Zoology

When we see cute, furry animals, we want to cuddle and play with them. But the question is—do the animals wish for this? Let's try to imagine ourselves in the place of a guinea pig. Here she sits in a cage, calmly eating hay. Suddenly, one of the walls of her house disappears, and through this opening, a hairless "muzzle-bear" with white teeth reaches out a giant paw with large hooks at the end... And this is just one of us, smiling as we extend a hand to stroke her. Naturally, the guinea pig runs away, and we are left with no one to pet.

In The Jungle Book, Mowgli said, "You and I are of the same blood, you and I," and the animals obeyed him. A tale, you say? Yes, but not entirely. Magic words exist, though they are not so simple. They are written in numerous books on zoology and ethology (the science of behavior). By studying animals' lives—their habitats in the wild, their body language, and how to care for them—we can build friendships with animals and interact with them in a way that pleases and interests both sides.

Сurriculum

1. Try to Understand Me, or the Basics of Ethology
   It would be great to understand living creatures, wouldn't it?
   Let's try to figure out how to do it. We will start with dogs and cats. And then try to understand other people - it is sometimes even more difficult.
   And at the same time, we will get acquainted with the basic principles of animal training.
   
2. Urban Animals
   If I ask, what kind of animals live in our houses? For sure, cats, dogs, parrots, and other pets will come to mind first. But our homes are a pretty attractive place. And if you look closely, you can find many more exciting creatures. They even have a particular name - "synanthropic animals." They are not domesticated, and they prefer to live closer to us.
   Who they are, we will learn from this lesson.
   
3. Caring for Pets
   In this lesson, you will learn how to properly care for pets so that they are healthy and happy. If you love petting animals, brushing their fur, and posting their photos on social media—that's wonderful. But to be a responsible pet owner, you need to know how to choose a pet, how to arrange its living environment, and check if it has any issues like ringworm or worse. Let’s figure it all out together.
   
4. A Critical Look at the World's Best Zoos

   Attitudes toward zoos are now very different. Many people who love animals and want to protect them are very negative about zoos and call for the closure of zoos by releasing animals.

   On the one hand, their position is understandable - since it is unpleasant for people to sit in jail, this is a punishment. On the other hand, the situation with animals is not so simple.

   In this lesson, we’ll try to figure out whether animals are so bad in zoos and whether they will be so good in the wild.
   
5. Animal Tracking
   Sometimes, to get acquainted with some animals, you need to go to the forest and watch them in natural conditions. But to observe them, first, we have to find them. And it is not as easy as it seems!
   
6. Quest "Staying Alive"
   We will learn to brutally survive in the forest, comfortably sitting at home on the sofa.
   
7. How Smart Are Animals
   This question is not easy to answer. Even for humans, there are no exact criteria to define his mind. How, for example, can you decide who is smarter - a person who solves mathematical problems well or someone who is very well-versed in other people's emotions, and knows how to support and cheer up on time? So it is with animals.
   Some animals are smarter than others, but the criteria by which you can compare them are still imperfect.
   Therefore, we will not claim absolute truth, but we will understand what is already known today.
   The How Smart Are Animals lesson preview on YouTube
   
8. Animal Phyla
   In this lesson, we will figure out how animal phyla differ.
   The Animal Phyla lesson preview on YouTube
   
9. Vertebrates
   Vertebrates are a subtype of chordates that we met in the previous lesson. In short, vertebrates are chordates with a skull (and, of course, the spine).
   In the lesson, we will get acquainted with various vertebrates, find out where they live, and how the classes of vertebrates differ.
   The Vertebrates lesson preview on YouTube
   
10. The Basics of Fish-Keeping
    A well-equipped aquarium is a super "TV" for observing wildlife, it is clean and beautiful, just a joy for the eyes. But for this to be the case, you need to be able to care for the aquarium.
    In this lesson, we will learn the basic principles for choosing parameters for an aquarium so that the fish live in it for as long and happily as possible.
    
11. The Life of a Frog
    Now it is a frog time. We'll discover how they grow, where they live, and even play some frog-tastic games.
    The Life of a Frog lesson preview on YouTube
    
12. Reptiles
    “This is a group of animals with blood; animals are mostly oviparous, sometimes viviparous, four-legged or legless, often covered with scales” - this is how the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle described reptiles. Although the description is recognizable, we have learned a lot since then. Jump in if you want to learn more.
    
13. Modern Dinosaurs
    “What kind of modern dinosaurs?”, you want to ask me. Yes, the most ordinary ones that fly outside the window. “What? ... Yes, yes. There is no mistake here. Wings and the ability to fly, feathers, beak, warm-bloodedness, the ability to lay eggs - everything that distinguishes birds from other vertebrates has appeared in dinosaurs. So we take dinosaurs and scrutinize them.
    
14. Mammal Diversity
    We know so much about mammals that in this lesson, we will only open the door to their world and see how they differ from other vertebrates and how diverse they are.
    
15. Introduction to Entomology
    This lesson will teach how to distinguish insects from other arthropods and distinguish insects from different orders.
    
16. Butterflies from Around the World
    In this lesson, we will learn how to distinguish butterflies from other insects, find out how they look, where they live, what they eat, and play the Kaleidoscope of Butterfly Wings.
    The best-willed ones can even make a card with a butterfly with wings that open and close!
    
17. Little Builders of the Big Termite Mound
18. How an Anthill Works
19. Bee Life
20. How Does a Human Body Work
21. Evolution and Types of Selection
    Beautiful and mysterious tropical rainforest makes you want to visit a real one, wander around, and look for wonders... Charles Darwin thought the same, and one fine day, he fulfilled his dream and arrived at the Galapagos Islands. The captain of his ship, the "Beagle," Robert FitzRoy, planned to map South America and its coastal waters. Darwin joined the expedition as a naturalist. On the Galapagos Islands, he noticed something that others before him had not - small finches. Do you see them? Still not clear what's special about them? What if you zoom in on their beaks? I hope you found an interesting feature, just like Charles Darwin did. By looking at these beaks, he understood the principle of evolution. Interested? Then let's figure it all out step by step.
    
    The Evolution and Types of Selection lesson preview on YouTube
22. Ice Age
    We will learn what the Ice Age was, when it happened, why we are sure it happened, and what animals lived there.
    
23. How Did Humans Evolve
    This lesson will trace the evolutionary chain from the ancient ancestor of apes - the purgatorius - to Homo sapiens. Let's see who did what for our ancestors and determine if we are the most intelligent people on Earth.
    
24. How to Survive on a Deserted Island
    Lying with closed eyes, you feel the delightful warmth of the morning sun. The surf is noisy nearby. Opening your eyes, you see a swaying palm tree above you... Stop! Where are we? We are playing a role-playing game. Today, we will survive on an uninhabited island, where we have ended up after a shipwreck.