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

The Buzz on Bees

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

The Buzz on Bees

The Nature Conservancy

6 - 8

1 Hour

Youth uncover the fascinating world of bees and the crucial role they play in our ecosystem.

Discover Activity

The Buzz on Bees

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 6 - 8

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 5

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

Students work together to design and build a cage that will cause a Ping-Pong ball to sink in water, exploring the concept of density and how it explains whether objects float or sink.

Discover Activity

Sink the Ping-Pong Ball

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 5

Planet Tourism Bureau

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Planet Tourism Bureau

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

For your next vacation, how about a trip to Jupiter? Or Saturn, or Mercury? In this fun, out-of-this-world activity, students act as travel agents for the planets of the solar system, including Earth and the dwarf planet Pluto. Working together, they will learn to appreciate that the solar system is a huge, amazing place and that Earth occupies a special niche as the only planet known to have life.

Discover Activity

Planet Tourism Bureau

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Make It Move! 3: Transportation Prototype Build

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Make It Move! 3: Transportation Prototype Build

OregonASK

6 - 8

1 Hour

Students learn and explore different types of transportation prototypes and then make their own!

This is Part 3 of 6 in the Make It Move! series, with activities designed to build upon each another:

Make It Move! 1: Transportation Prototype Brainstorm

Make It Move! 2: Transportation Prototype Selection

Make It Move! 3: Transportation Prototype Build

Make It Move! 4: Transportation Prototype Test & Modify

Make It Move! 5: Transportation Prototype Naming

Make It Move! 6: Transportation Prototype Presentations

Discover Activity

Make It Move! 3: Transportation Prototype Build

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

A Bee Infographic

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

A Bee Infographic

The Nature Conservancy

6 - 8

1 Hour

Youth learn how to share their knowledge and inform others about a topic through an infographic.

Discover Activity

A Bee Infographic

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Solar System Bead Activity

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

Solar System Bead Activity

NASA

K - 8

1 Hour

Students construct -- and where appropriate, calculate -- a scale model of the solar system using beads and string.

Discover Activity

Solar System Bead Activity

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

Electromagnetic Train

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Electromagnetic Train

OregonASK

6 - 8

1 Hour

Students work in teams to create electromagnetic trains with magnets! They also learn about magnetism.

Discover Activity

Electromagnetic Train

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Observing Biodiversity

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Observing Biodiversity

National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

50 Minutes

Bio meaning life and diversity mean variety; biodiversity is the variety of life at every trophic level from microorganisms to the largest species of plants and animals. Biodiversity is a critical factor in a healthy environment, a part of the biosphere system. When parts of the system are not functioning well, the system starts to struggle, working inefficiently, or having the potential to break down completely.

An assessment of the best-known groups of U.S. plants and animals indicates that as many as one-third of America’s species are vulnerable, one in five is in danger and at high risk of extinction. It is critically important we provide children numerous opportunities to appreciate the natural world and teach them the skills required to be stewards of the land and its inhabitants.

Discover Activity

Observing Biodiversity

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Grades 3 - 8

Light Up Circuit Clay Creatures

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Light Up Circuit Clay Creatures

OregonASK

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students create a circuit out of dough and batteries.

Discover Activity

Light Up Circuit Clay Creatures

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering Cars

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering Cars

OregonASK

6 - 8

1 Hour 10 Minutes

Students brainstorm and create their own car designs from recycled materials. Students can compete in a friendly competition to see how fast their car can go.

Discover Activity

Engineering Cars

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Human Graphs

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Human Graphs

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

Students model the graphs of linear or quadratic equations by arranging themselves on a large, human-scale representation of the coordinate plane. They compare their human-scale models to traditional graphs of the equations.

Discover Activity

Human Graphs

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 8

Engineering a Tetrahedron Kite

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 12

Engineering a Tetrahedron Kite

OregonASK

6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Students make a tetrahedron kite from scratch!

Discover Activity

Engineering a Tetrahedron Kite

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Grades 6 - 12

Collections

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Our Watershed

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Playlist

Our Watershed

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.

Discover Collection

Our Watershed

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Playlist

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Community Science Playlist

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Playlist

Community Science Playlist

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 8

1 Hour 15 Minutes

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.

Discover Collection

Community Science Playlist

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

3 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Playlist

7 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 5

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

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Playlist

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

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

5 Hours 15 Minutes

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

Discover Collection

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

STEM, Nature and Wildlife

7 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 5

Playlist

7 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Playlist

Science Notebooks

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

7 Hours 15 Minutes

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.

Discover Collection

Science Notebooks

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

7 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Playlist

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Things to Know Before You Grow

STEM, Social and Emotional Awareness, Nature and Wildlife

Module

Things to Know Before You Grow

Farm to Table Kids

3 - 8

4 Hours 55 Minutes

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.

Discover Collection

Things to Know Before You Grow

STEM, Social and Emotional Awareness, Nature and Wildlife

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 8

Module

12 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Playlist

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 12

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.

Discover Collection

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

12 Activities

•

Grades K - 12

Playlist

3 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 8

Sustainable Cities

Social and Emotional Awareness, STEM, Nature and Wildlife

Module

Sustainable Cities

City Parks Foundation

6 - 8

2 Hours

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.

Discover Collection

Sustainable Cities

Social and Emotional Awareness, STEM, Nature and Wildlife

3 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 8

Module

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Intro to Science Notebooking

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Module

Intro to Science Notebooking

California Academy of Sciences

3 - 12

4 Hours

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

Discover Collection

Intro to Science Notebooking

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

4 Activities

•

Grades 3 - 12

Module

3 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 8

Disappearing Bees

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

Module

Disappearing Bees

The Nature Conservancy

6 - 8

3 Hours

Youth uncover the fascinating world of bees and the crucial role they play in our ecosystem. Youth play the role of scientists as they seek to uncover the cause(s) of the declining bee populations. Youth learn how to share their knowledge and inform others about a topic through an infographic.

Discover Collection

Disappearing Bees

Nature and Wildlife, STEM

3 Activities

•

Grades 6 - 8

Module