Credit: ©️ Kody Sherlock/TNC Photo Contest 2019
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May 20, 2025
Ximena Marquez, The Nature Conservancy’s associate director for education, shares resources to connect young people to incredible biodiversity across the globe—and inspire them to help protect plants, animals and communities.
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Last year on International Biodiversity Day (May 22), The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Nature Lab provided a tour of incredible habitats across the globe. This year, Nature Lab returns with a suite of resources that introduce students to the amazing species that power the planet, from tiny honey bees to towering redwood trees. The lesson plans, videos and activities listed below demonstrate the importance of biodiversity to all life on Earth, the challenges facing the world’s species, and what young people can do to get involved.
With its high salt levels, Great Salt Lakeis an extreme and unique habitat that allows an incredible range of species to thrive. For International Biodiversity Day, students can explore everything from birds to brine shrimp in this virtual field trip. An accompanying teaching guide includes lessons and fun activities about salinity, the water cycle, the food web, adaptation and how they are all tied to ecosystem health. Students also learn about environmental challenges facing Great Salt Lake and how these issues relate to their own surroundings.
May 16, Endangered Species Day, is another opportunity to learn about the diversity of life on Earth. This lesson guide focuses on the story of the osprey, a species that became endangered when the use of DDT decimated their populations. The ban of this pesticide, paired with the installation of manmade nesting structures, has helped ospreys to rebound.
An awesome example of biodiversity can be found lining busy streets, shading homes and buildings, and populating dense forests. Trees not only come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but also provide food and shelter that, in turn, allow thousands of other species to thrive. Students can explore trees from around the globe in Google Arts & Culture’s Worldwide Wood online exhibit, which includes contributions from TNC. Browse more than 30,000 tree species; see how trees play a role in art, history and culture; and learn about tree conservation.
In addition to International Biodiversity Day and Endangered Species Day, another May observance celebrates an insect we all rely on: bees! May 20 is World Bee Day, the perfect time to introduce students to these pollinators, the role they play in the food system and the challenges they face. This Nature Lab lesson plan and related videos uncover the world of bees and other pollinators, explains how they’re connected to crops and food production, and shows students how local gardens can help protect these mighty insects.
Biodiversity underpins every aspect of life. All things that make Earth habitable—from food to fresh water to clean air—depend on the interplay of millions of organisms in diverse ecosystems, which have learned to survive and interact over billions of years. Today, biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. But finding new ways to protect it can begin in the classroom. If you want to receive more videos, lesson plans and suggested activities from Nature Lab, sign up for our newsletter.
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with these engaging preK–12 lesson plans, activities, and classroom resources. Help your students explore environmental education topics and discover meaningful ways they can take action in their community to build a healthier, more sustainable planet.
