From Us To You

Included below are links to a variety of activity guides and lesson plan ideas for our educators and community. For your convenience, we’ve curated resources from some of the leading nature and environmental organizations, and have created resources to aid in the creation of Nature as Teacher experiences for students. Please enjoy and reach out if you have any questions.

Community Resources

Included below are a variety of informational resources, activities, and ideas to help you get involved in nature play and create healthy backyard habitats. Please enjoy and reach out to us if you have any questions.

Site Guide:

North Skokie Lagoons

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Site Guide:

South Skokie Lagoons

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Site Guide:

Crow Island Woods

Download
Planned Activity:

Oh Dear! Kids Game

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Site Guide:

Everly Wildflower Sanctuary

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Site Guide:

Keay Nature Learning Center

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Site Guide:

Little House Of Glencoe

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Planned Activity:

Scavenger Hunt

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Planned Activity:

Pollinators

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Planned Activity:

Nature Journaling

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Educator Resources

For your reference, we have identified resources you might find useful in creating Nature as Teacher experiences for your students. Included below are links to a variety of activity guides and lesson plan ideas from BYNC and some of the leading nature and environmental organizations.

Backyard Nature Center

Exploring Insects and Spiders with Children

  • Getting Started
  • Setting up the Activity Stations
  • Materials

National Wildlife Federation

Wildlife and nature lesson plans and resources for educators

  • Grade level: K-12
  • Subject areas: Science, Math, Social Studies, Writing, Art
  • Lesson plan categories: Habitat, Energy Conservation, Ecosystems, Wildlife

Nature Works Everywhere

Resource lesson plans consistent with common core and next generation science standards

  • Grade Level: 3-12
  • Subject areas: Science

North American Association for Environmental Education

2016 Living Schoolyard Activity Guide, Midwest edition

  • Grade Level: K-12
  • Subject areas: Science, Math, Social Studies, Writing, Art

National Environmental Education Foundation

Educator Toolkits with lesson plans and resources

  • Grade level: K-12
  • Subject areas: Science, Math
  • Lesson plan categories: Habitat, Wildlife, Plants, Animals

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Download Schoolyard Activity Guide

Schools & Teachers section contains information about teacher workshops

Chicago Botanic Garden

Teachers and Students field trips and lesson kits

Education section includes teacher programs and free classroom resource kits

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Education section contains teacher resources and activity guides

World Wildlife Fund’s Wild Classroom
 
  • Grade level: 3-5
  • Subject areas: Science, Math, Social Studies, Writing, Art
  • Lesson plan categories: Wildlife, Animals, Conservation
The Nature Conservancy
 
Access resources aligned to The Nature Conservancy’s research and designed specifically for a young audience and classroom use

Additional Resources and Recommended Reading