Back from when I was a student, I still remember another graduate student complaining that during his thesis defense exam one of the professors asked him What other mammal besides humans lack the ability to make its own vitamin C? The student didnt know the answer, but I did. In this experiment, students will see its effects firsthand and brainstorm ways to keep it in check. Good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, strawberries, green peppers, broccoli and potatoes. No one is really sure where the name Guinea pig came from. My Coworker Is Selling My Lessons Online. Learn more: Instascience at Elemental Blogging. In addition to Youll need a few special supplies for this experiment, but the results are so cool. See an example in this YouTube video, and learn more about Rube Goldberg machines here. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Kids may have created marble roller coasters before, but have they ever built one with a loop-the-loop? Nutrition Science Fair Project I'm mom to four boys and one little girl. Im glad you recommend Proper Care of Guinea Pigs by Peter Gurney. Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls is a place to find fun activities that kids will LOVE! This is a neat eighth grade science project because it allows you to use a variety of physics concepts in a fun way. This handbook is a valuable resource for every cavy enthusiast. The little furry animals also have identity crises in other languages, Vanderlip wrote. Gordons Guide to Caring for Your Guinea Pigs (Pets Guides) by Isabel Thomas is illustrated both with color photographs and with humorous illustrations of Gordon the guinea pig, who narrates the book. Youll need a few special supplies, like a multimeter and an ohm resistor, but theyre inexpensive and easy to find. Learn more: Home Science Tools/Fingerprinting. (700 to 1,100 grams), according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW). You could even use three training strategies. University of Otago. This project involves students setting up an aquarium and introducing various pollutants to the water in order to observe and document the effects on the aquatic life within the tank. In the scientific community, however, Guinea pigs are used as animal models and are the subject of experiments. Learn more: Science Buddies/Infinity Mirror. Science Fair Project Ideas for 12th Graders. They also love vegetables and fruits such as kale, mustard greens, bell peppers, carrots, bananas, apples and blueberries. I want it to be guinea pig related, and here are the five options. (Check out more ways to explore the states of matter). We feed them a variety of fresh vegetables which Each 4-H member enrolled in the cavy project may exhibit a maximum total of eight (10) entries. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The study of guinea pigs or cavies provides the basis for many testable questions. According toThe Human Society of the United States, Guinea pigs live longer than many other small rodents. The name may come from the price of a Guinea pig in 16th-century England: 1 guinea. In 1907, Norwegian biochemists Axel Holst and Alfred Frhlich replicated a scurvy-like condition in Guinea pigs by restricting certain foods. Once youve mastered the basic process, experiment with different strengths of solutions and container sizes to see how high your rocket can go. Just be sure your guinea pigs seem relaxed and interested. We feed them a variety of fresh vegetables which veggie do they like the best? Copyright 2000 - 2023, Guinea Pig Cages. Most kids will just go off of the first page or two. We had thought that red pepper was a favorite food, probably second after cucumber, but neither of the guinea pigs chose it first consistently. Guinea pigs, also called cavies, are a domesticated species of rodent (Cavia porcellus). Content on this website is for information only. Alfalfa is richer and higher in calcium and is a good supplement for growing guinea pigs as well as pregnant or nursing guinea pigs, but is not a good staple for most adult guinea pigs. Can they build a hand that can pick up a ball? Spanish explorers brought guinea pigs back from the New World to Europe, where they were kept as exotic pets. They are also used internationally as laboratory animals for studies of anatomy, nutrition, genetics, toxicology, pathology, serum development, and other research programs. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Origins of the beloved guinea pig. Check out the Instagram page for a list of all the blog posts that have been featured on Instagram. We were thrilled to get a review copy of my friend Asias newest book The Curious Kids Science Book. Oh yes, and the loud wheek, wheek, wheek whenever the refrigerator door opens. Although we now know respiration is more of a series of metabolic reactions, the Guinea pig pioneered the discovery that we have an internal mechanism to burn calories. Today we are going to look at a few science activities you can do to learn more about guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning they do not eat meat. And in Portugal, they are calledporchitas da India(little pigs from India). Growing Wheat Grass Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Guinea pigs were taken to Europe in the 16th century, and since the 1800s they have been popular as pets. According to Vanderlip, since the 1800s, Guinea pigs have been used in laboratories to study nutrition, genetic, toxicology and pathology. So many possibilities! . Thanks to its physiological similarities to us, in its hearing, immune By the way, be alert to the fact that guinea pigs often wont urinate or defecate while away from their box. Round up some friends and family who are willing to be guinea pigs, then find out if peppermint candy really does improve concentration and reaction timeand test scores. Teach both bigs the same trick but use the clicker for one (independent) and voice commands for the other (control) and see who does better (dependent). This science project aims to find out. Learn more: Blog She Wrote/Cast Animal Tracks. Im not sure how much training you can do for your individual guinea pig, but some guinea pigs do seem to be more willing to pile their poops than others. Clean freshwater is a valuable commodity. Special water bottles that hang from the cage bars are often a good way to supplement water needs for pet Guinea pigs. Spherification is a chemical process thats become popular with food scientists, and your eighth grade science students will get a kick out of seeing it in action. This hydraulics project was originally written for younger kids, but it works for older ones just as well. These interactive ideas will teach kids so much about science and the world around them! Privacy Policy. ive read that they poop in corners but my guinea pig isnt doing that. Register for free to enjoy the full benefits. This photo is cracking me up! The taxonomy of the Guinea pig, according to theIntegrated Taxonomic Information System(ITIS), is: Domesticated Guinea pigs and most of their wild cousins are in no danger of extinction and are listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. Does the temperature of the vinegar affect the size of the reaction? With your end goal in mind of marketing your hogs at your county fair or show, do simple math before selecting your pigs. Paper seems smooth and slides apart easily, right? I read his books when I first began caring for guinea pigs. by norman40 Wed Feb 26, 2020 3:58 pm, Return to Grades 6-8: Physical Science, You can find this page online at: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/aae/footer. Learn more: Education.com/Nitrogen and Plants. The calorimeter they designed is like a 3-layer bucket, the outer shell of which was packed with snow to maintain a constant temperature of 0 C around the ice-filled middle shell. Renewable energy and how to capture it is so important, now more than ever. Some think Guinea pigs got their name from the squealing sounds they make. The experiment is based off dependent variable/independent variable. In this case, he has written a nonfiction book that is an introduction to owning and caring for guinea pigs. Foundation for Biomedical Research. An experiment, however, tests a variable. Each guinea pig will wait ten minutes from completion of the maze to the next run. Is this connected to that? WebApr 15, 2019 - Explore John Schneider's board "Science fair projects" on Pinterest. WebThis resource handbook contains essential information for members taking a guinea pig project. In this experiment, students will dive into the exciting world of hydropower and learn how to harness the power of water to do some pretty cool stuff. Building batteries is a classic science experiment for any age. F. Measuring the Sugar Content on a Liquid with a Laser Pointer, Spin Right 'Round with this Simple Electric Motor, Veggie Power! What was a bigger surprise to the team was that the guinea pig remains found in the Colombian Highlands appeared to be from a totally different species. Because of their similarities to us, they are still widely used in physiological and medical research, such as in studies on hearing recovery and asthma. Get the latest science news in your RSS reader with ScienceDaily's hourly updated newsfeeds, covering hundreds of topics: Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks: Tell us what you think of ScienceDaily -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. I talked about how cats use sounds to communicate last week. WebD. The Proper Care of Guinea Pigs by Peter Gurney That is a good one too. Guinea Pig Anatomy Rhoads infected Puerto Rican patients with cancer cells in an attempt to destroy the island. To date, she has been a volunteer firefighter, a dispatcher, substitute teacher, artist, janitor, children's book author, pizza maker, event coordinator and much more. For example, a comparison of their eyesight or heartbeat could serve as a basis for a project. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See more ideas about pet bunny, pet rabbit, bunny care. I kinda agree with bpatters on this one. For more information, please see our Once youve covered the nutritional basics, you might want to give the guinea pigs some food choice tests to see if they have any preferences. When our older kid was doing science projects (she's 8th grade this year), I got FAR better ideas off the internet than I could come up with myself. WebAfter reading the experiment, What food does your insect like? the boys decided to experiment with our pet guinea pigs. If they seem restless or scared, try to provide something for them to hide under until they feel safe, or return them to their cage and try again later. Exhibitors show many breeds of guinea pigs at fairs and shows. Learn more: Science Buddies/Build a Scale. He had isolated a reducing agent from adrenal glands and citrus, which he named hexuronic acid. Experiment with optical illusions by creating a tunnel of lights that seems to stretch away into infinity. WebIn the scientific community, however, Guinea pigs are used as animal models and are the subject of experiments. Lichtenberg figures capture the branching path of electricity as it travels through an object. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment. Blowing up a balloon with baking soda and vinegar is the classic acids and bases experiment. My oldest son loves engineering types of projects, and the middle two are really into animals. Fresh Vegetables and Fruit The first thing that I noticed about this book is that it is filled with 100+ science ideas that are actually experiments and not just demonstrations. They might be surprised at the results! Copyright 2021. New research sheds light on guinea pig domestication and how and why the small, furry animals became distributed around the he seems to just poop and pee right where his butt is when he eats and drinks. Put a bit of fresh vegetable in the cage to entice them. We only recommend items our team loves!). This simple chemistry experiment uses iodine to determine the starch content of food items. When I was finished, I put the bedding and food in and open the door again. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. Leave your details and we'll contact you within 48 hours. This is such a fun concept to play around with! Sometime around AD500, guinea pigs were taken out to the islands of the Caribbean, through at least one of several established trade networks. I can honestly say that I wholeheartedly recommend this book! Learn more: Steve Spangler Science/Homemade Hand Warmer. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. This year is the last year in my school,I will be moving onto the high school afterwards. WebHow many and which guinea pigs will run the maze: 2 guinea pigs (Brownie & Munchkin). They can tinker around with the design and see just how much weight their elevator can hold. Check out our latestAdmissions Results! Have any problems using the site? Guinea pigs enjoy hiding and climbing. Hey boys, what are you getting us for dinner? Cavies (pronounced kay-vees) can't seem to shake the pig connotation; even its species name,C. porcellus, means "little pig" in Latin. For this project, students can collect soil samples from various locations, then proceed to test the samples for properties such as pH levels, nutrient content, and water retention capacity. Gardening for your pet is always fun. This timed challenge pushes their creative engineering limits! WebHow many and which guinea pigs will run the maze: 2 guinea pigs (Brownie & Munchkin). He had isolated a reducing agent from adrenal glands and citrus, which he named hexuronic acid. "Guinea pigs have done more than their fair share to contribute to medical science and to the health and well-being of humans and animals worldwide," she wrote. WebIn fifth grade I did a science fair project where I put my guinea pigs through a maze and figured out if they could learn it. "Identifying the origins of the guinea pig remains from the Caribbean helps us to understand how the human trade networks in the region moved in the past 1000 years or so. You can make your own in a variety of ways, including burning it into wood or acrylic. Just published in the international science journal, Scientific Reports, the researchers use ancient DNA from archaeological guinea pig remains which reveals the transition from the animals being used as a wild food source 10,000 years ago to their domestication and later role as beloved pets and medical animal models. To help you find a topic that can hold your interest, Science Buddies has also developed the Topic Selection Wizard. Science fair projects require a testable question. This morning she decided that she wanted to participate in the fair and she wanted her project to be on our guinea pigs. (If you need to brush up on what a rodent is, check links in the Science with Your Pet Mice post.). Use a homemade electronic tester to find out if electricity can flow between two objects. If youve followed this blog for very long, you probably have noticed that we really love science. Register for free to enjoy the full benefits. Founded in 2008, The Edge has helped thousands of students improve their ACT and SAT scores as well as their IB and AP grades. Peter Gurney is a beloved advocate of guinea pigs, who was well known in the community of pet owners. (Dont be afraid of fire in the science classroom! Grass hays such as Timothy hay or orchard grass are the best for adult guinea pigs. She is at the end of Oh yea, how big do guineapigs get? Its a simple concept, but one that never fails to amaze. ScienceDaily. who brought the results of his research back to his home country. Guinea pigs don't need to drink if they eat moist foods, according toEncyclopedia Britannica. Provide toys such as mirrors, balls and bells. It turns out that guinea pigs make an interesting assortment of sounds as well. Construct solar-powered desalination devices with readily available materials, and find the most effective desalination methods. You send the question and we research it providing you with some great resources and links! WebFor caretakers of guinea pigs encouraging the proper techniques in handling, treating and raising cavies. School Registration Number: 574147 (Causeway Bay) | 588342 (Mong Kok), 2/F, The Zoroastrian Building Then switch the music and see if it moves. You can use cardboard boxes and tubes, or if you have access to woodworking equipment, try wood. This experiment combines math and biology to measure lung capacity using a balloon. You must log in or register to reply here. In nature guinea pigs live in burrows, so they like to have a house to retreat to. Yes, you read it right. WebCompanion animals are diverse groups of animals that include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, companion birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and many more! Youll need water crystals, iron oxide filings, and calcium chloride. Note: This book does address the issue of death of a pet. She wanted to study the inheritance patterns of these traits. If you know it is a guinea pig or cavy (another word for guinea pig), then you probably already have one of these sweet little creatures. Then when I return both if them to their cage, they started to get scared of everything even if I want to touch them. Unlike other small animals, Guinea pigs need Vitamin C to stay healthy, according toThe Human Society of the United States. As an important food item that was also included in religious ceremonies, they were transported and traded around South America. Guinea pigs can be trained to do many things. This is a great class project for teachers, but its also excellent for an 8th grade science fair experiment. According to Vanderlip, since the 1800s, Guinea pigs have been used in laboratories to study nutrition, genetic, toxicology and pathology. "Guinea pigs have done more than their fair share to contribute to medical science and to the health and well-being of humans and animals worldwide," she wrote. NY 10036. Perhaps one day we will see them once again help scientists win the Nobel Prize. E. Lord, C. Collins, S. deFrance, M. J. LeFebvre, F. Pigire, P. Eeckhout, C. Erauw, S. M. Fitzpatrick, P. F. Healy, M. F. Martnez-Polanco, J. L. Garcia, E. Ramos Roca, M. Delgado, A. Snchez Urriago, G. A. Pea Lon, J. M. Toyne, A. Dahlstedt, K. M. Moore, C. Laguer Diaz, C. Zori, E. Matisoo-Smith. Eighth grade students will learn about engineering and the physics of optics along the way. At three weeks, the babies are weaned, and they are fully mature in two to three months. In Germany, they have been calledmeerschweinchen(little sea pigs). JavaScript is disabled. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. Guinea pigs are tailless rodents that weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 lbs. TheMontane Guinea pigranges from northwestern Argentina and northern Chile to Peru. In fact, if we forget to feed them, they will squeal at us very loudly! Your email address will not be published. The prize at the finish will be one or two carrots. There are currently more than 1.1 billion companion animals worldwide. Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Rm1601, 16/F, Chow Tai Fook Centre You could test the benefits of clicker training! WebMost birds and animals make their own vitamin C. But a few species, like people and guinea pigs, must get it from their food. Here are some instructions for growing a mini-garden indoors, which your guinea pig is sure to enjoy. Male cavies are called boars and females are called sows (again with the pig nomenclature). Guinea pigs are such amazing creatures I wish more people knew about how proper care, diet, and floor time are important to keep a cavy happy and healthy. (Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Guinea Pigs (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)by Julie Mancini. Personally i want an original idea not one that anyone can google and fing the whole thing after all there are a lot of other grade 8 kids who will be googleing theirs i want an original. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Build a long tunnel and play one type of music softly at one end and another type softly at the other end. Its a science experience thats sure to be a bubbling good time! Learn to identify tracks and take casts, even if you cant go for a hike in the woods. E. All Cavies will be released after the show and MUST be removed from the building that day. It builds on previous research over many years by Professor of Biological Anthropology, Lisa Matisoo-Smith, tracing the DNA from plants and animals that Pacific settlers carried in their canoes and using that as a proxy for identifying human population origins and tracking their movement around the Pacific. In the early 1900s, scientists speculated that aside from carbohydrates, protein and fats, there are some unrecognised substances that are necessary for life, and they named them vitamines. Learn more: Home Science Tools/Extract DNA. A fun project is to design and build a house and see how the pigs like it. See more ideas about guinea pigs, cute guinea pigs, guinea. WebNov 6, 2015 - Explore Wendy Warnick's board "For Camille", followed by 133 people on Pinterest. Learn more: How To Bowl Like a Boss/Main Event Play Academy. Of course, that wont work if they cant climb into the cage. Unless you've been an 8th grader recently, or had an 8th grader in your house, you're far removed from the complexities of intermediate school science projects. Daphne has her night house, her day hut and her "condo" (the bottom drawer of our drafting tools! Learn more: Science Buddies/Fruit Circuits. In fact, there are more companion animals than people in the United States. Smores, anyone? Well, at least scientists originally thought they were rodents. Szent-Gyrgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1937 for his contribution in the discovery of vitamin C. Read more about the history of vitamin C. Like the vitamin C experiment, many research studies could not have been completed without the help of animal models. Thegreater Guinea pigoccurs in southern Brazil and Uruguay. The two guinea pigs produced a litter containing only rough black animals (F1).The F1 litter produced F2 offspring, and to her surprise, the child found a variety of coat types. A small box full of shredded paper with a hole in one side will provide them something to explore. Can your eighth grade science students build a device to stabilize and carry two cups of water, using only a few simple supplies? The Incas domesticated Guinea pigs more than 3,000 years ago. This experiment challenges that notion by interleaving multiple pieces of paper and testing their strength. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. Whats that? I got a book from the library on guinea pig training but if you go to the library for guinea pig care books in general check the publishing date because that information can get out of date fast and if your not sure check and cross check it online. She went to a pet store and bought a male with smooth black fur and a female with rough white fur. i think maybe his cage is too small for him and he needs more space to poop in corners. Build a better light bulb. I will try to send you something like a homemade lapPad if i choose to use your idea. Make it into a project by trying different variables and exploring the amount of power you can produce. Then, turn it into an eighth grade science fair experiment by tinkering with the various materials to make a light bulb that lasts longer, burns brighter, or is powered by an alternative source. Cats like grass too. Typically, domesticated Guinea pigs eat processed pellets made from alfalfa hay or timothy hay and vitamins and minerals that Guinea pigs need to be healthy.