30 Activities

National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation is the largest conservation organization in the U.S. and cares deeply about education and helping young people connect with the natural world around them. Founded more than 80 years ago, this nationwide federation has 52 state and territory affiliates and six million members and supporters.

Whether you live in a city, suburb or small town, National Wildlife Federation’s content in Mizzen can help you connect young people with the wildlife and natural spaces all around them.

Activities

Observing Biodiversity

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades 3 - 8

Observing Biodiversity

By National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

50m

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.

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Observing Biodiversity

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades 3 - 8

In Season, Healthy Eating

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m

•

Grades K - 8

In Season, Healthy Eating

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Just like humans, wildlife also requires a healthy diet to survive. As humans, we’ve become accustomed to having the foods we like at any time of the year, but there was a time when we relied more on the wild game, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains available in a particular season. So when you hear someone say a food item is “in season,” they’re referring to the times of year when the harvest or the flavor of a given type of food is at its peak. It also appeals to people who prefer a low carbon diet that reduces greenhouse gas emissions (food miles) resulting from food consumption.

We could learn a little something from wildlife who always eat a low carbon diet and rely on what’s in season to meet their food needs. Eating a healthy diet gives both wildlife and humans the energy needed to keep all their body systems functioning in proper order. In the activity below, you will help children understand the term “in season” and how it’s vital to the planet and to keep our body healthy and full of the energy it needs. Also, you’ll be looking at five different birds and their healthy, in-season eating habits that get them through the cold winter months.

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In Season, Healthy Eating

Health and Wellness • Nature and Wildlife

50m•Grades K - 8

Bees

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Bees

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Like all insects, a bee’s body is divided into three parts: a head with two antennae, a thorax with six legs, and an abdomen. All bees have branched hairs somewhere on their bodies and two pairs of wings. Only female bees have stingers. Many bee species have black and yellow coloration, but many do not—they come in various colors, including green, blue, red, or black. Some are striped, and some even have a metallic sheen. They range in size from large carpenter bees and bumblebees to the tiny Perdita minima bee, which is less than two millimeters long.

There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, including the honey bee, which originated in Eurasia and has been imported worldwide as a domesticated species. Wild bee species live on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, there are approximately 4,000 native bee species occupying ecosystems from forests to deserts to grasslands. Bees feed exclusively on sugary nectar and protein-rich pollen from flowering plants, unlike the predatory wasps from which they evolved. As they forage, bees perform the critical act of pollination. Bees pollinate a staggering 80 percent of all flowering plants, including approximately 75% percent of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the United States. Though all female bees can sting, they only do so when threatened.

Unlike the hive-forming domesticated honey bee or wild bumble bee species, most bees are solitary nesters. They don’t form hives, create honey, or live a communal lifestyle. Instead, they lay their eggs in a series of tiny chambers in tunnels in the ground, hollow plant stems, or decaying wood.

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Bees

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Observing Clouds

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Observing Clouds

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Clouds are a familiar part of our human environment. Clouds affect our daily plans, and even children pay attention to them from a young age because of the many shapes they can take. Clouds are a key factor influencing local weather as well as the Earth’s climate system. They affect the temperature and energy balance of the Earth and play a significant role in controlling the planet’s long-term climate.

By observing clouds, we can get information about temperature, moisture, and wind conditions at different heights in the atmosphere. This information helps in predicting the weather. Observations of clouds also help us know how much sunlight reaches the ground and how easily heat from the ground and lower atmosphere can escape to space. Clouds play a central role in controlling the exchange of heat in the atmosphere, and changes in clouds over time can have significant climate impacts.

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Observing Clouds

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

50m•Grades K - 8

Raccoons

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Raccoons

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Raccoons live throughout the continental United States in woods, wetlands, suburbs, parks, cities, and anywhere there is cover, food, and water. Predators of raccoons include the coyote, fisher, bobcat, red fox, and great horned owl.

Raccoons are omnivores, meaning they will eat both meat and vegetables. They like grasshoppers, nuts, berries, mice, squirrels, and bird eggs. They are nocturnal and search for food at night. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and are well known by people for their skillful attempts at stealing food from garbage cans in parks and neighborhoods.

Raccoons can get food that other animals cannot because they have nimble, almost hand-like paws that can grasp tree branches, nuts, fruits, and even the lids of garbage cans.

Raccoons are solitary, except during the breeding season, which occurs from January to June. Females usually have one litter a year, with three to seven offspring per litter.

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Raccoons

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Celebrating Earth Day

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Celebrating Earth Day

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

This activity allows children to take action for the planet and express their ideas for change.

The first Earth Day, founded by Gaylord Nelson, was celebrated in 1970 to mobilize citizens around growing environmental concerns such as toxic waterways, the polluted atmosphere, litter, and dangerous chemicals. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total population of the U.S. — took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate a healthy, sustainable environment. By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to creating the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated worldwide and is marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and advocate for policy changes.

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Celebrating Earth Day

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Plants and Animals in My Community

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Plants and Animals in My Community

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

Plants and animals in your neighborhood or community are essential to its health and resilience. There are numerous benefits from beautification to critical habitat for migratory birds. Taking time to observe and work with nature gives an appreciation for the role they play in a healthy ecosystem - an ecosystem we impact with our actions. As a part of a community, it’s important to know what wildlife and plant life need for survival and learn from local agencies and non-profit organizations how to protect wildlife and become a better nature steward. Remember each action we take has an impact on the environment. Our small actions add up and have a ripple effect on the delicate web of life.

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Plants and Animals in My Community

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Gardening for Wildlife

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Gardening for Wildlife

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

In this activity, children will be assessing the green space or garden area(s) to see if they meet the criteria for certification from the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ program.

Wildlife habitat gardens are a haven for local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Still, as the urban, suburban, and rural landscapes change, it is increasingly important citizens provide wildlife habitats of any size. By gardening for wildlife, not only are you creating a beautiful space and getting to play in the soil, but you are providing critical places for wildlife to thrive. The network of gardens around the country (over 230,000 gardens and over 7 million people), certified habitats, has committed to wildlife. They represent schools, backyards and patios, parks, churches, businesses, and entire communities.

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Gardening for Wildlife

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

50m•Grades K - 8

Weather and Climate

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

50m

•

Grades K - 8

Weather and Climate

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

In this activity, we focus on weather and climate. Children commonly misinterpret these words as interchangeable terms. These terms, while related, are different.

Weather is what we experience on a daily basis. It helps us decide what we should wear the next day or bring on an upcoming getaway next week. Weather is a prediction based on various data collected in multiple ways, from ground stations to radars. Weather maps are created to help us understand what to expect based on meteorologists’ evidence (people who study weather).

On the other hand, the climate allows us to see long-term patterns in weather data collected over time — a long period of time. A long time concerning climate is a minimum of thirty years. Climate can tell us many things, from seasonal information and planting zones to increases in global temperatures or carbon dioxide.

Discover Activity

Weather and Climate

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

50m•Grades K - 8

Fish, Birds, and Mammals

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades 3 - 8

Fish, Birds, and Mammals

By National Wildlife Federation

3 - 8

50m

Animals can be categorized in many different ways. Scientists and community scientists use taxonomy or the system used to sort living things. One way animals are classified is by phylum-sorting animals into categories starting with first, whether they have a backbone or no backbone.

Elementary-aged children do not need to know the scientific systems by which animals are categorized, but they do need to begin observing and identifying characteristics that place-specific animals in specific groups. For this activity, children will focus on fish, birds, and mammals.

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Fish, Birds, and Mammals

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades 3 - 8

What is a Pollinator?

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 8

What is a Pollinator?

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 8

50m

A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). Over 100,000 invertebrates—including bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, wasps, and flies — and more than a thousand mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians take on the job of pollinating plants. This biodiverse group of wildlife buzzes, flutters, and creeps from plant to plant, dining on protein-rich pollen and high-energy nectar. As they move, they transport and deposit pollen, fertilizing plants and allowing those plants to reproduce.

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What is a Pollinator?

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 8

Signs of Winter

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m

•

Grades K - 5

Signs of Winter

By National Wildlife Federation

K - 5

50m

Seasons change throughout the year because of the Earth’s tilt. Earth sits on an invisible access, and as it revolves around the sun, the amount of sunlight we receive in the United States changes. In winter, the U.S. gets less sunlight, and therefore we see cooler temperatures and changes in precipitation, animal behavior, and plants, shrubs, and trees. Signs of winter include:

● most grasses are brown—lying dormant for the winter to conserve water and nutrients

● frozen ponds/streams

● cozy squirrel nests

● trees with no leaves

● buds on trees/shrubs that will become

● new leaves or flowers in the spring

● temperatures are cooler/colder; people may be wearing hats and coats

● birds with fluffed up feathers

● dogs with thicker layers of fur

● snow

● holly bush with red berries

Discover Activity

Signs of Winter

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

50m•Grades K - 5

Featured in These Collections

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

120 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Catalyze STEM Learning with Kayla Ambesi

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

Nature and Wildlife • STEM

All Grades

COLLECTION

Mizzen Summer Sizzle

Digital Media and Communications • Arts

160 Items

•

All Grades

Collection

Mizzen Summer Sizzle

All Grades

Join Mizzen and our partner organization for summer learning! This playlist for all ages is a highlight reel of activities from Mizzen's Summer Sizzle features. Continue your summer learning with !Mpact Players, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Wildlife Federation, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, reDiscover Center, and Mizzen with the list of activities below.

Discover Collection

Mizzen Summer Sizzle

Digital Media and Communications • Arts

All Grades

COLLECTION

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

STEM

130 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

STEM Activities for Summer Camp

K - 8

Keep curiosity high all summer with hands-on STEM activities that are fun, engaging, and easy to lead. From simple science experiments to engineering challenges, these ready-to-use lessons make summer planning easier while helping youth explore, create, and learn through play.

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STEM Activities for Summer Camp

STEM

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Food, Health, and Well-being- Summer Edition

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

20 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Food, Health, and Well-being- Summer Edition

K - 8

In this playlist you'll focus on well-being and two activities that support health are food and connecting to nature.

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Food, Health, and Well-being- Summer Edition

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Our Watershed

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Our Watershed

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

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

Animal Homes

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

40 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Animal Homes

K - 8

In this module youth will learn about animal homes. They will find similarities and differences between the places we call home.

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Animal Homes

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Weather

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

40 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Weather

K - 8

Weather has significant impacts on how we carry out our day, but do you think about how it impacts plants and wildlife? In this playlist, youth will differentiate between weather and climate, take a look at the clouds, celebrate Earth Day (everyday), and look more closely at weather impacts on plants and animals.

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Weather

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Animal Adaptations

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Animal Adaptations

K - 8

Animal adaptations help species to survive. In this module youth will learn about different animal adaptations and learn how urbanization impacts wildlife adaptations.

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Animal Adaptations

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Pollinators

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

40 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Pollinators

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

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Animal Families and Nearby Nature

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

30 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Animal Families and Nearby Nature

K - 8

We can learn a lot when we take time to observe nature nearby. In this playlist, youth learn about six animal families, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals. Additionally, we take a look at the plants in the community and how they support the animal families.

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Animal Families and Nearby Nature

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Food, Health, and Well-being- Winter Edition

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

20 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Food, Health, and Well-being- Winter Edition

K - 8

In this playlist you'll focus on well-being and two activities that support health are food and connecting to nature.

Discover Collection

Food, Health, and Well-being- Winter Edition

Nature and Wildlife • Health and Wellness

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Helping My Community

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

20 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Helping My Community

K - 8

Communities play a unique role in our growth and development from children to adults. In this playlist, youth will spend time minimizing their environmental footprint and planning a garden for wildlife.

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Helping My Community

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Animal Migrations

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

40 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

Animal Migrations

K - 8

Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one habitat to another as they search for food or living conditions. In this playlist we'll connect to nature and learn a little about the migrations of the monarch butterfly, bats, and raptors.

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Animal Migrations

STEM • Nature and Wildlife

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION