Middle School Grades 6-8 Resources
Resource Guides, Lesson Plans, and Teaching Activities
- 12 Nature Walks: Activities (in English and Español), from Project Learning Tree, that will ensure nature walks are an engaging and enriching learning experience for students of all ages
- Adventures in Learning Series: From Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (MN), free standards-based lessons for experiencing nature from a variety of perspectives, including science, history, culture, art, and literature
- Alaska SeaLife Center Virtual Field Trips: Short videos of Alaskan natural environments, narrated by field researchers, along with lesson plans for grades 5–8
- All About Birds: Guide to identifying birds and bird calls, live cams, feeder information, and more
- Camp Nu-hop “At-Home” Outdoor Education: Lessons from an Ohio outdoor science school that combine videos and home-appropriate outdoor activities
- Captain Planet Foundation—Resources for Learning at Home: Searchable collection of recommended resources for learning at home
- Earth Day Network: Earth Day and environmental education lesson plans and stewardship activities that can be adapted for home use
- EarthEcho International: Free environmental education resources including activities, lesson plans, videos, and live virtual events
- Earth Exchange Stories: Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center's guide to collecting, sharing, and viewing observations of the natural world through story (poems, song, video, comic strip, etc)
- Environmental Volunteers: Links to hands-on NGSS-correlated activities that are printable or easily done with household items, plus a guide for parents on educational nature hikes
- GLOBE Learning Activites: Activities to help students learn about GLOBE protocols and instruments used to conduct hands-on science about the local environment and global context
- Gorilla Rehab and Cons Ed Center (GRACE) live cam and gorilla behavior lesson plan and observation sheet
- If Trees Could Talk: A Curriculum in Environmental History: 11-module curriculum from the Forest History using social studies activities that are based upon archival materials
- MSU Extension: 84 Easy Science Lessons You Can Do at Home: Science lessons and procedures for home-schooling
- Nature Activities for Families: Activity guide from Project Learning Tree with 30 activities that connect families with nature
- NEEF: Educator toolkits, activity guides, and video resources
- NOAA Science Activities: NOAA’s most popular educational resources to help students and familiies learn at home about the oceans and atmosphere
- PBS Learning Media Homeschool Collections: Interactive lessons, videos, media gallery, and blended online student-driven lessons on a wide variety of topics for home schooling
- Plant A Seed Day Toolkit: Ideas for seed planting projects along with related activities and crafts
- PolarTREC Middle School Lessons: Resources and lesson plans for teaching about the science of the Arctic and Antarctica
- Project Learning Tree Activities to Do With Children at Home: Free activities (in English and Spanish) that families can do at home—both inside and close-by in a safe space outside—to learn about nature and ways we can lessen our environmental footprint
- Project Learning Tree Backyard Activities: Fun, free, and easy-to-do backyard nature activities that allow children to discover nature’s diversity just outside their door
- Project WET Home & Telecommuting Resources: Online trainings for educators, home school resources for parents, and tutorials for parents and teachers
- Project WILD Remote Activites: Two activites from Project WILD that students can complete on their own
- Remote EE Hub: Online lessons and activities from Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE)
- Sci Starter: Guide to citizen science projects from PBS Kids, plus free daily nature newsletter
- Sierra Nevada Journeys at Home: NGSS-based activities in various science disciplines intended to be done at home or in a yard or park
- Skype A Scientist: Free opportunity to match classes or families with a scientist for a live Q&A sessions via Skype
- STEM Teaching Tools: Tips to help parents support science learning at home, available in multiple languages
- WeatherSTEM: Slide modules and Interactive weather activities for all ages free through April 2020
- World Ocean Observatory: Compilation of home-study resources and distance learning opportunities for teaching and learning about the ocean
- WWF Wild Classroom: Weekly activity plans and lesson library with information guides and activities about some of WWF’s priority species and conservation goals
Interactive Websites
- ArcGIS Story Maps: Shared story maps and resources for creating maps that tell stories by combining text, interactive maps, and other multimedia content
- Ask Dr. Universe: Washington State University professor who teams up with experts to investigate questions from curious elementary and middle school students
- National Geographic Kids: Science experiments, videos, games, quizzes, explainers and a wealth of resources about animals, science, Native Americans, and more
- NOAA Ocean Today: Ocean-themed activities and games, videos, origami, outdoor challenges, and other projects
Apps
- iNaturalist—Explore Map: Citizen science projects and ways to explore and contribute to flora and fauna observations in your area
- PlantSnap: Plant ID using your mobile device
- Seek by iNaturalist: Image recognition technology that helps students and families identify and learn about local flora and fauna, with opportunities to earn badges
Podcasts & Videos
- 19 Great Science Podcasts You Can Listen To With Kids: Curated list of science podcasts suitable for listening to with kids
- American Rivers—Short Films About Rivers: Short award-winning films about different rivers and issues related to their protection.
- Brains On!: A science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media, co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio
- EverWild Outdoor School YouTube Channel: Outdoor school currently posting short videos with activities that inspire nature connection
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