Eagle-eyed website users (and our newsletter subscribers) may have spotted a brand-new product we debuted last year – career activity sheets.
While creating these resources, our goals were two-fold: how can we support the people working in visitor centers and interacting with the public, and how can we share with kids the surprising variety of careers and research being conducted in our national forests?
Though made with upper elementary school students as our target audience, we quickly realized that these activity sheets were great for the whole family. They could be a way to spark interesting conversations and help all of us think about our public lands, and even our own backyards, in a new way.
These two-page handouts are designed to be printed, front and back, on a single sheet of paper, making them easy to hand out and tuck into a backpack or pocket. On the front, kids learn about a science-related topic. On the back, they learn about a career related to that topic and can try a simple activity, putting them in the shoes of the scientist.
Hand them out to hikers and campers before they hit the trails. Distribute them at tabling events to share science and career information with the public. Use them with field trip groups and at other educational outreach events. Use them in an outdoor classroom or in your own backyard.
Tracking an Invasive Insect
Learn all about the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect that damages hemlock trees in the eastern United States. Find out how the insect impacts hemlocks and how to spot the signs of the adelgid. Then learn about entomologists and make your own insect observations.
Understanding Fireflies
Learn about fireflies and what makes them glow. Find out how you can help fireflies in your yard or community. Then learn about entomologists and study the fireflies near you. Get creative and design your own firefly and light pattern.
Investigating Fungi
Learn about bioluminescence in fungi and the phenomenon known as foxfire. Then learn about mycologists, the scientists who study fungi. Make your own fungi observations by drawing fungi you see in nature. (Remember: with fungi, look but don’t touch!)
Let Us Know What You Think!
We’d love to hear from you! How did you use these? What other topics or careers would you like us to feature? Email us with the subject line “Career Activity Sheets” and share your feedback.
