Thursday, October 24, 2013

Halloween “Scary” Animals
People respond differently to different animals. Our reaction towards certain animals depends on a number of factors, such as, our innate feelings, past experiences, and our culture. Accurate information and pleasant experiences have the power to change our views towards wildlife. For example, learning that spiders are beneficial may help to dispel initial fear.

Many of the symbols of Halloween are animals - creepy, crawly spiders, swopping bats, owls in trees, and crows on rooftops. People may have negative reactions to these animals based on myths and misinformation. Below are some facts about these sometimes mysterious but always fascinating “scary” animals! To learn more about each animal (or other “scary” animals) divide students into groups to research an animal and report back to the group with a multi-media presentation.

Spiders
Spiders belong to a group of animals called “arachnids”.  Scorpions, mites, and ticks are also part of the arachnid family.  Arachnids are creatures with two body segments, eight legs, no wings or antennae and are not able to chew. Many people think that spiders are insects but they are mistaken since insects have six legs and three main body parts.

There are more than 3,000 species of spiders in North America. These interesting arachnids eat insects and other small prey. They are beneficial to humans because they help keep insect populations under control.

Spider Book List
Bishop, N. 2012. Spiders. Scholastic, Inc.
Bradley, R. A., and S. Buchanon. 2012. Common Spiders of North America. University of California Press.
Simon, S. 2007. Spiders. HarperCollins Publishers.
Sterry, P. 2013. Spiders: A Portrait of the Animal World. New Line Books.

Bats
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight and one of the most misunderstood animals in the world. Contrary to popular belief, bats do not dive at your hair, they don’t suck your blood, and they are not blind! Bats find their way using a sonar-like system called echolocation. Iowa’s bats are insect eaters and have no more desire for your blood than a fluffy bunny does.

Bats are beneficial to humans in a BIG way – by eating insects!  A single bat can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes in a single night. That’s 2,000 mosquitoes gone from your yard in one night by just one bat! There are nine species of bats found in Iowa, one of which, the Indiana bat, is federally endangered.

Bat Books
Harvey, M. J., J. S. Altenbach, and T. L. Best. 2011. Bats of the United States and Canada. John Hopkins University Press.
Richardson, P. 2010. Bats. Firefly Books, Limited.
Tuttle, M. D. 2005.  America’s Neighborhood Bats. University of Texas Press.

Owls
These nocturnal hunters of Iowa’s woodlands and fields have been regarded with apprehension for centuries. With their silent wings, large eyes, and heads that appear to turn all the way around, these fascinating birds of prey have gotten a bad rap. Owls are distinctive birds that are found throughout the world in habitats ranging from arid deserts to Arctic tundra. There are eight species of owls that are regularly found in Iowa and four species that are occasional visitors.

Owl Books
Burton, R. 1990. Discovering Owls. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Duncan, J.R. 2003. Owls of the World: Their Lives, Behavior and Survival. Firefly Books, Limited.
Kalman, B.D. 1987. Owls. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Stidworthy, J. 1987. Year in the Life of an Owl. Silver Burdett Press.
Lawrence, R.D. 2003. Owls: The Silent Flyers. Firefly Books, Limited.
Long, K. 1998. Owls: A Wildlife Handbook. Johnson Books.
Parry-Jones, J. 2001. Understanding Owls: Biology, Management, Breeding, Training. F & W Publications, Incorporated.

Crows
Maybe it is the fact that crows are large and ominous looking, or maybe it’s their hoarse, throaty calls, whatever the cause, crows have a long history of being feared and loathed. However, crows are highly intelligent and social birds who display great care for one another. These gregarious members of the same family as ravens, magpies, and blue jays are actually among the smartest animals on the planet!

Crow Books
Kilham, L., and J. Waltermire. 1989. American Crow and the Common Raven. Texas A&M University Press.
Savage, C. 2004. Bird Brains: The Intelligence of Crows, Ravens, Magpies and Jays. D&M Publishers Incorporated.
Singer, M., and L. Saport. 2002. The Company of Crows: A Book of Poems. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

 

 

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Category IV "Best Use of Color" 2013 Winner
Melissa Molloy, Knoxville Schools

 

Take It Outside Art Contest 2014


Welcome Teachers!

The Department of Natural Resources invites you to enroll your class in our third annual “Take It Outside” Art Contest — win prizes that will get you and your students involved in outdoor activities.

This year's contest will focus on natural places - from prairies and forests to lake and streams. Natural places can be public - like national wildlife refuges; state, county and city parks and recreation areas; school grounds. They can be smaller and private - back yards, vacant lots. Regardless of size or location, special places connect us to the outdoors. Where is your favorite place to "take it outside?" How do you enjoy your special natural area? Do you hike? Fish? Paddle? Turn over logs? Stare at the sky?
Use your artistic skills to create an image that shows you “Taking it Outside” in your favorite natural place (prairie, timber, pond, lake stream, river, marsh - even your backyard or a vacant lot). Be sure to show what make the place special for you. For more information about Iowa's habitats, visit our website (scroll down to the bottom of the page to the “document library” and click on “Natural Resources”).

Winning entries will receive prizes and will be used for upcoming promotions and displayed at the DNR building during the Iowa State Fair.

Participating schools will be entered in a drawing to receive a grant (total of 4 awarded) for a natural resources-based recreation experience at a local outdoor recreation area.
 

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Mark your calendars because October 9, 2013 is a BIG, HEALTHY day!!
October 9 marks three great events aimed at getting kids outside and moving to promote a healthy lifestyle. It is International Walk to School Day, Live Healthy Iowa Kids: Fall Fitness Day, and Iowa’s Healthiest State Walk. See below for more information about these great events!

Live Healthy Iowa Kids: Fall Fitness Day
http://www.livehealthyiowakids.org/aspx/Public/Page.aspx?pid=13677
Fall Fitness Day is a one-day event encouraging Iowa schools to engage their students in 30 minutes of continuous activity. It shows kids that physical activity is fun and healthy! Visit the above link to register your school and for more information.

Activity ideas:
  • Walk  
  • Obstacle course
  • Fitness stations
  • Relay races
  • Aerobics
  • Dancing
  • Nature hike
  • Community cleanup

Healthiest State Walk
http://www.iowahealthieststate.com/healthiest-state-walk
Iowans across the state have shown their support for the Healthiest State Initiative by the thousands. By the hundreds of thousands, actually – in both 2011 and 2012, nearly 300,000 Iowans participated in 1-kilometer walks to show that we’re ready for a healthier Iowa.

They are striving to keep that momentum going to make this year’s walk on October 9 the biggest one yet. Be part of the movement by walking 1-kilometer (0.62 miles) on October 9.

International Walk to School Day
http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/
International Walk to School Day is October 9, 2013! International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every October.

Three Ways to Participate
  • Walk or bike from home
  • Designated starting points (for students/families that live too far from school to walk or ride a bike)
  • Walk or bike AT school