ENVIRONMENT Tiny pieces of plastics are turning up in the feces of seals that feed on whole fish, demonstrating how seaborne contamination can move up the food chain. (Seeker) Use our inquiry-based activity to help guide student discussion about human impact on ocean animals. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas New research documents the presence … Continue reading Seal Scat, Plastic Pollution
SCIENCE Even sharks—infamous predator of the sea—risk becoming prey to the American alligator. (Newsweek) Use our activity to help students create an imaginary marine ecosystem—then throw an alligator in there. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Why was it a surprise to find that American alligators are preying on sharks? They’re usually not in the … Continue reading Gator vs. Shark!
ENVIRONMENT As glaciers thaw, one colorful group of microorganisms is thriving. (The New Yorker) Enough with the microbes—what else causes red snow? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit Text Set. Discussion Ideas The terrific New Yorker article explains the phenomenon of “watermelon snow.” What is watermelon snow? Watermelon snow, also called pink snow or blood snow, is … Continue reading The Last Snow on Earth May Be Pink
ENVIRONMENT We could wipe mosquitoes off the face of the Earth. Why don’t we? (Nat Geo News) Use our resources to learn a little about a slightly less drastic alternative here. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, and vote in today’s poll! Discussion Ideas It is very unusual for the good folks at National Geographic to openly … Continue reading Mosquitoes: What’s the Point?
SCIENCE One species of bamboo flowers every 120 years. Another flowers every 32 years. Another flowers every 60 years. And now, biologists have suggested a tantalizing hypothesis: bamboo cycles have reached their remarkable lengths through some simple arithmetic. (The Loom, Nat Geo) Understand how math is the language of science with our introductory encyclopedic entry on quantitative data. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list … Continue reading Bamboozled by Prime Numbers
