vocabulary

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Hello and Happy Monday! I’m so happy to see everyone here at the University! We have a great science word for you today! Today’s word is Mermaid’s Purse!

A Mermaid’s purse is the egg that some ray and shark species lay. The casing is made of protein and surrounds a fertilized egg. Mermaid’s purses are laid by the female and left until the egg hatches. Often people find the empty casings on the shore.

Have any of you seen a real mermaid’s purse?

Mermaids purses- not sure of the species

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!!

Welcome back to class everyone! We had a great fall break here at the University! I’m excited to get to this week’s word though!

This week’s word is Biodiversity! Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. Biodiversity exists on many different levels and in many different habitats. Biodiversity can include giraffes, elephants and all the gazelles on the savannas in Africa. Biodiversity can also include the small animals in a tide pool. We could go on on about biodiversity. When scientists study habitats they often look at the biodiversity of that habitat. If a habitat has many kinds of animals and plants, it can mean that habitat is healthy. Ellie and Edmond have made you a biodiversity coloring sheet!

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Welcome back to class everyone! We have a great word for this week- are you ready?

This week’s word is Compound Eye: a compound eye is made of up of many light sensitive units that form the retina of the animal. Insects and crustaceans are the creatures we see the most with compound eyes.

Aren’t compound eyes cool?

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Hello everyone! We’re ready to learn here at the University and I hope you are too!

This week’s word is Melanism: an increased amount of black coloration in the fur, feathers and scales. Some melanistic animals include the black jaguar. They appear black, but you can see the famous jaguar spots if you look close enough.

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Hello students! I am so excited to see you this week! I hear Ellie and Edmond have some frighteningly good feature animals for you in the next few weeks, because we all know October is the month for tricks or treats! I know I”ll look forward to meeting these animals! This week for our science word, we’re talking about another genetic mutation that is similar to albino. Today’s science word is Leucistic: leucistic animals have a genetic mutation that causes them to lose some color- but not all, like in albino animals. Leucistic animals can have colored eyes or light stripes or color on parts of their body.

We have some examples of leucistic animals for you in these pictures!

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!!

Hello students and friends! We’re excited to see everyone this week in class! Ellie and Edmond just returned from a trip to Florida where they met some baby alligators and their moms- very exciting stuff! Let’s get on with our word of the week!

Albino- an animal that has a genetic mutation that causes them to have no pigmentation or color. Albino animals are all white and usually have pink eyes. Albino animals often do not survive well in the wild, as they lack the camouflage they need to help them survive. We have some examples of albino animals here:

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Hello everyone! I sure hope everyone had a great weekend! Who’s ready to learn the new word for this week?

Let’s get right to it! This week’s word is Venomous!

Venomous: an animal is venomous when they have a toxin that is injected, by a bite or sting. Animals like snakes and spiders are what we usually first think of when we think of a venomous animal. But so are a lot of insects, like wasps. And did you know that the platypus is venomous? Crazy, huh? Most venomous animals use their venom to catch prey, but some use it as a defense mechanism. Venom can cause everything from irritation to death. Ack!

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Welcome back to class everyone! Who’s excited to learn a new word? Ellie and Edmond have told me that they will announce the art contest winners this week! I know I am excited about that! Now let’s get on with the word of the week!

Poisonous/Poison: a toxic substance that is administered through touch or being ingested.  Animals that are poisonous use it as a defense mechanism. Animals that poisonous include poison dart frogs and puffer fish. Some poison dart frogs can kill their predators, including humans with one single touch of their skin. Puffer fish tissue is full of toxins that will kill predators.

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Welcome back students! We here at the University hope you had a lovely holiday if you had the day off yesterday!

We’re starting off the new week with a great word! So who’s ready to learn?

This week’s word is Mimicry: this is when one animal copies the behavior or appearance of an another animal to help protect them from predators.

There are loads of great examples of mimics in nature! I found a few pictures of animal mimics for you!

The Monarch is on the left and the Viceroy is on the right! Monarchs are toxic to birds, so it is beneficial to the viceroy to look like them!

Here in the U.S, we have a snake called the Eastern Coral Snake, a very venomous fellow. The King snake mimics their coloration to keep predators like hawks away! We have a saying to remember which is which: Red touches yellow, kills a fellow. Red touches black, friend of Jack.