Earthquake-Monitoring Tech May Help Save Elephants

SCIENCE Technology developed to study earthquakes could help conservationists monitor elephant populations from afar. (Pacific Standard) Learn more about how elephants communicate with our great video resource. (Cue up to about 1:36.) Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The Pacific Standard article identifies two ways elephants communicate using vocalization: sound and infrasound. What is sound? … Continue reading Earthquake-Monitoring Tech May Help Save Elephants

What the Ban on Elephant Trophies Means

ENVIRONMENT Days after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a decision to lift the ban on elephant trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia, President Donald Trump has announced he plans to reverse course. (National Geographic) Use our rich collection of resources to better understand the “Battle for the Elephants.” Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion … Continue reading What the Ban on Elephant Trophies Means

How an Elephant Loses Its Tusks: A Lesson in (Un)Natural Selection

SCIENCE Tuskless elephants may be a response to the selective pressure of poaching. (Nautilus) Learn more about the natural and unnatural history of the African elephant with our video study guide. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Most African elephants have tusks. In Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, however, about 33% of young females are tuskless. … Continue reading How an Elephant Loses Its Tusks: A Lesson in (Un)Natural Selection

11 Things We Learned this Week

What did you learn this week? Let us know in the comments or at education@ngs.org. This week, we learned … … the World Nomad Games are SPECTACULAR. The World Nomad Games are being held at Lake Issyk-Kul. Find the lake on our map of Kyrgyzstan! Take a look at some of the sporting events at the World Nomad Games. What sports most intrigue you? One … Continue reading 11 Things We Learned this Week

How one group of third graders used granola bars to save elephants

This week is Explorers Week, when National Geographic brings together some of the most interesting scientists and explorers making a difference in the world today. In honor of the occasion, the Education team challenged a group of local teachers to design an end-of-year project focusing on one of National Geographic’s 2016 Emerging Explorers. We’ll be sharing their class’ stories all week on the Education Blog. Educator: … Continue reading How one group of third graders used granola bars to save elephants