How do spiders make silk, spin webs, and…fly?! Discover amazing arachnid engineers in nature.

Here’s our trail map:

• Are Spiders Insects or Bugs?
• Why Do Spiders Make Silk and Webs?
• Can Spiders Fly?
• How Do Spiders Make Silk and Webs?
• How Can God Use Our Small Gifts to Do Big Amazing Things?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Scripture Music by Scripture Lullabies, stream online now: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream

Free Spider Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo38

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

“You can’t go out against this Philistine and fight him. You’re only a boy. Goliath has been a warrior since he was a young man.” 1 Samuel 17:33 (NCV)

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NCV)

“...You come to me using a sword and two spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken against him. Today the Lord will hand you over to me…” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NCV)

“Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Arachnid: Group of creatures including spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites. Have 8 legs and 2 main body parts.

True Bugs: Insects that have a sucking mouth part, like a straw.

Entomology: The study of insects.

Arachnology: The study of arachnids.

Anchor Line: A line of silk a spider creates to help it get around, and often to get down from tall heights.

Ballooning: When spiders use the earth’s electric field to fly through the sky.

Electricity: A form of energy. Electricity is naturally found all around us on earth.

Protein: Molecules made up of amino acids. Proteins are important building blocks in our cells, which are like the building blocks of our bodies.

Organ: A special part inside a body with an important job to do.

Spinnerets: Special organs spiders use to make silk.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

When God created dart frogs, He splashed the jungle in color! Discover these amazing...and deadly...creatures.

Here’s our trail map for today:

• What Is a Poison Dart Frog?
• Why Are Dart Frogs Poisonous?
• Are Poison Frogs Used to Make Darts?
• How Do Dart Frogs Get Their Poison?
• How Can We Guard Our Hearts and Minds Against Harmful Things?

Episode Links:

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Scripture Music by Scripture Lullabies, stream online now: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream

Free Dart Frog Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo37

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.” Philippians 4:8 (NCV)

“Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.” Psalm 119:37 (NCV)

“I will not look at anything wicked…” Psalm 101:3 (NCV)

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Amphibian: Group of cold-blooded animals that include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Most live on land and in the water and go through metamorphosis.

Cutaneous Respiration: “Skin breathing.” This is when oxygen is absorbed (taken in) through the skin instead of through lungs or gills.

Metamorphosis: When a creature goes through a big transformation or change from its baby form to its adult form.

Cold-blooded: Body temperature changes according to the environment. Cannot make their own body heat.

Theory: A theory is an explanation for why things happen or act a certain way. A theory is much more than a guess. It is based on observation, or what we see, and experimentation.

Batrachotoxin: “Frog poison.” Toxin that causes muscle contractions and stops the lungs and heart from working. Found in frogs and some birds.

Immune: Resistant to harm. Cannot be hurt by something.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Foxes are like the ninjas and escape artists of the wild, but why are they so sneaky?

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is A Fox?
• Where Do Foxes Live?
• Are Foxes Playful?
• Why Are Foxes So Sneaky?
• How Do We Create a Good Reputation With Others?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

Free Fox Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo36

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Scripture Music by Scripture Lullabies, stream online now: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.” Psalm 51:10 (NCV)

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.” Proverbs 16:2 (NLT)

“...Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

“Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16 (NLT)

“If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Canid: Dog family including foxes, coyotes, wolves, and pet dogs.

Kits or Pups: Baby foxes.

Vixen: Female fox.

Nesting: When a mother animal or human begins preparing an area as the time gets close to have her baby or babies.

Purposeful: To have a reason for doing something.

Underfur: Shorter hair that keeps foxes warm.

Guard Hairs: Longer coarse, or rough, hair that acts kind of like a rain coat, protecting the fox from rain or wet snow.

Reputation: What people think about someone, normally because of the way they act.

Motives: The reasons why we do something or act a certain way.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Beekeeper Jenny joins us as we dive into a beehive and learn all about bees and how God designed them with very important jobs to do, and creative ways to go about their work!

Here’s our trail map:

• What Important Job Do Bees Have?
• How Do Bees Make Their Hive?
• How Do Bees Work As a Team?
• Can Bees Dance?
• How Do Bees Carry Pollen?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Super Simple Homeschool Podcast with Jenny Hedrick: https://www.supersimplehomeschool.net/podcast

Super Simple Homeschool Resources: https://www.supersimplehomeschool.net/notebooks

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Scripture Music by Scripture Lullabies, stream online now: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream

Free Bee Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo35

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Source: Institute for Creation Research Creation Podcast: The Industrious Life of Bees: https://www.icr.org/article/creation-podcast-episode-49

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce plants—some to make grain for seeds and others to make fruits with seeds in them. Every seed will produce more of its own kind of plant.’ And it happened.” Genesis 1:11 (NCV)

“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 (NLT)

“...The words I told you are spirit, and they give life.” John 6:63 (NCV)

“For the word of God is alive and active….” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Festooning: Bees link together by their feet to form a chain. Festooning helps bees work together in building their hive. It might be a form of measurement.

Pollinator: A creature that helps spread pollen, which helps plants grow.

Pollen: Fine powder substance made by the male part of flowers. When pollen lands on a female part, that flower can make more flowers.

Nectar: A sweet liquid in flowers that bees eat and turn into honey.

Hexagon: Shape with six sides.

Beeswax: A natural wax produced by bees that they build their honeycombs out of.

Pheromones: A chemical scent or smell given off by some creatures.

Brood: A bee still growing inside its cell.

Larva: Immature or baby form of an insect.

Corbiculae: The “pollen basket” where bees carry pollen on their body back to the hive.

Sustenance: What we need to survive. A source of strength.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

What do numbers, patterns, and shapes have to do with nature? A whole lot! Discover how God used math to create nature. Learn about a special pattern of numbers and shapes that show us God’s signature style in the wonderful things He has made.

Here’s our trail map:

• Who Was Fibonacci and What Important Numbers Did He Discover?
• Why Are Shapes Important in Nature?
• How Do Numbers, Shapes, and Patterns in Nature Point to God?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Download the FREE Episode Activity Guide for this lesson, provided by CTCMath! https://erynlynum.com/nattheo34

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

One of the books used for research: Wild Fibonacci: Nature’s Secret Code Revealed

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“I the LORD do not change.” Malachi 3:6 (NIV)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

“​​God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NCV)

“For in him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Mathematician: Someone who studies and uses math in their work. They are experts in math.

Pattern: A pattern is something like numbers or shapes that happen in a regular or repeated way.

Consistent: Something is unchanging, or remains the same over time.

Geometry: The study of shapes and figures in math.

Golden Rectangle: A special rectangle shape that is made from Fibonacci’s number sequence.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

How do birds sing such pretty songs? God designed them with an amazing and unique voice box. Meet a few interesting species and hear their incredible melodies as we dive into the musical world of birds.

Here’s our trail map:

• Why Do Birds Communicate?
• How Do Birds Communicate?
• How Do Birds Sing?
• How Can We Praise Our Creator?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Scripture Music by Scripture Lullabies, stream online now: https://scripture-lullabies.com/stream

Free Bird Song Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo33

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Listen To The Birds book: https://www.amazon.com/Listen-Birds-Yoann-Gueny/dp/1324031034

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord and praise his name; every day tell how he saves us.” Psalm 96:1-2 (NCV)

“Let the skies rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea and everything in it shout. Let the fields and everything in them rejoice. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.” Psalm 96:11-12 (NCV)

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 105:6 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Communicate: To exchange or share information, news, or ideas.

Theory: An explanation for why things might happen or act a certain way. A theory is much more than a guess. It is based on observation, or what we see, and experimentation.

Complex: Something that is made up of many parts. The opposite of simple.

Larynx: Voice box with vocal cords (muscles) used to make noise.

Syrinx: A bird’s voice box. An organ deep inside a songbird’s chest containing a double set of vocal cords.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

What exactly is a sloth? Is it a type of monkey, or a koala? Discover how God designed these fascinating creatures to be expert tree climbers and to live most of their lives upside down.

Here’s our trail map:

• What is a sloth and what types are there?
• What do sloths do all day?
• Why do sloths hang upside down?
• How can moving slowly be good for us in life?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Free Sloth Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo32

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Sloth research: https://slothconservation.org/

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Stop and consider the wondrous works of God.” Job 37:14 (NIV)

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.” Psalm 90:12 (NCV)

“Remember your Creator while you are young.” Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Xenarthra: A group of mammals including sloths, anteaters, and armadillos.

Bradypus sloth: A 3-toed sloth, darker brown and gray with dark face markings like a mask.

Choloepus sloth: a 2-toed sloth, light brown and orange color with a snout like a pig.

Warm-blooded: Animals that keep a warm and consistent body temperature that mostly does not depend on their environment.

Digestion: The processes in a body of breaking down food and turning it into energy.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Enjoy our weekly Nat Theo Field Notes publication as a member of the Nat Theo Club! join at https://erynlynum.com/nattheo

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a turtle and a tortoise? The answer might be surprising. The facts we're learning about their fascinating shells might be a bit unexpected, too!

Here’s our trail map:

• What is the difference between a turtle and tortoise?
• What are the three main types of turtles?
• Why do turtles have shells and what is the shell?
• What built-in armor has God given us?

Links:

Explore CTCMath with a FREE weekly trial: https://www.ctcmath.com/

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Free Turtle & Tortoises Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo31

Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17 (NLT)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Egg Tooth: A specially designed growth on a turtle’s beak (mouth) used to break open their egg. The egg tooth falls off within a day or two after hatching.

Cold-blooded: Body temperature changes according to the environment. Cannot make their own body heat.

Keratin: Protein that makes turtle shells as well as other things in nature including hair, nails, claws, scales, feathers, horns, hooves, and even the outermost layer of our skin.

Scutes: Individual plates or pieces of the turtle shell. Scutes are made of keratin and cover the bone part of the turtle shell.

Carapace: Top part of a turtle’s shell.

Plastron: Bottom part of a turtle’s shell.

Vulnerable: To be without protection. Something that is vulnerable can be easily hurt.

Hinged Shell: Turtle shell that can open and shut.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Enjoy our weekly Nat Theo Field Notes publication as a member of the Nat Theo Club! join at https://erynlynum.com/nattheo