Featured Sites Week of: Jun 28, 2026 - Camping and Great Outdoors Month Resources
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The AMAYZING Outdoors - Van Andel Institute for Education
Grades
K to 8
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Van Andel Institute for Education's A"MAY"Zing Outdoors promotes outdoor activities for learning and fun. These lessons help alleviate "spring" fever as the end of the year approaches,...more
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Van Andel Institute for Education's A"MAY"Zing Outdoors promotes outdoor activities for learning and fun. These lessons help alleviate "spring" fever as the end of the year approaches, but can be used at any time throughout the year. Activities include: STEAM Team, Naturexplore Scavenger Hunt, Peaceful Planters, and Do Something! Bingo. Lessons are grouped into kindergarten through grade 2, grades 3 through 5, and grades 6 through 8. All games are linked to Google Slides that include a teacher overview, the required time, skills, and reflection.
tag(s): conservation (110), recycling (47)
In the Classroom
Students can use Book Creator reviewed here to take pictures/videos of themselves completing the activities from the "STEAM Team." Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here, to document the growth of their plant during the "Peaceful Planters" lesson. Students can use Padlet reviewed here to reflect on their learning after playing "Do Something! Bingo."You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Nature Guys Podcast - Bob Staggenborg
Grades
4 to 8
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The Nature Guys podcast is created by Bob Staggenborg, a former educator and nature enthusiast. He co-hosts episodes with various naturalists and experts, sharing engaging discussions...more
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The Nature Guys podcast is created by Bob Staggenborg, a former educator and nature enthusiast. He co-hosts episodes with various naturalists and experts, sharing engaging discussions about wildlife, conservation, and outdoor exploration. The podcast aims to inspire curiosity about the natural world and encourage people to spend more time outside.
tag(s): animals (278), conservation (110), listening (119), podcasts (169)
In the Classroom
Students can work in small groups to research and record their own short nature-themed podcast episode using Buzzsprout, reviewed here or Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here, inspired by Nature Guys. They can script, narrate, and even add sound effects to bring their topic to life. While listening to an episode, students can take notes on interesting facts, key ideas, and new vocabulary. Afterward, they can share one thing they learned and one question they still have. After hearing about an animal or ecosystem from the podcast, students can choose a related topic to research and create a mini-presentation, poster, or digital slideshow with Canva Edu, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Virtual Yosemite - Virtual Yosemite
Grades
K to 12
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If visiting Yosemite National Park isn't possible, a virtual visit is the next best thing! Virtual Yosemite offers interactive park visits to dozens of locations around the park. After...more
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If visiting Yosemite National Park isn't possible, a virtual visit is the next best thing! Virtual Yosemite offers interactive park visits to dozens of locations around the park. After selecting a location, use your computer's controls to move the viewing area around for a complete 360-degree look at the site. Click on the regions featured within each location to view a pop-up description of the featured area or to move to a new location. Find complete information on using the tools available on the site by selecting the Tour Instructions link at the bottom of each page. Visit the education link for examples of integrating Virtual Yosemite into classroom lessons.
tag(s): glaciers (18), landforms (36), mountains (9), national parks (29), virtual field trips (142)
In the Classroom
Offer students time to explore Virtual Yosemite on their own. After some exploration, use FigJam, reviewed here to encourage students to share information they discovered by adding notes to FigJam. Add categories to Jamboard slides to encourage students to think about different features of locations they found, or add the name of specific areas and ask students to share what is shown on the virtual tour at that location. Ask students to create interactive images containing information about Yosemite National Park using the free creation tools available from Genially, reviewed here. Find many other ideas for virtual field trips at the TeachersFirst Special Topics Page, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Park Service - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 12
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Celebrate and learn about America's national parks through the home page of the National Park Service. This site provides comprehensive information on planning a park visit, exploring...more
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Celebrate and learn about America's national parks through the home page of the National Park Service. This site provides comprehensive information on planning a park visit, exploring nature, and volunteering. Choose from a variety of lesson plans in the Eductors section of the menu. Lesson plans are sortable by subject, grade level, and Common Core Standards. Most lessons will have a download button to print the lessons using the link to the PDF file. The National Park Service also offers several resources to loan to classrooms, such as traveling trunks. Although traveling trunks ship for free, you pay for return shipping.
tag(s): animal homes (54), animals (278), habitats (105), national parks (29)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to use with a wide variety of language arts, science, and social studies activities. Take advantage of the free lesson plans to include with your classroom activities. Include the section for kids with your other bookmarks on classroom computers for students to explore during science centers or during free reading time as a non-fiction selection. Share images from the media gallery with students as you study biomes, states, or historic areas of the United States. As students learn about different parks around the country, ask them to modify their technology use to create infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to share facts and information. Transform student technology use even further by asking students to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual field trip to a national park or across different biomes found in the United States. Include this site with your history lessons, then ask students to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create an animated map telling the story of historic events, including text, images, historical maps, and more.
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The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks - Google Arts & Culture
Grades
4 to 12
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Follow National Park Rangers on a remarkable journey in these 360-degree videos. Guides take viewers into the most interesting, yet unknown, places in six different park locations....more
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Follow National Park Rangers on a remarkable journey in these 360-degree videos. Guides take viewers into the most interesting, yet unknown, places in six different park locations. Choose a park to begin your journey, and explore locations by dragging the mouse or cursor around to view these sites from every angle.
tag(s): alaska (22), florida (12), hawaii (9), landforms (36), national parks (29), states (128), utah (2), virtual field trips (142)
In the Classroom
Share this beautiful site and images on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector, then have students explore on their own. This site can be included with many different geography units to teach landforms found around the United States. Use as a starting point to learn more about our National Parks and the National Park Service. Enhance learning by having students create an annotated image of other interesting geographic locations using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos using FlexClip, reviewed here, of behind-the-scenes information from your hometown, then share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Geological Tour - National Park Service
Grades
6 to 12
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Explore the many different kinds of geology available for viewing at the United States National Parks with this online tour. Choose from various categories to find links to parks with...more
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Explore the many different kinds of geology available for viewing at the United States National Parks with this online tour. Choose from various categories to find links to parks with that geologic theme. Some also include a short description of geologic features. Although this site looks quite simple, there is an abundance of information available for learning about geographic features around the United States.
tag(s): caves (7), fossils (44), geology (60), glaciers (18), mountains (9), national parks (29), plate tectonics (28), rivers (16), rocks (43), soil (17), volcanoes (59)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on geographic features on a projector or interactive whiteboard. After sharing, allow students to explore on their own. Share the locations using Google Earth, reviewed here, and have students add placeholders and information about each site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TL! Kids - Pledge and Activities - Tread Lightly! Inc
Grades
K to 5
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TL! Kids from Tread Lightly! helps children learn how to enjoy the outdoors safely, responsibly, and respectfully through engaging stories, printable resources, and hands-on activities....more
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TL! Kids from Tread Lightly! helps children learn how to enjoy the outdoors safely, responsibly, and respectfully through engaging stories, printable resources, and hands-on activities. The program features Lightfoot and friends, who introduce young learners to outdoor safety, environmental stewardship, and the T.R.E.A.D. principles. Teachers and families can download a free elementary curriculum, coloring book, pledge cards, and hiking checklist to support lessons about conservation and responsible recreation. Resources are suitable for classrooms, youth groups, and home learning, and include activities that teach trail safety, caring for plants and animals, respecting others, fire safety, and protecting natural spaces. Additional materials available through Tread Lightly!'s Education section include online courses, recreation tips, videos, infographics, and stewardship resources that help students become responsible outdoor explorers and environmental stewards.
tag(s): animals (278), conservation (110), environment (249), forests (31), game based learning (315), infographics (73), plants (142)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and coloring activities for use during Earth Day activities or with any unit on the environment. After learning about the T.R.E.A.D. principles, have students complete a scavenger hunt around the school grounds or a local park. Students can identify examples of responsible outdoor behavior and areas where people can help protect the environment. Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here of how to be environmentally responsible. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more.
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Ultimate Camp Resource - Ultimate Camp Resources
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
1 Comments
Enter the world of Ultimate Camp Resource and find a myriad of songs, games, and more to use at home, at camp, or in a classroom. Download and print all ...more
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Enter the world of Ultimate Camp Resource and find a myriad of songs, games, and more to use at home, at camp, or in a classroom. Download and print all skits, songs, games, or just the one you're interested in. Some of the songs even have videos!
tag(s): back to school (53), crafts (111), family (53), makerspace (41), seasonal (47), songs (50), sports (87), summer (49)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this tool for the first week of school or any time that you want to experience some "team-building" in your class. Use this site to find games and activities for classroom icebreakers. Find ideas on this site to build relationships among students. There is even an Art Project section (scroll to the bottom menu to find it) that has lots of crafts for your makerspace! Share this site with parent helpers to find ideas for classroom parties.Comments
This is a valuable resource, not just for summer!Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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Ranger Rick - National Wildlife Federation
Grades
K to 7
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Ranger Rick includes information geared more toward the primary grades and the Ranger Rick Magazine is geared toward grades 4-7. Find videos, projects, crafts, songs, printables, games...more
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Ranger Rick includes information geared more toward the primary grades and the Ranger Rick Magazine is geared toward grades 4-7. Find videos, projects, crafts, songs, printables, games and jokes, and animal facts. It is full of bright colors, kid-friendly graphics and real life pictures that go along with the information.
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This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animal homes (54), animals (278), game based learning (315), guided reading (32), independent reading (84), scientists (72)
In the Classroom
In the Animals sections, elementary students can conduct research on different kinds of animals including their place in the animal kingdom. At computer stations/centers have students look at the sets of animal pictures and identify common characteristics that are found for each set of animals to determine why they are categorized into each part of the animal kingdom. Use the interactive games as a center at an interactive whiteboard/projector. The games are fast and simple and can be used as a lesson opener to engage and capture the students attention.As a culminating activitiy, challenge students to write an adventure story where Ranger Rick and his animal friends have to get our of a sticky situation. Use a tool such as Canva Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here, for a nontech rough and final draft. If you're new to using technology with your students, or teach younger students augment techology use with ToonyTool, reviewed here, for their final drafts. To modify tech use in your class and for more experienced, older students try Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here.
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Google Maps Treks - Google
Grades
K to 12
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1 Comments
Never leave your easy chair as you journey beyond the road to faraway places using Google Maps Treks! Choose Gombe National Park, Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, Colorado River, or ...more
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Never leave your easy chair as you journey beyond the road to faraway places using Google Maps Treks! Choose Gombe National Park, Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, Colorado River, or the polar bears at Churchill. Tour Taj Mahal, Venice, Galapagos Islands, Eiffel Tower, Mt. Fuji, Everest, Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Basin, and more. Click on the option and then click the open in Maps or Views button. On maps with multiple placemarks, click the placemark to view information about the location, and then click the title to go to the map. Choose from a variety of images taken at various locations found along the bottom. Some images are photospheres and can be manipulated using the sphere icon along the bottom right. Use the arrows in the sphere to rotate the image, giving a panoramic view of the location as you click. Use the familiar Google map tools to zoom in and out. Some Treks offer short videos that are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): cultures (290), environment (249), images (271), maps (221), photography (136), virtual field trips (142)
In the Classroom
If you teach geography, this one is a must. It is also helpful for showing students where a story or news event takes place. View these different places whether your content includes history, geography, literature, science, languages, and more. View places discussed in class, or in stories. Look at different cultural areas or environments in the world. Choose a trek as an inspiration for further research about the area, the inspiration for a student created poem or short story, artistic work, and many other projects. Encourage student groups to choose one of the places on this site to present to the class, highlighting various economic, recreational, historical, and cultural factors at each place. You may want students to use a tool such as Knoema, reviewed here, or Data - The World Bank, reviewed here, to make sure students get accurate information. Use this as a class "Where I visited in Google Maps" project! As students ask questions about the various places, encourage discovery in finding the answers together.Comments
Can't wait to use this after the Lit Trip session.Patricia, NJ, Grades: 6 - 12
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Junior Rangers Online - National Park Service
Grades
3 to 8
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Join the National Park Service and become a Junior Ranger Online! Don your ranger hat and go on virtual tours and watch videos. Continue learning at home by visiting the ...more
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Join the National Park Service and become a Junior Ranger Online! Don your ranger hat and go on virtual tours and watch videos. Continue learning at home by visiting the Conservation At Home section. Learn how to complete activities and receive a Junior Ranger Badge and Certificate from the National Parks Service through their downloadable PDF. The National Park Service also offers materials for educators, although they are a little difficult to find. Select the Menu icon with three bars and click on Educators or go here. Find lesson plans and activities using a keyword search and filters by subject, grade level, and Common Core Standards.
tag(s): animals (278), landmarks (19), national parks (29), plants (142), virtual field trips (142)
In the Classroom
Use the Educator's resources to find many curriculum connections and alignment to Common Core. Introduce one of the WebRangers' multimedia resources to your class on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site as a precursor activity to an actual trip to one of the parks or as you study states and their major landmarks. Use this in science class as you study animals and habitats. Explore the landmarks in your own city or town and create multimedia presentations about them like the ones shown here. In the Teacher's Resource Guide, find the link to their X (formerly Twitter) account. Even if students are unable to physically visit and explore parks, use the virtual visits to learn about the National Parks around the country and offer students the opportunity to earn Junior Ranger certificates. Create a map using Google My Maps, reviewed here, and add places visited by your class throughout the school year. In addition to labeling locations, add images, videos, and student text to share information about each location.
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Kidscamps.com - Internet Brands, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
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This comprehensive directory lists thousands of summer learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Day and overnight camp choices include those focusing on sports, special needs, family,...more
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This comprehensive directory lists thousands of summer learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Day and overnight camp choices include those focusing on sports, special needs, family, self-improvement, arts, adventure, and academics. They also offer Online camps. The site also includes advice for parents about selecting, paying, and packing for summer camp.
In the Classroom
Provide this link on your class website during the Spring. Share the website with your students to prepare them to discuss summer camps with their parents. In pairs, ask them to select two categories they are interested in and investigate what is offered and if there is a camp close to them. Create a Padlet for students to list the features of the category they explored.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Smokey Kids - USDA Forest Service
Grades
1 to 6
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Elementary students can learn about the importance of America's forests while gaining an understanding of how fire can threaten and destroy this valuable resource. On the top menu,...more
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Elementary students can learn about the importance of America's forests while gaining an understanding of how fire can threaten and destroy this valuable resource. On the top menu, click the Resources for Kids and then find Educational Resources to find several activities in PDF format for Elementary and Middle School students - puzzles, puppets, and printable coloring book pages. The bottom menu has plenty of student activities from which to choose. Next, use the search box to visit the "Only You" section to learn about the science of forest fires, discover how some are actually beneficial, and find out how to prevent disastrous wildfires.
tag(s): fire (24), fire prevention (16), fire safety (16), forests (31), safety (63)
In the Classroom
Use the PDF activities in a learning center as part of a unit or lesson on fire safety and prevention. Have students complete the activities in pairs, letting them pick which of the games they want to play in the given time. If you are looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to extend their learning by creating a blog using Seesaw, reviewed here, to share their learning and understanding with peers and parents.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kids Gardening - National Gardening Association
Grades
3 to 8
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Kids Gardening offers a wide range of ideas and resources to help educators and caregivers bring gardening into their classrooms and communities. The home page provides a helpful overview...more
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Kids Gardening offers a wide range of ideas and resources to help educators and caregivers bring gardening into their classrooms and communities. The home page provides a helpful overview of at-home activities, projects, and educator supports. The top menu makes it easy to explore topics such as What's New, where you can browse recent posts, garden stories, and updates. The Learning Tools section includes Getting Started guides for educators and caregivers, as well as resources, lessons, and hands-on activities focused on play, learning, and growing a garden. Whether you are looking for step-by-step how-to guides, inspiration for indoor or outdoor garden projects, or practical ways to create meaningful "gardening moments," this site offers a rich collection of ideas to support youth gardening in any setting.
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In the Classroom
If you aren't lucky enough to have outdoor gardening space, take advantage of ideas offered for indoor gardens, such as terrariums and container gardening. Check out the extensive lesson library to search by theme, standards, season, and more. You will also find lessons and activities appropriate for science and math. Use the Growing Poems, found here to enhance your classroom poetry unit. Whatever activities you choose, have students record the growth in their garden or container by taking photos. As a summation for your gardening project use Photo Joiner Collage Maker, reviewed here to create a collage of your garden photos with special effects, text, frames, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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