Tag: BioBlitz

Exploring Our World, Main

(Some of the) Best of BioBlitz!

We just wrapped up another brilliant BioBlitz! As of 10 p.m. Saturday, the good folks at iNaturalist list the totals at 6,274 observations, 961 species counted, and 433 (human) participants. So what was blitzed?  Click here to see the latest updates! Most observed critters? birds What birds? mallard ducks, American robins, Canada geese What insects? eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies, six-spotted tiger beetles, seven-spotted ladybirds What … Continue reading (Some of the) Best of BioBlitz!

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Classroom Ideas, Educator Spotlight, Main

Educator Spotlight: Creating Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Education

The following post was written by Alex Oberle, a geography professor at the University of Northern Iowa and the coordinator for the Geographic Alliance of Iowa. Kailyn Bettle, this week’s Educator of the Week, is creating a curriculum that shares the power of national parks and supports more than 700 students in Iowa bioblitzes. Kailyn is a teacher education student at the University of Northern … Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Creating Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Education

Meghan Modafferi3 Comments
Exploring Our World, Main, This Week in Geographic History

Weekly Warm-Up: Get Ready for BioBlitz!

Bringing thousands of students and citizens together with hundreds of scientists to explore a gorgeous national park is one awesome way to go about a BioBlitz. But it’s not the only way! The purpose of organizing a BioBlitz is to document every bit of life within a set parameter in order to understand that location’s biodiversity. This might include observing the magnificent redwoods of Muir Woods—and the … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: Get Ready for BioBlitz!

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Classroom Ideas, Main, This Week in Geographic History

Weekly Warm-Up: 6 Ways to Introduce Students to Biodiversity

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, established by the United Nations. But when biodiversity exists everywhere from the Amazon Basin to the inside of your own belly button, where do you begin? Check out six of our resources that provide entryways to teaching the topic. 1. Powerful Pollinators 75 percent of the world’s major crops rely on bees, birds, and other creatures for pollination. In … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: 6 Ways to Introduce Students to Biodiversity

Meghan Modafferi1 Comment
Classroom Ideas, Educator Spotlight, Main

Educator Spotlight: Get Your Students Outside!

The following post was written by Kailyn Bettle, an undergraduate research assistant for the Geographic Alliance of Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa. Alex Oberle, this week’s Educator of the Week, finds creative ways to get more people excited about geography and science—from using university mascots to raise awareness about the plight of big cats to supporting virtual national park experiences. At the moment, … Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Get Your Students Outside!

Meghan Modafferi3 Comments