Roots Academy

16/02/2021

The Poison Dart Frogs are some of the most beautiful amphibians in the world with their incredible displays of coloured and patterned skin. They are small animals which only grow to about 5cm in size. 🐸

Their beautiful skin is an incredible adaption, as the bright colours and patterns ward off predators, a tactic called aposematic coloration. This is basically a warning to predators, "I'm poisonous, don't eat me." ⚠️

Although beautiful in appearance and small in size, these frogs are some of the most toxic animals on Earth. Scientists believe that they develop their poison through their environment. It is believed that the poisons are absorbed from plants which are carried by their prey. 👩‍🔬

Found in tropical rainforests across Central parts of South America, these beautiful amphibians feed on ants, beetles, and termites. 🐜

If a Poison Dart Frog is raised in capivity, isolated from its natural environment and prey, they do not develop their deadly poison.

They recieved their name from the indigenous Emberá people of Colombia as these people used the powerful poison from these frogs for centuries to tip their blowgun darts for hunting. 🌬️

The Poison Dart Frog is known for its unusual parenting habits. The males are extraordinary with their care and tend to carry their eggs or tadpoles on their backs with them.

Incredibly scientists have been studying their poison and have found a potential use, they believe they can form a painkiller which could someday help humans. 🔬

09/02/2021

The life cycle of a frog 🐸

02/02/2021

These incredible mollusks are Costasiella Kuroshimae, but are also known as the leaf sheep. 🌿🐑
The leaf sheep only grows to a max of 1cm and got the name 'leaf sheep' from the way that it looks. This is mainly due to the green dotted spines that pop out of its back, which are akin to leaves. 🌱
It has two beady eyes and antennae that look similar to that of sheep's ears.🐑
It also resembles a tiny tree which is a bit ironic as this bizarre but special creature can photosynthesis through a process called kleptoplast - the process by which chloroplast from algae is stolen by an animal when the animal feeds on the plant. 🤯
This process allows the leaf sheep to live off of energy through photosynthesising without consuming any solid food for many months. 😲
This incredible adaption is possible as the body of the leaf sheep is fanned out just like a leaf that needs a large surface to photosynthesis. 🌿
The skin of this creature is also very translucent which absorbs more light from the sun. 🌞
They feed on the algae which gives them the ability to photosynthesis as well as bits of plankton.
These unique and cute sea slugs can be found in the shallow waters off the coast lines of Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.

19/01/2021

#2021

17/01/2021

How enchanting are The Dancing Trees of Indonesia?🌿
These Mangrove trees appear as if they are dancing on Walakiri beach, providing an incredible atmosphere! 😍
Let's dance into and through this year, just like The Dancing Trees of Indonesia. ✨
#2021

27/10/2020

🌕💦

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon.

26/10/2020

This fascinating, micro-critter is a Tardigrade, also known as Moss Piglets or Water Bears.
They are eight-legged micro-animals that diverged from their closest relatives in the Cambrian Period, over 500 million years ago.
They usually grow up to 0.5mm in length and are plump, with 4 pairs of legs each ending with claws, looking quite similar to the hookah-smoking caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. 🐛
They are prevalent in mosses and lichens, and feed on plan cells, algae and small invertebrates.
These animals have been found everywhere, from mountain tops and volcanoes to the depths of the sea, and in a variety of environments like that of rainforests to the Artic. 🌿🧊
They are known as one of the world's most resilient creatures as they can survive extreme conditions - such as exposure to very high or low temperatures and pressures. ❄🔥
Tardigrades have incredibly even survived exposure to outer space...👨‍🚀
They have an incredible ability to 'come back to life' after being dehydrated for decades at a time, when they become dehydrated they enter a coma-like state called a tun, and can survive for years before returing to living a normal life once put back into a normal environment. They can also survive and return to life after being frozen for decades!! 😮
These creatures are not only impressive for their survival skills but like all cosmic workers, they do serve our Earth.🌍
Many organisms that live in aquatic environments feed on species such as Tardigrades. Therefore, Tardigrades work as pioneer species by inhabiting new developing environments and by doing so, attracts other invertebrates to populate that space, while also attracting predators. 🙏

16/09/2020

The Shoebill Stork is a prehistoric looking bird also known as the Whale-headed Stork.
These fascinating birds are endangered, with only 5000 - 8000 of these beautiful creatures left on Earth today. 🌍
They can grow to a height of 1.5m tall with the an impressive wingspan of 2.6m wide!
They are known for the strange popping sound they make and for being brave birds, who even attack crocodiles! 🐊
They live in Marshes in Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

26/08/2020

The Pill Bug ~ also known as the Rollie Pollie. These cretaceous critters can be found in your garden, most likely living under a rock or somewhere dark and moist.
They feed on decaying matter and play quite an incredible role in the Cosmic Plan of our Earth.🌍
They have the ability to safely remove heavy metals from soil and so, they are an important tool for cleaning up soil contaminated with pollutants like lead, cadmium and arsenic.
These wonderful abilities help reestablish healthy soil and prevents toxic metal ions from leaching into the groundwater. 💦
This means Pill bugs are also protecting well water from becoming contaminated while stabilising soils.
They are amazing little cosmic workers in your garden as well, Pill bugs play an important role in the cycle of healthy plant life. They return organic matter to the soil so it can be digested further by fungi, protozoans and bacteria. This produces a natural supply of nitrates, phosphates and other vital nutrients that plants need to thrive.🌱🌿🌻

01/08/2020

If you can, go outside and have a look at the moon, you will be able to clearly see the giant gas planet Jupiter right below it, and a bit further down from Jupiter, you can see Saturn.
🤩🪐🌕💫
"The things he sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul."
Dr M Montessori

15/06/2020

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

Remember to put the glass down.

(Courtesy of Jimmy Harmon)

25/05/2020

With more and more parents returning to work, the need for support is higher than ever, we understand the concern for in-person sessions with the Covid-19 threat and so Roots Academy are offering full online support for those in need!
Helping children keep up and get ahead of the curve, right from the safety of their homes.