The Environmental Websites For Children To Know

Looking for environmental websites for children? I’ve put together six of my favourites that I’ve used with my two kids.

If you’ve been talking to your children about climate change, your thoughts might have turned to educating them about climate change and the environment. Or your kids may need help with their homework, and you just don’t know where to start.

Thankfully, a wealth of online resources are available that are tailored specifically to educate and inspire young minds about environmental issues in age-appropriate ways – from young kids through to teens doing their A-Levels.

This includes educational websites that help break down complicated ideas into kid-friendly bite-size chunks – perfect for helping with homework and coursework. And to make learning fun you can even find interactive games and educational videos. These help children understand more about our planet’s delicate ecosystems, helping them learn whilst they play.

The Environmental Websites For Children To Know

Here are some of the best climate-focused websites around for kids and teenagers. To help save you time, for each site I’ve highlighted the approximate age range it’s suitable for.

• NASA Climate Kids
• National Geographic Kids
• BBC Bitesize
• Young People’s Trust For The Environment
• Kid’s Planet by WWF
• The Natural History Museum

NASA Climate Kids

👧 For kids aged 8 to 12

Launched in 2010, NASA’s Climate Kids website focuses on climate change education, based on the perspective of NASA missions that are studying the Earth.

Aimed at kids ages 8 and up, the site is packed with fun games, engaging activities, and informative videos and articles. These make learning about climate change accessible without leaving your kids feeling overwhelmed.

With interactive features like “Ask a Climate Scientist” and “Climate Time Machine,” it’s a great way for kids to explore complex concepts in a user-friendly format.

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National Geographic Kids

👧 For kids aged 8 to 12

Known for its stunning photography and captivating storytelling, National Geographic isn’t just for grownups. National Geographic Kids offers a dedicated section on the environment and wildlife which is ideal for young students.

From learning about endangered species, such as puffins and snow leopards, to understanding the importance of conservation and learning about the circular economy, this magazine-style website lets children dip into the topics that excite them the most. With an emphasis on fun, there’s nothing dry about this site.

Plus with interactive quizzes, DIY projects, and virtual field trips on its sister YouTube channel – National Geographic Education – National Geographic Kids really encourages hands-on learning.

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BBC Bitesize

👧For kids aged 7 to 18

BBC Bitesize is one of the longest-running online educational resources and arguably the best. I used BBC Bitesize back in the 1990s when I was a high school student studying for my exams. It’s great to see, that 25 years on, BBC Bitesize is still there, bigger and better than ever.

You’ll find heaps of information on sustainability and climate change within its Geography guides. Select Primary or Secondary, your region, and the year your child is in, to find age-appropriate resources that support the school curriculum.

As well as easily digestible guides on topics such as the difference between fossil fuels and renewable energy, you’ll find educational videos and games to make learning fun. My kids use it all the time – it’s a really helpful site for when they have project-based homework.

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Young People’s Trust For The Environment

👧For kids aged 8 to 18

The Young People’s Trust for the Environment (YPTE) is an educational charity which was set up to help young people understand more about the environment.

Its website might look a little dry, but stick with it. Within the site is a plethora of useful resources for young people. These offer clear and balanced information on a wide range of environmental issues. This includes climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation and endangered species.

It’s got heaps of useful factsheets for kids and teenagers to help support their learning. Plus you can also find fun home activities, such as games, arts and crafts, and learning activities based on specific topics, such as rainforests, soil, energy and more.

Kid’s Planet By WWF

👧For kids aged 8 to 18

The World Wildlife Fund’s Kids Planet website offers a wealth of information about wildlife conservation and biodiversity. With a focus on endangered species and their habitats, younger children can discover fascinating facts about animals from around the globe, through games, puzzles, quizzes, challenges, craft activities, and virtual tours.

For teens, far less content is available, so it’s best used to supplement other resources. Podcast episodes are available to dig deeper into conservation issues, but apart from that there is little else. I hope that WWF can expand this in time.

The Natural History Museum

👧For kids aged 6 to 18

Even if you don’t live near London, the Natural History Museum hasn’t let geography get in the way of learning. It’s flung open its doors virtually, allowing students anywhere in the world to explore its collections through its virtual self-guided tour. This lets you explore the museum from the comfort of your own home.

Its education section is also pretty handy for students – packed with information on a whole host of topics related to the natural world.

In particular, its Discover Biodiversity section helps children learn how nature touches almost every aspect of our lives – breaking down what biodiversity is and how we can all help to protect nature. There are fun missions to part in – from growing wildflower pots for pollinators to taking part in wildlife surveys.

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Have you found any more useful sites? Let me know in the comments below!