Resources for Tennessee teachers and students
- Seeking solutions to global warming which poses a major threat to the nation’s wildlife
- Protecting and restoring wildlife habitat, especially habitats that provide a home for threatened and endangered species
- Connecting children to nature for a nation of happier, healthier kids. These connections in early life will teach children to appreciate and respect the natural world so they can be good conservation stewards in the future.
Preparing for a Disaster
Does your family have a disaster plan? How about your child’s school or daycare center? If so, that’s great! If not, there are several websites that provide excellent resources and can help you get ready:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.fema.gov/kids (know the facts, make a plan, build a kit)
- American Family Safety www.americanfamilysafety.com
- American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org/disasters
After a Disaster Occurs
- Provide children with concrete explanations of what happened and how it could or will affect them. For example, "A tree branch fell on electrical wires, and that is why the lights don't work."
- Find out what specific concerns children have. Ask them what’s frightening or upsetting them, and reassure them when you’re able to do so. If their fears are grounded in reality, acknowledge those concerns and help find ways to address them.
- Reassure kids that many people are working hard to help them and their community recover.
- Depending on the age of children, consider limiting media coverage or being with them while they watch so that you can answer questions and help them process the information.
- Children often feel helpless after a disaster. Work together to find meaningful things you and they can do to pitch in and help others in the community.
For more information: http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA/Become-an-Eco-School/Tornadoes/Helping-Kids-Cope.aspx
Lesson Plans and Activities
Brought to you with permission by the National Wildlife Federation
Additional Lessons
Habitat
Lessons designed to introduce students to concepts of ecology, habitat care and species identification.
- Habitat for Sale (K-2, 3-8)
- What’s your Habitat? (K-4, 5-8)
- Habitat Web (K-6)
- Tree Detective (3-6)
- Woodland Chase (3-6)
- Habitat Hunt (3-6)
- Sensory Discovery Walk (K-6)
- Water Water Everywhere (3-8)
- Wind Power (3-4, 5-8)
- Who Can Live Here? (9-12)
Ecosystems
Lessons that explore ecosystems within the United States.
Artic
- Plants and Animals of the Arctic (K-2, 3-4, 5-8)
- Life in the Cold: Arctic Climate Challenges (K-2, 3-5, 5-8)
- Where in the World is the Arctic? (K-2, 3-4, 5-8)
- Summer Midnight Sun (3-4, 5-8)
- Arctic Environment (background information)
Watersheds
- Water, Water, Everywhere? (K-2, 3-4, 5-8)
- Watershed Web: A Field Trip (K-2, 3-5, 6-8)
- The Water Cycle (2-8)
- How Do You Feel About Water? (3-4, 5-8)
- Danger from Afar: Non-point Source Pollution and the Lake Superior Basin (3-8)
- Go with the Flow (6-8)
Wildlife
Lessons that introduce students to wildlife and wildlife behavior.
Amphibians and Reptiles
- Call of the Wild (K-4)
- Box Turtle Interview (3-8)
- Call of the Wild (5-8)
- Gator Hole Graphics (5-8)
- Lizard Lair
Birds and Butterflies
- Massive Migrations (K-4)
- Butterfly Life Cycle (k-4)
- Massive Migrations (K-8)
- Fill the Bill (k-8)
- Bird Behavior Hike (3-6)
- Pelican Activities (3-8)
- Massive Migrations (5-8)
- Massive Migrations (9-12)
Endangered and At-Risk Species
- Prairie Chicken Pageant (K-8)
- Endangered species: What and Where? (K-8)
- At Risk Species (3-8)
Insects, Spiders & Invertebrates
- Spider sensations (K-6)
- Soil Decomposers (K-8)
- Science Fiction, Fantasy and Fact (9-12)
Mammals
- Tricky Tracks (K-4)
- Night Friends – Bat of the Americas (Background information and lesson plans: K-8)
- Bison Mystery Box (K-8)
- Bats: Maligned or Malicious (K-8)
- Where Do Polar Bears Live? (1-6)
- What Color is a Polar Bear? (2-5)
- How do Polar Bears Stay Warm? (2-6)
- Build a Bat House (2-8)
- Investigating Bat Adaptations (3-6)
- Controversy Over Wild Cats (3-8)
- Where in the World is the Polar Bear? (4-6)
- How Much Do You Know About Polar Bears? (4-6)
- How Many Bison? (7-10)
Fish
- Create a Fish (3-8)
- Fish and Ladders (5-8)
- Fish and Ladders (9-12)
Pollinators
- The Pollinator's Journey (K-8)
- The Pollinator's Journey (K-4)
- The Pollinator's Journey (5-8)
- The Pollinator's Journey (9-12)
Marine Wildlife
- Wonderful Whales (K-4)
- The Wheel of Trouble (K-2)
- The Wheel of Trouble (2-6)
- Horseshoe Crab Fun (3-8)
- Sea-going Supermarket Hike (5-8)
- Manatee Endangered (9-12)
- Planning Your Research (9-12)
Variety of Wildlife
- Links in a Food Chain (K-4)
- Who is Faster? (4-6)
- Wildife Burrows (6-12)
- Links in the Chain of Life (6-12)
- Pond Life (9-12)
National Wildlife Lesson Archives
Select a lesson below:
Distributed by NIEonline.com with permission
About the National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is America's largest conservation organization, inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. NWF programs educate and inspire people to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. For more information: http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Programs.aspx.