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Online Learning Resources
Are you looking for educational resources for your children or students? Story County Conservation naturalists have recorded parts of our in-class programs to be used by anyone as supplemental resources. Check back for added resources throughout the year!
If you are part of a formal learning group, check out our school program offerings.
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Pre-K through Kindergarten
We often fear what we don't understand. Learn what makes snakes special.
Videos
- All about snakes for kids
- Snake– Animals for kids on All Things Animal TV
- silly snake music video, learning song
Books
Follow-up Activities
- Print and use this snake cut out. Have students find a hiding spot (inside or outside) for their snake. Have your student color their snake so that it's camouflaged. Have students take turns trying to find each other's snakes.
- Practice patterns by decorating the snake; add colors, shapes, letters, or numbers to create a pattern.
Learn the difference between reptiles and amphibians. Meet our live herps to compare!
This video explores what a mammal is. Learn some true life-lessons through this interactive story.
Learn what animals are doing to prepare for the cold winter months.
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1st and 2nd Grade
Students will learn about animal adaptations and habitats. They will also have the opportunity to do their own research into the adaptations of an animals of their choice.
Listen to our stories and explore some special habitats. Learn why the outdoors is an important place for animals and people and how nature can be found anywhere.
Learn the difference between reptiles and amphibians. Meet our live herps to compare!
Create a model to discover many unique adaptations reptiles use to survive in their habitats.
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3rd and 4th Grade
- Owls
- Ancient Animals
- Garbologist
- Traveling Trunk
- Animal Adaptations
- Nature Inventions
- We All Live in a Watershed
- Naturally Sensational
- Extreme reptiles
- bats
Learn about owls and their special adaptations that allow them to function and survive.
Stories and science come together to help discover what ancient animals lived in Iowa. Explore what you can learn from fossils.
- Extinct Animals You Didn't Know Were Iowan
- Oskaloosa Mammoths
- Ground Sloths in Iowa
- Kids Discover Mastodon Tooth in Iowa
This wacky video introduces students to their garbage cycle. Learn how much we throw away, where it goes, and what we can do to reduce our impact.
Meet a pioneer woman and learn about her move west and life on the prairie in the 1800s.
Videos
- Pioneer Woman Video
- Learn how to make butter at home
- Kids in the 1800s Makes connections between school then vs. school now. Have the student write reflections on what they think life would be like.
Activities and Other Resources
- Website with pioneer games
- Traveling Trunk
- Traveling Trunk Activity
- General Store List
- Journal Entries and Points
- What is it now? Match the tool from the 1800s to the item that has replaced it in present time
- Pioneer bread recipe
Students will learn about animal adaptations and habitats. They will also have the opportunity to do their own research into the adaptations of an animal of their choice.
Great inventors and inventions come alive with an interactive game exploring how nature had a hand in everything.
Dive in to watersheds and water quality. Students are given free reign to be creative. How will the shared water resources be impacted by the cumulative effect of everyone's choices?
Discover how animals use their senses to survive within their habitats. This video is filled with hands-on ways to test your senses and see how your senses compare to other animals.
Create a model to discover many unique adaptations reptiles use to survive in their habitats.
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5th Grade and Up
Meet a pioneer woman and learn about her move west and life on the prairie in the 1800s.
Videos
- Pioneer Woman Video
- Learn how to make butter at home
- Kids in the 1800s Makes connections between school then vs. school now. Have the student write reflections on what they think life would be like.
Activities and Other Resources
- Website with pioneer games
- Traveling Trunk
- Traveling Trunk Activity
- General Store List
- Journal Entries and Points
- What is it now? Match the tool from the 1800s to the item that has replaced it in present time
- Pioneer bread recipe
A video demonstrating how what we do on land affects the health of our water. See what we all can do to help protect our water.
Two options for watching the video:
- Look at the Best Management Practices sheet while watching to see which ones were used.
- Pause the video before the best management practices (BMP) have been used. Have students pick a section of the map to implement BMP. Watch the rest of the video to see if they chose some that were used. Not all BMP that are offered were used in the video.
Understand why animals become endangered and discover ways to help them.
Great inventors and inventions come alive with an interactive game exploring how nature had a hand in everything.
Dive in to watersheds and water quality. Students are given free reign to be creative. How will the shared water resources be impacted by the cumulative effect of everyone's choices?
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