Milwaukee Public Museum

Your mission is to answer multiple-choice questions about what we have just learned. Then, use the letters from your correct answers to solve a scrambled letter puzzle and escape the room. Good luck!

Escape to the Outdoors!

Go out into your backyard and see if you can find something that fills each of these important roles. 

Biodiversity Bingo (Activity)

Why do polar bears live in the icy Arctic, and why don't we find fish in the hot desert? Let's discover why animals prefer different habitats! Let's learn with this slideshow and play a quick game. 

"Who Am I?" Game

Cut out or draw an arrow from pictures of animals and plants, placing them into the rectangle that matches their habitat: Arctic, Forest, Desert, or Grassland. Make sure to check if they are in the right home!

"Where Do I Live?" Activity

In the last section, we explored many different places. They can be called a habitat. But, what is a habitat exactly? Let's find out!

What is a Habitat?

In this activity, draw lines to connect pictures of forest plants and animals that need each other. For example, you might connect a tree to a squirrel that eats its nuts or the tree where it seeks shelter. This will help us understand how everything in nature is connected and relies on each other to survive!

Food Web Activity (Forest)

Let’s click around and explore different places where animals and plants live. Each place is unique and has special features that make it a perfect home for certain animals and plants. We'll learn about what makes these places special and how animals and plants survive there. These places are called habitats!

Where do plants and animals live? 

Now let's think about what all animals need to survive. Every animal, no matter where it lives, needs certain things to live and grow. What do you think these things are? How do animals find food, water, and shelter in their habitats? What helps them stay safe? What does this animal need to eat and drink? Where does it find shelter? How does it stay safe from predators? Choose one or more animals and draw what you think your animal's habitat looks like. 

Critter Card Activity (Forest)

Now that we've explored different habitats and observed the plants and animals living there, let's think about how they depend on each other to survive. 

What are the ways in which living things work together?

Explore the importance of biodiversity and the important role of bees in the ecosystem while reviewing some of what you already learned!

Buzzing with Biodiversity

This resource kit explores the wonders of nature and biodiversity in different land habitats. Learn how species interact in their diverse environments, and gain a deep understanding and appreciation of the natural world by learning more about how it works.


Get Wild Exploring Habitats - Educator Overview.pdf

Get Wild: Exploring Habitats

Life Science

Science

Animals are well-suited to their environments, thriving in places that provide the necessary resources for their survival. However, not every habitat can be a comfortable home for every species.

Walruses, with their thick layer of blubber and tough skin, are well-suited to the icy cold of the Arctic, but would struggle in the scorching heat of the desert. It's like trying to wear a winter coat in hot weather—it's just not a good fit!

If you were an animal, which habitat do you think would be most suitable for you, and why?

Are you ready to have some fun and learn more about animals and their habitats? 

In this game, we'll give you clues about an animal and the environment it lives in. Listen carefully to the riddle and try to guess which animal it is and why it may have chosen that habitat.

I am a small animal with a long fluffy tail. I live in a forest where the leaves change color with the seasons. I can run really fast and hide behind trees. My brownish fur helps me blend in with the leaves. I also love to climb trees and store nuts for the winter. Who am I?

I am a big animal with thick white fur and large paws. I live in a very cold place with lots of ice and snow. I can swim in icy waters and catch fish with my sharp teeth. My thick fur keeps me warm in the freezing cold. Who am I?

I am a big cat with sharp claws and powerful legs. I live in a wide-open space with lots of grass and few trees. I can run fast and catch prey like antelopes and zebras. My golden fur helps me blend in with the tall grass. Who am I?

Now it's your turn to create a 'Who Am I?' riddle! 

Think about an animal and the habitat it lives in. What special features or adaptations help it survive in its home?  What does it look like? How does it find food and water? How does it adapt to it's environment?

Write a riddle with clues about your animal without saying its name and let's see who can guess your animal!

Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

Get Wild: Exploring Habitats

"Who Am I?" Game

Finding the Perfect Habitat