Wildlife Videos
The Nature of Teaching - Wildlife
This video explains the importance of getting kids involved with nature. The Nature of Teaching workshops provide K-5 teachers with lesson plans that incorporate nature into standards-based curriculum. This allows for teachers to meet the requirements set for by the state and federal government while getting kids outside and interacting with their environment. For more information, check out our 2018 Workshops page.
Animal Diversity and Tracking Sneak Peek Videos
Animal Tracks Sneak Peek
This Lesson 1: Animal Tracks has outdoor activities with students learning how to create molds for animal tracking, how to identify wildlife species by their tracks, recognize animal diversity even when we do not see the animals, and learn about the animals' habitat. Teachers will have the opportunity to find free lesson plans, printables, posters, and a photo library. This unit includes four lessons: Animal Tracks, Scent Stations, Indoor Track Casting, and Outdoor Track Casting. It meets several K–5 Science and Math Academic Standards and three 9–12 Natural Resource Management Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking-FNR-417-W.
Unit 1 - Lesson 2: Scent Stations Sneak Peek
Have you ever wondered what mammals are found around you school property or backyard? You can use a scent station and this lesson plan to find out! Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking-FNR-417-W.
Unit 1 - Lesson 3 & 4: Indoor & Outdoor Track Casting Sneak Peek
Want to make your old wildlife track? This is a great lesson to create a track cast and learn more about wildlife tracks. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking-FNR-417-W.
Animal Tracking Lesson 5 Sneak Peek
Animal Diversity and Tracking is one unit in a series available from The Nature of Teaching, the place to go for teaching resources that focus on nature. In the units teachers will find free lesson plans, printables, posters, a photo library, information on upcoming workshops, and more. This unit includes four lessons: Animal Tracks, Scent Stations, Indoor Track Casting, and Outdoor Track Casting. It meets several K–5 Science and Math Academic Standards and three 9–12 Natural Resource Management Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking-FNR-417-W.
Ashes to Ashes: We All Grow Up Sneak Peek Videos
Succession & Disturbance Sneak Peek
In this curriculum Ashes to Ashes Unit 5, lesson 1 Succession and Disturbance will provide students with an understanding of how an ecosystem is constantly changing and what causes those changes. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 5, Ashes to Ashes: We All Grow Up-FNR-472-W.
Wildlife Habitat Through Succession and Disturbance Sneak Peek
In this lesson 2 the activity provides students with an understanding of how an ecosystem is constantly changing and what causes the changes, as well as how different animals use the different successional stages. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching Unit 5, Ashes to Ashes: We All Grow Up-FNR-472-W.
Common Indiana Mammals Sneak Peek Video
Common Indiana Mammals Sneak Peek
Mammals play an integral role in many habitats. Knowing more about these intriguing animals can help us enjoy and appreciate the diversity of wildlife around us. The natural history cards available in this lesson can be used to identify 34 mammalian species native to Indiana by appearance, skull, or by tracks. Students will have fun viewing the animal tracks and the photos provided as they research information about habitat, diet, distribution, reproduction, and ecology. Curriculum free download: Common Indiana Mammals-FNR-413-W.
The Great Clearcut Controversy Sneak Peek Videos
Big Management Decisions in the Boardroom Sneak Peek
In this lesson, students participate in a mock boardroom activity where they use the engineering design process and information learned in Lessons 1 and 2 to create the best management plan for a forest in southern Indiana. Curriculum free download: The Great Clearcut Controversy-FNR-549-W.
Bird Communities Sneak Peek
In this inquiry-based teaching unit, students use real scientific data to investigate how a bird community and individual forest animals respond to a clearcut timber harvest. In this investigation Lesson 1, students: use scientific inquiry to gain knowledge and answer questions; apply that knowledge to the engineering design process; and design a viable management solution given the constraints and tradeoffs they discover. . Curriculum free download: The Great Clearcut Controversy-FNR-549-W.
Reptiles, Amphibians, and the Scientific Method Sneak Peek Videos
Icy 'N Hot Crickets Sneak Peek
In lesson 2 students have the opportunity to understand how temperature affects ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals. Curriculum free download: Unit 3: Reptiles, Amphibians, and the Scientific Method-FNR-430-W.
Hot Rock Sneak Peek
This lesson demonstrates how ectotherms use the environment to control their body temperature. Curriculum free download: Unit 3: Reptiles, Amphibians, and the Scientific Method-FNR-430-W.
Habitat Selection Sneak Peek
Lesson 1 helps students understand the differences and similarities between amphibians and reptiles, including how they may select habitat. Curriculum free download: Unit 3: Reptiles, Amphibians, and the Scientific Method-FNR-430-W.
The Scientific Process of Conservation Biology: Analyse, Design, Debate Sneak Peek Video
The Scientific Process of Conservation Biology Sneak Peek
Conservation biology is considered by some to be a "crisis discipline." Decisions within the field must often be made quickly, sometimes without enough time to gather all of the data one would ideally have, and they can decide the fate of a species. This Nature of Teaching unit introduces students to the field of conservation biology and the process of conserving a species. It includes 4 lessons and 4 case studies as well as a teacher information section and list of sources. Curriculum free download: The Scientific Process of Conservation Biology: Analyse, Design, Debate-FNR-552-W.
Eco-llapse Lesson Plan Sneak Peek Video
Eco-llapse Lesson Sneak Peek
This 15-page PDF is a teaching lesson plan in the Nature of Teaching series. After finishing the lessons, students will be able to: 1) understand the different proportions of producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers within an ecosystem, 2) list the different levels of an ecosystem, and 3) understand how each level is dependent on and interconnects with another. Curriculum free download: The Nature of Teaching: Eco-llapse Lesson Plan-FNR-431-W.
Hellbenders Rock! Sneak Peek Video
Hellbenders Rock! Sneak Peek
This Nature of Teaching lesson plan teaches students about the endangered eastern hellbender and the importance of conserving it. The hellbender is North America's largest salamander, growing up to 2 feet long. It is a fully aquatic salamander that spends its whole life swimming along the bottom of clean, fast-flowing, freshwater rivers and streams. After working through this lesson, students will be able to identify the eastern hellbender, describe the life stages of the eastern hellbender, explain the eastern hellbender's relationship to clean water, and list ways to conserve the eastern hellbender. Curriculum free download: Hellbenders Rock!-FNR-532-W.
Mammal Food Webs Sneak Peek Videos
Energy Flows and Food Webs Sneak Peek
The Mammal Food Webs Lesson 4: Energy Flow and Food Webs activity will introduce students to the concept that energy flows from on organism to another. This unit includes four lessons: Be a Tooth Sleuth, Poster Exploration of Food Webs, Student Investigations of Food Webs, and Energy Flows and Food Webs. It meets several K–5 Science Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: Mammal Food Webs-FNR-418-W.
Poster Exploration of Food Webs Sneak Peek
The Mammal Food Webs Lesson 2: Poster Exploration of Food Webs activity will help students understand the various trophic levels within a food web. This curriculum meets several K–5 Science Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: Mammal Food Webs-FNR-418-W.
Be a Tooth Sleuth Sneak Peek
The Mammal Food Webs Lesson 1: Be a Tooth Sleuth activity provides students with definitions and explanations of mammal feeding habits. This curriculum meets several K–5 Science Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: Mammal Food Webs-FNR-418-W.
Student Investigations of Food Webs Sneak Peek
The Mammal Food Webs Lesson 3: Student Investigations of Food Webs activity will introduce students to the creation and interpretation of food webs. This curriculum meets several K–5 Science Academic Standards. Curriculum free download: Mammal Food Webs-FNR-418-W.
Invasive Plants: Impact on Environment and People Sneak Peek Video
Invasive Plants: Impact on Environment and People Sneak Peek
This Nature of Teaching lesson teaches students about the significant environmental and economic losses that can be caused by the introduction of invasive plant species. It includes a game that can be played in class, plus a worksheet. The lesson meets multiple Indiana science, natural resources, math, and social studies standards. Curriculum free download: Invasive Plants: Impact on Environment and People-FNR-535-W.
Discovering the Watershed Sneak Peek Video
Discovering the Watershed Sneak Peek
This 23-page PDF is a unit in the Nature of Teaching series. A lesson and classroom activities for teachers and students through grade five introduce students to watersheds and why they are important to a healthy ecosystem. Students also learn about water quality. The unit includes the Watershed Game, complete with game board and game cards, and information about the eastern hellbender, a large salamander. Curriculum free download: Discovering the Watershed-FNR-476-W.
Coloration Exploration Sneak Peek Video
Coloration Exploration Sneak Peek
This 22-page PDF is a unit in the Nature of Teaching series. A lesson and classroom activities for teachers of students through grade five help students understand how animals change colors to survive in their environments. The lesson explains the differences among aposematic (warning), cryptic (blending in with surroundings) and sexual/gender dimorphism (male and female) coloration changes. Worksheets and animal pictures are included. Curriculum free download: Coloration Exploration-FNR-470-W.
Healthy Water, Happy Home Sneak Peek Video
Healthy Water, Happy Home Sneak Peek
Water is a vital natural resource. We need clean water for drinking, swimming, irrigating crops, and sustaining healthy fish and wildlife populations. The goal of this print-your-own boardgame is to help people understand how they can improve water quality and create suitable habitat for indicator species like eastern hellbenders. PowerPoint is included. Curriculum free download: Healthy Water, Happy Home-FNR-527-W.
Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians Sneak Peek Video
Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians Activity 2: Water Sneak Peek
Understanding adaptations for aquatic amphibians can help humans learn more about healthy ecosystems. Through this educational unit, students will be able to explain how amphibian adaptations benefit survival, describe the importance of Eastern Hellbender adaptations, and identify impacts that humans have on aquatic amphibians. Curriculum free download: Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians-FNR-573-W.
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