As the leaves fall and Thanksgiving draws near, November is the perfect time to explore the science all around us! From colorful leaves and pumpkin experiments to the science behind your holiday meals, there’s plenty of STEM fun to be thankful for this season.
Turkey doesn’t make you sleepy!
Ever heard that eating turkey makes you sleepy? That’s only partly true! Turkey has something called tryptophan, which helps your body make sleepy-time chemicals like melatonin. But guess what? So do lots of other foods, like chicken and cheese!
So if you feel extra tired after Thanksgiving dinner, it’s probably because your belly is super full from all that yummy food!
More facts about about your Thanksgiving meal: https://destinationscience.org/science-of-thanksgiving/
The Science of Fall Colors
Leaves aren’t just pretty in the fall, they help trees stay alive! Most trees have green leaves in the spring and summer because of chlorophyll, which helps make food from sunlight. When fall comes, the green fades and we see yellow, orange, and red colors appear as the leaves get ready for winter.
More facts about fall colors: https://www.si.edu/stories/why-do-leaves-change-color-fall
Pumpkin Fun Fact: Fruits in Disguise!
Did you know? Pumpkins aren’t just for pie, they’re actually fruits! That’s because they grow from flowers and have seeds inside. Nature’s sneaky way of hiding a treat inside a big, orange ball!
More facts about pumpkins: https://kids.kiddle.co/Pumpkin
The turmeric used for tasty fall recipes can also help you recall secret messages! In this Secret Message with Invisible Ink chemistry activity, you can write hidden notes then uncover them using this golden kitchen spice.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/invisible-ink?from=Blog