Chicago Academy of Sciences Blog
Articles tagged Education
November 12, 2021
Fall brings lots of seasonal changes. Leaves turn yellow, orange, red, and then fall; temperatures drop; the amount of daylight grows shorter. Animals prepare for winter or migrate. Some animals may also change their color. Ever wonder why?
September 21, 2021
Have you ever stopped to take a close look at the soil leaves that crunch under our feet as we walk outside? These leaves and loose soil that sit atop the ground is known as leaf litter and it is teeming with life. Entomologists developed a handy tool for separating small critters from soil and leaf litter in order to better observe them called a Berlese funnel. We can make our own DIY Berlese funnel at home with some simple household materials.
August 24, 2021
Puzzling together insect metamorphosis
Insects are capable of undergoing a complete change in appearance throughout their life cycles. The process of growth and development from an egg all the way to their adult form is known as metamorphosis. There are two main types: incomplete and complete metamorphosis.
July 15, 2021
Mounting plant specimens at home
Pressing plants at home is an easy activity and a fun way to learn more about the plants in your yard or neighborhood. This guide will show you how to mount your plant specimens.
April 25, 2021
Have you ever seen a flapping sparrow, a gliding seagull, or a soaring hawk? What do their wings have in common? You might notice long feathers, short feathers, dark colors, or light colors. What is different about their wings? One main difference is their wing shape! Since birds live in many different environments, birds come in all shapes and sizes with wings that are adapted for their survival needs and habitat. There are four general types of wing shapes that are common in many birds. Let’s take a look at them!
May 15, 2020
Online Science Education in a Pandemic and Beyond
Humans have a natural inclination to learn and museums have long embodied this desire. Nothing, not even a global pandemic, can stop that. Though museums around the world have closed their doors without a reopen date in sight, this period of uncertainty does not mark a gap in the story of human innovation. Instead, the pandemic has provided the opportunity to create a new normal that allows us to do the things we love in creative ways. Museums are no different; at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, science education has continued using online tools.
April 16, 2020
7 Tips for Teaching Nature and Science at Home
With many families feeling unprepared to teach at home, the Nature Museum has stepped up to introduce a revamped daily newsletter focusing around homeschooling. Each e-blast gives parents, caregivers, and educators a day’s worth of lessons focusing around a central nature and science topic. Now we know teaching at home doesn’t come naturally to many of us, so don’t worry – we are here to help. Every day, Nature Museum educators work side-by-side with teachers in Chicago-area classrooms, helping them gain more confidence and feel more comfortable in teaching science class. We know that empowered and supported teachers lead to more time spent on science and to higher quality learning for students.
April 10, 2020
Fur and feathers and scales, oh my! Different animals have different types of body coverings to help them survive. Although some animals have more than one type of covering, there are five basic types. Read on to take a closer look!
April 1, 2020
Top 5 Ways to Engage With Nature
Year in and year out, our education team provides more direct teaching than any other museum in the city of Chicago. We used that experience and expertise to discover their top five ways for kids and students to engage with nature, and explore some support tips for caregivers and educators.