Watch this short video to learn more about all the free resources that Natural Inquirer has to offer middle and high school students!
Classroom-Ready Resources
The Natural Inquirer has many resources to help teach students about different natural resource science topics and improve scientific literacy skills.
Natural Inquirer Journals & Monographs
Natural Inquirer articles are written at a middle school level. These articles are written directly from peer-reviewed research and reviewed by scientists for scientific accuracy. These articles are perfect for introducing different parts of the research process and helping to scaffold students’ understanding of how research papers are written. All articles are correlated to national education standards.
The Natural Inquirer comes in two formats: journals and monographs. The journals are based on a natural resource topic like freshwater, wildfire, or ecosystem services. The journals contain 4-8 articles on that topic area. The monographs are based on a single research article.
All articles follow the same format with the following sections: Meet the Scientists, Thinking About Science, Thinking About the Environment, Introduction, Methods, Findings, Discussion, FACTivity (a hands-on activity), and Reflection Sections.
The articles also have a citation for the original articles, a glossary, and additional resources.
Citizen Science – Vol. 19 No. 1
Lights, Camera, Tracks! – Vol. 1 No. 28
Freshwater – Vol. 18 No. 1
The Bee Frequency – Vol. 1 No. 23
Caves and Karst Natural Inquirer – Vol. 20 No. 1
A Green Bill of Health – Vol. 1 No. 26
Scientific Models in Adaptive Management – Vol. 17 No. 1
Ecosystem Services – Vol. 12 No. 1
NSI: Nature Science Investigator
NSI: Nature Science Investigator (NSI) is a self-guided activity book for students ages 8-14. The booklet enables each student to become the scientist! Eleven scientists are highlighted. Students are introduced to 2-3 outdoor, hands-on activities for each scientist. Use NSI in the schoolyard, at home, in the park, or at the campground!
Designing Your Own Study
Are your students planning a research study or working on a science fair project? Check out these videos from several Forest Service scientists! Each scientist discusses their research project while also giving tips and tricks on developing a testable question, planning to test that question, analyzing the data, and explaining it all to a variety of audiences. These videos are amazing resources for learning more about the research process. We have also created a lesson plan and graphic organizer to pair with these resources.
Developing a Testable Question with Marla Emery USDA Forest Service (1/4)
Planning to Test Your Question with Keith Aubry USDA Forest Service (2/4)
Analyzing and Understanding Your Data with Rima Lucardi USDA Forest Service (3/4)
Explaining It All with Ariel Lugo USDA Forest Service (4/4)
Lesson Plans
The Natural Inquirer has lesson plans for every grade level. We’ve made lesson plans to pair with our journals, monographs, card packs, and more.
Natural Inquirer in the High School Classroom
Lesson Plan – Question Cube
Lesson Plan – Write A Scientist
Lesson Plan – Frayer Diagram
Lesson Plan – Storyboard
Virtual Learning Adventures
Our FSNatureLIVE distance learning adventures bring nature learning to you through our series of webcasts, webinars, and online education resources.
No matter where you are in the world, visit our LIVE programs for exciting, on-site learning about bats, butterflies, caves, wetlands, and more!
Ecosystems LIVE: Nature Nearby
Virtual Learning Adventure – Nature Health Benefits LIVE
Fresh Water LIVE
Smokey Bear LIVE
Caves LIVE
Learning Modules
Check out our learning modules on topics like freshwater, invasive species, Smokey Bear, and more. Ready-made units include step-by-step lesson plans, articles, video clips, and activities. Use part of a module in your own unit plans or follow along with the complete module.
Learning Module – Freshwater
Learning Module – Invasive Species
Learning Module – Caves & Karst
Career Exploration
Natural Inquirer has a series of career cards and other resources to help students explore STEM and other natural resource careers.
Collector Cards
Browse our ever-growing list of collector cards featuring a huge variety of careers. Download and print collector cards and posters for free. Cards are a great way to introduce students of all ages to STEM and Natural Resource careers.
Forest Service Career Cards
Forest Service Fire Career Cards
Artemis Moon Tree Cards
Women in Science & Engineering Cards
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Rima Lucardi, Plant, Molecular, & Invasion Ecologist
- Ph.D., Mississippi State University
- USDA Forest Service Scientist
- An ecologist studies low organisms interact with each other and the environment. I use genetic tools to answer ecological questions related to plants and invasive species.
- Ph.D., Mississippi State University
- USDA Forest Service Scientist
- An ecologist studies low organisms interact with each other and the environment. I use genetic tools to answer ecological questions related to plants and invasive species.
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Dexter Strother, Forest & Soil Ecologist
- Ph.D., University of Georgia
- USDA Forest Service Scientist
- As a forest and soil ecologist, I am interested in how forest management practices impact soils.
- Ph.D., University of Georgia
- USDA Forest Service Scientist
- As a forest and soil ecologist, I am interested in how forest management practices impact soils.
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Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis I Launch Director
- NASA
- As the launch director I oversaw the countdown and liftoff of NASA's Space Launch System Rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis I. I developed specific steps that the team went through within the launch countdown to configure the ground equipment and the flight vehicle.
- NASA
- As the launch director I oversaw the countdown and liftoff of NASA's Space Launch System Rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis I. I developed specific steps that the team went through within the launch countdown to configure the ground equipment and the flight vehicle.
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Jordan Gulley, Assistant Superintendent, Redmond Hotshots
- B.S., Washington State University
- USDA Forest Service
- I lead 20-25 firefighters daily. This includes developing fire line tactics, identifying and mitigating hazards, ensuring the crew is logistically supported with supplies and equipment, and building a team of hotshots. We dig in the dirt, crawl around in the mud, and cut down trees.
- B.S., Washington State University
- USDA Forest Service
- I lead 20-25 firefighters daily. This includes developing fire line tactics, identifying and mitigating hazards, ensuring the crew is logistically supported with supplies and equipment, and building a team of hotshots. We dig in the dirt, crawl around in the mud, and cut down trees.
Coloring Books
The Natural Inquirer has several coloring books for students of all ages. Download the entire coloring book or print individual coloring pages.
Advanced Fire Scientist Coloring Book
Bee A Scientist Coloring Book
Bee A Fire Scientist Coloring Book
