Nature and Wildlife

274 Activities

Nature and Wildlife

Get outside and get curious! Through observation and discovery, learners explore ecosystems, animals, and environmental science. Nature becomes a classroom for inquiry, creativity, and care. This is great for adventurers and future eco-leaders!

Activities

S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Challenge

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

In this lesson, students move simple objects through a maze using a magnet, experimenting with various metal materials and reflecting on what worked and what didn't.

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S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

Model the Water Cycle

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

Model the Water Cycle

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Ocean water is very salty, so why does fresh water fall on land? In this activity, students will answer this question by investigating a sealed cup of tinted water. The sealed cup acts as a simple model of Earth’s water supply and the water cycle.

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Model the Water Cycle

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Make an Animal Book (Grades K-2)

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m

•

Grades K - 2

Make an Animal Book (Grades K-2)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45m

Children draw their favorite animals to create a big book of animals. After describing the features of their favorite animals, students categorize them as pets, farm animals, or wild animals as they organize the contents of their book.

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Make an Animal Book (Grades K-2)

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m•Grades K - 2

A Day at Our Zoo

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m

•

Grades K - 2

A Day at Our Zoo

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45m

Children create their own model zoo. Each group is assigned an area of the zoo and chooses the animals for their area.

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A Day at Our Zoo

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

45m•Grades K - 2

Make a Hovercraft

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 3 - 5

Make a Hovercraft

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45m

In this activity, students use simple materials to build a working hovercraft. This activity builds an understanding of engineering principles as well as physics concepts related to friction and gravity.

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Make a Hovercraft

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 3 - 5

Animal ABCs

Literacy • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades K - 2

Animal ABCs

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45m

ABC picture books are some of the first books we are exposed to when we are young. In this activity, children will have the opportunity to make 1 of their own. The children will brainstorm animals for each letter of the alphabet, then work together to create a beautifully illustrated animal ABC book.

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Animal ABCs

Literacy • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades K - 2

S.INQ Up Human Impact

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

30m

•

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Human Impact

By OregonASK

6 - 8

30m

Students learn about human impact on our climate through the distribution of greenhouse gases.

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S.INQ Up Human Impact

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

30m•Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Egg Safe Seat

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Egg Safe Seat

By OregonASK

K - 5

Students create a car that can safely transport an egg when it comes in contact with a wall. They learn about mechanical engineering as they use an engineering design process grid to build, test, and modify their designs. This activity can be done in one day or over several days.

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S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Egg Safe Seat

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h•Grades K - 5

Prep, Plant, Bloom! How to Plant a Dahlia Tuber

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 30m

•

Grades 3 - 8

Prep, Plant, Bloom! How to Plant a Dahlia Tuber

By Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

1h 30m

Let’s dig in! After checking for healthy tubers and learning how they work, it's time to plant! This hands-on lesson will teach students how to properly prep and plant their dahlia tubers. From prepping garden beds to placing the tubers at the proper depth, students will experience the joy and responsibility of kickstarting the growing season. They will also learn why placement, spacing, and soil health are essential for producing strong, beautiful blooms.

This activity is 2 of 5 in the "How to Grow Dahlias" module from Farm to Table Kids. Visit the module to view the full set of learning resource and learn more about Part 1 of the module series, "Things to Know Before You Grow."

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Prep, Plant, Bloom! How to Plant a Dahlia Tuber

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 30m•Grades 3 - 8

Pollinators Project

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h 15m

•

Grades 6 - 12

Pollinators Project

By OregonASK

6 - 12

1h 15m

Students learn how pollination works and how bees are essential for the production of fruits and vegetables. Students will also be presented with a problem and use tools to brainstorm and test potential solutions to fix it.

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Pollinators Project

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h 15m•Grades 6 - 12

How to Cut Back, Dig Up, Divide & Store Dahlia Tubers Part 1: Buried Treasure – Cut Back & Dig Up Dahlia Tubers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 30m

•

Grades 3 - 8

How to Cut Back, Dig Up, Divide & Store Dahlia Tubers Part 1: Buried Treasure – Cut Back & Dig Up Dahlia Tubers

By Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

1h 30m

Students will learn how and when to cut back dahlia plants after frost and safely dig up the tubers for overwintering. Through observation, they’ll track seasonal indicators and begin hands-on harvesting and data collection to prepare tubers for drying.

This activity is 4 of 5 in the "How to Grow Dahlias" module from Farm to Table Kids. Visit the module to view the full set of learning resources and learn more about Part 1 of the module series, "Things to Know Before You Grow."

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How to Cut Back, Dig Up, Divide & Store Dahlia Tubers Part 1: Buried Treasure – Cut Back & Dig Up Dahlia Tubers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h 30m•Grades 3 - 8

S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Attraction

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Attraction

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

In this lesson, students test different objects to see which objects are attracted to the magnet and which objects aren't.

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S.INQ Invisible Forces Magnetic Attraction

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

Collections

Things to Know Before You Grow

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

5 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Things to Know Before You Grow

By Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

The Ultimate Garden Planning Toolkit for Curious Kids & Inspired Educators

Before you plant your first seed, there are a few essential things every gardener should know—and this module delivers them in the most hands-on, kid-friendly way possible. In “Things to Know Before You Grow,” students explore the fundamentals of garden success: how to read a plant hardiness zone map, understand frost dates, calculate seed starting schedules, and document their observations like real scientists. This four-lesson collection is packed with interactive worksheets, educator-friendly slides, and real-life garden planning tools that help youth think critically and connect deeply with the rhythms of nature.

Designed by Farmer Steph and the team at Farm to Table Kids, this module brings the garden to life in your classroom or afterschool program. It also features exclusive “how-to” videos from Farmer Steph, offering step-by-step support and encouragement straight from the garden. These videos give learners a direct connection to the seasonal cycles they’re studying—setting the stage for confident, climate-smart planting.

Once you've soaked up all the "Things to Know Before You Grow," don’t stop there! Continue the adventure with our partner collection: “How to Grow Dahlias”—a joyful, flower-filled deep dive into one of the most beloved and magical plants in the garden.

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Things to Know Before You Grow

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

12 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

All Grades

From robots and rockets to quicksand, plants, weather, and wildlife, this playlist ignites curiosity in STEM, inspiring the joy of discovery. Youth will design and test a kite in flight (learning about wind and weight); make rock candy crystals (discovering supersaturation), record and sketch nature (learning about climate and weather); and craft a protective device for a falling egg (exploring momentum and energy).

"By engaging in STEM activities that go beyond textbooks and lectures, youth can explore their interests, develop critical thinking skills, and gain practical knowledge that transcends traditional education. Investing in these experiences empowers them to become well-rounded individuals equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving world." — Kayla Ambesi

Kayla Ambesi is the Supervisor of Community Schools at Schenectady City School District in New York. With a passion for education and engagement, she oversees six community schools and leads districtwide STEAM Camps, K-12 summer enrichment, and a "STEM Saturdays" collaboration with Union College. Kayla is the devoted mother of four children and holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from the esteemed College of Saint Rose.

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Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

All Grades

COLLECTION

Sustainable Cities

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Social and Emotional Awareness

3 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Sustainable Cities

By City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

With the effects of anthropogenic climate change becoming more evident in our day to day lives, those in urban areas are at high risk of detrimental damage from extreme flooding events. Everywhere you look in urban areas, you are faced with impervious surfaces which presents a challenge when it comes to avoiding floods. And in cities that use combined sewer systems, these floods open the gates of contaminated wastewater filled with everything from human waste to toxic chemicals entering our groundwater and surface water supply which are detrimental to all living organisms that rely on it, including humans.

In this module, students will learn the parameters for and conduct water quality testing on local water bodies, assess the role of local green space in mitigating damage from flooding events, and construct sub-irrigated planters as an example of water saving green infrastructure.

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Sustainable Cities

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Intro to Science Notebooking

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

7 Items

•

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Intro to Science Notebooking

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

This collection of activities introduces students to science notebooking, and how to establish systems, organize information, and sketch like a scientist.

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Intro to Science Notebooking

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

Our Watershed

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Our Watershed

By National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

Think of a watershed like a filter, where water flows over the land and into other bodies of water, and takes into account the health of the land and all its waterways. In this playlist youth will learn more about their watershed, the ecosystem where they live, and observe the biodiversity nearby.

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Our Watershed

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Helping the Planet for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

7 Items

•

Grades 3 - 5

Collection

Helping the Planet for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

This Playlist allows younger students to go outside and learn about ways to help the environment.

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Helping the Planet for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 3 - 5

COLLECTION

Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

7 Items

•

Grades 3 - 12

Collection

Science Notebooks

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

Keeping a notebook can help your students think and act like scientists. Sample these easy-to-implement strategies and lessons to bring science notebooking into your program.

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Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 12

COLLECTION

Community Science Playlist

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Community Science Playlist

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

Community science, also called citizen science, is a global effort in which scientists and the public work together to help gather data on the earth’s biodiversity. In this playlist, youth will learn how to use three community science tools and make observations about arthropods, birds, and sky conditions to share with naturalists around the world.

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Community Science Playlist

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Mission: Rainforest!

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

12 Items

•

Grades K - 5

Collection

Mission: Rainforest!

By Go2Science

K - 5

Join Go2Science in the rainforests of Panama in Mission:Rainforest! Use the video-based activities to follow along with Beth and Curtis to research a big question about blue Morpho butterflies. Get students ready to use their observation skills, they might find some surprises along the way!

Start the adventure with Dr. Mitra, learning about blue Morpho butterflies and stating a hypothesis. Then, continue learning about animals and plants in habitats like the rainforest and ocean.

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Mission: Rainforest!

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 5

COLLECTION