A Curated List of Nature-Focused Websites and Apps

Looking for fun, creative, smart ways to learn about nature? Take a look at our list of some of the best and mostly free apps and websites for K-12 environmental learning and discovery.

Lynn Fouchey, a longtime Matthaei-Nichols docent and a former 3rd-grade public school teacher for over 23 year, curated the list for the Matthaei-Nichols community. All you have to do is click, download, and learn. The apps offer a mix of outdoor and online activities for learning about plants, habitats, ecology, wildlife, and the environment.

Click on any of the buttons below to start your adventure!

Free and Subscription-based Apps

Fee-based App

Kids Discover: Plants for iPad; $3.99
Platform Apple
Recommended ages: For upper elementary and middle school. 
Topics in this app include photosynthesis, plants around the world and in everyday life, plants in art and plants as art using 3D interactive models. Quizzes, puzzles and games are included. 

https://www.kidsdiscover.com/apps-for-kids/plants-app-for-ipad/

• Ology: The Science Website for Kids; American Museum of Natural History; free. Recommended Ages: Grades K – 5

• Mystery Science; free memberships available. Recommended ages: Grades K-5

• MBGnet :  Biomes; free. Recommended ages: Grades 5-12

• BrainPOP Jr ; Subscription based. Recommended ages:  Grades K- 3

• Brain POP; subscription-based. Recommended ages: Grades 4-12