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!

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Library

Categories Collaborators Explore All Activities All Collections

Community

Our Story Team Mizzen Events The Mizzen Minute

Engage

Newsroom Contact Us Change Log

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Activities

My Little Camp

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m

•

Grades K - 8

My Little Camp

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Camping can be enjoyed year round. The National Wildlife Federation hosts the Great American Campout, a summer-long celebration exploring the wild outdoors through camping through October 31. Camping can happen just about anywhere — at a neighborhood, state or national park and even in your own backyard. This is a fun, easy way for family and friends to connect with nature and wildlife.

Today the average American child spends more than seven hours a day in front of an electronic screen, but as few as 30 minutes in unstructured outdoor play. Getting kids in nature is proven to reduce stress, improve sleep, and even lead to higher test scores. A child’s mind, body and spirit markedly improve in response to unstructured outdoor play.

MIND: Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.

BODY: Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese, get fit.

SPIRIT: Nature makes children nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships.

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My Little Camp

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m•Grades K - 8

S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

Students will have the opportunity to experiment with pitch in sounds by designing and testing their own "Sound Contraptions" which can make four sounds each at a different pitch, arranged in order from low to high.

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S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

Pollinators and Their Flowers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Pollinators and Their Flowers

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Flowering plants are much more common than non-flowering plants. The success of flowering plants is primarily due to the flower’s close relationship with animals in the process called pollination. Over time, flowers have developed adaptations to ensure that the best pollinator for their species will visit and often return to feed. In fact, flowers’ fragrance, bright colors, nourishing nectar, and varied shapes are considered adaptations to attract specific pollinators. For example, the bright colors of flower petals are thought to help flowers stand out against a green background. Many flowers, such as a black-eyed susan, have a bull’s eye pattern of color to focus animal attention on the part of the flower with pollen and nectar. Violets have both a weak bull’s eye pattern and “nectar-guides”— a pattern that radiates out from the nectar cup. Many flowers have nectar guides, which aren’t always visible to the human eye.

Birds and bees find different flowers attractive, largely due to differences in the animal senses. Birds have a poor sense of smell but a keen color vision. Bees use both color and odors to find a suitable flower. The shape of the flower also plays a role in determining the kind of pollinator who can feed from the flower. Butterflies must have a perch to land on while feeding. Hummingbirds can hover in front of the flower and so don’t need a place to land. Pollinators have also adapted to ensure that they will have access to flower nectar. Animal

adaptations include a sense of smell, color, preferences, beak shape (especially noticeable in hummingbirds), and tongue length.

The activity children will complete has them making flower observations as pollinators come and go, then asks them to consider why some pollinators frequent specific flowers more than or instead of others.

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Pollinators and Their Flowers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 3 - 8

Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

Why do birds migrate? How do seasonal changes in primary productivity influence the behaviors of higher order consumers like raptors? Visualize and explore the connectedness of organisms within and across ecosystems in this teacher-guided activity.

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Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 3 - 8

Invasive Species Data Analysis

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Leadership and Teamwork

•

Grades 6 - 8

Invasive Species Data Analysis

By City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

In this lesson, students will learn to plot and analyze invasive species data. They will also collaborate with peers to determine the level of risk that invasive species pose to a habitat and consider ideas for intervention.

This is activity 3 of 5 in the "Invasive Species" module from City Parks Foundation.

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Invasive Species Data Analysis

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Leadership and Teamwork

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Heart Beat Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

•

Grades 3 - 8

Heart Beat Challenge

By OregonASK

3 - 8

Students learn about Stethoscopes and recognize heart beats. They will also learn how to find a person's heartbeat.

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Heart Beat Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h•Grades 3 - 8

Save the Oceans!

History and Society • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Save the Oceans!

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Students learn about and discuss the importance of conserving and sustainably using the world's oceans and then create advertisements to persuade others of the importance of oceans.

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Save the Oceans!

History and Society • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 9 - 12

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

Students learn about Mechanical Engineering as they use the Engineering Design Process to make a catapult that will fling a marshmallow the furthest, focusing on distance and power as they test and modify their designs.

To gather background information on this activity, try the activity "S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults".

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S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

What Makes a Year?

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades 6 - 8

What Makes a Year?

By OregonASK

6 - 8

30m

Students create a diagram of how the Earth rotates around the sun, making a year.

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What Makes a Year?

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades 6 - 8

Researching Robotics

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

Researching Robotics

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Students work in small groups to research topics in robotics, then present what they learned to the whole group by making a human timeline.

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Researching Robotics

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Circle Sort

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 3 - 5

Circle Sort

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45m

Students stand at the back of a room and view colored construction paper circles spread throughout the room. Their task is to place the circles in order from smallest to largest. This activity builds spatial reasoning and collaboration skills.

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Circle Sort

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 3 - 5

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

•

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Students create a diagram of the solar system to give a good idea of space in their minds. Students will see a visual representation of space is really like. This activity is a good foundation for the students to learn about the basics of science in space.

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S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Collections

Farm to Table Prototype

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

6 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Farm to Table Prototype

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Take youth through a journey of innovation and invention with this step-by-step guide to creating their very own prototype! Focusing on improving food production or consumption, youth work through the process of prototyping, starting with a creative brainstorming session, using their construction skills to build a prototype, and presenting their final prototype.

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Farm to Table Prototype

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Pollinators

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

4 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Pollinators

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

Pollinators are critical to the very fabric of existence. In this module youth will learn what a pollinator is and why they are important. Then they'll look at pollinators and flower preference. Last they'll design a pollinator garden.

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Pollinators

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

16 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

By OregonASK

6 - 8

The Amazing Bodies Invention Camp Curriculum explores the human body and the creative ways that we can invent to improve quality of life. This module includes hands on exploration leading up to the six activity invention process, where invention prototypes are created and shared.

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Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

By The Nature Conservancy

6 - 8

Empower youth to explore the fascinating world of food, sustainability, and environmental impact. Through hands-on activities, creative expression, and insightful discussions, youth identify their favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables, delve into the carbon cycle and its significance, design a vibrant didactic art piece, and master the art of garden planning, all while gaining a deeper understanding of how our choices shape the world around us.

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Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

10 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

This Playlist is all about getting outside and trying some STEM outdoors or in for Middle-School aged kids, and has been mixed especially for having fun at home or in small groups!

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Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Setting Up Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

7 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Setting Up Science Notebooks

By California Academy of Sciences

All Grades

This collection of activities helps students set up science notebooks for the beginning of your science lessons for the year, semester, term, or week. By learning to establish systems, organize information, and sketch like a scientist, students learn and practice processes of analysis, note-taking, and scientific inquiry.

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Setting Up Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

All Grades

COLLECTION

Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

5 Items

•

Grades 9 - 12

Collection

Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

By The Nature Conservancy

9 - 12

Youth evaluate the design of outside spaces to determine whether the space is set to contribute or minimize runoff – a climate issue, especially in urban areas. They design a solution to uncover design flaws with green infrastructure.

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Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

COLLECTION

Indicator Species

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Indicator Species

By City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

Indicator species are integral to evaluating the health of ecosystems. They are early indicators of changing environmental conditions that may prove detrimental to other species in the same region. Insects, including dragonflies, are climate sensitive species since much of their growth and development depends on temperature.

In this lesson, students will learn about dragonflies as indicators of climate change. They will become familiar with the life cycle of a dragonfly, learn to identify different species of dragonflies, and assess dragonfly biodiversity. At each of these learning milestones, students will engage in a discussion about how rapid changes in climate conditions can be detrimental not only to dragonflies but to the success and survival of wildlife around the world.

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Indicator Species

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

How to Grow Dahlias

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

9 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

How to Grow Dahlias

By Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

“How to Grow Dahlias: A Full-Season Garden Guide”

Once your learners know “Things to Know Before You Grow,” it’s time to dig into the garden and get their hands dirty with one of the most beloved and magical plants of all—dahlias! In this joyful, in-depth module, youth follow the full life cycle of a dahlia, from inspecting tubers in spring to harvesting show-stopping blooms, and finally saving those tubers for next season’s magic. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify healthy tubers, prep and plant with confidence, care for their plants organically, and participate in the fall tradition of cutting back, dividing, and overwintering their garden’s gold.

The “How to Grow Dahlias” collection includes five hands-on lessons and a library of interactive worksheets, journal pages, and planting-day checklists—plus several engaging “how-to” videos from Farmer Steph herself. Whether you’re growing dahlias in a schoolyard bed or in containers on a sunny windowsill, this module turns your classroom into a bloom-filled lab where kids learn to nurture life, track seasonal change, and celebrate every stage of the growing cycle.

By the end of this series, students won’t just grow flowers—they’ll grow confidence, observation skills, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural beauty they helped bring to life.

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How to Grow Dahlias

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Activities

My Little Camp

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m

•

Grades K - 8

My Little Camp

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

MIND: Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.

BODY: Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese, get fit.

SPIRIT: Nature makes children nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships.

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My Little Camp

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m•Grades K - 8

S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

Discover Activity

S.INQ Sound Pitch Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

Pollinators and Their Flowers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Pollinators and Their Flowers

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

adaptations include a sense of smell, color, preferences, beak shape (especially noticeable in hummingbirds), and tongue length.

Discover Activity

Pollinators and Their Flowers

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

•

Grades 3 - 8

Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

By California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

Discover Activity

Empirical Data in Classrooms: Raptor Migrations

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

1h•Grades 3 - 8

Invasive Species Data Analysis

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Leadership and Teamwork

•

Grades 6 - 8

Invasive Species Data Analysis

By City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

This is activity 3 of 5 in the "Invasive Species" module from City Parks Foundation.

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Invasive Species Data Analysis

Nature and Wildlife • STEM • Leadership and Teamwork

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Heart Beat Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

•

Grades 3 - 8

Heart Beat Challenge

By OregonASK

3 - 8

Students learn about Stethoscopes and recognize heart beats. They will also learn how to find a person's heartbeat.

Discover Activity

Heart Beat Challenge

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h•Grades 3 - 8

Save the Oceans!

History and Society • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Save the Oceans!

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Students learn about and discuss the importance of conserving and sustainably using the world's oceans and then create advertisements to persuade others of the importance of oceans.

Discover Activity

Save the Oceans!

History and Society • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 9 - 12

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades K - 5

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

By OregonASK

K - 5

30m

To gather background information on this activity, try the activity "S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults".

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S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Catapults Part 2

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades K - 5

What Makes a Year?

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m

•

Grades 6 - 8

What Makes a Year?

By OregonASK

6 - 8

30m

Students create a diagram of how the Earth rotates around the sun, making a year.

Discover Activity

What Makes a Year?

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30m•Grades 6 - 8

Researching Robotics

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

Researching Robotics

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Students work in small groups to research topics in robotics, then present what they learned to the whole group by making a human timeline.

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Researching Robotics

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Circle Sort

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m

•

Grades 3 - 5

Circle Sort

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45m

Discover Activity

Circle Sort

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

45m•Grades 3 - 5

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

•

Grades 6 - 8

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Discover Activity

S.INQ Up Space Systems Part 1

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

1h•Grades 6 - 8

Collections

Farm to Table Prototype

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

6 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Farm to Table Prototype

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Discover Collection

Farm to Table Prototype

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Pollinators

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

4 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Pollinators

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

Discover Collection

Pollinators

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

16 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

By OregonASK

6 - 8

Discover Collection

Amazing Bodies Invention Camp

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

By The Nature Conservancy

6 - 8

Discover Collection

Garden Lesson Plan: Food and Carbon

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

10 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

This Playlist is all about getting outside and trying some STEM outdoors or in for Middle-School aged kids, and has been mixed especially for having fun at home or in small groups!

Discover Collection

Outdoor Activities for Middle School at Home

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

Setting Up Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

7 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Setting Up Science Notebooks

By California Academy of Sciences

All Grades

Discover Collection

Setting Up Science Notebooks

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

All Grades

COLLECTION

Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

5 Items

•

Grades 9 - 12

Collection

Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

By The Nature Conservancy

9 - 12

Discover Collection

Urban Runoff: Solving the Issue of Impact

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 9 - 12

COLLECTION

Indicator Species

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

3 Items

•

Grades 6 - 8

Collection

Indicator Species

By City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

Discover Collection

Indicator Species

Nature and Wildlife • Social and Emotional Awareness • STEM

Grades 6 - 8

COLLECTION

How to Grow Dahlias

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

9 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

How to Grow Dahlias

By Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

“How to Grow Dahlias: A Full-Season Garden Guide”

By the end of this series, students won’t just grow flowers—they’ll grow confidence, observation skills, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural beauty they helped bring to life.

Discover Collection

How to Grow Dahlias

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION