Celebration of Nature – New Resources!

A Celebration of Nature lessons and activities highlight the wonder of our beautiful world to inspire student learning about the environment. The lessons connect directly with key instruction areas.

Celebration of Nature – New Resources!

Overview

A Celebration of Nature Lessons & Activities for Elementary & Middle School are great for STEM Learning, Earth Day and Earth Month, and more. Additional resources for teaching with these films are available from the Journeys in Film Resource Library.

New Resources added August 2025! To get notifications about updates to this collection and other new resources, sign up for our newsletter.

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  • Lesson Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Ages: 3–7, 8–12

Lessons

Chasing Coral

Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.

In this activity, students pick a nature topic that they are curious about. Then they craft an environment-themed research question inspired by their chosen topic. Finally, they consider their own relationship to consumption and sustainability.

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Jane

Award-winning documentary Jane shows how when Jane Goodall and her peers Dian Fossey and Birutė Galdikas began their longitudinal studies of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, respectively, they began more than one revolution in the biological sciences. By patiently integrating herself into the community she was studying, Jane pioneered a methodology of observation and allowed a new understanding of what it means to be human and proved that women could be successful as scientists in a world previously dominated by men.

Our discussion guide introduces Dr. Jane Goodall, explores the work of women in science, and features quotes by Jane Goodall and additional resources.

For grades 4-8.

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Landfill Harmonic

Landfill Harmonic follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical group that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight and must navigate a strange new world of arenas and sold-out concerts. When a natural disaster strikes their community, they must find a way to keep the orchestra intact and provide hope for their town. The film testifies to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.

This lesson is about waste, recycling, and the inspirational recycled instrument orchestra featured in the documentary. Handouts include an active viewing worksheet, a waste sequence chart, a worksheet for planning a Landfill Harmonic Tour Poster, and a Recycling Choice Board.

For grades 4-5.

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The Love Bugs

Emmy-winning documentary film The Love Bugs provides an exceptional opportunity for you and your students to become amateur entomologists and discover the wonder of small creatures. It also provides a process for understanding the nature of love through your students’ eyes and through those of married scientists who have worked and lived together for 60 years.

Emmy-winning documentary film The Love Bugs provides an opportunity for you and your students to become amateur entomologists and discover the wonder of small creatures. Includes a fun bug-themed hands-on art activity.

For grades 3-5.

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Whale Rider

In Whale Rider, a Māori village faces a crisis when the heir to the chiefdom dies at birth and is survived only by his twin sister Pai. Disregarded by her grandfather, 12-year-old Pai remains certain of her calling and trains herself in the ways and customs of her people. With remarkable grace and courage, she summons the strength to challenge and embrace a thousand years of tradition in order to pursue her destiny.

Lesson about how whales communicate with echolocation. Features a whale fact sheet highlighting migration, classifications of whales and more. Includes math components and a hands-on class activity for exploring echolocation. (This resource works without the film as an option.)

For grades 5-7.

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The Wild

The Wild tells the story of a race against time to save wild salmon. Fisherman/filmmaker Mark Titus returns to the wilds of Alaska where the people of Bristol Bay and its storied wild salmon runs face devastation if a massive copper mine is constructed. At stake is the survival of a keystone species that feeds 137 different creatures — including us — in a wild place that is the last of its kind on Earth.

Join the real-life struggle to save the last fully intact wild salmon system left on Earth with these lessons for documentary film The Wild.

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Group Discussion Facilitation Guidelines

These tips can help you create safe space for classroom engagement on the themes and subjects of these resources.

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Sustainable Development Goals

Journeys in Film supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more about teaching with UN SDGs. This curriculum guide connects to the following SDGs
  • Responsible_Consumption_and_Production
  • Life_Below_Water
  • Life_on_Land
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