Mochi Isle
01
Bamboo is grass
Bamboo belongs to the grass family. Its jointed stems are not ordinary tree trunks.
Why is bamboo a grass and not a tree? Read more →
Bamboo Valley · Plants12 / 12Bamboo, rice terraces and valley fog: 8 facts for kids
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree: it can grow a metre a day, and some kinds flower only once. Bamboo Valley is a misty mountain valley. Bamboo is really a giant grass with jointed, hollow stems; terraces turn steep slopes into steps that slow the water; and on cool mornings fog settles on the valley floor. Your child picks tea, mends the water wheel and waits for the year the bamboo flowers.
02
Bamboo flowering
Some bamboos flower together and may decline or die afterwards. Species differ.
Does bamboo really die after it flowers? Read more →
03
Making tea
Tea comes from tea plants. Withering, heating, rolling and drying affect flavour; this game simplifies the process.
Do green tea and black tea come from the same plant? Read more →
04
Waterwheel
Flowing water pushes a wheel, whose axle can drive other tools.
How does flowing water turn a waterwheel? Read more →
05
Terraces
Level steps along slopes slow runoff and support crops; drainage still needs care.
Why do people build terraces on hillsides? Read more →
06
Valley mist
Fog forms when moist air near the ground cools enough for tiny droplets to condense.
Where does valley fog come from? Read more →
07
Slopes and steps
Steps divide a steep slope into smaller rises. A gentler bypass also helps travel and carrying.
Why do hill paths have steps and zigzags? Read more →
08
Raft buoyancy
A raft displaces water; upward buoyancy supports it. Extra load makes it sit deeper.
Why does a bamboo raft float? Read more →On Bamboo Valley, your child sees these for real.
Each card turns up when your child reaches a place or meets the weather on the island; answer the question on the back and the card lights up. The main island and the daily lesson are free, right in the browser.
Start playing ↗