| Earth Day Resources |
Acid Rain - Grades 4-12 - This Canadian site offers information on the origins and mitigation of acid rain, including a section specifically for students. Other sections of the site may also be useful to teachers and some students.
Acid Rain - Grades 4-12 - This EPA page offers information on the science behind acid rain, as well as specific information for students. It also includes examples of mitigation activities, a glossary, and related resources.
Air Quality Lesson Plans - Grades K-12 - This collection of several dozen lesson plans from the Texas Natural Resoure Conservation Commission includes content for primary through high school students. Most lessons are straightforward, requiring limited use of outside resources.
Biomes of the World - Grades 4-12 - TeachersFirst's own lesson unit on the world's major biomes lets students select a biome, learn its key characteristics, and use the web to find out more. Includes printable handouts and discussion questions.
Biodiversity Jr. - Grades 4-6 - Here's a site that highlights a selection of endangered species, explains the importance of habitats, and introduces the concept of biodiversity. Some of the examples are Pennsylvania specific, but the presentation is simple and the overall principles apply anywhere. This would be a good "exploring" site for upper elementary students.
Celebrating Earth Day with Students - This is a general teachers' guide from the Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Biology. It offers a collection of Earth Day ideas, projects, and activities for students and classes.
Chemicals and the Environment - Here's a great analysis exercise for middle or high school students interested in media and the environment. Compare the presentations about workers and hazardous chemicals in the PBS program Trade Secrets with the chemical industry's response in abouttradesecrets.com. What is the real impact of these chemicals?
CNN Earth Day Coverage - Grades 6-12 - This CNN special site reports on environmental progress and raises questions about the severity of global environmental problems and the effectiveness of efforts to correct these problems. Lots of discussions starters here.
Earth Day Canada - Grades K-12 - Our Canadian users will want to visit this starting page for Canadian Earth Day acvitivities and information, and others will also find the selection of information and resources useful.
Earth Day Groceries Project - Grades K-8 - Arbor Heights School District, Seattle Washington - Join schools all over the United States (even the world) in this simple project to celebrate reuse of grocery bags for Earth Day. The web site gives you everything you will need, from parent letters to student handouts, and of course plenty of handy advice. This award-winning project is a great way to pull school and community together for no cost.
Earth Day Network - Teachers - This site is primarily a resource for finding Earth Day activities around the country. Many of these are educational or involve young people. It's worth a visit here to see what's going on in your area, or to get ideas on how others are recognizing Earth Day.
Earth Day Trash Survey - Grades 4-12 - Here's a plan for a relatively simple study of how what we throw out affects the environment. This one's nice because it lets students collect "real data" without requiring a lot of complex equipment.
Environmental Media Services - While intended primarily for journalists, this site offers a concise set of information links and resources for exploring environmental issues. If you're planning an environmental unit, this would be a great place to hunt for issues, position statement, and related resources.
Environmental Science Lessons - Grades K-12 - This is a collection of lessons created by teachers participating in the Texas "Teaching Environmental Science" summer program. It includes lessons for all grade levels in topics such as air quality and water pollution.
Environmental Strategies Lessons - This collection of information and lessons from the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies focuses on sustainable development and environmental change. Much of the data for the lessons comes from space-based observation techniques. There's a lot of new material for 2001 on this site.
E.P.A. Curriculum Resources - Here's a collection of lesson an unit ideas compiled by the EPA for classroom use. These include several different resources in each of a half dozen major study areas. Well worth a visit, this page is part of an impressive collection of EPA materials for educators.
E.P.A. Earth Day 2000 - Basic information on Earth Day and the EPA's involvement, along with links to other government and non-government Earth Day resources. We assume this will be updated with 2001 information shortly.
EE - Net: The Environmental Education Network - This is the site map for EPA's EE-Net site, a comprehensive collection of environmental education resources for schools at all levels. This site covers everything from introductions for primary students to "real science" activities for older students. This site is a wonderful resource for unit planning.
Happy Earth Day Coloring Book - Grades 1-4 - The EPA offers this 10-page coloring book in Adobe Acrobat format. Print one out, make the necessary copies, and you're ready to go!
Kid's Domain Earth Day - Another resource collection, this one aimed principally at elementary students. There are lesson ideas, activities, and pointers to links dealing with managing the earth's resources.
Recycling Lesson Plans
Prepared by Carl Hursh of the Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management, this collection of mini-lessons is designed to teach a variety of recycling concepts. Most would work nicely to supplement an environmental science course or an Earth Day unit of study in grades two through eight. However, these are definitely not appropriate for a high school level class. While valuable for teaching the desired outcomes, the lessons are very brief, and very basic. They can be used separately, but would be most effective if taught consecutively.
Waste - Where Does It Come From? Where Does It Go?- Grades 2-8 - Students examine and classify the types of waste produced by the school community, analyze how it is collected, where it ends up, and how it is eventually "processed."
Litter Detectives - Grades 2-8 - Develop solutions to limit refuse found in specific school or community areas. Working in teams, students collect litter from a variety of different, identify the most common items, record those areas having the most trash, discover who is responsible, what penalties exist, and how litter in each area can be reduced.
Classroom Paper Recycling - Grades 5-8 - Students examine the amount of paper trash produced by the school community in one year, determine the cost of disposal, and investigate the potential savings, both monetary and environmental, if a recycling plan is put into effect.
Recycling Survey - Grades 2-8 - After conducting a survey among students, teachers, neighbors, and family members, students compile and analyze current attitudes toward recycling. The recycling process within their own community is explored.
Disposal and Recycling Costs - Grades 5-8 - How the cost of waste disposal can be offset by recycling is the focus of this lesson that asks students to calculate the amount of waste generated by their community and the possible monetary benefits of recycling a percentage of that waste.
Composting Project - Grades 4-8 - Students create and maintain a compost pile to discover how natural materials can be effectively recycled. Using waste materials produced by the school community, students maintain a record of the compost process and soil temperatures. The resulting composted material may be used by the school’s maintenance department, or sold as part of a fundraising to benefit an environmental organization.
Motor Oil Recycling - Grades 5-8 - Students realize the need to recycle used motor oil by discovering the amount of crude oil saved, the monetary value of that oil, and the environmental benefits.
Unwrapping Packaging - Grades 5-8 - After examining a variety of common products, students analyze packaging to determine how much is excessive, necessary, or recyclable. Students also brainstorm methods to reduce the amount of waste from product packaging.
Waste Management Lesson Plans - Grades K-12 - This collection of several dozen lesson plans from the Texas Natural Resoure Conservation Commission includes content for primary through high school students. Most lessons are straightforward, requiring limited use of outside resources.
The Wilderness Society - Earth Day 2001 - Grades 4-12 - The Wilderness Society offers several student-oriented activities, including items for elementary students. This site concentrates on environmental education. Teachers can register to receive classroom education ideas via e-mail.
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