Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, has rich farmland as well as its numerous lakes. Though once much of the state was covered by pine forest, the land was clear cut to sell the lumber. Some of that once-forested land was then used for agriculture, and wheat fields and dairy farms abounded. Agriculture earned Minnesota another nickname -- the Bread and Butter State.

Today, agriculture remains important to Minnesota, and the state’s agricultural products have diversified. The state has also become a leader in natural resource conservation. National and state forests are now preserved and cared for. The freshwater system, including the many lakes, is also carefully preserved.

Because of its ties to native and domesticated plants and animals, Minnesota is a great place to study Life Science. State science standards call for students to observe and compare plants and animals, study their habitats, and learn the stages of their life cycles. Encourage your students to get outside and study the wildlife around them. They can notice and compare how native and domestic plants and animals meet their needs. Help them to find animal habitats around your school and notice how animal behaviors change with the seasons.