Free Downloads

Thanks to generous grants and sponsorships, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is able to provide free resources for both formal and informal educators. Our detailed lesson plans and activities allow educators to save time while meeting standards!

  • Students as Scientists: Nature-Based Inquiry

    Students as Scientists: Nature-Based Inquiry units features two teachers guides, one for grades K-5 and the other for grades 6-12.

  • Spark Guides

    These five guides offer quick and easy activities to spark your student’s curiosity about the natural world. Depending on your student’s interests, you can choose one or complete all five. Each guide has an activity than can be used alone or used as an entry point into inquiry-based science.

  • Boy in a forest holding a scavenger hunt card and marker.
    Habitat Scavenger Hunt

    These Habitat Scavenger Hunt cards will help children see their local environment in a new, fun way! Each card contains an image-rich beginner version on one side and an advanced version on the other, great for both younger and older students!

  • Free eBird K-2 Lesson

    What makes birds so unique? Help your students discover the unique and beautiful world of birds with your free eBird Explorers: Building Literacy Through Nature K-2 lesson download. The lesson uses four fun activities to take students on a learning…

  • FeederWatch Classroom Guide

     Project FeederWatch (PFW) is a November-April survey of birds that visit schoolyards, backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America.  To sign up for PFW, visit their website here.

    This FeederWatch Classroom Guide helps educators engage their K-8th…

  • Window Bird Feeder
    Feathered Friends

    Engaging science lessons brought to you by your local birds! Our friends at Pennington Wild Birds are working with us to educate and engage children in the pleasures of feeding and watching birds with this free download.

  • Guidebook
    Explorer’s Guidebook

    K-12 Education wants to help you get kids outside and enjoying their local parks and natural areas. Take kids on a habitat scavenger hunt, create a sound map, and test bird ID skills with this adaptable activity book.

  • eBird Essentials for Educators Guide

    Participatory-science projects like eBird can help make concrete connections between classroom learning and life skills, preparing your students with the tools they need to thrive in the world. This guide gives educator-tested tips, tools, and activities for scaffolding students in…

  • Bird Bingo

    These bird bingo cards will provide an easy and engaging way to encourage young people to find birds and notice their behaviors.

  • “Students as Scientists” Resources for K-5th Grade

    Find all the supporting resources you need to implement Students as Scientist in K-5th grade classrooms.