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Activity ideas Earth Science

Phases of Water: phase changes and classroom activity!

There are three phases of water. Water can transition between these phases via six different phase changes. In this post, learn about each one, then try out the phases of water classroom activity at the end! Ice (solid) Water molecules are packed closely together and bonded in a rigid pattern, such that they cannot move […]

Categories
Activity ideas Earth Science

Measuring Snow: hands-on classroom activity to learn about snow hydrology and the water cycle!

If you live somewhere that gets snow in winter, you’ve likely measured the depth of snow before! But with a few extra steps, you can turn this simple task into an awesome, hands-on snow measurements lab activity for your classroom. By measuring snow and performing calculations, we can determine snow water equivalent, stored water, and […]

Categories
Amazing Wildlife

Types of Mammals: the difference between monotremes, marsupials, and placentals

Life’s beginning varies a lot among mammals. We can group mammals into three main categories based on how their babies come into the world. The main types of mammals are called monotremes, marsupials, and placentals. Monotremes Most mammals give birth to live babies instead of laying eggs. However, there are a couple of exceptions: platypuses […]

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Amazing Wildlife Ecology

What is a keystone species? Definition and four examples!

A keystone species is an organism that plays an exceptionally large role in its ecosystem. It provides materials or services that enrich the lives of other organisms in the ecosystem. Without the keystone species, the ecosystem would look very different and other organisms that rely on the keystone species would suffer. Now, let’s look at […]

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Botany Ecology

The Saguaro Cactus Life Cycle: step-by-step guide with pictures!

Some saguaro cacti live for 200 years or longer! Saguaros grow very slowly. The speed of growth depends on many factors such as precipitation, temperature, and soil quality. Let’s explore the saguaro cactus life cycle in five steps! Notice that desert animals play a key role in two of these steps. Before we dive in: If […]

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Botany

Types of Cacti: explore the diversity of cactus species! With pictures!

There are many types of cacti, which are found in dry places and deserts. Cacti are succulent plants. Succulent plants are thick and fleshy for storing water. While all cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti. Cacti are unique because they have areoles – cushion-like bumps that cover the outside of a cactus. One […]

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General

New at Wild Earth Lab this Fall: study earth science, math, art, and more!

Get ready! A lot is new at Wild Earth Lab this fall! Stay up to date on my latest units, free resources, and more! Below, I’ve put together a list of my most recent science units, freebies, blog posts, and upcoming sale dates at Wild Earth Lab! I hope my newest creations bring joy to […]

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Earth Science

Plate Tectonics: the difference between convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries

Earth’s lithosphere (surface) is broken into massive, irregularly-shaped pieces, called tectonic plates. Some of the plates are so large that they span entire continents. Others are smaller. Tectonic plates sit atop a denser, soft part of the mantle called the asthenosphere. If you need a refresher, view my Layers of the Earth post. The theory […]

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Earth Science

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 different layers of the Earth move: for example, do they flow easily? Are […]

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Activity ideas

5 Outdoor Math Activities with Real World Applications

If you are 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!

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