Discover more about how different organisms live. Read interviews with paleontologists and learn how they study extinct species.

FOR STUDENTS

		Online Field Journal: Compare Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 No matter what the weather or season, you can explore nature with these 11 online challenges. See just how good your observation skills are by comparing butterflies, leaves, reptiles, fish, and more.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Online Field Journal: Dioramas Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 Now you can gaze at your favorite museum diorama anytime you want, night or day. Grab your crayons, and create a shoe-box replica of A Wading Bird Rookery, The Olympic Rain Forest, or A Giant Cactus Forest.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Online Field Journal: Field Journals Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 Don't just explore the wonders of nature. Record them! From seashells and birds to animal tracks and spiders, these printable field journals are great guides for your next nature walk.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Make Your Own Biodiversity Stationery Activity for grades Kindergarten through 8 Honor extinct animals, send a desert snapshot, or let an emperor scorpion deliver your message. Just add your name and address to these colorful stationery files.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Going, Going, Gone? Article for grades 3 through 8 Today, species are becoming extinct—disappearing from our planet—at a faster rate than ever before. What's behind this increase, and what can be done to slow or stop it?
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Endangered Species Game Activity for grades 3 through 8 Roll snake eyes, and you're on your way to survival. Land on the extinct box, though, and you're gone. Kaput. Finis. In this board game, your very survival is at stake!
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Beyond T. rex Evidence and Analysis for grades 3 through 8 Only a small fraction of the 400-plus known species of extinct dinosaurs have appeared on TV and movie screens. Meet some of the more unusual members of T. rex and Velociraptor's family tree.
		Webpage [plugins: Flash] More about this Resource

		Work the System Article for grades 3 through 8 Did you know that forests with leaves above the water can grow in the ocean? Grab the magical magnifying glass, and see how many different plants and animals you can find in this virtual mangrove swamp.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Tree of Life Article for grades 3 through 8 Think of a cladogram as the ultimate family tree. On it, you can see how all living things are related, including the single ancestor they all share. Learn more about Earth's Tree of Life.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		It Takes All Kinds to Make a World Article for grades 3 through 8 The ocean's one diverse place—with alga so tiny that 10 million can fit in a single teaspoon to whales longer than three school buses. Take the surfboard challenge, and ride the waves of biodiversity!
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Web of Life Game Activity for grades 3 through 8 When you're done, it may look like you have a tangled mess of twine. But don't be fooled. You'll have created something much more than that—the web of life for an ecosystem!
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Welcome to the Dzanga-Sangha Article for grades 3 through 8 Travel to the lush Dzanga-Sangha rainforest with BaAka. This excellent tour guide will show you the sights—and help you find the clues needed to play Connect the Dots.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Kids in the Hall of Biodiversity Article for grades 3 through 8 What's the fastest running bird? Why are coral reefs important to all life? And should humans be scared of sharks? Find these answers and more in this Web site created by kids for kids.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		What Do You Know About Paleontology? Activity for grades 3 through 8 How much do you know about the Age of Dinosaurs? Brush the dust and other sediment off your brain, and test your paleontology knowledge with this interactive quiz.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		What's the Big Idea About Paleontology? Article for grades 3 through 8 Most living things never become fossils. And most of the fossils created will never be found. Learn more about these extremely rare—and valuable—records of the past.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Fossil Halls: Timelines Exhibition Materials for all ages Step back in time to a point of your choosing—from 370 million to 19,000 years ago. You can see a lone Smilodon stalk prey or a group of prehistoric fish cruise the bottom of a muddy estuary.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Fossil Halls Exhibition Materials for all ages Take a virtual stroll through the Museum's Fossil Halls any time, day or night. You can get a close-up look at some of our most famous dinosaurs and meet the early relatives of mammals.
		Webpage More about this Resource

FOR STUDENTS...MORE CHALLENGING

		Spectrum of Habitats Exhibition Materials for grades 6 through 12 Did you know that the world's deserts keep expanding each year? Or that islands have the highest animal extinction rate—75 percent? Take a closer look at the major habitats found on Earth.
		PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 4155kb] [pages: 20] More about this Resource

BACKGROUND FOR EDUCATORS

		Oscawana: A Dying Lake? Article for grades 6 through 12 Oscawana has all the symptoms of a dying lake. Join this seventh-grader from New York as she hunts for the culprits—and examines what can be done to restore the lake.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Saguaro Cactus: From Life to Death Article for grades 6 through 12 Journey to the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona with this seventh-grader for an up-close and personal look at the saguaro cactus, which can live about 200 years and grow to be almost 80 feet tall.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Transformation of the Bioshphere: Global Environmental Change Exhibition Materials for grades 6 through 12 Neglecting our planet's soils, atmosphere, and water is costly. It has harmed ecosystems and species, and it is degrading the quality of human life. Take a worldwide look at some of the effects.
		PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 1909kb] [pages: 5] More about this Resource

		Theropod Fossil Hunt Dispatch Article for grades 6 through 12 In 1996, Dr. Mark Norell was stunned by a 3x5-inch photograph shown to him by a colleague. Follow along as that snapshot leads him to Dave, a well-preserved fossil of a feathered dromaeosaur.
		Webpage More about this Resource

Explore the great diversity of plants found on the Earth. Learn to use a dichotomous key to identify plants and trees.

FOR STUDENTS

		Online Field Journal: Field Journals Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 Don't just explore the wonders of nature. Record them! From seashells and birds to animal tracks and spiders, these printable field journals are great guides for your next nature walk.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Online Field Journal: Compare Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 No matter what the weather or season, you can explore nature with these 11 online challenges. See just how good your observation skills are by comparing butterflies, leaves, reptiles, fish, and more.
		Webpage More about this Resource

FOR STUDENTS...MORE CHALLENGING

		Dispatch from the Deep: Light and Dark in the Sea Article for grades 6 through 12 Only the top 200 meters (656 feet) of the ocean get enough light to support plants. Below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), there's complete darkness. So how do organisms on the sea floor find food?
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Plant Morphology Evidence and Analysis for grades 6 through 12 From leaf margin and arrangement to the parts of a flower and a corn seedling, take an illustrated look at plant morphology with this collection of guides.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Dichotomous Key for Conifers Evidence and Analysis for grades 6 through 12 Like all dichotomous keys, this one for conifers, fittingly looks like a series of branches. Gather a twig that has the tree’s cones or fruits on it. Then branch out and identify your conifer.
		Webpage Webpage PDF More about this Resource

BACKGROUND FOR EDUCATORS

		The Growth Patterns of Aspens Article for grades 6 through 12 Is an aspen's diameter affected by its distance from the center of the grove? The search for the answer to this question sent this 8th-grader from Colorado on a two-year-plus expedition.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Botanical Gardens Reference List for grades 6 through 12 One of the best ways to see a wide range of plant—and often wildlife—diversity is to visit a botanical garden or arboretum. Track down the nearest one with this guide.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Saguaro Cactus: From Life to Death Article for grades 6 through 12 Journey to the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona with this seventh-grader for an up-close and personal look at the saguaro cactus, which can live about 200 years and grow to be almost 80 feet tall.
		Webpage More about this Resource

Discover how scientists classify and describe animals.

FOR STUDENTS

		Online Field Journal: Compare Activity for grades Kindergarten through 5 No matter what the weather or season, you can explore nature with these 11 online challenges. See just how good your observation skills are by comparing butterflies, leaves, reptiles, fish, and more.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Kids in the Hall of Biodiversity Article for grades 3 through 8 What's the fastest running bird? Why are coral reefs important to all life? And should humans be scared of sharks? Find these answers and more in this Web site created by kids for kids.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		They Glow! Article for grades 3 through 8 Most of the deep sea is very dark, with little or no sunlight. But that doesn't mean marine animals are in the dark! Learn how these clever creatures create their own light.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Create a Coral Reef Activity for grades 3 through 8 Did you know that, at their core, coral reefs are the skeletons of thousands of dead coral? Make your own coral reef diorama—with pasta, Play-Doh™, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and hair curlers.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Journey to the Bottom of the Sea Activity for grades 3 through 8 Did you know sound moves five times faster in water than in air? Or that cleaner fish have "cleaning stations" where they remove parasites? Deepen your knowledge with this ocean life challenge.
		Webpage More about this Resource

FOR STUDENTS...MORE CHALLENGING

		Life on the Reef Article for grades 6 through 8 In September 2000, marine biologists from across the U.S. gathered in the Bahamas to study creatures along one of the world's largest barrier reefs. They even got help from NASA. Dive in to their expedition findings.
		Webpage [plugins: Flash] More about this Resource

		Endangered! Exhibition Materials for all ages African wild dog, Asian elephant, Indian python, American crocodile—threats to endangered animals are a global problem. Explore a world at risk, and learn what you can do to help.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Let's Talk With Mark Siddall About How Organisms Eat Article for grades 6 through 12 Did you know the cone snail harpoons and then reels in fish to eat? That whales and dolphins hunt cooperatively? Or that some fish create a huge negative pressure zone to suck in their prey?
		PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 436kb] [pages: 7] More about this Resource

		Let's Talk with Paula Mikkelsen about Marine Invertebrates and How They Move Article for grades 6 through 12 Clams that bounce up and down like yo-yos, others that balloon their foot with blood, and squids that zip around using jet propulsion—the ocean's filled with remarkable creatures on the move!
		PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 996kb] [pages: 8] More about this Resource

BACKGROUND FOR EDUCATORS

		¡Que Vivan las Serpientes Muertas! Article for grades 6 through 12 "What can I do for a decent science fair project?" See how this 12th-grader from Ohio turned his answer to this common question—a road mortality survey of snakes—into a four-year study and a published paper.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Morphologic Variation in the Common Periwinkle Article for grades 6 through 12 The common periwinkle, now one of the most abundant marine gastropods on the North Atlantic coast, was introduced accidentally to Nova Scotia around 1857. Investigate it with an 11th-grader from Maine.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Frogs: A Chorus of Colors Exhibition Materials for all ages Their voices have filled the night with song since the dawn of the dinosaurs, but now environmental changes threaten their existence. Explore the brilliant colors and survival tactics of the world's frogs.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Spotlight on Spiders Evidence and Analysis for grades 6 through 12 Not all spiders trap their prey in webs. Crab spiders patiently lie in wait, and wolf spiders actively hunt their prey. Take a closer look at the diverse spiders that live everywhere but Antarctica.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Respect for Creatures in the Classroom: The First Lesson of Stewardship Article for all ages No snail is too slimy or snake too slithery for Amy O'Donnell to handle without hesitation. Find out why she thinks a hands-on experience is the best way to teach young kids to care for the planet.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Spiders: We'd Probably All Be Dead Without Them Article for grades 6 through 12 Think you'd prefer a world without spiders? Think again! Without these terrestrial predators, humans would probably starve within a matter of months. Find out why spiders are your friends.
		Webpage [plugins: RealMedia, (optional)] More about this Resource

Discover more about how animals grow and develop and how their different adaptations help them survive in their environments.

FOR STUDENTS

		Slowing the Flow Activity for grades 3 through 8 All mammals—dogs, sea lions, and even you—have an adaptation for surviving in cold water. Take the plunge, and learn why the mammalian diving reflex is your cold-water friend.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Draw a Monarch Butterfly Activity for grades 3 through 8 You don't have to be a terrific artist to create a scientific illustration of a monarch butterfly—just willing to take your time researching and re-creating what you find. Learn how.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Ocean Creature Feature Activity for grades 3 through 8 To survive in the icy Pacific, a sea otter has about a million hairs in every square inch of its fur. Now, that's dense! Take a close look at ocean adaptations while boosting your OLogy card collection.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Crazy Camouflage Activity for grades 3 through 8 Unlike humans, some animals can instantly change the color or pattern of their skin. Take a hands-on look at how the masters of disguise known as flounders can don several different looks.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		What's the Big Idea About Marine Biology? Article for grades 3 through 8 How is the ocean like a layer cake? What cool and spooky creatures live there? And just how important is the ocean to humans? Dive deep into marine biology with this kid-friendly introduction.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		All About Cloning Article for grades 3 through 8 After singing a song about a cloned sheep to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," kids investigate the how and why of cloning. This Web page helps kids understand cloning and explains some of the ethical issues involved.
		Webpage [plugins: Flash] More about this Resource

		Around the World with DNA Article for grades 3 through 8 Travel around the world with museum scientists. First stop Madagascar, where you'll meet a species of whales with fingerprint-like tails and primates that use their teeth to groom each other.
		Webpage [plugins: Flash] More about this Resource

		Imagine It's the Year 2020: Thinking About Genetics Now Article for grades 3 through 8 Would you clone your dog if you could? Do you have the right to know that you're eating cloned chicken? Step into the future for a look at the questions you may one day have to answer.
		Webpage [plugins: Flash] More about this Resource

FOR STUDENTS...MORE CHALLENGING

		Metamorphosis Evidence and Analysis for grades 6 through 12 Chances are you know that butterflies and moths go through a metamorphosis. But did you know that the same is true for silverfish? Learn more about the two types of arthropod metamorphosis.
		Webpage More about this Resource

BACKGROUND FOR EDUCATORS

		Letter from Stephanie: Antarctic Adaptations Article for grades 6 through 12 Unlike human visitors, Antarctica's plants and animals don't require high-tech gear. How have these organisms adapted to thrive—not just survive—in such an extreme environment?
		Webpage PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 240kb] [pages: 6] More about this Resource

		Surviving Against All Odds: Investigating the Adaptability of the Common Periwinkle Article for grades 6 through 12 Follow along as this 12th-grader from Nova Scotia tries to find out why the common periwinkle is able to live in a heavily polluted body of water known as the North West Arm.
		Webpage More about this Resource

		Frogs: A Chorus of Colors Exhibition Materials for all ages Their voices have filled the night with song since the dawn of the dinosaurs, but now environmental changes threaten their existence. Explore the brilliant colors and survival tactics of the world's frogs.
		Webpage More about this Resource