K-12 Lesson Plans
We created STEM-based curricula to help students explore the Platte Basin. Browse our resources to teach your students about our land and water.
Timelapse: Nature in Motion
Engage your students with the power of timelapse photography to monitor environmental changes! From tracking migratory bird patterns to observing crop growth and seasonal river fluctuations, scientists and citizens use photography to uncover patterns over time. Bring this hands-on, exciting method to your classroom and inspire curiosity in science and the environment!
The Nebraska Sandhills
Discover the Nebraska Sandhills, an iconic region of the Central Great Plains and home to the Switzer family. This unique area, spanning 20,000 square miles of grass-stabilized sand dunes—the largest in North America—offers rich opportunities for students to explore geography, ecology, and the connection between land and community.
Platte River Prairies
Engage your students with the hidden wonders of Nebraska! Despite its reputation for being flat, Nebraska boasts biologically rich ecosystems shaped by rivers like the Platte. Dive into the diverse Platte River prairies ecosystem and bring learning to life with an interactive food web and food chain activity.
Terns & Plovers
Inspire your students with the fascinating story of least terns and piping plovers! These birds once relied on the Platte River’s sandbars for nesting but now adapt to unexpected habitats like gravel mines and housing developments. Students will explore how scientists band and monitor these species, linking conservation science to real-world challenges in a meaningful and engaging way.
Plant Adaptations in Wetlands
Plants growing in wetlands have a wide variety of adaptations that allow them to thrive in the unique conditions that are found in wetlands. From massive cottonwood trees to the diminuative saltwort, learn about the amazing plants that are found in Nebraska’s wetlands!
Animal Engineers in wetlands
Humans aren’t the only animals that manipulate ecosystems. Animals that are found in wetlands engineer the habitat around them to create shelter, gather food, and raise their young. Learn about the amazing engineering feats of animals in Nebraska’s wetlands!
LEARN More
Timelapse
Stories · Films · Podcasts
