Earth Day: TeachersFirst Editors' Choices
Earth Day presents a special opportunity to connect classroom curriculum with real-world experience, not only in science but also for lessons in math, language arts, social studies, art, and more. With so many outstanding resources available on the web related to environmental concerns, TeachersFirst's editorial team has hand-selected this group of "Editors' Choices" for their potential to engage and involve your students in both the understanding of scientific concepts surrounding Earth Day and in environmental activism for any time of the year.
TeachersFirst has many more reviewed Earth Day resources if you wish to browse a longer listing. You can also narrow your search to a specific topic for earth day or a certain grade range using our keyword search tool in the left column of this page. Be sure to read the tips to optimize your search of our reviewed collection.
Whether you seek ideas for a community service project for Earth Day or ways to use innovative technologies to bring the environment into your classroom, our editors have found "the best of the best" to meet your needs.
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Earth Day - Funschool/Disney
Grades
2 to 8
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Earth Day provides students with Earth Day themed quizzes, games and crafts. This is a very colorful and eclectic site. Warning: there is a catchy (yet persistent) tune played on ...more
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Earth Day provides students with Earth Day themed quizzes, games and crafts. This is a very colorful and eclectic site. Warning: there is a catchy (yet persistent) tune played on the main page. So you may want to turn the volume down.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Teachers this site is perfect for teaching about Earth Day. Use the site with an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use the quiz as a pre-assessment to see how much students know about Earth Day. After the unit is complete have students retake the quiz to see what they've learned. Create centers in the classroom with the website. Have the arcade games as a station, the word play on the interactive whiteboard and have the crafts as another center. Show students the slide show about five ways they can save the planet. Have them work in groups and create posters to be hung around the school. Use an online poster creator, such as Wallwisher, (reviewed here).
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Early Sprouts - Early Sprouts Program; Keene State College
Grades
K to 4
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This website offers a complete curriculum to introduce young students to the importance of healthy eating based on having them grow and prepare their own foods. The 24-week program...more
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This website offers a complete curriculum to introduce young students to the importance of healthy eating based on having them grow and prepare their own foods. The 24-week program includes a variety of child-friendly activities that familiarize students with nutritious fruits and vegetables, for example, by touching, growing, smelling, preparing, and eating them. Supporting materials for family and community involvement round out the curriculum.
tag(s): child development (15), cooking (22), nutrition (98), obesity (13)
In the Classroom
Use this site as the starting point for individual or group projects. Use the print sources and images from this site for your bulletin boards. This site is a perfect addition to Earth Day activities. When you have lessons on nutrition, make them real by including the sensory aspects of this curriculum. Try some of the simple recipes in class, or cut and paste to make a classroom cookbook.Use this site as a jumping off point for growing those parent gifts of sweet potato greens or other small vegetable plants.
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Waterlife - National Film Board of Canada
Grades
4 to 12
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Get swept away in an ocean of images and waves of powerful music in this unbelievable site about the ecology, grandeur, and necessity of the Great Lakes. Visit often because ...more
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Get swept away in an ocean of images and waves of powerful music in this unbelievable site about the ecology, grandeur, and necessity of the Great Lakes. Visit often because clicks can lead to a variety of different places. Learn the different ways the Great Lakes are a necessary resource and how they are currently under stresses affecting humans and many other species. This site requires a bit of bandwidth with the moving images, music, and narration. Be sure to try it out on your class computer in advance and limit the number of computers connecting at the same time. Be sure to check out all the topics, including invasive species, home, political, evaporating, and much more. Take a look at the link "Water Is" to view the list of topics. You will need headphones or speakers for the audio on this site.
tag(s): ecology (112), ecosystems (60), pollution (51), water (88), water cycle (20), watersheds (8), wetlands (7)
In the Classroom
Use as an introduction to a unit on water or pollution. Use to introduce the chemistry of water (and how life on Earth would not be possible without it) by finding ways that water is affected by other materials and discussing the chemistry behind it. Explore in a civics and government class as a contemporary issue not constrained by international boundaries. Allow students the opportunity to explore on their own and report interesting facts and troublesome points to the rest of the class for further review and research. Use on Earth Day or as part of Earth Week activities. Divide younger students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Create letters to the editor, blog posts, and other multimedia or conventional items to portray what they have learned. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts and their additional research. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here.
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Planetfesto - Planetfesto Projects
Grades
K to 12
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Begin a new way of thinking with a little gratitude using this site. Encourage others to offer thanks and recognize the gifts from Planet Earth. Each picture that is added ...more
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Begin a new way of thinking with a little gratitude using this site. Encourage others to offer thanks and recognize the gifts from Planet Earth. Each picture that is added to the site creates a ribbon of pictures that will circle the globe. Upload a picture with words of thanks and a pledge of action. See Things You Can do for adults and kids in the About menu. The beauty of the site is simple: no money pledges but simple thanks and action. View the slideshow of pictures and messages. Search messages by location or other criteria. Use the play, pause, and fast forward buttons to stop and advance the ribbon. Use one of their pictures or use your own. To add a picture to the ribbon, enter your name, message, and whether you want your information added to a group or school. Upload your picture from your computer (2MB limit) or choose a planetfesto picture already on the site. Click additional actions listed. Enter your name (if over 18), your location, and email address to edit information later (none of these is required unless you wish to return and edit). Turn the music on or off easily in the upper left. Click on the icons below the ribbon for ideas for the pledge of action.
tag(s): earth day (90), ecology (112), environment (216), natural resources (21), recycling (37)
In the Classroom
If you allow students to submit ideas, be sure to discuss safety issues in advance about including optional personal information. The ribbon itself is a community that encourages action. Create class action and add to the ribbon. Use this site as an inspiration before Earth Day! During studies of ecology topics, create action public service announcements that can be added to the ribbon by each student. Hover over "about the ribbon" and click on "Connect with Planetfesto." Follow the link to their blog or click on lesson plans for ideas for your class. For example, create your own ribbon of ideas and actions for your school that can be displayed in the hallway and circle the school itself. Display the ribbon on an interactive whiteboard or use a projector. Mine the ribbon for great ideas and actions to adopt by individuals, the class, or the school community.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Discover the Forest - Where the other you lives
Grades
K to 8
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Bring the forest into your classroom with these educational interactives. Match animal tracks, learn how to use a compass, and create leaf rubbings. Download and print the "Book of...more
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Bring the forest into your classroom with these educational interactives. Match animal tracks, learn how to use a compass, and create leaf rubbings. Download and print the "Book of stuff to do outside." Sound can be turned on or off along the bottom of the site.
tag(s): forests (22)
In the Classroom
Discover the forest from the classroom. Find nature sounds and create your own nature podcast or audio recording. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). Collect leaves from around the area to create your own leaf rubbings and posters. Create animal tracks of domestic animals to view the difference in tracks.
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WWF Footprint Calculator - World Wildlife Federation
Grades
3 to 12
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Determine ecological footprints with this site. Click start and answer questions about food, travel, home, and stuff. Amounts and questions use British units so students may need help...more
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Determine ecological footprints with this site. Click start and answer questions about food, travel, home, and stuff. Amounts and questions use British units so students may need help in understanding them. At the end, the ecological footprint is displayed as well as strategies for reducing footprints.
tag(s): ecology (112)
In the Classroom
Use this site to determine how each of us affects the environment. Bring math into the classroom by converting British units to American units. Students can research how each of these categories affects the environment and create action plans for reducing their footprint. Follow the action plans and retake the quiz after to see the change in footprint. Create Public Service Announcements in the form of posters or videos to share information. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here).
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Beyond the barrel - Arizona Star
Grades
2 to 12
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This intriguing site allows you to follow either garbage or recyclables after they leave your garbage can. View videos and narratives of each step of the process. Learn about landfills,...more
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This intriguing site allows you to follow either garbage or recyclables after they leave your garbage can. View videos and narratives of each step of the process. Learn about landfills, recycling and much more.
tag(s): environment (216)
In the Classroom
Encourage students to document the type of garbage at home or school and where local garbage and recyclables go. Create a trash audit and make recommendations for local and school authorities to implement programs. Create environmental posters to create awareness. Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here.)Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Global Warming - Chris Clementi
Grades
5 to 8
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This information-rich website offers a WebQuest (which could almost be an entire unit) devoted to Global Warming. It provides an eclectic look at this "hot topic." The teacher-creator...more
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This information-rich website offers a WebQuest (which could almost be an entire unit) devoted to Global Warming. It provides an eclectic look at this "hot topic." The teacher-creator also provides excellent video clips and learning activities. The culminating activity challenges students to create a short movie (using Windows Movie Maker) and to write a one-page newsletter about the specific topic they have researched. A short assessment tool is available at the "evaluation" link. For younger students, please view the videos before sharing them with your class. Some are rather graphic for elementary students. This website requires Flash and Adobe, get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
tag(s): earth (169), earth day (90), environment (216)
In the Classroom
Use this "hot topic" website to spark your students' interest in the environment. Even if you don't have time to complete the entire WebQuest, using the short videos and other information would be beneficial to any class studying the effects of global warming or even the environment in general.Make it more interesting for students, and have them create an online poster for the final product instead of a typical paper poster. Use a tool such as Web Poster Wizard (reviewed here) or PicLits (reviewed here) to spice the project up and make it more interesting for students.
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Virtual Visit to a School Garden - TeachersFirst/Meriwether Lewis Elementary
Grades
3 to 8
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Watch the archived version of a live webcast from Meriwether Lewis Elementary School garden on Earth Day 2009, a cooperative project with TeachersFirst. See students explain concepts...more
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Watch the archived version of a live webcast from Meriwether Lewis Elementary School garden on Earth Day 2009, a cooperative project with TeachersFirst. See students explain concepts of organic vegetable gardening, natural building with cob, composting, rainwater collection, planting their new bioswale, Pacific Northwest native plants, and more. TeachersFirst's complete how-to information for making your own video field trips is linked from this page, as well.
tag(s): earth day (90), environment (216)
In the Classroom
Scroll down to a list of suggestions for using this archived webcast in your classroom. Talk about local sites where you might be able to take a team of students to create a local student created "video field trip" to share with other classes both in and outside of your school. See TeachersFirst's complete how-to information to try one of your own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Biomes of the World - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8
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Introduce the earth's different biomes with this unit, created by TeachersFirst. Biomes include coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, tundra, ocean, fresh...more
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Introduce the earth's different biomes with this unit, created by TeachersFirst. Biomes include coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, tundra, ocean, fresh water, desert, and the savannah. Each link includes information and pictures. Students can complete an on-line research project on a biome of their choice, using selected web resources, or they can learn the basics of biomes with the information provided in the unit. There are links to the introduction, to learn more about the project, and even a teachers link (with a TON of class activity ideas). This site does require Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
tag(s): biomes (112), earth (169), earth day (90), ecosystems (60)
In the Classroom
Have students work in cooperative learning groups to explore this site. Challenge students to create multimedia presentations about the biomes. How about a Powerpoint? Or have students narrate a photo of the biome using a site such as VoiceThread (reviewed here). Other options include creating a wiki, blog, or video.
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Learning to Give - Points of Light Institute
Grades
K to 12
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The goal of this site is to educate youth about philanthropy and giving their time and knowledge for the global good. To do this, they offer over 1400 free lesson ...more
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The goal of this site is to educate youth about philanthropy and giving their time and knowledge for the global good. To do this, they offer over 1400 free lesson plans for teachers, parents, and community leaders. Lessons are coded to state standards and can be searched by grade level, keyword, subject, or academic or philanthropy standard. Some lessons are geared toward private or religious schools and are clearly labeled as such. Lessons include subject, key concepts, vocabulary, objectives, materials needed, approximate time, procedures, extensions, handouts, and much more. An example of a grade 3-5 lesson would be Cool Kids Compost which explores responsible use of resources by gathering data about lunchroom waste. Don't let the concept of philanthropy keep you from exploring the site, there are many great classroom lessons available for all subjects.
tag(s): african american (104), animal homes (8), animals (157), charts and graphs (113), colonial america (80), communities (16), data (83), diversity (39), ecology (112), environment (216), heroes (10), money (124), recycling (37)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for all subject matters, search for subject and browse resources. Share with other teachers in your building or district including teachers of the arts. Get your students involved! Challenge cooperative learning groups to create a multimedia presentation using one of many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here discussing one of the topics at this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Operation: Resilient Planet - The JASON Project
Grades
6 to 12
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This task based website from the Jason Project provides an interactive way to teach about the environment. The site has an introduction video reminiscent of "Mission Impossible" assignments....more
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This task based website from the Jason Project provides an interactive way to teach about the environment. The site has an introduction video reminiscent of "Mission Impossible" assignments. The series of five missions all include a briefing (or more!), laboratory activities, and field assignments. Standards are also provided. Missions could be used independently or as a complete unit. The information and formatting is easy to understand, and is very visually appealing. Students interact with the information to internalize concepts. For "full access" you must be registered and logged in - which is FREE.
tag(s): earth day (90), ecology (112), environment (216)
In the Classroom
Try showing the operation video on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge the class to be able to complete the objectives by the end of the unit. Have students complete portions in class and at home. Once the operation is complete, revisit the video objectives as a way to assess knowledge and retention of concepts.Have your students choose an environmental issue to explore, and challenge them to explain to the class: the issue, why it's important to fix the problem, and possible solutions. Have them move past PowerPoint and create an online Prezi presentation (reviewed here) or another presentation tool from the TeachersFirst Edge.
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National Environmental Education Week - National Environmental Education Foundation
Grades
4 to 12
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Join Environmental Education Week which is held the week before Earth Day. Get involved in Education Week programs by registering your school and classrooms. Find curricula, webinars,...more
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Join Environmental Education Week which is held the week before Earth Day. Get involved in Education Week programs by registering your school and classrooms. Find curricula, webinars, and resources under the "Resources" tab. Click on the resource list on the left for Educational materials including a Curricular Library, Green Reading, Nature Center Maps, Quizzes, and more. Be sure to subscribe to their monthly newsletter. Lesson plans and other activities can be downloaded.
tag(s): earth (169), earth day (90), ecology (112), environment (216), resources (67), water (88)
In the Classroom
Use this resource to plan great activities, lessons, and events for students leading up to Earth Day. For example, search through the Water resources to find great curricula for different age groups and be sure to use resources such as the "Water-Energy connection" to tie various resources together for better understanding of how resources and our use of them are interconnected. Use the articles and reports to pique student interest, use short videos in the classroom, and find great websites and programs linked from the page. Find lesson plans and fact sheets that can be downloaded and used. Use these resources not only for greater understanding of issues but to create awareness campaigns for change in the home, school, or community. Create posters of information learned, partner with local groups (conservation or not) to create action plans and events, and provide opportunities for change in the community. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here.
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We Can Waste Wise - Florida PBS Stations in Partnership with DEP
Grades
2 to 5
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"We Can Waste Wise" is a fun, interactive challenge for younger students. This site is created through the partnership of several different concerned companies to promote earth-friendly...more
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"We Can Waste Wise" is a fun, interactive challenge for younger students. This site is created through the partnership of several different concerned companies to promote earth-friendly practices and especially recycling starting at a young age. The game is easy to play and navigate. There are three different levels of recycling that include washing the recyclables, too. After each level of the activity is an informative piece of information that is both in words on the screen and read to you. The final part of the activity is where students can create new characters or machines out of recycled materials. These creations can be emailed to share, but this step is optional.
In the Classroom
Try using this interactive with students as an introduction to a lesson on recycling. Students can make guesses based on what they may already know about recycling and reusing to complete the activity. Teach the lesson on the three R's of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Then have students revisit the activity to see if their scores improve. An extension based on this activity could be to have students research freecycle.org (reviewed here) with their parents. Student could put their unwanted toys or outgrown clothes on freecycle.org with their parents help, or do an outgrown clothes drive for Goodwill or other such organizations.
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Ecovoyageurs - Unilever
Grades
2 to 12
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Use this site to identify your environmental footprint, identify ways we impact the Earth, and how we can all help restore the planet. Be sure to check out the Teachers ...more
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Use this site to identify your environmental footprint, identify ways we impact the Earth, and how we can all help restore the planet. Be sure to check out the Teachers section for downloads, ways to take actions, and how to measure our footprint. Downloads are available for teacher material as well as student materials. The You Can Help section has many ideas to use for Earth Day or class/schoolwide projects, even with younger students. This site has much to explore!
tag(s): conservation (103), ecology (112), energy (113), environment (216)
In the Classroom
Create annotations on downloads and even create a webquest (try zunal.com reviewed here) using driving questions to guide students throughout the web site. Use this site as a great introduction to conservation, energy, and the environment. Use information from this site to ask further questions and research more information for an even greater understanding of energy and conservation issues.
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Earth Milestones since First Earth Day - MSNBC
Grades
4 to 12
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Despite scary environmental news, what have we done to make progress in taking care of the Earth? Find major milestones since the advent of the first Earth day with this ...more
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Despite scary environmental news, what have we done to make progress in taking care of the Earth? Find major milestones since the advent of the first Earth day with this timeline. Follow from 1970 to the present by clicking through the items or choose from the icons in the smaller timeline along the top. Click on the photos to enlarge. Read articles below about the environment or about Earth Day and Earth Week activities.
tag(s): conservation (103), earth (169), earth day (90), environment (216), pollution (51)
In the Classroom
Search each event listed to learn more about the opinions, circumstances, and facts surrounding each event. Use the timeline as a springboard into discussions of various environmental topics. Use other applications such as Google Earth or sites that provide pictures and articles from past events. Compare air, water, or other pollution by viewing information or pictures from yesterday and today. Create campaigns of environmental issues. Use multimedia or conventional posters, websites, and podcasts to pass on important information. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Have students create podcasts using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).
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Battle of the Bags - msnbc.com
Grades
2 to 12
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Paper or plastic? Do you know which to pick? Start with the quick video introduction or a quiz that asks your habits. Follow with interactive segments that explain why people ...more
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Paper or plastic? Do you know which to pick? Start with the quick video introduction or a quiz that asks your habits. Follow with interactive segments that explain why people choose what they use, resources required to develop the bags, the reality of recycling, and the advantage of reusing. View the impact of using the bags, specific laws, and viewpoints from users that impact their decision to use of either paper or plastic. Advise students to ignore the ads and headlines that appear on this page.
tag(s): conservation (103), environment (216)
In the Classroom
Use this site to identify viewpoints, advantages, and disadvantages to using either paper or plastic. Plan a "paper or plastic challenge" in conjunction with Earth Day or your recycling unit. Consider surveying not only your classes, but also the school, parents, and greater community as to their habits. Gather data from your local supermarket. Compare with data from around the country or the world and identify reasons for the differences in the results. Use the information to create a debate for or against each resource. Create a campaign to educate others about the use of paper or plastic. Create a design for a bag that can be created simply and cheaply. Take photos of students' bags and have students narrate the photos using Voicethread, reviewed here. Sell these bags with the message for sustainability. Find support from your local supermarket. Research recycling in your area.
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Ecosia - ecosia.org
Grades
K to 12
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Looking for a different way to search the internet and do good for the world at the same time? Search using Ecosia and save areas of the rainforest with ...more
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Looking for a different way to search the internet and do good for the world at the same time? Search using Ecosia and save areas of the rainforest with every search. Learn how they do it with their informative video and frequently asked questions.
tag(s): ecology (112), search engines (34)
In the Classroom
Use Ecosia along with other search engines for the same information and compare the results and order of the most popular searches. Share the informative video with your class on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Discuss differences in search results, display of information, and other factors. Use as examples in media and internet safety classes.
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The Story of Stuff - The Story of Stuff Project
Grades
6 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute web cartoon that illustrates how all the "stuff" we use affects our lives and our planet. While the cartoon clearly has a liberal-leaning ...more
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The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute web cartoon that illustrates how all the "stuff" we use affects our lives and our planet. While the cartoon clearly has a liberal-leaning political agenda, that should not deter you from using it. In fact, asking students to point out its biases would be an important lesson in sorting out perspective in a persuasive argument. The site has recently added another cartoon dealing with the "cap and trade" energy issue, and promises future efforts focused on bottled water and electronics. The "downloads" tab offers PDF versions of the script, posters and other promotional material, and short teaser video clips of the film.
tag(s): environment (216), sociology (10)
In the Classroom
Useful in classes on economics, ecology, consumer living, sociology or current events, the film would provide a wonderful discuss lead-in on topics ranging from consumer decision making to the environment. Because the site operates under the "Creative Commons" copyright agreement, you can download your own copy of the film for educational use or order a DVD copy.
This resource requires Adobe Flash and PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Exploring the Secret Life of Trees - University of Illinois Extension
Grades
2 to 9
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This animated video explains in detail how an acorn becomes a tree. The audio uses simple terms, however some vocabulary may need further explanation with younger grades. The slides...more
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This animated video explains in detail how an acorn becomes a tree. The audio uses simple terms, however some vocabulary may need further explanation with younger grades. The slides can be advanced or reversed with the buttons provided on the pages. This is a modern version of the old fashioned film strip. The narration is also available in Spanish.
In the Classroom
This is ideal for use on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Due to the ability to easily pause the video, students can take notes directly from the whiteboard. Create a guided note sheet to accompany the interactive by capturing the screens into PowerPoint slides or a smart notebook and put blank text boxes over the writing so that students can enter the information as they watch it. This is a great one to save in your favorites for an Earth Day activity! Have student create their own "tree stories" using digital pictures of a tree they know and narrating it on Voicethread, reviewed here.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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