School Year Resources
The most up-to-date information about our programs, trainings, and resources for educators:
Educator Resource Center
ERC members can borrow taxidermy, story walks, and other resources from Maine Audubon’s Educator Resource Center. An inventory of resources and information about signing up is available in this flyer [pdf].
Educator Workshops
Maine Audubon regularly offers customizable workshops and trainings for educators on conservation and environmental topics.
Community Science for Classrooms
(formerly known as Citizen Science)
These projects allow students to learn about the scientific method while participating in meaningful data collection and reporting.
:: iNaturalist is a web site and community for reporting observations of plant or animal species around the world. Special projects can be designed for any specific location such as a school or local natural area.
- How to Record Your Observation on iNaturalist Using a Remote Device (Word Doc)
- iNaturalist Worksheet 1 (Word Doc) – Created by Maine Audubon. Designed to be used if you do not have access to devices to input data in the field.
- iNaturalist Worksheet 2 (pdf) – Created by King Middle School, designed for a specific project focusing on plants and insects.
:: Using their backyards as laboratories, participants in the Signs of the Seasons program help scientists document the local effects of global climate change. You can use an app called Nature’s Notebook that makes recording data for Signs of the Seasons much easier.
:: eBird is a real-time, online checklist program for recording birds. Use the app to record data and visit the website for species maps and data.
- eBird Page for Maine
- Bird Sleuth – A resource for using eBird with students
- More Free Bird Sleuth Resources
Beginning with Habitat
A very useful tool set of habitat maps of your area. Free maps are available as either downloadable digital maps or large format paper maps. Check to see if your town is available or to request maps.
Connections
During the COVID 19 pandemic, our educators are creating content every week to keep students, teachers, and parents connected to nature.
Family Fun Connections: Molly Woodring, Early Childhood Education Program Manager, offers a mix of activities and open-ended prompts for outdoor and indoor nature exploration for children ages 2-5 and their families.
Elementary Connections: Catherine Griset, Maine Audubon’s K-2 Youth Programs Manager and K-5 Day Camp Director, shares resources and activities for elementary learners.
In the Middle Connections: David Lamon, Fields Pond Manager, posts engaging activities around environmental science focused for grades 6-8 to add to your science curriculum.