Let’s Talk Turkey

strut

Let’s talk turkey. Fall is the season for this noble animal, an historic bird and Benjamin Franklin’s pick for national bird. Turkeys have run wild through the United States for … Read more

Signs of Fall

oak tree

Lead students on a walk through a wooded area, schoolyard, local park, or neighborhood sidewalk to look for signs of fall and investigate why leaves of deciduous trees change color. … Read more

The Very Last Passenger Pigeon

passenger pigeon

“There will always be pigeons in books and museums, but these are effigies and images, dead to all hardships and all delights. They know no urge of the seasons, they … Read more

Phenomena and Authentic Data

cricket frog

All ages of students can prepare to be our next generation of biologists and scientists. Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting authentic (real-world) data is an important piece in all scientific investigations. … Read more

Things to do in your backyard!

shelter building

Share these ideas with your own children, the neighborhood group, your childcare provider, and think about adapting some of these ideas for the schoolyard playground and classroom! The loose-parts of … Read more

Get out! Go Camping!

tent

Join other families all across the country stepping outside to go camping – whether out in their backyards or at a campground – as part of the Great American Campout. … Read more

Sketching and journaling

journal

Much of our understanding of science comes from interpreting visual images. The images that accompany scientific writing can enhance our knowledge of a subject and can add more precision to … Read more

Nature Poetry

journaling

April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate with a study of nature poetry! Start by reading nature poems. Depending on the age and level of students, make a study of the … Read more

Learn about invasive species

zebra mussels

Learn more about Iowa invasive species as we celebrate National Invasive Species Awareness Week February 20-26, 2023. What are invasive species? Invasive species are species of organisms that are not … Read more

School Gardens

garden

Why a school garden? School gardens provide hands-on learning in a wide variety of disciplines including science, math, language arts, and visual arts. Being involved in school gardens gets students … Read more

Phenology at Play

acadian flycatcher

Looking back over the past year using observations of the natural world, you can start to see seasonal changes. Each week, each month, and each season brings newness to our … Read more