Who invented ‘rock, paper, scissors’ and are friends electric? The kids’ quiz

1. Paul, 7, asks: who invented the game ‘rock, paper, scissors’?

   1. Vikings invented the game to pass the time on long voyages

   2. The earliest ancestor of the game can be traced back to the Han dynasty

   3. Albert Einstein

   4. A little boy named Artie invented it one break time at school

2. Luca, 3.5, asks: why do birds fly?

   1. To escape predators

   2. For migration

   3. For feeding and breeding

   4. All the above

3. Jacob, 9, asks: why do we see colours when we close our eyes after looking at something bright?

   1. Bright lights make our eyes work slower

   2. This only happens to you

   3. Our brains and eyes get confused

   4. The bright light can be seen through our eyelids

4. Rich, 9, asks: are friends electric?

   1. In a way, due to electrical impulses in our brains, we’re all electric

   2. No, friends are not typically electric

   3. Yes, friends are electric

   4. My friends aren’t electric, but maybe yours are!

5. Ivy, 6, asks: what is skin made of?

   1. Skin is made from thin rubber

   2. It’s made from the same material as tree bark

   3. Water, proteins, fats and minerals

   4. Skin is not technically made of anything, it’s just skin

Solutions

1:B - According to the World Rock Paper Scissors Association, the earliest ancestor of the game appeared in the Han dynasty in China. Evidence suggests, however, that it was more like insects, frogs and snakes to begin with!, 2:D - Birds fly for lots of reasons including feeding, breeding, escaping predators, migrating, and sometimes it looks like they’re just having fun., 3:C - When we stare at a bright light the light receptors in our eyes get temporarily ‘bleached’, making our brain think the light is still there for a few seconds after we’ve stopped looking at it., 4:B - The likelihood that your friends are ‘electric’ in the same way your toaster is, is extremely low, but if you’re hanging out with someone you get along with it can give you energy as you’re having fun. There’s a song called Are ‘Friends’ Electric? by Tubeway Army., 5:C - Skin is made up of water, proteins, fats and minerals. It protects us from germs, allows us to sense touch, pressure and pain, houses our nerves, and regulates our temperature. Very clever.

Scores

1. 5 and above.

2. 4 and above.

3. 3 and above.

4. 2 and above.

5. 0 and above.

6. 1 and above.