Conservation Education Resources - Defiance SWCD

Classrooms for Conservation, Educator Resources

SOIL
- Soils 4 Teachers- Here is a bank of many lessons and hands-on activities all about soils and topics related to soils. These materials include lessons and activities.
  - https://www.soils4teachers.org/lessons-and-activities
- Soils 4 Kids
  - https://www.soils4kids.org/experiments
- Dr. Dirt- Lessons and hands-on activities related to soil horizons, soil composition, and erosion.
  - https://www.doctordirt.org/teachingresources
- NRCS Soil Lessons
  - https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_054303
- Dig It! The Secrets of Soil
  - http://forces.si.edu/soils/
- Ag in the Classroom Soil Science
  - https://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/resources.cfm?rid=149
- Nutrients for Life- Soil Science Activities
  - For Teachers
    - https://nutrientsforlife.org/for-teachers/
  - For Kids
    - https://nutrientsforlife.org/for-students/
- NEA Soil Science-
  - http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/73107.htm
- Erosion and Weathering Lab
  - https://www.nps.gov/tica/learn/education/upload/Erosion-Lab.pdf
- Soil Experiments for Children
  - http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7957e.pdf

Water Quality
- Caring for our Watersheds- interactive games
  - https://caringforourwatersheds.com/games/
- Center for Great Lakes Literacy
  - https://www.cgll.org/for-educators/education-links/
- Mi Sea Grant
  - https://www.michiganseagrant.org/lessons/lessons/
- Mi Sea Grant H.O.M.E.S at Home
  - https://www.michiganseagrant.org/educational-programs/h-o-m-e-s-at-home/
- Indiana/Illinois Sea Grant Curriculum
  - https://iiseagrant.org/education/curriculum-activities/
- Utah Extension Water Lessons
  - https://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/educator-resources/lessonplans/index
- Penn State Water Lessons
  - https://ecosystems.psu.edu/youth/sftrc/lesson-plans/water/9-12
- EPA Drinking Water Lessons
  - https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-activities-students-and-teachers
- Fresh Water Live
  - https://freshwaterlive.org/resources/lesson-plans
- The Water Project
  - https://thewaterproject.org/resources/
- Water Quality Backyard Activity
  - https://www.neefusa.org/resource/water-quality-backyard-activity-guide
- Watershed Sleuth
  - https://www.neefusa.org/watershed-sleuth
- Great Lakes in My World
  - https://greatlakes.org/get-involved/great-lakes-in-your-classroom/

Trees
- Virtual Learning Journey- Georgia Forests
  - https://www.gpb.org/education/forestry?fbclid=IwAR0I_W5ftHn98rYyWKX4dpuEFX8VK-f3mUlIE788gmeJmuSx_NJkFcykh1Y
- Discover the Forest- tree activities that can be done at home
  - https://discovertheforest.org/activities
- WI Forestry Education Program
  - https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/leaf/Pages/default.aspx
- Mi Forests Forever Teachers Guide
  - https://mff.forest.mtu.edu/Default.htm
- Treetures-cute interactive website to learn about trees
  - http://www.treetures.com/Meet1.htm
- BeLeaf It or Not- videos about trees
  - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Xlg9034e27aWm77vL-6Fg
- NWF Tree Detectives Lesson
  - https://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Be%20Out%20There/Schoolyard%20Habitats/tree_detectives.ashx
- Urban Trees
  - https://www.natureworkseverywhere.org/resources/urban-trees/
- Talk About Trees
  - http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/72821.htm
- Smokey Bear and Wildfire Prevention
  - https://www.smokeybear.com/en
Wildlife
- Purdue Wildlife Education
  - https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/nature/Pages/default.aspx
- Natural Resource Education
  - https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/education/Pages/default.aspx
- NWF Education Tools
  - https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Educator-Tools
- USFWS Conservation Education
  - https://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program/conservation-education-curriculum.php
  - https://www.fws.gov/refuges/education/teachersResources.html
- USFWS Conservation Education Videos
  - https://nctc.fws.gov/conservationconnect/
- Ranger Rick
  - https://rangerrick.org/
Birds
- The Cornell Bird Lab Bird Sleuth Explorer’s Guidebook
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/explorers-guidebook/
- The Cornell Bird Lab Lessons & Activities
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/get-started/
- The Cornell Bird Lab Sci & Nature Kid Activities
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/science-nature-activities-for-cooped-up-kids/
- The Cornell Bird Lab- Connect Kid’s to Nature
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/nature-connection/
- The Cornell Bird Lab- eBird
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/citizen-science/
- The Cornell Bird Lab Science and Birds Lessons
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/science-theme/
- The Cornell Bird Lab- Citizen Science
  - https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/conducting-investigations/
- The Cornell Bird Lab Feathered Friends Lesson
  - https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/feathered-friends?__hstc=161696355.55ce063fdf4f5d0c6f6e40707936aea0.1584735813275.1585151874581.1585162179931.3&__hssc=161696355.13.1585162179931&__hsfp=2226260968#_ga=2.264759755.514887843.1585151871-1378386592.1584735806
- Audubon for Kids- get outside activities related to birds
  - https://www.audubon.org/get-outside/activities/audubon-for-kids?ms=digital-eng-social-facebook-x-20200300_fb_link_-_audubon_for_kids&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=20200300_fb_link_-_audubon_for_kids&fbclid=IwAR348lI3PDQWHPeuvJCwfRa3lTr6DekUu1wsUDqmsUVrCUZIOda7jKqc5LY
- Audubon Adventures- games, activities, guides, lessons about bitds
  - http://www.audubonadventures.org/index2.html
- NEA Bird Anatomy
  - http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/58843.htm

Fish
- Salmon in the Classroom
  - https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79135_79220_81136—,00.html
- Trout in the Classroom
  - http://www.troutintheclassroom.org/home
- Sturgeon in the Classroom
  - https://www.glsturgeon.com/outreach/lesson-plans/
- Sea Lamprey
  - https://www.michiganseagrant.org/lessons/lessons/by-broad-concept/life-science/sea-lamprey/

Bats
- Project EduBat
  - https://batslive.pwnet.org/edubat/index.php
- Bat Quad Lessons
  - http://www.batcon.org/resources/media-education/learning/bat-squad/bat-squad-ep-1-amazing-bats?utm_campaign=Bat+Week+teachers&utm_medium=mkt+email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Indian Bat, Kid, and Cave Lessons
  - https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/curriculum/index.html?utm_campaign=Bat+Week+teachers&utm_medium=mkt+email&utm_source=govdelivery
- Night Friends Online Activity
  - https://batslive.pwnet.org/pdf/Night_Friends.pdf
Pollinators
- USFWS Pollinator Resources
  - https://www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/Outreach.html
- Butterfly Flower Gardening
  - https://www.kremp.com/Butterfly-Flower-Gardening-articles
- How to Build a Butterfly Garden in Your Backyard - Home Advisor
  - https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/how-to-build-backyard-butterfly-garden/
- Creating Pollinator Gardens: Flower Fragrances to Attract Pollinators
  - https://www.fragrancex.com/fragrance-information/creating-pollinator-gardens-flower-fragrances-to-attract-pollinators.html
- Monarch Watch- resources to learn about monarchs and tagging
  - https://monarchwatch.org/
- Pollinator Partnership- Educational tools, curriculum, and activities related to pollinators
  - https://www.pollinator.org/learning-center/education
- Monarch’s Live- lesson plans about monarch butterflies
  - https://monarch.pwnet.org/trc/plans.php
- Journey North- resources to teach about monarch butterflies
  - https://journeynorth.org/tm/index.html
- Monarch Joint Venture- resources to teach about monarchs
  - https://monarchjointventure.org/resources/downloads-and-links
- Urban Pollinator Curriculum Guide
  - https://gf.nd.gov/gnf/education/docs/instructor-resources/upp-curriculum.pdf
  - USDA/USFS Monarch Teacher Resouces
    - https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/teacherandstudent/index.shtml
  - MUCC Tracks Monarch Activity Guide
    - https://www.scribd.com/document/453216283/April-TRACKS-Monarch-Butterfly?fbclid=IwAR08zPEL9g7AUKIKklQvS683U4qGgG2NZRVNaXsrJ1LNfjXVhX1C9oKb83E
- Porch.com: A Tribute to a Monarch Butterfly: How To Turn Your Backyard Into A Butterfly Friendly Habitat
  - https://porch.com/advice/backyard-butterfly-garden
- Homeowner's Guide to Backyard Beekeeping
  - https://www.uphomes.com/blog/homeowners-guide-to-backyard-beekeeping.html
School Gardens
- School Garden Project Curriculum
  - https://www.schoolgardenproject.org/resources/curriculum/
  - National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat
    - https://www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Schoolyard-Habitat-Monarch-Guide.ashx?la=en&hash=CFD3C63FABE534FBD1FBCDDF7A5A43BAC2ED73DC
  - Kid’s Gardening Lesson Plans
    - https://kidsgardening.org/lesson-plans/
  - MSU Native Plant Resources
    - https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/resources/teaching_tools
  - Captain Planet Project Learning Corner
    - https://captainplanetfoundation.org/programs/project-learning-garden/plg-curriculum/plg-lessons/
  - Ag in the Classroom
    - https://www.agclassroom.org/

Invasive Species
- Mi Invasive Species Classroom Resources
  - https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/0,5664,7-324-68000—,00.html
- NW Mi Invasive Species Network Lessons
  - https://www.habitatmatters.org/education.html
- Purdue Invasive Plant Lesson
  - https://www.michiganseagrant.org/lessons/lessons/
- Non-native Species Learning Kit- It’s an Invasion
  - https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/activities/documents/nnisR9/MeetTheInvaders.pdf
- Non-native Species Learning Kit- Do Something
  - https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/activities/documents/nnisR9/DoSomething.pdf
- Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Curriculum
  - http://seagrant.psu.edu/topics/climate-change-and-hazard-resiliency/projects/great-lakes-aquatic-invasive-species-and
- Invasive Species in Ecosystems Lessons
  - http://www.laseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/NIS-Invasive-Species-Ecosystem-Game.pdf

Environmental and Agriculture Education
- NACD Conservation Hub- lessons and activites on pollinators, water and soil
  - https://www.nacdnet.org/conservation-education-hub/curriculum-3/
- EPA Resources
  - https://www.epa.gov/students
- Wisconsin Environmental Education
  - https://www.eekwi.org/
- NEEF Environmental Ed Resources
  - https://www.neefusa.org/education/environmental-education-home
- Project Wild
  - https://www.fishwildlife.org/projectwild
- Mi Project Wild
  - https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79135_79220_81129—,00.html
- Project Wet
  - https://www.projectwet.org/
- Project Learning Tree
  - https://www.plt.org/
- Project Learning Tree
  - https://www.plt.org/
- Leopold Project
  - https://www.aldoleopold.org/teach-learn/leopold-education-project/
- Project Fish
  - http://www.projectfish.org/
- Resource that has activities to get outdoors and printables to help connect kids to nature
  - https://hip2save.com/tips/free-printable-activity-pages-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR1CNdxvw405E8TsLNkYTOd24D74sUfPFkO2Cbat8dyALCBAIBdlHXonG2c
- Science From Home includes daily activities to do at home that relates to natural resources and agriculture
  - http://kfolta.blogspot.com/2020/03/science-from-home-3-30-to-4-3.html
- Farm Bureau My American Farm interactive games
  - http://www.myamericanfarm.org/classroom/games/?gid=thrive&fbclid=IwAR3NT7NzlkMVbNLj4wmPC7_T-pYdEAeZY4LTdG4ww-a3vQPU6Kbv6cP7pfc
- National Park Activities To Do With Kids
  - https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/park-activities-you-can-do-comfort-your-home?fbclid=IwAR2zDQG-Q9zcUCmTwfyffwTYzIYSmeT810GLagqZiVLy_jTN29cwV_Cn3wo
- National Park Service Jr Ranger Series- these can be done at home and then either mailed or dropped of to a local national park
  - Junior Ranger
  - https://www.nps.gov/kids/become-a-junior-ranger.htm
  - Junior Ranger Special Interest Books https://www.nps.gov/kids/junior-rangers.htm
- National Gardening Association has nature walk printables
  - https://garden.org/special/downloads/?fbclid=IwAR0RKxaBwvPSX_unuaJ7OazK1KBQU22Yi7DENcQzp55z7nk4Vyh7IzqMri4
Glossary of Terms:
- https://www.oberk.com/watercycleglossaryofterms