Resources for Educators

Activity pages

These are short worksheet-style handouts that can be used to supplement more robust teaching. There are three different types of activity pages available:

Focus Wild Arizona: educational activities that previously appeared in the Department’s Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.Wild Kids: grade level specific printable activities that are aligned to current Arizona science standards
Wild Fun: fun word searches, coloring pages and similar activities for younger children.

Conservation education toolkit

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has developed a number of resources that highlight different aspects of teaching and interpreting the natural world. These are collectively known as the Conservation Education toolkit. We proudly use a number of these resources in our educator workshops, especially the Field Investigations: Using Outdoor Environments to Foster Student Learning and Recreation PDF.

Digital learning activities

The Department has created a number of Digital Learning Activities that can be accessed by students anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. These resources use Google Forms to create interactive activities that allow students to explore different wildlife-related topics with ease. They are designed for anyone.

Easy science experiments

Wildlife Science at Home is a collection of wildlife-related science experiments and demonstrations that use common, everyday materials. They can be easily carried out in a classroom or home setting.

Educational publications

Over time, the Department has created a number of publications that educators have found useful. Many of these are not in print anymore. However, we do have archived PDF versions still available for download.

Arizona’s Wildlife: an older guide with numerous activities that can be used in an elementary level setting.
Desert Birding in Arizona: an elementary curriculum guide focused on common birds found in urban areas. This is a product made possible because of the Department’s Heritage grants.
Diné Guide to Traditional Teachings on Wildlife: a book that provides the natural history, cultural beliefs and practices, and appropriate classroom activities for wildlife found within the Navajo Nation. This is a product made possible because of the Department’s Heritage grants.
Explore Arizona’s Natural Resources: Rather than a traditional publication, this is actually a computer program (originally available on CD-ROM) that was designed to introduce students to the plants and animals of the various biotic communities found in the state. It is a product made possible because of the Department’s Heritage grants.
Francis Short Pond Multidisciplinary Activities: The Willow Bend Environmental Education Center originally created this collection of high school activities to be carried out at Francis Short Pond in Flagstaff. It might be possible to modify them for other natural sites. This is a product made possible because of the Department’s Heritage grants.

More educational publications

Over time, the Department has created a number of publications that educators have found useful. Many of these are not in print anymore. However, we do have archived PDF versions still available for download.

–Invaders of the Sonoran Desert Region: A detailed high school curriculum focused on invasive species and created by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum using funds from the Department’s Heritage grant program.
-Pocket Field Guides: a set of older black and white field guides that can be printed, cut and stapled to fit conveniently in a pocket. These are a cost effective way to have field guides for students to use while outdoors.
There are three available: Amphibians/Reptiles, Mammals and Raptors.
–Pollinator and Wetland Field Studies: Multi-disciplinary lessons designed for field trips to Sweetwater Wetlands and Agua Caliente Parks in Tucson. These were developed by the Pima County Nature Resources, Parks and Recreation as part of the Department’s Heritage Grant program.
–Schoolyard Habitat Design: a book with lots of information to help you plan, develop and use your very own schoolyard habitat. This is a project made possible because of the Department’s Heritage grants.
–Trout Fishing in America: The ASU Art Museum received a Heritage grant to develop a curriculum that accompanied an art exhibit focused on the California condor and the humpback chub.

Fact sheets

Field Notes are one-page wildlife fact sheets written by biologists that appear in each issue of the Department’s Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. This collection is organized by animal type (e.g., mammal, bird) and can easily be downloaded and printed for use in the classroom for a variety of projects and student research.

Reading wild

Reading Wild is a collection of nonfiction texts and other reading resources that can be used to improve literacy in the science classroom.

Resource trunks

Commonly referred to as “Bone Boxes”, these kits contain a number of tactile resources that can be brought into the classroom. Our most common bone box includes the skins and skulls from a variety of Arizona mammals. Right now, our resource trunks are extremely limited. However, you can reach out to eproctor@azgfd.gov to check on availability of alternatives.

Video resources

For years, the Department has produced the Arizona Wildlife Views television series that airs regularly on PBS stations across the state. This has resulted in a library of hundreds of short video clips, many of which are relevant in the classroom.

Curated Video Guides: we have been going through these videos to identify the ones that we think best address current Arizona academic standards. These guides provide suggested tips to help simplify your teaching. This collection is constantly expanding but it does not include all of the videos.

AZGFD YouTube Channel: if you would prefer to check out our entire collection of videos, feel free to visit our YouTube channel. These have not been organized or curated for use in the classroom, however.

Wildlife phenomena

The wildlife phenomena database contains a number of wildlife-related phenomena that can be used to engage students in three-dimensional teaching as outlined in the K-12 Science Education Framework. Each phenomena highlights a common topic in ecology or wildlife biology and includes suggested standards and ideas for implementation.