Teacher’s Guides

In the first segment, Junior Naturalist Patrice looks at how plants and animals are adapted to their environment. Later, Patrice and Senior Naturalist Dave Erler look at the unique adaptations of the opossum. In the third segment, we take a closer look at the beaver. In the final segment, Cody and Octave visit the New England Aquarium’s critical care ward and learn how they are treating Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles that have washed ashore on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Junior Naturalist Patrice explains how coloration is a structural adaptation that helps animals and plants survive in their environment. She joins Senior Naturalist Dave Erler to examine the coloration of the great horned owl. We take an up-close look at the skunk. Von and Marrissa visit with wildlife photographer John Green and learn how color plays a role in photography.

In the opening segment, Junior Naturalist Patrice looks at how animals communicate with visual, auditory, chemical, and tactile signals. Next, Patrice and Senior Naturalist Dave Erler observe the red fox and how it communicates using scent. Then we take an up-close view at how songbirds communicate. Finally, Morissa and Benjamin visit a pond with Herpetologist Tom Tining and learn how frogs communicate.

This episode opens with Junior Naturalist Patrice looking at how all living things need a habitat where their needs can be met. Next Patrice joins Senior Naturalist Dave Erler as they look at how the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has created an artificial habitat in its aviary. Then we take an up-close look at the common loon and its habitat. Finally, Stevie and Taylor help biologist Kathy Wohlfort float a loon raft.

In the first segment, Patrice looks at life in lakes, streams, and wetlands. Next Patrice and Dave look at a snapping turtle. Then we take an up-close look at wetlands. Finally, Marissa and Benjamin join biologist Beth Malcolm and help inspect the growth of animal and plant life in a wetland environment.

Patrice looks at, tundra, rainforest, grassland, taiga, temperate deciduous forest and desert biomes. She then joins Dave to learn how the red-tailed hawk is adapted to a variety of habitats. In the third segment, we take an up-close look at the desert. Finally, Laura and Marshall take a hike with David Publicover of the Appalachian Mountain Club and look at the diversity of plant life along the trail.

In the opening segment, Patrice explains how herbivores and carnivores depend on each other for survival. Next, Patrice joins Dave and learns about an insect eating predator, the brown bat. In the third segment, we take an up-close look at the gray wolf. Finally, Sarah and Cody visit a bat cave with Peter Benson from the Nature Conservancy.

In the opening segment, Patrice looks at the important role decomposers and scavengers play in the natural world. She then visits with Dave and they check on the progress of the decomposition of a dead gray squirrel. In the third segment, we take an up-close look at the turkey vulture. Finally, Hawk Mathany and Chris Thayer of the Appalachian Mountain Club show Laura and Marshall just how and what they recycle in the wilderness.

In the opening segment, Patrice looks at population and the limiting factors that can impact it. Next, she visits with Dave and they explore how a variety of factors can impact porcupine populations. The third segment takes an up-close look at the white-tailed deer. And finally, Von and Daniel visit with Professor Peter Pekins from the University of New Hampshire and learn about how he is helping to control deer numbers.

In the first segment, Patrice looks at the wide variety of life found on earth and the important role species diversity plays in maintaining a healthy environment. Next she and Dave sweep for insects in a field near the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and see how many different kinds of insects they can find. In segment three we take an up-close look at life on the forest floor. Finally Morrisa and Octave join Susan Morse of Keeping Track and discover the diversity of animals where she lives by looking for their tracks.

In segment one, Patrice looks at how all organisms have their own role, or niche in their environment. Next, Patrice and Dave look at the niche of the pileated woodpecker. Then we take an up-close look at coral reef and the niches they fill in the ocean. Finally, Von and Marshall spend the day with conservation officer Joe Giarrusso and learn how he’s trying to control the impact of beavers in urban areas.

In the opening segment Patrice explores the impact invasive species can have on an environment. She then joins Dave and they look at the impact milfoil has on aquatic communities. We then take a closer look at the mute swan and finally Emily and Sam visit with Professor Jim Morin and his researchers from the Shoals Marine Lab and learn about Codium, an invasive seaweed in the waters off their island.

In segment one Patrice looks at some of the factors that could endanger plant and animals species. Then she joins Dave to learn about the wood turtle. Next, we take an up-close look at the peregrine falcon. Finally, Sarah and Octave join Susi von Oettigen of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as she monitors the health of dwarf wedge mussels.