The No Sweat Nature Study Podcast

Can a tomato really be cube-shaped? Mrs. Cindy uses this surprising question to explain how plant traits change over time and how humans influence the foods we grow. This topic continues in a companion No Sweat Nature Study class that explains GMOs simply and in an age-appropriate way. Learn more at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Did you know there's a tiny ocean creature with a punch so powerful, it creates underwater shockwaves? Discover the fascinating mantis shrimp and other animals with seemingly super-powered limbs in this exciting nature science episode! Join us for the companion video class about animal superpowers, where you'll explore incredible strength, surprising speed, clever defenses, and more. Become a member of No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the animal superpowers show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Do some animals really seem smart… or are we just imagining it? In this episode, discover the difference between instinct and intelligence, explore how fables use animal characters to teach lessons, and get inspired to observe clever creatures in real life! In the companion video class for members, explore how animal characters from Aesop's fables connect to real-life animal traits and see how science and storytelling come together to teach meaningful lessons. It's a fun science a literature connection! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the Aesop's Fables in Nature show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Please tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

What did Galileo first see through a telescope in the 1600's? Listen and find out! In the companion video class for members, 1st-8th graders will learn how telescopes work, understand the difference between geocentrism and heliocentrism, and even learn why Galileo was placed under house arrest for one of his scientific theories! This class will be scientific and historical as we discover one of the most famous scientists of all time. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the Galileo Galilei show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Please tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

What if your Christmas trip meant riding a camel through the desert or a horse-drawn sleigh through the snow? Find out how animals helped people travel long ago in this fun mix of history and science! Keep the Christmas fun going with the No Sweat Nature Study video class all about donkeys! Kids will learn what makes these animals strong, dependable, and perfect for tough jobs, then sketch one in their nature journals as they discover just how impressive donkeys really are. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Ask for a No Swat Nature Study membership for your family this holiday season! Gift-givers can buy quarterly and yearly gift cards here. Visit the donkey show notes page to find comprehension and discussion questions about this podcast. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

This holiday episode unwraps the surprising history behind oranges in Christmas stockings. Join Mrs. Cindy as she blends seasonal science with a little old–fashioned Christmas cheer! Want to learn even more about oranges? In the upcoming No Sweat Nature Study video class, we'll study how they grow, what's inside them, and why they make such a sweet and healthy winter treat! Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Gift Cards are available for No Sweat Nature Study! Visit the oranges show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Which animals are still stirring at night during the autumn season? The entire family can listen to this episode to find out! In the companion video class for members, 1st-8th graders will learn about rascally raccoons! As they create a beautiful nature journal page, Mrs. Cindy will teach them all about raccoon adaptations that make them so resourceful in the dead of night. Join the No Sweat Nature Study Membership at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Buy gift cards to the No Sweat Nature Study Membership. Visit the raccoon show notes page. Find the voice recorder to answer this season's call-in question. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Can snow really make the world quieter? Discover the science behind nature's winter hush in this frosty episode! Explore the science of frost and discover how icy crystals form, sparkle, and inspire creative nature journaling in the companion No Sweat Nature Study video class. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Buy gift cards here! Visit the show notes page to record your answer to the call-in question. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

How do animals move without legs? In this short and slithery episode, Mrs. Cindy uncovers the science behind how snakes use muscles, scales, and clever movement to glide across the ground. If today's topic gives you the shivers (in a good way), you'll love the upcoming Venomous Snakes: Danger, Design, and Discovery No Sweat Nature Study avideo class! Join Mrs. Cindy to learn how venomous snakes use their incredible adaptations to hunt, defend, and even help humans through science. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the venomous snakes show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Have you ever seen a pumpkin so big it needed a forklift? In this episode, we'll discover why some fruits grow to amazing sizes while others stay small on purpose. Join me for the Perfectly Pleasant Pumpkin Class, where we'll follow a pumpkin's journey from flower to fruit and peek inside to explore seeds, rinds, and blossoms. Along the way, you'll discover why pumpkins became a favorite symbol of autumn and create a detailed pumpkin nature journal page of your own! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the pumpkins show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Some animals have a superpower called regeneration—the ability to grow back lost body parts! Meet incredible creatures like starfish, lizards, and axolotls while learning how special cells make this amazing process possible. Don't miss the upcoming axolotl video class, where kids will explore this unusual salamander's amazing features and create a colorful nature journal diagram. It's the perfect class for curious learners who love weird and wonderful animals! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the axolotl show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Meet a photographer who used his camera to help people see nature in a whole new way. Learn how black-and-white pictures captured the beauty of wild places and inspired others to notice what they'd never seen before. In the companion video class for members, explore the iconic landscapes of Yosemite and create a black-and-white painting inspired by Ansel Adams' style. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Visit the hummingbird show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Why do hummingbirds sparkle like flying jewels? In this episode of the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast, Mrs. Cindy explains how their brilliant feathers work and teaches some impressive new science words! In the companion video class about Hummingbirds included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, discover dazzling hummingbirds and the science behind their wingbeats, colors, and migration journeys. Design your own hummingbird in your nature journal during the class! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for $10 off your first payment of a quarterly subscription. Register here for the FREE Music and Nature Study Event! Visit the hummingbird show notes page. See the book list of your nature-themed book suggestions. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

What do animals do when ocean water disappears with the tide? Discover the secrets of tide pools and how creatures survive in this exciting beach-themed nature study for kids. In the companion Video Class about Tides included in the No Sweat Nature Study  membership, children learn how the moon affects ocean tides and explore the intertidal zone through hands-on nature journaling. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/ Visit the Tides show notes page to see a tide pool! Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Click here to find the book list of listener recommendations for nature-themed reading! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

What makes an octopus's blood blue instead of red? In this ocean-themed nature study for kids, discover how hemocyanin helps octopuses survive in cold, low-oxygen waters and why these creatures are some of the coolest animals in the sea. In the companion video class about Octopuses included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, students will learn all about octopus anatomy, how camouflage works, and the amazing ways these animals use their arms, suckers, and brains to survive. They'll even create an underwater nature journal scene featuring a camouflaged octopus blending into its habitat. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the Octopuses show notes page to see a stunning octopus. Click here to find the nature-themed book recommendations from our listeners! Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Discover the parts of a sunflower seed, how germination begins, and what helps a tiny seed grow into a towering plant in this fun nature study episode for kids. In the companion video class about Sunflowers included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, students explore the sunflower's life cycle, label its parts, and create a nature journal page inspired by Van Gogh's famous sunflower art. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the Sunflower show notes page to see a sunflower field. Click here for the list of nature book recommendations submitted by our listeners! Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Which veggie wins the title of fastest-growing? Join Mrs. Cindy as we find out the answer and explore why some vegetables seem to grow almost overnight! In the companion True Vegetables Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, discover how true vegetables are different from fruits and how important they are to human nutrition. In your nature journal, you'll create a life cycle of a true vegetable, as well as a comparison of true vegetables and fruits. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the True Vegetables show notes page to see a radish! See the nature-themed booklist → book recommendations from YOU! Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Join Mrs. Cindy to discover why peaches have a soft, fuzzy skin and how it helps them thrive in the summer heat. Learn about trichomes, their protective superpowers, and how each fruit has just what it needs to stay healthy. In the companion video class about peaches, have even more juicy fun as you draw and label a peach's parts, study its life cycle, and compare peaches to nectarines! Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the Peaches show notes page to see trichomes on the skin of a peach! Here are links to Mrs. Cindy's favorite nature-themed picture books and nature-themed chapter books. Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Learn about the impressive Pileated Woodpecker, compare it to the possibly extinct Imperial Woodpecker, and discover how these birds are built for powerful pecking. In the companion video class about woodpeckers, explore the unique adaptations that help woodpeckers peck safely, cling to trees, and find food—all while creating a detailed nature journal page to record your discoveries. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the Woodpecker show notes page to see a pileated woodpecker! Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Learn how leaves use fuzz, chemicals, and even camouflage to stay safe from animals that might want to eat them. This episode is packed with surprising science and outdoor observation ideas! In the companion Parts of a Leaf video class included in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, you'll draw and label a detailed diagram of a leaf while learning what each part does—and why it's so important. You may not even realize some of these parts exist, but you're sure to be fascinated by them as you compare different kinds of leaves in your nature journal. Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter Visit the Parts of a Leaf show notes page to see the spines of a stinging nettle leaf! Defense Mechanisms of Plants curriculum → ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/defense-mechanisms-plants/ Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them! Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)