Platypuses have been called the strangest animal on earth, but is it true? Discover this amazing creature with its duck-like bill, beaver-like tail, otter-like webbed feet, reptile-like claws, snake-like venom, and that lays eggs like a turtle!

Here’s our trail map:

• Why Does a Platypus Lay Eggs?
• How Is a Platypus Venomous?
• Why Do Platypus Have a Bill?
• What Does Scripture Say About Being Different?

Eryn's Books:

• 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
• Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
• 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782

Episode Links:

• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Save 10% with code NATURE at Christianbook.com: https://www.christianbook.com/
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Platypus Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/why-does-a-platypus-lay-eggs/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• A great book for learning about God’s designs in creature: God Made Animals by Generations Ministries

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“How many are your works, Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

“Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NCV)

“I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them, because they don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world but to keep them safe from the Evil One. They don’t belong to the world, just as I don’t belong to the world.” John 17:14-16 (NCV)

“Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.” Romans 15:7 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Mammal: A group of animals that have hair or fur, are warm-blooded, have a backbone, (most) have live births, and feed their babies with milk from their bodies.
• Monotremes: A small group (order) of mammals that lay eggs instead of having live births. Monotremes include the duck-billed platypus and four types of echidnas.
• Platypus Spur: A spike on the...

Explore the world of lava—what it is, where it comes from, and how God uses volcanoes to show His incredible power and unshakeable love!

Here’s our trail map:

• What is Lava Made Of?
• How Are Igneous Rocks Made?
• How Does a Volcano Erupt?
• How Do Volcanos Point to God’s Power?

Eryn's Books:

• 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
• Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
• 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782

Episode Links:

• Save 25% on Apologia’s award-winning curriculum through August 31, 2025! https://www.apologia.com/
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Lava Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/what-is-lava-made-of/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“The mountains shake in front of him,

and the hills melt….” Nahum 1:5a (NCV)

“The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,

before the Lord of all the earth.” Psalm 97:5 (NCV)

“...on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.” Genesis 7:11 (NIV)

“Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down.” Genesis 8:2-3 (NIV)

“You clothed the earth with floods of water,

water that covered even the mountains.

At your command, the water fled;

at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.

Mountains rose and valleys sank

to the levels you decreed.” Psalm 104:6-8 (NLT)

“‘The mountains may disappear,

and the hills may come to an end,

but my love will never disappear;

my promise of peace will not come to an end,’

says the Lord who shows mercy to you.” Isaiah 54:10 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Lava: A natural material that has come out of a volcano and can cool down and harden into rock.
• Magma: Hot, melted rock that is deep underground.
• Igneous Rock: A rock that is made by lava cooling down and hardening into a rock.
• Elements: The

What do you get when you mix the colors of a peacock, the eyes of a chameleon, the punch of a boxer, and the shell of a crab? Meet the Peacock Mantis Shrimp—a creature so unique, scientists are studying it to understand how to design cars, airplanes, and armor!

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Mantis Shrimp?
• Can the Mantis Shrimp Punch Through a Glass Aquarium?
• How Does the Mantis Shrimp See Its Underwater World?
• Are There Things in This World We Cannot See?

Episode Links:

• FREE Activity Guide and Bonus Video for this lesson!: https://nattheo.myflodesk.com/x6uw96zq8y
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Save 25% on Apologia’s award-winning curriculum through August 31, 2025! https://www.apologia.com/
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Mantis Shrimp Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/mantis-shrimp-punch/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• 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:

“How many are your works, Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

“Through his power all things were made—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ.” Colossians 1:16 (NCV)

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Crustacean: An animal with a hard shell on the outside, jointed legs, and no bones inside. Most but not all live in water.
• Stomatopod: A category (order) of crustaceans commonly called the mantis shrimps. They live in ocean waters, commonly in coral reef areas. They are aggressive and are carnivorous, meaning they eat other creatures.
• Cavitation: A process where the mantis shrimp creates a bubble by the power of its punch that collapses, causing a shockwave of incredible force including sound,...

Do you have a nature collection? Have you ever had or held a fossil? David Rives of David Rives Ministries joins us to share his adventures in fossil finding and how his collection turned into one of the largest creation science museums!

Episode Links:

• David Rives Ministries: https://davidrivesministries.org/
• Creation Club Magazine: https://davidrivesministries.org/magazine/
• Wonders Center & Science Museum: https://wonderscenter.org/
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Join the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• 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

This podcast contains paid advertisements.

With its folded front legs and watchful eyes, the praying mantis looks like it's deep in prayer—but is it really? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of the mantis: from its amazing hunting skills and five incredible eyes, to whether female mantises really eat their mates. Along the way, we'll discover how even the strangest creatures in nature reflect the creativity of our amazing God—and how creation itself can teach us to worship Him.

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Praying Mantis?
• Is the Praying Mantis Really Praying?
• How Does a Praying Mantis Hunt?
• Do Female Praying Mantises Eat Their Mates?
• How Does Creation Worship God?

Episode Links:

• Get 10% off with code NatTheo10 and enjoy a FREE week of the Flourish Family Bible Curriculum: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/pages/free-week-of-flourish
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Praying Mantis Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/praying-mantis-facts/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• 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:

“So God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.” Genesis 1:27 (NCV)

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,

or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

Speak to the earth, and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea tell you.

Every one of these knows

that the hand of the Lord has done this.

The life of every creature

and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.” Job 12:7-10 (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)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Mantodea: An order, like a category, of insects that have long bodies, long folded front arms, and triangular heads. They are known for their unique and efficient hunting strategies.
• Mantis Religiosa: A specific species of insect in the mantodea order. It’s the one we often think of when we think about the praying mantis.
• Raptorial Forelegs: The praying mantis’s front legs that...

Why would a bird pretend to be hurt? Meet the clever killdeer—a ground-nesting bird with amazing tricks to protect its eggs! Discover how it uses camouflage, fake injuries, and even scent-hiding strategies. Plus, learn what the Bible says about truth and being genuine.

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is a Killdeer?
• Why Would a Bird Build a Nest on the Ground?
• What Is the Killdeer’s Broken Wing Act?
• Why Does a Killdeer Chick Leave Its Nest Right Away?
• How Can We Recognize Tricks From Truth?

Episode Links:

• Explore the Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis: AnswersBookstore.com/bible
• Explore Apologia’s Live Classes: https://www.apologia.com/live-classes
• Explore Apologia’s Self-paced Classes: https://www.apologia.com/self-paced
• Explore Apologia’s award-winning science curriculum for grades k-12: https://www.apologia.com/subject/science/
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Killdeer Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/killdeer-bird-facts/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• 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:

“So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body.” Ephesians 4:25 (NCV)

“Your love must be real (genuine). Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NCV)

“But people who are evil and cheat others will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves. But you should continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust those who taught you.” 2 Timothy 3:13-14 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Plover: A category of small to medium-sized birds that live near water, like beaches, lakes, and muddy fields. They have short beaks and long legs, and they like to run, stop, and peck at the ground to find food like insects and worms.
• Killdeer: The killdeer is a plover that grows about 9-11 inches long with brown backs, white bellies, and two black stripes across their chest. Their eyes are bright red or orange.
• Ground Nester: A type of bird that makes its nest on the ground instead of in trees or bushes. They lay their eggs right on the dirt, grass, or rocks, and their eggs...

Have you ever wondered what’s really going on inside an anthill—or how ants can carry things way heavier than themselves? Discover how God designed ants to work together like a tiny, efficient team—and what their super strength teaches us about the incredible power God puts inside us!

Here’s our trail map:

• How Does an Ant Colony Begin?
• How Do Ants Work Together?
• Where Do Ants Get Their Super Strength?
• How Does God Give Us Super Strength?

Episode Links:

• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Explore the Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis: AnswersBookstore.com/bible
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Ant Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/ant-facts-for-kids/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• 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:

“Go watch the ants, you lazy person.

Watch what they do and be wise.

Ants have no commander,

no leader or ruler,

but they store up food in the summer

and gather their supplies at harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8 (NCV)

“...’Let the earth be filled with animals, each producing more of its own kind. Let there be tame animals and small crawling animals and wild animals, and let each produce more of its kind.’ And it happened.” Genesis 1:24 (NCV)

And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.” Ephesians 1:19-20 (NCV)

“With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.” Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)

“...’My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.’ So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NCV)

“So don’t worry, because I am with you.

Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.

I will make you strong and will help you;

I will support you with my right hand that saves you.” Isaiah 41:10 (NCV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Ant Colony: A group of ants that work very hard together to hatch and grow more ants so their colony can grow. In the ant colony, ants have different jobs so that the work can be done most efficiently.
• Efficiency: When a job or task is done in a way that saves time and energy.
• Nuptial Flight: A special time when queen ants and male ants fly into the sky to mate, so the queen can start a new ant colony.
• Worker Ant:...

Dive into the amazing world of electric eels: what they really are (spoiler—they’re not true eels!), how their special electric organs work, and how they use electricity to hunt and protect themselves in the rivers of South America.

Here’s our trail map:

• What Is the Electric Eel?
• How Do Electric Eels Make Electricity?
• How Does the Electric Eel Use Electricity?
• How Is God a Shield for Us?

Episode Links:

• Explore the Answers Bible Curriculum by Answers in Genesis: AnswersBookstore.com/bible
• Try CTCMath for free for one week: https://ctcmath.com/
• Order Eryn’s 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
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videos
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/club
• Free Electric Eel Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/electric-eel-facts/
• Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/ask
• 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:

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

“The LORD is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.” Psalm 18:2 (NCV)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 (ESV)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Gymnotiforms: Meaning “naked back.” A category (order) of fish that do not have fins on their back.
• Organ: A special part inside a body with an important job to do.
• Main, Hunter’s and Sachs Organs: Special organs in an electric eel’s body that produce electricity.
• Cells: Tiny building blocks that make up all living things, like plants, creatures, and humans. They are so small you can only see them with a microscope.
• Electrocytes: Special cells with positive and negative charges.
• Weakly Electric Fish: Electric fish in the gymnotiform order that use an invisible electric field around their body to sense what is around them.
• Strongly Electric Fish: Electric fish in the gymnotiform order that create and emit strong electric currents to zap and stun their prey.
• Electric Organ Discharge (EOD): When an electric fish sends out an electric pulse or wave.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Explore Creation and the Bible in the...