anywhere else in the school that is safer to keep them?

Glyncollen Primary School: We are getting really good at recording our weather data. This week has been very cold. We hope the bulbs are warm in the earth. Prof.P: Don't worry the bulbs will be fine - they like it cold at this time of year. Glad to hear that you are getting good at keeping your weather records it's a very useful skill that you are learning.

Raglan VC Primary: 10% of pots are showing growth of bulbs. Prof.P: I like how you are reporting this. Good use of numeracy!

Burscough Bridge Methodist School: Thursday night seen the area hit by storms. Prof.P: Glad the school is safe.

The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School: A terrible storm on Tuesday night which continued with a wet and windy Wednesday. The pots keep filling up with leaves as fast as we can clear them but no need to water yet. The children are enjoying looking at the scales on the rain gauge and thermometer and comparing them to the rulers we are using in maths. Prof.P: Great to hear you are enjoying comparing this will make you super at science. Don’t worry about the leaves too much the bulbs will find their way through the leaves without any problems.

Mae’r coed yn brydferth yn Sain Ffagan yr wythnos hon! Rwyf wrth fy modd a lliwiau’r hydref.

Pa liw yw'r dail lle rydych yn byw, brown, coch, melyn neu wedi cwympo?

Mae'r coed fel y bylbiau gwanwyn yn newid gyda’r tymheredd lleol. Heb fod yn rhy oer yng Nghaerdydd eto, felly mewn mannau mae dal rhai dail gwyrdd. Ond os mae’n oer yn ardal chi gall y dail eisoes wedi cwympo.

85 o gofnodion yn yr wythnos hon - diolch i bob un ohonoch sydd yn mynd allan bob dydd i gadw eich cofnodion tywydd!

Mae'r tymheredd oeraf a gofnodwyd hyd yn hyn yn -1 gradd Celsius a gofnodwyd gan Ysgol Gynradd St Blanes yn yr Alban. St Blanes: “Mae'n mor oer heddiw oedd rhaid i ni wisgo ein hetiau, sgarffiau a menig pan aethom y tu allan i gymryd ein darlleniadau tywydd.  Roedd ein glawiad wedi troi'n rhew! Ni’n CARU prosiect hwn, er bod ein dannedd yn rhincian!” Cymerwch olwg ar ble maen nhw ar y map neu edrychwch ar eu tymheredd.

Mae'r glaw mwyaf wedi ei gofnodi yn Ysgol Bro Eirwg - 140mm! Bro Eirwg: Rydym wedi mwynhau casglu data'r wythnos hon. Pryd fydd y bylbiau yn dechrau tyfu.? A.Ardd: Byddant yn cael eu tyfu o dan y pridd yn barod ond dylai egin yn ymddangos uwchben y pridd o fis Ionawr ymlaen.

Eich cwestiynau - fy atebion:

• Culross Primary School. Very cold week - children enjoyed measuring rainfall and looking at temperatures. We also discussed the importance of trying to record results at the same time each day. Prof.P: Very good - this is important for ensuring a fair test!
• St. Blanes Primary School. We are excited to go out into the school garden everyday to check our rain gauge and thermometer! Ysgol Sychdyn: We have enjoyed recording the weather data. Prof.P: Fantastic - you'll be weather experts soon!
• Cawthorne's Endowed Primary School. Hello Professor Plant this is a very good idea.      Prof.P: thanks you very much!
• St. Mary's Catholic Primary School. Thank you Professor Plant for sending us the bulbs. We enjoyed planting them and can't wait to see what they look like when they grow. From Year 1 children at St Mary's in Leyland. Prof.P: I'm sure the flowers will be beautiful Year 1!