I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today! Verse One

I’m back in Montreal after spending 10 days in Winnipeg working on my new Children's CD: 

I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!”  The recording is the first phase of a larger project; the second stage will be to create an accompanying book focused on many of the fascinating backyard critters waiting to be discovered.  The key is curiosity!

I spent hours, as a child, watching tadpoles in ponds, waiting for dormice in corn fields, gazing at scurrying clouds through sun dappled leaves and tending to my dearest friends, an injured crow and a friendly pigeon.  The song, Butterflies Kissing illustrates the diversity of species that can be found simply by stepping outside our homes and schools!  

So, for the next few weeks I am going to go through the verses of my song, “I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!” and explore the species mentioned in each verse!  In this way, I aim to provide you with some ideas for introducing your children or students to the biodiversity that surrounds us.  

                                               Verse One  

I saw me a frog, as green as a tree,

A little yellow bird and a bumblebee;

A damselfly, bright electric blue,

And a ladybug landed on my shoe!

 Lesson Plans

1.  Discover any green tree frogs in your neighborhood.  American Green Tree Frogs  like the one in the picture, are one of the most endearing amphibians!  Found in many backyards across the southern United States, their green color helps them to hide successfully in foliage.  Other species of green tree frog include those in Australia, and the Pacific Northwest - here is a Video of one croaking!  Cuban Tree Frogs are considered an Invasive Species in Florida and they are thought to hitchhike in on ornamental plants.

2.   Yellow Warblers are one of my favorite birds!  They have a wide range across North America and down into northern South America and have even been seen in the Galapagos Islands  Look at the Range map to see where they live or migrate through, relative to your home.  In the UK you might see a little yellow bird called the Yellow Hammer; yellowhammer also live in New Zealand.  Make your lesson a voyage of discovery!  Follow the little yellow bird around the world, beginning in your own backyard!  Write a story about the bird's migration adventures, the places it sees, the food it eats, the other species it encounters.

3.  Bumblebees, like honeybees are crucial for the pollination of many plants species upon which we depend for food.  These bees lived in the wild for centuries before humans began to Domesticate them due to the fact that their tongues are longer than honeybees therefore enabling them to pollinate a greater variety of flowers.  Introduce younger children to bumblebees through Crafts, Stories and Activities and take them outside to a garden so that they can watch them.  Be sure to explain that bees, unlike wasps, will die if they use their sting, therefore they are not looking to sting anyone! Here is a Lesson Plan for older Kids.

4. Watching blue-tailed damselflies down by the lake in the summer is just magical!  Their turquoise blue and black coloration is exquisite!  Introduce children to the Lifecycle of the Damselfly  What are some of the Differences between dragonflies and damselflies?  Take the kids outside to see if you can find some; they like to hang out close to water or where there are lots of flowers.  The Lifecycles of frogs, dragonflies and butterflies are similar; here is a Lesson Plan for K-2 students.

5.  Most people like Ladybugs  and with good reason, because they are Beneficial insects; this means that they feed on other insects that are considered pests such as aphids.  Ladybugs are actually beetles, and are common in most habitats.  Ladybug Larvae are also predators, and while they may look dangerous, they are quite harmless to humans. If you have a garden at your school or home, you can order  Live Ladybugs and release them there.  Here are some ideas for Lesson Plans that might be helpful to you and here are some Cool LadyBug Facts to share.

Interconnections

All of the above species play an important role in maintaining the diversity of ecosystems.  Warblers help to disperse plants because they ingest seeds which are released through their feces as they fly about.  Ladybugs help to prevent infestations of insects that are harmful to crops and fruits.  Damselflies and dragonflies eat large quantities of insects and are in turn predated upon by a variety of species including fish and frogs.  Bees are important pollinators and play a significant role in pollinating many of the plants, which provide us with food.  Create a wall chart for each verse of the song using pictures linked together by their connections.

Song - I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!  Here is A LadyBug Song for young kids!

Stories - Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar is great for younger children. For older children here are some Dragonfly Legends  And then there is the story of King Solomon and the Bee

Enjoy your week exploring nature in the backyard!  

In gratitude for life and this Earth!

Rosie

The Movie Dirt is coming out soon.  It illustrates who soil is so important to us all.

The Girl and the Robin is a true story I came across this week that is very touching.

Photo of Yellow Warbler by Mdf – Wikimedia Commons

Photo of Bumblebee by Dodudah – Wikimedia

Photo of Common Bluetail Damselfly by Laitche  

Photo of Ladybug by Alvesgaspar

Photo of Butterflies Kissing by StevenMiller

One Week Left to Earth Day! Week 16: Earth Stewardship

So here I am, at week 16 in this series of posts that began in January; the goal was to provide a collection of ideas that might be useful to a teacher or parent in the run up to Earth Day.  Truth is that I think every day should be Earth Day, I mean let’s face it without the Earth we don’t exist!  However, I am grateful that we do have at least one day dedicated to the Earth, and I do believe we are changing and becoming more aware of Earth’s importance to our survival and wellbeing!

It seemed fitting that the last post in this sequence should be about Earth Stewardship.  What makes someone a good steward of the earth?  I return to Baba Dioum’s famous quote: “In the end we will conserve only what we love.  We will love only what we understand.  We will understand only what we are taught.” 

“We will love only what we understand....only what we are taught.”  It is vital that we share with children the beauty of Earth; that we make the time to take them outside to experience first hand this incredible place where we live.  Educate them about the importance of preserving and protecting ecosystems, and convey to them that it is our individual responsibility to be good stewards.   According to Google Trends, environmental education has steadily declined since 2004 to the present day.  With all the “green” hoopla, you’d think that maybe, just maybe, it would have increased!  It is a reminder to us all to not be complacent or assume that it is not our responsibility.  Each voice is crucial and relevant.

I’m currently in studio recording a new CD, called I “Saw Butterflies Kissing Today”!  With a focus on backyard critters, I aim to use this body of work to inspire parents and grandparents to get their kids out exploring the backyard again!  After all, the whole wide world is really our backyard!   Encouraging kids to be outdoors, to explore and discover nature plants the seed that can blossom into love.

Lesson Plans

1. Awe and discovery!  To ignite passion for the Earth, help kids to discover it!  Begin with the backyard, or if you don’t have one, go to the nearest park.  Take magnifying glasses, jars and tweezers and go on a Nature Treasure Hunt!  Collect things - leaves, worms, insects, bits of bark, rocks, flowers, anything that looks interesting!  Bring your findings back to the classroom and share what you’ve found.  Make leaf and bark rubbings; look at patterns; make paintings using the natural pigments of leaves and berries.  Nature Mom’s Blog has some fun ideas for Natural Play for Teaching Science!  

2.  Plant a garden!  Even if you don’t have much space you can create a small area of pots and tubs for plants.  Here's an Easy Way way to get you going!  Planting a garden is one of the greatest science lessons kids can have!  You can make it as simple or as complex as you want!  Kids Garden Club has some good ideas to help you and here are some Lesson Plans built around plants.

3.  Explore some of the incredible aspects of nature, such as Patterns captured in these National Geographic photos.  Take students outside and invite them to draw what they see; sitting quietly in a natural setting is a great way to get kids connected to the natural world.  If you have a hard time justifying including such an activity in nature, then discover how the Fibonacci Numbers work in nature!  Here is a beautiful film you could share with your older students called Nature by Numbers!  This website, called Patterns in Nature has some cool ideas too! 

4.  Plan a trip to a park, river, beach, swamp – some natural setting.  Fund-raise if you have to.  Prepare for this trip with your students; learn about the flora and fauna that live in the place you are going to visit.  Create journals to take with you and make sure that all the food you are taking is packed in re-usable containers so that you leave no trash behind.  Invite students to write a story about the trip and when you are actually at the location, ensure that time is set aside for quiet reflection.  Students should each spend time sitting by themselves, with just their journals. 

Interconnections

Kids need to know that our lives are integrally connected to the health and well being of this planet.  If we live in a city, this is not always obvious and therefore it is incumbent upon those of us who are parents, grandparents, teachers or mentors to impart this wisdom to young people.  It is as simple as that; we will not be healthy unless the planet is healthy.  Show them how Global Ocean Currents connect us; how we all breathe the same AIR – even if pollution is far away, it soon reaches us.  The recent eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano demonstrates how interconnected we all are!  

Songs

When I was out on tour across Canada and the US, children would often sing Friends of the Earth to me, especially on Earth Day!  In celebration of neighborhood critters you could sing Rocky Raquino (about a raccoon) or the Chickadee Blues, or Butterflies Kissing!  All of these songs can be found on my MySpace page.
Story
One of my favorites! The Rainbow Child

Green Action of the Week!

Make a pledge!  Invite each child to pledge to do at least one thing toward becoming a true steward for the Earth.  There are plenty of things to choose from - to always recycle, to walk or bike instead of going by car when traveling short distances, to plant a tree or some native plants, to turn off lights and appliances, to educate others about why it is important to do these things, to raise money to protect a local habitat, to seek out products that are locally made or produced and much more!  Each one of us that commits IS making a difference.

As I mentioned earlier, I am recording my new CD.  If you like my songs and would like to show your support, please visit my Kickstarter page; a $10 pledge will give you a free download of the CD!  I am really thrilled with the collection of songs and think they are some of the best I have written.

Have a WONDERFUL week, and Earth Day!  I shall be thinking of everyone around the world celebrating!
In gratitude for life and this precious Earth!
Rosie
Photos by Tessa Emery

Resources/Websites

The Little Earth Charter

Child in Nature

Children in Nature

Nature Bag

Outdoor Nature Activities 

Discovering Nature's Alphabet

Early Childhood Education Takes to the Outdoors 

Council of All Beings

Kids Gardening

2 Weeks left to Earth Day: Week 15: Green Spring Clean

There’s no denying, spring is definitely in the air!  One of the things I dislike about being in Florida is that the seasons are not as evident there, though there are subtle indicators if you are keenly aware.  But here in Montreal, the first rush of warmth brings every living thing to life, bursting forth from the earth and from homes with an urgency borne of lengthy dormancy.

I remember my mother beginning her spring-cleaning saga; she would wash all the curtains, sheets and covers, hanging them out to billow in the wind like colorful flags heralding the incoming season with joyful zest.  In Morocco the women would drag all the rugs up onto the rooftops to be beaten thoroughly until every dust mote had departed on the wind; floors would be washed and spring and summer clothes retrieved from chests to be laid out in lively piles for the sun to extract every hint of mildew. 

As far as I can remember my mother used mostly vinegar, baking soda and borax in her cleaning extravaganzas; I do remember Vim, a kind of corrosive cleaner she employed for stubborn stains.  In Morocco the standard cleaner was bleach, which while not ideal, seems mild compared to the plethora of products lining today’s supermarket shelves!

Fabric softeners, household cleaning products, shampoos and anti-bacterials are having some disturbing effects on the environment with serious consequences not only for wetland and ocean biodiversity, but threatening human wellbeing too. Studies continue to demonstrate the negative impacts resulting from the use of such products and we would be prudent to pay attention and change our household cleaning strategies.  As I always say, we’re all interconnected and this Earth is like an insulated space ship whose precious living systems are slowly deteriorating to the point of no return.  If we are to survive as a species, we must listen to the canary that is no longer singing, and the butterflies, the bees, the frogs and the fish that are quite simply just dying off.

So, lets educate kids about the effects of household products and inspire them to take action, to teach their parents and families how to make good, ecologically friendly cleaning products that will cost less and ultimately make everyone feel better!

Lesson Plans

 1.  Where does our water go?  Many children (and adults for that matter), don’t really understand the flow of water once it leaves our homes.  This Water Science for Schools webpage has some of the answers. 

2.  Teach children what is meant by “Nonpoint-source pollution”.  This means that the solution cannot be traced back to a single origin or source such as stormwater runoff, water runoff from urban areas and failed septic systems.  Here is a Lesson Plan for Grades 4-8, called Down by the River and here is another Website that could be helpful.  

3.  May,  is Wetlands month is the USA and the EPA  has some suggestions for learning about wetlands near you.  Explore the nearest wetlands with your students and learn how they impact your lives.  Remember that wetlands play many different Roles – share some of  these with your students.  Who Polluted the River is another Lesson Plan you can use.

4.  What can you do?  Here are some of the Do's and Don'ts around the home!  Demonstrate to students how easy it is to make eco-friendly cleaning products with simple ingredients found in most homes. 

Here are a list of some that will get your started:

 Homemade Laundry Soap 

Non-toxic Home Cleaning

 3 Homemade Cleaning Products

Cleaning Household Silver

Interconnections!

Well, the interconnections are becoming more and more obvious, as Studies  continue to demonstrate.  

What goes into the ground, seeps into the water tables and subsequently affects all life.

Green Action of the Week!

 Invite kids to show their parents how to make one “eco-friendly” cleaning product!  If everyone began to do this, the waterways of the world would soon be clean again.  Show them how Dr. John Todd's  Green Eco-Machine uses plants and natural systems to clean water!

Song There's Only One River, Only One Sea

Story Earth Day Story –  What Can I Do?

We're almost to Earth Day!  I hope spring has sprung in your neck of the woods, (that is if spring is in your hemisphere!) I am beginning a new CD tomorrow, if you would like to be a part of this project I'd be grateful for your help - visit the Kickstarter page to find out how!

Have a great week!

In gratitude for life, and this magical Earth!

Rosie

Photo of the house on the St. Lawrence River, by Philipp Hienstorfer

3 Weeks Left To Earth Day! Week 14: Migration

I’m back in Montreal, after driving up from Florida over a period of four days; even with a one-day stop it seems to knock the wind from my sails!  All the more reason to marvel at all those creatures that migrate long distances every year!

Just before leaving Florida I saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings passing through the back yard on their way north, and a couple of hummingbirds that I hadn’t seen before, were hanging out in the old oak tree, pausing on their northward journey.  In Virginia, my friend Ingrid awaits the arrival of the hummingbirds   and tells me that each year, they almost always arrive on the same date – April 23^rd!  Awesome!  Last week I read about an Osprey that travelled 10,000 miles to come back to the place where he has started a family before! 

Then there’s the annual roundtrip of the Arctic Tern, which is approximately 71,000 km  (44,117 miles) not to mention the Monarch Butterfly, whose epic journey south from Canada and the northern United States, to Mexico is one of the wonders of nature!  Given all these incredible voyages, my little jaunt up from Florida, in a car, pales slightly!  

As I was driving, I began to wonder how warming temperatures and climatic changes are affecting many of these species.  Migratory species use up tremendous amounts of energy on their long flights, swims or walks!  Pregnant Caribou cows, for example, travel an average of 20 km per day and are totally reliant on the early spring forage, which is obviously dependent upon snow melting.  Many migratory birds rely on berries when they are traveling, while in their settled habitats, they might feed mainly on insects.  (A recent Science Article reminds us that we could learn a lot about healthy eating from birds' feeding habits!)  Colder winters, warmer springs and summers impact wildlife and vegetation in different ways, but there is no doubt that all of life is being affected by these global changes.

Lesson Plans

1.  Follow the journey of an Arctic Tern, discover the places they visit on their marathon journey!  Here is a National Geographic Lesson Plan for K-2.

2.  Caribou are always on the move; learn about these northern ruminants and some of the challenges that they face on these journeys.  They can actually smell the lichens that are buried under the snow!  Look at some of the Energy Demands and how they have adapted to live in cold climates.  Here is another National Geographic Lesson Plan for K-2.

3.  Several Whale Species species make long migrations from southern to northern waters.  They typically travel to warmer waters to give birth and to cooler waters for feeding; learn about the different species and the geographic locations they travel through.

4.  What about Human migrations?  Around the world people are constantly on the move and have always been to some degree.  Here is a Lesson Plan for Gr. 3-5 about the story of Human Migration.

5.  What migratory species pass through your neighborhood?  Find pictures of some of these birds or butterflies and post them by the window inviting children to be on the lookout.  Create a chart with some of the pictures so that you can post the dates on which they are observed.

Interconnections

We are all intricately connected to species that migrate.  How so?  Because our lifestyles, our communities and the way we farm and grow our gardens affects the food resources available to many migrant species.  The Monarch butterfly, for example, feeds on milkweed, a plant that used to grow prolifically in hedgerows and fields.  With the advent of large farming operations and landscaped gardens, the availability of milkweed plants to nourish the traveling Monarchs, has been diminished.  Birds feeding on berries and fruits help to disperse the seeds of those plants to new areas, in fact it is believed that many of the plant species in Florida grew from seeds dropped by migratory birds!  

Green Action of the Week!

Plant a Monarch Butterfly Garden; plant flowers, bushes and trees that will provide nourishment for migratory species passing through your backyards.  Make colorful markers to put beside the plants so that the children learn which plants are important to which species.  

Song

Mighty Monarch of the Ocean is a song about whales and since they are one of the migratory species, it should fit in well!

Story

It is only recently that we have been able to track migrating species; long ago people knew that birds departed at a certain time of the year, but did not know where they went to.  However, it has long been believed that birds navigate their journeys by the stars and the Milky Way is one constellation that figures in folktales associated with bird migrations.  The Legend of the Milky Way is one such story that originated in China.  

Thats it for this week!  I am off to record a new CD next weekend, in Winnipeg, but I shall try to get my Blog Post up on Sunday!  We are almost at Earth Day, so I hope this series has been helpful!

Have a great week!

In gratitude for life and this beautiful Earth!

Rosie

Resources

Monarch Butterfly

Photo of Cedar Waxwing by Ken Thomas.us

Photo of Arctic tern by Toivo Toivanen & Tina Toppila

Photo of Caribou by Dean Biggins US Fish & Wildlife Service

4 Weeks Left to Earth Day! Week 13! Endangered Species: Tigers

I was saddened this week to read more startling statistics indicating the decline of species, in this case Butterflies.  I am not entirely sure what it is that we do not get about all this; maybe we are just in denial because it is too freaky!  Joanna Macy spoke up a long time ago about apathy born of a profound despair in the face of impending disaster.  I hope that we can shake ourselves out of whatever it is that is blinding us to the catastrophic destruction of planetary ecosystems to somehow rise up and preserve what is left.

Recently I wrote about biodiversity, and the importance of insects such as butterflies and bees; I wrote about Keystone species such as alligators and wolves; so this week I thought I would feature Tigers since they are on the brink of extinction and in need of help from all of us.  These Blog Posts are aimed at educating and inspiring us to act on behalf of all species including ourselves, however, I will offer a word of caution.  I am a big fan of educator David Sobel who warns: “we need to give young children time to connect to nature before we ask them to save it.”  Therefore, I have tried to design the Lesson Plans to include content for the younger ones that focus on the beauty and magnificence of such animals and urge you not to dwell on their possible extinction.  Older students can definitely explore reasons for endangerment of species and join in efforts to protect them.

 Lesson Plans

1.  In the early 1900s, there were around 100,000 tigers throughout their range.  Today an estimated total of around 3,000-4,500 exist in the wild.  You can see a breakdown of tiger numbers by subspecies and learn a lot more about them, at the Defenders of Wildlife website.  With older students, choose a species and research why the animal has become endangered.  What are the mitigating factors and what could have been done differently to protect them?  The Endangered Species Website is helpful. 

2.  With young children, simply learn about the different tiger Sub Species! Tigers are carnivores, what are some of the animals in your neighborhood that eat other animals?  Tigers are mammals and females typically birth between one to seven cubs.  What wild mammals live in your region?  Do they give birth to cubs, pups or kittens – what are the names of their offspring? 

3.  Are there any Wildcat species in your region?  If so, how are they similar to tigers?  What was the  Evolutionary journey of tigers? Many species are now confined to small areas of land, but many of them once roamed on different Continents.

4.  One of the primary causes of species endangerment, or extinction is the proximity of Humans in their territories.  With older students explore this topic; what could we do in the future to better provide for such animals?  Do they think that it matters, or should we just let them die out? Remember that many of these animals are Keystone Species and their demise has consequences.  
Interconnections 
As a Keystone species, how do Tigers   affect the ecosystem in which they live? Is there a keystone species in your neighborhood?   Remember a keystone species can be as small as a bee! 

Green Action of the Week!

Have a bake-sale, or some other Fundraiser to raise some funds to help preserve some land in your area, somewhere else in the world or both!  Acting locally, nationally and globally can be a way to introduce children to the concept of our interconnectedness!  
Song

I have uploaded my song, Tiger, Tiger for this post.  It might also be fun to share William Blake’s famous poem Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright! (If you do not find the Tiger Song, please check back as I am still trying to upload it!) 

Story

Here is a very simple  Story of the Tiger and another called the Ungrateful Tiger

I wish you a good week!  I hope these posts are being of some help to you!  I know that while it may be too late for some species, that awareness will help to preserve others in the future.  Education is so important and for all of you out there who are educators, and parents, thank you so much for all you do to provide kids with the knowledge they need to act for all species.

In gratitude for Life, and this beautiful Earth!   

Rosie

Resources

Enchanted Learning has some printouts and information about tigers.

Tiger Learning Zone

Teacher-reviewed Lesson Plans on Tigers

Endangered Species

White Tigers

Photo of Sumatran tiger by Monika Betley - from Wikimedia Commons

Photo of Bengali Tigress and cub by Mayankkatiyar - from Wikimedia Commons

5 Weeks Left to Earth Day! Week 12: Food Audit!

                         

Locavore was the Oxford American Dictionary word of the year in 2007; it means someone who eats food grown within 100 miles of where they live! 

I was invited to a wonderful fund raising event this week, where all the food served was local; the envent was inspired by the Earth Charter's encouragement to live in a sustainable manner by reducing our carbon footprint in every aspect of our lives.

We have become spoiled by the ubiquitous availability of foods from all over the world; strawberries anytime, avocados, grapefruit, blueberries, lettuce, absolutely anything we so desire can be purchased throughout the year.  In days gone by our bodies were attuned to the foods that were seasonal; in the cooler months root vegetables might have been the staple with fewer fruits and berries, while summer months were celebrated with these luscious delights.

I am not saying that we have to become completely reliant on locally grown or seasonal food, but I am recommending making an effort to learn about it and support it if you can, and in the process I think you will discover the benefits!  I do think it is important and relevant to their health, to educate children about where their food comes from and the environmental costs incurred therein.

Lesson Plans

1.  Food Audit!  This activity can be a geography, science and math lesson too, since children will lean about different places and their topography as well as calculating distances.  The complexity of your project will depend upon the grade level of participating children.  Invite children to research some or all of following questions about one meal:

·      What country, State or Province, did each item on your plate come from?

·      How many miles/kilometers did each item travel?

·      What kind of transportation was used to bring the food to the store/market?

·      Map out the entire journey – from the fields, to the transportation, to the store/market – of how the food arrived on your table.  This can be done as a drawing, painting or a collage;

·      What people were involved in bringing the food to your table? Who grew it, picked it, cleaned it, packed it and finally cooked it!

·      What animals did the food come from? How were they kept? Did they live outside, in a barn, in a cage?  Did they have a god quality of life?

·      Calculate the total miles/kilometers that all the food for one meal has travelled.

Once you have done all or part of this process, discuss the findings with your students and see what ideas they might have for minimizing the environmental costs.  A greater discussion might be how we could a better quality of life for the animals that are eaten and also for the farmers and the workers who grow, pick and transport our food.

2.  With older students, watch the film Food Inc.  Under the Multimedia section of their website there is a Discussion Guide.  http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Interconnections

Brain Over Brawn – this article by David Suzuki is worth the read; he reminds us that while we might have the technology that allows us to cull previously unattainable harvests from the ocean we should beware of acting without thinking of the consequences!  Every single living organism on this earth is connected in some way to everything else.  Some might like to think that humans have superiority over nature, but I think that we would be foolish to court this line of thinking, for in the end it might lead to our own demise. 

Story

A story about greed: Two Brothers, Two Rewards 

Song 

Well, I figure it could be  No Sugar, No Fries! – I wrote this not just about eating healthy food, but also to encourage us to cook again!

Green Action of the Week

See if you can have at least one meal that is completely made up of food that comes from within one hundred miles of where you live.  This might be kind of difficult for those of you coming out of the winter months, so if you live in a colder climate then the food should be from within your country.  Having said that, even in Montreal, Quebec, I am sure I could make up a meal of local eggs, cheese, meat, fish, potatoes, squash and probably some carrots!  Then of course there are preserves; last summer I might have made up jars of cherries, strawberries or peaches, and I might have dried some apples and grapes for raisins!

I hope this Post is helpful to you and that you are having some interesting lessons, discussions and discoveries with your children, students, families or just yourself!  Wishing you a beautiful Spring! As the light comes in, may your days be filled with beauty and joy.

In gratitude to life and this precious Earth!

Rosie

Resources

Article about Environmental Costs of Shipping Food

Environmental costs of Meat production

Slow Food USA 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle  – Barbara Kingsolver

The Zero-mile Diet– A Year-round Guide to Growing Organic Food

Earth Matters - Sustainable Activities for 4th and 5th Grade

Photos By Rosie Emery and the US Dept. Agriculture

6 Weeks Left to Earth Day! Week 11: Keystone Species!

Spending time in Florida has allowed me to gain new respect for one of its most famous residents, the alligator!  These prehistoric reptiles are quite remarkable, and when you see them up close (not too close!) they give us a glimpse into a past Earth, when dinosaurs ruled the land!

I learned that alligators are important because they are a keystone species; what is a keystone species?  I rather like this explanation, courtesy of: Bagheera

“A keystone is the stone at the top of an arch that supports the other stones and keeps the whole arch from falling.  A keystone species is a species on which the persistence of a large number of other species in the ecosystem depends.  If a keystone species is extirpated from a system, the species it supported also will disappear, as will the other dependent species.”  You can read the full description on their website.

Inhabiting the swamps, ponds, creeks, rivers and shallow lakes of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, alligators play an important role in shaping the landscape.  During the dry season, alligators swish their tails around in shallow pools to make “gator holes”; deep holes which retain water when there is little rainfall thus providing a vital drinking reservoir for many other species.

The favored food source for alligators is fish, crabs, birds, snakes and small mammals such as rabbits.  They are carnivores with extremely strong jaws that can easily crack a turtle shell.  Lurking just below the surface of the water, looking rather like a submerged log, alligators wait patiently for their prey.  When they do strike, it is with lightning speed and ferocious precision.  However, they do not have to eat all the time, and one good meal for a healthy alligator can last for a few days, weeks or even months.

Female alligators build their nests beside the water, using plants and leaves. When the time is right, they deposit up to 50 eggs into the nest and cover them with vegetation; they do not sit on their nests like birds.  It is fascinating to note that the sex of the babies is actually determined by the heat of the nest!  If the nest is extremely hot, the babies will be all male; if the nest is cooler, all female; and if the nest is temperate, there will be a mix of both sexes!

Lesson Plans

1.  Learn what a Keystone Species is; lessons obviously dependent upon the age group. With young children you could begin with the alligator. Explore which other species depend on the alligator keeping the ponds open during the dry season – turtles and wading birds are an example.  What would happen to those species if the alligator was not there and the ponds dried up?  This Video shows how alligator mother’s care for their young.

2.  For Grade 6-8 here is a selection of National Geographic Lesson Plans on Keystone Species and another Plan for Grades 3-5. 

3. Explore some other kinds of keystone species.  For example, Prairie Dogs dogs,  or wolves; learn how wolves play a Key Role in maintaing the health of ecosystems of Yellowstone National Park.

4.  Find out which is a keystone species in your area of the world.  Remember that Keystone species are not just important to wild animals or plants, they are also important to us!  For example, Salmon is a keystone species for fishermen in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.  Make this into a geography lesson and explore species around the world and see how humans also are impacted by their health.  Everything is interconnected and it is important that students understand this.

Interconnections

The interactions between a keystone species and others in clearly evident in the example of the wolves and Yellowstone National Park.  Once you have discovered which species is key to your local ecology invite students to list all the species that are dependent on it.  A very easy one that is pretty much everywhere would be bees! Without bees we would lose a whole host of plants upon which we, and other species depend. Here is a short Video about bees.

Green Action of the Week

Once you have discovered which species in your neighborhood is key to all others, then create an action to help protect it.  For example, if you decided to help bees, find out which wildflowers are native to your region and plant some.  See if you could begin a petition to ban pesticides locally or nationally – bees and so many other important insects are negatively affected by many common pesticides used in landscaping.

Song

I have uploaded the  Alligator Rock! for this post – you could also use the Coral Reef song since corals are a keystone oceanic species.

Story

How Rabbit Fooled Alligator !

Have a great time discovering keystone species and please let me know which species is key in your area!  

In gratitude for life, and this Earth!

Rosie

Resources:

Elephants as a Keystone Species

Bullfrog Films has a Video about Keystone Species

Learning about Global Biodiversity

Photos

Alligator Photo By Matthew Field - Wikimedia

http://www.photography.mattfield.com
Alligator with babies By User Catholic 85 Wikimedia