Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

TPWD is excited to offer our free, TEKS-aligned virtual learning programs in STEM, social studies, language arts, fine arts, and physical education, as they relate to natural and cultural resource management.

To see our scheduled programs and register go to Connect2Texas and select Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in the program filter.

For questions contact distance.learning@tpwd.texas.gov.

Grades: PreK-5

Experience life on the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. When you smell dinner cooking on a wood-burning stove, you are almost here! Park rangers wearing historical clothing work the farm. Daily chores include caring for animals – feeding, milking, gathering eggs, and slopping hogs. Inside the house, cooking, cleaning, and churning need to be done. You might see “family” members weeding the garden, working in the blacksmith shop, or knitting. Seasonal chores include canning and butchering.

Grades: 5-12

Join Jeff, Sea Center’s Hatchery Biologist, on his morning shift routine. After a brief discussion on Stock Enhancement, you’ll learn how fish spawn, see when the eggs are collected and what happens after they hatch, practice your math skills as we sample & enumerate fry, and get the chance to “Ask a Marine Biologist” all your questions.

Grades: K-2

Join Ranger Debbie as she examines, explores, and explains fun facts about bugs! Bugs can be slimy, beautiful, tiny, squirmy, and graceful. Students will be able to explain how living organisms meet their basic needs, such as food, water, and shelter.

Grades: K-5

Students learn about snakes and ask questions during this interactive lesson. Students will learn about snakes' habitats, what they eat, and many fun facts.

Grades: 1-5

Did you know alligators have been around for 37 million years? Or that they hatch from eggs? Brazos Bend State Park is home to the American Alligator and while many people are afraid of them, they are actually incredible animals to see in person, at a safe distance of course! We will review the American Alligator food chain, habitat and adaptations.

Grades: K-2

Join Rangers Louisa and Cynthia at McKinney Falls State Park, home of the upper and lower falls - sculpted by years of flowing water! These waters support all kinds of life in an urban environment as well as attract people from across Texas to come splash and enjoy a day outdoors. Together, we'll learn about how animals, plants and people use water, as well as ways to conserve water, through conversation, music, art and theater!

Grades: K-8

Ranger Theresa talks all about the Edwards aquifers and its importance to the city of San Antonio.

San Antonio’s dependence on the aquifer’s fresh water grew with the city’s population. Locals became concerned about the develop­ment over the aquifer’s Recharge Zone in the 1980s. Water began connecting people around a common cause.

Grades: K-2

Learn all about Texas State Bison. How big do they get? What do they eat? How fast are they? What important role did they play in helping early settlers? We discuss and view these amazing creatures in the field at San Angelo State Park. Join us in this interactive lesson all about the Texas State Bison.

Grades: 4-6

The abandoned railroad tunnel at Old Tunnel State Park is home to up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis bats from May to October! In this exciting and surprising program, Ranger Nyta will introduce you to the amazing adaptions these and other bats around the world have developed in order to successfully survive and thrive in their environments.

Grades: 3-5

Galveston Island is home to thousands of people but its sandy beaches and warm Gulf waters are home to untold numbers of living creatures – many of which you never see! The ever-changing environment of shifting sands and tides requires very special adaptations for wildlife to survive and thrive. In this program, students will join Galveston Island State Park staff on a tour to find what critters are living on the shores and under the surf. Participants will seine for marine creatures, see them up close, and learn about the important role they play in this unique ecosystem.

Grades: 4-6

Is this fish a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore? Where does it fit in the food web? These are some of the questions marine biologists may ask when they’re trying to learn more about ocean life. But how do they answer these questions? By dissecting and examining the contents of a fish’s stomach, scientists can learn more about a specific fish species and their role in an ecosystem. Now it’s your turn! During this program, participants will identify and test a hypothesis using model black drum and alligator gar stomachs.

Grades: PreK-5

Join us this month as we tell the stories of African-Americans who contributed to the creation and history of our state parks. Their stories are part of OUR story.

To truly appreciate the accomplishments of this CCC company, you must understand the struggles they had to overcome. They faced segregation and their abilities were underestimated. Yet they persevered and built the foundation of Huntsville State Park for a community that welcomed them.

Learn more about the CCC at http://texascccparks.org/

Grades: PreK-5

Join Park Assistant Superintendent Candyce Johnson and learn about the CCC veterans who help build Abilene State Park. The CCC was a part of the New Deal implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt upon his election. The New Deal was designed to get men working again, helping to revitalize the economy after World War I and during the Great Depression.

Men, ages 18 to 25, were eligible to participate, earning $30 per month. They had to send most of it back home to support their families.

The CCC built hundreds of parks, including national and state parks. They also planted over 3.5 billion trees during the nine years the program was in place.

To truly appreciate the accomplishments of this CCC company, you must understand the struggles they had to overcome. They faced segregation, and their abilities were underestimated. Company 1823 CV persevered and built the foundation of Abilene State Park for a community that welcomed them.

Grades: PreK-5

Join us this month as we tell the stories of African Americans who contributed to the creation and history of our state parks. Their stories are part of OUR story.

From 1933 to 1935, young men joined Civilian Conservation Corps companies to learn job skills and earn money for their families while doing natural resource work across Texas. Find out what that experience was like for Black enrollees in integrated companies and why their experiences changed after 1935.

Learn more about the CCC at http://texascccparks.org/.

Grades: PreK-5

Join Private Mack on this introduction to the Texas Buffalo Soldiers. Explore who these trail-blazing men were and how they got the name Buffalo Soldier!

Grades: PreK-5

Join the Solar Eclipse Adventure: Exploring the Wonders of the Sky with NASA Experts and Australia's Top Eclipse Hunter! Did you know that a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on our planet every year or two? But what exactly is an eclipse? Discover the answers as we journey through how solar eclipses work, the different types of eclipses, and, most importantly, how to safely watch the sun if you find yourself in the path of totality.

Grades: 2-5

It's not always easy living in the deep blue sea, and many marine organisms depend on disguise for survival. From camouflaged flounder, to counter-shaded sharks, to mimicking anglerfish, different species of marine animals employ different forms of crypsis. Let's take a closer look at the ocean and uncover these masters of disguise.

Grades: 4-12

TPWD's Coastal Fisheries Kills and Spills Team are marine biologists that are trained to determine the probable cause of large scale fish kills in Texas bays and the Gulf of Mexico. During this program, we'll meet up with members of the Kills and Spills Team to act as fish crime scene investigators at a real fish kill. By using environmental clues like dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water samples, we'll be able to figure out whodunnit.

NOTE: We will be showing video and images from a real fish kill. Students will see fish at various stages of decomposition.

Grades: PreK-1

Bring your best singing voice! Whether you just got off a cattle drive or a car ride, sit back and relax with us for cowboy Christmas music and poetry.

Grades: 3-5

There are many species of crabs that call the Texas Gulf Coast home. During this program, we'll learn about what makes a crab a crab. Then, we'll dive a little deeper into specific adaptations different crab species have that allow them to survive in the environment. If we're lucky, we may even have a few special (crabby) guests!

Grades: K-5

Join Ranger Lydia as she hikes and observes the diverse ecosystem of Franklin Mountains—one of the largest parks in Texas near El Paso. Students will be able to observe the way organisms live and survive in the Franklin Mountains ecosystem. What will we see along the trail?

Grades: 3-5

Diamondback terrapins, America’s only brackish water turtle, faced a severe population decline in the late 1800s. At the time, turtle soup was a popular dish, and terrapins were nearly hunted to extinction. Join Sea Center Texas to learn how careful conservation planning saved this species from demise. We’ll learn all about the terrapin’s biology, life cycle, and habitat, as well as the current threats to the population. You’ll even get to meet Sea Center’s resident terrapin, Truman!

Grades: 4-8

Come to our lab to discover the 'ear' bone in fish and decipher the story it tells us. Learn with Brian and Jo as they find these bones and uncover the life history of a sea explorer. Adventure awaits.

NOTE: We will be doing a dissection of a fish during this program.

Grades:4-8

Join Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Artificial Reefs Program to get a fish-eye-view of the artificial reefs along the Texas coast! Learn about how we monitor these ecosystems with minimal impact on their inhabitants.

Grades: 7-12

Venture into the TPWD Coastal Fisheries genetics lab and see how the team uses information at the cellular level to answer management questions about fish and invertebrates in marine systems.

Grades: 3

Join Ranger Josie at Lake Corpus Christi State Park and learn about the impact of drought on animals inside the park and the ecological consequences.

Grades: 4-6

Join two field biologists to learn all about how we catch and learn about the sharks of Texas! This program will cover how and why we sample for sharks, how to identify Texas' most common types of sharks, and the remarkable adaptations that help sharks thrive in their environment!

Grades: 6-12

How is a red drum different from a Southern flounder? How are these fish different from salmon? During this program with TPWD Coastal Fisheries Biologist Dr. Lindsay Campbell, we will go through how these fish differ at different life stages and why those differences help them adapt and live in their particular habitats.

Grades: 4-7

Did you know that the shape, forms, and structures of a fish can influence how it eats, hides, and swims? With real fish specimens and an aquarium tour, we will learn how a fish’s unique adaptations impact its behavior and lifestyle

Grades: 5-12

Winter storm Uri of February 2021 impacted millions of Texans, including many marine fish and turtles. This program will highlight the severity of the freeze on Spotted Seatrout and Sea Turtle along the Texas Coast.

Grades: 1-3

Through games, worksheets, art projects, story time, and discussion, students will learn the life cycle of a fish and why sportfish are raised at Sea Center Texas. Students will also learn the history of fishing, and how fishing is both culturally and scientifically important.

Grades: 7-12

Join Sea Center technician, Jonathan Daigle, to learn what it's like to work at a fish hatchery. In this program, Jonathan will show what it takes to raise and release Spotted Seatrout and Redfish for Stock Enhancement.

Grades: 4-6

Let's get batty and learn about the bats that occupy the Clarity Tunnel at Caprock Canyon State Park. Clarity Tunnel is an abandoned railroad tunnel located on the Trailway of Caprock Canyons State Park. It was built in the late 1920s and was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Up to 500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats inhabit Clarity Tunnel from late April through mid-October.

Grades: 4-7

Did you know that your favorite food is full of energy? Did you know that energy flows between all living things? Join Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Sea Center staff to learn how all creatures are connected through the food chain. Be prepared to learn some cool science, play some games, and watch a video of Sea Center’s fish at feeding time!

Grades: 4-7

Join biologists at Sea Center Texas for a virtual aquarium tour. We'll learn about different Gulf of Mexico marine habitats, the species that live in each unique coastal environment, and the adaptations that help them survive. Students will see real-life examples found at our aquarium.

Grades: 3-5

Follow along as two orioles try to find their perfect nest in the spring. Students will discover the diversity of nests that Texas birds build, where they’re located, and why they build them. We’ll talk about bird adaptations, habitat, and behavior, too!

Grade: 5

Ranger John Identifies the fossils found at Government Cayon SNA. How are fossils created and how did we discover them?

Grades: 3-5

Celebrating World Water Week

Seasonal rains in the Chihuahuan Desert not only bring necessary water to our region, but also support life in this dry environment. Students will learn what huecos are and why they are important features at the park, for both humans and wildlife. We will also talk about and build a hueco ecosystem that supports organisms, such as fairy shrimps and toads!

Grades: 4-12

Join Coastal Fisheries biologists live from the field! During this program, students will watch as biologists collect bag seine data, discover different species found in our bays and learn about how and why TPWD manages coastal resources.

Grades: 3-6

The abandoned railroad tunnel at Old Tunnel State Park is home to up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats and 3,000 cave myotis bats from May to October! In this exciting and surprising program, Ranger Nyta will introduce you to the amazing adaptions these and other bats around the world have developed in order to successfully survive and thrive in their environments.

Grades: Prek-5

April 22 marks the 52nd anniversary of the first Earth Day. Ranger Lauren at McKinney Falls State Park shares many ways you can take the Earth Day Pledge. From helping clean your local Texas State Park, recycling, using reusable water bottles, and turning off lights when it's not in use.

Grades: 2-5

Join Ranger Walt for a history of candles in 19th century Texas, including a candle making demonstration! The program will incorporate history of technology and social history with a how-to instruction for those who would like to make candles of their own.

Grades: 4-6

Join Coastal Fisheries biologists live from the field! During this program, students will watch biologists collect bag seine data, discover species found in our bays, and learn how and why Texas Parks and Wildlife manages coastal resources.

Grades: 6-8

Did you know that fish can be aged in the same way that some tree species are aged? For trees that grow in temperate regions, annual rings are formed that mark changes in growth in the cold season (slow growth) versus the warm season (fast growth). Fish do that too, and seasonal differences in growth are marked on an obscure boney structure in a fish's head called an "otolith". In this program, we'll talk about how vertebrate animals grow and what causes changes in growth rates, and we'll learn about how fishery biologists use otoliths to determine the age of fishes and learn about growth in fish populations.

Grades: 3-5

Discover how interdisciplinary nature journaling can connect your students to the outdoors, strengthen their observational skills, promote data collection, and help them make connections. Nature journaling helps students build transferable skills with no artistic expertise required! This program will include opportunities for students to journal and make observations virtually through photos, videos, and live nature webcams, facilitated by a ranger. Each student should come prepared to write and draw observations during the program, either using their own paper and pencil, or the provided worksheet. Coloring utensils are welcome but optional!

Grades: 3-4

Dive into the world of oceanography and explore the chemistry, biology, and conservation of the deep blue sea. Put on your lab coat and join me as we explore pH, salinity, and other aspects of seawater chemistry.

Grades: Pre-K-1

When a drought dries up his perfect river home, Alamo, the alligator finds a new place to live. Join Ranger Nicholas at Garner State Park for this Reading Ranger read-aloud. At the end of the program, have students illustrate a picture of what drought did to Alamo's home.

Grades: K-2

It is the spring season! That means migratory bats are on the move. Join Ranger Arlyne for a story about the life of a bat. Students will learn about where bats live, how bats find their food, and the role bats play in a food chain.

Grades: K-2

Insects are awesome animals. Join a park ranger for a story reading about entomologist Charles Henry Turner. Students will learn about Turner’s curiosity and persistence as well as the basic parts of an insect, differences between insects and other “bugs”, and the diversity among insects.

Grades: 4

Join Frankie the Bat as she discovers life as a bat and explores new territories with her mom during migration.

NOTE: Available in Spanish.

Grades: K-2

Join us as Ranger Elizabeth reads Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story. Students will learn about how food and family have connections to stories of strength and love.

Grades: K-6

People have looked up at the Moon for generations. Join Ranger Arlyne for a reading of Once in a Full Moon, written by Carolinda Goodman and illustrated by Mariia Luzina, about the different names a moon is called throughout the year. Students will learn about the Sun as a light source, how the Earth and Moon move, and moon phases.

Grades: 3-6

Squishy, slimy, and stinky! Explore the alien world of mushrooms with a ranger. Students discover and learn about fungi through a fun book about hiking and mushrooms.

Grades: PreK-2

Texas State Park Ranger reads this simple story that demonstrates the importance of these bats to our lives. Appropriate vocabulary introduces relevant concepts. Beautiful illustrations and read by a Texas State Park Ranger.

Grades: 4-8

Redfish are one of the most popular sportfish in Texas. Whether you are fly fishing, using live bait, or artificial plastics, fisherman love to catch and eat this delicious fish. Join in to learn more about this popular fish, how to identify them, where they live, and what Texas Parks and Wildlife does to ensure there is a healthy fishery for present and future generations of fishermen.

Grades: 3-6

Ranger Sarah over at Sheldon Lake State Parks discusses how renewable energy resources are used inside the park. Through observations, what can you see at Sheldon Lake being used as renewable energy sources?

Grades: 6-12

For a number of different reasons, many oyster reefs along the Texas coast have become severely damaged. Learn a little about the ecological importance of oysters while discovering how and why TPWD restores our oyster reefs in Texas.

Grades: 8-12

Take a behind the scenes tour of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi, TX. Learn about how and why hatchery biologists raise red drum, spotted seatrout, and flounder to release into the Texas bays.

Grades: 4-6

In this program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Coastal Fisheries biologists will take students below the water's surface to learn about marine flowering plants. Students will get the opportunity to view each of the five types of seagrass that live in the shallow Texas bays and learn why seagrass is such an important habitat for marine critters and people who live in coastal areas.

Grades: Prek-4

Walk back into time at Seminole Canyon and learn about how the indigenous people lived. Hosted by Jessica Hester and Jack Johnson, we learn how native people adapted to the Texas landscape. What is an earth oven, what did they eat and what are pictographs? How did these native people meet their basic needs in the past? We answer these questions in this TEKS-aligned video.

Grades: 4-6

For eons, oysters have nourished our bodies and communities. In this deep dive into learning, we will learn about why oysters are important and why we should protect them.

Grades: 6-8

Learn about the unique karst underground cave environment of Texas blind salamanders and how they have adapted to be uniquely fit for it. We will also talk about two special salamanders who helped us learn that they can regenerate their legs! Topics also covered will be endangered species, habitat conservation, and how human activities affect this special environment.

Grades: K-2

Join Park Ranger Craig Hensley from a field of milkweed plants inside Guadalupe River State Park. In this pre-recorded program, he will look for eggs, larvae, and adult Monarch Butterflies to show students. In addition, he’ll discuss the life cycle (metamorphosis) of the Monarch as it relates to its migration in general and through Texas in Spring and Fall; its relationship with the milkweed plant; mimicry and warning coloration; predation; and the milkweed plant as its mini ecosystem.

Grades: K-5

Join us as Ranger Alex highlights the incredible diversity of both plants and wildlife. Ranger Alex will examine evidence that living organisms have basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. Inside Village Creek State Park, Ranger Alex will identify various plants and animals that interact with living and nonliving things.

Grades: PreK-5

Did you know that Monahans Sandhills State Park had fossils? Columbian Mammoth, to be exact. What do these fossils tell us? Scott, a curator for Texas State Parks, discusses how these fossils were formed and found. Texas State Parks has tons of fossils throughout our parks, and today we learn all about the Fascinating World of Fossils in Texas State Parks.

Grades: 5-7

Invasive species are everywhere and impacting our environment! Students will learn about invasive species and which traits make them successful at invading. The presentation will cover many examples of invasive species and how we fight them. We will then use real scientific tools to predict the next invasive species in the Gulf of Mexico.

Grades: 7-12

Come along while we follow the journey of a Red Drum fish as it develops from microscopic egg to 30-pound adult. Your students will experience a real-world application of early development and the importance of food webs in the life cycle of marine organisms through videos and images taken by a Texas Parks and Wildlife fish hatchery technician. The presentation will review topics covered in high school biology courses, including gametogenesis, zygote formation, mitosis, meiosis, DNA, life history stages, food webs, and more! Presented by a former high school teacher, this will be a great review for end of year exams! Also included will be an optional pre-session activity, notes page, and post-session quiz.

Grades: K-3

Did you know you can tell if wetland waters are clean or polluted by looking at the organisms that live there? Join Rangers John and Kat as we test the waters right here at Estero Llano Grande. We will be viewing organisms under a digital microscope to see who lives here and determine if we have a healthy, non-polluted wetland environment at the park.

Grades: 3-5

Join Ranger Lorissa at South Llano River State Park and learn what is a dark night sky. What is a Bortle rating? How can you view the Milky Way? This short video is a perfect introduction to dark night skies and how telescopes are used to see things in our galaxy.

Grades: PreK-5

This short video provides direct instruction on the key vocabulary words weathering, erosion, and deposition. What is the relationship between erosion and weathering? What does deposition have to do with erosion? Join us as we visit Copper Breaks State Park to learn all about Weathering, erosion, and deposition, led by Ranger Stewart at Copper Breaks State Park.

Grades: 4-12

Join the Sabine Lake Marine Lab aboard the RV Sabine on a lake trawl sampling trip.

Grades 4-6

Biologists from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Coastal Fisheries Division collect data about what types of fish, shrimp, crabs, and other marine life live along the Texas coast using different types of sampling gear (primarily different types of nets!). During this program, your students will connect with our biologists LIVE from San Antonio Bay as they collect their routine samples. Students will observe marine biologists in the field and assist them with collecting data and identifying fish.

Grades: 2-5

Visit several “crime scenes” to discover how nocturnal animals change the environment we share with them. Learn about common nocturnal animals that live in Texas and their adaptations that help them survive. Your students will also find out where they are most likely to find nighttime wildlife where they live.

Grades: 4-7

A healthy wetland habitat should be teeming with tadpoles and exploding with insects. Let's dip into the wetlands at Sea Center Texas to see what creatures we can find. We'll examine some invertebrates under the microscope, use identification charts to determine what species we find, and analyze the health of the environment based on our discoveries.

Content Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed are those of the contributing members of Connect2Texas and do not necessarily represent the views of the Education Service Center Region 11. While some content is deemed appropriate for various curriculum standards used by viewers nationwide, most content providers make an effort to tie their content to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Connect2Texas is a service of the Education Service Center Region 11.

Email: c2tx@esc11.net
Website: www.connect2texas.net
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States
Phone: 817-740-7516
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Connect2Texas/178380812237957
Twitter: @connect2texas