By Bernheim
Even though Bernheim is closed, we hope you’ll still find ways to experience nature with your families from the comfort of your own homes. Below is a list of some online resources that will help you connect with nature (and more!). Follow the orange links below to let your nature fun begin!
There are plenty of others out there – we encourage you to find any activities that help provide fun for your families.
Online Activities
Scholastic created the Scholastic Learn at Home website to provide students with approximately 20 days worth of learning journeys that span various content areas. Students get approximately three hours of learning opportunities per day, including projects based on articles and stories, virtual field trips, reading and geography challenges, and more.
The Smithsonian offers many games, activities, and online learning tools to explore a variety of topics, including wildlife, ecology, conservation, and geography.
National Geographic Kids has information on any topic you could dream of. From animals and current nature happenings around the world to Women Heroes of History and US Presidents, they’re covering all the bases. Their website offers videos, quizzes, activities, and more.
PBS has many resources and videos on a variety of learning topics. There are tips for handling COVID, interactive book explorations, online classes, and more
Cincinnati Zoo is bringing the zoo to you! Everyday at 3 p.m., the zoo is airing live sessions with different animals, posted on their website and Facebook.
New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems is hosting daily lunch doodles at 1 p.m. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.
Explore.org offers 100s of live cams of many different animal species and habitats. Check in to see a pair of bald eagles sitting on their nest, relax to a live feed of Blackney Pass where orcas frequent, or get a pick me up by watching puppies frolick. Whatever your interest, you can find it here.
Conservation educators with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will be hosting special Facebook Live sessions at 1 p.m. (Eastern) on weekdays.
The New England Aquarium is offering free virtual visits and online lessons, live presentations, and activities to try from home.
Currently, all eight Ivy Leagues—Brown, Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania—are offering 450 active, free courses across a range of topics digitally. All you have to do is visit Class Central, find the area of study you’re most interested in, and sign up through that university’s website.
Head to the Audubon website to learn more about all species of birds, how to attract them, and how you can become a birder yourself. They have a native plants database to help you learn which local plants attract which birds, a North American Bird Guide to help you identify mysterious winged guests, and activities to help you make your yard bird friendly.
Offline Activities
Learning Through Landscapes is posting weekly outdoor learning and play activities, while children are at home due to Covid-19. Their free outdoor learning ideas and outdoor lesson plans (different link) are ideal for curricular led outdoor learning or forest school type activities. These outdoor learning ideas have been developed and proven by teachers and early years educators. These can be searched by age group and subject type.
Kentucky Environmental Education Council has lists of activities and projects for families to do together. Most of these take place outdoors, but some can be enjoyed inside as well. They even have ideas for ways to connect with nature while helping to flatten the curve.
The North American Association for Environmental Education is offering a collection of Home-based & distance environmental education (google doc).
Nature is a great teacher! Try these activity ideas from Project Learning Tree to connect the children in your life to the outdoors and nature. Suitable for children ages 3 – 15, some activities work better for younger children, others are more suited for older children. The way you present them will change depending on your child’s knowledge and ability.
Discover the role of water in our lives through Project WET. This website helps children explore how water impacts our lives, the importance of water in different habitats, and how we can help keep out water sources clean. The site includes videos, online activities, and printable pages for offline investigations. There is also an activity that highlights the importance of washing hands with soap and water.
PNC Grow Up Great® offers lessons designed by a variety of grant partners (highly regarded organizations and early childhood educators) to enhance hands-on learning for young children. These free printable lesson plans are organized by preschool themes.