Nature Activities for Kids

Nature Activities for Kids

Nature Activities for Kids

I know finding nature activities for kids on rainy days can be achallenge. I put together a list of websites that have games,coloring pages, environmental, plant and animal information.

Websites have varying degrees of "kid-friendly-ness". I choose the better ones to highlight here. For young children, adult help with the web pages will be needed.

There are many art and writing contests sponsored by local naturalhistory museums, zoos, nature centers, federal parks and reserves.

Here in Philadelphia, the Zoo has a full roster of nature activities for kids of all ages. The Junior Nature Journeys are forchildren beginning at age eight. The PhiladelphiaZoo also has programs for adults. If you have a zoo near you, check out whether they have something you might be interested in. Zoos have moved from a collection focus to preservation and conservation.

Things to Do

Animal Cams - National Zoo (Smithsonian Institute)
Listento audio interview on various topics and animal species and view liveanimal cams. The animals in the cams, don't seem to be native to NorthAmerica but it can be interesting when connected to animals native toNorth America. (Note: The live animal cams seem to only run underMicrosoft Media Player and the Firefox Browser may not be supported.Email them and let them know if this is a problem for you.)
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/WebCams/

Beach Kids (Environmental Protection Agency)
Learn about beaches, beach plants and animals, games, safety, pollution
http://www.epa.gov/beaches/kids/

Celebrating Wildflowers: Just for Kids
A new and growing site containing coloring pages, games, activities and vocabulary. Learn about pollinators, butterflies, fungi and more in the world of plants.
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/index.shtml

Drinking Water and Ground Water- Kid's Stuff (EnvironmentalProtection Agency)
This site has various nature activities for kids, divided by grade level, on watersheds andthe water cycle. There are resources for teachers too.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/kids_k-3.html

Endangered Species: Kids Corner (U.S. Fish and WildlifeService)
This site focuses on learn loss of habitat and biodiversity, JuniorDuck Stamp, Species in the Spotlight and how Kids Can Help.
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/kids/index.html

Environmental Kids Club(Environmental Protection Agency)
Explore the environment and how to protect it.
http://www.epa.gov/kids/about.htm

Federal Junior Duck StampProgram (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
This nationwide program combines art and science to teach theimportance of wetlands and migratory birds. Kids of varying ages mayenter the Junior Duck Stamp Program.
http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/junior/junior.htm

Just For Kids (Department of the Interior)
Here you will find links to websites on butterflies, wetlands,earthquakes and other nature topics all geared toward children.
http://www.doi.gov/kids/

Kid's Corner (Bureau of Land Management)
Hereyou will find information about public lands including outdoor manners,caves, dinosaurs and other topics. The website includes one pageinformation sheets and a separate pdf activity sheets to download.
http://www.blm.gov/education/00_kids/contents.html

NASA for Kids (NASA- National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Learn about space and space travel with games, art, stories,activities, and a Kid's Club. This site is very well done with engaginginteractive videos and on-screen games, etc.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html

Star Child(NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Space Exploration site for kids divided into level 1 and 2 for child'slearning level. space glossary, universe, solar system and space,travel and space wardrobe.
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

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