Kids are naturally curious, always asking questions about the world around them. Learning new facts is one way to satisfy that curiosity and fuel a desire for knowledge. Fun facts can make science, history, nature, and even the human body interesting and exciting. Here are 20 fun facts for kids that are sure to entertain and educate!
Fun Facts for Kids to Keep Their Curiosity Growing
Fun facts are snippets of surprising, unusual, or humorous information that can capture a child’s attention and spark questions. From the tallest mountains to the tiniest insects, the world is full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. Whether kids are interested in animals, outer space, or inventions, there’s something here for everyone.
1. Bananas Are Berries, But Strawberries Aren’t!
Here’s a quirky fruit fact: bananas are classified as berries because they grow from a single ovary flower. However, strawberries are not true berries because they develop from multiple ovary flowers. This can spark conversations about botany and the fascinating ways plants grow!
2. Octopuses Have Three Hearts
Most animals, including humans, have one heart, but the octopus has three! Two hearts pump blood to its gills, and the third pumps blood to the rest of its body. The next time you see an octopus, you’ll know it has a “big heart” in more ways than one.
3. The Eiffel Tower “Grows” in the Summer
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is made of iron, which expands in hot weather. During the summer, the tower can grow about 6 inches (15 cm) taller! This is due to thermal expansion, a concept that can lead kids to learn more about how materials react to temperature changes.
4. Koalas Sleep for Up to 22 Hours a Day
Koalas may be adorable, but they’re also some of the sleepiest animals on Earth. Since their main diet is eucalyptus leaves, which don’t provide much energy, koalas conserve energy by sleeping up to 22 hours each day.
5. There Are More Stars in the Universe Than Grains of Sand on Earth
Scientists estimate there are roughly a septillion (1 followed by 24 zeros) stars in the observable universe. That’s way more than all the grains of sand on Earth’s beaches combined! Fun facts like this can inspire kids to learn more about astronomy.
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6. An Ostrich’s Eye Is Bigger Than Its Brain
The ostrich, the world’s largest bird, has incredibly large eyes to spot predators from afar. But surprisingly, its eyes are bigger than its brain! This helps ostriches stay alert, even if they’re not the smartest birds in the animal kingdom.
7. Lightning Can Be Hotter Than the Sun
A single bolt of lightning can heat the surrounding air to temperatures as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,700 degrees Celsius) — that’s five times hotter than the surface of the sun! Kids interested in weather and science might find this fact especially electrifying.
8. A Jiffy Is a Real Unit of Time
When people say, “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” they might not know that “jiffy” is an actual measurement of time! It equals 1/100th of a second. Scientists use “jiffy” to refer to tiny amounts of time in physics and computing.
9. Honey Never Spoils
Archaeologists have discovered pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old — and still edible! Honey’s natural properties and low moisture content prevent bacteria from growing, making it a long-lasting food.
10. Sloths Only Poop Once a Week
Sloths are known for moving slowly, but even their digestive systems take it slow. They only come down from trees about once a week to use the bathroom, a behavior that keeps them safe from predators.
