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Backyard scavenger hunt

Objective

To find these while learning some scientific terminology (words)

1.

Look up in the sky. Can you see any clouds? If yes, can you identify the cloud types?

2.

Are there any birds? Can you identify them? Are they native or introduced?

3.

Trees: can you find examples of evergreen and deciduous trees?

(Evergreens keep their leaves unlike deciduous trees that loose their leaves in autumn)

4.

Invertebrates 1: How many different arthropods can you find? 

Arthropods are insects (flying & crawling) and arachnids (spiders).

5.

Invertebrates 2: Can you find a mollusc, specifically a gastropod?

Gastropod means foot (pod) & stomach (gastro).

6.

Invertebrates 3: Can you find an annelid (earthworm)?

7.

Reptiles and amphibians: can you find an amphibian (frog) or a skink?

Cloud_types.jpg

There are three main clouds:

  • Cirrus: high wispy cloud

  • Stratus: thin. low cloud

  • Cumulus: low, billowy, fluffy

  • If a cloud is going to bring rain, nimbus is added (cumulonimbus)

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/628-observing-clouds-and-weather

tui 3.jpg
sparrow.jpg

The tui is a native species while the sparrow is introduced.

pine trees.jpg
oak tree.jpg

Evergreen pine trees and a deciduous oak (acorn) tree.

slater.jpg
bumblebee.jpg

Slaters (or woodlouse) and bumblebees are insects. Entomology is the study of insects.

arachnid.jpg

This jumping spider is an arachnid.

garden snail.jpg

Land snails are gastropods. You will find marine snails too at the beach.

earthworms.jpg

Earthworms

green bell frog.jpg
common-skink-565.jpg

The common green bell frog (amphibian) and the common skink (reptile). Amphibians can lie in water and on land. Reptiles have scales.

Did you know: herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.

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