Nat Theo Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible

Have you ever seen fireflies glowing throughout a forest or field? God created a whole host of creatures that glow in the dark! Today we're exploring:

• What is bioluminescence?
• What creatures glow in the dark?
• How do fireflies light up?
• How do we shine God’s light?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

Join the Nat Theo Club & Get Full Episode Activity Guides!

Download the free Glow-in-the-Dark Creatures Coloring Page to go along with this lesson

Get Eryn's new book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation

Scriptures in Today's Episode:

“It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen.” Hebrews 11:3

“God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

“God once said, ‘Let the light shine out of the darkness!’ This is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

“You are the light that gives light to the world... And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

“I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12

Terms Learned in Today's Episode:

bārā’ (baw-raw): Hebrew word for God’s special creativity

Bioluminescence: light that comes from living creatures

Photobacterium: Bacteria (tiny creatures) that produce living light

Twilight Zone: 650 - 3,300 feet deep in the ocean where sunlight doesn’t reach

Luciferin: Molecule used in bioluminescence

Luciferase: Enzyme that breaks down the Luciferin molecule to create living light

Lampyridae: Family or category of beetles, most which emit living light (Bioluminescence)

Glowworm: Larva (juvenile) form of fireflies

Thank you to the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) for their very helpful podcast episode on Living Light, which we used in researching for today's lesson! https://youtu.be/_nENsJLm2E8?si=RFvzjuCRp0V2tuFc

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order The Nature of Rest

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly? We’re learning how birds fly and how bird flight inspired human flight and changed history! We’re also meeting a super inspiring person mentioned in the Bible named Bezalel (Beh-za-lel).

Here’s our trail map:

• How are birds designed to fly?
• How did birds inspire and lead to the invention of airplanes?
• How can God’s designs inspire our creativity and inventions?

Episode Links:

Order Nat Theo T-Shirts Through September 3rd: https://erynlynum.myshopify.com/

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

Free Creation and Creativity Activity: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo20

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

Thank you to the How To Take Over The World podcast for their two-part feature on the Wright Brothers: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-take-over-the-world/id1333158713?i=1000632146187

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” Exodus 31:3-5

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

“By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Hebrews 11:3

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Lift: When a bird captures air under their wings and pushes that air down in order to take off in flight.

Pectoralis major muscles: The largest and superior muscle of the outer chest wall. In birds, it’s these muscles that allow for flight.

Supracoracoideus muscle: This muscle is deeper inside the bird’s chest cavity and allows the bird to raise its wings back up.

Pneumatized bones: Bones with small pockets of air.

Keratin: Protein that makes bird feathers as well as hair, nails, claws, scales, horns, hooves, and even the outermost layer of our skin.

Bioinspiration: When God’s designs in nature inspire human creativity and inventions.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order The Nature of Rest

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Once upon a time, I watched the sun disappear! On today's episode, I'm sharing my all-time favorite story about the sun. We're exploring:

• Why the sun is so important
• How the sun gives energy to plants
• Why sunflowers follow the sun all day long
• And how in the same way, we can follow God’s light all day long!

Resources:

FREE Printable Summer Verse Cards

Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation

Focus on the Family Interview: Helping Kids See God's Glory in Nature

Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:"

Then God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:3

“...God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5

“My eyes are ever toward the Lord... Psalm 25:15"

...so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” Psalm 123:2

“In him (Jesus) there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” 1 John 1:4-5

Terms Introduced:

Helianthus: Sunflower (Helios: Sun, Anthos: Flower)

Heliotropism: When a plant grows toward the light

Photosynthesis: A process controlled by light that puts things in a plant together to turn them into energy.

Chlorophyll: Responsible for a plant's green pigment, and allows a plant to soak in sunlight.

Elaborated Sap: The "super food" of plants. It's created when sunlight, through chlorophyll, turns the minerals from water and carbon dioxide from air into a plant's sugars.

Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Order The Nature of Rest

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Have you ever held a roly-poly? My kids and I recently became roly-poly trainers! We made some fun observations and today we're exploring:

• The fascinating life of a roly-poly
• What really is a roly-poly?
• Are there things in nature that aren't what they seem?
• Are there words we use and hear that aren't what they seem?
• How can we trace words and things in nature back to their identities?

Note for parents and caregivers: This episode breaks down the concept of "Linguistic Theft." A very helpful read on this is in the book Mama Bear Apologetics, Chapter 4: Linguistic Theft.

Scriptures & Quotes Referenced in this Episode:

“God is love.” 1 John 4:8

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you.” John 13:34“the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” Mark 10:45

“The solid world (that is, nature), exists. It’s laws do not change. Stones are hard. Water is wet.” George Orwell, 1984

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6

“We are called to be loving, but in love we should recognize and point out false definitions. Disagreement does no equal hate.” Hillary Morgan Ferrer, Mama Bear Apologetics

“We will speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15

“Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Resources:

Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation

Mentioned in this episode:

Order The Nature of Rest

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Have you ever heard of a bird delivering mail? Learn about the amazing homing pigeons that helped save human lives during wars, and how these pigeons find their way across hundreds of miles.

Here’s our trail map:

• Why Were Pigeons Used to Deliver Messages?
• What Is Magnetoreception?
• How Do Pigeons Find the Right Address?
• Do Humans Have a Homing Instinct?

Episode Links:

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891

Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club

How to make a homemade photo field notes set: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFYwsb4y_8X/

Save $10 on an order at Parabo Press: https://www.parabo.press/?coupon=NAT10&utm_source=NatTheoPodcast

Free Pigeon Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/how-pigeons-navigate

Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask

Try CTCMath’s simple and effective math lessons: https://ctcmath.com/

Listen to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast: https://podcast.schoolhouserocked.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

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“...He has planted eternity in the human heart...” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

“We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NCV)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and there was no sea anymore... The One who was sitting on the throne said, ‘Look! I am making everything new!’” Revelation 21:1, 5 (NCV)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Columbidae: The family of birds consisting of pigeons and doves.

Domesticated: An animal that is trained and kept for human use.

Magnetoreception: The ability of some creatures to use Earth’s invisible magnetic field to navigate.

Magnetic Field: An invisible force around the earth created by the magnetic pull inside Earth’s outer core.

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.

Magnetite: One of the most magnetic naturally occurring minerals on earth.

CRY4: A protein found in the eyes of some creatures that might allow them to sense or even see Earth’s magnetic field.

Homing Instinct: An action of always returning home. Like special instructions God placed into the homing pigeon so it will always fly home.

Homing Loft: A structure kind of like a nest where young homing pigeons are placed and always fly home to.

This podcast episode contains paid advertisements from Parabo Press and CTCMath. All testimonies are the honest reviews of the host after personally using each product and service.

Mentioned in this episode:

Order The Nature of Rest

Order Eryn’s new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891