Bacteria
Bacteria are black or clear unless you stain them with special dyes to see them better. Bacteria are made up of one cell. It can be round, long and thin,…
Detritus
Detritus is all the dead stuff that sinks to the bottom of a vernal pool. It contains pieces of dead plants, dead animals and animal wastes (feces or poop). It…
Algae
Algae live in water and come in many shapes and sizes. They are shades of green, golden brown, red, or brown. Like other plants, algae are made up of cells…
Investigating Vernal Pools Teacher Training
…fantastic opportunity not only to learn but also to forge meaningful connections. Teachers connected over creating critter guides, building food webs, and learning how to grow fairy shrimp. From watershed…
Coyote
The Coyote is gray with reddish-gray legs, feet and ears and a whitish belly. Its tail is bushier and nose more pointed than most dogs. It makes high-pitched “yaps” and…
California Vole
The California Vole is covered with grayish-brown fur. Its ears and legs are short and it has pale feet. It has a cylindrical shape (like a toilet paper roll) with…
Mosquito
Adult Mosquitoes are gray or black and have two scaly wings. Females have a long, straw-like mouth for sucking blood. Males look different, with feathery antennae and mouthparts that cannot…
Bullfrog
The Bullfrog is a large green or brownish-green frog with long, strong legs for jumping. This frog usually has dark spots on its back and hind legs. Bullfrog males have…
Great Egret
The Great Egret is a wading bird with white feathers. It has a long neck and very long, black legs. Its bill is long, thick and yellow. An adult Great…
Splash in the Class: A Catalyst for Environmental Stewardship
…these species are in a complex food web,” Rosen explains. This approach educates and emotionally connects students to the ecosystem, encouraging them to protect the environments they’ve come to appreciate….