Field Guides and Teaching Resources
Rocks, Geology, and Tough Stuff!
- Nova Scotia Pebbles, by the Atlantic Geoscience Society, 2016
- A Guide to Rock and Mineral Collecting in Nova Scotia, by Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 2007
- The Natural History of Nova Scotia, by staff at the Museum of Natural History, 1996
- Kluskap and the Three Sisters, story of the Cape Chignecto Rocks by Mi’kmawey Debert
- The Story of Partridge Island, Bay of Fundy, geological hotspot and sacred Mi’kmaq site, told by Gerald Gloade
- Kluskap’s Fight with Winter and the Glacial History of the Cobequid Pass, by Mi’kmawey Debert
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs map and educational resources, from the Joggins Centre
- Earth Science games and lesson plans, from National Geographic
- A-Z Mineral Database
Plants, Fungi, Lichens, and other Green Things!
- Kids Guide to Weird Plants of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, by the Nature Guardians Chapter of the Young Naturalists Club
- Plant and Animal ID Flash Cards, in English, French, and Arabic, by staff at the Young Naturalists Club
- Common Native Trees of Nova Scotia, a citizen science collection, via i-naturalist
- Trees of the Acadian Forest, by Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources,
- The Natural History of Nova Scotia, by staff at the Museum of Natural History, 1996
- Plants of Nova Scotia, a citizen science collection, via Plant Watch
- YNC Native Seed Collecting, an illustrated guide, by staff at the Young Naturalists Club
- Popular print guides to the flora of Nova Scotia, a list compiled by the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society.
- Popular apps, Useful Nova Scotia Plants and Harmful Nova Scotia Plants, by Gordon B. Isnor and Marian Munro at the Nova Scotia Museum
- Mushroom Species List, by the Nova Scotia Mycological Society
- Mushrooms of Nova Scotia, photo guide and activity booklet, by the Young Naturalists Club, 2022
- Fungi of Nova Scotia, a citizen science collection, via i-Naturalist
- Online Mushroom Guide, by the Nova Scotia Museum via onlinemuseum
- Fungi for Kids!, collection of printable resources by Northhamptonshire Wildlife (UK)
- Lichens of Nova Scotia, photo guide and activity booklet, by staff at the Young Naturalists Club, 2021
- Identifying Lichens of Nova Scotia, by Irwin M. Brodo, Robert Cameron,
Heather Andrachuk, and Brian Craig - Lichen Image Search, Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria
Tracks, Feathers, and Signs of Life!
- Who Made That Track? interactive game by Mi’kmaw Conservation
- The Feather Atlas, by US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Tracks to Look For in Your Neighbourhood, illustrated guide on the back of our Young Naturalists Club brochure
Fish, Shells, Beaches, and the Ocean!
- Fish of Nova Scotia, via Game and Fish
- Shells of Eastern North America, by Pam Rambo
- By the Sea: A Guide to Coastal Zone of Atlantic Canada, by Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- Photo guide to Canadian marine life, by the Canadian Register of Marine Species
- Where the Land Meets the Shore, the Nearshore, grd 4-11, lesson plans from Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Saltmarshes: teacher/student journals and field guide, grd 3-6, by Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Ocean School, interactive videos, lesson plans, and activity sheets, all grades, from Dalhousie University, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, and the National Film Board of Canada
- OceanWise Guide to Sustainable Seafood Species, by the Vancouver Aquarium
- OceanWise Plastics, Seafood, and Species at Risk Education Kits, games and lesson plans, all grades, by the Vancouver Aquarium
- Shouting Whales, conservation-related activities and lesson plans, grd 6-8, by Ocean Networks Canada and Open School BC
- Salmonids in the Classroom, activities and lesson plans, grd 4-7, by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Fish Friends, in-class fish rearing program and lesson plans, grd 4-6, by the NS Salmon Association
- Marine games and lesson plans, from National Geographic
- Plamu’k in Mi’kma’ki (Salmon in Nova Scotia), interactive life cycle by Mi’kmaw Conservation
- Aquatic Species at Risk Bingo, printable cards by Mi’kmaw Conservation
Birds!
- Birding in Nova Scotia: Checklist, by the Nova Scotia Bird Society
- Guide to the Birds of Nova Scotia: photo reference, by the Nova Scotia Bird Society
- Learn to Bird By Ear, curated YouTube playlist by the NS Young Naturalists Club
- Free Bird eBooks, from Nature Canada
- Tracking Bird Populations, MOTUS station resources, by Birds Canada
- Guide to Ducks, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Duck Detectives, migration game and lesson plan, grd 3-6, by Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Birds in My Culture, work book and teaching guide, by BirdNote and Environment for the Americas
- The Feather Atlas, by US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bird Song Hero, (like the popular guitar version!) by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Halifax Xmas Bird Count 4 Kids! Virtual Tour of Point Pleasant Park, by the Young Naturalists Club and NS Bird Society
- Halifax Xmas Bird Count 4 Kids! Printable Map of Point Pleasant Park, by the Young Naturalists Club and NS Bird Society
- Guide to South West Nova Scotia’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, by the Young Naturalists Club
Mammals
- Squirrels! Identification and Behaviour Journal, by the Young Naturalists Club, 2022
Bugs and Crawly Things!
- Game of Hives, Teaching About Bees in the Classroom, slides from the NS Museum of Natural History
- Macroinvertebrates.org, an interactive online guide and key to aquatic macroinvertebrates of Eastern North America, by Learning to See, Seeing to Learn
- Butterflies of Shubie Park, Dartmouth, by the Nature Guardians Chapter of the Young Naturalists Club, 2022
Stars, Space, and the Sky!
- Mi’kmaw Moons, traditional Mi’kmaq time-keeping
- Videos from the Hubble Space Telescope, by the European Space Agency
- Space Experiments and Colouring Pages, from the Canadian Space Agency
- Space Lesson Plans and Activities, all grades, from NASA
- Climate Change games and lesson plans, grd 4-6, from Sierra Club
- Sea Ice and Climate, lesson plans, grd 6-12 PBS
- The Nova Scotia Family Bat Box Network’s Guide to Bat Monitoring, by the Young Naturalists Club and Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute
Curricula and Resources – all subjects
- Environmental Education, Ontario Curriculum for K-grd 8, 2017
- Environmental Education, Ontario Curriculum for grd 9-12, 2017
- Sustainability Education Framework , and resources for teachers to help implement curricula, British Columbia, 2008
- Environmental Science, Saskatchewan
- Education for Sustainable Development, Manitoba, 2000
- Green Teacher, magazine
Your Guide to Getting Outside in Nova Scotia
Scavenger Hunts
- Nature Scavenger Hunts, by staff at the Young Naturalists Club, 2020
- Sensory Scavenger Hunts, by Foundations for Divergent Minds, 2020
- Nature Drawing Scavenger Hunt, by the Bateman Foundation
Self-guided Tours
- Earth Adventures in the Halifax Region, by Alan Warner, Janet Barlow & George Taylor of the HRM Adventure Earth Centre
- Guide to the Chignecto National Wildlife Area, by Nature New Brunswick, the Young Naturalists Club, and Canadian Wildlife Service, 2022
- Guide to South West Nova Scotia’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, by the Young Naturalists Club, 2022
- Treasured Wetlands of Nova Scotia (has geocaches!), by Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Halifax Xmas Bird Count 4 Kids! Printable Map of Point Pleasant Park, by the Young Naturalists Club and NS Bird Society, 2020
- A New Canadian’s Guide to Nature in Nova Scotia – Arabic versions, by the Young Naturalists Club and Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2021
- New Canadian Guide to Nature in Nova Scotia – Mandarin versions, by the Young Naturalists Club and Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2022
Trails
- Find a Trail in Nova Scotia, by Hike Nova Scotia
- Trails of NW Halifax, by Halifax North West Trails Association
On Environmental Education as Curriculum
- Guidelines for Excellence: Early Childhood Environmental Education Programs, by the North American Association for Environmental Education, 2010
- Environmental Education in Canada, a status report by the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network, 2006
On the Need for Natural History Education
- Natural History is Dying, and We Are All the Losers By Jennifer Frazer in Scientific America, June 20 2014
- The Natural History Project. Conversations about the rebirth of Natural History.
- Decline of natural history troubling for science, society By Sandra Hines in University of Washington Today, March 26 2014
- Natural History and the Importance of Education By Rachel Roberts in Sustainable World Coalition Blog, December 17 2014
- Connectedness to Nature: Its Impact on Sustainable Behaviours and Happiness in Children, by Barrera-Hernandez et. al., Feb 26 2020
On the Benefits of Nature
- Health Benefits to Children from Contact with the Outdoors and Nature. By Children and Nature Network 2010
- If children lose contact with nature they won’t fight for it. By George Monbiot in The Guardian, November 19 2012
- Back to Nature: Understanding Nature Deficit Disorder By Network Ireland, 2013
On Getting Kids Outside
- Nature Play at Home: A Guide for Boosting Your Children’s Healthy Development and Creativity, by National Wildlife Federation and Natural Learning Initiative, 2012
- Time for a Camp Revival: The Return of Nature Camps and the Support For Those That Never Went Away. By Richard Louv, Children’s & Nature Network, July 20 2015
- 8 Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Connection to Nature. Dr. Jim Taylor, Huffington Post, January 12, 2015