Nature

Nature and animal apps for kids

Animals, plants, oceans, weather and the outdoors to explore and learn about.

Ages 2–5

Peace Out: Kids breathe, stretch and picture calm scenes while a gentle host tells mindfulness stories.
Seek by iNaturalist: Kids seem to spend their time aiming a camera at leaves, beetles and birds, then filing each find into a growing collection.
Merlin Bird ID: Kids hold a phone up to birdsong or snap a photo, and Merlin suggests which birds might be around them.
My Very Hungry Caterpillar: Toddlers hatch, feed and look after Eric Carle’s caterpillar until he turns into a butterfly.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: Kids send in their own big questions, and host Jane Lindholm seeks out experts to answer them on air.
SciShow Kids: Kids watch host Jessi and Squeaks, a robot rat, work through one kid-sized science question per short video.
The Kid Should See This: Kids and grown-ups wander through a huge, hand-picked collection of short videos on science, nature, art and how things get made.
Peep and the Big Wide World: Preschoolers watch Peep the chick and friends poke at how the world works, then play simple games about sound, light and motion.
Cornell Lab Bird Cams: Kids watch live cameras trained on real nests and feeders, with hawks, ospreys, albatrosses and toucans going about their day.
Ranger Rick: Kids meet wild animals through Ranger Rick’s stories, photos, reading games, videos and a wildlife podcast.
Journey North: Kids report the monarchs, hummingbirds and other migrants they spot, then watch sightings sweep across a live map.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers has animal and plant profiles, zoo stories, facts and printable activities.
Natural History Museum: Activities for All: The Natural History Museum’s Activities for All page lists ways to explore nature at home or close by.
Science Sparks: Science Sparks is a collection of hands-on science ideas spanning chemistry, biology, physics, seasonal themes and fairy-tale challenges.
DK Learning Activity Packs and Worksheets: DK Learning’s activity packs are downloadable projects and worksheets on nature, STEM, history and creative subjects.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Online Courses: Monterey Bay Aquarium runs online courses built around marine animals, with observation and making activities.
National Park Service Junior Ranger Booklets: The National Park Service’s national-theme Junior Ranger booklets cover subjects that span many parks.

Ages 6–8

Peace Out: Kids breathe, stretch and picture calm scenes while a gentle host tells mindfulness stories.
Seek by iNaturalist: Kids seem to spend their time aiming a camera at leaves, beetles and birds, then filing each find into a growing collection.
Merlin Bird ID: Kids hold a phone up to birdsong or snap a photo, and Merlin suggests which birds might be around them.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: Kids send in their own big questions, and host Jane Lindholm seeks out experts to answer them on air.
SciShow Kids: Kids watch host Jessi and Squeaks, a robot rat, work through one kid-sized science question per short video.
The Kid Should See This: Kids and grown-ups wander through a huge, hand-picked collection of short videos on science, nature, art and how things get made.
Google Earth: Kids spin a 3D globe, zoom down to a single street and ride along on guided story tours of reefs, parks and cities.
Cornell Lab Bird Cams: Kids watch live cameras trained on real nests and feeders, with hawks, ospreys, albatrosses and toucans going about their day.
Ranger Rick: Kids meet wild animals through Ranger Rick’s stories, photos, reading games, videos and a wildlife podcast.
Journey North: Kids report the monarchs, hummingbirds and other migrants they spot, then watch sightings sweep across a live map.
National Geographic Kids: National Geographic Kids mixes animal profiles, short videos, quizzes and puzzles on a browsable discovery site.
Smithsonian: Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens: The Smithsonian’s kids and teens hub gathers activities from across its museums for use at home.
Science Buddies: Elementary STEM Activities: Science Buddies has an elementary-school collection of hands-on building and experimenting projects.
Mystery Science: Mystery Science organizes elementary science around questions meant to open discussion and hands-on work.
Generation Genius: Generation Genius teaches science and math through video lessons with related materials.
OLogy: OLogy is the American Museum of Natural History’s science site for children, organized by subject and activity type.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers has animal and plant profiles, zoo stories, facts and printable activities.
Natural History Museum: Activities for All: The Natural History Museum’s Activities for All page lists ways to explore nature at home or close by.
Science Sparks: Science Sparks is a collection of hands-on science ideas spanning chemistry, biology, physics, seasonal themes and fairy-tale challenges.
Science Fun: Experiments for Kids: Science Fun’s experiment library uses familiar materials to explore liquids, plants, weather and motion.
DK Learning Activity Packs and Worksheets: DK Learning’s activity packs are downloadable projects and worksheets on nature, STEM, history and creative subjects.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Online Courses: Monterey Bay Aquarium runs online courses built around marine animals, with observation and making activities.
Explorify: Explorify uses images, video and open questions to start conversations about science.
Royal Institution ExpeRimental: ExpeRimental is the Royal Institution’s collection of short family science videos and practical activities.
National Park Service Junior Ranger Booklets: The National Park Service’s national-theme Junior Ranger booklets cover subjects that span many parks.

Ages 9–12

Peace Out: Kids breathe, stretch and picture calm scenes while a gentle host tells mindfulness stories.
Seek by iNaturalist: Kids seem to spend their time aiming a camera at leaves, beetles and birds, then filing each find into a growing collection.
Merlin Bird ID: Kids hold a phone up to birdsong or snap a photo, and Merlin suggests which birds might be around them.
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids: Kids send in their own big questions, and host Jane Lindholm seeks out experts to answer them on air.
The Kid Should See This: Kids and grown-ups wander through a huge, hand-picked collection of short videos on science, nature, art and how things get made.
Google Earth: Kids spin a 3D globe, zoom down to a single street and ride along on guided story tours of reefs, parks and cities.
Earth Rangers: Kids pick real-world conservation missions, earn badges and hear wildlife stories through the Earth Rangers app and podcast.
Cornell Lab Bird Cams: Kids watch live cameras trained on real nests and feeders, with hawks, ospreys, albatrosses and toucans going about their day.
Frontiers for Young Minds: Kids read science articles by working researchers, each one reviewed for clarity by kids their own age.
Science News Explores: Kids read science news written at their level, from fresh dinosaur finds to robots, space missions and the human body.
Ranger Rick: Kids meet wild animals through Ranger Rick’s stories, photos, reading games, videos and a wildlife podcast.
SciJinks: SciJinks is NOAA’s weather site for kids, with articles, games and videos on how weather works, from hurricanes to rainbows.
Journey North: Kids report the monarchs, hummingbirds and other migrants they spot, then watch sightings sweep across a live map.
TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç: TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç is a Turkish-language science site with articles, questions, videos and making activities.
National Geographic Kids: National Geographic Kids mixes animal profiles, short videos, quizzes and puzzles on a browsable discovery site.
Smithsonian: Fun Stuff for Kids and Teens: The Smithsonian’s kids and teens hub gathers activities from across its museums for use at home.
Science Buddies: Elementary STEM Activities: Science Buddies has an elementary-school collection of hands-on building and experimenting projects.
Exploratorium Science Snacks: Exploratorium Science Snacks are hands-on investigations of real phenomena using physical materials.
Mystery Science: Mystery Science organizes elementary science around questions meant to open discussion and hands-on work.
Generation Genius: Generation Genius teaches science and math through video lessons with related materials.
OLogy: OLogy is the American Museum of Natural History’s science site for children, organized by subject and activity type.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers has animal and plant profiles, zoo stories, facts and printable activities.
Ask A Biologist: Ask A Biologist, from Arizona State University, mixes biology stories with games, activities, videos and conversations with scientists.
Natural History Museum: Activities for All: The Natural History Museum’s Activities for All page lists ways to explore nature at home or close by.
Science Sparks: Science Sparks is a collection of hands-on science ideas spanning chemistry, biology, physics, seasonal themes and fairy-tale challenges.
Science Fun: Experiments for Kids: Science Fun’s experiment library uses familiar materials to explore liquids, plants, weather and motion.
DK Learning Activity Packs and Worksheets: DK Learning’s activity packs are downloadable projects and worksheets on nature, STEM, history and creative subjects.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Online Courses: Monterey Bay Aquarium runs online courses built around marine animals, with observation and making activities.
Explorify: Explorify uses images, video and open questions to start conversations about science.
Royal Institution ExpeRimental: ExpeRimental is the Royal Institution’s collection of short family science videos and practical activities.
National Park Service Junior Ranger Booklets: The National Park Service’s national-theme Junior Ranger booklets cover subjects that span many parks.

Ages 13+

Seek by iNaturalist: Kids seem to spend their time aiming a camera at leaves, beetles and birds, then filing each find into a growing collection.
Merlin Bird ID: Kids hold a phone up to birdsong or snap a photo, and Merlin suggests which birds might be around them.
The Kid Should See This: Kids and grown-ups wander through a huge, hand-picked collection of short videos on science, nature, art and how things get made.
Google Earth: Kids spin a 3D globe, zoom down to a single street and ride along on guided story tours of reefs, parks and cities.
Cornell Lab Bird Cams: Kids watch live cameras trained on real nests and feeders, with hawks, ospreys, albatrosses and toucans going about their day.
Frontiers for Young Minds: Kids read science articles by working researchers, each one reviewed for clarity by kids their own age.
Science News Explores: Kids read science news written at their level, from fresh dinosaur finds to robots, space missions and the human body.
Ranger Rick: Kids meet wild animals through Ranger Rick’s stories, photos, reading games, videos and a wildlife podcast.
SciJinks: SciJinks is NOAA’s weather site for kids, with articles, games and videos on how weather works, from hurricanes to rainbows.
Journey North: Kids report the monarchs, hummingbirds and other migrants they spot, then watch sightings sweep across a live map.
TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç: TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç is a Turkish-language science site with articles, questions, videos and making activities.
Exploratorium Science Snacks: Exploratorium Science Snacks are hands-on investigations of real phenomena using physical materials.
Generation Genius: Generation Genius teaches science and math through video lessons with related materials.
Ask A Biologist: Ask A Biologist, from Arizona State University, mixes biology stories with games, activities, videos and conversations with scientists.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Online Courses: Monterey Bay Aquarium runs online courses built around marine animals, with observation and making activities.
National Park Service Junior Ranger Booklets: The National Park Service’s national-theme Junior Ranger booklets cover subjects that span many parks.