In Poison Dart Frog Piggyback Rides, learn how a male poison dart frog carefully nurtures his tadpoles. He rescues one of them from a dried-up pool and brings its mother to help feed it. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Meet the Gliding Leaf Frog, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores gliding leaf frogs. Learn how they only leave the canopy when it is time to breed, and how they slow their descent using webbed feet, which they use as parachutes. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Camouflage in the Jungle, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the understory in Costa Rica where animals use camouflage and mimicry to avoid becoming prey. The glass frog avoids detection with its transparent body. The pattern on its back mimics the young egg sacs it is protecting, allowing it to confuse and fight off attacking wasps. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How Amphibians Have Mastered Both Land and Water, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod explains how frogs’ skin has adapted to help them survive in different environments. Specifically, frogs' skin helps them breathe both on land and in water. Learn how frogs can absorb oxygen through their skin, which is essential for their survival, especially for species like the Titicaca frog that never needs to surface to breathe. See how the structure of a frog's skin serves other functions, such as keeping out harmful microbes, and how different species of frogs have unique adaptations that help them thrive in their habitats. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
In Water Lily Worlds, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are at the pond where they find water lilies. Join them as they learn about this interesting plant and how it helps the animals that live in the pond. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
Invite your students to explore the life cycles of common organisms with these life cycle sequencing cards. The cards cover the bean plant, butterfly, birch tree, apple tree, honeybee, ladybug, and frog. They come already mixed up, so kids can color, cut, and put them in order. Use as an introductory task, check for understanding, center activity, or study guide!
As you introduce life cycles, focus on key concepts such as stages of growth, changes in form and function, and the idea that all living things follow a pattern from beginning to end. Encourage students to ask questions, make predictions, and notice patterns across plants and animals.
Teaching life cycles in elementary school is not only standards-based, it's also a great way to help students understand how living things grow and change over time. At this level, students are ready to explore clear, observable stages — like seed to plant or egg to adult—and begin comparing similarities and differences across species.
In What Makes Poison Dart Frogs Toxic?, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod discusses how poison dart frogs produce their toxins. Learn how these frogs derive their toxicity from alkaloids found in their diet, how they use their poison for defense, and why scientists are studying these toxins for potential medical uses. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
The article "U.S. Lab Creates Living Robots That Are Capable of Self-Replicating" from BBC's Science Focus showcases the creation of xenobots, living robots designed using computer simulations and frog heart cells. Xenobots could have future applications in environmental cleanup and personalized medicine.
Guide your students on a hike through the tropical rainforest ecosystem! From the Amazon in South America to the jungles of Southeast Asia, rainforests are full of unique and amazing species.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the rainforest. (Don't miss the spider monkeys and waterfall toads!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Deadly 60, Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Tropical Rainforest Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Winter is a season of frosty magic, silent snowfall, and some truly astonishing animal superpowers. But how much do you really know about the creatures that survive — and even thrive — when the temperature plunges?
From Arctic foxes that change coats like fashion pros to bears mastering the art of long naps, wood frogs that freeze without fear, and woolly bear caterpillars predicting winter’s mood swings, this quiz is packed with wild wonders and icy surprises. Only the sharpest nature buffs and winter-survival whiz kids will claw their way to the top of the leaderboard.
The article "Exploring Costa Rica’s Rich Wildlife: Which Animals Can You See?" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explores the incredible range of animals that live in Costa Rica. From howler monkeys whose calls can be heard over long distances, to the rare jaguar, the country is home to some of the most unique species in the world. It also highlights vibrant creatures like the resplendent quetzal and endangered sea turtles.
Step into the lush, green world of tropical rainforests! From the mighty Amazon to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, these ecosystems overflow with towering trees, hidden creatures, and nonstop adventure. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
In Poison Dart Frog Piggyback Rides, learn how a male poison dart frog carefully nurtures his tadpoles. He rescues one of them from a dried-up pool and brings its mother to help feed it. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Meet the Gliding Leaf Frog, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores gliding leaf frogs. Learn how they only leave the canopy when it is time to breed, and how they slow their descent using webbed feet, which they use as parachutes. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Camouflage in the Jungle, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the understory in Costa Rica where animals use camouflage and mimicry to avoid becoming prey. The glass frog avoids detection with its transparent body. The pattern on its back mimics the young egg sacs it is protecting, allowing it to confuse and fight off attacking wasps. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In How Amphibians Have Mastered Both Land and Water, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod explains how frogs’ skin has adapted to help them survive in different environments. Specifically, frogs' skin helps them breathe both on land and in water. Learn how frogs can absorb oxygen through their skin, which is essential for their survival, especially for species like the Titicaca frog that never needs to surface to breathe. See how the structure of a frog's skin serves other functions, such as keeping out harmful microbes, and how different species of frogs have unique adaptations that help them thrive in their habitats. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
In Water Lily Worlds, Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers are at the pond where they find water lilies. Join them as they learn about this interesting plant and how it helps the animals that live in the pond. This video is excerpted from BBC's Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest, a nature exploration show in which Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on quests to discover nature’s wonders and the important role they play in our environment.
Invite your students to explore the life cycles of common organisms with these life cycle sequencing cards. The cards cover the bean plant, butterfly, birch tree, apple tree, honeybee, ladybug, and frog. They come already mixed up, so kids can color, cut, and put them in order. Use as an introductory task, check for understanding, center activity, or study guide!
As you introduce life cycles, focus on key concepts such as stages of growth, changes in form and function, and the idea that all living things follow a pattern from beginning to end. Encourage students to ask questions, make predictions, and notice patterns across plants and animals.
Teaching life cycles in elementary school is not only standards-based, it's also a great way to help students understand how living things grow and change over time. At this level, students are ready to explore clear, observable stages — like seed to plant or egg to adult—and begin comparing similarities and differences across species.
In What Makes Poison Dart Frogs Toxic?, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod discusses how poison dart frogs produce their toxins. Learn how these frogs derive their toxicity from alkaloids found in their diet, how they use their poison for defense, and why scientists are studying these toxins for potential medical uses. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
The article "U.S. Lab Creates Living Robots That Are Capable of Self-Replicating" from BBC's Science Focus showcases the creation of xenobots, living robots designed using computer simulations and frog heart cells. Xenobots could have future applications in environmental cleanup and personalized medicine.
Guide your students on a hike through the tropical rainforest ecosystem! From the Amazon in South America to the jungles of Southeast Asia, rainforests are full of unique and amazing species.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the rainforest. (Don't miss the spider monkeys and waterfall toads!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Deadly 60, Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Tropical Rainforest Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Winter is a season of frosty magic, silent snowfall, and some truly astonishing animal superpowers. But how much do you really know about the creatures that survive — and even thrive — when the temperature plunges?
From Arctic foxes that change coats like fashion pros to bears mastering the art of long naps, wood frogs that freeze without fear, and woolly bear caterpillars predicting winter’s mood swings, this quiz is packed with wild wonders and icy surprises. Only the sharpest nature buffs and winter-survival whiz kids will claw their way to the top of the leaderboard.
The article "Exploring Costa Rica’s Rich Wildlife: Which Animals Can You See?" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explores the incredible range of animals that live in Costa Rica. From howler monkeys whose calls can be heard over long distances, to the rare jaguar, the country is home to some of the most unique species in the world. It also highlights vibrant creatures like the resplendent quetzal and endangered sea turtles.
Step into the lush, green world of tropical rainforests! From the mighty Amazon to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, these ecosystems overflow with towering trees, hidden creatures, and nonstop adventure. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!