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Learn about the art and science of Bird Banding in this
fascinating lesson written by Splash field guide and bird
banding expert David Rosen. Watch videos of bird
banders in action at various banding stations across the nation.
Explore a pictorial guide to bird banding and learn what to
do if you find a banded bird. Finally, enter our Bird Banding
Story Contest and win a cool Splash vernal pool T-shirt!
Learn about the fascinating science behind the Coriolis Effect, a
phenomenon that alters the direction of moving masses
across our spherical planet. Read an easy-to-understand
explanation of Coriolis Effect, watch a video (filmed on the
Equator Line!) of an experiment that illustrates how it
effects each Hemisphere differently, and model the Coriolis
Effect at home using a balloon, marker and partner!
This engaging new lesson provides an introduction to
bird watching for budding birders of ALL ages! It includes
helpful tips on what to look for when trying to identify a bird,
information about field guides and binoculars, and a birding
resources list that will guide you to all things
birding, including amazing websites and birding
apps for mobile devices. Happy birding everybody!!
Join us for Storytime at Splash! Critter Keeper LuAnne reads Eva
Moore’s “Lucky Ducklings” in Critterville. “Lucky Ducklings”
is based on a true story and teaches about the impact humans have
on native animals.
Have you ever been on a nature walk and found animal scat along
the trail? If it wasn’t from someone’s pet dog, it must be
from one of the wild critters that inhabit the area. This
lesson will help you discover ways to be a better nature
detective so you can identify that critter calling card!
Perform the Scat Rap and make edible scat to fool your friends
and family (or to eat as a treat)!
June 6-14 is California Invasive Species Action
Week! Invasive flora and fauna compete with CA natives and
impact our natural resources. You can help prevent the
spread of invasive plants and animals by taking action, right in
your backyard, neighborhood or even online. This lesson is full
of incredible resources and activities that offer direct
ways to get involved.
Be a wildlife biologist and try this easy and fun activity to
monitor wildlife in your yard or nearby natural area! In
the Tracking 101 lesson we posted previously, one of the
activities was to make plaster casts of animal tracks that you
discover out in nature. But sometimes the ground is just
too hard and there aren’t any good animal tracks to see.
Don’t worry! You can still find out what critters have been
visiting by setting up a baited track station.
Put on your nature detective cap and learn the basics of animal
tracking! Explore animal clues left in the field, learn about
major animal track types, and compare and contrast cat and dog
tracks. Learn how to make animal track plaster casts in the
field. Even make a plaster cast of your pet’s paw track!
Join us for round two of Storytime at Splash! Critter Keeper
LuAnne reads Rosamond Dauer’s “Bullfrog Grows Up” in
Critterville with our resident Bullfrog, MewTwo.
Explore the Antelope Valley CA Poppy Reserve in the western
Mojave through satellite images and a virtual tour! Each spring
the Poppy Reserve is packed with visitors, however this year with
Covid-19 measures in place the reserve was closed during peak
season. Answer questions about the virtual tour video as you
watch and learn about other wildflower bloom hot spots in our
state.
Study one of the most endearing critters of Mather Field, the
California Vole! This lesson will help you understand the life
cycle, behavior and natural history of our tiny rodent friends.
Check out some cool photos of voles in action at Mather,
watch videos about voles, complete a vole crossword puzzle
and graph the population of multiple vole generations. We hope
you “dig” this lesson!
Please join us at the table (the water table that is)
and make an edible aquifer! Watch a video that introduces
the topic of groundwater, download an aquifer illustration, read
and discuss how groundwater works, answer questions, and use
parent/teacher and student instructions worksheet as you build
your very own edible aquifer that you can eat after the
lesson!
Learn about Monarchs and Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies,
explore the magical process of metamorphosis, make your own
butterfly food, and write and illustrate a comic strip of a
butterfly’s lifecycle!
Join us for Storytime at Splash! Critter Keeper LuAnne reads Anne
Mazer’s The Salamander Room in Critterville with one of our
resident California Tiger Salamanders.
Learn how to build an easy DIY Wind Turbine in this lesson!
Discover how wind turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into
mechanical and electrical energy. Generate enough
electricity to light an LED with your homemade turbine!
This lesson is calming, uplifting and fun-filled for Friday!
Paint Kindness Rocks, make your own Dandelion Play-doh and
brighten people’s days. Join us in spreading generosity during
these challenging times. Share your creations and acts of
generosity on social media and include the hashtag
#spreadgenerosity!
We have mentioned that we will be showcasing other organizations’
resources for at home learning, and today we are excited to
showcase the amazing work of the California State
Parks. Register for their K-12 Home Learning Programs and
learn about our state’s beautiful natural resources and cultural
heritage while at home.
Discover an array of birds that live at Mather Field and the many
types of nests they build in this lesson. Learn about ground
and burrow nesters, tree nesters, and birds that like to nest by
water. Finally, build a bird nest of your own using natural
materials from your yard! All of the incredible photos used
in this lesson were taken by Splash field guide and bird expert,
David Rosen.
Participate in a global nature observation challenge and showcase
the urban biodiversity of the Sacramento Region! Explore your
home, yard or nearby nature, upload your observations to the
iNaturalist platform and your data will be contributed to this
global citizen science effort. City Nature Challenge 2020 takes
place April 24-27.
