Before the webinar

A. Writing or Discussion Activity:

1. What do you collect or want to collect? What have you learned from collections?

2. What nature do you find spooky or scary? For example, bones, spiders, caves?

3. What questions do you have for CalAcademy scientists who work with bird and mammal specimens? Or, for the scientists who study animals' lives?

• Share your notes and questions on the Padlet located at the bottom of this page.

B.  Searching & Watching Activity:

1. Pick a place outside to study. (Could be looking from a window, on/near a sidewalk, in a yard/garden bed, or nearby park.)

2. Look for clues that animals have been there. If you are lucky, watch a wild animal.

Tips:

• Spend 15-minutes quietly listening and watching. If you need to move, move slowly.

• Look high, look low

• Think big, think small

• Seek out the hiding animals

• Animals without backbones count too!

3. Record what you see that makes you think an animal was there (footprints, bite marks, poop, etc.)

• Write a few notes, or take a picture, or sketch what you see.

• Share your notes or sketches on the padlet below.