Hamster Wheel and Insect Hotel

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0:00:03 > 0:00:07# There are lots of things all around us

0:00:07 > 0:00:10# Exciting things that surround us

0:00:10 > 0:00:13- # But how does it work? - Do you know?

0:00:13 > 0:00:17- # How is it made? - Do you know?

0:00:17 > 0:00:20# Things that go up Things that go down

0:00:20 > 0:00:24# Things that go pop Things that go round

0:00:24 > 0:00:27# With special cameras to show you inside

0:00:27 > 0:00:30# It's going to be a big surprise

0:00:30 > 0:00:33- # But how does it work? - Do you know?

0:00:33 > 0:00:37- # How is it made? - Do you know?

0:00:37 > 0:00:40- # Do you know? - Let's find out!- #

0:00:45 > 0:00:48Hello! I'm Maddie and today I'm going for a run.

0:00:48 > 0:00:51I love to breathe in the fresh air and get my body moving.

0:00:51 > 0:00:54It's called exercise.

0:00:54 > 0:00:57What kind of exercise do you like?

0:00:57 > 0:01:01Another reason I like to go running is so I can look around

0:01:01 > 0:01:02me and see what I can find.

0:01:02 > 0:01:06Today I'm trying to count how many wheels I can see.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09Can you see any?

0:01:09 > 0:01:12Look! There's four on that car.

0:01:16 > 0:01:17Ooh! Look.

0:01:17 > 0:01:20Do you know how many wheels a bicycle has?

0:01:20 > 0:01:22Yup, two wheels.

0:01:22 > 0:01:24What about that pushchair?

0:01:24 > 0:01:29That pushchair has one, two, three, four wheels.

0:01:29 > 0:01:30Whew!

0:01:31 > 0:01:36I've lost count. There are wheels everywhere.

0:01:36 > 0:01:39And it's not just us people who like wheels.

0:01:39 > 0:01:43I'm about to meet a little friend who loves wheels.

0:01:43 > 0:01:45This is a pet shop.

0:01:45 > 0:01:46Hello.

0:01:46 > 0:01:50Can you guess which animal here likes to use a wheel?

0:01:50 > 0:01:52Is it a kitten?

0:01:52 > 0:01:54Hmm, don't think so.

0:01:54 > 0:01:56Maybe a dog...

0:01:56 > 0:01:57No? OK, then.

0:01:57 > 0:01:59How about a bird?

0:01:59 > 0:02:00Oh, no wheels there.

0:02:00 > 0:02:03The correct answer is...

0:02:03 > 0:02:04hamsters.

0:02:05 > 0:02:11This is Herbert the hamster. Hello, Herbert. And his friend, Helena.

0:02:11 > 0:02:16I love hamsters. You might have one at home.

0:02:16 > 0:02:20Just like me, Herbert and Helena like to have a lot of exercise.

0:02:20 > 0:02:25So, they run around in a wheel, just like this.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27Here you go, Herbert.

0:02:27 > 0:02:31But do you know how a hamster wheel works? Let's find out.

0:02:38 > 0:02:40Hamsters are nocturnal,

0:02:40 > 0:02:45which means they're awake at night and they sleep during the day.

0:02:45 > 0:02:47Well, it's nearly bedtime.

0:02:47 > 0:02:52So, what do you think would happen if we turned the lights off?

0:02:54 > 0:03:00I've got a special camera with me that will let us see in the dark.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03Let's see if Herbert and Helena

0:03:03 > 0:03:06fancy some exercise on their wheel now.

0:03:09 > 0:03:11Ohh!

0:03:11 > 0:03:13Here he comes.

0:03:13 > 0:03:14There he goes.

0:03:16 > 0:03:21Look at his little feet, spinning the wheel round and round and round.

0:03:21 > 0:03:24He's going really fast, isn't he?

0:03:24 > 0:03:27Listen to the sound the wheel makes.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29WHEEL SQUEAKS

0:03:29 > 0:03:30Ooh, has he had enough?

0:03:32 > 0:03:33MADDIE LAUGHS

0:03:33 > 0:03:35No, he's still going.

0:03:35 > 0:03:36Well done, Herbert.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44But do you know how a hamster wheel works?

0:03:44 > 0:03:47Well, let's find out.

0:03:47 > 0:03:52This is a wheel just like the one in Herbert and Helena's cage.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55This bit inside is called the running track because that's

0:03:55 > 0:03:57where a hamster runs.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59And can you see, if you look closely,

0:03:59 > 0:04:03these little ridges on the inside of the running track?

0:04:03 > 0:04:08This is where a hamster uses its paw to grip on to the ridges and

0:04:08 > 0:04:11pushes the wheel around and round.

0:04:11 > 0:04:16Let's take a closer look to see how the wheel spins.

0:04:16 > 0:04:20Herbert's paws grip on to the ridges inside the hamster wheel,

0:04:20 > 0:04:22pushing the wheel behind him.

0:04:22 > 0:04:26As he runs, this makes the wheel go round and round.

0:04:26 > 0:04:30In the middle of the wheel you can see a small piece of metal,

0:04:30 > 0:04:31like a rod.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34This is called the axle.

0:04:34 > 0:04:39At one end, the axle is fixed to the cage to keep it in place.

0:04:39 > 0:04:40At the other end,

0:04:40 > 0:04:44there is a small bolt which stops the wheel falling off.

0:04:44 > 0:04:48But the wheel can't spin until something moves it,

0:04:48 > 0:04:50which is where a hamster comes in.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53When a hamster like Herbert starts running,

0:04:53 > 0:04:56the wheel spins round and round on the axle.

0:04:59 > 0:05:05Let's see Herbert in action again, but this time in slow motion.

0:05:05 > 0:05:09You can see how Herbert's paws grip on to the ridges inside the wheel.

0:05:09 > 0:05:13As his legs push down, they push the wheel round behind him.

0:05:15 > 0:05:20But how far do you think Herbert can run?

0:05:20 > 0:05:24I'm going to the top of this tall building to show you how far

0:05:24 > 0:05:27Herbert runs in his wheel on a single night.

0:05:29 > 0:05:35When you're up high like this you can see for miles around.

0:05:36 > 0:05:37It's amazing, isn't it?

0:05:37 > 0:05:43You can see lots of tall buildings, houses and streets.

0:05:43 > 0:05:47Now, can you see that building all the way over there,

0:05:47 > 0:05:50the one with the big pointy bit on top?

0:05:50 > 0:05:51It's a long way away, isn't it?

0:05:51 > 0:05:57Well, in one night, Herbert could run all the way from that

0:05:57 > 0:06:00building to here in his wheel.

0:06:00 > 0:06:03That's up to five and a half miles.

0:06:04 > 0:06:06Phew! What a workout.

0:06:08 > 0:06:13I loved watching Herbert on his hamster wheel. Did you?

0:06:13 > 0:06:18Do you remember the name of the metal rod the wheel spins around on?

0:06:18 > 0:06:21That's right, it's called the axle.

0:06:21 > 0:06:26Did you hear the sound of Herbert scurrying along the running track?

0:06:26 > 0:06:27WHEEL SQUEAKS

0:06:29 > 0:06:33And did you see how far Herbert can run in one night?

0:06:33 > 0:06:36It was a really long way, wasn't it?

0:06:43 > 0:06:47So, now you know how a hamster wheel works and just how far

0:06:47 > 0:06:50Herbert could run in a single night.

0:06:50 > 0:06:53I think he deserves a rest now.

0:06:53 > 0:06:58Did you notice all this soft bedding in Herbert and Helena's cage?

0:06:58 > 0:06:59These are wood shavings.

0:06:59 > 0:07:03Different animals like to live in different places.

0:07:03 > 0:07:05Some birds build nests in the trees.

0:07:05 > 0:07:09Rabbits bury under the ground and live in burrows.

0:07:09 > 0:07:15Fish hide behind weeds in the water, but what do you think lives

0:07:15 > 0:07:17in something like this?

0:07:18 > 0:07:19Do you know?

0:07:21 > 0:07:25This is an insect hotel and it's been made for the types of

0:07:25 > 0:07:27insects you might find in your garden.

0:07:27 > 0:07:31There are lots of different types of insects, aren't there?

0:07:31 > 0:07:35And they like to live in the nooks and crannies they can find in

0:07:35 > 0:07:38the wild. All places that they can hide.

0:07:38 > 0:07:40I've got my special camera with me.

0:07:40 > 0:07:45It's called a microscope and it lets me see things that are really small,

0:07:45 > 0:07:47up close and big.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50So, let's find out if any insects have come to stay in this

0:07:50 > 0:07:51insect hotel.

0:07:55 > 0:07:56Oh!

0:07:56 > 0:07:58Ohhhhh, can you see that?

0:07:58 > 0:08:01Those are called woodlice. Look!

0:08:01 > 0:08:06Do the woodlice have any neighbours? Let's have a look.

0:08:06 > 0:08:08Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes!

0:08:08 > 0:08:12So, there was a little spider scurrying away there.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15Aww, look, can you see that?

0:08:15 > 0:08:20That's a slug. Look at it, it's all slimy and slippery.

0:08:20 > 0:08:24That's amazing, this insect hotel is quite full.

0:08:24 > 0:08:29But do you know how an insect hotel is made?

0:08:29 > 0:08:30Let's find out.

0:08:35 > 0:08:39Making an insect hotel starts with this -

0:08:39 > 0:08:41wood.

0:08:41 > 0:08:45All this wood comes from a forest which grows trees especially

0:08:45 > 0:08:47to be used to make things.

0:08:47 > 0:08:53And this wood is going to be used to make an insect hotel, like this one.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57This is Rory, and he's going to be using this big green machine.

0:08:57 > 0:08:58It's called a plane.

0:09:03 > 0:09:05MACHINE BUZZES

0:09:05 > 0:09:09A plane is a bit like a giant potato peeler.

0:09:09 > 0:09:13As Rory pushes the piece of wood through the plane, it peels

0:09:13 > 0:09:16off the top layer, just like potato skin.

0:09:16 > 0:09:20It means he can get the wood to just the right thickness for the

0:09:20 > 0:09:21insect hotel.

0:09:22 > 0:09:26Next, Rory cuts the wood to the right length using a saw.

0:09:31 > 0:09:35Now Rory uses a different saw, which is on a slope,

0:09:35 > 0:09:38so he can cut the ends at angles.

0:09:40 > 0:09:44Cutting the ends at angles mean the pieces of wood fit together

0:09:44 > 0:09:46nicely, like this.

0:09:46 > 0:09:51But what shape do you think our insect hotel is going to be?

0:09:51 > 0:09:55We have three sides. Let's try and fit them together, shall we?

0:09:55 > 0:10:01We have one, two, and a third piece, which makes...

0:10:01 > 0:10:05a triangle with one, two, three sides.

0:10:07 > 0:10:11But if I put it down the insect hotel just falls apart.

0:10:11 > 0:10:14So, we need to stick it together.

0:10:17 > 0:10:21Rory's fixing the three pieces of wood together using screws

0:10:21 > 0:10:24and an electric screwdriver.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27He's also adding an extra piece of wood in the shape of

0:10:27 > 0:10:29a triangle to make the back.

0:10:32 > 0:10:35Now the frame is made smooth with a sander,

0:10:35 > 0:10:39and then it's painted with wood stain to protect it from the rain.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43So, the frame is ready, but what about all the bits that go on

0:10:43 > 0:10:44the inside?

0:10:44 > 0:10:49Well, first we need a block of wood for all the insects to crawl into.

0:10:49 > 0:10:53But for that we need to make them some hiding places.

0:10:53 > 0:10:55Do you know how we might do that?

0:10:58 > 0:11:01Rory's going to make some holes using a drill.

0:11:03 > 0:11:06Wow, the drilling is happening so fast.

0:11:06 > 0:11:12I think we should take a closer look using my special slow motion camera.

0:11:12 > 0:11:17This camera lets me see things that move quickly, slowed right down.

0:11:17 > 0:11:19Are you ready? Let's go.

0:11:23 > 0:11:27Can you see the drill has sharp edges? And, as it turns round

0:11:27 > 0:11:32and round, it cuts through the wood and churns it out as dust.

0:11:32 > 0:11:36And this is what it looks like when all the holes have been drilled.

0:11:36 > 0:11:39And the block fits inside the insect hotel just like that.

0:11:39 > 0:11:42But there are more nooks and crannies to be made.

0:11:42 > 0:11:45And that's where all this comes in.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49It's called bamboo. Bamboo is a type of plant.

0:11:49 > 0:11:54It's a panda's favourite food and it grows in long, hollow tubes

0:11:54 > 0:11:56that we call cane.

0:11:56 > 0:11:58Hello! Can you see me?

0:11:58 > 0:12:00The best thing is, when you blow down it in

0:12:00 > 0:12:03a special way, it makes a lovely whistling noise.

0:12:03 > 0:12:06WHISTLE Ooh.

0:12:06 > 0:12:07SHE WHISTLES SOME NOTES

0:12:07 > 0:12:09Hey!

0:12:09 > 0:12:12The great thing is all this bamboo cane makes

0:12:12 > 0:12:16a fantastic home for spiders, woodlice and even earwigs.

0:12:16 > 0:12:19They love just creeping into all of the holes.

0:12:19 > 0:12:23So, Rory and I are going to fill the leftover space in the insect

0:12:23 > 0:12:26hotel with the cane, and Rory's going to let me help him.

0:12:26 > 0:12:30I'm adding a big splodge of glue to hold everything in place.

0:12:30 > 0:12:35- Grab a handful of the canes.- Yep, any size?- All the different ones.

0:12:36 > 0:12:40We've got to use a lot of bamboo canes to fill the spaces.

0:12:42 > 0:12:43What do you reckon?

0:12:43 > 0:12:45That'll do.

0:12:45 > 0:12:50And here it is, our finished insect hotel.

0:12:50 > 0:12:53I wonder who's going to end up living in here?

0:12:54 > 0:12:57There we go, a new home for lots of insects.

0:12:57 > 0:13:01Tell me, what was your favourite bit about seeing how an

0:13:01 > 0:13:02insect hotel was made?

0:13:04 > 0:13:07Can you remember the name of the long pieces of wood with the

0:13:07 > 0:13:08holes inside?

0:13:08 > 0:13:12That's right, they're called bamboo canes.

0:13:12 > 0:13:16Did you hear the sounds the bamboo canes made when I blew threw them?

0:13:16 > 0:13:18WHISTLE Ooh.

0:13:18 > 0:13:19SHE WHISTLES SOME NOTES

0:13:19 > 0:13:21Hey!

0:13:21 > 0:13:27And did you see how the drill turned the inside of the wood into dust?

0:13:33 > 0:13:36So now you know how an insect hotel is made and how

0:13:36 > 0:13:38a hamster wheel works.

0:13:38 > 0:13:42Animals are great fun and I love being with them and seeing

0:13:42 > 0:13:45them outside, and I hope you do too.

0:13:45 > 0:13:49So, from Helena, Herbert and me, see you next time.

0:13:52 > 0:13:55# There are lots of things all around us

0:13:55 > 0:13:59# Exciting things that surround us

0:13:59 > 0:14:01# But how does it work?

0:14:01 > 0:14:02# Do you know?

0:14:02 > 0:14:04# How is it made?

0:14:04 > 0:14:05# Do you know?

0:14:05 > 0:14:07# Do you know?

0:14:07 > 0:14:09# Let's find out! #