FICARRO FARMS · EDUCATION & INQUIRY
Living Laboratory
Small animals. Better questions.
A place for teachers and curious observers to explore isopod behavior, plan useful investigations, and make sense of what they see. Start with a question, record the evidence, and keep the limits of the method in view.
FIND A QUESTION WORTH TESTING
Investigations begin here.
Open the interactive lab for complete activities, topic filters, observation tables, and CSV exports, or start with one of the guides below.
01 · BEHAVIOR
Light and shelter
Where do animals gather when illumination changes? Plan a fair comparison and consider moisture, cover, and starting position.
02 · HABITAT
Moisture and depth
Explore substrate depth and watering questions without assuming that the animals you can see represent the whole colony.
03 · MATERIALS
Substrate experiments
Compare a proposed substrate before changing a colony. Define the mixture, choose a measurable outcome, and keep the comparison consistent.
04 · LONGER INVESTIGATIONS
Density and reproduction
Follow independent cultures over time and compare juvenile recruitment. Keep visible counts distinct from claims about individual reproductive output.
The original interactive activities are proposed classroom designs. Pilot and adapt them to your learners, equipment, and animals.
BEFORE THE FIRST OBSERVATION
Prepare the habitat. Then plan the lab.
A useful investigation starts before students take their first count. Choose an appropriate species and quantity, prepare the enclosure, and allow animals to settle after shipping.
YOUR TEACHING WORKSPACE
A place to keep what you learn.
Keep private teaching notes with an activity, record observations, and contribute a lab with photographs for Ficarro Farms to review. Browse freely; sign in when you want to save account notes or submit a lab.
Your private notes
Save lesson adaptations, setup reminders, and reflections from the Teacher notes panel on each activity.
Your observation record
Add observation rows and export a CSV. These tables stay in the browser where you enter them, separate from your account notes.
Your lab, shared thoughtfully
Add a procedure, photographs, and captions. Preview it, then submit it for review before it joins the teacher collection.
Open my teaching workspaceContribute a lab
Use your Ficarro Farms account for the lab and shop. Draft submissions stay on your device until you send them for review.
Bring your classroom questions.
A practical question, an unexpected observation, or a lesson that worked well can help shape this collection. Tell us what you teach and what you want your students to investigate.