adnatu
Look closely at almost any animal and you can find clues about how it survives. An eagle has sharp talons for grabbing prey. A duck has webbed feet that help it move through water. A polar animal may have thick fur for insulation, while a fish has fins that make swimming easier. These body parts … Read more
A dolphin, eagle, crocodile, salmon, and frog may look completely different, but they have one important thing in common: they are all vertebrates. Vertebrates are animals connected by a basic body plan that includes a backbone or vertebral column at some stage of development. From there, however, their lifestyles can become dramatically different. Some breathe … Read more
A plant may look calm and almost motionless, but inside it, a lot is happening every second. Water is moving upward from the soil. Sugars are traveling from leaves to growing tissues. Carbon dioxide is entering through tiny openings, while water vapor is escaping into the air. All of this happens without a heart, lungs, … Read more
Look at almost any plant and you will see what appears to be a fairly simple living thing. There might be roots hidden underground, a stem growing upward, several leaves, and perhaps a few flowers or fruits. But behind that simple appearance is a surprisingly organized system. Every major plant part has a specific job. … Read more
Nature is probably doing something interesting within a few steps of where you are right now. A bird may be searching for food outside your window, tiny insects might be moving through the grass, or clouds could be changing shape as weather moves across your neighborhood. The funny thing is that most of us walk … Read more
Children rarely need to be told to investigate a puddle, watch an ant carrying food, or ask why a leaf has changed color. Put them outside for a while, and questions often seem to appear naturally. Why is that rock shiny? Where does the snail go when it rains? Why do some flowers close at … Read more
Mountains tower above the landscape, valleys create natural pathways between highlands, caves hide beneath the ground, and cliffs form dramatic walls of exposed rock. They may look permanent, but every one of these landforms is part of a constantly changing Earth. Understanding how mountains, valleys, caves, and cliffs are formed means looking at forces working … Read more
Oceans may look like enormous bodies of water separated from everyday life on land, but they influence almost everything from tomorrow’s rainfall to the long-term climate of entire continents. Covering more than 70% of Earth’s surface, the ocean acts like a massive planetary thermostat. It absorbs solar energy, stores heat, moves that heat around through … Read more
A huge river can look powerful enough to have always existed in the landscape. Yet even the largest rivers usually begin in a much smaller and less dramatic way. A trickle from a mountain spring, melting snow, rainfall running downhill, or groundwater emerging from the earth can all contribute to the beginning of a river. … Read more
One morning can start with clear blue skies and end with heavy rain, strong wind, and thunder. Weather sometimes seems unpredictable, but every cloud, breeze, shower, and storm develops because physical conditions in the atmosphere are changing. Two of the most important ingredients are air and water. Understanding how weather forms through changes in air … Read more