If mushrooms are not plants or animals, what are they? Today we're exploring the fascinating world of fungi! We're looking at:What are mushrooms? (Are they… aliens?)What other living things are like mushrooms?How does fungus help humans, plants, and our planet?How does fungus use code like a computer?
Join the Nat Theo Club! Receive a full-color digital guide to go along with every episode as they air! Resources: Video of wild orchids Video of fly agaric mushroom Eryn's New Book: Rooted In Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation  Scriptures Referenced in this Episode: “But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” Galatians 5:22-23 “I (Jesus) am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.” John 15:5 “How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24  Terms Introduced: Fungi: Category of living things including mushrooms, lichen, yeast, and mold. Mycelium: Underground network of fungi that produces mushrooms. Decomposing: Breaking down organic (natural) material. Decaying. Biocomputing: The scientific study of how living things compute or use information like computers.  Discover more nature lessons rooted in the Bible at Erynlynum.com  Disclaimer: Fungi can be dangerous! This guide & podcast episode are educational only and not to be used as a guide for determining whether a mushroom is safe. Never touch mushrooms without expert advice.

Are Mushrooms Aliens? And Does Fungus Know How to Code?

Join Master Naturalist, Bible teacher and author Eryn Lynum as we explore God's wild and wonderful world!
What can a bird's migration teach us about God's guidance in our life? How can counting tree rings help us understand our life story? How can a milkweed plant help us cut off toxic thoughts and think about everything lovely and true?
God's wild and wonderful world is full of amazing life lessons. As we get outside and adventure through creation, we'll discover how deep and wide the Father's love is for us!
Each episode of The Nat Theo Nature Lessons podcast teaches God's truth through visuals in nature. Nat = Natural, Theo = Theology. Where kids dive into the study of Natural Theology—discovering God through nature!

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Education for Kids

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 


Can Bees Dance? With Beekeeper Jenny - Episode 35

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 Did God Use Math To Create Nature? Exploring The Fibonacci Sequence & Numbers - Episode 34

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’s That Song?! Why And How Birds Sing - Episode 33

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

Why Do Sloths Hang Upside Down? Episode 32

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

Are Mushrooms Aliens? And Does Fungus Know How to Code?

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