At-Home Education Resources
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.
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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.
GROWING WILD IT'S A SMALL WORLD: Download this PDF and explore the outdoor world beneath your feet!
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YouTube: Check out the museum's creature features and other videos on our YouTube channel.
FACEBOOK: Click here to check out the museum's Facebook page for educational videos and other resources.
(https://www.facebook.com/pg/msnaturalscience)
MUSEUM EMAIL LIST: Click here to get museum news.
MUSEUM VIRTUAL TOUR: Click here to virtually tour the museum on Google Maps using Streetview.
VENOMOUS SNAKES OF MS: Click here for photo and article
COLORING SHEETS
Green Tree Frog Coloring Sheet
ACTIVITIES
Make a Bird Feeder (World Migratory Bird Day): Click here to download.
May the 4th Be With You: Teaching from home or want something fun to do? Check out these Star Wars Day themed activities from our friends at Science Buddies. https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/may4-star-wars-stem
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.
Shapes in Nature Activity: What geometric shapes can you find in nature today?
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.
Check it out at https://msbear.org/for-teachers/
MMNS ART CLUB
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?
Click here to download a PDF of the sketch page.
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.
OTHER RESOURCES
Visit Jackson: Download the First Responders Coloring Sheet and visit Visit Jackson First Responder Appreciation Information page.
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 http://www.mdwfp.com/education-outreach/
Ranger Rick (free): Stay entertained and engaged in the natural world. https://rangerrick.org/stuck-indoors/
NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/nasaathome/index.html
Minecraft: Free educational content on their Marketplace. You can tour the ISS, explore the inside of a human eye, or best of all track down different animals as a marine biologist: https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/free-educational-content-minecraft-marketplace-
Girl Scouts: Click here for Girl Scouts at Home activities by grade level and topic.
Cub Scouts: Click here for Scouting at Home information and activities.
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ARCHIVE (PAST EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES)
Scavenger Hunts
Find the Facts Scavenger Hunt
Indoor Exhibit Scavenger Hunt
Museum Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
Activity Sheets
Frogs Activity Sheet
Venomous Snake Activity Sheet
Tracks and Trails of Mississippi Wildlife Activity Sheet
Games, Puzzles, Coloring Pages
10 Things Kids Can Do To Help The Environment Bookmark
Giant Insects Word Puzzle Page
Wildflowers Crossword Puzzle Page
T-Rex Teaser Word Puzzle Page
Predator and Prey Trivia & Maze Page
Turtle Coloring Page
