This page offers games, puzzles, and other fun activities related to the Museum's permanent and special exhibits for Pre-K through high school students. These activities highlight things that you can see in the Museum and in nature.
At-Home educational Resources and Downloads
IS A BALD EAGLE ALWAYS BALD?: Download this activity sheet to see how much change occurs in the appearance of the Bald Eagle’s head from the time it is six months old until it sports full adulthood plumage.
TURKEY ACTIVITY SHEET: Download this fun activity sheet to learn more about turkeys.
FALL LEAVES SCAVENGER HUNT: There are many types of tree leaves. Download this PDF and go outside to find the leaf shapes shown. Check them off as you find them. If you find different leaves, draw them in the blank space.
Backyard Bird Scavenger Hunt: Download this checklist which includes color photos of each bird and check the box when you spot the bird. Write down when and where you spotted it and what it was doing in the space provided.
Color Matching in Nature: Download this fun activity. Print out the color disks and place them into an egg carton. Head outside and see what you can find!
It's Not Just Dirt Activity: Soil comes in many forms. You can have different forms right in your own yard. Let’s investigate together and see what we find.
Leaf Scavenger Hunt: There are many types of tree leaves. Go outside and try to find the leaf shapes shown. Check them off as you find them. If you find different leaves, draw them in the blank space.
Colors in Nature: Gather the family, grab your crayons (or the photos below), and head outside to hunt for colors in nature!
1. Challenge each other to find the closest match by looking under things, up, down, and up close.
2. You might be surprised by what you find if you use a variety of bright colors.
3. Try using many shades of of a color, too. Green, for example, will highlight small differences between grasses, leaves, and mosses.
4. Afterwards, discuss what you found. Were you surprised by the colors you found or by the number of variations of a single color?
Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay.
Project WET Discover Water: click here for fun online activities and interactive games about water.
Lessons
Bear Lessons for 3rd Graders: Museum Educators worked with the MS Bear Group to create these lessons that teach about MS Bears. Included are simple, Mississippi specific lessons for reading, writing, math, and social studies, as well as a cheatsheet for teachers/parents!
Lessons are designed with the 3rd grade curriculum in mind but are appropriate for many ages, even adaptable for middle and high school students.
Woodpeckers: How many differences do you see between the Red-bellied Woodpecker and Red-headed Woodpecker in this nature sketch page from our favorite museum artist, Sam Beibers?
Crabapple art: Crabapples have a gentle slightly sweet aroma. Just before the buds bloom into five-pearled flowers, they look like brilliant pink balls that are reminiscent of popcorn popping all over the tree.
Sam Beibers, our exhibits supervisor, created this sketch based on a photo he took of a Southern Crabapple in full bloom at the museum.
Use this sketch and photo as inspiration to create your own.
Species Portrait: Barking Tree Frog: Did you know that the barking tree frog is the largest native tree frog in the US? Click below to see photos and learn about this interesting frog from the museum's Research Coordinator, Aaron Holbrook.
MDWFP Bear Wise: Are you BearWise? Find out with this helpful resource from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and their partners.
The Six BearWise Basics are:
Never Feed or Approach Bears
Secure Food, Garbage and Recycling
Remove Bird Feeders When Bears Are Active
Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors
Clean & Store Grills
Alert Neighbors to Bear Activity
MDWFP Boating and Hunter Education: Did you know MDWFP accepts online courses for hunter education and boater education certification? Approved courses can be found at education outreach.
