This Data set and graphs show the Deer harvest each year (1960-present) in Wisconsin for both the state and for each county.

These are resources that will provide teachers with further information on the isopods used in the experiments.

This activity is a field investigation where students gather population data on bird species. The students will create bar graphs and interpret their findings. Based on their experiences and data, they will write an answer to the guiding question.

Students learn about the amazing adaptations of the ptarmigan to the alpine tundra. They focus one adaptation, the feathered feet of the ptarmigan, and ask whether the feathers serve to only keep the feet warm or to also provide the bird with floatation capability. They create model ptarmigan feet, with and without feathers, and test the hypothesis on the function of the feathers. Ultimately, students make a claim about whether the feathers provide floatation and support this claim with their testing evidence.

Elementary School Science is a valuable resource for elementary school teachers, parents, and tutors. This website offers free lesson plans and resources covering a variety of science topics. Whether you’re teaching in the classroom or supporting learning at home, you’ll find engaging materials here.

Here are some key features of Elementary School Science:

Free Lesson Plans: The site provides comprehensive lesson plans for various science subjects. These lessons are designed to be classroom-ready, complete with objectives, materials, standards, assessments, worksheets, and instructions.
Science Subjects: You can explore lessons related to different science topics. Here are some of the subjects covered:
Animals: Learn about animal classification, habitats, ecosystems, life cycles, and more.
Human Body: Explore body parts, human body systems (circulatory, immune, muscular, respiratory, skeleton, etc.), and the five senses.
Geology and Earth Science: Dive into Earth’s natural resources, plate tectonics, landforms, volcanoes, and more.
Weather: Discover the seasons, water cycle, clouds, storms, and other weather-related concepts.
Space: Explore the universe, planets, moons, stars, and astronauts.
User-Friendly Interface: The website is easy to navigate, allowing educators and parents to quickly access relevant content.
Whether you need lesson plans, activities, or resources, Elementary School Science has you covered!

Once widespread here and across North America, elk were eliminated from Wisconsin in the 1880s due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. Over 130 years later, they once again live in our state's central and northern forest regions. From a population of 25 elk reintroduced in 1995, and with the help of the second reintroduction effort that started in 2015, the state's total elk population has now surpassed 400 animals.

Thanks to the support of multiple partners and the backing of Wisconsin citizens, the bugle of rutting September bulls is back and here to stay!

Elk (Cervus canadensis) is one of North America's most significant deer family members (Cervidae), second only to moose. Wisconsin's native elk (before European settlement) belonged to the Eastern elk subspecies (C. c. canadensis), believed to have gone extinct during the late 1800s. The Rocky Mountain sub-species (C. c. nelsoni) was later used in reintroduction efforts in Wisconsin and other eastern U.S. states.

Elk is one of three members of the deer family that lives in Wisconsin regularly, with the other two being white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and moose (Alces alces). Elk are approximately three times larger than deer and about two-thirds the size of moose. Adult elk are light tan-colored with a darker mane on their neck with a distinct buff-colored rump patch and stub tail.

Elk vary in size by sex. A mature cow stands approximately four and a half feet tall at the shoulder, six and a half feet in length from nose to tail and weighs 500-650 pounds. In contrast, a mature bull may stand five feet or more at the shoulder, stretch over eight feet long and weigh 600-900 pounds. Wisconsin elk calves typically weigh between 35-40 pounds at birth. Calves are born with white spots to help them blend into their surroundings during their first few months. Elk are also a herd-associated species that have many vocalizations and unique characteristics.

The Explorer’s Guidebook helps students get outside and use their senses to discover the birds in their community. Take kids on a habitat scavenger hunt, create a sound map, and test bird ID skills with this adaptable activity book designed to be used by families, school groups, and anyone looking for a fun way to connect to nature. Inspired by the federal Every Kid in a Park initiative and geared towards fourth graders, this step-by-step guide will help you explore our country’s diverse habitats and the birds that live there. Guide can be downloaded in English and Spanish.

This lesson plan can be connected to a career-ready path, as it focuses on important concepts related to biodiversity and the impact of human activities on it. Students who are interested in pursuing careers in biology, environmental science, ecology, conservation, or other related fields would benefit from gaining knowledge and skills related to biodiversity. Additionally, the research skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that students will develop in this lesson can be applied to a variety of careers. For example, individuals who work in conservation or environmental science may need to evaluate the impact of human activities on biodiversity and design solutions to mitigate negative effects. Overall, this lesson plan can help students gain valuable knowledge and skills that are relevant to a wide range of careers in the STEM fields.

This fish identification tool was developed by the University of Wisconsin Center for Limnology, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute.

Carry 174 Wisconsin fish in your pocket! Download the mobile app and you can identify Wisconsin fish wherever you go, no internet connection required.

Fish Species Commercially Harvested or Raised in Wisconsin for Food
Common names for fish can be different by region.

This 3-part lesson begins with a field activity beside a lake or stream where students collect and identify macro invertebrates. During the second and third portions of the lesson, students conduct research to answer questions that they have regarding the macro invertebrates that they have identified and then based on the types of macro invertebrates found make a general determination of the cleanliness of the lake.

This activity is a classroom investigation of wolf behavior where students use observational evidence to identify and describe wolf pack structure.

This Informational text focuses on the migration habits of the grasshopper/locust and the gray whale.

This is a lesson that could also be used as an assessment for students who are learning about the Kingdoms of Life.

Global exploration in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries radically changed Western science, orienting philosophies of natural history to more focused fields like comparative anatomy, botany, and geology. In the United States, European scientific advances and home-grown ventures like the Wilkes Exploring Expedition to Antarctica and the Pacific inspired new endeavors in cartography, ethnography, zoology, and evolutionary theory, replacing rigid models of thought and classification with more fluid and active systems. They inspired literary authors as well. This class will examine some of the most remarkable of these authors--Herman Melville (Moby-Dick and "The Encantadas"), Henry David Thoreau (Walden), Sarah Orne Jewett (Country of the Pointed Firs), Edith Wharton (House of Mirth), Toni Morrison (A Mercy), among others--in terms of the subjects and methods they adopted, imaginatively and often critically, from the natural sciences.

This activity is a field investigation where students gather and observe macroinvertebrates in a pond system. From their initial observations, students will formulate a question and test procedures.

Students are introduced to the concept of tracking and spatial movements of animals in relation to the environments in which they live. Students improve their understanding of animal tracking and how technology is used in this process.

Project WILD's mission is to provide wildlife-based conservation and environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. All curriculum materials are backed by sound educational practices and theory, and represent the work of many professionals within the fields of education and natural resource management from across the country.

Biodiversity is a shortened form of the term "biological diversity." The entire spectrum of life forms and the many ecological processes support them. Wisconsin is blessed with abundant biodiversity. Located at the junction of the eastern deciduous forest, northern boreal forest and temperate grasslands, we have a wealth of species and natural communities.

Approximately 1,800 species of native plants and close to 700 species of native vertebrates have been identified in Wisconsin. In addition, there are thousands of species of non-vascular plants and invertebrates. These pages highlight the uncommon and rare species, natural communities, geological features and essential habitat areas throughout Wisconsin.

Rangers capture a Black rhino in the South African National Park in order to relocate him in this segment from Nature.