*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ NATURE NOTEBOOK ----Issue 9 The Newsletter written for parents with kids in mind. October 7, 1999 Linda M. Watson, lmwatson@naturely.com *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Welcome to Nature Notebook. This newsletter is by subscription only. If this edition was forwarded to you by a friend, see the bottom of the newsletter to receive your own, personal subscription or visit our website at http://www.naturely.com
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Oops! I must apologize to everyone who tried to find the featured activity in last weeks newsletter. First, the page did not load properly to the site, then I discovered the URL was case sensitive. Thanks to Joanne who patiently trouble- shooted the situation with me. The correct link is: http://www.naturely.com/GroundWater.htm?id=8
Index: 1. Sponsorship 2. Feature Activity 3. Nature in the news 4. The Spotlight 5. Q & A 6. Guest Column 7. Classified Ads 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist 9. Subscribe/unsubscribe information
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 1. Sponsorship Notice *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ for Kids Naturely and Nature Notebook is owned and sponsored by T. L. Creations http://www.tlcreations.com
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 2. Feature Activity *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
My little world
This activity is an oldie but goodie. It works for all age groups even though it is designed for first through third graders.
The equipment that you will need is very simple. A piece of yarn or any large circle (sometimes I use a hula hoop), a plastic spoon or wooden craft stick, a magnifying glass, a pencil, and a notebook.
I usually start with a discussion on the different things you may find on or in the ground. Most children say ants and worms. Depending on the time of year, there can be many different things to be found.
Have the children form groups of three or four. Place each group in a different location and let them put the string down around their world. Try to include different areas. A large boulder or rock, sand, clay, or wet land.
Have the children examine everything that is in their world and write it in their notebook. Use the spoon or stick to dig into the earth. (Remember to put the ground back.)
Once they are done, compare notes.
For a full description of My World click on http://www.naturely.com/myworld.htm?id=n9
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 3. Nature in the News *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Panther Underpasses
Roadkill is one of the leading causes of death for most animals. Nationwide, about a half million deer are hit by cars. Many large animals, like elk, moose, and bison, are lost in motor vehicle accidents. Countless frogs, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, snakes, turtles and possum are seen squished on the roads.
What happens when a threatened or endangered animals biggest threat to its existence is a motor vehicle? How can we prevent their extinction and not stop progress?
In 1986, this problem faced engineers near the Everglades in Florida. The widening of I-75 and the decreasing number of panthers in that area concerned everyone.
To resolve the issue, a 10 foot fence was erected along 40 miles of the highway and 23 panther-friendly tunnels were built. The result was success. Not a single panther has been killed by a vehicle along this stretch.
By providing barriers to the traffic and alternate paths for travel, the Florida has provided a win-win alternative for everyone.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 4. The Spotlight *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The Night Crawler
If you enjoy fishing, then you know that the night crawler is the bait of choice for catching everything from bluegill and bass to walleyes.
The night crawler is a very interesting and useful animal.
As a gardener, you would want as many night crawler as possible to live in your yard. As they move through the soil they swallow it and digest the plant, algae, and animal material. The result is rich soil for plants. This soil will also absorb rain water much better.
The night crawler is also very strong. It can push stones that are 60 times its own weight. Maybe that's why it has five hearts instead of one!
The night crawler survives the winter by burrowing below the frost or freeze line. Come spring, it will look for moist soil where there is plenty of decaying plants.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 5. Questions and Answers *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
If you have a nature question, mailto: question@naturely.com We will answer the questions in the next issue of Nature Notebook.
Q. What's the difference between antlers and horns?
A. There are some physical differences when you look at them - antlers usually branch and horns don't. The difference really lies in how long the animal keeps it. The antler is seasonal. The antler is made up of a bony material. Deer, like white tail, moose, or elk grows a new pair every year. At the end of the mating season, the antlers fall off. The next year, the antler that grows is dependent on many factors like the availability of food, the health and age of the deer, and any injuries the antler may have had the previous year. The healthier the buck, the more times on the antler.
The horn, on the other hand, is meant to stay with the animal for life. The part of the horn we see can be compared to a fingernail. Its purpose is to protect the tissue that it is covering. If the horn is removed for any reason, it is painful to the animal. The removed horn will not grow back.
**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 6. Guest Column *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
If you have information to share that would be of interest to our subscribers, consider writing an article for our Guest Column.
See 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 7. Classified *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
*** We reserve the right to limit sponsors to five per issue on a first come, first serve basis upon approval of the editorial staff.
All ads must be family and nature friendly.***
For more information mailto: advertising@naturely.com
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 8. How to be featured as our guest columnist *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Nature Notebook is always looking for articles pertaining to nature, activities that adults and children can participate in together and ways that we can work together to sustain the balance of nature.
Articles should be no more than 700 words long. Submit to editor@naturely.com. No attachments please. The article should be part of the body of the e-mail.
Articles should not be advertisements disguised as information.
Do not query. Submitted articles will be reviewed and responded to within 2 working days.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 9. Subscribe/unsubscribe information *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Send a blank e-mail to one of the following addressed:
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*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Copyright 1999. for Kids Naturely No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without written permission.
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