Welcome to the USA National Phenology Network s! Phenology is nature s calendar when cherry trees bloom, when a robin builds its nest and when leaves turn color in the fall. Phenology is the study of recurring life cycle stages in plants and animals and their relationships to the environment. These events, or phenophases, can be observed and recorded for us to remember what happened and help scientists and land managers make important decisions. Nature s Notebook is a program that asks citizen scientists, researchers, teachers, students, parents, grandparents, professional scientists and you to go out and observe these events and record their observations online. The information gathered across the country with Nature s Notebook can be studied to learn more about the world around us. Making observations encourages us to have an inquisitive eye, develop our own science questions, and spend time connecting with nature! Won t you join us? Page 2
This activity book is designed for youth ages 4-12. You will find a variety of activites related to the study of phenology, or life cycle events of plants and animals, which can be used on their own or as a full activity booklet. An answer key is provided online on our website as a seperate file. For more educational activities and curriculum resources for your school or classroom, visit our Education landing page at www.usanpn.org/nn/education Have fun! Page 3
Do you have a garden or natural area at your home? If so, draw a picture of it. If you don t, imagine a yard with gardens and animal habitats and draw what you see. Don t forget, gardens can grow in small containers and have fruits, vegetables or flowers! Page 4
Engage your creative thinking skills to solve the brain teasers below! 1. I left my campsite and hiked south for 3 miles. I turned east and hiked for 3 miles. Then turned north and hiked for 3 miles, at which time I came upon a bear inside my tent eating my food! What color was the bear? 2. What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never speaks, has a head but never weeps, and has a bed but never sleeps? 3. How far can a dog run into the woods? 4. What goes up and down but never moves? 5. The more you take the more you leave behind. What is it? 6. What kind of nut has no shell. Page 5
Complete the Nature s Notebook word search from the list of terms below. Animals Climate Contribution Data Education Environment Growing Mating Nature Notebook Observation Phenology Plants Public Science Sharing Page 6
What are a few ways you might help conserve, keep safe or protect wildlife around your school and neighborhood? Page 7
Circle the phenological events you have witnessed. Where where you when you witnessed them? Caught fireflies Gone on a wildflower hike Had a hummingbird visit a feeder in your yard Been a leaf peeper seen leaves changing color in the fall Seen large mammals fighting Harvested fruit or berries off the plant or vine Seen a white-winged dove visit a flower or fruit (also called pollination!) Watched a butterfly or moth hatch from a chrysallis Heard frogs vocalizing croaking or ribbiting Suffered from seasonal allergies Watched bats emerge for an evening feeding session Collected pine cones off of the ground Had an allergic reaction to mosquito bites Played with maple helicopters (seeds) Listened to whale songs whales singing to each other Page 8
Enjoy this coloring page! Page 9
What phenological events would you see in each of the seasons? What things remind you of these seasons? Page 10
Name as many parts of a plant as you can! Name as many types of animals as you can! Page 11
Go outside and select a few plant or animal species and use the Nature s Notebook datasheet below to record your phenological observations! Circle Y if you think that is what you see Circle N if that is not what you see Circle? if you are unsure it s OK to be unsure! You can learn more about what you see and ask for help if you need it. New leaves? Leaves? Flower buds? Open Flowers? Fruits? Active indivduals? Eating seeds? At a feeder? Songs? Nest building? Leaves? Colored leaves? Fallen leaves? Seeds? Fallen seeds? Active indivduals? Feeding? Mating? Vocalizing? Dead Individuals? Page 12
Help the bee find its way through the maze to the lilac flowers so pollination can occur! Page 13
Which season is your favorite and why? What are some things you might see or notice outside during that season? Page 14
How would you respond to the questions on a Nature s Notebook animal checklist? If you were in your backyard searching for birds, mammals, insects, amphibians or lizards, which species would you choose? Write them in the blank below under the Do you see or hear column. The next time you go outside, see if you can find any of your selected animals. Circle Y if you think that is what you see Circle N if that is not what you see Circle? if you are unsure it s OK to be unsure! You can learn more about what you see and ask for help if you need it. Page 15
Can you put the frog s life cycle stages in the correct order? Page 16
Be a Scientist! Describe what you see happening at each of the phenological stages pictured below. What time of year do you think this occurs? Page 17
Match the animal species to their habitat. Page 18
Use your knowledge to fill in the blanks. If you need help, look at the wordbank. can help us better understand the natural world around us. science is when all types of people; students, grandparents, teachers, researchers and more, contribute their observations and data. When you take notes on what you see and describe in detail what is happening, you are making an. You can choose plant and animal to observe with Nature s Notebook. Nature s Notebook uses monitoring, which tells us wheather you see a life cycle event, or not, at any given time. You can report whether or not a is occuring in Nature s Notebook. These are based in the definitions written for each species and life cycle event in Nature s Notebook. Participating in Nature s Notebook is an exciting way to experience your favorite,, or even your own. status observation trail park species phenophase natural space phenology neigborhood citizen Page 19
Using the clues and the wordbank complete the crossword puzzle. What time of year do these things happen? nest warm rain butterfly flowers window puddle sunflower rainbow green melt seed garden park ACROSS 4. A catterpillar turns into a. 5. Children go to the and play. 7. April showers bring May. 10. Colorful arc in the sky after it rains. 11. Rain gathers in one spot and forms a. 12. Open the and let fresh air in. 13. Ice and snow. DOWN 1. Birds lay eggs in a. 2. A yellow flower that produces edible seeds. 3. Chlorophyll makes plants. 6. Water that falls from the sky. 8. Plant a and wait for a plant to grow. 9. A place to grow flowers and plants. 12. Temperature that is not too hot, but not cool or cold. Page 20
Put on your thinking cap! Answer the questions below and use the wordbank if you need help. What do you call the study of the timing of life cycle events in plants and animals? What is a flower called before it opens? What is it called when a tortoise goes into hiding in winter? After a flower is pollinated, what does it turn into? What is it called when birds travel south for the winter? A group of organisms made up of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes is called? What do you call a plant whose leaves fall off in fall or winter? Decidious Fruit Migration Hibernation Bud Species Phenology Page 21
Check out this realistic drawing of some of the different phenophases of a Nature s Notebook species Red Maple or Acer rubrum, and color them in. Page 22
Congratulations on completeing the activity book! We hope you had fun while engaging your brain and learning more about phenology and the world around you. Continue to be a citizen scientist and help by contributing your knowledge and skills by making regular observations for Nature s Notebook! Thanks to those whose resources made this activity book possible; TheTeachersCorner.net, DiscoveryEducation.com, Insect Lore, Wikipedia. Designed and prepared by Sara Schaffer and LoriAnne Barnett of the USA-NPN. More resources and curriculum available on our website: www.usanpn.org/nn/education Page 23