WE SPY!!
Professor Tamandua talked about biomes yesterday, so that inspired us to go to the beautiful rainforest of South America.
We Spied this bird there! Can you guess who it is?
adventure
WE SPY!!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, birds, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!
SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!
Welcome to class! It’s time for summer school here at the University! I hear a rumor from Ellie and Edmond themselves that there will be some big changes coming to the website just in time for fall classes! Today we’re going to learn a great new word though!
Today’s word is Biome: is a major ecological type or region. There are aquatic and terrestrial biomes. Examples of terrestrial biomes are tropical rainforests, grasslands or tundras. Examples of aquatic biomes are coral reefs, estuaries and freshwater.
Tomorrow Ellie and Edmond will have a fun game of which animal goes in what biome! I so look forward to playing and hope you do too!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife
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Marsupials in Our Backyard!
Marsupials in Our Backyard!
Do you ever just go out in your own backyard or to a local park and notice that there is actually quite a bit of wildlife? Professor Tamanadua’s science word of the week was marsupial and the only marsupial in North America lives right in our backyard! Are you ready to meet them?
MEET THE VIRGINIA OPOSSUM!
Range/Habitat: North America-Central America/ woodlands, urban,
grasslands
Diet: Omnivore: grub, eggs, fruit, carrion
Length/Weight: 13-20”/ 4 ½-12 lbs
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial in North America. (Marsupials are mammals that give birth to very small young. The young then develop and grow in their mother’s pouch.)
- They are nocturnal (active at night).
- Virginia Opossums have hairless, prehensile tails. They can hang from their tails, but for only short periods of time.
- Virginia Opossums have opposable thumbs on their back paws.
- They have 50 teeth, the most of any North American mammal!
- Virginia Opossums can carry up to 13 babies in their pouches. They young leave the pouch after 70 days.
- Their most famous trait is their ability to “play dead” when they are threatened. They lay in a coma like state and can stay that way for up to 6 hours.
Opossums get a bad rap and we admit they aren’t the cutest thing in our back yards, but they are an essential part of the urban ecosystem! Plus, they are our only marsupial and we think that’s pretty cool!
The Devil from Down Under
The Devil from Down Under
If you guessed Tasmanian Devil yesterday- you were right! We love these tenacious little marsupials and we hope you will too after learning more about them!
Range/Habitat: Island of Tasmanian of coast of Australia/forest, scrub
Diet: Carnivore: carrion
Length/Weight: 23-26 inches/ 11-30 lbs
Conservation Status: endangered
Fun Facts:
- Tasmanian devils are the largest carnivorous marsupial on earth!
- They are known for the their creepy loud screams they make when threatened. Check out a video!
- Tasmanian devils can travel many miles to find food during the night.
- Tasmanian devils mothers give off a foul odor when threatened!
- Tasmanian devil moms have rear facing pouches.
- They give birth to up to 50 imps, but only 4 will survive.
- Tasmanian devils have a life span of 5-8 years.
- They are endangered, but places like the San Diego Zoo are helping protect them.
We think these little marsupials with the bad reputation. They are amazing creatures. Do you love them as much as we do?
Answer: False
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, endangered species, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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WE SPY!!
WE SPY!!
Today we spy with our four little eyes a marsupial who lives in Australia. Known for their feisty dispositions these carnivores are the opposite of an angel! Guess who we spy!
SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!
SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!
Welcome back to our summer session! I’m so glad to see everyone here in class! I had a lovely break and Ellie and Edmond had a nice weekend exploring the outdoors. I’m excited for this week’s word! Are you ready to learn today?
This week’s word is Marsupial: a marsupial is a mammal that gives live birth to very small young that climb into the mother’s pouch or marsupium to grow up in. The pouches are mostly on the outside of the mother’s pouch. Most marsupials live in Australia, except for several species of opossums- who live in North, Central and South America.
The Virginia Opossum lives in North America.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, fish, mammals, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife
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INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY!!
INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITY DAY!
Today we celebrate Biodiversity on our planet! 
We’re super excited to celebrate International Biodiversity Day! Not sure what biodiversity is? Check out Professor Tamandua’s explanation here!
Each habitat on earth is made up of many different living organisms and all of those organisms (plants, animals and fungus) rely on each other. If we loose the biodiversity in many habitats, then we could lose most of the species there.
Here’s a great example: Southern Sea Otters live off the coast of California. They live near kelp forests. When sea otter numbers dropped, the purple sea urchin (an otter’s favorite food) population grew. Purple sea urchins then began to eat the kelp and it began to disappear. Many other fish, crustaceans and other animals are dependent on that kelp for shelter and food. So see, without the otters the habitat is out of balance. As otter populations have come back so have the health of the kelp forest.
To learn more about what you can do to celebrate this important day- Check out the Convention of Biological Diversity Website. When we think of our earth’s habitats as whole living organisms we can not just protect one species, but many!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, science, wildlife
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BEAR NECESSITIES!
BEAR NECESSITIES!
We’re still celebrating Bear Appreciation Week with some fun bear facts and a coloring sheet!
BEAR FUN FACTS:
- Bears are highly intelligent.
- Polar bears are considered marine mammals.
- Bears have an excellent sense of smell.
- Bears can see in color.
- Some territories in Canada have polar bear shaped license plates!
- Most bears are classified as omnivores. Panda bears only eat bamboo though.
- There are 8 species of bears.
- There are no bear species found in Africa.
- Bears are bowlegged.
- Bears are related to seals!
We love bears! Each species is so different and amazing! Do you have a favorite bear species? Print our bear coloring sheet and show us your favorite!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, bears, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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HERE COMES THE SUN!
HERE COMES THE SUN!
It’s Bear Appreciation Week and we thought we would spotlight this super cute bear! We’re traveling to Southeast Asia today to meet a very handsome bear with a funny long tongue! Grab your gear we’re heading into the rainforest!
MEET THE SUN BEAR!
Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforest
Diet: Omnivore: fruit, shoots, eggs, honey, termites
Length/Weight: 3 ½-4 ½ ft/ 110-145 lbs
Conservation Status: endangered
Fun Facts:
- Sun bears are also called the dog bear or honey bear.
- They have sleek, smooth brown-black fur with a white-orangeish “sun” patch on their chest.
- They have very loose skin around their neck.
- Sun bears are the smallest member of the bear family.
- They have very long claws for climbing and digging for insects and honey.
- Sun bears have very long tongues that they can extend up to 10”. They use these tongues to get termites and honey.
- Sun bears are nocturnal (active at night).
- They spend most of their time in trees.
Sun bears are just so adorable. They are endangered mainly due to habitat loss. There are lots of things that we can do to ensure our rainforests are kept intact. We love The Rainforest Site, because all you have to do is click once a day and money goes to save habitat for great animals such as our Sun Bear pal!
WE SPY!!
WE SPY!!
We are back from vacation, but still playing a bit of catch-up! It’s bear appreciation week and we wonder if you can guess which species we spotted on vacation! We were in Florida is your only clue!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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Today’s Post
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 