The Harris Loan Center: APRIL—Biodiversity in Your Backyard Your students might think only of rainforests and cloud-covered mountaintops when they think of biodiversity, but in fact, biodiversity can be found right in their own backyards or neighborhoods. During the month of April, we’ll highlight Field Museum scientists who comb Illinois habitats to document and preserve the surprising variety of plants, fungi, and animals that survive in the remaining natural areas around Chicago. To prepare your students for our various exhibits and programs about Biodiversity in Your Backyard, consider the following Harris Loan materials:   Experience Boxes   Exhibit Cases EXPERIENCE BOXES Animal Habitats: Pond Pre-K and primary grades Use hand puppets—-a beaver, fish, dragonfly, and frog—to learn about the pond habitat, and use an audiotape and play to learn about the lifestyles of various animals. Animal Habitats: Oak Tree Pre-K and primary grades A cloth oak tree becomes the stage for hand puppets—a squirrel, woodpecker, and beetle. You’ll enjoy this fun activity that uses a scripted story line and audiotape to tell the story of an oak tree habitat. Chicago Wilderness Learn which animals live in such city environments as houses, apartments, parks, and vacant lots. You will recognize many of the insect and animal specimens from the Chicago area. 300 Million Years Ago in Illinois Pre-K and higher Examine the fossil remains of plants and animals that lived in Illinois during the Coal Age. Learn about The Tully Monster, and make fossil rubbings from casts. How Seeds Travel Pre-K through middle school A variety of seeds helps demonstrate seed dispersal. Color photographs and activity cards tell more about seed-forming plants. Insects Pre-K and higher Look at a variety of insect specimens as you discover the natural beauty and benefits of these six-legged animals. Trees Pre-K and higher Examine tree-stem cross sections to see annual growth patterns. Practice identifying the trees in your areas with our tree identification booklet and twig key. Underground Adventure: Prairie Life Pre-K through intermediate levels Learn about prairie soils, plants, and animals. Take a close look at prairie birds and mammal specimens. Underground Adventure: Vacant Lot Middle school and higher Find out about city soils and plants by using scientific tools and plant samples. Wild in Chicago: Urban Animals Pre-K and higher Learn which animals live in city houses, apartments, or parks and vacant lots. You will recognize many of the insect and animal specimens from the Chicago area. Woodland Plants Middle school or higher Plant specimens, color slides, and a book highlight woodland plants in Illinois. Use a plant press to make pressed-plant specimens. Visuals show Museum botanists doing research in the field. top EXHIBIT CASES Mammals Red Fox Gray Fox Prairie Gopher Mink Common Mole Deer Mouse Jumping Mouse Muskrat Opossum Porcupine Prairie Dog Cottontail Rabbit Raccoon Skunk Snowshoe Hare Franklin's Prairie Squirrel Flying Squirrel Southern Red Squirrel Tree Squirrel Western Fox Squirrel Least Weasel Woodchuck top   back to The Harris Loan Center >>   continue to MAY—Tree of Life >> Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits Procedures • Borrower Registration • Ordering/Picking Up • Returning Materials • Harris Center Hours • Harris FAQs • Contact Us Forms • Borrower Registration • Loan Request • Print Materials Visit the Main Harris Loan Center Website