Resources

• Nesting, Nests and Building a Home for Birds

  The nesting habits of birds are examined in this inquiry-based lesson that cultivates curiosity and promotes respect for the natural world.   As students explore the unique features of bird nests they actively participate in the learning process...

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• The Monarch Butterfly

  This multi-lesson unit has students explore concepts including butterfly’s life cycle, pollination, plant growth, and migration. They will recognize that people have complex relationships with Monarchs and the plants which sustain them. Students...

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• Butterfly Life Cycle

  This resource consists of a series of lessons designed to teach students about the life cycle of a butterfly as well as the range of current threats facing this creature.  Students will: create a butterfly craft. match colors in nature...

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• Bugs Don't Bug Me!

  This comprehensive set of seven lessons is designed to introduce students to the fascinating world of aquatic macroinvertebrates.  Although each lesson can stand alone, the overall goal is for teachers to use the entire resource to develop student...

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• Macroinvertebrates: What Wetland Bugs Can Teach Us

  This experiential learning resource introduces students to the world of macroinvertebrates and the factors that negatively impact wetlands. A game approach is used to explore the effects of pollution on aquatic macroinvertebrate species.  Then students...

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• Flutter By: Designing a Butterfly Habitat

  This learning activity provides students with the opportunity to explore the life cycle of a monarch butterfly by viewing online photo galleries and a shared class reading of an informational text about the monarchs.  They will create their own visual...

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• The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds

  The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds models children asking questions about the natural world and conducting science investigations to explore the world around them. This classroom resource introduces environmental education  to students at a...

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• Monarch Migration- Middle School

  The film is one in a series of videos included in the National Geographic teaching resource, Why Animals Migrate. The objectives of the resource are to have students explain why animals migrate, to organize factual information about migratory animals...

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• Stay Connected to Nature

  This set of activity cards provides an effective and engaging tool to help connect our youngest learners to the natural world.  Each activity allows students to experience a different aspect of nature unfolding in their immediate surroundings.  ...

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• People and Plants

  These outdoor activities and workbook aim to connect students with their local environment.  They will learn about local wild plants and traditional and modern uses of plants in everyday life. In Activity 1, the students will learn the parts of a...

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• A Guide to Growing a School Butterfly Garden

  For teachers interested in a habitat conservation project that will provide students with a wide range of outdoor learning opportunities, butterfly gardening is definitely something to consider.  In addition to being among our most beautiful and...

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• Nanabosho and the Butterflies

  Nanabosho and the Butterflies tells the story of Grandmother explaining to her grandchildren her residential school experience and how the appearance of a butterfly brought her hope and happiness. Grandmother goes on to explain the legend of how the butterfly...

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• How to Collect and Identify Benthic Macroinvertebrates

  This short video introduces students to the world of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Philippe Cousteau interviews a group of early middle school students as they explain what these creatures are and how to go about collecting and identifying them.  Viewers...

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• Bugs. Clues to the Environment

  Several of the Spring/Summer Nature Guides point out that while some can be especially annoying, insects play extremely important roles in aquatic ecosystems.   As the weather warms and water levels fall, spring is an excellent time of year...

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• Get to Know: Birds

  This is a wonderful resource for introducing young students to local birds.  It offers teachers two easy-to-implement outdoor activities that teach observation and record keeping skills while promoting a connection to the natural world. In 'Birds...

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• Waiting for Wings

  In this book poetry takes the young reader through all of the life stages of a butterfly from egg to adult.  Once the butterflies have emerged, the story then follows the insects as they look for the flowers that provide them with the nectar they...

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• Where Butterflies Grow

  This story takes the reader on a journey through the life of a Black Swallowtail butterfly.  Children are asked to imagine themselves inside a tiny egg that hatches into a larva.  Then the book describes what it would feel like to live as a...

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