Venus Flytrap

Venus Flytraps

    • Venus Flytraps: Jaws of Death (2:50)

      Video on youtube.com.  Hungry Venus flytraps snap shut on a host of unfortunate flies. But, despite its name, flies aren’t the flytrap's only meal. As long as its prey is roughly the right size and touches two of its hairs within twenty seconds, the plant will dine on any insect or spider that comes its way. Glands in the lobes then secrete enzymes that break the dinner down into a digestible soup. Ten days later, the trap pops open to reveal nothing but a dried out husk. 

    • About The Venus Fly Trap

      ◊ Additional Resource.  The website provides general information about Venus Fly Traps.  

    • How to Grow and Care for Venus Fly Traps

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website gives information on care and growing a Venus Flytrap.

    • Venus Flytrap Facts

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website provides some interesting facts about Venus Flytraps.
Sundew Plant

Sundews

    •  Sundew: A Carnivorous Plant

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This site provides information about sundews, which encompass the biggest variety of carnivorous plants.   

    • What Is A Sundew?

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website gives general information and pictures of sundew plants.  

    • Sundew Time-lapse Compilation (3:19)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  Out of the popular carnivorous plants (Venus Flytraps, Pitcher Plants, Sundews, etc.), it is a Sundew that gets the least attention from people. Which is a shame, because when looked at by macro photography or time-lapse, they are probably among the most alien looking plants in the world.  You might want to check out this youtube.com video.
Flowering Plants & Pollinators

Flowering Plants & Pollinators

    • Omar Fights Cancer with Rosy Periwinkle (2:06)

      In early 2012, Omar developed a fever and had stomach pains.  His mother took him to the doctor, who thought it was a virus and put him on medication.  Things didn't get better, and a few weeks later his parents noticed Omar's lymph nodes were swollen - he had some bruising, and developed a rash.  When his noise started bleeding, his mother took him to the hospital.  On March 8, 2012, doctors diagnosed Omar with T-Cell Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).  Omar immediately began treatments developed from the Rosy Periwinkle plant.  Being in the hospital and undergoing so many treatments scared Omar.  But things changed when he met the "red-haired nurse."  Aubri and Omar developed a quick friendship.  Omar has since developed a confidence when it comes to his treatments.

    • Healing Seekers - Rosy Periwinkle and the Sacred Stone (9:08)

      In this youtube.com video the Healing Seekers team heads to Madagascar, home to the rosy periwinkle from which they derived two powerful chemotherapy drugs.  As they journey through Madagascar, they seek out healers with intimate knowledge of the local plants.  Along the way, they also meet some interesting people and discover a spiritual side of Malagasy culture. 

    • We Need The Bees: Cheerios Initiative to Support Pollinators (3:30)

      What would happen if we took bees out of our food system?  Cheerios has taken action, in hopes that this doesn't happen.

      Cheerios Giving Bees a Buzz.pdf

    • Amazing Time-Lapse: Bees Hatch Before Your Eyes (1:08)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  In this National Geographic time-lapse video witness, the eerily beautiful growth of larvae into bees.  Anand Varma, photographer, said the six-month project, for which he built a beehive in his workshop, gave him a new respect for the meticulous job of beekeeping. 

    • Flowers Benefiting Beneficial Insects, Benefiting Us (2:00)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  A video on youtube.com shows how wildflower plantings adjacent to fruit fields can benefit fruit production from the potential of increased pollination and biological control of pests. 

    • Breaking News from NPR: Bumblebees' Can Sense Electric Fields (2:39; Audio Recording)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  In this audio newscast and article, discover what scientists now know about how bumblebees detect flowers. 

       

    • Insect control at MCRD Parris Island (2:00)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  A video on youtube.com shows that preventive medicine helps to minimize insect population aboard MCRD Parris Island by catching mosquitos.
Classroom Resources

Classroom Resources

    • Icebreaker Game

      Shake-It-Up Name Game; used during the introduction section of the day. 

    • Observation Charts

      A PowerPoint presentation of the Observation Charts.

      Observation Charts.pptx 
       

    • Transforming Your Mobile Device into a Microscope (2:32)

      ◊ Additional Resource.  Developed by PNNL scientists, this video introduces a new device that converts your smartphone into a digital microscope, capable of photographing cells and other small specimen of interest. 

    • NG e-Reader Portal

      ◊ Additional Resource.  Welcome to your one stop portal (myNGconnect) for online materials available with your favorite National Geographic Learning instructional programs.  To begin, select your destination and click Go.
Pitcher Plant

Pitcher Plants

Bladderworts

Bladderworts

    • Bladderwort 

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website gives general information and pictures about bladderworts.

    • The Ferocious Bladderwort Plant! 

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website gives interesting facts about bladderworts.

    • Types of Butterworts

      ◊ Additional Resource.  This website provides information about bladderworts, which use their leaves to catch and absorb insects. 
Engineering/Design Process

Engineering/Design Process

ClassDojo

Growth Mindset with ClassDojo