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.
You’ve probably noticed a hawk circling in the sky while you’ve been outside at least once.
These wild cats are found from Texas down to Argentina. They are about twice the size of a normal house cat and they have a protected status in many areas where they live.
They also are the most populous vulture species in the western hemisphere, although Turkey Vultures outnumber them within the United States.
These animals are one of several species that were endangered and we’ve successfully brought back.
These birds are common throughout North and Central America. They like open areas, like open country, woods, and deserts.
All animals adapt to their environment and evolve certain traits that help them survive. Some animals evolve in similar ways, even though they are very different animals.
Do you know the difference between vultures and buzzards? There are pretty big differences, but there is often confusion between the two because of the name being used interchangeably when, in fact, these birds are separate species.
What do panthers, pumas, cougars, mountain lions, and catamounts have in common?.
These birds are very adaptable and so can fare well in a variety of environments. So they’re widespread throughout the United States.
If you have bird feeders out in your yard, you may be familiar with Starlings coming around. Starlings are actually an invasive species to the United States and cause many problems for our native birds.
Birds are lightweight and have wings that help them do it, but there is a lot more going on physically that makes flying possible for them.
One of the main characteristics that coyotes are known for is their adaptability. This has allowed them to find themselves in a variety of different environments, such as forests or cities, not just their usual habitat, like prairies.
