Our mission
At Mongabay Kids, we help children (and their adults) explore wild species and places, meet conservation heroes, and understand the vital connections between humanity and nature. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders.
We provide conservation education for kids through engaging facts, interactive activities, and practical guidance on how to protect and restore species and ecosystems. Wherever possible, we co-create content with children to better understand their learning styles, interests, and needs.
We collaborate with scientists, conservation organizations, and storytellers to bring nature and conservation stories to life, offering classroom-ready resources, games, quizzes, and activities that make learning about biodiversity and sustainability both fun and meaningful.
Environmental news
Read some of the latest news from Mongabay, adapted for kids.
Readers
Nature-themed e-books for early readers (K-1).
Conversation Starters
For grades 3+
Explore topics in biodiversity and the environment with our Conversation Starters series. Use the videos and discussion questions to start a conservation with your kids or students today!
Find out how fruit-loving lemurs help forests grow in Madagascar.
What is a coral reef? And why are reefs so important?
Did you know that there are more than 30 species of small wild cats spread over five continents?
Learn some ways that roads affect forest biodiversity and discuss this topic with classmates, family, or friends.
Learn about the palm oil industry and why it is controversial.
Explore more resources:
Connect with nature. Learn about a local animal today!
Read the article to learn more.
Time to learn about ethograms! This activity is courtesy of the Lemur Conservation Network and the Louisiana Lemur Foundation. Educators: Description of the activity (For ages 10+) This activity helps you observe lemurs at your local zoo (or via a zoo webcam). You will list…
Record your observations of the natural world and describe how nature makes you feel.
Get outside, find a flowering plant, and complete this challenge!
Learn tricks for identifying individual animals.
Learn about a little bird called the grey wagtail and the school kids who celebrate its yearly visits.
What is an endemic species? An endemic species occurs in only one geographic location. A species could be endemic to a forest. A species could be endemic to an island. This video gives examples of endemic species: Endemic species featured in the video: Key points from the…
Purpose: To understand haikus and how to construct them.
What do you think this street tree is saying to the tree across the road?
What do you think the capybara with the turtle on its back is saying to the other capybaras?
What do you think these polar bears are saying or thinking?
Take your students on a virtual adventure!
Take an Adventure in the Annamites! In this series, we go on a virtual adventure with scientist and conservationist Camille Coudrat and the team at Association Anoulak. We explore the biodiversity of the remote Annamite Mountains of Laos. This series also introduces students to the challenges and highlights of doing fieldwork in a remote forest location. Produced in partnership with Association Anoulak.
Join us as we journey into the Annamites and learn about the hidden animals of the forest!
We’re in the Annamite Mountains of Laos with Camille Coudrat and the team at Association Anoulak. If you missed the first part of our adventure, click to read about our exciting journey into the Nakai-Nam Theun National Park. Today, we’re at camp learning about…
Field Trips:
Around the world many people work to learn about our environment, protect nature, and raise environmental awareness. Read inspiring interviews with scientists, conservationists, authors, and artists.
Meet Coral Chell, a scientists studying and working to protect the awesome Coquerel’s sifaka.
Meet Katy Tanis, an artist and conservationist who loves wild nature!
Tanya Sanerib is a lawyer who works to protect endangered species. Find out what she is doing to help protect giraffes.
Who are the Moth-ers? Lovers of moths, that’s who! In this series, we meet some moth-ers from around the world. We’ll learn why moths are interesting and how everyone can enjoy their beauty. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to get outside and go mothing yourself! From…
Learn out about the amazing story of Isatou Ceesay and the recycling women of The Gambia, who came up with a clever solution to plastic pollution.
Krystle Hickman takes awesome photographs of native bees in her home state of California. Read our interview with Krystle to learn more about why native bees are important.
Access our full range of Field Trip interviews here!
Lesson series: parts 1–4
Grades 3–5
Learn what the water cycle is and how water cycles differ between rainforest regions and areas around the USA.
What is photosynthesis and why is it important?
Learn what an ecosystem is and why ecosystems are important.
This scientific inquiry is geared at students that live along the Central California Coast, but the idea can be modified to work with a local environmental issue.
Biodiversity articles: parts 1–4
Grade 2 reading level
Take a walk outside your home or open your window. Sit and listen. How many different animal sounds do you hear?
Cutting down trees and clearing plants to use the land for something else is called deforestation.
Have you ever heard of palm oil? Palm oil is used in food, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup and other things. Palm oil can even be used in biofuels to run cars or buses.
Conservation aims to protect nature for the benefit of all people. How can we save nature and use it at the same time?
Grade 3 reading level
Take a walk outside your home or open your window. Sit and listen. How many different animal sounds do you hear?
Cutting down trees and clearing plants to use the land for something else is called deforestation.
Have you ever heard of palm oil? Palm oil is used in food, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup and other things. Palm oil can even be used in biofuels to run cars or buses.
Conservation aims to protect nature for the benefit of all people. How can we save nature and use it at the same time?
Oceans and coral reef articles: parts 1–3
Grade 5 reading level
Groundbreaking research shows that rainforests and coral reefs create rainfall.
Oceans cover about 70% of our planet. And
roughly 80% of life on Earth depends on oceans and coasts.
The world’s coral reefs are in trouble. We explore some solutions.