Ellie and the rainy-day surprise

What are expeditions?

Scientific expeditions are like big adventures where scientists travel to special places to learn new things. Imagine you and your friends going on a treasure hunt, but instead of looking for gold, the scientists are looking for information about nature, animals, plants, or even space! They bring special tools to help them explore and discover exciting facts about our world and beyond. Here are some famous examples:

• Charles Darwin sailed on a ship called the HMS Beagle and found out how animals and plants change over time to survive better in their homes.
• The Challenger Expedition in the 1870s was a big journey where a ship called HMS Challenger sailed over 68,000 miles across oceans. They discovered lots of new sea creatures and started learning more about the oceans.
• In 1969, astronauts on Apollo 11 went on the very first trip to the moon. They used lots of cool technology to get there and found out a lot about what the moon is made of.

Explore with Ellie

In the grand tradition of scientific expeditions, Ellie and her trusty bear Mags, are embarking on adventures to explore the world around them. Join Ellie on her expeditions by working through interactive online stories and subjects.

Ellie will explore various places like a park, a household recycling centre, a supermarket, experience a rainy surprise, and even delve into baking.

Just like good scientists, it's important to keep detailed notes to remember what you've seen and learned. To track your journey with Ellie, you can save or print your very own Expedition Journal to fill in after each adventure.

PDF of Expedition Journal link above

Where would you like to start?

• Ellie’s park adventure
• Ellie researches the recycling centre
• Ellie scours the supermarket
• Ellie bakes with Great Aunt Betsi

Don’t forget to pace yourself. One adventure would be amazing but do it in the time you need.

Ellie and the rainy-day surprise

Rainy days can sometimes spoil plans, but not for Ellie! Discover what she does and learn about how you can enjoy the next time it rains.

Ellie and the rainy-day surprise – Related careers

Understanding weather and seasons is important for many jobs.

Scientists called meteorologists study weather to predict sunny, rainy, snowy, or stormy days using special tools. This helps pilots fly planes safely and farmers grow crops.

Agricultural specialists help farmers through their knowledge of plants, soil, and bugs. They use seasonal changes to decide when to plant and harvest crops and which seeds and fertilizers to use.

Data scientists use computers to solve problems by collecting and analysing lots of information; they assist meteorologists in predicting weather patterns and understanding climate changes. They also help doctors understand how medicines work, and aid businesses in knowing which toys kids like best.