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!
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.
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.
You may not have heard of the Annamite mountains before … but this is a place worth discovering! Come on, join us as we journey into the Annamites and learn about the hidden animals of the forest! Our hosts on this epic adventure are scientist…
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…
Explore more resources:
Lions, tigers, sharks, bears and giraffes are pretty cool animals, right? Yes of course they are! But so are all the other amazing creatures hiding out in our backyards, parks, cities and…even our houses. What do you know about the creatures that live near you?…
Scientists have found that dugongs and green sea turtles help plants called seagrasses grow in the Great Barrier reef. Why is this important? Keep reading to learn more. This is the world-famous Great Barrier Reef: The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system…
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…
What is a nature journal? A nature journal is a place where you can record your observations of the natural world and describe how nature makes you feel. You can journal on paper or on a tablet or other device. Your journal can include drawings,…
Get outside and complete this Nature Mission!
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…
Note: this activity is associated with the lesson on exploring ecosystems. Flamingo Haiku – Student sample Haiku poems Purpose: To understand haikus and how to construct them. Materials: Recycled paper, pencil, colored pencils, crayons, marker, watercolor paper, watercolors, and water cups. Common Core Standards: English Language Arts…
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
By Lisa Algee 3rd–5th grade (upper elementary/primary) Note: This is lesson 1 in a 4-part series on the water cycle, photosynthesis, exploring ecosystems, and scientific inquiry in local ecosystems. Find lessons 2, 3 and 4 here (click relevant link). Overview Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is…
By Lisa Algee 3rd–5th Grade (upper elementary/primary) Note: This is lesson 2 in a 4-part series on the water cycle, photosynthesis, exploring ecosystems, and scientific inquiry in local ecosystems. Find lessons 1, 3 and 4 here (click relevant link). Overview (a) What is photosynthesis and why…
By Lisa Algee 3rd-5th Grade (upper elementary/primary) Note: This is lesson 3 in a 4-part series on the water cycle, photosynthesis, exploring ecosystems, and scientific inquiry in local ecosystems. Find lessons 1, 2 and 4 here (click relevant link). Lesson 3: Exploring ecosystems (a) Root…
Created by Lisa Algee 3rd-5th Grade (upper elementary/primary) Note: This is lesson 4 in a 4-part series on the water cycle, photosynthesis, exploring ecosystems, and scientific inquiry in local ecosystems. Find lessons 1, 2 and 3 here (click relevant link). This scientific inquiry is geared…
Biodiversity articles: parts 1–4
Grade 2 reading level
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity (this article) Deforestation Palm Oil Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade science standards and 2nd grade…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity Deforestation (this article) Palm Oil Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade science standards and 2nd grade…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity Deforestation Palm Oil (this article) Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade science standards and 2nd grade…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity Deforestation Palm Oil Conservation (this article) Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade science standards and 2nd grade…
Grade 3 reading level
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity (this article) Deforestation Palm Oil Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade educational standards. Ideally, they are…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on Biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity Deforestation (this article) Palm Oil Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade educational standards. Ideally, they are…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a four-part series on biodiversity consisting of the following articles: Biodiversity Deforestation Palm Oil (this article) Conservation Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet 3rd grade educational standards. Ideally, they are…
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
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a three-part series on oceans and coral reefs consisting of the following articles: Rainforests and coral reefs (this article) Ocean prognosis Coral reef solutions Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a three-part series on oceans and coral reefs consisting of the following articles: Rainforests and coral reefs Ocean prognosis (this article) Coral reef solutions Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet…
By Lisa Algee This article is part of a three-part series on oceans and coral reefs consisting of the following articles: Rainforests and coral reefs Ocean prognosis Coral reef solutions (this article) Each has been taken from the Mongabay main site and adapted to meet…