Study The Pea-Pod

pea-pod photo

        The  fruit  of  the  pea  is  a  simple  fruit,  that  is,  it  is  the  result  of  the  ripening of  a  single  pistil.  Simple  fruits  like  the  pea  that  split  into  two  pieces  or valves  are  called  legumes.  All  dry  dehiscent  fruits  are  called  pods,  although the  name  is  more  usually  given  to  fruits  like  the  pea.  If  the  pod  opens  along one  side  only - usually  the  inner - it  is  called  a  follicle.  The  pod  or  fruit formed  by  the  development  of  any  compound  pistil  is  called  a  capsule.

 

Required for Observation In The Classroom: Some  pea- pods,  and  a  number  cf  flowers  from the  pea  plant.  Also  a  portion  of  the  pea  plant  with  pods  attached.

 

Method of Student Observation:

• Let  each  child  examine  a  pea-pod,  and  describe  its  stalk,  form, color,  &c.  Show  a  portion  of  a  pea plant  with  pods  attached.
• Each  of  the  children  should  open a  pod, and  note  how  and  where  the seeds  are  attached.
• Explain  that  the  peas  are  seeds, and  compare  with  other  seeds  previously  examined.
• Let  each  child  examine  the  pea flower,  and  observe  the  young  pod  in the  center.  Show  pods  in  different stages  of  growth.
• Sow  a  few  peas  of  the  previous season  in  a  box  of  soil,  and  watch  the growth  of  the  pea  plant  at  intervals of  a  few  days. 

 How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about pea-pods inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• The  Pod - A  fruit. Stalk  short,  with  five  little  green leaves  (sepals  of  the  flower)  at  the end. 
• Pod  formed  of  two  parts,  which readily  separate  when  pressed.  Splits open  of  itself  when  ripe. 
• The  Peas - All  fastened  along one  edge  of  the  pod,  by  means  of very  short  stalks. 
• The  peas  are  seeds,  each  of  which will  grow  into  a  plant  if  placed  in the  soil  and  kept  moist. 
• How  the  Pod  grows - The  pod is  formed  in  the  center  of  the  pea flower. 
• After  the  other  parts  of  the flower  have  decayed  and  fallen  off, the  pod  and  the  seeds  within  it  continue  to  grow  and  ripen. 
• If  left  on  the  plant  long  enough, the  pod  splits,  and  the  seeds  fall  on the  soil,  where  they  grow  into  new plants. 

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. Growing Sweet Snap Pea Time Lapse - Seed to Pod in 60 days by eLapse
2. How to grow snow peas, sweet peas, snap peas from seed to harvest by Jerra's Garden

The finished 3-D patch of pea-pod plants.

Cut, Sculpt and Paste A Fun 3-D Pea-Pod Patch: To make this collage you will need the following supplies: green air-dry clay, green construction paper (in several shades), 2 paper plates, white school glue, green chenille stems, masking tape, tacky craft glue and brown acrylic paint.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Paint your paper plate brown. Let dry.
2. Punch sets of two holes opposite ends of the paper plate per stem.
3. Take chenille stems and thread opposite ends of each stem through each set of holes and tape in place.
4. Now glue the second plate to the bottom of the first. This gives the plates strength for the collage and also covers up the taped chenille stems on the backside of the first plate.
5. Cut pea shaped leaves from darkest green paper. Then paste these to the chenille stems and also onto the inside paper plate background. see photos below
6. Construct the little pea pods to attach to the stems. Cut smallish rectangles from the green paper and fold each in half lengthwise.
7. Glue the ends together to create a narrow pocket for the peas.
8. Roll tiny pea shapes from the air-dry clay and then glue these inside each paper pod.
9. Glue pea pods to the stems and also onto the paper plate background. 
10. Some of the peas may yet be immature and still have blossoms on their stems. So you may wish to add a few white pea-pod flowers to a stem or two. Make these flowers with tissue twisted about a few chenille stems and pasted directly onto the paper plate if desired.

Left, making peas in their pods. Center, the first layer of pasting on peas and leaves after the
muddy garden dirt has been painted. The white spots indicate where I punched holes for
the pea vines tips to be taped and glued just beneath the paper plate. Glue on a second 
plate underneath to give your garden patch support. Right, the vines twisted around a
pencil to give these curly shapes.

       Above on the far left, the process for making peas-in-a-pod, details: cut, fold, roll, glue and tuck. Students can make these in advance of assembling the entire pea patch. Set aside one house the day prior to making the second part of the craft, if you prefer.

       Also I covered my pea-pod stems with cotton prior to painting and shaping these. However, a very young student may alternatively use green fuzzy chenille stems without the extra steps demonstrated above on the far right. 

Detailed photos of how the teacher pea-pod patch looks when completed. 

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

1.  Pod. - On  a  stalk.  A  fruit.  Splits  into  two  parts.
2.  Peas. - Seeds.
3.  How  the  Pod  grows. -  Formed  in  the  center  of  the  flower.
Advanced coloring of sweet pea design for older students.

Study The Bee: Lesson 2

Natural beehive inside of a tree.

       During  the  winter  and  the  spring  the  hive  consists  exclusively  of  the  perfect female,  the Queen  Bee,  and  of  a  number  of  imperfect  females  or  worker  bees. In  the  spring  the  queen  bee  lays  her  eggs  first  in  the  worker  cells,  and  then in  the  drone  cells.  She  lays  as  many  as  2000  eggs  per  day.  Late  in  spring, or  very  early  in  summer,  the  workers  prepare  the  larger  queen  cells,  which are  placed  at  the  edge  of  the  comb.  In  these  the  eggs  from  which  queens  are hatched  are  deposited,  and  the  larvae  of  these  are  fed  by  the  workers  with the  rich  and  choice  nourishment  which  forms  only  the  first  meal  of  the  worker larvae.  As  soon  as  the  first  of  the  young  queens  issues  from  her  cell,  the  hive is  thrown  into  a  state  of  excitement,  as  two queens  will  not  live  in  the  same  hive,  and  the  old  queen,  gathering  about  her  a  portion  of  the workers,  leaves the  cell,  and  forms  a  new  colony.  These  swarms  number  sometimes  from twelve  to  fifteen  thousand.  This  forming  of  new  societies  is  repeated  until the  supply  of  young  queens is  exhausted,  and  then  the  workers  fall  upon  the drones  and  put  them  to  death.  It  is  said  that  the  first  brood  of  workers  in summer  lives  only  for  about  six  weeks,  and  then  gives  place  to  a  new  brood. The  extreme  limit  of  age  of  a  worker  bee  is  said  to  be  not  more  than  eight months;  the  queen  bee,  on  the  other  hand,  is  known  to  live  for  five  years,  and during  that  time  is  said  to  produce  more  than  a  million  eggs. 

Required for Observation In The Classroom: Inside of every hive are bees that perform one of three kinds of jobs. Have a picture and/or video of their hive on display. See observation hive by Frederick Dunn.

• This is lesson 2 for the study of bees, go here to see lesson 1.

Method of Student Observation:

• Exhibit  pictures  of  the  three kinds  of  bees: the queen, the drones and the workers. 
• Show  a  diagram  of  the  hind leg  of  the  worker,  and  explain  the use  of  the  brushes.  If  necessary, explain  the  nature  of  pollen,  illustrating  by  means  of  a  flower.
• Exhibit  a  piece  of  honey-comb, and  show  how  the  cells  are  placed, base  to  base,  and  so  inclined  that the  honey  cannot  easily  run  out.
• Exhibit  specimens  of  the  various stages  of  the  bee,  if  possible.  If  not, illustrate  by  means  of  a  diagram.
• Explain  that  honey  does  not exist  in  flowers,  but  is  prepared  in the  body  of  the  bee.
• Explain  the  fertilization  of flowers  if  the  children  are  advanced enough  to  understand  it.
  

How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about both bee hives and bee job description inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• Queen. - The  queen  or  female bee  lays  the  eggs.  There  is  only one  in  each  hive.  She  seldom  leaves the  hive,  and  is  always  waited  on and  fed  by  the  workers.  She  may be  known  by  the  longer  tapering  abdomen.
  Drones  or  Males. - These  may be  known  by  their  short  and  thick abdomen.  A  few  hundreds  exist  in each  hive  -  about  one -twelfth  the total  number.  The  drones  do  not live  more  than  a  few  months,  are very  sluggish,  and  do  not  store  up food  or  build  cells. 
• Workers  or  Neuters -  Some thousands  of  workers  exist  in  each hive.  They  build  the  cells,  gather food,  feed  the  young,  and  store  up food  for  winter  use.  The  hind legs are  broad  and  flattened,  and  provided  with  rows  of  stiff  hairs.  These are  used  for  collecting  pollen  from flowers. 
• The  Hive - The  hive  is  the  home and  the  storehouse  of  the  bees.  In it  the workers  construct  hexagonal cells  of  wax.  The  wax  is  secreted by  the  abdomen of  the  bees.  Some of  the  cells  are  used  as  cradles  for the  young,  others  for storing  honey, and  some  for  storing  ''bee-bread.'' The  honey  is  prepared  from  the sweet  juices  obtained  from  flowers; and  the  ''bee-bread''  which  is  used to  feed the  young,  is  a  mixture  of honey  and  pollen.
• Metamorphoses - Bees,  like  most other  insects,  undergo  changes  in form.  The  young  are  white  limbless  grubs.  These  grow  and  develop into  perfect  bees. 
• We  use  the  honey which  the  bees  store  up  for  themselves. 
• In  flying  from flower  to  flower,  the  bees  convey pollen  from  one  to  another,  and thus assist  in  the  fertilization  of  the  seeds.

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. Wild honey harvesting by TravelRide
2. Huge beehive discovered inside an Australian home! by BBC News and Massive beehive found with 7 queens and 10 lbs. of bees! by Yappy Beeman
3. Dianaa Robertson, Bee Skep Maker from the South West Heritage Trust

The Bee Anchor Chart and Classroom Discussion: Direct discussions, develop vocabulary and demonstrate correct sentence writing. Anchor charts are used in many different grades the following example below may be used in 2nd through 4th grade during a group discussion.

• The  homes  of  bees  are  called  bee-hives.
• They  are  placed  in  gardens.
• The  bees  store  up  honey  in  the  hives.
• The  homes  of  bees  are  called  bee-hives,  and  are  placed  in gardens.
• The  bee  has  two  eyes.
• The  bee  has  four  wings.
• The  bee  has  six  legs.
• The  bee  has  two  eyes,  four  wings,  and  six  legs.
• The  mother  of  the  bees  is  called  the  queen  bee.
• The  other  two  kinds  of  bees  are  drones  and  workers.
• The drone bees are fathers.
• The fathers care for the babies.
• The baby bees are called larva or grubs.
  
• The workers are sister bees.
• The  workers  make  the  honey.
• The  bees  seek  for  honey  in  the  flowers.
• They  go  into  the  cups  of  flowers  to  suck  the  sweet  juices. 
• This sweet juice is called nectar. 
• The drones mix nectar and pollen for the babies.
• The baby bee food is sometimes called ''bee-bread''
• The  bees  make  honey  from  the  sweet  juices  of  flowers for themselves.
• We like to harvest and eat the bees honey too!

Skep Hive Dollhouse Craft:

My clothespin hornet/bee dolls in front of
their new skep hive home.

       Every bee needs a home and a family, even pretend bees. Learn how to build an old-fashioned skep hive for your clothespin bee dolls to live inside. Decorate it's exterior with silk flowers, leaves and stems. 

       Add details to the pretend door. The door is only for decoration here because the dolls actually enter and exit through the hole at the top.

Supply List:

• newsprint or brown packing paper
• masking tape
• white school glue
• one paper plate to build one
• scrap cardboard
• nicer twin for the handle
• faux wood paper for the door
• silk flowers for trim
• hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• a tiny brass button for the door knob

See and read how to make the skep-hive dollhouse in the photos below:

crushed rings and glue application

       Crush and shape 7 rings from newsprint or brown packing paper. Use masking tape to hold the shapes in place.

       Stack the rings as you go to determine if the shapes need to be smaller or larger in order to form the shape of a skep hive properly.

       Use a paper plate to keep your area clean while you glue between each ring to bring the skep hive together. Be generous with the white glue.

the stacking of rings and handle attachments 

       Glue rings from largest to smallest until you reach the second to the smallest ring. 

       On this ring tape a handle to carry the bee dollhouse with. Wrap it around the ring to insure a very strong attachment.

      Glue on this ring and the last smallest ring on top of it.

see weighted skep hive to dry and how to paint it

       

       Use blocks to weigh down the rings while these dry overnight.

       Cut out a door from scrap cardboard and glue this firmly in place on the side of the dollhouse hive. This is a decorative door; it doesn't actually open but dresses up the appearance of the skep playfully. I covered this door with faux wooden paper to make it more believable. Glue on a tiny brass button for the handle and cut a tiny window from a magazine to include at the top of the door too.

       Paint the entire hive with dark brown acrylic paints once the hive has dried. Let this paint dry entirely before brushing on more. Use several different shades of brown applied with a dry brush to hive the hive a weathered realistic look.

added decorative details make each crafted skep hive dollhouse unique

       Hot glue on remaining decorative trims: silk flowers, stems and leaves, tucking these into cracks and such. Our queen bee appreciates a lovely garden surrounding, just like most bees and hornets.

More Arts and Crafts About Bee Hives:

• Craft a honey beehive for your dolls
• Craft a Faux ''Straw'' Skep Hive for a Doll
• Make a Beekeeper's Straw Hat Craft for A Doll

Extended Learning: Bee Themes:

• Memory ''Beehive'' for Sunday School Classrooms

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

The size and shapes of the queen, drone and worker bees are illustrated above.
The stages of bees illustrated are larve. Details of bee anatomy like
legs are illustrated and the queen's cell and larva nursery cells 
are also illustrated in the clip art for students to copy
inside their journals or teachers to draw on a
white board.

Study The Bee: Lesson 1

Africanized bees on hive.

       The  bee  is  a  rather  stoutly  built  insect,  belonging  to  the  Apiarian  family  of the  Aculeate  or  stinging  Hymenoptera.  Owing  to  the  value  man  places  on its  productions,  honey  and  wax,  it  seems  to  have  been  early  domesticated. It  is  a  blackish-brown  insect  covered  generally  with  grayish-brown  hairs,  the abdomen  showing  bands  of  a  somewhat  paler  color

• The Behavior of Bees - Unit Study at The Doll Farm Camp Here, reading level is for Grade 5 and 6
• This is lesson 1 for the study of bees, go here to see lesson 2

Required for Observation In The Classroom: Picture  of  bees  and  the  bee-hive.  Diagram showing  bees,  much  enlarged.  Specimens  of  bees  and  honey-comb.

Method of Student Observation:

• Compare  with  other  insects,  and point  out  that  this  division  of  the body  into  three  parts is  characteristic of  insects.
• Explain  the  nature  of  the  compound  eye  of  an  insect.
• Compare  with  the  corresponding  part  of  the  body  of  the  butterfly or  other  insect.
• Explain  the  nature  of  the  sting with  the  aid  of  a  drawing. 

How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about bee anatomy inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• Body - In  three  parts -  head, thorax,  and  abdomen.  Covered  with hair.
• Head - Provided  with  two  large, compound  eyes ;  a  sucking-tube;  and a  pair  of  jaws.
• Thorax - Composed  of  three ring-like  segments.  Each  segment bears  a  pair  of  legs,  and  the  second and  third  a  pair  of  wings  also.
• Legs - Composed  of  several  parts jointed  together.  Each  foot  terminates  in  a  pair  of  hooked  claws.
• Wings - Each  composed  of  a very  thin  and  transparent  membrane, supported  by  a  few  rays.  The  wings are  placed  one  beneath  the  other  on  the  back, when  not  in  use.  When spread  for  flying,  the  two  wings  of each  side  are  locked  together  at  their edges.
• Abdomen - Composed  of  several ring-like  segments.  The  last  segment provided  with  a  sting.  (The drone  bees  have  no  sting.)
• Sting - A  very  slender  tube terminating  in  a  sharp  point.  The base  of  the  sting  communicates  with a  gland  which  secretes  an  irritant poison.  When  the  sting  is  used, some  of  the  poison  passes  through  it into  the  puncture  made.

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. What do worker bees do all day? by Bee Professor
2. What do drones do exactly for queens and all hives in general? by MyBeeLine
3. All about Queen bees by Ryan Grady

The Queen Bee Life Cycle Craft.

 

teacher example of bee life-cycle

       Students can make this "life cycle of a queen bee'' using a black marker, three paper plates, yellow paper, white school glue, a stapler, and a brad.

       Look below to see how to cut the first paper plate into queen bee parts. I used glue to assemble my teacher's sample of this graphic craft, but students will find it is much simpler to use a staple gun to assemble the decorative pieces on the top plate.

       Cut the first plate into equal fourths. Use two of these cuts to shape the queen bee's wings just as seen in the photo. Then cut a heart shaped head from the third section and a daisy crown to staple behind the head before attaching the entire head section to the top plate between the two wings.

       Cut and paste yellow to cover the body and head as seen in the photo. Students could paint these areas alternatively instead.

       Cut away a pie shaped window to reveal the hand drawn ''life cycle of a bee'' on the plate attached beneath the body at it's center with a brad.

       Add a few extra trims by cutting antenna from black paper to insert between the queen bee's head and daisy crown. Give the queen rosy cheeks too if you'd prefer!

How to cut and assemble parts of queen bee from paper plate.

 

More Bee Arts/Crafts for Students:

• DIY Bee or Hornet Clothespin Dolls
• ''Bee Mine'' Valentines
• Large bee coloring page
• ''H is for honey or honeybees'' coloring page
  

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

Body. Of  three  parts.  Covered  with  hair.
Head. Compound  eyes,  sucking-tube,  and  a  pair  of  jaws.
Thorax. Bears  the  legs  and  wings.
Legs. Composed  of  several  jointed  parts.
Wings. Formed  of  a  thin  membrane,  with  a  few  rays.
Abdomen. Formed  of  several  ring-like  segments.
Sting. A  fine  tube,  with  a  poison-gland  at  its  base.

Study The Mole

Common European Mole

       The  Common  Mole  (Talpa  europcea)  belongs  to  the  order  of  the  Insectivora,  an  order  of  animals  small  in  size,  and  m  stly  of  more  or  less  purely nocturnal  habits.  Closely  akin  to  it  are  the  hedgehogs  and  shrews,  which belong  to  th.  same  order.  The  insectivora  are  in  many  ways  closely  related to  the  bats.  In  general  appearance  some  of  the  members  of  the  order  closely resemble  the  gnawing  animals  or  rodents.  Shrews  in  particular  are  very  like mice,  and  are  usually,  indeed,  spoken  of  as  shrew-mice.  It  was  its  close resemblance  to  the  shrew  that  led  people  in  England  in  olden  times  to  call  the bat  a  flitter-mouse,  a  name  by  which  it  is  still  spoken  of  in  some  parts  of  the country.

       The  mole  is  clearly  distinguished  from  other  insectivores  by  the  perfect adaptation  of  its  form  to  a  subterranean  life.  It  inhabits  the  northern  hemisphere  both  in  the  old  and  in  the  new  world,  not  a  single  species  of  mole being  found  south  of  the  equator.  Its  dwelling  or  fortress  is  usually  formed under  a  hillock,  and  in  its  construction  the  mole  displays  considerable ingenuity  and  engineering  skill.

       Moles  are  exceedingly  voracious  animals,  and  though  living  chiefly  on  worms and  grubs, will,  if  they  get  the  opportunity,  kill  and  devour  mice,  small  birds, lizards,  and  frogs.  The  mole,  in  such  cases,  hurls  itself  on  its  victim  as  if frenzied  with  rage,  and  grasps  it  with  the  ferocity  and  tenacity  of  a  bull-dog. The  mole  is  also  a  very  thirsty  creature,  and  usually  makes  a  run  to  the nearest  ditch  or  pond,  or  supplies  itself  with  water  by  sinking  a perpendicular shaft.

       The  mole,  though  he  sometimes  condescends  to  make  use  of  a  common passage,  is  far  from  being  a  sociable  animal,  and  has  always  his  own  nest  or fortress,  where  in  the  spring  he  brings  his  bride.  He  seems,  however,  to  be possessed  of  strong  family  affection.  Most commonly  in  April  the  young appear.  They  number  usually  four  or  five,  and  are  most assiduously attended  to  by  their  parents,  who  see  to  it  that  the  nest  is  softly  lined  with grass  and  fine  roots.

Required for Observation: A picture and/or video of a mole.

• The Mole and The Earthworm by Filmbilder & Friends

Method of Student Observation:

• Elicit  that  the  form  of  the mole's  body  is  peculiarly  adapted  to a  subterranean  existence  ;  elicit  also the  use  of  the  short,  thick  fur  in keeping  out  particles  of  earth.
• Compare  the  limbs  of  the  mole with  our  own  ;  also  with  those  of  the bat.  Why  are  the  fore -limbs  so much  stronger  than  the  hind  ones ?
• Elicit  the  adaptation  of  the pointed  snout ;  the  reason  why  the eyes  and  ears  should  be  so  closely protected  by  fur  ;  and  the  advantage of  the  absence  of  external  appendages to  the  ears.
• Compare  the  teeth  with  those  of other  well-known  animals.
• Show  a  diagram  of  the  mole's nest,  with  its  radiating  system  of tunnels.Elicit  the  various  points  in which  the  mole  is  adapted  to  its  habit  of  burrowing,  and  especially the  reason  why  the  palm  of  the  hand is  directed  backwards.
• Compare  the  habits  of  the  mole with  those  of  the  bat,  especially  with regard  to  their  food  and  their  natural aversion  to  light.
• Note  that  the  mole  devours  the farmer's  enemies ‚ worms  and  grubs, but  that  it  also  disfigures  the  land by  casting  up  its  ''hills.''
• Note  that  the  position  of  the mole  in  the  animal  scale  is  very  near that  of  the  bat.  Both  are  mammals exhibiting  a  considerable  degree  of development.
  

How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about moles inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• Body. - Long  and  narrow ‚ cylindrical  in  form.  Covered  with  a very  closely-set,  velvety fur.  Terminates  in  a  short  tail.
• Limbs. - Four in number.  Short, strong,  and  terminating  in  distinct toes  with  strong  claws.  Fore-limbs especially  strong,  with  the  palm  of the  hand  directed  backwards.
• Head. - Provided  with  a  long, tapering  snout.
• Eyes  closely  surrounded  by  the thickly-set  fur.
• Ears  without  external  appendages, and  closely  covered  with  fur.
• Teeth  pointed.  No  broad  masticating  teeth.
• Home. - The  home  of  the  mole is  the  soil,  where  it  burrows  its  way in  search  of  food.  It  constructs  a couple  of  circular  galleries  round  a central  chamber,  and  from  these  it makes  a  series  of  burrows  or  runs  in all  directions.
• Burrowing. - The  work  of  burrowing  is  performed  mainly  by  the strong  forepaws,  the  soil  being shovelled  backwards  as  the  work proceeds.  The  sharp  snout  assists the  creature  in  pushing  its  way through  the  soil.  The  soil  is  thrown to  the  surface  at  intervals,  forming little  heaps  called  mole-hills.
• Food.  - The  food  consists  of worms  and  grubs.  These  are  caught by  means  of  the  pointed  teeth,  and generally  swallowed  whole.
• When  the  soil  is  dry,  and  the worms  burrow  deeply,  the  mole  also burrows  deeper ;  but  the  excavations of  the  mole  are  generally  very  near the  surface.
• Young. - The  young  of  the  mole are  produced  alive,  and  are  nourished by  the  milk  of  the  mother.  Hence, like  the  bat,  the  mole  is  classed among  the  mammals.

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. How Hard Do Mole Dig? by The New York Times
2. The weird and wonderful star-nosed mole by BBC Earth
3. How to feed and raise a baby mole by The Dodo

The Mole Anchor Chart and Classroom Discussion: Direct discussions, develop vocabulary and demonstrate correct sentence writing. Anchor charts are used in many different grades the following example below may be used in 2nd through 4th grade during a group discussion.

1. The  mole  has  a  pointed  snout.
2. Its  body  is  covered  with  soft  fur.
3. The  soft  fur  hides  its  small  eyes.
4. The  mole  has  a  pointed  snout  and  its  body  is  covered  with soft  fur  which  hides  its  small  eyes.
5. The  mole's  legs  are  very  short. The  fore-feet  of  the  mole  are  like  little  hands.
6. Its  claws  are  like  fingers  with  long  nails.
7. The  fore-feet  of  the  mole  are  like  little  hands  and  its  claws are  like  fingers  with  long  nails.
8. The  mole  can  burrow  or  scratch  its  way  under  the  ground.
9. It  finds  worms  for  food.
10. The  mole  can  burrow  or  scratch  its  way  under  the  ground, where  it  finds  worms  for  food.
11. The  long  narrow  body  and  the  pointed  snout,  as  well  as  the strong  claws,  help  the  mole  to  burrow  under  the  ground, where  it  can  catch  worms.

A Paper Mole in The Hole Craft: To make this project you will need: 1 paper plate, a 1/4 cup of rice, green construction paper, parts of a recycled paper egg carton, white school glue, acrylic paints (brown, grey, pink flesh), one cotton ball, one chenille stem and scrap paper.

The finished mole in a hole art collage.

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Cut a nose shape from a recycled egg carton and glue this to the center of a paper plate.
2. Then puddle white school glue around this cardboard ''nose'' and sprinkle rice in the glue. Let this dry overnight.
3. Shred multiple shades of green and yellow paper to paste around the rice. Let dry.
4. Paint the rice with brown acrylics and paint the nose piece with grey acrylic.
5. Shred the cotton ball and glue it to the tip of the mole's nose. After it drys paint it pink.
6. Cut pink paws from paper and glue these into the dirt (rice).
7. Cut a chenille stem in half, twist shredded cotton about it with white glue in order to give it a smooth wormy surface. paint is pink and poke a hole under the mole's nose for a mouth to insert the worm inside of.

Left, the beginnings of our mole collage. The nose glued in place, the rice glued down,
 surrounding the mole's nose and the grass clippings added around the brim of
the plate. Right, the rice is painted brown to resemble dirt.

 

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

1,  Mole ;  2,  Set  of  fur  in  Mole ;  3,  Set  of  fur  in  ordinary  animals ;
  4,  Skull  of  Mole ;5,  Teeth  of  Mole ;  6,  Fore-foot  of  Mole, 
outer  surface ;  7,  Fore-foot  of  Mole,  under
surface ;  8,  Section  of  Mole's  dwelling.

Study The Caterpillar

The monarch caterpillars.

       The  eggs  of  butterflies  are  interesting  microscopic  objects,  as  they  are usually  covered  with  a  hard  shell,  and  are  of  various  shapes  and  colors. The  majority  of  insects  pass  through  a  regular  series  of  changes.  The ''young''  on  escaping  from  the  egg  is  known  as  the  larva.  The ''larvae''  are  soft  creatures,  with  the  body  in  segments,  not  unlike  earthworms.  When  they  have  no  distinct  head  and  no  limbs  they  are  called maggots;  when  they  have  a  horny  head  and  no  limbs,  or  only  jointed  legs, they  are  known  as  grubs;  and  when  they  are  furnished  with  head,  joined legs,  and  pro-legs,  they  are  called  caterpillars.  After  the  final  moult  the larva  passes  into  the  ''pupa''  state,  and  is  sometimes  known  as  a  chrysalis. Before  taking  this  form  the  larva  usually  selects  some  shelter,  and  very  often also  makes  for  itself  a  protective  case  or   ''cocoon.''  After  a  period  of  quiet it  issues  from  the  shelter  as  the  ''imago‚''  or  adult  insect,  furnished  with wings.

Required for Observation In The Classroom: A  diagram,  illustrating  the  metamorphoses  of a  caterpillar,  will  be  necessary  while  giving  this  lesson;  but  the changes  should  be  studied  from  the  insects  themselves.
       The  eggs  and  the  young  caterpillars  of  the  common  cabbage-butterfly  may  be found  in  any  vegetable  garden,  on  the  leaves  of cabbages,  during  April  and  May,  and  again  about  two  months  later (the  second  brood).  The  caterpillars  may  be  fed  on  cabbage  leaves, and  observed  from  day  to  day. 
       If you cannot locate one of these in your garden at home there are companies that sell chrysalis for students to observe a butterfly transformation all over the web!

Method of Student Observation: 

• Exhibit  a  cluster  of  the  eggs,  and also  a  picture  of  the  egg  as  seen through  a  microscope.
• The  structure  of  a  caterpillar should  be  illustrated  by  diagram or video;  but  live  caterpillars  should  also  be  exhibited.
•  If  the  caterpillar  of  the  cabbage- butterfly  cannot  be  obtained,  any other  will  do,  for  all  are  similar  in their  general  characteristics,  except that  the  number  of  claspers  varies from  two  to  five  pairs.
• The  process  of  molting  should be  observed  if  possible.  The  approach of  molting-time  may  be  known  by the  temporary  fasting  of  the  insect.
  
• A  chrysalis  should  be  exhibited, and,  if  possible,  the  final  molting watched  at  intervals.
  

How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about caterpillars inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• Eggs - Laid  by  butterflies  on  the  proper food-plants.  Attached  by  a  gummy substance.
  
• Structure - Body  made  up  of several  segments,  the  number  usually given  as thirteen,  counting  the  head as  the  first.
  
• Head -  Covered  with  a  hard skin.  A  pair  of  jaws.  Twelve  very small  eyes.
  
• Limbs - Six  legs one  pair  on each  of  the  2nd,  3rd,  and  4th  segments.  In  addition to  these  legs, the  caterpillar  has  five  pairs  of  pro- legs,  each  one  provided  with  a circlet of  little  hooks.  The  pro-legs  are often  spoken  of  as  the  claspers.
  
• Moulting - A  caterpillar  casts its  skin  several  times  during  its growth.  The  old  skin splits,  and reveals  a  new  one  beneath.
  
• Final  Moult - This  occurs  when the  caterpillar  is  full  grown,  and  the insect  then appears  as  a  chrysalis. 
  

Video at Youtube for Students to Watch:

1. Watch a Monarch Caterpillar Change into A Chrysalis by The Jefferson Lab
2. What's inside a caterpillar ''cocoon? ''

Make Graphic Illustration of Caterpillar Metamorphosis: Draw from real-life observation or from a video or the photograph below.

       ''This caterpillar of the monarch butterfly-hanging head downward-is ready for the metamorphosis. It hatched from a minute egg in late summer and has grown for two weeks. It stopped eating and wandered restlessly about and has now chosen a secure spot on which it has spun a small thick carpet of silk. It walked over this until the hind feet with their many minute hooks were entangled in the silk, then letting go its hold with the other pairs of feet, it hung head downward, motionless. The skin now loosens, and after twenty-four hours splits over the head. At this stage the caterpillar becomes active: by muscular contraction it works the skin off upward into a small shriveled mass; then during the few seconds longer that it still remains attached to the skin, it reaches out its slender end (which also is supplied with hooks) and with great effort and force pushes it up into the silk carpet. the whole process has taken but three or four minutes by the watch. The creature now rests. Slowly the shape changes, the segments above contracting, the form rounding out; and behold an emerald-green chrysalis studded with gold spots! In this form the insect is wholly immovable-although wonderful changes are taking place within, absorption of structures useful to the caterpillar and perfecting of others necessary for the new life of the butterfly. In two weeks the pattern of the butterfly's brown and orange wings begins to show through, finally the chrysalis skin, in its turn, splits over the head, and the butterfly crawls out. Such is one of the simplest and best-known stories of insect metamorphosis.''

Arts/Crafts Projects:

• Make my caterpillar stick puppet... - 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders
• Craft a pom-pom caterpillar SWAPS for girl scouts here - 1rst -5th Grade
• Make a very hungry caterpillar... - kindergarten through 2nd grade

Extended Learning Content: 

• The Cocoon - Bible Lesson based upon the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
  
• Caterpillar On The Wall - illustrated poem

Free Student Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

Illustrations of Caterpillars, their eggs on a leaf, their chrysalis,
and anatomy like: head, legs and claspers.