This free, online article, developed for elementary teachers, describes a Kindergarten polar science, standards aligned, unit centered on The Polar Express developing literacy, math, and science skills.

This is a problem-solving task focused on recycling.  The number range is multiples of 10 from 100 – 190. Students solve word problems and write a word problem. Extra questions about recycling are included. This lesson was developed by NCDPI as part of the Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Instructional Resources Project. This lesson plan has been vetted at the state level for standards alignment, AIG focus, and content accuracy.

This course was created by the Rethink Education Content Development Team. This course is aligned to the NC Standards for 1st Grade Science.

This is additional curriculum for the Untamed Science video series created in a partnership between the North Carolina Zoo and videographer Rob Nelson. You are meant to watch the original video and then open the PDF resource below for an activity involving wildlife conservation!

This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and life of the arctic wolf. The pack life is described including caring for young, hunting and how they deal with the summers of no darkness and winters of no sunlight. The text is written at a kindergarten through grade one reading level. This version is a full-color PDF that can be printed, cut and folded to form a book. Each book contains color photographs and illustrations.

Who chews my barn? They are North America's largest native Bee, and some folks find them scary, but Carpenter Bees are really valuable and gentle giants!

Wild About Nature: Looking for a quick activity for your younger children? Try a color wheel with Kathy!

Learn what a pollinator is, and why they are important. Look at some pollinator examples and some pollinator plants, then try to create your own pollinator using common household supplies.

Design and create sculptures and land art using sticks, stones, leaves, flowers – any natural elements that can be found in your own backyard!

Playing with Dirt, Water, and Nature’s Treasures: Create a fantastical creature using soil and discovered natural treasures from your own back yard. Mix in a little water, and voila! Let the creating begin!

Using soil you find nearby, make your own ooey, gooey mud to paint a muddy flag. Also we’ll have some fun throwing mud and discover how mud splatters can become a work of art!

Oak Trees can generally be placed into one of three broad categories: Live Oaks, White Oaks and Red Oaks. Learn one way to tell them apart, some of the different characteristics, and why these trees are important.

Have you ever wonder why your neighbor, who never gets rid of the weeds in his yard, has a better looking lawn? Join Bob as he explains why this is!

See how easy it is to explore nature and engage in Citizen Science while earning cool prizes!

Discover some of the creative ways animals build their homes, nests, or community housing. Learn how we can help protect habitats so these crafty critters can continue to be amazing architects!

We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Difference between Crocodiles and Alligators (2 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=1590
1.L.1 Beaver Dams (5 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=430
1.L.1 Prairie Dog Burrows (5 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=769
1.L.1 Termite Mounds (4.5 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=2380
1.L.1 Protecting animal homes (1 min 40 sec): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=3471
2.L.2 Caddisfly Pupa and adult (5.5 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=1961
5.L.2 Other animals use Prairie Dog Burrows (20 sec): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=933
7.L.2 Frogs create foam nests (2 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo

Animal Encounters:
1. Cypress the Alligator (8 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=1054
2. Terra the Barred Owl (5 min): https://youtu.be/VD6V1O-Ezmo?t=2898

Pack your suitcase and join us for a trip around the world to explore some unique habitats and how animals survive in them!

We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
1.L.1 What is a Habitat? (4 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=85
2.P.1 How Arctic Foxes hear mice (1 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2309
3.L.1 Polar Bear Skin (40 sec): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2118
4.L.1 Dolphin Echolocation (3 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=1074
4.L.1 Harbor Seal Whiskers (3 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=1367
4.L.1 Puffin Adaptations (3 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=1652
4.L.1 How Polar Bears Survive in the arctic (4 min 20 sec): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=1984
4.L.1 How Arctic Foxes survive in the arctic (2 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2250
4.L.1 How Gorillas are adapted to Forests (4.5 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2371
4.L.1 How Barred Owls are adapted to forests (8.5 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2660
4.L.1 Sand cat and Camel desert adaptations (5 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=3284

Animal Encounters:
1. Giant Cave Cockroach (3 min 30 sec): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=316
2. Terra the Barred Owl (8.5 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=2660
3. Waffles the African Pygmy Hedgehog (3 min): https://youtu.be/XEvyvBgH-8o?t=3620

Not all heroes are human; some come in the four-legged variety! Join us as we learn about some unconventional heroes of the animal world and meet a few live ones.

We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
1.L.1 How we can help animals/the planet (4 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=3082
2.P.1 How do snakes hear? (30 sec): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=2472
4.L.1 Amphibians breathe through their skin (3 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=1130
4.L.1 Naked Mole Rat Adaptations (2 min 15 sec): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=1676
4.L.1 Hairy Frog Adaptations (2 min 10 sec): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=1811
4.L.1 Tardigrade adaptations and cryptobiosis (3 min 20 sec): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=1943
4.L.1 Snake Adaptations (15 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=2202

Animal Encounters:
1. African Giant Millipede (7 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=626
2. Sugar the Cane Toad (4.5 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=1304
3. Griffon the Northern Pine Snake (15 min): https://youtu.be/i_I9gGGlgTM?t=2202

It’s baaaack! We have so many more animal trivia ideas, we decided to test your knowledge again!

We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
1.L.1 How groundhogs survive winter (1 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=2157
1.L.1 How Galapagos Tortoises survive winter (6 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=2236
3.L.1 Giraffe Anatomy (3 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=842
5.L.1 How wood frogs survive winter (1 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=2679
8.L.1 White-nose Syndrome (1 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=1850

Animal Encounters:
1. Pogo the Ball Python (3 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=399
2. Carolina Gopher Frog (4 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=1541
3. Wallace the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Tortoise (6 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=2236

Conservation Efforts:
1. Elephant Collaring (1 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=842
2. Virgin Island Tree Boa (1 min 15 sec): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=1422
3. Carolina Gopher Frog (4 min): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=1542
4. Birds on the Marianas Islands (2 min 45 sec): https://youtu.be/zd_ijFVIYRE?t=1138

Ever wonder what animals do in the winter? Join us as we learn some of the strategies animals take to help them survive the cold!

We have added some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Hibernation vs. Brumation (1 min): https://youtu.be/NTzXbpacEFE?t=1005
1.L.1 How different animals in different habitats adapt to winter (this theme is carried throughout the whole video. Watching a 5-10 minute segment would cover multiple animals)
4.L.1 How animals adapt to winter (this theme is carried throughout the whole video. Watching a 5-10 minute segment would cover multiple animals)

Animal Encounters:
1. Scutes the Eastern Rat Snake (5 min): https://youtu.be/NTzXbpacEFE?t=1005
2. Darwin the Galapagos Tortoise (7 min): https://youtu.be/NTzXbpacEFE?t=2530

Join us as we learn about the majestic giraffe. These gentle giants of Africa have some amazing features that make them stand out in the animal world!

We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Owl neck vs. Giraffe and human (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1896
K.P.1 Giraffe Hoof (2 min): https://youtu.be/0mx3bkS6-Oc?t=2829
1.L.1 Bioindicators in habitat (1.5 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=3090
2.P.1 Giraffe Sounds (3 min 10 sec): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=3090
3.L.1 Giraffe Vertebrae (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1635
3.L.1 Ossicones (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=3388
5.L.1 Giraffe Digestion (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1055
5.L.1 Giraffe Heart (6 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1280
5.L.1 Giraffe Vertebrae (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1635
5.L.1 Giraffe Tongue (5 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=2452
5.L.1 Giraffe Skull (1.5 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=2761
5.L.1 Ossicones (4 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=3388

Animal Encounters:
1. Terra the Barred Owl (10 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=1853
2. Todd the Giant Marine Toad (5 min): https://youtu.be/gmSh06NuYFY?t=2889