Discovering Animals: A Comprehensive Guide to Learning Resources
Introduction
Animals have always fascinated humans, sparking curiosity and inspiring art, music, and scientific inquiry. From the smallest insects to the largest whales, the animal kingdom offers a wealth of knowledge and wonder. Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or simply an animal enthusiast, numerous resources are available to deepen your understanding and appreciation of wildlife. This article explores a variety of learning resources about animals, catering to different age groups and interests.
Engaging with Animals at Home
Many engaging and fun ways exist to learn about animals, plants, and wildlife conservation at home. Students, parents, and educators can discover a wide variety of online options, from live animal cams to videos and activities, to lessons and courses designed for different age groups, to resources for research, and even participating in community science.
Zoos and Wildlife Explorers
The San Diego Zoo is bringing the Zoo to you, through San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers Corner! In each episode, you'll be taken on a fun and wild adventure to learn more about animals and their lifestyles. Dr. Zoolittle, Roberta the Zebra, and a cast of cool characters share stories, jokes, poems, songs, and interesting facts about wildlife.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance scientists are engaged in a wide variety of studies to help animals and plants all over the world. Anyone can become a “community scientist” and contribute valuable data to conservation scientists through this online tool. Help count and identify giraffes and other wildlife in field sites in Africa with Wildwatch Kenya, and help identify populations of burrowing owls and their behaviors with Wildwatch Burrowing Owl.
Learning to read scientific literature is an important and useful skill. These fact sheets-commonly used by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance team members and freely available online-summarize information on an animal species or animal group. This activity is designed for middle school students, but can also be done at the high school level if appropriate. It is an art and craft style activity requiring a few household supplies.
Read also: Understanding PLCs
Biodiversity Investigations
The Biodiversity Investigations Field Mission was created in collaboration with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the San Diego Natural History Museum to enhance middle school student exploration and learning around the iNaturalist community science program and the Life in a Biodiversity Hotspot program. This is a three-part educational experience, in which educators introduce their students to iNaturalist; students actively explore biodiversity concepts at the Beckman Center, and students are led through an iNaturalist Biodiversity Investigation, focused on scientific research being conducted at the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Hands-On Activities for Young Learners
Take a walk on the wild side through the San Diego Zoo! Note: the resources provided below are abbreviated Project WILD activities.
Ant Adventures
Children go outside to observe ant behavior and learn about insect characteristics. Gather some potential ant food items (ripe fruit, bread, moldy leaves, raisins, etc.). Ask them which they think the ants will like the best and why.
Test it! Gather a paper plate and divide it into fourths. Place one food item in each section and set it out where ants would find it. Observe what happens. Where do ants go the most? Talk about the ant behavior. Use a magnifying glass or get up close to see what the ant looks like. How many body parts? What are noticible features?
Follow up with the following ideas: Draw a picture of the ants. Use craft materials to make an ant. Have an ant snack (celery with nut butter and raisins).
Read also: Learning Resources Near You
Spider Web Wonders
Children learn about spiders and spider webs Have a discussion about spiders. What do they look like? How did they behave? Where did you find them? Go outside and look for spiders and spider webs. Take pictures or draw sketches. When you get back, read a book about spiders. Play the Spider Web Match game Use tape to create a web between the legs of a chair or table. Throw cotton balls at the web and see what gets stuck, and what gets through. Spider Web Wonders Home Connections Aaaarrggghh! Spider!
Earthworm Explorations
Children learn about and observe earthworms After a rain, or if you have a garden, look for worms. Bring a damp paper towel with you on your search, and gently (and with clean hands) place the worms on the paper towel. Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look. Draw or take pictures of the worms. Guide their observations by asking: What color is the worm? How many pinky lengths is it? What is it doing? (Courtesy of Rusty Garrison) Growing Up WILD, p. 10; Ages 3-7
Animal Impressions
Have students color a selection of the animal cards found here. Message some of your family and friends asking them to send a video with their impressions of each of the animals. Sort the responses into three categories: a smiley face, a neutral face, and a frowny face. Make a Venn diagram or a bar graph using sticky notes. Be sure to include your own feelings about the animals! Talk with your child about why they feel the way they do about certain animals. What do they know about the animal, and what would they like to find out? Spend some time learning about the animal through books, pictures, stories, and videos. Are there any animals they have changed their mind about?
Understanding Animal Adaptations
Advantages and importance of bird adaptations Birds have a variety of physical adaptations - including characteristics of beaks, feet, legs, wings, and coloration. Those adaptations have evolved so that the birds is better suited to its particular environment and lifestyle. Discuss those variations and look at pictures of real birds. Look for pictures of birds that primarily live in water, forests, mountains or deserts. Look for raptors, migratory birds, birds endemic to your state.
Designing a Bird
Design your own bird! Decide on the following: where the bird will live what it will eat how it moves its gender or sex, and how it raises its young Using that list of adaptations, create a bird by drawing or sculpting. Have the student write a short report that includes the name of the bird and its food sources, habitat, and lifestyle. Also include the list of adaptations, and advantages provided by those adaptations.
Read also: Learning Civil Procedure
Essential Components for Survival
Sort out essential components for survival Place the following items in a bag or pillowcase: water bottle to represent water, food items, small toy house to represent shelter, piece of paper with the word "space" written on it to represent an area to live in, a book, pair of sunglasses, toy phone, box of crayons or markers, toy car (to represent a real car), watch or clock, stuffed animal, camera, other appropriate items that represent "wants" and "needs"
Have a discussion about how there are many things in our lives that we rely on to make us happy and healthy, Some are "wants", or things we do not need to survive, and other things are "needs", or things that are essential for our survival. Think of some things they need to live each day and write them down. Next, think of things they do not need but taht make their lives more fun or convenient. List those, too.
Have your child pull out an item from the bag and determine if it is a "want" or "need". Make two piles and place the items in the appropriate pile. Make sure they explain WHY they put each item in the pile they chose. Some items may be challenging. If so, create a third pile that represents both a want and a need. Hint: use two hula hoops and then overlap them to create a Venn diagram.
Once all the items have been placed in a pile, ask if they se any items that could be moved from one pile to the other and why. Discuss why all the "want" items are truly "wants". For example, books are important to learn new things, but you can also learn from talking to others, or asking teachers or parents. Books are nice, but not necessary for survival.
Now, ask your child to imagine any animal and think about that animal's needs. What does that animal need to survive? Food? Water? Shelter? Space? Something else? Reinforce that all animals have the same basic needs - food, water, shelter, space. Additionally, all these things must be in the proper arrangement, which is called "habitat".
Ask your child: Could you live in a home where the bathroom was 4 miles in one direction, the kitchen was 12 miles in another direction, and bedroom was 9 miles in yet another direction? No! Could they survive without water? Could they survive without food? Could they survive without space in which to run and live and grow? Not for long! Humans can survive in confined conditions for certain periods of time, but without enough space to obtain resources and maintain a helathy distance from others, human can become sick. Both humans and animals must have all these things to survive.
Wildlife as Inspiration for Art
What do Leonardo da Vinci and photographers have in common? Wildlife as inspiration for art! Before you take a virtual trip to a museum, discuss different kinds of art that people have created throughout human history, including cave drawings, pottery, baskets, costumes, paintings, sculptures, drawings, dances, photography, literature, and music. Ask your child what might inspire art.
Take a virtual tour of a museum. Ask your child to find examples of wildlife represented in art. What kinds of wildlife do they see? What kinds of art? Use the Museum Search for Wildlife Chart to record what you see. Did they see the same animal more than once? How was it represented each time? Note: domestic animals are also depicted frequently in art. It may be useful to distinguish between wild and domesticated animals.
Discuss they ways wildlife was portrayed, and what that might say about the intet, feelings, or ideas held by the artist. What was the relationship between wildlife and people during different time periods? What were your clues?
Connecting to Nature Through Music
Connect to nature through music Ask your child to listen to the lyrics of popular songwriters in contemporary music. Look for artists who include lyrics with an environmental message. Listen to the lyrics. If possible, obtain written versions of the lyrics. Identify the particular issues being written about in these songs. You may need ot find out more about the issues in order to attempt to better understand the perspective of the artist as conveyed in the lyrics. Have your child write their own environmentally themed songs. Take them outside where it may be easier to brainstorm nature-centered lyrics.
Naturalist Journals
How do naturalists use words to record nature? Using a journal that your child has made, or a pre-made notebook, locate a comfortable area outside. Ask your child to sit quietly, listening carefully for any sounds. Note: This is a great opportunity for you to model what you want your child to do. Ask your child to look with "soft eyes" or eyes taht do not focus specifically on any one thing, but broadly sense the environment. "Hard eyes" are good for looking closely at a squirrel running up a tree. Encourage your child to try both.
After five or ten minutes, talk with them about their observations. Read an excerpt from your writing, or one from another naturalist, such as John Muir. Give your child more time to become acquainted with journaling. Try to make time for this practice on a regular basis - 3-5 times a week. In addition to being a record of impressions, feelings, and observations, a journal can become a log of important data to refer to later. It can reflect changes in ecosystems, vegetative types, and animal populations as well as attitudes about things.
Investigating Wildlife Habitats
What wild animals have a habitat at our study site? Before going outside to investigate the area, ask your child if wildlife lives in the area. Waht kinds of animals might live there? Why these animals and not others? Provide your child with a base map of the area, or a paper, pencil, and clipboard. Give your child a compass and explain how it works. Together, answer questions such as which wall the door, windows, etc. are on: north, south, east, or west?
Go outside and look at the map and surroundings to determine their current location. Using the compass, have them identify which way is north and draw a compass rose on their map. Survey the area to determine which species of wildlife might live there. What evidence is there? Tracks, scat, feathers, chewed plants, etc. Mark any observations on the map.
Once back inside, research one of the animals. Their research should include what the animal eats, how it gets water, where it lives, and its habitat requirements. Now, go back outside with the maps and locate and record sources of food, water, and shelter for the animal.
Urban Wildlife Exploration
What's wild in the city? Copy and cut out each of theWhat's Wild in Your City? Activity Cards. Ask your child what wildlife they've observed in the city. Define wildlife and habitate, and discuss the diversity of wildlife. Provide your child with one of the activity cards, a pencil and a notebook, journal, or camera. Make sure they understand that wildife includes insects, spiders, and other invertebrates as well as birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. Encourage them to look for indirect evidence such as tracks, webs, droppings, feathers, and nests. They may find evidence at different heights, or layers, of habitat. Let them know they can identify wildlife species without knowing the animal's formal name. For instance, they can describe a black bird with a short tail, or a long tail.
Once you return from your search, discuss what you saw. What characteristic life forms did the children find? Which organisms might they find in a rural setting? Do they think the behavior of the animals would be the same in both locations? Why or why not? Allow your children time to research some of the animals they found.
Wildlife Challenges and Solutions
Water Mileage
How many miles per gallon does a desert bighorn sheep get? Provide your children with the Water Mileage and Water Mileage Challenge student pages, which contain background information about desert bighorn sheep and gopher tortoises. Review the background information and have them calculate the answers to the questions on the student pages.
Migration Barriers
Is there a solution for this deer crossing dilemma? Provide your child with the Migration Barriers Student Page, which is based on an actual situation in Idaho. Read the information and discuss and evaluate options they think are available to resolve the situation in the best possible manner. Have your child present and explain their recommendations.
Extinction Analysis
What drives a species ot the edge of extinction? Choose a featured animal and provide your child with the Issue Analysis Sheet. Read the wildlife background information sheet complete the Issue Analysis Sheet. Discuss their species and its recovery. Are there any additional options that might be considered to resolve these conflicts? Have your child prepare a media brief about their animal. It can be a short "infomercial", formal presentation, brochure, article, or webpage. Make sure they emphasize the issues and conflicts involved int eh animal's recovery and include different options to mitigate the conflict.
If time allows, complete the process for each of the species, or have different students choose different species. Compare and contrast among the species using these guiding questions: What changes or events had to occur before species recover projects could begin? How did the decline of the species affect people? The environment? What issues or potential conflicts are involved in the recovery of the animal?
Mapping Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife
Putting precipitation, vegetation, and wildlife on the map Note: this activity requires the use of Google Earth. What do they see in the photos? List features taht are biotic (living - such as plants and animals) and abiotic (nonliving - such as terrain and water features). What are the differences and similarities? Have your child define "climate" (long-term averages and variations in weather measured over a period of several decades). What factors make up the climate of an area? (temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure, sunshine or cloudiness, and winds). What factors might account for different cliamtes in the world? (elevation, topography, latitude, proximity to the ocean). How does climate affect what plants and animals live in an ara? What animals might live in the photos shown? Discuss the idea that all things, living and nonliving, are connected.
Your child will analyze different maps of their state to better understand the relationship between climate, vegetation, and wildlife. They will combine data onto a digital map by referencing 1) an annual precipitation map, 2) an annual temperature map, 3) a vegetation map, and 4) maps of wildlife ranges. They will then look for predictable relationships - correlations - between these living and nonliving habitat components.
Using either a physical copy of a map or a digital copy, begin adding data points to the digital map from locations around the state. A step-by-step tutorial can be foundhere. Annual precipitation and temperatures can be found through online databases such as the National Climatic Data Center. State climate offices may be able to provide maps with this information as well. If using paper maps, trace the data onto the hard copy.
Have your child separate teh statewide precipitation into four rainfall-level groups, such as 0-10 cm, 10.1-20 cm, 20.1-30 cm, greater than 30 cm. These categories may need to be adjusted depending on the typical rainfall amounts in your state. Assign a color for each level of rainfall. Referencing the average annual precipitation data from your selected source, ask them to make "pin points" that show the annual precipitation at different locations across the state. Have them include the elevation at each location where they add a pin point. Divide the state into areas according to the different levels of rainfall. Using the colors designated for each level of rainfall, have students a…
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Resources
Choose from a variety of toolkits featuring information guides and activities about some of WWF’s priority species and conservation goals. New for the 2025-2026 school year! Greenprints for the Future provides financial and personalized support, along with ready-to-use teaching resources, to help support educators in guiding their students toward meaningful environmental action. Whether they are addressing biodiversity loss, food waste, energy use, or other local issues, students will apply classroom learning to design and carry out real-world sustainability projects in their schools and communities.
WEBINARS FOR EDUCATORS: Throughout the school year, join Wild Classroom in The Wild Teacher's Lounge, a fun learning series designed for educators that are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders. Kick off 2026 on a green foot by integrating hands-on sustainability learning into your curriculum, turning your everyday lessons into impactful experiences for your students. Join the Wild Classroom team to explore creative project-based learning (PBL) opportunities that connect kids with nature and empower them to take action for a greener future. We’ll share some of our favorite resources, simple classroom integrations, and real-world impact ideas, perfect for any learning setting.
LIVESTREAMS FOR STUDENTS: Wild Classroom has teamed up with Exploring By the Seat Of Your Pants to bring WWF conservation experts into your learning space through interactive live events and videos. From Pest to Profit: All About Invasive Species! Come learn about invasive species - one of the biggest threats to animals, plants, people, and the environment. Julia Kurnik works on WWF’s Markets Institute team where she works on innovative strategies to make our food and agriculture system more environmentally sustainable. One of her projects has been examining invasive species - the harm they cause, and how we can find alternative, profitable uses for them to help fight these problematic plants and animals. In this session, she’ll discuss what invasives are and why we should care about them and share some surprising facts and strategies for how we can tackle this threat to biodiversity together. Read more about Ms.
Additional Online Resources
One subject most kids enjoy learning about is animals. Picture books with animal characters are firm favorites with the younger crowd, and non-fiction books about animals are popular with curious older kids. Kids also love to observe animals, in real life visits to the zoo perhaps, or via some of the well-made documentaries available. Children and adults alike can't help grinning delightedly when they see baby animals. It's a great place to play conversation games like choosing the cutest one or deciding on a fantasy pet. It might also make a good jumping-off point for research on animals or a school project. Both sites offer stacks of resources on animals, including videos. Young children will benefit from your help with some of the heavier reading, and there'll be lots of opportunities for you to discuss what you learn. Despite being better suited for older children, young dinosaur fans will still adore looking at the images and videos about dinosaurs on this BBC site. Moms and dads can help youngsters read some of the fascinating fact sheets seen by clicking on images.
I wrote about ARKive back in 2010, and it's still one of my favorite web spaces. Again, children will get more from this site if their parents spend time discussing and sharing it with them. You can browse by topics, species, habitats, and more, but make sure to check out the education section. I love that it has materials suitable even for 5- to 7-year-olds, with children encouraged to learn through activities like making animal masks. As well as finding some excellent fact sheets, here they can play animal-themed games, like Who Am I, where they need to identify animal sounds. For another lighthearted approach to learning about animals, try the What If You Had Animal… Switch Zoo is another site where the learning is slightly disguised by fun! Children can play animal games, create their own wacky new animals, even solve jigsaw puzzles. Follow up with a visit to your local library or zoo to extend the experience.
Specific Animal Focused Projects
An outreach program from the Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, that gets children of all ages involved in science. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. A project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn about city pigeons, watch pigeons for science, learn cool facts, and increase awareness of nature in your neighborhood. A project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Celebrate Urban Bird outreach is presented in English or Spanish. 650 Mini Grants or a 10 Minutes bird observation project.
Resources for Research
The American Physiological Society (The APS) provides answers to FAQ’s about animals in research. A not-for-profit Wildscreen initiative, whose mission is to promote public understanding, appreciation and conservation of biodiversity. This is the personal home page of Guillaume Chapron. CSIRO built this site to accompany an identification key to fly families of Australia and the US NSF-funded research into the evolutionary history of flies. high-resolution digital imaging for four major fly groups. eNature,com provides comprehensive searches of Wildlife Guides to more than 5,500 species in North America. The Smithsonian Institution presents ways to search for mammals. using skulls, bone and teeth images. The University of Minnesota’s, Center for Primate Studies permits discovery of chimpanzees. Access information, videos, sounds of chimps and those who research their behavior. View video clips or a selection on entire NOVA programs online.
Wildlife Threats and Conservation
Wildlife in Washington face a wide range of threats, from disease and invasive species to declining habitat and climate change. You can help by being a good steward for wildlife, habitat, and the environment. You don’t have to trek through the wilderness to enjoy wildlife. No matter where you live, the ocean touches your life every day. Animals also grow up in different ways. Wildlife in Washington face a wide range of threats, from disease and invasive species to declining habitat and climate change. extinction crisis.
tags: #learning #resources #about #animals
