Distance Learning Resouces
This list is largely based on recommendations from members and serves as a resource for educators and families to engage in environmental education and outdoor recreation without having to travel.
For many more resources, check out our Environmental Education Directory. If you have another resource that should be added to this list or see any broken links, please contact us.
Science & Nature Activities
- 15 Minute Field Trips – short videos on everything from bees to waste-free lunches (grades preK-5)
- Audubon at Home: Nature Play and Learning – story times, crafts, and more (grades preK-5)
- Birds & Worms Simulation – fun activity to teach about camouflage (grades 3-8)
- Book Recommendations – with environment/climate justice theme (grades preK-12 + adults)
- Bug Hotel Activity – from WWF (grades K-5)
- DEM’s 50 Nature Based Activities – in English and Spanish (grades K-8)
- Earth Observatory – from NASA (grades 9-12 + adults)
- Earth Observatory Kids – from NASA (grades 3-8)
- GeoInquiries – short, standards-based inquiry activities for teaching map-based content (grades 6-12)
- Green Schoolyards America – activity guides (grades preK-12)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium – free science courses (grades preK-12)
- Nature Lab – resources and virtual field trips from The Nature Conservancy (grades K-12)
- Nature Scavenger Hunt – from RI Families in Nature (grades preK-5)
- Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide – from US Fish & Wildlife Service (grades K-12)
- Sea to Sky – database of education resources from NOAA (grades K-12 + adults)
- Story Walking Nature Radio Hour – environmental education podcast (adults)
- US Green Building Council’s Learning Lab – online lessons and activities (grades K-12)
- Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council – a series of learning-from-home resources (grades K-5)
- Zoo School from Roger Williams Park Zoo – behind-the-scenes look at animals and related activities (grades K-5)
Gardening & Food Activities
- Food Waste Curriculum – from Perdue University’s College of Agriculture (grades K-12)
- Gardening for Children by KidsGardening – subscribe and get free lesson plans (grades K-12)
- Recycling Right and Composting – live, virtual presentations from RI Resource Recovery Corporation (grades K-12 + adults)
- Repurposing Recyclables for Growing Vegetables – from RIEEA member Susan Shim Gorelick (grades 3-12 + adults)
Climate Change Activities
- Climate 101 – hands-on activities, videos, and discussion questions from Grist (grades 3-12)
- Jill Pelto, Climate Change Artist – constructing effective ways to communicate science through art (grades K-12 + adults)
- NOAA Climate Science Resources – causes, impacts, and modeling (grades 6-12 + adults)
- Project Learning Tree climate education resources – for educators and parents (grades K-5)
- Weather and Climate Resources – from NASA (grades 3-8)
Ocean & Bay Activities
- Breakfast by the Bay – from our friends at Save The Bay (grades K-5)
- NOAA Live! Webinars – with links to related resources (grades 2-8)
- Ocean Classroom – virtual programs, podcasts, and more by URI’s School of Oceanography (grades K-12)
- Online Oceans – ocean-inspired crafts, activities, DIY videos, live-streamed learning, and more (grades preK-12)
Webcams & Virtual Tours
- Norman Bird Sanctuary live presentations – virtual tours and programs (grades K-12 + adults)
- Osprey Webcam on Narrow River – from Narrow River Preservation Association and Narrow River Land Trust (grades preK-12 + adults)
- Providence Peregrine Cam – from Audubon Society of Rhode Island (grades preK-12 + adults)
- Recycling Regatta – engineer a boat out of recycled materials with NESS (grades K-12)
- Resource Recovery – virtual tours of the recycling facilities, eco-depot, composting operation, and landfill (grades K-12 + adults)
- Virtual Field Trips – list compiled by Parts Geek, suggested by students Erin and Trey (grades K-12 + adults)
- Wildlife Videos – from the RI Dept of Environmental Management (grades K-12 + adults)
- More Wildlife Videos – short, fun clips caught on camera traps by Elisa Torello (grades K-12 + adults)
- Even More Wildlife Videos – from RIEEA member Gerry Krausse (grades K-12 + adults)