This little gray tree frog has a big voice. After the spring peepers finish, the symphony of their voices fills the forest. One way to identify them is by the white patch under the eyes. They can change their color (gray, green, or brown) to match their surroundings or moods, and their blotchy appearance camouflages them in lichen.
Unexpected discoveries are the best! The woodlands often hold surprises for me, and coming across this eyed click beetle is certainly one of them.
What an example of mimicry! Mimicry, a defense mechanism, is when one organism looks or acts like an object or another organism to deter predators. Although it appears to have two large eyes, they are only markings. They certainly fooled me at first glance! The real eyes are much smaller and rest behind the antennae. It’s clown like image just makes me laugh!
When threatened, the beetle will make a clicking sound and flip over to frighten off predators. Now that I would like to see!
I was given ladybugs, a natural predator and a gardener’s friend, when I purchased new plants for my garden at Pike’s Nursery. Written directions instructed that they be released in the morning or early evening and because they would be thirsty, near recently watered plants. It was further recommended that the container be placed on the ground and not shaken, so that the beetles would not fly away from the intended garden. Below are some of the photos I captured of them exploring their new environment. What do you notice about the number of spots on their outer wings?
On a recent walk, I also found the larval stage of ladybugs, as well as the pupal stage.
This larva ran right into a caterpillar who was out for a stroll.
I enjoy walking with an intention because I find my observation skills sharpen and consequently, I detect more in nature. After I encountered the flowers below, I started looking for other animals and plants in pairs. Challenge your family or students to search for something intentionally when you walk together, and they will think of it as a game or contest. As they notice the details of their surroundings, greater engagement and wonder will be byproducts.
ladybug larvae
As you reviewed these photos, did you notice that although they may be the same species, each is still unique? They are alike, but not quite.
Because of its many physical and chemical properties, the study of water (hydrology) is one of my favorites! For example, water can be found in three states – solid, liquid, and gas. Water molecules demonstrate cohesion and adhesion. Some materials are hydrophobic and repel water while others are hydrophilic and attract water. Water can magnify objects too. Previous labs on those topics are at the end of this post.
Water can act as a mirror and reflect images. When light hits water, most of the light reflects at the same angle in which it came in and travels to our eyes. Are reflections identical to the objects they reflect? As you look at the photos I captured below, do the reflections tell more of the story? Sometimes new information is visible in the reflections that you don’t see in the subject of your photo. What happens when the water isn’t calm?
After a rain, walk with your students or children and observe the images reflected in puddles. What do you notice and wonder?
A Photography Tip: Turn your phone upside down, so that the lenses are at the bottom. Take a photo up at an object from the edge of a puddle. What happens? The following is an example.
The Venus flytrap is a well-known carnivorous plant, but a lesser-known meat-eating plant is found in Georgia wetlands. I found pitcher plants at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in the bogs exhibit. A bog is a freshwater wetland consisting mostly of peat (decayed plant matter.)
Pitcher plants trap insects when they are attracted to the sweet nectar, slip into their pitfall pouches, and are unable to escape. The plant absorbs nutrients from their bodies as they are gradually dissolved.
I’ve also seen these unique plants for sale at a local nursery. Including these plants in your garden is a natural way to reduce the number of insects.
Plastic bags were introduced in 1977. According to my research, five trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide, and approximately 10 percent will find their way to the ocean. Most are not recycled, and those that are not will take centuries to degrade. What can we do?
One Plastic Bag. is a true story about how a young woman found an innovative way to use plastic bags, thereby making a difference in her community. Go here for full screen viewing.
It is best if we reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, but what are some other ways that can we reuse or repurpose them? Some suggestions follow, but task your students or children with brainstorming more. View full screen here.
I’ve been working in my gardens spreading mulch and almost walked by this lacewing because I thought it was a seed.
When my camera zoomed in on this “tiny perfect thing,” I was surprised at the complexity. Just look at those compound eyes and the patterns on its body and lacy wings.
“The beauty of the natural world lies in the details.” (Natalie Angier)
Are lacewings a welcome visitor in gardens? Yes! They are even released as a natural means of eliminating unwanted pests. Go here to view full screen.
Check out this new book about a grandfather searching for insects with his grandchildren:
On a recent post, I shared how I have been restoring linens and doilies. I also inherited my grandmother’s sewing box filled with all kinds of novelties, including buttons. They are little pieces of art, and I was curious about their history. Studying buttons is a multidisciplinary exploration, connecting history, art, math, and science (button material and construction.) What do you know about buttons?
Some Fun Facts
Buttons were originally used for decoration, not fastening. Until the 19th century, buttons were found primarily on men’s clothing. Women’s clothes were fastened with laces and hooks and eyes. Wearing decorative buttons was seen as a sign of prosperity.
Through history, buttons were made of fabric, bone, metal, glass, horn, painted enamel, wood, celluloid (the first plastic), ceramic, ivory, and shells!
Buttons remain the best-selling fastener and are preferred over zippers.
I am learning, but I think these are some of my oldest buttons. Buttons were so valuable that when a garment wore out, the owner would cut off the buttons and save them.
These buttons are twentieth century. Zoom in and look at the patterns! Note the colors and geometric designs.
For a deep dive into button history, check out this video from a button museum. Go here to view full screen.
Children will enjoy sorting and classifying buttons by attributes such as color, size, shape, and number of holes. Count your sets and compare using math terms like more and less. Add the sets of buttons together.
Teach your child how to sew a button onto a piece of fabric. Such a great life skill! For your youngest learners, place articles of clothing on a table with various sizes of buttons and task them with buttoning and unbuttoning them to develop fine motor and self-help skills.
Corduroy, a classic tale, recounts how a small toy bear loses a button off his overalls and searches for a new one. Use it as a mentor book for identifying story structure – characters, setting, problem, and resolution. Go here to view full screen.
Because there are so many changes during spring, use this time to enhance observation skills and to develop a sense of awe and wonder. Check out this new story, Noticing, by Kobi Yamada, a well-loved author. The watercolor illustrations are especially engaging.
These are the subjects that I recently noticed as I wandered along the woodland paths. Noticing leads to curiosity, a critical prerequisite for learning and discovery. As you look at the photos, what do you notice and wonder?
