|
Loons
Students will become amateur experts on this Minnesota icon, known for its haunting call and unusual red eyes. This in-depth study of loons and their habits was developed
by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Migration and Flight
Geese flying south signal winter's approach to most Minnesotans, but this phenomenon is only one part of the great migration story. Students will calculate the migration of
several bird species, construct a model of a bird wing, and compare their own "wingspans" to various Minnesota birds.
EARTH SCIENCE
Archaeology and Paleontology
Draw connections between your students and the discovery-rich disciplines of archeology and paleontology. Identify fossils and artifacts (included in the kit), make a mold
and cast, and recreate and archeological dig.
Rocks and Minerals of Minnesota
In this highly interactive kit, students learn about the forces that created their state as they study the beauty and diversity of Minnesota geology. Using actual rock and
mineral samples, students will learn to make identifications using streak plates, their senses of smell and touch, and visual observations.
FROGS, AND FLIES
Amphibians and Reptiles
Challenge your students' assumptions about some of earth's most misunderstood creatures. Find out if snakes really are slimy and whether tadpoles, frogs, and toads are
actually the same animal.
Fish in Minnesota
Who can name Minnesota's state fish? In six interactive learning stations, students will learn the identity of this fish (the walleye) and will identify
several other common Minnesota fish using a simple taxonomic key, a fish dictionary, and a "What Fish Am I?" game.
Insects in Your Backyard
Students take a closer look at insects, which make up 75 percent of known animal species. Working with preserved specimens, students explore insect life cycles and learn
identification techniques.
HABITAT STUDIES
Habitats of Minnesota
In this learning kit, students explore the nature of habitats, including the related concepts of adaptation and survival. Hands-on materials such as a wolf skin, bird study
skins, and animal skulls enhance the lessons.
Temperate and Tropical Forests
Where does a black pine sawyer live? What is a coati mundi? Learn this and more as you compare and contrast mammals, birds, insects, and reptiles from temperate and tropical
forests.
HOT TOPICS
BWCA Wilderness
Engaging lessons and activities introduce students to the history, science, and social science of one of Minnesota's most treasured resources. The Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness Kit is an interactive, hands-on curriculum that includes a video, games, and maps.
Exotic Aquatics
Students may be surprised to learn that plants like purple loosestrife and Eurasian water milfoil pose a real threat to Minnesota's environment. Through specimen
identification and other hands-on activities, students begin to understand how these and other non-native aquatic species are destroying the delicate natural balance
of our lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
MAMMALS |