Did you know that some worms have not just one, but five hearts pumping blood through their wriggly bodies? Or that octopuses can hear sounds even though they don’t have ears like we do? The animal kingdom is full of amazing, sometimes hard-to-believe facts that can wow kids and grown-ups alike. A new quiz created by children aims to test your knowledge of these odd but true tidbits about some of Earth’s weirdest and most wonderful creatures.
Worm Hearts and Octopus Hearing
The “Everything Under the Sun” quiz, designed by kids for kids (and curious adults), kicks off with a stumper about worm anatomy. When 5-year-old Abbey asks why worms have five hearts, the correct answer is that they need them to efficiently pump blood through their long, thin bodies. Other creepy-crawly questions dig into topics like whether caterpillars have bones (spoiler alert: they don’t!) and what insects breathe through (tiny holes in their exoskeletons called spiracles).
Slithering over to sea creatures, the quiz tackles 7-year-old Vesper’s question about whether octopuses have ears. While these intelligent invertebrates don’t have visible ear structures, they can detect sounds in the ocean using an organ called a statocyst. This fluid-filled sac helps them maintain balance and interpret vibrations in the water as sound.
Taste the Rainbow?
Beyond the realm of animal abilities, the quiz ventures into some tricky territory about the senses. Nine-year-old Albert wonders if purple is a flavor, while Ann, age 5, is curious about why we can’t see sound waves. Spoiler: While purple isn’t a distinct taste, certain foods like grapes and berries can create a “purple” flavor perception. As for sound, our eyes simply aren’t designed to detect the pressure waves our ears interpret as noises.
The animal kingdom is full of amazing, sometimes hard-to-believe facts that can wow kids and grown-ups alike.
– Quiz Creator Molly Oldfield
Sparking Curiosity and Conversations
Molly Oldfield, the creator of the “Everything Under the Sun” podcast and quiz series, says she designed the questions to get families talking and learning together. “I’m always amazed by the creative and insightful questions kids come up with,” Oldfield explains. “The goal is to spark curiosity, prompt further research and encourage everyone to see the world through the eyes of a child.”
With questions submitted by kids of various ages, the quiz offers something for everyone. Younger children can giggle over silly-sounding animal facts, while older kids and adults might find themselves stumped by tricky questions about biology, astronomy and more. Beyond the five sample stumpers released so far, Oldfield’s full quiz book features a wide range of kid-sourced head-scratchers.
Engage and Educate
Quizzes and trivia are effective tools to get kids excited about science and the natural world. Framing facts as questions taps into the brain’s reward center, releasing a satisfying hit of dopamine when the right answer is revealed. Family quizzes can also encourage positive dynamics like teamwork, humor and memorable shared experiences.
The “Everything Under the Sun” quiz is a great jumping off point for further research into any answers that grab your child’s interest. Following their curiosity can lead from websites to magazines, documentaries, books and maybe even real-world adventures like nature hikes or museum visits. With the right fuel, a odd fact about five-hearted worms could be the spark that ignites a lifelong love of science and sense of wonder about the world.
Other Fun Facts to Amaze Your Kids
- Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards
- Honeybees can flap their wings 230 times per second
- The heart of a shrimp is located in its head
- Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump
- A snail can sleep for three years
So the next time your curious kid stumps you with an out-of-the-blue animal question, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know – let’s look it up!” Embracing that sense of wonder, and modeling how to find the answers, may be the most valuable lesson of all. Learning is a lifelong adventure, and sometimes it starts with something as simple as a worm’s five hearts.
