Categories
Activity ideas Ecology

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.

Categories
Amazing Wildlife Ecology

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.

Categories
Earth Science

Moraines, Cirques, Kettles, & More: types of glacial landform 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!

Categories
Activity ideas Earth Science

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’ unique molecular structure. If you are studying water in your classroom, here are a few fun water molecule activities to help your students discover some of water molecules’ weirder properties.

Categories
Earth Science

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 surface.

Categories
Activity ideas Earth Science

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!

Categories
Botany Ecology

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 seeds, which will grow into the next generation of plants. Read more about […]

Categories
Earth Science

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 centimeters per day, they may cover great distances over many years. There are […]

Categories
Activity ideas Ecology

11 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 through the eyes of an insect! Flower petals sometimes reflect UV and infrared […]

Categories
Earth Science Sustainability and Conservation

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. They may use data to make predictions about the water supply. Why is […]