Posts Tagged With: science

HEDGEHOGS!!

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HEDGEHOGS!!

hedgie3

Well who read our history of Groundhog Day yesterday? If you missed it- you can catch up here.  Before there was a Groundhog Day, Romans used hedgehogs to help predict the weather. We thought because of this history we’d talk about hedgehogs today! Learn some facts and download a hedgehog coloring sheet!

hedgie2

Hedgehog Fun Facts:

  • Hedgehogs are found throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.
  • Hedgehogs route in grasses, bushes and hedges in search of their favorite prey- insects and grubs.
  • They often make a grunting noise while routing around for their prey.
  • Hedgehogs have an excellent sense of smell and hearing.
  • Hedgehogs are nocturnal.
  • They are covered in spines that are made up of the protein keratin. The spines are semi-hollow.
  • Hedgehogs have around 7,000 spines.
  • Hedgehogs ball up when threatened.
  • Hedgehogs hibernate in colder climates and rest during hot, dry seasons in hotter climates.
  • Hedgehogs are generally solitary.

hedgie

We love hedgehogs for so many reasons! Many people love to have them around their gardens because they eat insects that can destroy their foliage. We know we would love to have one in our garden!

hedgie color

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Weather Predicting Woodchuck!

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Meet a Weather Predicting Woodchuck…

Otherwise known as:

groundhog day UEE

It’s the day where groundhogs all around the United States predict the weather! This tradition goes back many years, so today I’m going to share some fun facts about these rodents!

groundhog

  • Groundhogs are also known as the Woodchuck.
  • Groundhogs live in North America in woodland and grassland habitats.
  • They are herbivore and eat seeds, fruits, grasses and the occasional insect.
  • Groundhogs are rodents and are the largest member of the ground squirrel or marmot family.
  • They are excellent at climbing and swimming.
  • Groundhogs burrow in the ground.
  • They gorge all fall to fatten up for their hibernation.

woodchuck2

  • Groundhogs hibernate in the winter.
  • They are known to whistle when threatened.

Groundhogs are great little creatures! Who knew they were related to squirrels? Do you have a famous groundhog where you live?  Get out your crayons and pencils class and enjoy this groundhog coloring sheet! -Professor Tamandua!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

This is Urchin…

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

This is Urchin…

Hehe! We just love a good pun! While we were exploring the kelp forests of Monterey Bay, we discovered these amazing creatures! They look like pin cushions, but they are live animals!

purple sea urchin

Range/Habitat: Southern Canada to Southern California/ coastal oceans, kelp forests
Diet: Herbivore: kelp, algae
Length: up to 3 inches in diameter
Conservation Status: vulnerable

Fun Facts:

  • Purple sea urchins are related to sea stars and sand dollars.
  • They have tube feet, pincers and purple spines. They use those tube feet to help move themselves.
  • Purple sea urchins call the rocky bottom of the kelp forest their home.
  • Sea otters and sunflower stars love to eat purple sea urchins!
Sunflower stars can swallow a purple urchin whole!

Sunflower stars can swallow a purple urchin whole!

Sea otters who consume large amounts of purple urchins have purple teeth!

Sea otters who consume large amounts of purple urchins have purple teeth!

 

  • Purple sea urchins can destroy a kelp forest if their numbers are not kept in check.
  • Young sea urchins have green spines!
  • Purple sea urchins breathe through their tube feet.

purple sea urchin2

Purple sea urchins are so cool! They are integral parts of the kelp forest habitat. They even have five segments, kind of like sea stars! We think we’ll stay away from those pointy spines though!

 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SEA OTTERS!

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SEA OTTERS!!

e & e otter

 We know we are aware of how stinking cute otters are! These comical creatures have faced being endangered over the years, but with the help of conservationists their numbers are increasing. Come learn some fun facts about these ottertastic mammals!

sea otter5sea otter4

Sea Otter Fun Facts:

  • Sea Otters are members of the weasel family!
  • Sea Otters live in the Pacific ocean along the North American shore and the Northern Asian shore.
  • Sea Otters spend most of their time in water. They will occasionally come ashore to rest.
  • Sea Otters’ fur is water repellant and very thick. They can have up to 1 million furs per square inch.
  • Sea Otters role in order to trap air bubbles in their fur. The air bubbles help keep them warm.
  • Sea Otters are often found floating on the surface of kelp forests. They will even wrap the kelp around themselves to keep anchored while sleeping
  • Sea Otters groom themselves constantly. This helps keep their fur clean and waterproof. 
  • Sea Otters use rocks to break some of their prey, including crabs and sea urchins.
  • Sea Otters help keep the balance in a kelp forest. One of their favorite prey, sea urchins eat kelp; and without the otters to keep the urchin population in check, the kelp would be gone!

sea otter3sea otter

 

 

 

 

 

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There are so many reasons to love sea otters and to protect them! There are many organizations that are working hard to make sure otters have a future in our oceans! Monterey Bay Aquarium has a great sea otter program.

What do you love about otters?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WE SPY!

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WE SPY!!

binoculars-we spy

We are hanging out in the kelp forests off the coast of California this week! We’ve spotted so many cool creatures! Can you guess this We Spy animal with no clue?

guess animal

WHO DID WE SPY WITH OUR E & E EYES?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

swow kelp forest

Welcome back to class! We have a great word for you this week- it’s a habitat and a pretty fantastic one at that! Are you ready to learn our word?

Today’s word is Kelp Forest: a kelp forest is a habitat that is found in cold coastal ocean waters. Kelp forests are made up of giant kelp that attaches itself to rocky ocean floors and grows to the surface of the water. The kelp requires sun to grow. Many animals including sea otters, fish, crustaceans and urchins call the kelp forest their home!

kelp forest3kelp forest2kelp forest

Have you guessed where Ellie and Edmond will be visiting this week? They are heading to the kelp forest of Monterey Bay, California! Be on the lookout for the fun animals that they met! Juxtaposer Image(1)

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Penguin Appreciation Day- 2015

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Due to unforeseen circumstances at Ellie and Edmond HQs, we will not be posting any new posts this week. We will be back next week with all new animals and adventures. Thank you for your understanding. In the meantime, please enjoy these coloring sheets from last year’s Penguin Appreciation Day.

PENGUINS APPRECIATION DAY!!!

We’re celebrating everyone’s favorite flightless bird with two coloring sheets!

king penguin coloring sheet

rock hopper coloring sheet

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, penguins, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WE ARE FANIMALY!

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WE ARE FANIMALY!!

We have a new We Are Fanimaly for you today! Who’s ready to learn who is related to who?

wombat wearefanimalykoala wearefanimaly

  • Koalas and Wombats are both marsupials.
  • Koalas and Wombats are found in Australia.
  • Koalas and Wombats are nocturnal.
  • Koalas are arboreal (they live in trees).
  • Wombats burrow underground.
  • Wombats are herbivores; they eat bark, grass, roots and shrubs.
  • Koalas are folivores; they eat eucalyptus leaves.
  • Koalas and Wombats get most of their water from the leaves they eat.
  • Koalas and Wombats are both solitary.
  • Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day.
  • Wombats can run up to 25 mph.

 

We love koalas and wombats! These funny marsupials have such unique characteristics. The females’ pouches alone are super cool!

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, marsupial, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LAND DOWN UNDER….

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

LAND DOWN UNDER…

e e savanna

As you should know from the map that Professor Tamandua gave you, we’re in Australia! Yesterday we spotted a common wombat and we had some correct guesses! High hooves all around! Today we went to find an iconic animal of Australia! This furry creature is one adorable animal and we were lucky enough to meet a few of them, hanging out in some eucalyptus trees! Do you know who it is?

Come meet the Koala!!

koala

Habitat/Range: Eucalyptus forests, Eastern Australia

 australia map

Weight/Length: 20 lbs/ 23-33″

Diet: Folivore: eucalyptus leaves

Conservation Status: threatened

koala2Fun Koala Facts:

  • Koalas need their sleep! They snooze up to 18-20 hours a day!
  • They are arboreal! They have sharp claws that help them climb and those trees are a great place to eat and keep safe!
  • Man can koalas eat! Koalas need to eat a bunch of eucalyptus to get water and nutrition and that means they munch up to 2 1/2 pounds a day!
  • Those eucalyptus leaves are toxic, but koalas have a special bacteria to break down those toxins.
  • Koalas are marsupials- not bears! They give birth to teeny joeys that then grow in mom’s pouch!
  • These solitary species need their space! Koalas need around 100 trees per animal to be comfy and cozy!
  • Koalas are nocturnal! They spend most of their evening chewing on eucalyptus leaves!
  • Male koalas have a scent gland on their chest that they rub on trees to mark their territory!
  • All of those eucalyptus leaves give koalas a menthol cough drop smell! Ha!

koala3Koalas are amazing and odd creatures! They look like cuddly bears, but they do have claws and can be a bit territorial! Australians are working to ensure they have enough habitat to live! We couldn’t imagine a planet without these cuties!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK- FOLIVORE

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SCIENCE WORD OF THE WEEK!

swow folivore

Hello and welcome everyone! I’m so happy to see you in class this week! I’m so excited for today’s word and I’m excited to introduce you to a new feature! Each week I’ll be posting a map and show you where Ellie and Edmond will be exploring! Let’s get started learning and let’s find out where E&E will be!

Today’s word is Folivore: a folivore is an animal that eats leaves exclusively. Some examples of folivores are caterpillars, koalas, sloths and okapis.

folivore cartoon

Ellie and Edmond are heading to Australia and New Zealand this week! Who’s excited to see who they’ll meet?

Juxtaposer Image

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, vocabulary, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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