Tag: science for kids

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The Bird Life Cycle: a classroom guide

american robin life cycle images: birds on nests, eggs, and chicks
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In this post, we’ll dive into the stages of the bird life cycle: egg, hatchling, nestling, fledgling, and adult. At the bottom of this post, you’ll find links to bird life cycle learning materials and more educational posts and activities related to birds. Get ready to take flight into the world of birds with your classroom!

Before we dive in:ย If youโ€™re an educator planning toย teach bird life cycles, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love myย bird life cycle mini study, which you can also find within my complete Bird Unit (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Bird life cycles, eggs, and nest printables

Life Begins in an Egg

Baby birds hatch from eggs. Inside an egg, a chick develops while protected by a hard eggshell. The unborn chick is nourished by a yolk, which provides food as it grows.

Most birds lay their eggs in nests, which they build in trees, on the ground, on cliffs, or even on buildings. Nests come in several shapes and sizes. Some are tiny woven cups made of dried grass, while others are huge platforms constructed from sticks. Parent birds sit on the nest to keep the eggs warm, an act called incubation.

Hatching

When chicks hatch, they use a special bump on their bill called an egg tooth to crack open the eggshell.ย  Newly hatched chicks are small, weak, and cannot care for themselves. They are sometimes called hatchlings. Many are born with their eyes sealed closed. They have only a few soft feathers called down to help keep them warm.

Growing and Fledging

Parent birds play a critical role in caring for their young chicks in the nest, sometimes called nestlings. They bring food, protect the nest, and keep chicks warm. As the chicks grow, they develop flying feathers and stronger muscles. Eventually, they leave the nest for the first time. This stage is called fledging. Young birds at this stage are known as fledglings. Even after leaving the nest, fledglings may still rely on their parents until they learn to find food and fly longer distances. As adults, birds may migrate, build their own nests, and establish territories.

More Bird Posts & Classroom Activities:

Continue learning about birds in your classroom with these educational posts and activities for kids:

Study birds and their life cycles with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lesson on birds and their life cycles. Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This bird unit includes all the printable materials you need for studying bird life cycles, adaptations, anatomy, types of birds, and much more!

Explore more bird and animal lessons:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable bird and animal units in your classroom too!

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The Salmon Life Cycle: a classroom guide

salmon egg, alevin, and fry
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Salmon have one of the most incredible life cycles among fish. Unlike most fish, salmon live in two very different habitatsโ€”freshwater and saltwater. They begin their lives in cool, clear mountain streams, but migrate to the ocean where they spend much of their adulthood. Later, they make an epic journey back upstream to where they were born to lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.

Before we dive in:ย If youโ€™re an educator planning toย teach salmon or fish life cycles, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love myย salmon mini study, which you can also find within my complete Fish Unit (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Salmon migration and life cycle study materials

Life Begins in a Stream

A female salmon lays her eggs in a gravel nest in a freshwater stream. When the eggs hatch, the tiny fish are called alevins. They stay hidden among the gravel, sustained by the nutrients in their yolk sacs. Once the yolk sac is gone, they become fry and begin to feed and swim freely. As they grow, faint markings appear on their sidesโ€”these young fish are now called parr. They feed and begin defending small territories within the stream.

Salmon development – from egg to fry.

Journey to the Ocean

When the salmon are large and strong enough, they go through changes that prepare them for saltwater life. At this stage, they are called smolts. The smolts migrate downstream, swimming with the current, to the ocean. In the ocean, they will spend several years feeding on ocean prey and growing into adult salmon.

Returning Home

After maturing in the ocean, adult salmon return to the same stream where they were bornโ€”a journey that can cover hundreds of miles! This journey is especially challenging because the fish are swimming into the current. They must navigate around obstacles like fast-flowing water, log jams, and even waterfalls!

Once they reach their birthplace, the spawning adults lay and fertilize eggs. Female salmon lay their eggs in gravel nests, where they will hatch and begin the next generation of salmon. After spawning, most salmon die, but their bodies provide nutrients that enrich the stream ecosystem.

Examples of female and male adult spawning salmon.

The role of salmon

Salmon are a key part of both ocean and land ecosystems. In the ocean, they serve as food for animals like sharks and seals. When they return to freshwater, they feed predators such as bears, eagles, and otters. Even after death, their bodies nourish the soil and plants near the streams, making salmon vital to the health of the whole ecosystem.

fish swimming in water
Salmon in a stream. Photo by Line Knipst on Pexels.com

Salmon face many challenges throughout their long journey. Dams can block their migration routes, making it hard for them to reach their spawning grounds. Competition with invasive fish species can also reduce the number of young salmon that survive to adulthood. Human activitiesโ€”like building cities and roads, farming, and miningโ€”can damage salmon habitats by changing stream flow, increasing pollution, and removing trees that shade and cool the water. Climate change adds even more stress, warming rivers and oceans, altering streamflow patterns, and shifting ocean currents that salmon depend on for food and navigation.

To help, people are taking action. Fish ladders and fish-friendly dams allow salmon to swim upstream more easily. Habitat restoration projects work to clean up streams and remove barriers to migration. Scientists are also studying how to protect salmon as the climate changes, ensuring these remarkable fish can continue their journey for generations to come.

Study fish and salmon with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lesson on salmon or fish life cycles ย โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This fish unit includes all the printable materials you need for studying fish life cycles, salmon, and more.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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References and Further Reading

  1. Clark, M., Douglas, M., Choi, J. (2018). Biology 2e. Open Stax. Ch. 29. Available:ย https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-2-fishes
  2. Foras na Mara Marine Institute (n.d.). Salmon Life Cycle. Available:ย https://www.marine.ie/site-area/areas-activity/fisheries-ecosystems/salmon-life-cycle
  3. Medeiros, A., et al. (n.d.). The Struggle to Save Pacific Salmon. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Available:ย https://www.fws.gov/story/new-challenges
  4. NOAA. Species Directory. Available:ย https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species-directory
  5. NPS (n.d.). The Salmon Life Cycle. Olympic National Park. Available:ย https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/the-salmon-life-cycle.htm
  6. Reeves, N., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. Open Stax. Ch. 15.6. Available:ย https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates

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7 Strange Animals That Are Actually Fish

collage of strange and surprising fish species - sharks, rays, seahorses, eels
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Fish come in all shapes, sizes, and surprising formsโ€”and some of them donโ€™t look โ€œfish-likeโ€ at all. Whether you’re exploring ocean habitats or animal adaptations, these wonderfully weird species deviate from the typical body form and appearance of other fish. Here are seven animals you might not realize are actually fish!

Before we dive in: If youโ€™re an educator planning to teach fish life cycles, ocean ecology, or vertebrate groups, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Fish Unit. It’s full of fun activities, printable handouts, worksheets, and more (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

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Eels

With their long, ribbon-like bodies and reduced fins, eels can look more like snakes than fish. But eels are actually bony fish, members of the group Osteichthyes. That means an eel is more closely related to salmon, tuna, or even your pet goldfish than to any reptile!

Eels swim using wavelike movements along their bodies and use small pectoral fins to help them steer. Some species, like the electric eel, can even generate electric currents to stun preyโ€”an adaptation very different from what we see in most fish.

big fish on coral reef under water
Eel. Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com

Seahorses and sea dragons

Most fish swim horizontally, powered by the caudal (tail) fin. Seahorses and sea dragons break that rule completely. These unusual fish swim upright, using a small dorsal fin along their back for propulsion. Their long, flexible tails act like anchors, gripping seagrass or seaweed so they donโ€™t drift away in the current.

These animals are wonderful examples of how the โ€œbasic fish body planโ€ can be reshaped for a very different lifestyle.

close up shot of a seahorse
Seahorse. Photo by Sergiu Iacob on Pexels.com

Mudskippers

When we picture fish, we imagine animals that must stay in the water to survive. Mudskippers challenge that idea! These remarkable fish live in tidal areas and regularly climb out onto mudflats.

Mudskippers can breathe air through their moist skinโ€”similar to how amphibians like frogs breathe. And when theyโ€™re on land, they โ€œwalkโ€ using their powerful pectoral fins. In most fish, these fins are only strong enough for steering in water, but mudskippers can support their weight on land. This unique ability gives scientists clues about how ancient fish may have taken the first steps toward life on land millions of years ago.

group of mudskippers on sandy beach shore
Mudskippers. Photo by ะ–ะฐะฝะฝะฐ ะะปะธะผะบัƒะปะพะฒะฐ on Pexels.com

Sharks

Many students are surprised to learn that sharks are fish! Modern fish fall into three main groups: jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and bony fish. Sharks belong to the cartilaginous fish group, meaning their skeletons are made of flexible cartilage instead of bone. Rays and skates are part of this group, too.

Sharks come in an incredible range of shapes and sizesโ€”from 40-foot whale sharks to tiny lanternsharks. Some have unusual adaptations, like the hammerheadโ€™s wide head that gives it nearly 360ยฐ vision, or the goblin sharkโ€™s extendable jaw. Diets vary widely as well: great whites hunt large prey, while whale sharks filter plankton from the water. Sharks live throughout the ocean, from deep-sea habitats to shallow coastlines.

hammerhead shark swimming near corals
Hammerhead shark. Photo by Ben Phillips on Pexels.com

Skates & Rays

Skates and rays look nothing like the โ€œtypical fishโ€ silhouette. Their flattened bodies are perfectly suited for life along the seafloor, where they glide by flapping their broad, wing-like pectoral fins.

Although they look similar, skates and rays are not the same. Stingrays have a venomous barb on their tailโ€”skates do not. In addition, skates tend to have thicker tails with small fins along them. Both are cartilaginous fish and excellent examples of body shapes adapted to a specialized habitat.

a stingray on the bottom of the sea
Stingray. Photo by Krystal Basas on Pexels.com

Lampreys

Fish were among the earliest vertebrates to evolve, and some ancient fish lived long before jaws existed. Today, the descendants of those early jawless vertebrates survive as lampreys and hagfish.

Lampreys lack jaws entirely. Instead of biting, they use a round, suction-like mouth with rasping teeth. Some species, like the sea lamprey, are parasites that attach to other fish and feed on their blood and body fluids. Their unusual anatomy makes them an important group for studying early vertebrate evolution.

Migrating Pacific lampreyPacific lamprey attach
Lamprey mouths.

Hagfish

Like lampreys, hagfish belong to the jawless fish group. Theyโ€™re among the least โ€œfish-likeโ€ fish, with long, slender bodies, soft pinkish skin, and no true eyes. At first glance, you might mistake a hagfish for a wormโ€”until you learn that they have gills and other features that firmly place them within the fish lineage.

Hagfish are famous for one wild adaptation: they produce enormous amounts of sticky slime when threatened. This slime can clog the gills of predators, giving hagfish a unique way to escape danger.

Illustration of a hagfish.

Study fish with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lesson for teaching fish โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying fish in your classroom:

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
Build-Your-Own Bundle & Save!

Are you interested in reading more posts like this? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!

References and Further Reading

  1. Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife (n.d.). Hagfish (Eptatretus deani) Species Profile. Available: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hagfish.main
  2. Clark, M., Douglas, M., Choi, J. (2018). Biology 2e. Open Stax. Ch. 29. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-2-fishes
  3. The Florida Aquarium (n.d.). Animal Spotlight: Mudskipper. Available: https://www.flaquarium.org/explore/habitats/morphd/mudskipper/
  4. MarineBio (n.d.). Great White Sharks, Carcharodon carcharias. Available: https://www.marinebio.org/species/great-white-sharks/carcharodon-carcharias/
  5. McGrouther, M. (2022). Goblin Shark. Australian Museum. Available: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/goblin-shark-mitsukurina-owstoni/
  6. National Geographic (n.d.). Hammerhead Sharks. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/hammerhead-sharks
  7. Reeves, N., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. Open Stax. Ch. 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  8. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (n.d.). Leopard Shark. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/leopard-shark
  9. Spencer, P. (2019). Whatโ€™s the Difference Between Stingrays and Skates? Ocean Conservancy. Available: https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/12/12/whats-difference-stingrays-skates/
  10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.). Sea Lamprey. Available: https://www.fws.gov/species/sea-lamprey-petromyzon-marinus

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Jawless, Cartilaginous, and Bony Fish: A Classroom Guide

flying fish, skate, seahorse, shark, and clownfish illustrations
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Fish are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates on Earth, but not all fish are built the same way. In fact, every speciesโ€”whether itโ€™s a tiny goby or a massive whale sharkโ€”belongs to one of three major groups: jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, or bony fish. Understanding these groups can help students make sense of fish anatomy, evolution, and the incredible variety they see in todayโ€™s oceans. Hereโ€™s a quick, classroom-friendly guide to what makes each group unique.

Before we dive in: If youโ€™re an educator planning to teach vertebrate groups, fish life cycles, or ocean biomes, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Fish Unit. It’s full of fun activities, printable handouts, worksheets, and more (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Recommended Products for Educators:

Jawless Fish (Agnatha)

Migrating Pacific lampreyPacific lamprey attach
The sucker-like mouths of lampreys, a jawless fish.

Fish were among the earliest vertebrates to evolve, and some ancient fish lived long before jaws existed. Today, the descendants of those early jawless vertebrates survive as lampreys and hagfish.

Jawless fish share the following traits:

  • Gills
  • Live in water
  • Fins (various shapes, sizes, and numbers)
  • Skeletons made of cartilage, not bone
  • No jaws
  • A spine

Since they have no jaws, lampreys and hagfish must feed in some creative ways. For example, lampreys use a round, suction-like mouth with rasping teeth. Some species, like the sea lamprey, are parasites that attach to other fish and feed on their blood and body fluids. Their unusual anatomy makes them an important group for studying early vertebrate evolution.

Cartilaginous Fish (Chondrichthyes)

hammerhead shark swimming near corals
Like all cartilaginous fish, a hammerhead shark has a skeleton made of soft cartilage. Photo by Ben Phillips on Pexels.com

Unlike jawless fish, cartilaginous fish have a jaw. Jaws allow some fish to hunt and eat larger prey animals. For example, sharks are among the most fearsome predators of the ocean and hunt other fish with their jawed mouth filled with sharp, pointy teeth. Cartilaginous fish are named for their skeletons, which are made of soft cartilage – the material in your nose and ears – instead of hard bone.

Cartilaginous fish share the following traits:

  • Gills
  • Live in water
  • Fins (various shapes, sizes, and numbers)
  • Skeletons made of cartilage, not bone
  • Jaws
  • A spine

There are three main types of cartilaginous fish: sharks, skates, and rays. Though skates and rays don’t look much like other fish, they share a common ancestry and have traits that all fish share, like gills and fins.

Here are some examples of cartilaginous fish:

  • Great white shark
  • Leopard shark
  • Whale shark
  • Goblin shark
  • Manta ray
  • Common stingray
  • Common skate

Bony Fish (Osteichthyes)

fishes near coral reefs
Bony fish are found in many different habitats: from coral reefs in the ocean to flowing freshwater rivers. Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

What do salmon, seahorses, eels, and even your pet beta all have in common? They are all bony fish! This is a vast and diverse group of fish, with many deviations from the classic fish body plan that allow different fish to adapt to their unique habitats.

Bony fish share the following traits:

  • Gills
  • Live in water
  • Fins (various shapes, sizes, and numbers)
  • Skeletons made of bone, not cartilage
  • Jaws
  • A spine

There are two main subgroups within the bony fish group. They are lobe-finned fish and ray-finned fish. Lobe-finned fish have fins with internal bones that move more similarly to the limbs of tetrapods. Meanwhile, ray-finned fish have fins supported by many thin, bony filaments called rays.

There are tons of examples of bony fish. Here are a few:

  • Lobe-finned fish:
    • African lungfish
    • Australian lungfish
    • African coelacanth
  • Ray-finned fish:
    • Gar
    • Sturgeon
    • Salmon
    • Tuna
    • Clownfish
    • Seahorse
    • Pufferfish
    • Eel

Study vertebrates with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lessons for teaching fish and other vertebrate groups โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created them for you! These sets include all the printable materials you need for studying fish and other vertebrate groups in your classroom:

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Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
Build-Your-Own Bundle & Save!

Are you interested in reading more posts like this? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!

References and Further Reading

  1. Clark, M., Douglas, M., Choi, J. (2018). Biology 2e. Open Stax. Ch. 29. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-2-fishes
  2. MarineBio (n.d.). Great White Sharks, Carcharodon carcharias. Available: https://www.marinebio.org/species/great-white-sharks/carcharodon-carcharias/
  3. Reeves, N., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. Open Stax. Ch. 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  4. South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources (n.d.). Fish โ€“ Anatomy. Available: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/anatomy.html
  5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (n.d.). Sea Lamprey. Available: https://www.fws.gov/species/sea-lamprey-petromyzon-marinus

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5 Engaging Water Cycle Activities for Students

Grid of 6 pictures showing kids working on water cycle activities outside and in the classroom
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Are you teaching the water cycle in your classroom or homeschool? The water cycle is a complex process with many stages that all work together to provide the freshwater crucial to our survival. Hands-on water cycle activities are useful to demonstrate the different steps in the water cycle and can make your lessons memorable for students. From measuring infiltration to calculating runoff, these 5 water cycle activities will enrich your lessons and deepen understanding.

photo of a piece of paper with the water cycle diagram
Water Cycle Diagram

A Note For Teachers: The activities covered in this post come from three of my complete units: the Water Cycle Unit, Science on the River Unit, and Soil Science Unit. You can purchase these units to receive all the printable worksheets, handouts, and diagrams for teaching these activities and more (plus youโ€™ll support this blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ).

1. Collect Precipitation

images depicting cutting a bottle in half then using the top half to make a funnel into the bottom half
Steps for making a DIY rain gauge from a plastic bottle.

Precipitation happens when water falls to the Earth’s surface in liquid or solid form. This includes water in the form of snowflakes, hail, sleet, or liquid droplets (rain). Precipitation falls onto land or into bodies of water. A lot of precipitation falls directly into the oceans.

Building a DIY rain gauge from a plastic bottle is a fun, hands-on activity to explore this key water cycle process. You just need an empty plastic soda or water bottle plus a few other household items!

But remember, rain is far from the only type of precipitation. If you live somewhere that receives snow in the winter, you can also collect and measure snowfall!

DIY RAin Gague Directions
Measuring Snowfall Directions
Printable Directions (in my Water Cycle Unit)

2. Observe Evaporation

A photo showing classroom handouts for teaching evaporation lab activities

Evaporation is the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas, called water vapor. Evaporation may happen anywhere that there is water; water evaporates from oceans, lakes, streams, soils, and even from raindrops as they fall.

Measuring evaporation is an easy activity that brings the process to life for your students. The basic idea of this lab is that you will have two jars, one with a lid and one without. You will observe the change in the water level in the two jars over several days due to evaporation.

Evaporation Lab Directions
Printable Directions (in my Water Cycle Unit)

3. Measure Soil Infiltration

sketches showing a tube being hammered into the soil then filled with water.
Steps for measuring soil infiltration rates.

Infiltration is when water seeps from the landโ€™s surface down into the soil. This happens when rain falls onto the soil and seeps in. Water also infiltrates downwards through the bottoms of some lakes and streams. Conversely, groundwater may also flow upwards sometimes, into gaining streams and springs.

Measuring infiltration rates in different types of soils is a hands-on activity that helps students explore how water interacts with the ground. This soil infiltration activity also ties in perfectly with studies of porosity and permeability.

The general idea is that you’ll hammer a piece of tubing into the ground, so that the bottom forms a seal with the soil. Then, you’ll fill the tube with water, and time how long it takes the water to seep into the soil. The rate it seeps will vary between different types and textures of soil, so try this activity in a few different locations (e.g., sandy soil, loamy soil, organic-rich soil, etc…).

Soil Infiltration Activity Directions
Printable Directions (in my Soil Science Unit)

4. Calculate Run Off in Streams

painting showing three people taking measurements in a stream
Illustration showing students taking stream measurements for calculating stream cross-sectional area and discharge.

Runoff is when water flows downhill. This includes rivers, streams, and any water flowing over the Earth’s surface. Runoff happens thanks to gravity – surface water always flows from high to low elevation. You won’t see a stream flowing uphill. Little streams start high up in the mountains. They flow downhill, joining together to make big rivers. Rivers make their way to the ocean and mix with salt water.

You and your students can measure and calculate the rate of runoff in a small stream. More specifically, you can take simple measurements and use them to calculate the velocity of the flowing water. From there, you can calculate the stream’s discharge (e.g., gallons per minute). This stream measurements activity combines math, measurements, and science, making it a perfect addition to your classroom or homeschool.

Stream Measurement Directions
Printable Directions (in my Science on the River Unit)

5. Model Where Water is Stored

Water cycle diagram, measuring cups, free printable science activity guide for homeschooling, at-home-learning, or elementary school age children.
Printable activity directions and water cycle diagram from my free resources page

Itโ€™s hard to imagine just how little freshwater exists on Earth compared to saltwater. If you’re teaching the water cycle, your students might be amazed to learn that less than 3% of the Earthโ€™s water is freshwaterโ€”the rest is saltwater. Fortunately, you can do a hands-on freshwater learning activity that uses simple kitchen measurements to help your students visualize these proportions. This freshwater visualization activity is a powerful way to help students truly understand how rare freshwater is!

Subscribers to this blog can download free printable directions for this visualization activity on the free resources page of my website. The free resources page is a collection of dozens of printable science & nature learning resources designed by me – including printable activity directions, my hand-drawn water cycle diagram, and much more! To access the free resources page, subscribe to my email newsletter. It’s a monthly digest of new blog posts about science and science education like this one, as well as occasional updates when I release a new unit or throw a sale in my shop.

Freshwater Visualization Activity Directions
Free Learning Resources Page

Study the Water Cycle with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect worksheets and handouts for these water cycle activities โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created them for you! The activities from this post come from these three printable units, available in my shop:

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
Build-Your-Own Bundle & Save!

Are you interested in reading more posts like this? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!

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Understanding Metamorphosis in Animals

life cycle diagram of a salamander
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From tadpoles turning into frogs to caterpillars transforming into butterflies, metamorphosis is one of natureโ€™s most incredible processes. Understanding metamorphosis helps students see how organisms grow, adapt, and survive in their environments. Whether you’re exploring amphibians, insects, or life cycles in general, this fascinating transformation is a perfect way to bring nature and science to life in your classroom.

๐Ÿ“šA Note for Teachers ๐ŸŽ: If youโ€™re an educator planning to teach metamorphosis and animal life cycles in your classroom, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! You can find materials for teaching metamorphosis in my Amphibians Unit and Insects Unit, as well as my Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Unit – plus tons of other materials and activities for these fun topics! (And youโ€™ll support this blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

What is Metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis is a process where an animalโ€™s body changes form at different stages of its life cycle. Many insects and amphibians go through metamorphosis, developing in two or more distinct stages, like a legless tadpole becoming a frog or a wingless caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

In contrast, reptiles, birds, and mammals (including humans) do not undergo metamorphosis. Consider human babiesโ€”as we grow, we get bigger and taller, but our basic body shape stays the same. We donโ€™t develop wings, extra limbs, or entirely new body parts like a butterfly or frog.

Amphibians and Metamorphosis

The word โ€œamphibianโ€ means โ€œdouble lifeโ€, referring to how most amphibians begin their lives in water before transitioning to land.  This transformation happens through metamorphosis. Take frogs, for example โ€“ tadpoles swim using their tails and breathe underwater through gills. During metamorphosis, they grow limbs and lungs, allowing them to live on land as adults. Just like tadpoles transform into frogs, most salamanders start as aquatic, legless larvae before developing their adult forms.

Salamander Life Cycle Diagram

Most amphibians go through metamorphosis, but there are a few exceptions. Some species of caecilians, a group of legless amphibians, develop differently and donโ€™t go through metamorphosis the way frogs and salamanders do.

Insects and Metamorphosis

Amphibians are not the only animals that go through metamorphosis. Many (though not all) insects go through metamorphosis too. One of the most classic examples is a butterfly. A butterfly starts life as a wingless larva called a caterpillar, a life stage in which the main goal is to eat and grow! After some time, the caterpillar stops munching and forms a chrysalis. During this stage, called the pupa stage, it doesn’t eat, but continues to develop. Finally, the winged butterfly emerges from its chrysalis – now it is an adult.

However, butterflies are far from the only insect to go through metamorphosis. Caddisflies, ladybugs, beetles, and ants are a few other examples of insects whose lives take place in three stages: larva, pupa, and adult. Insects like these with three distinct life stages go through what scientists call “complete metamorphosis“. In contrast, some other insects, like dragonflies and mayflies, go through “incomplete metamorphosis“. These insects only have two life stages: nymph and adult.

Why Metamorphosis?

Why change forms at all? Metamorphosis helps animals use different habitats and resources at each stage of life. For example, tadpoles live in aquatic habitats like ponds and eat plants, so they have gills, a small mouth, and a tail for swimming. But as they grow into adult frogs that hunt insects on land, they develop lungs, strong legs, and a wide mouth with a sticky tongue for catching prey.

Similarly, caddisflies, mayflies, dragonflies, and other aquatic insects begin their lives in water as larvae or nymphs. This allows them to feed on aquatic plant matter, detritus, or small organisms found in habitats at the bottoms of streams and ponds. As they go through metamorphosis, these insects emerge from the surface of the water as winged adults. After this, they use their wings to take advantage of a new habitat above the surface. For example, adult dragonflies are ferocious aerial predators of other insects. Contrastingly, adult mayflies do not eat at all, but simply use their short adult life stage to fly around and find a mate.

Finally, consider butterflies. Unlike frogs and aquatic insects, a butterfly lives on land for its whole life. However, butterflies use different food sources at different stages. For example, the monarch butterfly is in a close symbiotic relationship with the milkweed plant. As a caterpillar, the monarch eats the milkweed leaves. After metamorphosis, the adult butterfly eats a different part of the milkweed plant – the nectar of the milkweed flowers. As an added benefit, when the adult butterfly drinks flower nectar, it pollinates milkweed plants, which helps the plants reproduce. Thanks to the butterfly’s pollination services, a new generation of milkweed plants will grow, providing leaves for future caterpillars to eat!

A large yellow, black, and white striped caterpillar munches a leafy green milkweed plant.
A monarch butterfly caterpillar munches on milkweed.

Study Metamorphosis with Wild Earth Lab!

Whether you’re teaching your students about the metamorphosis of amphibians or insects, I’ve got the perfect learning resources for you! These sets include all the printable materials you need for studying amphibians and aquatic insects – including life cycle diagrams and much, much more!

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References and Further Reading

  1. Clark, M.A., Douglas, M., and Choi, J. (2018). Biology. Open Stax. Ch 29.3. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-3-amphibians
  2. Fowler, S., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. OpenStax. Ch 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  3. Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (n.d.). Marvelous Metamorphosis. Available: https://nhmlac.org/marvelous-metamorphosis
  4. San Diego Zoo (n.d.). Salamander and Newt. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/salamander-and-newt
  5. Wake, DB and Koo, MS. 2018. Primer: Amphibians. Current Biology 28(21): R1237-R1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.028

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Understanding Amphibians: 5 Key Traits

drawings of multiple amphibians
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Amphibians are some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth, bridging the gap between water and land with unique adaptations. Understanding amphibian traits can help students grasp key biological concepts like life cycles, metamorphosis, and environmental adaptations. Whether you’re teaching about frogs, salamanders, or caecilians, exploring what makes amphibians special is a great way to spark curiosity about the natural world.

๐Ÿ“šA Note for Teachers ๐ŸŽ: If youโ€™re an educator planning to teach amphibians, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Amphibian Unit (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Recommended products:

What Are Amphibians?

Poster of Types of Amphibians

Before we dive into the traits of amphibians, it helps to answer the question “what are amphibians?”. Amphibians are a group of vertebratesโ€”animals with backbonesโ€”that share some key traits. There are seven classes of vertebrates on Earth: amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles, and three types of fish.

But how do scientists know which animals belong in each class? It all comes down to family trees! Each class of vertebrates shares a common ancestor from long ago. If you traced their lineage back far enough, youโ€™d find that all amphibiansโ€”frogs, salamanders, and moreโ€”descend from the same ancient relative. Thatโ€™s why a salamander is more closely related to a frog than to a reptile like a lizard.

Thanks to their shared lineage, amphibians share some characteristics. In this post, we’ll discover some key amphibian traits…

A Backbone

Like all vertebrates, amphibians must have a backbone. A backbone is actually made of many individual, smaller bones called vertebrae, all stacked up in a flexible column. Amphibiansโ€™ spines help us tell them apart from invertebrate (backbone-less) creatures like insects and mollusks.

Cold-Blooded

Ever wonder why you see a frog sitting out on a lily pad in the sun? Amphibians are cold-blooded or ectothermic animals, which means their body temperature depends on the temperature of the air or water around them. They must rely on external (outside of themselves) heat sources to stay warm rather than making their own body heat.

When amphibians need to warm up, they sun themselves. If they get too hot, they go into cool water, underground, or find shade. Because they rely on external heat sources, their temperature varies a lot.  Amphibians, reptiles, and most fish are cold-blooded animals.

Moist, Permeable Skin

One of their most distinctive features is their moist, scale-free skin. Amphibians, even the ones that look bumpy, like toads, never have scales. This is one of the key differences between amphibians and reptiles.

To stay hydrated, amphibians usually live in damp environments or near water. Their skin contains special mucus glands to keep it moist. Itโ€™s also permeable, allowing water and gases to pass through. This means amphibians can absorb water and even breathe through their skin! However, most species also have lungs or gills for breathing.

Metamorphosis

Salamander Life Cycle Diagram

Another trait of amphibians is metamorphosisโ€”a dramatic transformation during their life cycle. For example, a tadpole with gills and a tail changes into an adult frog with lungs and legs.

Most amphibians go through metamorphosis, but there are a few types of amphibians that are exceptions. Some species of caecilians, a group of legless amphibians, develop differently and donโ€™t go through metamorphosis the way frogs and salamanders do.

Carnivorous

Finally, all adult amphibians are carnivores. Often, they hunt and eat small invertebrates – little animals without a backbone – like insects and worms. However, some large amphibians like bullfrogs will even hunt small vertebrates like smaller amphibians, reptiles, and even mammals like mice.

While adult amphibians are carnivores, larval amphibians often are not. This is because before going through metamorphosis, they are more suited to eating plant matter. For example, a tadpole lives in a pond and eats plant matter before it grows up into a frog that eats insects.

Study Amphibians with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect amphibians lesson โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying amphibians.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed learning about amphibian traits in this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom!

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References and Further Reading

  1. Clark, M.A., Douglas, M., and Choi, J. (2018). Biology. Open Stax. Ch 29.3. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-3-amphibians
  2. Fowler, S., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. OpenStax. Ch 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  3. San Diego Zoo (n.d.). Salamander and Newt. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/salamander-and-newt
  4. Wake, DB and Koo, MS. 2018. Primer: Amphibians. Current Biology 28(21): R1237-R1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.028

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Stargazing Guide: Plan a Night Sky Field Trip for Kids

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There’s nothing quite like stepping outside on a clear night and gazing up at the stars. A night sky field trip is a fantastic way to bring hands-on science and astronomy into your homeschool or learning groupโ€”no expensive equipment is required! With just a little planning, you can explore the wonders of the universe, from identifying constellations to spotting planets, meteor showers, and more. In this guide, you’ll find simple steps to help you prepare, along with tips for making your stargazing adventure a success. Grab a blanket, check the night sky forecast, and get ready for an unforgettable learning experience under the stars!

A Note for Teachers:ย If youโ€™re an educator planning toย teach the night sky, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love myย complete printable Night Sky Unit (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Purpose

The purpose of this field trip is to observe some of the night sky phenomena that your class studied during your space & night sky unit. Students can practice identifying night sky objects, including lunar phases, constellations, planets, and more.

Suggested Materials

  • Constellation information cards – printable cards are included in my night sky unit and also sold as individual printable sets for Zodiac and Northern Hemisphere constellations
  • Compass
  • A star chart
  • Flashlight
  • Warm layers
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Telescope (optional)
  • Student worksheets – available in my night sky unit

Preparations

  • To find constellations, I recommend finding a star chart for your location and season in advance. For example, you can find online star charts from websites like Stellarium Web or Sky and Telescope (external links).
  • In advance, look up any night sky phenomena you expect to observe. Here are a few helpful web links for staying in the know about what’s happening in the night sky (external links):

Directions

  1. Go to a dark, open area away from city lights and tall trees/buildings that block the view of the sky.
  2. Find the Moon and identify the phase.
  3. Use the compass to orient yourself. This will help you interpret the star chart.
  4. Use the star chart to identify constellations in your area.
  5. Northern Hemisphere only: use the constellation Ursa Minor to locate the North Star (Polaris). The North Star never moves in the sky, while the rest of the stars and constellations rotate around it over time. This makes the North Star useful for navigation.
  6. If itโ€™s dark enough, find the Milky Way. The Milky Way looks like a grayish band across the night sky.
  7. Locate any planets currently visible in the night sky. Once you locate a planet, view it through your binoculars or telescope, if possible. Does it look different from the stars?
  8. Take note of any other night sky phenomena, which may vary depending on your location and the time of year. E.g., meteor showers, satellites, lunar eclipse, polar lights, etc…

Related Activities

Looking for more ways to explore outer space in your classroom or homeschool? Try this solar system distances lab or this constellations snack activity. You can also check out this list of 11 outer space activity ideas and this guide to 9 sun and star activities!

Everything you need to learn about the night sky:

Trying to plan the perfect Night Sky lesson for your classroom or homeschool to go along with your night sky field trip? Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying night sky objects and outer space!

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

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Types of Amphibians: Frogs, Salamanders, and More!

Illustrations of frogs and salamanders
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Amphibians are a diverse group of vertebrate animals. They come in many shapes and sizesโ€”from long-tailed salamanders to tailless frogs and even legless caecilians! Some are huge, like giant salamanders that grow to nearly six feet (two meters) long, while others are so tiny they could sit on your pinky finger. Amphibians also display striking colors, like the brightly patterned fire salamander or the brilliantly huedโ€”but toxicโ€”poison dart frog. In this post, we’ll explore the different types of amphibians – some you’ve probably seen before, and perhaps a few you’ve never heard of!

๐Ÿ“šA Note for Teachers ๐ŸŽ: If youโ€™re an educator planning to teach amphibians, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my complete Amphibian Unit (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Recommended products:

There are 3 main types of amphibians: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. Each has its own unique characteristics, described below.

Frogs and Toads

green frog
close up shot of a frog
  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Anura

Key traits

Frogs and toads are amphibians with four limbs and no tails as adults. They also have powerful hind legs and vocal sacs for croaking. Frogs and toads start their lives in water as aquatic larvae called tadpoles. As tadpoles, they have gills and a tail for swimming. As frogs develop, they grow lungs and most species can come onto land. There are, however, some frogs that are aquatic as adults, such as African clawed frogs.

But even adult frogs like to live in damp habitats to help keep their moist skin from drying out. Frogs, like all amphibians, have moist skin rather than scales – one of the differences between reptiles and amphibians. Their skin is permeable, allowing them to drink water and breathe air through their skin.

Examples of Frogs and Toads

  • Bullfrog
  • Grass frog
  • Tree frog
  • Poison dart frog
  • Common toad
  • African clawed frog

Fun Fact

There are about 5,000 different species of frog worldwide! They are found on 6 of 7 continents (everywhere but Antarctica).

Salamanders

Small red-orange colored newt crawls over fallen leaves and detritus.
purple tropical axolotl
  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Urodela

Key traits

Salamanders are amphibians with long, thin tails and usually four limbs. Like all amphibians, they have moist skin that they can breathe through. Most salamanders also have gills, lungs, or even both at different stages of their life cycle. Like frogs, most salamanders go through metamorphosis. The larvae are often aquatic, with no limbs, tails for swimming, and frilly-looking external gills around their necks. Adults may live in water, on land, or both, depending on the species. Like all amphibians, adult salamanders are carnivores – often they eat small invertebrates.

Perhaps you’re wondering, what is the difference between a salamander and a newt? A newt is one type of salamander. So while all newts are salamanders, not all salamanders are newts.

Examples of Salamanders

  • Tiger salamander
  • Giant Salamander
  • Newt
  • Axolotl
  • Amphiuma

Fun Facts

Salamanders struggle to lift their bodies off the ground due to the position of their limbs on the sides of their bodies. To walk on land, they must wiggle from side to side while dragging their bodies across the ground.

The axolotl is a species of salamander that never grows up (sort of)! Even as an adult, it lives in water and has gills like a larva.

Caecilians

  • Class: Amphibia
  • Order: Gymnophiona

Key traits

The third type of amphibian is caecilians. If you’ve never heard of them or seen one, don’t worry! They are only found in the tropics, and they live underground, burrowing in the soil.

Caecilians are different from other amphibians in several ways. They have no legs, and long, worm-like bodies with grooves or rings that look like segments. Furthermore, caecilians don’t go through metamorphosis like frogs and salamanders.

Fun Facts

Though they have no legs, caecilians evolved from a legged ancestor. Over many generations, they lost their legs since they didnโ€™t need them to survive in their habitat.

What’s Next?

Continue reading about the different types of reptiles or the different types of mammals. Or learn about the differences between reptiles and amphibians.

Study this topic with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect lesson for teaching amphibians  โ€“ Iโ€™ve already created it for you! This set includes all the printable materials you need for studying amphibians.

Explore more lessons from Wild Earth Lab:

If you enjoyed this post, I know you will love trying my other printable science and nature units in your classroom too!

View All Units
Build-Your-Own Bundle & Save!

Are you interested in reading more posts like this? Subscribe or follow Wild Earth Lab using the links below!

References and Further Reading

  1. Black, R. (2012). Worldโ€™s Smallest Frog Discovered. BBC News. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-16491477
  2. Clark, M.A., Douglas, M., and Choi, J. (2018). Biology. Open Stax. Ch 29.3. Available: https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/29-3-amphibians
  3. Fowler, S., et al. (2013). Concepts in Biology. OpenStax. Ch 15.6. Available: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/15-6-vertebrates
  4. San Diego Zoo (n.d.). Chinese Giant Salamander. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/chinese-giant-salamander
  5. San Diego Zoo (n.d.). Goliath Frog. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/goliath-frog
  6. San Diego Zoo (n.d.). Salamander and Newt. Available: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/salamander-and-newt
  7. Wake, DB and Koo, MS. 2018. Primer: Amphibians. Current Biology 28(21): R1237-R1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.028

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Learning in Nature: 5 outdoor educational activities to try this summer!

children with clipboards wading in a shallow river
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Are you a parent or educator looking for fun ways to take learning outside this summer? Whether you’re reviewing math and science concepts from the school year or looking for ways to connect with your local ecosystems, I’ve got you covered with these 5 outdoor educational activities!

In this post, you’ll find directions for nature activities for learning outside this summer! From catching aquatic macroinvertebrates to measuring the infiltration rates of soils, your students are sure to enjoy these fun outdoor learning activities!

Before we dive in:ย If youโ€™re an educator or parent looking for fun outdoor educational activities, great learning resources are key to deepening understanding! I think you and your students will love my Earth & environmental science units (plus youโ€™ll support my blog with your purchase! โค๏ธ)

Stream Measurements

painting showing three people taking measurements in a stream
Illustration of students measuring the width and depth of a stream!

For this activity, learn how to measure water flow with your students as a river field trip activity! With a few household items, you can collect river measurements. All you need are some simple measurement tools like a tape measure, yardstick, and stopwatch!

Water resource scientists, called hydrologists, collect stream measurements to ensure we are not using our water resources too quickly or in unsustainable ways. In this hands-on activity, students will not only practice math and measurements, but they’ll also learn about how scientists measure and study our rivers!

Directions for Stream Measurements

Catch Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

types of aquatic macroinvertebrates
A poster of the types of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
A cartoon of two people in a river using a net to catch aquatic insects
A diagram showing two students collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates in a stream using a net.

Catching aquatic macroinvertebrates is a memorable and educational field trip experience your students will love! Aquatic macroinvertebrates are little creatures like insect larvae and crayfish found at the bottoms of most ponds and streams. Just flip over a few river rocks or submerged logs near the shore of a pond and you’re likely to spot a macroinvertebrate underneath!

But here’s the cool part: macroinvertebrates are bioindicators – creatures that teach us a lot about the overall health of their ecosystems! That makes this outdoor activity a great way to review your classroom studies of biodiversity, bioindicators, entomology, or aquatic food webs. It’s also a great way to build connections with local ecosystems – almost any pond or small stream will work for this activity!

Macroinvertebrate Activity Directions

Measure the heights of trees using math!

A diagram showing how to find the height of a tree, with equations. Line 1: tree height above eye level equals distance times tan of angle. Second line: tree height equals eye level plus tree height above eye level.
This diagram shows how you can calculate the height of a tree using math!

Unless you are measuring a short seedling, you probably wonโ€™t be able to measure tree height directly because you canโ€™t reach the top. So how do you measure something so tall? Answer: use an inclinometer and trigonometry!

I donโ€™t know about you, but I think math is more interesting when we can apply it to real-world situations! If youโ€™re reviewing trigonometry, right triangles, or angles in your classroom or homeschool, you and your students will love this tree-height appliedย math activity! In this simple learning activity, students will learn how to make a homemade inclinometer โ€“ a device for measuring the angle of inclination. Then, they will take measurements and calculate the height of a tree in this outdoor educational activity.

Tree Height Directions

Outdoor Experiment for Climate Change & Sea Ice

yellow arrows from the sun bouncing off of ice but not water
Sea ice is more reflective than ocean water.
two tubs of water, one covered in foil
Materials for a sea ice experiment.

A sunny summer day is the perfect time for this outdoor activity that’s all about heat, solar radiation, and reflection! For this activity, all you need is a warm sunny day, containers with cold water, foil, and a thermometer!

ย In this outdoor educational activity, students will create a model of sea ice and ocean water albedo using aluminum foil and two tubs of water. Students will track the temperature in a covered and uncovered tub on a sunny day. It’s a great way to learn about albedo and the impacts ofย positive feedback loopsย in climate change.

Sea Ice Experiment Directions

Measure Soil Infiltration Rates

sketches showing a tube being hammered into the soil then filled with water.
Steps for measuring soil infiltration rate

Summer is the perfect time to study soils! If you have a summer garden, you know the importance of healthy and permeable soil. Measuring soil infiltration rates is an activity that you can easily do in your garden with a few simple household items.

Why study soil infiltration? Infiltration rates of soils are important for many reasons. First, they are important in agriculture – different crops require soils that drain at different rates. Soil infiltration also plays a role in natural disasters like flooding and landslides. Finally, infiltration is an important part of the water cycle – when water seeps into the earth, it becomes part of the groundwater. Humans access groundwater with wells – an important source of water for drinking and growing plants!

Directions for Soil Infiltration

Learn in Nature with Wild Earth Lab!

Thereโ€™s no need to scramble to put together the perfect materials for your outdoor educational activitiesโ€“ Iโ€™ve already created them for you! Check out my Earth and environmental science units, complete sets of printable learning materials with activities, posters, handouts, and more!

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