Welcome to Classroom Connections—where every lesson moves from field to classroom. Each post features Ecology Blueprints, real-world Field Notes, and practical Classroom Connections designed to help you teach wildlife science, food webs, anatomy, and ecosystems with confidence.
And bring each lesson to life in your classroom—starting today.
As temperatures rise or lower with the changing seasons, we as humans tend to adjust to the weather with our clothing – wearing heavy jackets when it snows or shorts when it’s hot out.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Have you heard of the Hooded Vulture? These vultures are part of the Accipitridae family and are an Old World vulture species.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* We have an interesting vulture for you today – the Palm-nut Vulture! These vultures stand out from others because they actually don’t eat a lot of carrion.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* How much do you know about bobcats? Did you know… They’re one of the most populous cats within the US1 They’re nocturnal and begin to hunt at dusk2 Their fur is unique to each individual and can be used to identify them3 They stand 26-41 inches tall and weigh 11-30 pounds.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* White-backed Vultures are found in several regions of Africa. 1 They usually hang out in savannas or woodlands.
Lynxes are elusive, solitary cats that can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. The species found in North America is the Canada Lynx – and it’s smaller than the ones found in Europe or Asia.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Egyptian Vultures are unique because they use tools to help them eat.
*|MC:SUBJECT|* *|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|* Red-headed vultures stand 29-33 inches tall, weigh 8-12 pounds, and have a wingspan of almost 90 inches.
Himalayan Vultures, or Himalayan Griffon Vultures, are a species of Old World vultures and are similar in size to the Cinereous Vulture. Their heads have down feathers that are white if they’re young, and off-white or yellowish if they’re adults.
Cinereous Vultures are another species of Old World vultures. They stand at about 3.
Griffon Vultures are one of the largest vulture species and are one of the largest birds in Europe. 1&2 They stand about 37-43 inches tall and have a wingspan of about 9 feet!3 Because of their size, it takes a lot of energy to get them airborne, and so they spend most of their time along cliffs, where they can use the sun to get into the air by riding thermals.
How many species of skunk do you think there are? If you guessed 11, you’d be right! But we only have 5 species within the US. 1&2 These animals are nocturnal and are burrow-dwellers.
