Posts Tagged With: animals

SEA STAR BEAN BAG

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SEA STAR BEAN BAG

We’re making stuffed sea star bean bags for World’s Oceans Day! We hope you like them! Share your photos of your sea stars too!

MATERIALS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Sea Star Pattern
  • Scissors
  • Felt (any color)
  • Hot glue gun (used by an adult)
  • Flax seed or stuffing
  • Funnel
  • Sharpie
  • Pom poms or googly eyes

Directions:

1)   Cut out pattern.

2)   Cut out two sea stars on felt.

3)   Hot glue the two pieces together, leaving a small opening.

4)   Put the flax seed in the sea star. If you don’t have a funnel, you can easily make one with paper, by rolling it in a cone shape. If you don’t have flax seed, stuffing or small dry beans will work too.

5)   Make sure you don’t overstuff it. Then glue the opening shut.

6)   Glue on the eyes and draw on the mouth.

You’re done! Toss your sea star, use him as a paper weight, or just give him a hug!

Categories: Animals, Children, crafts, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, sea stars, wildlife, Worlds Oceans Day | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WORLD OCEANS DAY!!

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY WORLD’S OCEANS DAY!!

We’re celebrating the world’s oceans and their inhabitants today! The oceans of the world are magnificent in many ways! We land dwelling creatures have a hard time wrapping our heads around the oceans’ size and depth! Today we’re going to celebrate this watery habitat by sharing some fun facts and photos! We’ll also be sharing ways for you to help keep our oceans clean and healthy! And please share with us what you love about the ocean and its animals!

  • It’s estimated that 50-80% of life on earth live in the ocean.
  • The oceans have 99% of living space on the planet!
  • Humans have only explored 5-10% of the world’s oceans.
  • The oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface!
  • The deepest point in the ocean is the Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean!
  • The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on earth!
  • The oceans absorb CO2 to help keep our air clean.
  • The ocean absorbs heat from the atmosphere and distributes that warmth around the planet!

Wow! The ocean is sooo large and strange! Can you believe humans have only explored 10% of them? We have so much to learn! Let’s check out some photos of the some of the wild and wonderful creatures that call the ocean their home!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is vital that we keep the world’s oceans clean and healthy not just for the animals that call it home, but for the land dwelling animals too! Want to know some easy ways to help? Well, we have those for you right here!

  • Pick up your trash! Trash can float into the ocean and it is often mistaken for food by many animals!
  • Pick up your pet’s waste. Poop is not good for anyone J!
  • Participate in a local beach or river clean-up! Remember that all rivers eventually make their ways to the oceans and so can the trash in them.
  • Use cloth or reusable bags when shopping. Plastic bags are a big killer of ocean life. Sea turtles especially mistake them for their favorite food- jellies.
  •  Eat Sustainable Seafood. We are eating many species in to extinction. Check out Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program! They even have a smart phone app that helps you pick out the best seafood to eat!
  • When you fish, make sure you throw away extra line and hooks. The hooks can become embedded in all kinds of creatures and the line can be swallowed or wrap around an animal.
  • Cut up your soda six pack rings.
  • RECYCLE!
  • Join an organization that works to protect the world’s oceans, like the Ocean Conservancy!
  • Visit your local aquarium and learn about some amazing animals! Also learn what your aquarium is doing for conservation! 
Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, mammals, nature, oceans, octopus, penguins, science, turtles, wildlife, Worlds Oceans Day | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 37

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY# 37

We’re off to Africa today to meet our Super Surprise animal of the day! We’ve found an amazing amphibian friend in the grasslands and ponds! Get ready to watch them move, because they like to walk more than hop! Are you ready to go?

MEET THE BUBBLING KASSINA!

   Range/Habitat: Central-Southeast Africa/ grasslands near ponds

   Diet: Carnivore: spiders, insects

   Length: 1 ¼-2”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Bubbling Kassinas are members of the tree frog family.
  • They are also called the Senegal Running Frog.
  • Bubbling kassinas are great at walking. They do not hop as much as other frogs.
  • They have slender limbs and slightly webbed feet.
  • Their coloration varies from yellow to grey with black and brown blotches.
  • Bubbling kassinas live on the ground.

These great frogs have amazing camouflage! People who live in Africa near these frogs love to hear them at night during the breeding season! We love hanging out at night to listen to frogs “sing” too.

  

Categories: amphibians, Animals, Children, education, Environment, frogs, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 37

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 37

We’re hoping in the Ellie and Edmond submarine today to meet one of the oceans powerful predators! We have room for you, so jump in and let’s see where this trip will take us!

MEET THE CREVALLE JACK!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern Atlantic Ocean/ deep sea and coast lines

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks, crabs

   Length/Weight: up to 4 ft/ up to 70 lbs

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Crevalle jacks have large blunt heads and a black spot on their gill covering.
  • They are the largest of all jacks.
  • They have deep forked tails.
  • Crevalle jacks often cruise in schools or pairs.
  • They are powerful and fast predators.
  • Juvenile Crevalle jacks are often found in brackish (part fresh-part salt water) habitats.

 

These great fish sure are fantastic! They are just another important part of the vast ecosystem of the world’s oceans! We always have to remember that each creature great and small has its place!

 

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, space, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 37

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 37

We’re staying in the North American woods today to find a little reptile who lives in ponds! Grab your bug spray and your waders because we’re off to find this great reptile!

MEET THE WOOD TURTLE!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Canada-Northern United States/ponds, woods,

streams

   Diet: Omnivore: worms, slugs, leaves, insects

   Length: 5 ½-7 ½”

   Conservation Status: endangered

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Wood turtles are diurnal (active during the day).
  • They are excellent climbers.
  • Wood turtles have pyramid shaped scutes.
  • Wood turtles have perfect coloration to camouflage in their habitat.
  • They hibernate in rivers in winter.
  • Wood turtles are intelligent and have excellent homing skills (finding their way back to their habitat).
  • They can live up to 40 years.

Wood turtles are really amazing turtles. Scientists have even tested these turtles in mazes and they do as well as rats! Pretty cool! They are endangered though, primarily due to habitat loss and taking the turtles from the wild. Turtles can make great pets, but it is very important that if you get a turtle, you get them from reputable breeder and not the wild!

 

  

 

 

Categories: Animals, backyard, Children, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, rivers, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 37

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY # 37

We’ve found a cute teeny tiny little mammal from North America for Mammal Monday! Ssssshh… be very quiet and step lightly. Grab your night vision goggles because we’re going on a night hike!

MEET THE WHITE FOOTED MOUSE!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Canada-Mexico/forests, grasslands

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, berries, seeds, insects

   Length/Weight: 3 ½-4 ½ “/ ½-1 oz

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

  • White footed mice have white feet and long tails.
  • They are nocturnal (active at night).
  • White footed mice live in pairs or alone.
  • White footed mice live in dens under rocks or near tree roots.
  • They are excellent climbers and swimmers.
  • White footed mice drum their feet when they are alarmed.

Aren’t these little mammals just the cutest? There are so many members of the rodent family and each one has their own niche in the habitat. Cool, huh?

      

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 36

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY# 36

We’ve strapped on our hiking gear today to meet the world’s largest hummingbird high in the Andes Mountains! We’ll need some hiking snacks and binoculars to catch a glimpse of this bird! Are you ready to do this? Let’s go meet the…

MEET THE GIANT HUMMINGBIRD!

   Range/Habitat: Western South America/ mountains

   Diet: Herbivore: nectar

   Length/Weight: 8-9”/ 5/8-11/16 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • The Giant Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird on the planet.
  • They eat mostly nectar, usually from agave plants.
  • Giant Hummingbirds often glide when flying.
  • They are brownish-green and much less colorful than most other hummingbirds.
  • Giant hummingbirds often live in high altitudes.

These amazing birds live in a special habitat. They are big for hummingbirds, but only weigh a fraction of what other species of birds their sizes do! Cool!

     

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 36

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE  THURSDAY# 36

We’re traveling to Europe today to meet a beautiful predator today! These mammals have tufts on their ears and gorgeous coats of fur! Grab your camping gear because we’re going into the woods! Oh yeah and don’t forget the marshmallows!

MEET THE EURASIAN LYNX!

   Range/Habitat: Northern Europe-East Asia/ forests, mountains

   Diet: Carnivore: deer, goats, hares

   Length/Weight: 2 ½-4 ¼ ft/ 18-70 lbs

  Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Eurasian Lynx have one of the widest ranges of all cats.
  • They are the largest of the lynx species.
  • Eurasian lynx have tufts of fur on their ears!
  • They can have stripes or spots or plain colored fur.
  • Eurasian lynx can take down prey that are 4 times their size.
  • Eurasian lynx make a wide range of vocalizations. They will “chatter” at prey like domestic cats.
  • They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).

The Eurasian lynx is a really neat cat! We especially love their ears. Did you know that their cousins to the bobcat? Tufted ears all around!

     

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 36

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 36

We are off to Africa today to meet a small but extraordinary fish! These little fish have been on the planet for a very long time! Let’s gear up and head out to meet these little animals!

MEET THE ORNATE BICHIR!

   Range/Habitat: Western-Central Africa/ lakes, rivers

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: up to 16”/ up to 18 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

  • Ornate bichirs are considered to be the most beautiful member of the bichir fish family.
  • They are beige with black markings.
  • Ornate bichirs are small and oblong.
  • They have armor like scales.
  • Ornate bichirs stalk and ambush their prey.
  • They can stay out of water and breathe regular air for short periods of time.

What? There’s a fish that can breathe air? That is some crazy stuff! We can tell you that this small elephant and horse cannot breathe under water, although Ellie can stick her trunk out of the water :)!

 

 

Categories: africa, Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, rivers, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 36

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 36

North Africa is the place to be today! We’ve backed our bags, sunscreen and hats to find this desert dwelling reptile! These little guys like to burrow so let’s get on our hands and knees and see what we can find!

MEET THE BERBER SKINK!

   Range/Habitat: North Africa- West Asia/ desert

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, spiders, snails, plants

   Length: 16-18”

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Berber skinks are also known as the Schneider’s skink.
  • They are the largest member of the skink family.
  • Berber skinks have orange scales on blue-gray backs.
  • They dig burrows under shrubs and bushes.
  • Berber skinks have long tails and short legs.
  • Female berber skinks lay 3-20 eggs. She then wraps herself around the eggs til they hatch.

These skinks sure are pretty with their colorful scales! We are such huge fans of all lizards! They are so diverse! They live in all kinds of habitats, come in all sizes and colors and have amazing adaptations! Do you have a favorite lizard?

  

 

 

 

 

Categories: africa, Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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