Activities

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
50 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students learn about behavioral and biological animal adaptations, watch a video about the Arctic, and research how specific animals have adapted to this harsh environment.

Best For
Grades 1-8 (Ages 6-14)

Subjects
Science, Adult and Family Literacy

Duration
3 hours

Appropriate For
F S K

Have some family fun by observing and identifying living things in your area.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Social Studies, Science, Geography

Duration
45 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students watch the National Geographic video, "Kobu the Lion," and explore the negative consequences of keeping big cats in captivity and the challenges sanctuaries face in trying to care for them.

Best For
Grades K-2 (Ages 5-8)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
45 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students explore what lions, tigers, and leopards look like and analyze how the animals' coats help them survive in their different habitats.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Geography

Duration
1 hour

Appropriate For
T I 

Students read a National Geographic Education article, “Big Cats’ Big Problem,” and identify the threats to big cat populations and how the Big Cats Initiative is working to address those threats.

Best For
Grades 3-8 (Ages 8-14)

Subjects
Science

Duration
50 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students build a model of a comet out of dry ice and common household materials. They use the scientific method to analyze the relationship between comets and solar wind.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Science

Duration
25 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students learn how fossils provide important clues to past life.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Mathematics, Science

Duration
1 hour, 30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students use a formula to estimate energy consumption. They learn to read an EnergyGuide label and then use that information to select an appliance from a number of models based on a provided problem scenario and the factors that are most important to consider in the problem scenario.

Best For
Grades 9-12 (Ages 14-18)

Subjects
Science

Duration
25 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students examine animals that are examples of convergent evolution. They then analyze wings of bats, birds, and pterosaurs to see why these animals are not closely related.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Science, Arts, Cross-Disciplinary, Language Arts

Duration
3 hours

Appropriate For
T I 

Through videos, students hear astronauts and deep-sea explorers describe what life is like in the extreme environments of space and the deep sea. Students create a digital story comparing and contrasting life in these two extreme environments.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
1 hour, 30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students use media resources to identify big cats and map the species ranges of the world's big cats. Then they determine each big cat's corresponding habitat and create a graphic organizer that summarizes the information.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science

Duration
45 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students examine characteristics of pterosaurs as they evolved over millions of years and consider how these adaptations made pterosaurs effective hunters and survivors.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Geography

Duration
2 hours, 30 minutes

Appropriate For
T 

Students analyze the benefits and drawbacks of hydroelectric and geothermal energy and the environmental impacts on a specific geographic location. They create a multimedia presentation to share what they have learned.

Best For
Grades 9-12 (Ages 14-18)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
50 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students make predictions about marine ecosystems based on combined impacts of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. They evaluate others' predictions and create concept maps to identify cause-and-effect relationships.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Science

Appropriate For
T I F S 

Students will investigate the diversity of resources present within the cloud forest and how humans could benefit from this rich ecosystem.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science

Duration
30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I F K

Students make molds and casts of objects to make their own fossils.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science

Duration
45 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students practice classification skills using a collection of their shoes.

Best For
Grades 4-8 (Ages 9-14)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Appropriate For
T I 

Students find data for an assigned U.S. city in order to plot precipitation bars and temperature points and create a climate graph.

Best For
Grades 9-12 (Ages 14-18)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students discuss endangered and threatened species and learn about captive-breeding programs.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
35 minutes

Appropriate For
T I F K

Students read and discuss a magazine article about Earth Day. They discuss environmental problems that affect their daily lives and brainstorm ways to make every day Earth Day by making small changes that have a big impact on the environment.

Best For
Grades 1-12+ (Ages 6+)

Subjects
Informal Education, Science, Adult and Family Literacy, Geography

Appropriate For
T I F S K

Defend your coastline from invasive species with Mission:Explore Food—Sustainable Seafood

Best For
Grades 6-12 (Ages 11-18)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
20 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students watch a video of experts in the field. Then they reflect on the research process and the real-world implications of that research.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students create a food web with the Alaskan brown bear at the top.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Social Studies, Science, Geography, Educational Technology

Duration
50 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students use a Crittercam video and simulation game to learn about technologies scientists use to study the health and behavior of big cat populations. Then they explore how scientific research and technology can help to conserve big cat populations.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
50 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students learn about bioluminescence and conduct an experiment to learn how ocean animals use bioluminescence for camouflage.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Social Studies, Science, Language Arts, Geography

Duration
2 hours, 30 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students prepare a news report that highlights problems facing coastal communities and how climate change might affect coastal populations.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Informal Education, Science

Duration
55 minutes

Appropriate For
T I S 

Students create and observe ferrofluids to understand magnetic field lines and how they can affect planets.

Best For
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-14)

Subjects
Mathematics, Science

Duration
55 minutes

Appropriate For
T I S 

Students construct a simple magnetometer in order to monitor and measure changes in Earth's magnetic field from inside the classroom.

Best For
Grades 4-8 (Ages 9-14)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Appropriate For
T I 

Students gather information from the film and related activities to draw conclusions about whether Mallory and Irvine in 1924 achieved their wildest dream.

Best For
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-11)

Subjects
Science, Geography

Duration
45 minutes

Appropriate For
T I 

Students select and map an area. Then they practice finding direction, determining scale, and identifying natural and human features.