Curriculum Resources & Lessons for Environmental Education
Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA)
Website: http://www.awma.org/about/index.html
"A&WMA has launched an active public education effort that revolves around its award-winning Teacher-Training Program. Through this program, A&WMA volunteers train teachers to instruct students on the environment. The teachers use the Association's Environmental Resource Guides, which provide educators with explanations of environmental problems and classroom exercises designed to illustrate environmental issues to students."
The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) also offers access to two monthly publications:
- "The Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, A&WMA's flagship publication, is the oldest continuously published, peer reviewed, technical environmental journal in the world. In print since 1951, the Journal features the latest in cutting-edge research and technology.
- "EM, the magazine for environmental managers, covers the environmental industry from a management, policy, and regulatory perspective, providing in-depth analysis of the issues affecting today's environmental professionals."
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) Science Bulletins
Website: http://www.sciencebulletins.amnh.org
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has been updated to provide news on recent discoveries in biodiversity, Earth Science, and astrophysics. The bulletins present current science news stories through video stories, 3D graphics, and interactive satellite data visualizations.
Antarctica Expedition: Involve Your Students
Website: http://www.units.muohio.edu/cryolab/education/antarctic.htm
An Ohio research team going to the Antarctic Circle wants your students to "follow" them. Students can ask questions via email, get daily video clips and picture updates, and maybe a visit from the team at your school when they return!
Aquarium Website Video Library
Website: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/video_library/video_library.aspx
"Welcome to the Monterey Bay Aquarium video library. Here you'll find a selection of videos about animals, exhibits and conservation research programs at the aquarium."
Ask Doctor Global Change
Website: http://www.gcrio.org/doctorgc/index.php
A reference service provided by Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO) that assists in finding information and data relevant to global environmental change. Provides students with a searchable collection of answers to questions about issues related to climate change, and students can submit questions of their own and explore related links.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Website: http://www.ascd.org
A new Education Topic focusing on environmental education has just been produced by ASCD. ASCD Education Topics "are short multimedia lessons on topics that interest all levels of educators. Each lesson includes a definition, short articles on topics, audio files of experts and practitioners, and a listing of resources that you can use to continue your professional development."
All Wild About Kentucky's Environment (AWAKE)
Website: http://www.kentuckyawake.org
Information for all audiences: students, teachers, hunters, anglers, and all of us who love and want to know more about Kentucky's environment.
Center for Environmental Education, India
"The Center for Environmental Education (CEE) is a Centre of Excellence supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and affiliated to the Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD). It was established in August 1984 with a mandate to promote environmental awareness.
"The primary objective of the Centre is to improve public awareness and understanding of environmental issues with a view to promote the conservation and wise use of nature and natural resources. The Centre has its headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, with regional cells in the South, North, Central, and North Eastern zones of the country."
- GreenTeacher!
Website: http://www.greenteacher.org
This website gives an introduction to environmental education, teaching ideas, and an online newsletter.
- KidsRGreen
Website: http://www.kidsrgreen.org/krg.html
An interactive website for children who love exploring, inquiring, investigating, and discovering the world we live in. Green
games, activity ideas, green days, etc.
- Knowledge for Sustainable Development (KSD)
Website: http://www.envirodebate.net/
A platform for debates and discussions on key contemporary issues in environment and development.
Center for Integrative Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Website: http://www.nku.edu/~cinsam/about/index.php
The mission of CINSAM is to enhance the teaching, learning, and applying of Science and Mathematics at Northern Kentucky University and in the schools of the Northern Kentucky region through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Classroom Earth
Website: http://www.classroomearth.org/
"Classroom Earth is an online resource designed to help high school teachers include environmental content into their daily lesson plans." Provides up-to-date information on successful, well-tested and effective national environmental education programs. The pages on each program contain a clear description, audience/grade level, overview of content and topics, materials, educator feedback, awards and recognition, and fast steps for obtaining and implementing the program. The site also has an Additional Resources section that includes a Best-of-the-Web listing of portal sites for environmental education and a special list of free environmental education programs offered by the national environmental resource agencies.
Commonwealth Cleanup Week
Website: http://www.waste.ky.gov/ccw
"Commonwealth Cleanup Week is an annual week-long event implemented by the Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) and also kicks off the Great American Cleanup, spanning from March - May. Its purpose is to provide Kentucky communities an opportunity to "spring clean," recycle and promote personal responsibility across the commonwealth."
CURRICULUM PROGRAMS:
- Food, Land, & People: http://www.foodlandpeople.org/
"FLP's mission is to develop citizens literature about the relationships between agriculture, the environment, and human
populations."
- Leopold Education Project (LEP): http://www.lep.org/about/
"The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative, interdisciplinary, critical thinking, conservation and environmental
education curriculum based on the classic writings of the renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. The Leopold Education
Project teaches the public about humanity's ties to the natural environment in the effort to conserve and protect the earth's
natural resources."
- National Education Energy Education Development (NEED): http://www.need.org/
"The mission of the National Energy Education Development Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated
society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and
deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. In an effort to provide educators across the country and around the
world with NEED materials at the click of a mouse, these guides are available in PDF for download. NEED curriculum
guides organized by Grade Level, Subject Matter, and Title are available to make accessing NEED resources even easier."
- Project Learning Tree: http://www.plt.org
"Project Learning Tree is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students
in Pre-K grade 12. PLT helps students learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment. PLT meets state and
national education standards. The curriculum materials provide the tools educators need to bring the environment into the
classroom and their students into the environment. Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water to community planning,
waste management and energy."
- Project WET: http://www.projectwet.org/
"Educate. Empower. Act. The mission of Project WET is to reach children, parents, educators, and communities of the world
with water education. We invite you to join us in educating children about the most precious resource on the planet - water."
- Project WILD: http://www.projectwild.org/
"Project WILD is one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of
students in kindergarten through high school. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital
interest in learning about our natural world. A national network of State Wildlife Agency Sponsors ensures that Project WILD
is available nationwide -- training educators in the many facets of the program. Emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic
value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet."
Described and Captioned Media Program
Website: http://www.dcmp.org/
Videos for Loan - Free! The site contains captioned videos available for check out. Registering for an account takes one week and then you'll receive the printed catalog. There are thousands of videos in all subject areas and age levels from preschool to adults. In addition to the video, there is an explicit lesson plan including all academic standards. You can search for videos by subject, title, and key words.
Ducks Unlimited - Conservation Lesson Plans
Website: http://www.greenwing.org/dueducator/lesson_plans.html
Ducks Unlimited provides a variety of resources on wetland education. The wetland ecosystem series consists of an educator's guide and accompanying student journal, experiments, and activities.
Edutopia - The George Lucas Educational Foundation
Website: http://www.edutopia.org/global-warming-fear
"Through the Edutopia.org Web site, Edutopia magazine, and Edutopia video, we spread the word about ideal, interactive learning environments and enable others to adapt these successes locally. Edutopia.org contains a deep archieve of continually updated best practices, from classroom tips to recommendations for districtwide change. Allied with a dedicated audience that actively contributes success stories from the field, our mission relies on input and participation from schools and communities."
Energy for Keeps - Electricity From Renewable Energy
Website: http://www.energyforkeeps.org
"Energy for Keeps is 'for everyone who uses electricity.' For sixth graders through adults, it's an important addition to every library and a great supplementary text for students of science and social studies."
Environmental Literacy Council
Website: http://www.enviroliteracy.org
"The Environmental Literacy Council is an independent, non-profit made up of scientists, economists, and educators striving to connect teachers and students to science-based information on environmental issues. Our website offers over 1000 pages of background information and resources on environmental topics, along with curricular materials, and textbook reviews."
Environmental Kids Club
Website: http://www.epa.gov/kids
"The EPA Environmental Kids Club is our website for kids. We'll help you explore your environment and learn how to protect it. We've got games, pictures, and stories."
EPA Teaching Center
Website: http://www.epa.gov/teachers
"This site is for both formal and nonformal educators who wish to teach about the environment. It offers background information on a variety of topics, lesson plans, and activities that work in and out of the classroom. You will also find information on workshops, conferences, grants, awards and a variety of other information that will assist you in your educational goals whether you teach in a traditional classroom setting, an outdoor classroom, a community center or in your home."
Facing the Future
Website: http://www.facingthefuture.org
"It's all connected! Climate change. Population growth. Poverty. Environmental degradation. Conflict. Global health crises. Intractable global problems/ We don't think so. At Facing the Future we believe in the transformative power of widespread, systemic education to improve lives and communities, both locally and globally. Our positive, solutions-based programming is designed by and for teachers, and brings critical thinking about global issues to students in every walk of life. We work within the education system to help teachers help students achieve academic success, while preparing them to create and maintain positive, healthy, and sustainable communities."
Gardening and Your Curriculum
Website: http://www.kidsgardening.com/themes/theme-splash.asp
Sponsored by Kids Garden News. Check out the growing "Thematic Explorations Library" for classroom stories, curriculum connections, how-to articles, related websites, and more. The collection covers topics ranging from Bringing Art to Life in Schoolyards to Growing a School Garden Business.
Green Campus Developments
Website: http://www.arnoldcreekproductions.com/SustainabilityHigherEducation.htm
Learn about green campus activities at colleges and universities across North America from the Arnold Creek Productions, Inc. website. Video and text presentations provided feature recycling programs, building and grounds design, curriculum, energy, food and more.
Hands on the Land
Website: http://www.arnoldcreekproductions.com/SustainabilityHigherEducation.htm
Hands on the Land (HOL) is a network of field classrooms stretching across America from Alaska to Florida and is sponsored by Partners in Resource Education, a collaboration of five federal agencies, a non-profit foundation, schools, and other private sector partners. HOL provides a national network of field classrooms to enhance kindergarten through high school student-learning. Site provides teaching materials, resources for students, educational program information, teacher bulletins, and more.
High School EPA Site
Website: http://www.epa.gov/highschool/
A website for high school students to explore and learn about their environment and ways to protect it. The site contains easy-to-find and easy-to-understand information about air and water issues, waste and recycling, conservation, health and safety, ecosystems, and community environment conditions. It also links interested students to internship and scholarship opportunities, environmental careers, and community involvement projects.
Journey to the Planet Earth
Website: http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/
Grades 6-12. Hosted and narrated by Matt Damon, Journey to the Planet Earth is a series of six 25 minute videos that help students understand the most critical and timely issues facing the natural sciences in the 21st century. Uses an interdisciplinary approach to connect the natural sciences with politics, economics, sociology, and history. Teacher's guides and other support materials are available.
Sharing Nature Foundation
Website: http://www.sharingnature.com
Established in 1979 by naturalist and author, Joseph Cornell, the Sharing Nature Foundation uses creative nature activities to give people joyful and inspiring experiences of nature.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Website: http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15200&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development launched on March 1, 2005. Link to exciting and timely educational resources and news. A well-organized site with information at your fingertips. Don't miss out!
Whooping Crane Educational Website
Website: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/fall2003/crane/index.html
Developed through a partnership of Annenberg/CPB, Journey North, and the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership. Lessons, activities, information about Whooping Cranes, maps, video clips, and photos.
World Environment Day
Website: http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english
"World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action."
World Wide Biome Project
Website: http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/
The World Wide Biome Project is designed to have students learn about ecosystems in their locale and share their findings with students from around the world through the medium kids use - the internet. The prime focus of the site is to have student/classes do an evaluation of a habitat in their biome and send the data in to the World Wide Biome Project. Their data is converted into a series of web pages for them. This allows students to learn from other projects that students like themselves have created.
YES! Magazine
Website: http://www.yesmagazine.org/teachersub.asp
"YES! is a national ad-free quarterly magazine published by the Positive Futures Network, an independent, nonprofit organization. We honor classroom teachers and faculty for informing and inspiring the next generation. Thanks to the generosity of YES! donors, we are able to provide middle and high school classroom teachers, college faculty, and homeschool resource center instructors with a one-year introductory subscription at no cost. We are able to provide only a limited number of subscriptions each year, so apply soon."