Outreach Projects

Backyard Insects - OK Bioblitz 2020

Backyard Insects is a workbook outlining some of MANY ways you can observe and collect insects in your own backyard! Insects are wildly diverse, living in all kinds of microhabitats, eating lots of different foods, and displaying a ton of interesting behaviors. Whether you are looking for a fun weekend activity or an educational experience about the beautiful world around you, start by taking a look in your own backyard.

Oklahoma Riparian Biodiversity Interactive Poster Activity - OU Bioreach

This activity was designed by me and colleagues of OU Bioreach as an educational activity to develop children’s understanding of how species occupy niches within ecosystems. This set of files includes a 43.5 x 36 in poster of a riparian ecosystem and nine 2.5 x 3.5 in cards of endangered, vulnerable, and common species that inhabit these ecosystems in Oklahoma. For this activity, place the poster on a metal surface and apply a small magnet on each card. After a discussion with the student about riparian ecosystems and how animals use resources, ask them to place each species card in the location they expect to find the animal. Animals included in this activity by group:

• Endangered:

  • Whooping crane

  • Oklahoma cave crayfish

  • Ouachita rock pocketbook

• Vulnerable:

  • Linda roadside skipper

  • Leopard darter

  • Northern long-eared bat

• Common:

  • Cottonmouth snake

  • Barred owl

  • Marbled salamander