@ Childhood Delight Matilda begins her experience of Air! Childhood Delight Do you still play with bubbles? When washing the dishes and a bubble forms when you squirt the soap, do you laugh or smile in delight? Are you tempted to take some soapy mixture and go for a walk, leaving a trail of bubbles everywhere you go?
While experiencing the Elements, you met Sophia.
Matilda shook paws with Sophia the Snowcat. They both received one silver mole!
Blue And Copper Egg The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.
Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.
Desert Dunes These ridges in the sands are caused by the action of the wind and are called "dunes". The effect is similar to those found under the sea, where it is the waves that form the dunes. Most windblown sand on the Earth is composed of quartz but gypsum dunes are also found.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Noelle.
Matilda shook paws with Noelle the Red Cheerling. They both received one silver mole!
@ Serene Swift Matilda was very happy to meet Theo here! They both swapped tales of their experiences of their tour of the art gallery wings so far! Serene Swift A lone swift soars in solitude against a backdrop of atmospheric pastel cloud.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Theo.
Matilda shook paws with Theo the African Penguin Chick. They both received one silver mole!
@ Frozen Soap Bubble "What unit of measure is used for wind speed, Matilda?" asked Ciaré. "Um—I don't know—miles per hour?" hazarded Matilda. "No. The knot." "Oh, Ciaré, I thought that was to do with sailing?" Ciaré consulted the tour guide. " 'A knot is a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used especially of ships, aircraft, or winds.' There you go." Frozen Soap Bubble A study in patience and skill! A soap bubble frozen in the cold frost.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Ciaré.
Matilda shook paws with Ciaré the Majestic Monarch Butterfly. They both received one silver mole!
@ Fun With Bubbles Air pollution is measured with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The lower the AQI, the cleaner the air is. However, if you are outside when the AQI is over 100, it’s about the same as breathing in exhaust from a car all day! Things that cause poor air quality are forest fires and cities with lots of car traffic. If the AQI is higher than 100 you shouldn’t spend too much time outside. Fun With Bubbles Wintertime is a time to play outdoors and if it is cold enough you can make some soapy mixture and blow bubbles. Watch as ice forms and races around the interior of the bubble. These are delicate and won’t last long as cracks appear letting the air out and then the bubble is gone.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Lami.
Matilda shook paws with Lami the Mauve Koala. They both received one silver mole!
@ Soapy Bubbles of Fun Water expands by 9% when it freezes. Frozen water (ice) is lighter than water, which is why ice floats in water. Soapy Bubbles of Fun The iridescence of a soap bubbles, which seem to contain a wealth of changing colour, stem from light striking the bubble from varied angles.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Bellat.
Matilda shook paws with Bellat the Brown Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Train In The Mist "Wind speed is measured with a device called an anemometer. There's a project here for making an anemometer, Matilda. We could try it out tonight when we get back to the accommodation." "Goodness, Trish! Isn't it terribly technical and scientific to do that?" queried Matilda. Trish studied the diagram helpfully provided in the brochure. "Nah. It seems to be made of empty yoghurt cartons and stuff. We'll give it a go!" Train In The Mist Who has dreamed of taking a train? Sitting in a swaying car—listening to the clatter of steel wheels on steel tracks. You watch the miles go by as you pass through tunnels and forests—and look down on rivers far below.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Trish.
Matilda shook paws with Trish the Brown Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sunset Bubble Air was considered a “pure” element, but in fact the air that’s all around us is made up of a variety of gases: primarily nitrogen and oxygen, with almost 1% argon and even smaller amounts of carbon dioxide and other elements such as krypton and helium. The composition of air is just right for life on Earth, though. Sunset Bubble The sunset is seen through the body of a bubble, slightly magnifying the setting sun.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Amethyst.
Matilda shook paws with Amethyst the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Playful Bubbles When it’s a hot, muggy summer day, you’ve probably heard the word “humid.” But what does that mean, exactly? Relative humidity is the amount of water that the air can hold before it rains. Humidity is usually measured in percentages, so the highest level of relative humidity—right before it rains—is 100 percent. Playful Bubbles Burbling, gurgling bubbles rise, tickling the toes as you play in the water.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Anna Bell.
Matilda shook paws with Anna Bell the Strawberry Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
@ Blue Glacier "There's a fun project in our brochure on how to make a weather vane from an ice cream container lid, scissors, a marker pen, a skewer, a straw and a pin," remarked Matilda. "Cool!" responded Dante. "We could make a start when we get back to our hotel tonight." Blue Glacier Over many decades a vcontinuing build-up of snow results in the presence of a large enough mass of snow for the change from snow to glacier ice to begin. The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old! Glacier ice is blue because the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Dante.
Matilda shook paws with Dante the Luscious Lilac Dolphin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Swift in Flight The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that everything was made up of: earth, water, air and fire. This theory was suggested around 450 BCE, and it was later supported and added to by Aristotle. Aristotle also suggested that there was a fifth element, aether, because it seemed strange that the stars would be made out of earthly elements. He would be surprised to learn that they are in fact made up of many elements found on earth, and are so hot they could be said to be on fire all the time! Swift in Flight Soaring through the grey clouds, this swift has the freedom of the sky to itself.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Choose a name.
Matilda shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Make a Wish Puffballs "It says in our tour guide that 96.5% of water on Earth is in our oceans, covering 71% of the surface of our planet," remarked Matilda. "That's amazing, Matilda!" responded Bella. Make a Wish Puffballs Golden dandelions in bloom are a lovely sight (especially for bees!). Eventually, all those beautiful flowers turn into white globes of exposed seeds that are often called puffballs. Dandelions are so success at growing because their puffballs disperse their seeds over long distances in a stiff breeze. Some dandelions don't need to wait for the wind, though. As dandelions turn to seed, perhaps you will pick them, close your eyes, make a wish, and blow the seeds into the air!
While experiencing the Elements, you met Bella.
Matilda shook paws with Bella the Mauve Koala. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cruising Cranes "Wind direction is given by the direction from which the wind comes," said Matilda. "That makes sense!" replied Chessie. Cruising Cranes The crane is a graceful, elegant bird. It plays an important role in Japanese symbolism, representing positive change and associated with the New Year in various cultures. Crane symbolism focuses on the need for balance and living in harmony with others.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Chessie.
Matilda shook paws with Chessie the Manatee (Blue). They both received one silver mole!
@ Strawberry with Bubbly “Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Matilda?” suggested Mitsy, sinking down on a convenient chair. Matilda agreed it was well worth spending some time there! Strawberry with Bubbly Imagine a ripe, luscious strawberry dropped into a tall glass of sparkling wine or champagne, imparting a subtle fruity flavour into every delicious sip!
While experiencing the Elements, you met Mitsy.
Matilda shook paws with Mitsy the Ragdoll Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cloud Walking Oh look ... you won a pet! Cloud Walking These clouds are so inviting, fluffy and soft. I wonder how it would feel to walk upon the clouds. Would the feet sink deep into the cloud or would your feet skim lightly across the top? Would you become tired like you do if you walk for a long time on the ground, or would you be able to walk and never tire, no matter how far you went?
While experiencing the Elements, you met Rhian.
Matilda shook paws with Rhian the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Two Heart Kites "Wind direction is given by the direction from which the wind comes," said Matilda. "That makes sense!" replied Serena. Two Heart Kites Two red hearts flying high are a joyful sight, and flying kites is always such a fun pastime. The day is clear, and the breeze is steady—let’s join these happy people and fly some kites of our own.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Serena.
Matilda shook paws with Serena the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Diving Polar Bear "This is an extremely varied set of exhibits, Matilda!" remarked Velveteen. "We're going from really cosy pictures of pets to amazing scenic landscapes!" Diving Polar Bear Polar bears are of course very good swimmers and they have excellent eyesight when underwater. A polar bear will stay in a dive underwater for as long as it can hold its breath, which will usually be about a minute but can be up to three minutes! Their fur is made of hollow hairs, which helps them stay afloat when swimming.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Velveteen.
Matilda shook paws with Velveteen the Brown Rustic Rabbit. They both received one silver mole!
@ On The Air "Oh, midnught! It says in our tour guide that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant, because its patent was destroyed in a fire in Washington in 1836!" declared Matilda. "That is ironic for sure!" responded midnught. On The Air "You're on the air!" This familiar phrase from the world of radio broadcasting—or wireless broadcasting for those of us with very long memories!—is as familiar as the iconic red sign that lights up in the studio, to remind broadcasters that anything they say will be heard by their audience, be it local or around the world.
While experiencing the Elements, you met midnught.
Matilda shook paws with midnught the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Air Bubbles "I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said limn field Oreo, after he and Matilda had spent some time exploring another wing of the art gallery to its end. "Is there a gift shop after this?" enquired Matilda. "The thought of that generally keeps me going!" Air Bubbles Bubbles are fascinating, and they can teach a lot about elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry. Not just pretty spheres that float in the air when playing with soap on a warm day.
While experiencing the Elements, you met limn field Oreo.
Matilda shook paws with limn field Oreo the Vibrant Signal Butterfly. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bubbles Everywhere "What unit of measure is used for wind speed, Matilda?" asked Seth Freakin'Monkey. "Um—I don't know—miles per hour?" hazarded Matilda. "No. The knot." "Oh, Seth Freakin'Monkey, I thought that was to do with sailing?" Seth Freakin'Monkey consulted the tour guide. " 'A knot is a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used especially of ships, aircraft, or winds.' There you go." Bubbles Everywhere Like a kid's dream of so many marbles. Whether these bubbles can be played with or put in the bottom of a fish tank, they look fun to run your hands through.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Seth Freakin'Monkey.
Matilda shook paws with Seth Freakin'Monkey the Flying Monkey. They both received one silver mole!
Seth Freakin'Monkey and you found 75 Travel Tokens!
@ Above It All "I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Choose a name, after she and Matilda had spent some time exploring another wing of the art gallery to its end. "Is there a gift shop after this?" enquired Matilda. "The thought of that generally keeps me going!" Above It All You are drifting along in a balloon high above towns, forests, and lakes. The sun is rising as mist rises from the ground. There is a sense of forever as the expanse of the sky goes on and on.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Choose a name.
Matilda shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Reflections In A Bubble “What have you got in your rucksack, Choose a name?” asked Matilda. “It looks very full!” “I’ve come prepared for anything, Matilda,” responded Choose a name. “There’s canvas deck shoes, tennis shoes, flip-flops, sandshoes, walking boots, sandals, loafers—you name it, I’ve got it!” Reflections In A Bubble Reflections distort the everyday, when seen through the swirling colours of a bubble, the whole becomes incredible.
While experiencing the Elements, you met Choose a name.
Matilda shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Blue Sky Aeroplane "The Great Fire of 1666 started in London, on Pudding Lane, in a baker's shop. The baker believed he had put the fire out but in the middle of the night the fire grew and his house was in flames. Pudding Lane is still there today. If you want to visit it, Monument is the nearest tube station. The place where the fire started is also marked by a monument topped by a fiery gold ornament," said Matilda. "It makes it sound like it's the only monument in London, Matilda!" chuckled Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly). Blue Sky Aeroplane Up, up and away! Does this aeroplane carry groups of happy pets jetting off on holiday? Or perhaps businesspets going on international meetings? Whatever their destination, we wish them a safe journey!
While experiencing the Elements, you met Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly).
Matilda shook paws with Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly) the Playful Penguin. They both received one silver mole!
Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly) and you found 5 Travel Tokens!
@ Red Arrows Daredevils The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that everything was made up of: earth, water, air and fire. This theory was suggested around 450 BCE, and it was later supported and added to by Aristotle. Aristotle also suggested that there was a fifth element, aether, because it seemed strange that the stars would be made out of earthly elements. He would be surprised to learn that they are in fact made up of many elements found on earth, and are so hot they could be said to be on fire all the time! Red Arrows Daredevils The Red Arrows team of the British Royal Air Force carry out a heart-stopping aerobatic display here!
While experiencing the Elements, you met Icy.
Matilda shook paws with Icy the Arctic Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Royal Air Force Red Arrows Team As Matilda's experience of "Air" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift! Pine Tree, Blue, Overlay You can use this wonderful overlay as a backdrop in your art slides, or in the foreground for your pets to scamper around. Trees, glorious trees, there is always room for more trees in your life and your art.
Royal Air Force Red Arrows Team The famous Red Arrows aerobatic team provide an exciting show here in Newcastle on Tyne, England. Matilda has completed her exploration of "Air"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!
While experiencing the Elements, you met tails.
Matilda shook paws with tails the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
Matilda has completed the quest of
