Using Animal Webcams for Animal Research in Kindergarten

Inside: Discover the many benefits of using animal webcams for animal research in a preschool, kindergarten or first grade classroom.

5 Benefits to Using an Animal Webcam for Animal Research

While bringing real animals into the classroom can bring about wonder, curiosity and natural learning, it isn’t always possible for teachers to do.

Lucky for us, technology has opened up a world of animal possibilities via live animal webcams, and there are some real advantages to going this route.

Here’s why!

1. The Fishbowl Effect

Observation is a very important science process skill for young children to develop and one that can lead to much critical thinking and dialogue. Gathering the class around a “fishbowl” gets a little crowded and the conversation usually ends up being more about waiting your turn than animal behavior.

Using an animal webcam for animal research, allows the whole class to view the animal at the same time while sharing what they notice and wonder. Children naturally begin drawing conclusions based on their observations and growing their knowledge with little help from the teacher. It is inquiry at its best!

2. Checking In

In order to draw some accurate conclusions about animals, children need multiple observations over long periods of time. When animals are brought into the classroom, their time is usually short-lived. Animal webcams allow children to “check-in” with the animal several times a day, over many weeks. It’s also extremely practical for busy teachers, with an already overloaded day, to be able to view the animal when a few minutes arise, such as during snack time or while waiting for busses.

3. Home Sweet Home

When you bring animals into your classroom, you are removing them from their natural habitat and the classroom conditions aren’t always best for their wellbeing. Using an animal webcam for animal research allows children to view the animal in their natural surroundings and learn a great deal about why they live where they do. Through repeated viewings, they will be able to accurately identify their food source and understand the need for living close to where they eat.

4. Video Backup

When I hatched chicks, I always worried that the hatching would happen overnight or during the weekend. Many of the live stream resources capture animal highlights such as egg hatching, predator invasions, and feeding times on video, so if a “big event” happens during a time when your kiddos aren’t watching, they can always catch the replay!

This is different than just watching an animal video on Youtube, because the children have a personal investment in this animal’s story and truly care about what happens to it.

5. Up Close and Personal

There are many animals that children are interested in, that they will never be able to see live, let alone bring into the classroom. Yet, animal webcams make getting up close and personal possible! Your animal options open up to include polar bears, penguins, elephants, pandas, gorillas and many more when you choose to go live stream.

Animal Webcams to Check Out

If you are interested in giving animal webcams a try, check out Explore, EarthCam, and SanDiego Zoo, which all have a live stream library that kids can use for their animal research. Not all are created equal though, so spend some time reviewing them before sharing with children.

My favorite is the Decorah Eagle Cam, which can be found on the Explore site. I’ve used this for several years as part of our Bald Eagle Research Project.

animal research in kindergarten - bald eagles

We begin the process in February, when the eggs are first laid, and continue to watch throughout the spring as the eggs hatch and the eaglets grow and develop.

For more information on animal research, check out Keeping it Real: Animals in the Classroom and Animal Research Projects in Kindergarten: Step-by-Step, as well as the Growing with STEAM category inside the Roots & Wings Resource Library.