Lesson Plans

The lesson plans presented here are a sampling from NWF's collection of over 1,000 lesson plans designed to introduce students to life science, ecology, wildlife biology, scientific identification and observation. All lesson plans are aligned to the National Science Education Standards.

Check back regularly! We will be continually adding to our online library of resources for educators, beginning with the addition of lesson plans from our NatureScope series.

Habitat

Lessons designed to introduce students to concepts of ecology, habitat care and species identification:

• What’s your Habitat?  (grades K-4, 5-8) 
• Habitat for Sale  (grades 3-8, K-2)
• Sensory Discovery Walk  (grades K-6)
• Water Water Everywhere  (grades 3-8)
• Who Can Live Here?  (grades 9-12)
• Wind Power  (grades 3-4, 5-8)
• Tree Detective  (grades 3-6)
• Woodland Chase  (grades 3-6)
• Habitat Hunt  (grades 3-6)
• Habitat Web  (grades K-6)

Energy Conservation

Lessons designed to engage student in learning good conservation techniques and practices to use at home and at school: 

• Energy Conservation: Did I Remember To…  (grades 4-6)

Ecosystems

Lessons that explore ecosystems within the United States:

Arctic

• Life in the Cold: Arctic Climate Challenges  (grades 3-5, K-2, 5-8)
• Summer Midnight Sun  (grades 5-8, 3-4)
• Where in the World is the Arctic?  (grades 3-4, 5-8, K-2)
• Arctic Environment (background information)
• Plants and Animals of the Arctic  (grades 3-4, K-2, 5-8)

Watersheds

• Danger from Afar: Non-point Source Pollution and the Lake Superior Basin (grades 3-8)
• Go with the Flow (grades 6-8)
• How Do You Feel About Water? (grades 5-8, 3-4)
• The Water Cycle (grades 2-8)
• Water, Water, Everywhere? (grades 3-4, K-2, 5-8)
• Watershed Web: A Field Trip (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8)

Wildlife

Lessons that introduce students to wildlife and wildlife behavior:

Amphibians and Reptiles

• Box Turtle Interview (grades 3-8)
• Call of the Wild (grades K-4)
• Call of the Wild (grades 5-8)
• Gator Hole Graphics (grades 6-7)
• Lizard Lair 

Birds and Butterflies

• Massive Migrations (revised for grades K-4)
• Massive Migrations (revised for grades 5-8)
• Massive Migrations (revised for grades 9-12)
• Massive Migrations  (grades 3-8, K-2)  
• Pelican Activities (grades 3-8)
• Fill the Bill  (grades 3-8, K-2)
• Bird Behavior Hike  (grades 3-6)
• Butterfly Life Cycle  (grades K-2, 3-4)

Endangered and At-Risk Species

• Prairie Chicken Pageant  (grades 4-8, K-2)
• Endangered species: What and Where?  (grades K-2, 3-8)
• At Risk Species  (grades 5-8, 3-4)

Insects, Spiders & Invertebrates 

• Science Fiction, Fantasy and Fact (9-12)
• Soil Decomposers (grades K-4, 6-8)
• Spider sensations  (grades K-6)

Mammals

• Controversy Over Wild Cats (grades 5-8, 3-4)
• How Many Bison? (grades 7-10)
• Bison Mystery Box  (grades 4-8, K-3)
• Build a Bat House  (grades 2-8)
• Bats: Maligned or Malicious  (grades 3-8, K-2)
• Investigating Bat Adaptations  (grades 3-6)
• Night Friends – Bat of the Americas  (background information and lesson plans: grades 3-6; 3-8, K-2; 2-8)
• How do Polar Bears Stay Warm?  (grades 2-6)
• What Color is a Polar Bear?  (grades 2-5)
• Where in the World is the Polar Bear?  (grades 4-6)
• Where Do Polar Bears Live?  (grades 1-6)
• How Much Do You Know About Polar Bears?  (grades 4-6)
• Tricky Tracks (grades K-4) 

Fish

• Create a Fish (grades 3-8)
• Fish and Ladders (grades 5-8)
• Fish and Ladders (grades 9-12)

Pollinators

• The Pollinator's Journey (revised for grades K-4)
• The Pollinator's Journey (revised for grades 5-8)
• The Pollinator's Journey (revised for grades 9-12)
• The Pollinator’s Journey  (grades K-4, 5-8)

Marine Wildlife

• Wonderful Whales (K-4)
• Planning Your Research (grades 9-12)
• Sea-going Supermarket Hike (grades 5-8)
• The Wheel of Trouble (revised for grades 2-6)
• The Wheel of Trouble (sea turtles) (grades K-2)
• Horseshoe Crab Fun (grades 3-8)
• Manatee Endangered (grades 9-12)

Variety of Wildlife 

• Pond Life (grades 9-12)
• Links in a Food Chain (grades K-4)
• Links in the Chain of Life (grades 6-12)
• Wildife Burrows (grades 6-12)
• Who is Faster? (grades 4-6)