mystery The answer to the clues may be found at the bottom of this column.    Teachers and Parents: Enter to win an entire set of Dawn’s nature books of one title for your home or classroom. It's fun and easy!
Just read the clues below. They describe an aspect of nature—a plant, animal, mineral, habitat, or natural process.
When you're ready to make your guess about who or what I am, click ENTER NOW.
Who Am I?
spacerglass1 Clue 1:  I'm a member of the "dog family."
glass1 Clue 2:  I live throughout North America in deserts, prairies, forests, and even in towns and cities.
glass1 Clue 3:  You might hear me howling at night to communicate with my pack.
glass1 Clue 4:  Don't let me trick you—I am NOT a wolf.
Do you think you know who I am? ENTER NOW.
Entries should be submitted no later than noon on Friday.
If you guessed correctly, you’re automatically entered into the monthly drawing for a set of nature books from Dawn Publications.
A contest winner will be announced at the end of September.
Throughout the school year, clues for a new Who Am I are posted no later than Sunday night, so you can use them with your class on Monday morning.Good luck!
The answer to last week's mystery was: SEASHELLS Although Inside Outside Nature blog is changing it's focus, this weekly "Who Am I?" will remain the same! Teachers, click here to get ideas about how to use the contest with your students.  
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Where Does the Snow Go?

Published February 22, 2015 | By Carol Malnor

Most of North America is experiencing dramatic weather effects that are tied to the water cycle—snow, rain, sleet, or drought. That makes this a perfect time to study the WATER CYCLE.

PITER_COVERLESSON PLAN: Pitter, Patter, and PLOP!

In the book Pitter and Patter, two drops of rain (Pitter and Patter) fall from a gray cloud and take different routes as they travel through the water cycle. In this activity, students write a story about a snowflake, or another raindrop, named PLOP. The story should answer the question, “Where does the snow (or rain) go?”

It’s easy to expand your lesson using the additional information and activities from the back of the book, including states of matter, watersheds, habitats, and human impacts.

Suggested Grade Level: K-3

Materials

 Procedure

  1. Read aloud the story about Pitter and Patter.
  2. Referring to the two pages titled “Explore More—For Kids,” follow Pitter and Patter through the water cycle beginning and ending with the gray cloud.
  3. Using the handout, instruct students to write a story about Pitter and Patter’s friend PLOP! The reverse side of the handout can be used for an illustration. Younger students can begin with the illustration and add a short narrative.
  4. Invite children to share their finished stories with the class or in small groups.

Common Core Standards (ELA K-3)

  • Reading: Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details (K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1); Integration and Knowledge of Ideas (K.7, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7)
  • Writing: Text Types and Purposes (K.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3)

Next Generation Science Standards (DCI K-3)

  • PS1: Matter and Interactions—A: Structure and Properties of Matter; B: Chemical Reactions
  • ESS2: Earth’s Systems—C: The Roles of Water in the Earth’s Surface Processes
  • LS2: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics—A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

Pitter and Patter meet lots of fun critters during their water cycle journey…here are a couple of them:

PITERB3PITERB2PITERB1

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