Topics Related to Life Science

Phenomenon Description: A large mass of fire ants floating on top of floodwaters.Location: Columbus CountyGrade Level or Course: 4th gradeQuestion: How do fire ants create floating rafts during floods? Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function Science Domain: Life Science 

Phenomenon Description:  Sea turtles come to North Carolina beaches in the summer (May to August) to lay their eggs. Location:  Dare County, Outer BanksGrade Level or Course: Grade 4  Question:  Why do sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach instead of in the ocean?Other related questions about the phenomenon:How do the eggs stay safe from predators?How do humans help sea turtles survive?Do all sea turtles in the world nest on beaches?

Phenomenon Description: The shells of Eastern box turtles exhibit a wide variety of color and pattern variations within the same species. The Eastern box turtle is our state reptile and is found throughout the state. Location: Eno River State Park, Durham, NCGrade Level or Course: Grade 7Question: Why do Eastern Box Turtles have so many variations in shell patterns?

Phenomenon Description: The Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) has specialized leaves that snap shut to capture and digest insects, which the plant uses for nutrients. Location: Found in the subtropical wetlands of NC and SC, Carolina Beach State Park, Wilmington, NC Grade Level or Course: Grade 6Question: If Venus flytraps photosynthesize like other plants, why have they also evolved to get nutrients by trapping and digesting insects?

Phenomenon Description: A large swarm of dragonflies (a mix of common green darners and wandering gliders) flying over a grassland at an environmental education center in Raleigh.Location:  Wake County, Prairie Ridge Ecostation Grade Level or Course: Grade 5  Question:  Why did this swarm of dragonflies form in this location? Other related Questions:Why does this behavior matter to our environment?

Phenomenon Description: Blue ghost fireflies (Phausis reticulata) emit their unique nighttime glow Location: Pisgah National Forest, North CarolinaGrade Level or Course: Biology Question: Why do ghost fireflies glow continuously instead of blinking like other species? Other related questions: How do ghost firefly males “know” to ignore other glowing insects and hone in only on their own species' faint signal?

Phenomenon Description: Leaves with different sizes, shapes and colors.  Location: Wake County, Wake Forest  Grade Level or Course: KindergartenQuestion: Are all leaves the same?  Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function Other related questions:Why are some leaves smooth and others are bumpy or jagged? Why do leaves fall to the ground? Science Domain:  Life Science 

Phenomenon Description: A chicken with speckled (“checkered”) black and white plumageLocation: Harnett County, Angier Grade Level or Course: BiologyQuestion: Why do some chickens look like they’re wearing a checkerboard while others are solid black or white? Other related questions about the phenomenon:How would you describe the phenotype of an organism that inherits codominant alleles?

Phenomenon Description: Kudzu growing along the roadLocation: Wake CountyGrade Level or Course: BiologyQuestion: How can a single plant grow up to a foot per day and what powers that kind of speed?Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect: Mechanism & Exploration Provide other related questions you considered about the phenomenon:What makes kudzu so unstoppable in the U.S., but not in its native environment?

Phenomenon Description: Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast. Location: Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags HeadGrade Level or Course: Grade 4Question: How did the Sand Dunes get to Jockey's Ridge State Park? Crosscutting Concepts: Stability and ChangeScience Domain: Earth and Space Science