Recent Posts:
Earth’s Layers: crust, mantle, core, & more. Plus a layers of the earth-inspired density activity!
In school, you usually learn that the three main layers of the earth are the crust, mantle, and core. Geologists call these compositional layers, because the layers are defined by the materials they are made of. However, geologists also think about how…
5 Outdoor Math Activities with Real World Applications
If you’re a teacher, you know that combining math activities with real-world applications can make things a bit more interesting. Now taking applied math OUTSIDE?! Your students might just find that math is more fun than they ever thought it could be!…
10 Nature-inspired art projects for kids to try in your classroom!
Today, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite nature art projects from my recent art camp, so that you can try them with your students too! These educational art projects will help students use art as a lens for…
Bird Beaks Lab: try this hands-on classroom activity to learn about adaptations and natural selection!
This is a hilarious and hands-on way to experience competition between species and learn about natural selection and animal adaptations. In this post, you will learn how to set up your own bird beaks lab to try out in your classroom!
10 Waterbird and waterfowl activities for kids to try in your classroom!
Waterfowl and other waterbirds are some of the best wildlife to go view with kids in wetlands and other natural areas, regardless of your location. If you are planning a waterfowl field trip – or a whole waterfowl and waterbird unit -…
What’s new at Wild Earth Lab?! + Free Mini Study
Get ready! A lot is new at Wild Earth Lab this summer! And to top it all off, I have a free mushroom mini study for you! Below, I’ve put together a list of my most recent science units, freebies, blog/activity posts,…
Tree Anatomy: the parts of trees and their functions
Why do trees have leaves and roots? What is inside the trunk of a tree? We will answer these questions and more in this post.
Bugs vs Insects vs Arthropods: what’s the difference?
Many people misuse “bug” when talking about any insect. However, only certain insects are considered true bugs. In this post, you will learn the difference between a bug, and insect, and an arthropod and why they are not quite the same thing.
Intro to Taxonomy: how living beings are sorted and classified
Taxonomy is the science of organizing and classifying living beings into groups. It is important in the fields of wildlife biology, botany, mycology, zoology, microbiology, ecology and more! Introducing your students to taxonomy is a great way to start exploring the biodiversity…
Desert Adaptations: 8 strategies plants and animals use to survive in the desert!
Life is possible with very little water! Desert plants and animals have some amazing adaptations to survive in dry conditions.
Nocturnal, Diurnal, and Crepuscular Animals: differences explained, plus examples!
The change from daytime to nighttime in the desert creates a world of difference for animals. Wildlife biologists sort animals into three categories based on the time of day when they are most active: nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular.
Deciduous vs Coniferous Trees: differences between, examples, and learning activity!
Trees are perennial plants with long, woody trunks. Trees of temperate latitudes are often grouped into two main categories: deciduous trees that lose and regrow their leaves each year, and coniferous trees that stay green year-round! Let’s take a closer look at…
Parts of a mushroom: anatomy of mushrooms plus a fun learning activity!
Mushroom anatomy is a great science activity for students of any age! In this post, we will examine the main parts of a mushroom.
What are aquatic macroinvertebrates? Their role in food webs and use as bioindicators!
These tiny critters may seem unremarkable, or even “icky”. However, aquatic macroinvertebrates play important roles in aquatic ecosystems.
Moraines, Cirques, Kettles, & More: types of glacial landforms and how they form!
Glaciers make a big mark on the landscapes beneath and around them. Even thousands of years after a glacier disappears, you can still find evidence of its presence in the glacial landforms left behind!
Water’s Weird Properties: 5 water molecule activities to try with your students!
Water. It covers over 70% of the earth’s surface and even makes up about 60% of the human body. But did you know that water has some incredible properties that make it different from other liquids? This is due to water molecules’…
10 pond activities to try in your classroom!
Ponds are an amazing place to teach children about ecology, biodiversity, and wildlife. Here are 10 fun pond activity ideas to try out with your students! I hope these lesson ideas help you have a great pond field trip or pond unit…
How does pollination work? A step-by-step guide to pollination and the plant life cycle
You might already know that pollination is the transfer of pollen from the stamen to the carpel of a flowering plant. In this post, we will take a closer look at the steps of animal pollination and the plant life cycle. The…
How do gaining and losing streams differ? Groundwater-stream interactions explained
Before we can learn about groundwater-surface water interactions, we must understand the water table. The water table is the level at which the pore spaces are filled entirely with water. The water table is not a flat plain, but rather, a three-dimensional…
Stream Measurements: how to measure water flow with your students as a river field trip activity!
Hydrologists collect stream measurements to ensure we are not using our water resources too quickly or in unsustainable ways. With a few household items, you can collect river measurements too!
River channel types: identify straight, meandering, braided, and anastomosing channels
Different rivers naturally have different planforms – and that’s a good thing! You will find healthy streams and rivers with a variety of different natural planforms – no one planform is necessarily better than the others. What is best is for a…
Which animals pollinate? Common pollinators plus a few that will surprise you!
Pollinators are animals that transfer pollen between flowers. Many pollinators are insects, such as bees. However, birds, mammals, and a variety of other animals can also be pollinators! Pollinators are key members of most terrestrial (on-land) ecosystems. Pollinated plants produce food that…
What are the different types of pollination? How animal, water, and wind pollination methods work
You might already know that pollination is the transfer of pollen from the stamen (male flower part) to the carpel (female flower part) of a flowering plant. Once pollinated (via any of the pollination methods), the plant forms a fruit. Fruits contain…
Glaciers: how they form, types of glaciers, and why glaciers are important
A glacier is a large, dense ice mass made from compacted snow that slowly moves under its own weight over a long period of time. Unlike seasonal snowpack, glacial ice does not fully melt in summer. Although glaciers move slowly, often just…
Common Water Features: examples (with links!) and descriptions!
About common water features Before diving into definitions and examples of some common water features, let us ask: “what is a water feature?” Water features are any waterbody or waterway found on the earth’s surface! Water features come in a wide variety…
12 Pollination Activities for Kids: pollinator lesson ideas to try in your classroom!
If you’re learning about pollination with your students or kids this school year, try out some of these fun pollination activity ideas in your classroom! 1. Insect Vision A flower that looks fairly plain to the human eye may look completely different…
Snow Hydrology: why and how do scientists study snow?
What is snow hydrology? Snow hydrology is the study of snow’s role in the water cycle. Snow hydrologists study snowfall, melting, and everything that happens to snow in between! Many snow hydrologists are interested in the ways snow impacts our water resources.…
What is Biomimicry? Definition and examples of designs inspired by nature!
Biomimicry, also called biomimetics, is when people draw inspiration from nature to design items and solve problems. Plant, fungi, and animal species evolved features and behaviors over vast periods of time to overcome challenges they face in their habitats. Engineers may mimic…
8 tree activity ideas and forest crafts for kids!
Whether you’re studying forest ecology, plant life cycles, or just looking for a fun nature craft to do after school, you’ll love these tree activity ideas and forest crafts for kids. Try them all! Create Your Own Layers of the Forest Mini-Booklet!…
Disturbance and succession: examples of ecological disturbances, and the role of wildfire in ecosystems!
In this post, you’ll learn about ecological disturbance and succession, starting with definitions and examples of disturbances. We will cover the differences between primary succession vs. secondary succession, as well as the steps of the ecological succession process. Finally, you’ll read about…
Symbiotic Relationships in Ecology: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism
What is a symbiotic relationship? A symbiotic relationship is a long-term interaction between two species. Did you know lichens are two species in a symbiotic relationship? A lichen is a fungi and an algae or bacteria living together. This is just one…
What is Ecology? Learn why ecology is important + ecology activity ideas for kids
In this article, learn about ecosystems and ecology! Plus, you’ll learn the difference between biotic and abiotic. Also, read about why ecology is important and learn about what ecologists study! Click here to skip to the the list of Ecology Activity Ideas…
Fold a Jumping Frog: Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
In this video activity, students will learn to fold an origami jumping frog! Origami is the art of folding paper. Through origami, a simple piece of paper takes on different shapes, and can even be transformed into complex figures such as boxes,…
Flower Anatomy: the four whorls of flowers and their functions, plus diagram and activity!
Flower anatomy is an important concept in botany! Whether you and your students are studying fruits, pollination, or plant genetics, understanding the basics of flower anatomy is important background knowledge. Specifically, this post covers the basic parts of flower anatomy: the 4…
Bird of Prey Activities: 7 raptor projects for kids to try in your classroom!
Birds of prey, or raptors, are top predators that can be found in almost any type of habitat, from coastal areas to mountains, wetlands to deserts, grasslands to forests. Some of these incredible birds can even adapt to live alongside humans in…
What makes a bird a raptor? Five characteristics of birds of prey
What is a raptor? A raptor is a predatory bird, with sharp talons, a hooked beak, and keen eyesight. Raptors are also sometimes called birds of prey. There are many different types of birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, vultures,…
Common Landforms: how they form, definitions, and examples
Many forces work together to shape the landscape. Plate tectonics, Vocanic activity, erosion, and deposition work slowly over time to form and change our earth’s surface. All these forces working together create some pretty unique and cool landforms! In this post, we’ll…
How to Measure Tree Height: a real-world application of trigonometry and step-by-step guide to make your own inclinometer!
I don’t know about you, but I think math is a lot more interesting when we can apply it to real-world situations! If you’re studying trigonometry, right triangles, or angles, tree height measurements are the perfect applied math activity! In this simple…
Alphabet of North American Animals
For a recent project, I illustrated North American Animals from A to Z (you can find those illustrations here)! During this project, I reviewed many incredible critters that I studied while earning my degree in Wildlife Biology! I wanted to share more…
Food Chains vs Food Webs: definitions, differences explained, and examples
In a rush? Click here to skip to printing the free educational Poster! Maybe you’ve studied a little ecology and come across the terms “food chain” and “food web.” Both help ecologists explain the ways that energy from food travels through an…
Aquatic Insects: identification, examples, and use as bioindicators
If you flip over a few rocks in the shallow water at any healthy pond or stream, you’re sure to see a few aquatic insects! Many aquatic insects are the larvae or nymphs of well-known flying insects, like dragonflies and mayflies! They…
Tree Rings: why they form and what scientists can learn from them
In a rush? Click here to skip to printing the free learning activity! You may have noticed the unique rings that appear on tree stumps – and you might even know that you can figure out a tree’s age by counting the…
Mountains and the Water Cycle: the rain shadow effect explained
A short bonus post here! After writing two posts about the water cycle (how it works and how humans effect it), I still felt like there was more to write. I owed it to the wonderful mountains where I live, to touch…
How Humans Affect the Water Cycle, a Complete Guide
In a rush? Skip directly to download the learning activity for this post! In part one of this two-part post on the water cycle, we learned how the water cycle makes life possible for land-dwelling plants and animals, including humans. The water…
Aquatic Ecosystems: How to tell if a pond, stream, or wetland is healthy
This is part 2 of a two-part post on aquatic ecosystems. If you haven’t already, check out part 1! In a rush? Click here to go straight to the printable scavenger hunt! In my last post, I shared my experience working as…
The Heart of an Ecosystem: Healthy ponds, streams, and wetlands
In a rush? Click here to go straight to the printable journaling page for kids! This week, my students and I took a field trip to a local creek. Getting outside to make observations in nature is one of my favorite hands-on…
The Water Cycle: How it works, a simple and detailed explanation with definitions, diagrams, and a visualization activity!
Author’s note: As a master’s student who works with water, this one is an exciting topic for me to write about! Water is a vital resource that needs careful management in the Mountain West region of the United States. Mountain region watersheds…
My Wonderful, Wild Backyard and Ways to Improve Your Yard’s Wildlife Habitat
In a rush? Click here to skip straight to the backyard wildlife bingo download! With the first signs of spring appearing, many of us are looking forward to spending more time enjoying our outdoor living spaces. Spring also means the beginning of…
An Invitation
Welcome fellow nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. Welcome backyard naturalists, kitchen table scientists, life-long learners. Welcome fellow wonderers and wanderers. I’m glad to see you here. My name is Valerie and I’m a scientist, artist, and avid outdoors woman currently in Colorado,…