Exploring outdoors is a great way to engage young students in science investigation. Giving them a list of animals to find over several days will keep their minds focused on looking, wondering and asking questions – all ways to build young scientists!
For older students, ask them to connect those animals with their taxonomic group to put their knowledge to work.
When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).
When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.
Amsel, Sheri. "Backyard Animals - Outdoor Inquiry Activities (2 Age Levels)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2025. April 1, 2025
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Backyard-Animals-Outdoor-Inquiry-Activities-2-Age-Levels >
