How many kinds of animals can you think of? Join Matthew as he investigates the unique features of different creatures around the planet and how they can be organised into a group called the animal kingdom!

If you study insects you’re called an entomologist. You can learn a lot about insects, like how their bodies work, how long they live and what they eat.

This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to teacher guide: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago062811.pdf

This unit includes a series of activities which focus on the shells made from animals in the Phylum Mollusca (e.g. snails, mussels, limpets, chitons). Link to poster: https://www.otago.ac.nz/marine-studies/resources/download/otago371801.pdf

Insects are animals belonging to the class known as Insecta.

Get ready for “toad-al” fun with Bill Nye and the “Amphibians” episode.

Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMRCsjrjkpo

Bill’s in the swim with the “Animal Locomotion” episode.

Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkjGKBd61Y0

Look for the following on the beach. Remember not to collect anything that is alive, just describe it.

Ready for an eggs-citing show? It’s the “Birds” episode. Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcKZOO5OWk

These posters have fun facts about whio/blue duck, and why they are important.

In this show, you can Bone up on Muscles.

Suzy challenges her grey matter to investigate what our brains do.

Joe takes you on a journey to discover the wonderful world of bugs!! Find some critters in your backyard & get to know them a little better.

To become familiar with the coastal environment with a special focus on rock pools and their environment.

You can’t see them, but they’re everywhere even inside Bill Nye. This is not science fiction, it’s the science of cells.

Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRsRxzK0_D8

Centipedes have been on earth for about 450 million years, even before dinosaurs. Centipedes have lots of eggs, are carnivores (they can kill or parlyse their prey with venom-laden claws) and are mostly nocturnal.

Bill Nye’s trying to tell you something – about communication.

Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyW8iuCkc-I

In “Saffron’s Skeleton”, osteologist George demonstrates to ten-year-old Bruno the processes he uses to clean and preserve the bones of Saffron, a recently deceased chicken. The whole experience, including George’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable approach to his work, provides Bruno with a sense of wonder and curiosity and a greater understanding of skeletons and evolutional relationships.

In New Zealand, scientists are gathering data about monarch butterflies. They want to find out where the butterflies fly to and from – and where they go in winter.

Animals use amazing senses to navigate the world. How do dolphins find things underwater? Why do dung beetles roll their dung at night? Scientists gather and use evidence about animals’ super senses to support their ideas.

The islands of Tokelau have been invaded by yellow crazy ants. Scientists are investigating where they are and what can be done about them. By collecting and recording data, they can identify the extent of the problem and figure out the best course of action.

The article explores familiar questions – why do we like some animals more than others, and does it matter? – but encourages the reader to look at it from a more critical, scientific perspective.

Squawkzilla is a giant parrot that lived in New Zealand 19 million years ago. Its bones were dug up in 2008, but it was not correctly identified for another ten years. This article tells the story of Squawkzilla’s discovery. It demonstrates how scientists work and how it is possible to make educated guesses about what life used to look like millions of years ago. It shows that scientific “discoveries” often take time and require careful observation and teamwork.

My, what big teeth you have… Find out how the physical features of dinosaurs and other animals help them meet their basic survival needs. Use this new understanding to design a defence against a dinosaur attack!