Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Box Turtle Interview

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Imagine life as a box turtle. Learners study the characteristics of box turtles and then assume the role in an interview. They show their understanding of how a box turtle lives by responding to a series of questions. 
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Call of the Wild: Grades K-4

For Teachers K - 4th
The sound a frog makes lets people know what it's up to. A two-part lesson begins by discussing the life cycle of a frog and the individual stages with drawings. The second part has learners listen to the frogs' different sounds and what...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Call of the Wild: Grades 5-8

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Teach animal lovers how to decipher frog speak. Classes learn about the different calls using audio clips. They then imitate the calls as a group and make a recording. The challenge is to try to recognize individual sounds—can they do it?
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Gator Hole Graphics

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Climate changes are cyclic so how do these  changes impact species that live in different habitats? Learners examine the rainfall levels in a specific swamp habitat. They also review graphical data and tell a story about how the...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Massive Migrations: Grades K-4

For Teachers K - 4th
Bird migration is a fascinating behavior. Budding scientists experience their own migrations using the school grounds for their flight patterns. They follow a map that leads them through a migration pattern that includes stops for...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Massive Migrations: Grades 5-8

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Many Arctic species only spent a fraction of their lives in the Arctic region. Scholars research migrating Arctic species to learn more about their habits. They focus on their migration habits including distances, time, and challenges...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Massive Migrations: Grades K-8

For Teachers K - 8th
Migratory animals follow the same path every year. Learners research the path of an assigned species and create a map highlighting key landmarks along the way. As a group, they come up with a presentation to share with their class.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Brown Pelicans

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Even animals that are part of the same species have differences. Learners read a passage about white and brown pelicans and compare their features. They recognize that although the birds look very similar, they also have their own unique...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Fill the Bill

For Teachers K - 8th
The structure of a bird's beak lends itself to specific functions. Using an assortment of everyday objects, learners mimic the behaviors of bird beaks. They learn about the habits of different birds by studying their beaks.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Bird Behavior Hike

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Bird behaviors have a distinct purpose. Using a tally sheet, learners observe and record different bird behaviors in nature. They practice their observation skills while learning how birds act and why.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Butterfly Life Cycle

For Teachers K - 4th
Caterpillars and butterflies each have their own unique challenges. While studying the life cycle of butterflies, learners focus on the threats to each stage. While some threats will be the same, each stage has its own unique...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Prairie Chicken Pageant

For Teachers K - 8th
Diminishing habitats is a real concern that is threatening endangered species. Learners examine these concerns by studying the prairie chicken. Groups get a card with characteristics and threats to the species that they turn into skits.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Endangered Species: What and Where?

For Teachers K - 8th
What do endangered species have in common with non-endangered species? Given an endangered species to read about, individuals choose another species that is not endangered to compare it to. As a class, they create a species book with the...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

At-Risk Species

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Certain behaviors make species vulnerable to extinction and others protect them. By studying species that are currently endangered, learners draw conclusions about these behaviors. They then apply their conclusions to healthy species and...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Soil Decomposers

For Teachers K - 8th
Worms are the kings of the decomposers. A four-part lesson has learners experiment with the characteristics of earthworms and their sensitivities. They vary factors such as light, acidity, temperature, and touch of soil and observe the...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Controversy Over Wild Cats

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Everyone should take an interest in the fate of wild cats. A thorough lesson plan explores the habitat changes of native North American wild cats and asks learners to make connections to human development. They consider the implications...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

How Many Bison?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Math and science to the rescue! Some basic math concepts help scientists predict wildlife populations. Using tokens, groups simulate tagging a wildlife population. They then use proportions to estimate the population of the wildlife.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Bison Mystery Box

For Teachers K - 8th
Natural design is amazing. Young scientists connect the features of a bison to an assortment of everyday items. A bison's tail is an ideal flyswatter, and a pot stores water just like a bison's stomach. The lesson connects the usefulness...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Build a Bat House!

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Bats usually get a bad rap. Scholars learn about the importance of bats and the threat their declining population has on the environment. They then build bat houses to attract and welcome bats into the area.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Bats: Maligned or Malicious?

For Teachers K - 8th
Most people couldn't name the positive qualities of bats. Learners discover how bats benefit the environment and then create a concept map to summarize the information. After their reading, they identify misconceptions people have about...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Investigating Bat Adaptations

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Bats may look the same, but are actually very different. Some bats eat meat and others fruit, while some have bright colors and others are dark colors. Learners examine the differences, view them as adaptations, and then play a game to...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Tricky Tracks

For Teachers K - 4th
While wildlife may not always be visible, they leave their marks behind for people to discover. A wildlife lesson has pupils explore the characteristics of animal tracks. They learn different types of tracks, as well as what tracks tell...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Create a Fish

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Don't just teach learners to fish, but to create fish. The class discusses fish heads and predicts whether where the fish might live and what it eats. Given an index card with a fish adaptation written on it, pupils construct an...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Fish and Ladders: Grades 5-8

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Swim with the fishes. Learners simulate the migration of Chinook salmon. Groups pretend to be salmon, while others are predators, fishers, and hazards. The salmon start in the spawning area and swim downstream to the ocean until reaching...

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