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Missouri Environmental Education Association

Helping educators inspire Missourians to care about, understand and act for their environment since 1997.

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"I wanted to know the name of every stone and flower and insect and bird and beast. I wanted to know where it got its color, where it got its life - but there was no one to tell me."
George Washington Carver

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Header Picture Captions: Left to Right: Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial S.P. Nature Detectives, Summer 2010; Academie Lafayette, Kansas City, Stream Class; Sustain Mizzou Green Team recycling at an MU home football game, Columbia. If you have pictures of your students learning aout or working in the environment (with permissions) send them to weaverjc@missouri.edu and we will post them.

Environmental Education Curriculum, Lessons and Resources

from most recent to oldest links

Posted September 5, 2012

• Migratory Dragonfly Partnership (Citizen Science) - To better understand and conserve North America's dragonfly migration, dragonly experts, nongovernmental programs, academic institutions, and federal agencies from the United States, Mexico, and Canada have formed the collaborative Migratory Dragonfly Partnership (MDP). Regular monitoring and centralized reporting among participants across three nations will help us aswer some of the many questions currently surrounding dragonfly migration and provide information needed to create cross-border conservation programs to protect and sustain the phenomenon. This site allow will allow you to submit dragonfly migration observations .http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/index/about
• Discovering Drought Lesson Plan from Project WET (3rd to 6th grade) - As of August 7, 2012,the National Drought Mitigation Center reported that 52% of the United States and Puerto Rico are experiencing moderate or worse drought. Most likely your students have heard this in the news or listened to adults talk about the national drought and raised questions of their own. Without the proper context, students may have misconceptions about drought, which can lead to students feeling anxious and scared. Although drought is a serious topic, it can be presented in a way that empowers your students with knowledge and the opportunity to take action. Check out this lesson plan with extensions, evaluations and pre/post questions. http://projectwet.org/pdfs/droughtlessonplan.pdf?utm_source= Copy+of+Back+to+School+2012&utm_campaign =Drought+Lesson+Plan&utm_medium=email
• Discovering Drought Activity Booklet from Project WET (upper elementary to middle school)- Smarten up about when rain doesn't fall. $1.25 per copy, volume discounts available. http://store.projectwet.org/index.php/drought-kids-activity-booklet.html?utm_source=Back+to+School+2012&utm_campaign=Back+to+School+1&utm_medium=email
• Water and Sustainability Classroom Kit from Project WET - donate a kit to a teacher you know to promote effective water education. Standard kit includes 30 copies of each of five KIDS Activity Booklets, a Project WET Sampler, a water cycle poster and the children's book, Spring Waters, Gathering Places. http://store.projectwet.org/index.php/teacher-water-sustainability-education-kit.html?utm_source=Back+to+School+2012&utm_campaign= Back+to+School+1&utm_medium=email
• "Gekko Boy - the Battle of Fracking" and "Two Tales from a Kid!"- "GeckoBoy - The Battle of Fracking" tells the story of a young boy who comes across the King of the Geckos and is entrusted to guard the Earth's well-being. Gowda has written a truly amazing, interesting, and thought-provoking science fiction tale. He not only uses science in very creative and imaginative ways, but also brings to light a very complex topic in such a simple way.To add to the uniqueness of this book, the young author has also included science facts at the end, which will provide curious kids with more information."Two Tales from a Kid!" tells two meaningful tales relating to the environment.In the story The Two Lakes, a young boy Zack, is shocked to see the carelessness and irresponsibility of the people towards their environment. He struggles to bring awareness to the villagers and shows them how to care for their environment. In the story, Don’t be Mean to Friends!, the Giant learns the importance of sharing and being nice to his friends.. Young author Pavan Raj Gowda, a twelve-year-old environmental advocate, has been working vigorously in his work as an environmentalist. He has started Green Kids Now, Inc. (http://greenkidsnow.org) and the Green Kids Conference (http://greenkidsconference.org). Both are designed to empower kids to make meaningful change in environmental issues. http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/Young-author-publishes-storybooks-on-the-environment-and-sustainability

Posted July 24, 2012

• Interactive Computer Tasks from the 2009 NAEP Assessment - Grade 4 - "Cracking Concrete", "Here Comes the Sun", and "Mystery Plants", Grade 8 - "Bottling Honey" , "Playground Soil", and "Planning a Park", Grade 12 - "Energy Transfer", "Starlight", and "Phytoplankton Factor.The page allows you to work through the assessment and then provides the results from the 2009 test. NAEP is the National Assessement of Educational Progress, a standardized test given to students in every state that allows the nation to make state to state comparisons among students. http://www.nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/ict_tasks.asp?tab_id =tab1&subtab_id=Tab_1#tabsContainer
• NAEP Hands On Assessment- Video explaining the 2009 "Hand- on Tasks" science assessments that tests students' scientific knowledge and investigative skills using real world questions, in this case - water quality. 4.5 minutes. NAEP is the National Assessement of Educational Progress, a standardized test given to students in every state that allows the nation to make state to state comparisons among students. NAEP has just released items from the 2009 HoT assessmentshttp://www.nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/
• Marco the Molecule: A book from Engaging Press. Marco the Molecule: Join Marco the Molecule for his 4 BILLION year-long adventure! As a water molecule, life is almost never dull.He sometimes gets stuck in a glacier or underground for years on end, but most of the time he gets to have a blast riding the ocean currents and exploring the always-changing water cycle. He might be eaten in a leaf by a caterpillar and then somehow find himself in a beautiful rainbow on the other side of the world not long after.Fully illustrated and filled with humor to engage all ages, the 7 parts of his water adventure story are followed by a variety of enjoyable activities designed to reinforce key terms and concepts such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, runoff, and erosion.$12.95 57 illustrated pages, Early Elementary. http://www.evergreentwins.com/marco-the-molecule/
• The Evergreen Twins: A book from Engaging Press.Team up with the EverGreen Twins to explore the ecology and action behind Sustainability. The engaging characters and activities will be sure to both educate and entertain students. The content is current and relevant, integrated and important.$19.95 152 illustrated pages, Early Elementary, Upper Elementary. http://www.engagingpress.com/the-evergreen-twins-activity-book/
• Pee Wee the Worm Composting Books: Children's illustrated adventure books to help teach facts and fun about composting. Serices includes 1) Pee Wee and the Magical Compost Heap, 2) Pee Wee's Great Adventure, 3) Pee Wee's Family in a Nutshell, 4) Pee Wee Goes to the Fai, 5) Pee Wee's Magical Compost Tea and 6) Pee Wee's Magical Compost Heap Coloring and Activity Book. Teacher's guide also available - http://www.castlecompost.com/
• Engaging Young Adults in a Sustainable Future- Strategies for National Parks and Other Special Places: Researchers at the National Park Foundation Conservation Study Institute and Shelburne Farms used the literature review to develop a number of strategies to engage young adults in park or community-based sustainability research, service and action. http://www.nps.gov/csi/pdf/Engaging%20Young%20Adults.pdf. Strategies:
  
  • Involve youth in real world challenges
  • Ensure a diversity of participants and perspectives
  • Invite and value youth input and perspectives
  • Cultivate partnerships with and among community organizations, citizens, and youth
  • Routinely engage youth in critical reflection
  • Seek longer term projects and involvement
  • Collaborate with higher education institutions, youth-serving organizations, potential employers, or other entities to create “stepping” stones that enable sustained involvement.
  • Use a service-learning or community-based research approach in youth programs.
• Four Principles of Effective Civic Engagement to Build a Commitment to Conservation Stewardship: Researchers at the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute created an overview of the principles of civic engagement in parks and other special places. Educators in schools and parks, and community members can use these research-based recommendations to build a collective capacity for and commitment to conservation stewardship. http://www.nps.gov/csi/pdf/CE%20Manual.pdf. The authors, for example, discuss these principles:
  • Build genuine relationships
  • Create effective engagement processes
  • Deliver relevant interpretive and educational programs and materials
  • Sustain civic engagement over time
• Videos and Stories Celebrating 35 Years of Environmental Justice Work: Susana Almanza on industrial pollution in Texas, Dr. Yomi Noibi on illegal tire dumps, Sue Bribbum, VP for Waste Management, Carol Ann Sicilano on involving communities in the permitting process, Giovanni di Chiro on creating awareness of risk factors in Massachusettes, Charles Lee on the Video Series,Vernice Lee from West Harlem Envrionmental Action, Ryan Schmitt on indoor lead exposure, Kevin Olp on Treme, Gary S. Guze on integrating environmental justice into EPA programs, Erin Heaney on using the Toxic Release Inventory to build power in communities. http://blog.epa.gov/ej/
• Intership Clearinghouse. National Council for Science and Environment. July 2012. NCSE’s Campus to Careers Program is dedicated to providing environmentally-motivated students with the tools necessary to pursue careers in the non-profit, governmental and private sectors....As an extension of the Campus to Careers mission, NCSE has created this environmental internship clearinghouse with support from the UPS Foundation. The clearinghouse enables university students to search for internships in the environmental field and provides a forum for internship providers to tap into a solid community of quality applicants. Got an internship - post it here. Check out the 2012 National Park Service Climate Change Internships

Posted July 13, 2012

• RiverXchange; 5th Grade water curriculum that links students with pen pals in New Mexico, provides standards based curriculum, participation in a field trip and water data collection. http://riverxchange.com/teachers-2/sign-me-up/
• Project Budburst Academy Online: This professional development course will provide participants with detailed information about Project Budburst and how to participate. Due to the tremendous interest in the online professional development courses for K-12 and for informal educators, the registration fee is being waived for the upcoming summer session.http://neoninc.org/budburst/academy/
• Pee Wee's Illustrated Adventures: Introduction to Backyard Composting for Kids: Author Larraine Roulston has written a series of illustrated adventures with Pee Wee, a red wiggler worm, to help introduce children to backyard composting.http://www.castlecompost.com/
• Survey Reveals Zoo and Aquarium Audiences Receptive to Climate Change Education: The Global Climate Change as Seen by Zoo and Aquarium Visitors report on the findings of a Summer 2011 survey reveals that zoo and aquarium visitors are receptive audiences for climate change education and that their concern about climate change and participation in behaviors to address climate change vary with their sense of connection with animals. http://clizen.org/survey.html

Posted June 2, 2012

• Dragonfly Pond Watch Project from Xerxes: Dragonfly Pond Watch is a volunteer-based program of the Migratory Dragonfly Partnership (MDP) to investigate the annual movements of two major migratory dragonfly species in North America: Common Green Darner (Anax junius) and Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata). By visiting the same wetland or pond site on a regular basis, participants will be placed to note the arrival of migrant dragonflies moving south in the fall or north in the spring, as well as to record when the first resident adults of these species emerge in the spring.
• World Water Monitoring Challenge Detective Tuesday Cases: for ages 8 to 11, these feature Detective Michelle Tuesday who specializes in water mysteries. Hard copies are available on a first come first serve basis. A Waterproof Case has Detective Tuesday figuring out why Justin Time's stream is taking a turn for the worse. The Water Down Under is about the importance of water for amphibians.
• Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children, a multi-award-winning early childhood activity guide and training program for building school readiness skills through nature exploration, is making a splash with educators of young children! Since the launch of Growing Up WILD in 2009, more than 57,000 early childhood educators have been trained, making it one of the fastest growing nature-based education programs in the country.
• Publication Links MPA Center Educational Resources with National Ocean Literacy Principles: The National Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center has created a new publication on marine protected area resources and concepts for teaching ocean literacy. The document melds the Ocean Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts, developed by the National Geographic Society, NOAA, and partners for K-12 curricula with resources from MPA Center that illustrate those principles. The information is intended to help educators improve ocean literacy by highlighting MPA Center resources on marine protected areas and conservation. Download the publication:

Posted May 1, 2012

• Three New Book Recommendations from NSTA: Bringing Outdoor Science In, Thrifty Classroom Lessons, Grades K–8. Clearly organized and easy to use, this helpful guide contains more than 50 science lessons. All lessons include objectives, materials lists, procedures, reproducible data sheets, ideas for adapting to different grade levels, and much more. By using author Steve Rich’s follow-up to his popular book Outdoor Science: A Practical Guide, you can introduce students to everything from bug zoos to the Sun and stars without ever needing to put on a jacket. Member Price: $20.76 Nonmember Price: $25.95. Buzz Into Action, The Insect Curriculum Guide for Grades K–4. This cross-disciplinary guide introduces children to the joy of insects through investigations that involve scientific inquiry and knowledge building rather than memorization. You can put the 20 hands-on lessons to work individually or as a curriculum, in the field or in the classroom. Member Price: $19.16 Nonmember Price: $23.95. Connecting With Nature: A Naturalist's Perspective Grades K–12. Thought-provoking and charming, Connecting With Nature offers advice on performing accurate observations and field reports and understanding natural selection, along with an array of activities to capture the attention of students of all ages—from imitating animal sounds, to tracking animals, to creating a school garden, to photographing birds. Member Price: $19.96 Nonmember Price: $24.95
• American Museum of Natural History Seminars on Science - The program offers twelve online graduate courses in the life, Earth, and physical sciences. Each course is rich in essays, images, videos, interactive simulations and vibrant discussions that connect learners to the Museum's scientists, laboratories, expeditions and specimens. Graduate credit is available for all courses through partnerships with eight colleges and universities. Environmentally related courses include: Climate Change,Diversity of Fishes, Earth: Inside and Out, The Ocean System and Water. These courses could be counted towards EE certification.
• Peregrine Falcon WebCam at Ameren Portage De Sioux power plant - First chick hatched April 21. MDC site includes background information on the Peregrine pair.
• EPA Look Beneath the Surface video on YouTube - Where do all those plastic bottles go?! 1 min 45 sec.
• Green Teacher Webinars - Free uppcoming webinars include Sept 27, 2012 Design and Implement Effective EE Programs, October 4, 2012. Sustainability as a Context for Literary Skills and Social Studies Content, October 24 Creative Nature Connection: A Nature-based Art Practice. Archives of past webinars are available for free for one month and then are available to Green Teacher Subscribers ($32 per year print, $26 electronic).
• Research Summaries from EE-Linked: Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior
  • Playing in the Woods More Conducive to Environmental Behavior than Planting Trees -Wells, N. M., & Lekies, K. S. (2006). Nature and the life course: pathways from childhood nature experiences to adult environmentalism. Children, youth and environments, 16(1), 1-24. Researchers conducted phone interviews with 2000 adults in the US urban areas about their childhood nature experiences and current environmental attitudes and behavior. Interview questions, for example, addressed “wild” nature experience in childhood (hiking, camping and hunting) and “domesticated” nature experiences (picking flowers, caring for plants and planting trees). Structural equation modeling was used to test relationships between variables. Researchers conclude that “while involvement with “wild” and “domesticated” natural environments both play a role, participation with “wild” nature before age 11 is a particularly potent pathway toward shaping both environmental attitudes and behaviors in adulthood. When children become truly engaged with the natural world at a young age, the experience is likely to stay with them in a powerful way – shaping their subsequent environmental path.”
  • Practical Recommendations to Promote Environmental Behavior - Chawla, L., & Cushing, F. D. (2007). Education for strategic environmental behavior. Environmental education research, 13(4), 437-452. Professor Chawla and her student review research literature on factors contributing to pro-environmental behavior. These multiple factors include role models, everyday life experiences, social networks, development of action skills, education and personal significance. Based on the research literature, the authors put forward a number of practical recommendations for environmental educators to promote pro-environmental behavior such as: “Engage both peers and adults as role models. Make time for children to experience nature, individually and as a group, enabling them to develop bonds with nature. Help participants set goals and sub-goals that will provide opportunities to taste success.Create a supportive social network for children and youth to build trust in others and have fun during the process.Provide opportunities for children and youth to initiate environmental actions themselves.
    Encourage parents to take an active and supportive role in their child’s experiences of nature and participation in community projects.”
• Earth Dog (from 1990's Weekly Reader) now in electronic versions - This is the story of how a junk yard dog, once content with just chasing cats and eating out of trash cans, had an experience that changed his life forever. From a pup with no direction, Earth Dog became an Environmental Superhero. Earth Dog’s future Adventures & Contest make math, science and reading fun for kids of all ages. They join his adventures to save the Earth by finding creative solutions to pressing environmental problems. Kids can even submit their own ideas, which may be selected for use in future Earth Dog episodes. New features available in this Earth Dog Book include professional narration and digital artwork for each scene. By combining the original text and artwork of Earth Dog with features that entertain and promote reading, this Earth Dog Book appeals to readers of all ages

Posted April 1, 2012

• To the Arctic 3D - IMAX documentary that follows a mother polar bear and her two cubs.
• Chimpanzee - Documentary about Chimps explores the struggle for survival of a troop from the perspective of young Oscar
• Five Lessons for Surviing the Hunger Games - ok, not really a school lesson, but still good to know 1) Foraging is Fundamental, 2) Know Your Herbs, 3) Water, Water, Everywhere, 4) Somehow it All Comes Back to Coal, 5) Fight for the Future.
• Lesson Plans for the Lorax - this site has several Lorax related activities - Barbaloot Suits: Protecting Diversity, About Protecting the Earth, The Lorax Explorations, Recycling, The Air We Have Around Us, Deforestation
• Celebrating Earth Month at School - With Earth Day only one short month away, Earth Day Network is getting lots of requests for help with planning events, celebrations and actions across the world. Of course, dedicating a day to the earth and its health is one the most important things we can do for our environment. However, around here we often say that, “everyday is Earth Day,” and in that vein we wanted to help people plan not only their celebration for April 22nd, but also give tips for celebrating the earth in the days leading up to Earth Day. Listedon the website are several ideas specifically targeted towards teachers, students and schools seeking to make everyday earth day
• National Crayon Recycling Program - This "recycling" education, community service program has made it possible to stop more than 80,000 pounds of unwanted crayons from going into landfills with the help from schools, organization educators and kids across this country. Thank you for your efforts to help the Earth. The CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM takes unwanted, rejected, broken crayons to a better place, where they will be recycled into new crayons! The program has drop-off bins nationally. The CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM and Crazy Crayons, LLC work together, but neither one could exist without kids that care about the Earth. We employ people with developmental disabilities, working on a positive impact through community service, environmental education and art. All purchases of the CRAZY CRAYONS, Eco Stars, RECYCLE" Sticks, Earth Worms and Earthling Crayons support the CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM and recycling education.
• NikeGrind - Nike has collected over 25 million shoes since 1990. The shoes are ground up and used for surfacing playing fields. NIke Stores in Branson, Hazelwood, Warrenton and Osage Beach collect shoes.
• Down the Drain Project - How much water do you use everyday in your home? Would you be surprised to learn that according to the USGS the average American uses between 80-100 gallons (approx. 300 - 375 liters) of water per day? Do you think people in other parts of the world use more or less water than Americans? Well, this collaborative project will help you find out the answers to these questions. By collecting data on water usage from people around the world you will be able to see how your water use compares to others and determine what you might do to use less water.
• Children's books lose touch with nature - researchers found that the number of illustrations of natural environments in Caldecott Medal books has declined dramatically since the 1930s when medals were first awarded.
• Green Gamification - Reported at SXSW (South by Southwest), Green Games like UVA Bay Game can faciliate cooperation among stakeholders in the use of critical resources. NOTICE: SITES REQUIRE SIGN UP. Check out:
  • UVA Bay Game- large scale participatory simulation based on Chesapeak Bay watershed
  • TerraCycle - choose a waste stream to recycle and Terra Cycle connects you with the recycling stream
  • Practically Green - kind of like LEED for people. (LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environment Design, a checklist for green buildings)
  • Mutual Perk Lab - join and donate to green efforts, earn discounts on green products
  • MyEnergy - sign up and it tracks your home's utility use to help you learn how to use energy more efficiently
• Mapping Nuclear Fallout - What would happen if a nuclear power plant failed in your area? The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has mapped the plume of radioactive fallout that could be expected if US Nuclear Reactors had failed on March 11, 2011, the date of the Fukishima event. NOTICE: ACTIVIST SITE.

Posted March 3, 2012

• Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale - The Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale (NAAEE 2011), authored by Yash Bhagwanji, provides a collaborative tool for educators and others to discuss their early childhood environmental education program goals, consider strengths and areas of needed improvement, and chart a future direction for development. The Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale is easy to use while also encouraging deep discussions about program philosophy, design and implementation. Building off of NAAEE’s Early Childhood Environmental Education Programs: Guidelines for Excellence, it is a much welcomed addition to the early childhood environmental education tool kit. http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/guidelines/posts/Early-Childhood-Environmental-Education-Rating-Scale
• Environmental Popcorn - Blogger Maddie Perlman-Gable posts her list of best environmental movies ever in the following categories:
  • Best Nature Empowerment Film - The Happening (2008)
  • Best Over-Reaction to Global Warming - The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
  • Best Use of 80's Pop Stars to Demonstrate Vigilante Environmentalists: Mega Python vs Gatoroid (2011)
  • Best Animated Film: Princess Monomoke (1997)
  • Best Monster Created by Dumping Formaldehyde Down the Sink - The Host (2006) (Korean)
  • Best Superhero to Come From Something Radioactive - Toxic Avenger (1985)
• Green Teacher Webinars for 2012 - Can’t attend a webinar? Don’t worry! Archived recordings of all of our webinars are also available on our website. (Archives are available free of charge to anyone for one month following each webinar, and are thereafter available to Green Teacher subscribers.) http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/New-Green-Teacher-Webinars
  • Thursday, March 8, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST Webinar topic: “Deep Climate Change Education: Learning and Teaching for Personal and Social Transformation” Presenters: David Selby and Fumiyo Kagawa
  • Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EST Webinar topic: “Schoolyards Re-Imagined: School Ground Innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond” Presenter: Sharon Danks
• The Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) Science Education Program - The EHP promotes environmental health literacy, using the scientific literature to teach students the principles of environmental health science.EHP resources enable teachers to provide students with current and credible environmental health information. The lessons published through the EHP Science Education Program encourage students to learn about their health and their environment through cooperative hands-on and critical thinking activities and real-world examples. Students also learn their behavior can have significant effects on the environment. Modules cover Air, Water, Land, Climate Change, Food and Health. Lessons are also available in Spanish. http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/static/scied.action

Posted February 1, 2012

• Get Mapped with MOST-Science - Leaders of youth out-of-school-time programs are invited to share their program design and details with MOST-Science, a nationwide study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. MOST-Science is collecting data about the organization and practices of science, engineering and technology-focused out-of-school-time (OST) programs across the country, and is especially interested in including programs that focus on environmental science. Contribute a program to the database (and learn more) at:http://www.colorado.edu/eer/research/outofschool.html
• Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Releases Six New Publications - The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released six new publications in its award-winning North American Conservation Education Strategy Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence. The new publications include Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills, Landscape Investigations Guidelines, Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigations Educator Guide, Project-Based Learning Model, Outdoor Skills Education Handbook, and Sustainable Tomorrow: Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Education Curricula, for Grades 9-12. These and other publications are available for free download. http://www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=conservation_education&activator=25
• Cool the Earth - Free, fun, and empowering climate change program for K-8 students and their families that inspires them to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. Includes action coupons kids earn and a banner the school can post to show how their actions are adding up to make a difference.http://cooltheearth.org/our-program/
• MyGarbology Game - an online game that introduces kids to ways to dispose of garbage. http://www.naturebridge.org/garbology.php
• Operation Reuse It - With colorful illustrations and fact-filled diagrams complementing the adventure, this picture book tells the story of how Peter and his friends help Mr. Ogilvy rediscover forgotten belongings in his shed. They help him organize and distribute the unwanted stuff to reuse centers in the community, learning the many ways and benefits of reusing. The children have fun with forgotten treasures such as old toys, electronics, art supplies, and even a broken-down car, while they work together to determine how the items should be reused, in the process saving resources, energy, and money, while diverting materials from the landfill. For kids 5 and up. https://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/Operation-Reuse-It
• Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide - The education team at the Stop Community Food Centre has just released a new Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide for elementary school teachers and community educators. The guide provides the background information used to design many of the Stop‚s activities and workshops for children. While this 54-page guide was originally designed for fifth-grade classroom teachers in Ontario, it includes information on food systems that can be useful to most teachers at the elementary level and educators in community settings that are developing programs around food issues. It is divided into five short units, includes 25 suggested activities, and four personal stories that help illustrate issues around social justice. There's also list of additional resources that includes books, websites, blogs, and videos that have become popular in our programs. http://thestop.org/grade-5-program

Posted January 23, 2012

• Discover the Forest - This campaign from the Forest Service and the Ad Council aims to inspire tweens (ages 8 to 12) and parents to re-connect with nature through forests. It includes a link to find forests and parks, and a "book" of outdoor-related acitivites, animal tracks, leaf rubbings, exploring leaf litter, direction finding, a nature scavenger hunt, a waterscope and other activities - http://www.discovertheforest.org/
• Natural Inquirer - The Natural Inquirer is a middle school science education journal that enables scientists to share their results with middle school students. All the research in this journal concerns nature, trees, wildlife, insects, outdoor activities and water. Students can do sicence with they do the Discovery FACTivity, learning vocabulary that helps in understanding the articles. Download or order free monographs on private landowners, world's forests, and climate change, some available in Spanish. http://www.naturalinquirer.org/
• EcoAct Environmental Leadership Program - From the Missouri Botanical Garden. High Schools in the St. Louis area elect to participate based on the availabilty of a cooperating teacher and a time slot in the class schedule for the Eco-Act program. Students receive course credit for participation in the program. Hilights of the program are presented in January and February and interested students apply. Students gain, knowledge and understanding of environmental and human ecology issues, training and experience as teachers, leadership skill development, increased awareness of their local community, outdoor experience and skills, and increased self-awareness and confidence. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/learn-discover/students-teachers/student-opportunities/eco-act.aspx

Posted January 7, 2012

• Lee's Summit Creates an Outdoor Classroom - The City of Lee's Summit is creating an Outdoor Classroom in and around the island at the North Recycling Center. Flower beds, a vegetable garden, a rain garden, two rain barrels, a compost bin, and stacking, tilted herb pots are currently demonstrated on-site, along with artwork made from recycled rebar, street signs, and glass bottles. In addition, several informational signs are posted at the Outdoor Classroom that describe the benefits of and purposes for all of the environmental features demonstrated on-site. People of all ages are welcome to help install plants and maintain gardens and flower beds in the Outdoor Classroom. Non court-ordered community service hours are available. If your class or group is interested in taking a tour, attending a class, or volunteering helping out, contact the Environmental Programs Coordinator or call 969-1800. http://cityofls.net/Environment/Outdoor-Classroom.aspx
• Northwest Earth Institute Discussion Course on Global Waming: Changing Course - Changing Course is a four-session discussion course book exploring the history and science of global warming, personal values and habits as they relate to climate change, and personal actions to curb the effects of global warming. This course can easily be offered in your workplace, faith center or home. Discussion courses are designed to be self-facilitated groups of 8-12 people that can be used as a roadmap for people to effect change in their own communities. The four session course is now available for $15. http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/global-warming-changing-co2urse
• Northwest Earth Institute Discussion Course: Healthy Children, Healthy Planet - This course examines the impact of media culture on our children, explores alternatives to the material focus of celebrations, considers the importance of nutrition and healthful eating, and addresses the importance of a child’s connection to nature. Healthy Children, Healthy Planet shows that to care for Earth is to care for your family. This course can easily be offered in your workplace, faith center or home. Discussion courses are designed to be self-facilitated groups of 8-12 people that can be used as a roadmap for people to effect change in their own communities. This seven session course is now available for $12. http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/healthy-children-healthy-planet
• Discover Water Interactive Website - Use a coursor to mouse over and explore "Blue Planet", "The Water Cycle", "Discover Our Ocean", "Investigate Fresh Water", "Explore Watersheds", "Use Water Wisely", "We All Use Water", "Healthy Water, Healthy People" - http://www.discoverwater.org/
• Water-Sanitation-Hygiene (WASH) Program in Spanish from UN and WET - Consisting of an Educators Guide with seven hands-on didactic activities for teachers to use in a classroom setting and a companion student activity booklet with seven interactive and engaging activities for students, the materials were created based on suggestions from teachers and education officials in writing and development workshops in each country. Moreover, all materials have been field tested by local schools in the area of implementation. http://www.projectwet.org/use-project-wet/local-community-actions-water/using-attitudes-and-actions-to-teach-wash-in-latin-america/
• Project WET Portal - A place for WET coordinators and teachers to meet and share tips, find a coordinator or network on facebook or twitter - http://portal.projectwet.org/
• Game Aps from Ranger Rick and the National Wildlife Federation -" Raiders of the Lost Ardvark" (Join Ranger Rick the raccoon on a wild ride through Africa in this thrilling detective game that tests your sleuthing skills. For Ages 7 and up.$1.99) "Click the Birdie" (Score points, discover cool bird facts, and have tons of fun in Ranger Rick's adventure-packed app. Perfect for ages 7 and up. $1.99) "What Did Snakey Eat?" (Gulp! Sammy the Skunk's friend Snakey has swallowed something he shouldn't have. Match the shape in Snakey's belly! Perfect for ages 2 to 5. $0.99) - http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Kids-Apps.aspx
• Documentary "Burning in the Sun" - Burning in the Sun An inspirational portrait of a young West African man who starts a business building solar panels from scratch and selling them to rural customers in Mali. $95 rental, $295 purchase (preview available) - http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/burn.html
• National Action Plan for Greening America's Schools (from Sundance) - Model Advocates, Green School Profiles for connecting to communities, building networks, finding stakeholders, connecting learning, health and prosperity. http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/docs/USGBC%20Mayors%20Summit%20Report_FINAL.pdf
• Reinventing the Wheel: Next Steps in Building Comprehensive State and Provincial EE Programs - The wheel model started with 16 components, grew to 22 four years later, and was intended to continue evolving. This is the latest version of the wheel. .http://cms.eetap.org/repository/moderncms_documents/comprehensive_ee_article_final_2.24_sm.2.pdf
• Becoming an Effective Environmental Educator: A Commitment to Competence - The need for professional development in environmental education (EE) was first formally addressed by the federal government when the 1990 Environmental Education Act was passed. Various learning opportunities were created to meet this need....This article describes what it means to be a competent environmental educator and the various paths individuals have taken toward that goal. The article also profiles three individuals who share how professional development has benefitted them in their work. Finally, the article offers considerations for deciding which kinds of professional development are a good fit and resources for creating a professional development plan. http://cms.eetap.org/repository/moderncms_documents/effective_env_educator_2.25_sm.1.pdf
• Tillbury House Publications: Children's Division - selected science and nature books
  • Healthy Foods from Healthy Soils, A Hands-On Resource for Teachers - http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/healthy-foods-from-healthy-soils.htm
  • Riparia's River- Gretchen, Jason, Mark, and Daphne are horrified to find their favorite swimming hole filled with green slime. A mysterious naturalist named Riparia helps the children understand how pollution is affecting the nature of the river. Friends and neighbors help restore clean water to the river they love. Filled with information and action, Riparia’s River features lush, realistic illustrations that illuminate the children’s passion for their river - http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/New-EE-Articles-and-Program-Profiles
  • Bearly There - Bear-ly There is a fascinating book for kids about how to react constructively when a bear moves into your back yard. Filled will beautiful paintings/illustrations of bear and other creatures of northern woods in their natural settings, Bear-ly There is a book infused with a love of nature that is communicated directly to its young readers, through both the written word and visual appeal. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/bear-ly-there.htm
  • Everybody's Somebody's Lunch - Many children—indeed, many adults—believe that there are "good" animals and "bad" animals. The Big Bad Wolf myth lives on. This new story puts predators in an entirely new light as a sensitive young girl, shocked and confused by the death of her cat, learns the roles that predator and prey play in the balance of nature. Gently and gradually, she comes to understand why some animals kill and eat other animals in order to live. It is one of nature's most exciting and important lessons. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/everybodys-somebodys-lunch.htm
  • Just for Elephants - Most elephants in America live in circuses and zoos, and their lives are very different from what they would be in the wild. But there's a very special place in Tennessee called the Elephant Sanctuary, where elephants can finally have the freedom to roam and have elephant friends. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/just-for-elephants.htm
  • Saving Birds - This new book focuses on the experiences and efforts of grownups and children, scientists and volunteers working to save birds in very different corners of the world. Sometimes political and economic realities push their way into the picture, and at other times the challenges are more physical: scaling treacherous cliffs or braving rough seas to do the work that needs to be done to save birds. But as we learn about each bird and its problems, we see how our heroes use their imaginations to "think outside the box," coming up with unconventional and unusual methods-that work! http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/saving-birds.htm
  • Sea Soup: Phytoplankton and Zooplankton (2 vols.) - A teaspoon of sea water can hold a soupy serving of a million phytoplankton and zooplankton! These tiny floating plants and animals come in thousands of amazing variations. Invisible to the naked eye, phytoplankton are the source of our atmosphere, our climate, our ocean food chain, much of our oil supply, and more. They're also food for zooplankton, tiny animals that often look like weird life forms from outer space. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/sea-soup.htm
  • Shelterwood - Discover and learn to care for the forest through this richly illustrated children's book. Sophie's grandfather is a logger, and she watches as he harvests trees that will be cut into boards to build houses and furniture-but lets the tallest, wind-firm trees stay, to drop their seeds and start a new generation. Deer and birds and even a bear share the forest's shelter, and Sophie discovers that when we take care of the woods, it provides for us for generations to come. Teachers Guide also available. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/shelterwood.htm
  • Stonewall Secrets - What can the rocks in old stone walls tell us about how the earth's crust was shaped, melted by volcanoes, carved by glaciers, and worn by weather? And what can they tell us about earlier people on the land and the first settlers? . A children's science book explores the ages through geology; accompanied by an engaging teacher's guide. http://www.tilburyhouse.com/childrens/stone-wall-secrets.htm

Posted December 14, 2011

• NSF Framework for Assessing Environmental Literacy - New, comprehensive, research-based description of environmental literacy and its application to the creation of a framework for an assessment of environmental literacy. The framework is proposed as an optional component to the OECD's (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) 2015 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment. Includes descriptions of the Competencies, Knowledge and Dispositions required for Environmental LIteracy. An essential tool for developing any environmental literacy assessment. http://www.naaee.net/framework
• EPA Climate Change Website for Students - This self-directed website is designed primarily for middle school students in both formal and informal educational contexts, including classrooms, camps, and after-school programs. Educators can use this website: to create their own lessons, as a reference tool for students, as classroom activities or homework assignments: take a climate change expedition, calculate your footprint, research impacts and solutions, explain the evidence, learn about energy and emissions. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
• RaceBridges for Schools: 12 Ways to Create a Diversity Program (Diversity and Inclusion is a major initiative of NAAEE) - A Diversity Dozen Questions for Teachers1. Celebrate Differences, 2. Highlight Cultural Awareness, 3. Assess the Diversity Climate of Your School, 4. Begin a Diversity Interest Group, 5. Develop Diversity Goals, 6. Create a Simple Diversity Mission Statement, 7. Guest Speakers With a Difference, 8. Bridging Differences, 9. Create More Than an International Day, 10. Illuminate Differences and Similarities, 11. Walk the Talk, 12. Be Patient. Get lesson plans and resources for putting these ideas into practice at http://www.racebridgesforschools.com/wp/?p=1989
• Framework for Evaluating Impacts of Informal Science Education (ISE) Projects (NSF Report) -The ISE orking group adopted a broad framework for identifying areas or potential project impact for both public and professional audiences that will be used to identify measurable project outcomes. http://caise.insci.org/uploads/docs/Eval_Framework.pdf

  Impacts	Public Audiences	Professional Audiences
  Awareness, knowledge or understanding	STEM concepts, processes, or careers	Informal STEM education/outreach research or practice
  Engagement or interest (in)	STEM concepts, processes, or careers	Advancing informal STEM education/outreach field
  Attitude (towards)	STEM-related topic or cababilities	Informal STEM education/outreach research or practice
  Behavior (related to)	STEM concepts, processes or careers	Informal STEM education/outreach research or practice
  Skills (based on)	STEM concepts, processes or careers	Informal STEM education/outreach reasearch or practices
  Other	Project Specific	Project Specific

• Sustainable Schools Project -Three new resources to help shools use sustainbility as a way to integrate curriculum and learning - http://www.sustainableschoolsproject.org/tools-resources
  1. Education for Sustainability Starter Kit The Education for Sustainability Starter Kit is a professional development tool that prepares educators and schools to start using sustainability as an integrating theme, and to catalyze school change with efficient use of existing resources through a series of self-guided learning opportunities.http://www.sustainableschoolsproject.org/tools-resources
  2. Guide to Education for Sustainability The Guide to Education for Sustainability provides an introduction and exploration of EFS practices and pedagogies. The Guide to EFS is currently being revised by the Sustainable Schools Project staff and will be ready as a free download here soon! For now, follow this link to download the chapter on Strategies for EFS.
  3. Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Kids is a civic engagement and service-learning framework that can be used across K-12 grade levels as well as community settings
• Wetland Restoration and Construction: A Technical Guide - Clear, logical step-by-step instructions explain how to design naturally-appearing and functioning wetlands for wildlife and fish habitat, cleaning run off, recharging groundwater and preventing flooding - http://www.thewetlandtrust.org/wetlandrestorationbook.html
• What's On Your Fork? An Action Guide for a Meatless Monday Campaign from Water Planet Challenge - The guide offers students the opportunity to engage students in a service-learning process focused on creating a Meatless Monday campaign. (Focus is on cutting back on meat for health and environmental reasons, not on becoming a vegetarian). Materials model development of a service learning project. *"Meatless Mondays" is an idea used in WWII to help reserve resources for troops. - http://www.waterplanetchallenge.org/wpc/
• Survival, An Endangered Animal Game from ARKive - An online game. Play alone, with friends or family to reveal the identities of 9 of the world’s most endangered animals. The longer you survive, the more stars you earn. Stars unlock hidden photos and release new characters. Download for Free. http://www.arkive.org/apps/survival
• Our Daily Poison, a Documentary About the Chemicals Used in the Food Industry - A three part film covering the impacts of chemicals on farmers' health, the regulation of chemicals and food additives, and the adequacy of testing individual compounds when the average person is exposed to dozens at the same time. http://www.icarusfilms.com/new2011/pois.html
• NSTA Publications
  • Predict Observe Explain $32.95 for non members - John Haysom and Michael Bowen provide middle and high school science teachers with more than 100 student activities to help the students develop their understanding of scientific concepts. The powerful Predict, Observe, Explain (POE) strategy, field-tested by hundreds of teachers, is designed to foster student inquiry and challenge existing conceptions that students bring to the classroom. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781935155232
  • Fuel for Thought $25.95 for non members - The concept of energy is central to all the science disciplines, seamlessly connecting science, technology, and mathematics. For high school and upper middle school teachers, this compendium comprises inquiry-based activities, lesson plans, and case studies designed to help teach increased awareness of energy, environmental concepts, and the related issues. Drawn from NSTA’s award-winning, peer-reviewed journals, the book is divided into three overarching segments for learning and teaching: Student Investigations includes several activities that tackle such topics as “Energy, Heat, and Temperature,” “Vehicles and Fuels,” and “Living Connections.” Projects and Case Studies includes examples of extensive, question-driven student projects, and the last section, Issues in Depth, provides background content knowledge for deeper understanding of the critical energy issues facing the world today. These interesting and meaningful investigations demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of energy, preparing students for the complex reality of our global energy economy. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781936137206
  • Schoolyard Science: 101 Easy and Inexpensive Activities $27.95 for non members - With 101 easy and inexpensive activities to do on school grounds, Schoolyard Science can help students develop their observation and inquiry skills as well as an appreciation of their outdoor environment. Covering topics such as lower plants, gardens, insects and other invertebrates, energy, and Earth science, Thomas Lord and Holly Travis provide activities that will help teachers become more comfortable with incorporating the outdoors into their curriculum. The activities have been tested successfully in K–12 classrooms, youth camp programs, and science education classes in teacher preparation programs, so teachers can feel confident when using this book in their classrooms. http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781936137169
• Growing Up WILD curriculum for 3 to 7 years - Recommended by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and correlated to the Head Start Domains and NAEYC Standards, Growing Up WILD provides a consistent, tested, developmentally appropriate, interdisciplinary and attractive teaching tool for educators encouraging nature exploration, outside play, and scientific inquiry among young learners ages 3-7. With 27 easy-to-use activities which include crafts, art projects, music, conservation activities, and reading, written by educators and wildlife professionals and reviewed by experts in early childhood education, Growing Up WILD provides early childhood educators with the knowledge and skills to comfortably lead explorations with young children on various topics and subject areas, particularly in math and science. Contact Missouri's WILD Coordinator: Briedi Scott for information on setting up a workshop http://www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD/Missouri.htm or, if you cannot attend a training, order a copy here http://www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD/sendmail/order.htm
• Project Learning Tree New High School Curriculum- Nine activities in PLT’s Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests teach students about forest health, watersheds, climate change, who owns America's forests, and more. The 176-page guide integrates teaching about forests into a multitude of subject areas using hands-on classroom studies and outdoor field investigations. High school educators and junior college professors can obtain a copy of PLT’s Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests curriculum by attending a PLT professional development workshop in their area. PLT’s 50-state network trains more than 30,000 PreK-12 educators every year through 1,500 workshops held across the country. http://www.plt.org/focus-on-forests

Posted June 18, 2011

• Burning in the Sun- Bullfrog Films has just released Burning in the Sun, an inspirational documentary featuring a young West African man who starts a business building solar panels from scratch and selling them to rural customers in Mali. Addressing climate change, poverty, and self-sufficiency, the film demonstrates how a small-scale, local business model can provide jobs, appropriate technology, and empowerment to people everywhere. http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/burn.html
• Green Schools Are Better for Students - Published by the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council, this report details what mayors, superintendents, and other local leaders can do to advance the movement for environmentally friendly schools. http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/docs/USGBC Mayors Summit Report_FINAL.pdf
• Science Lesson Plans from ARKive Education - http://www.arkive.org/education/resources#resources7-11
  • Dinner at the Reef – Food Chains This fun and interactive game explores food chains in a marine environment, predator-prey relationships, and the fine balance of an ecosystem.
  • ARKive’s Adaptation – Design a Species Activity (7-11 year olds) This creative activity is designed to teach 7-11 year olds about the concept of adaptation. Using the marine environment as an example, students learn about how different species are adapted physically or behaviorally to survive in a particular type of habitat. Students then design their own species adapted to a particular habitat.
  • Biodiversity Hospital - Working in medical teams, students balance competing priorities for the conservation of an endangered species and devise a ‘treatment’ plan. Students learn the importance of biodiversity and species conservation, the fine balance of the ecosystem, and how to measure competing priorities.
  • ARKive’s Adaptation – Design a Species Activity (11-14 year olds) This creative activity is designed to teach 7-11 year olds about the concept of adaptation. Using the marine environment as an example, students learn about how different species are adapted physically or behaviorally to survive in a particular type of habitat. Students then design their own species adapted to a particular habitat.
  • Sexual Selection - The Dating Game ARKive's Dating Game teaches students the main principles of sexual selection and the difference between intrasexual and intersexual selection. Using species from ARKive (www.arkive.org) as examples, students discover why some animals have ornaments to attract mates (intersexual selection) while others have weapons to fight for mates (intrasexual selection)
  • Design a Conservation Program – Graphic Science In this activity, students research and design their own conservation program to learn about the importance of biodiversity as well as the economic benefits and services ecosystems provide. Using examples of successful conservation programs within the UK Overseas Territories, students learn about the fine balance of an ecosystem, the impacts of human activity, and the economic benefits and services an ecosystem can provide.
• The Fish Game by The Cloud Institute for Sustainability This online game is designed to teach sustainability by demonstrating the problems overfishing can cause. Players fish for 10 days, earning money for each fish, along with other people doing the same. They learn the rate that the lake restocks the fish population over the 10-day period and how to balance that with their own needs as well as having to consider what impact others are having on the fish population. http://www.cloudinstitute.org/fish-game
• Using Parks for Education The National Recreation and Park Association released five monographs by a team of expert researchers led by Dr. John L. Crompton of Texas A&M University. A synopsis summarizes the key categories in which parks and recreation contribute to building of healthy, vibrant communities: physical health, mental health, social functioning, youth development, environment, and economic impact. http://www.nrpa.org/research-papers/?utm_source=research_ 2011&utm_medium=email&utm_term=may6&utm_content=full_list&utm_campaign=eml_research_2011_papers_synopsis_may6
• Biomimicry Institute Curricula The lesson plans on the Biomimicry Institute Web site provides educators with the teaching materials they need to introduce their students to the inspiring concept and powerful innovation methodology of biomimicry. Materials are relevant for all ages. http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/education/k-12/curricula.html
• Four Green Steps Four Green Steps.com offers free curriculum to schools with green ideas for students of all ages and a strong focus on sustainability and natural resources. The program also features a special 'one-day curriculum' perfect for substitutes or special events like Earth Day. The site also offers opportunities for students to share their projects and ideas online as well as compete for incredible prizes. http://www.fourgreensteps.com
• Lesson Plans from EcoTipping Points Project How Success Works assembles some of the most instructive environmental success stories of restoration and sustainability and their messages into a package of powerful and engaging case studies. http://www.ecotippingpoints.org/education/how-success-works/index.html
• New IBM Game Helps Students Learn About Environmental Issues "PowerUp" challenges players to save the imaginary planet and learn engineering and science principles by carrying out missions to supply solar, wind, and water power. http://www.powerupthegame.org/

Posted March 3, 2011

• National Education for Sustainability K-12 Student Learning Standards, Version 3 - The NES Standards define what K-12 students should know and be able to do to be sustainability literate. Included are three overarching student learning standards or essential understandings followed by a summary chart (Table 1) of Education for Sustainability (EfS) concepts by K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 grade bands. Grade band concepts are organized by components which are directly connected to the three learning standards. Following the summary chart are three individual grade band tables (Tables 2, 3, and 4) that include the EfS concepts with example performance indicators. A glossary of terms is found at the conclusion of the document. The Education for Sustainability (EfS) standards were developed by the K-12 and Teacher Education Sector of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development (USPESD) with input from K-12 educators in public, private, and pre-service (teacher education) fields. For more information about the USPESD please visit www.uspartnership.org. For the standards go to http://usp.umfglobal.org/main/show_passage/48
• Encyclopedia of Earth in the Classroom - College level examples of how EoE is being used in instruction - http://www.eoearth.org/article/EoE_in_the_classroom
• 9 Curriculum Models for Cimate Change from NCSE and NASA - NASA Time Machines, Climate Change Impacts on the Colorado River, Seasonality, Intro to Remote Sensing Metrics, Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing, Ice Core Data, Recent Climate Change, Climate Change and Wine, Societal Contributors to Climate Literacy - http://www.eoearth.org/article/NCSE-NASA_Interdisciplinary_Climate_Change_Education
• Power Couple: The Shocking True Story of Water and Electricity - 8 minute educational movie for students in grades 6 and up shows how saving water saves electricity and vice-versa. Student Guide and Student Guide Answere are available along with curriculum, activity (in English and Spanish), poster. http://abcwua.org/education/Energy_Water_Nexus.html
• Phenology Wheel Curriculum Grades 3-8 - Downloadable file includes Birthday Phenology Game, Wheelscapes-Enhancing a Sense of Place, Habitat Assessors-Summarizing, Organizing and Analyzing, Habitat Detectives- Investigating Sites and Collecting Data, Habitat Enhancers- Creating a Habitat Improvement Project - http://uwarboretum.org/eps/tools_for_teachers.php

Posted February 13, 2011

• Earth Smarts- Essential Ecoliteracy for Everyone - Earth Smarts is an educational construct that answers the question: What qualities do we need to justly improve or maintain our quality of life in a changing world? It is transdisciplinary and designed to be practical, apolitical, and adaptable across cultures and bioregions. http://www.earthsmarts.info/
• Raptors in the City - The "Raptors in the City" real-time science and technology program stars the peregrine falcon, one of the great success stories in the field of wildlife conservation. Children can watch the falcons via cameras mounted on a skyscraper through the nesting season (February to June). The low-cost curriculum supports one semester of study, and students learn environmental, biological, and technological lessons, as well as research skills tied to national science and technology standards. http://www.raptorsinthecity.org/

Posted July 11, 2010

• Missouri's Wild Mushrooms - A guide to hunting, identifying and cooking the state's most common mushrooms - The guide provides color photos and detailed descriptions of 102 common Missouri mushrooms, including nine poisonous species. Written by Maxine Stone, past president of the Missouri Mycological Society, and edited by Barbara Bassett, former Conservation Department naturalist, the book includes tips for finding, gathering, preparing and preserving wild mushrooms. An easy visual key aids identification and clear guidelines help distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. The section on “cookery” includes 24 favorite recipes featuring edible mushrooms. While not a comprehensive guide to all fungi in Missouri, it’s an excellent introduction to mushroom hunting and identification. The price is $14 - http://www.mdcnatureshop.com
• Show-Me Herps - A colorful and compact guide to 50 amphibians and reptiles in Missouri. (“Herps” is an abbreviated word from the Greek herpeto, meaning “animals that creep.”) Illustrator Steve Buchanan, who so stunningly brought Show-Me-State insects to life in Show-Me Bugs, works his same magic here with salamanders, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes. Written by MDC Naturalist John Miller, the guide features common and scientific names, descriptions, habitat and food preferences and “cool facts” for each species. The guide also describes what amphibians and reptiles have in common and what makes them different, along with how they grow, look and act and how and where to find, study and conserve them. The price is $7.95 - http://www.mdcnatureshop.com

Posted June 18, 2010

• Climate Communications and Behavior Change, A Guide for Practitioners - Excellent advice for framing the climate issue in ways that people can understand and that can motivate them to change. For example, using the term "too much carbon" and the idea of carbon management can recruit budget thinking in people and get them into problem solving mode. http://climlead.uoregon.edu/node/156
• NASA Climate Kids Page - Includes data, games for kids and links to websites for educators (K-12) - http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm
• Tapped, by Bull Frog Films - The business of Bottled Water - http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/tap.html
• Gulf Oil Spill Teaching Resources -This website collects a number of resources, lessons on cleaning oiled feathers, a guided tour of dispersants, and links to the Deepwater Horizon websites - http://www.education.noaa.gov/oilspill.html
• Dirt, the Movie - More important than most people think, check out the trailer at http://www.dirtthemovie.org/
• Encyclopedia of Earth entry on the Gulf Oil Spill - http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

 

Posted April 12, 2010

• Project Learning Tree Releases New Curriculum for Early Childhood Educators to Get Young Children Outdoors - Activity Guide and Music CD Teaches Children Ages 3 to 6 About the Natural World Around Them Early Childhood Experiences - Cover Washington, D.C. – Just as more attention is being focused on the need to connect students to nature at a younger age, Project Learning Tree® (PLT) releases a new curriculum guide and music CD to engage children ages 3 to 6 in outdoor exploration and play. Eleven field-tested, hands-on activities showcase over 130 “early childhood experiences” which integrate investigations of nature with art, literature, math, music, and movement. Early childhood educators and caregivers can obtain a copy of PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood curriculum by attending a PLT professional development workshop in their area. http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/31_41_67.html
• New Film Release: Big River - Following up on their documentary King Corn, the filmmakers have returned to Iowa to investigate the impact their acre of corn has had on the people and places downstream. In a journey from the heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, Ian and Curt trade their combine for a canoe, and set out to see the bigger world their little acre of corn has touched. The pesticides they sprayed, the fertilizers they injected, and the soil they plowed now lead to new questions, explored by new experts in new places. Is industrial agriculture worth its hidden costs? http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/brkc2.html
• 2010 Film Catalog Released -The Video Project has been distributing independent films on environmental topics for over 25 years. Current films cover sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, species decline, pollution, resource protection and conservation, climate change, and more. All films are award-winning and many have appeared on PBS. Most of the Video Project films have robust companion Web sites and additional resources to expand learning opportunities. The new 2010 catalog is available online: http://www.videoproject.com/
• Audubon International's Free Webinars in 2010 - To celebrate the mid-way point of the United Nation's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, throughout 2010 Audubon International will be hosting a series of free training Webinars designed to help people become better stewards of the environment where they live, work, and play. Webinars will focus on topics such as community sustainability, greening your business or property, eco-development practices, and community outreach ideas. Registration is free, but space is limited. http://www.auduboninternational.org/webinars

Posted March 12, 2010

• Time Lapse Record of Mountain Top Mining in Boone County West Virginia

Posted January 10, 2010

• X-Stream Green School Field Trips, April through June - 10 am to 1:30 pm, Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Fleming Park, Kansas City - School groups, grades 1 to 5 will better understand their environment by participating in fun-filled outdoor programs at the Kemper Outdoor Eudcation Center. Teachers can design their own activity list from a menu of topics including soil conservation, recycling, habitat hikes, fishing, skins and bones, bird watching and mores. Groups up to 150 students can be accommodated - http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/parksandrec/Calendar.aspx
• Evaluating your Environmental Education Programs: A Workbook for Practitioners - This NAAEE publication walks you through how to design and conduct an evaluation of your programs. Case studies and examples, 45 figures and tables. http://naaee.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=437

Posted December 14, 2009

• Peter Sinclair's Climate Crock of the Week - OK, this is a little edgy for the K-12 classroom but these ~7 to 8 minute videos deal with climate change denier claims in a clear, funny, logical and evidence based way. There are videos on the hacked emails, the role of the sun, the medieval warm period, etc. etc. Sinclair's signature is to follow the denier claims back to the original publications and show how the data or statements were cherry-picked or don't show what the deniers claim. This link is to the hacked emails video http://www.grist.org/article/climate-denial-crock-of-the-weekclimate-crock-smacks-hack-attack/. If you search of Peter Sinclair on YouTube, you can find the others.
• US Environmental Legislation Timeline from Classroom Earth - timeline is linked to EPA informational pages on each piece of legislation. http://www.classroomearth.org/node/975
• Toxic Release Inventory Maps - Use these maps to find the hazardous waste generators in your area. Great for place-based secondary educators (this site is not appropriate for primary and middle school!) http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/main/index.jsp
• Play Matters: Best Practices in Play. In municipalities across America, engaged citizens and civic leaders are actively seeking innovative ways to improve the accessibility, quality, and quantity of play and play spaces for children. To help cities build awareness & political capital and develop a policy on play, KaBOOM! identified 12 relevant and innovative best practices in play. Learn how to become a Playful City USA. http://kaboom.org/help_save_play/playful_city_usa/best_practices_play
• Schoolyard Habitat Program - The Schoolyard Habitat program helps teachers and students create wildlife habitat on school grounds. Habitat is the collective term for the food, water, shelter and nursery areas that all wildlife needs to survive. The loss of habitat is one of the greatest threats facing wildlife today. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides and coordinates with other agencies to give technical assistance and project guidance; provides teacher training; develops written resources; and works with the state Departments of Education on incorporating habitat issues into new school construction and renovation projects. http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/schoolyd.html
• Eco-Schools Whole-School Initiative - Through school-based action teams of students, administrators, educators and community volunteers, Eco-Schools combines effective "green" management of the school grounds, facilities and the curriculum. Schools that are certified in the Eco-School program undergo a thorough application process and succeed in organizing and implementing a comprehensive assessment of their school. The Eco-Schools USA program is made up of seven steps, incorporating eight environmental pathways. http://www.nwf.org/ecoschools/index.cfm
• Will Steger Foundation K-12 Interdisciplinary Global Warming Curriculum - Global Warming 101 Lesson Plans for Grades 3–6: These five lesson plans are interdisciplinary in nature, standards-based, help students master the requisite background information on global climate change processes and how to communicate about the issue using communication strategies, and are free for download. Global Warming 101 Lesson Plans for Grades 6-12: These six interdisciplinary lesson plans were edited and approved by National Geographic Xpeditions and Union of Concerned Scientists, are standards-based, and help students master the requisite background information on global climate change processes, the importance of the Arctic to global climate, the potential effects of global warming in the Arctic, and consider what could/should be done in response. They link to exciting Global Warming 101 expeditions and are free for download. Global Warming 101 Expedition Supplements: View exciting educational video footage, audio footage, and written journal entries from Will Steger and partner expeditions to the Polar Regions, documenting the impact of global warming on the Arctic environment. Expeditions are linked to lesson plans for grades 3-12 and activities via the Educator Resources index. NEW! Citizen Climate Lesson Plans for Grades 9-12: These lesson plans build on the WSF’s original six lesson plans on the basics of global warming. The lessons emphasize civic engagement and helps teachers and students understand the critical and complex climate solutions being discussed on the national and international stage. Also, What Now?: Action Resources and a collection of hands-on activities linked to the Grades 3-12 Lesson Plans. http://willstegerfoundation.org/index.php/programs/k-12-education-program/educator-resource-binder

As of November 4, 2009

• Nature Unleashed - Untamed World of Missouri Ponds, Forests and Prairies (grades 3-5) - Teacher and Student Guides online now
• Growing Up WILD - Reaching Out to Early Childhood Educators - The Council for Environmental Education (CEE) has just launched its much anticipated new early childhood guide and training program, for connecting young children to nature called Growing Up WILD. Through a wide range of activities and experiences designed for children ages 3-7, Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about nature and lifelong social and academic skills. With activities written by educators and wildlife professionals and reviewed by experts in early childhood education, Growing Up WILD provides a consistent, tested, developmentally appropriate and attractive teaching tool for early childhood educators to encourage nature exploration, nature play, and scientific inquiry among young learners. Educators receive Growing Up WILD materials by participating in interactive, hands-on workshops that allow them to experience Growing Up WILD activities first-hand and discover how to connect young children to nature. Training information is available through your state’s Project WILD Coordinator found at http://www.projectwild.org/ProjectWILDCoordinators.htm.
• Classroom Earth Success Stories : How to reduce your carbon footprint and save your school $11,000 Doreen Petri teaches AP Environmental Science and Anatomy and Physiology at the Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy in Erie, Pa. Petri has translated classroom content into action through an energy initiative at her school. The initiative helps students understand the connection between their energy use and climate change and allows them to take a lead role taking actions that save the school energy and money on the electric bill.
• Project BudBurst - Fall has arrived - celebrate the change of seasons with Project BudBurst! Get outside with your students and have them make observations of seeds ripening, leaf color change, leaf drop, and other interesting changes. It's easy to participate and provides a great learning opportunity at any time of the year. The Project BudBurst team has a goal of reaching 5,000 phenophase observations this Fall and need your help!
• EPA Data Finder - EPA recently launched DataFinder, a single place to find EPA's data sources so people can better access and understand environmental information. Visit the site, suggest new content, and comment on its functionality. EPA also will use Data Finder to discover raw data that can be accessed via Data.gov, a federal site that helps people find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the federal government
• Conservation Case Studies Needed by November 18, 2009 - Audubon and EETAP are seeking additional examples of projects that have successfully used education to help solve conservation problems. We will highlight these case studies in a Conservation Education Toolkit designed to help conservation practitioners better integrate education as a key conservation strategy. Ideal case studies identify a specific biodiversity target; address threats to the target, focus on specific audience(s); focus on education, communication, outreach, and/or social marketing strategies to reach that audience; and include an evaluation component. Please click on link below by November 18, 2009, to submit a short screening questionnaire. We’ll follow up ASAP! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ALvBAsgp8ys1
• Homo Toxicus - New release from Bullfrog Films, it explores the link between toxic substances and increasing health problems, with interviews of industry scientists and independent researchers that shed light on the inconsistent standards used for evaluation and regulation of chemical agents. 88 and 52 minute versions on DVD. Appropriate for grades 10 and above according to the website. http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/homo.html
• 2009 Earth Science Week Toolkits Now Available- Earth Science week October 11-17, 2009, this toolkit enables students, educators and public to fully explore this year's theme "Understanding Climate". Includes a 12-month school-activity calendar and poster provided by the American Geological Institute and its member societies, and publications, reports and resources from USGS, NASA and NOAA http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials/
• Climate Protection Toolkit for Small Communities ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability has released a free resource to help communities with 25,000 people or fewer launch and maintain climate, energy, and sustainability initiatives.  ICLEI’s Small
  Communities Toolkit provides detailed resources, case studies, and insight to help small communities succeed despite limitations of staff and funding. The toolkit also helps smaller communities understand how to take advantage of their significant opportunities.  For example, in a small, close-knit community, a local government can more easily influence community members to make individual changes to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. With this toolkit in hand, small communities can become empowered to reach their goals.  To use the toolkit, go to www.icleiusa.org/action-center/learn-from-others/small-communities-toolkit .
• Toolkit to Enhance Middle School Students' Understanding of Climate Change The kit, "Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators," contains case studies and activities based on climate science, environmental education and stewardship information.  It is designed to educate and engage students to become stewards of wildlife and ecosystems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partnered with six other federal agencies in developing this new kit, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. More information on the toolkit is online at
  www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/CCWKit.html.
• Climate Crossroads - A research based framing guide for reaching those not yet engaged in climate change issues, from Earth Justice
• Poisoned Waters - DVD and 26 page educational booklet based on the PBS Frontline Program "Poisoned Waters" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/

Earlier Posts

• Top 10 EE Curricula in 2007
• Missouri specific curricula
• What you should know if you want to work with Classroom teachers

 

The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation - Top 10 EE Curricula in 2007

Name	Grade	Description	Cost	Where to find it
Child's Place in the Environment	K-6	6 guides integrating science, English-language arts and literature	$65 per guide, separate $50 to $300 for optional workshop	www.acornnaturalists.com
Audubon Adventures	3-6	classroom kit, wildlife, habitats, science, language arts	$35, self-guiding, no training required	www.audubon.org.educate/aa
Habitat Ecol. Learning Prgm	4-6	6 modules - how nature works, rain forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, temperate forests	~$60 - $100 per module, training optional	(800) 937-5131 (Bronx Zoo)
Habitats Nat. Scope Kit	K-8	wildlife habitats, stand alone or grouped activities, school or home	~$40 for kit, $10 modules, no training req.	http://www.nwf.org/ wildlifeuniversity/ curriculum.cfm
IEEIA	6-12	teaches students how to investigate and evaluate science-related issues	~$25 teachers edition, $13 student ed. training optional	(217) 356-8391
Living Lightly in the City and on the Planet	K-12	4 ee volumes covering environmental issues from a local level to a global level	$24 per guidebook	www.acornnaturalists.com
Project Learning Tree (PLT)	K-12	focus on forest, extensive, multi-layered curriculum	$30 max, training required	Missouri PLT
Project WET	K-12	focus on water, extensive, multi-layered curriculum	$50 max, training required
Project WILD	K-12	focus on wildlife, extensive, multi-layered curriculum	$30 max, training required	WILD
Windows on the Wild	5-8	modules on biodiversity basics, issues and debate	~$9 - $50 per module, no training required	www.acornnaturalists.com

Missouri specific curricula and resources

• Aquatic Resource Education
• Forestry Educational Resources
• Learning Outdoor Schools - hands-on, place-based, aligned with GLEs
• Mississippi River
• Field Trips and Career Awareness Project
• St. Louis DNR Office Outreach - hands on programs on macroinvertebrates, water cycle, pollution, wastewater for residents of Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Warren counties
• Missouri Envirothon - the envirothon is a national, hands on, problem solving competition for high school age students
  • State--Peggy Lemons, 573-893-5188 ext 3
  • Northwest&emdash;Travis Dinsdale, St. Joseph Area Office, 816-232-6555 ext. 6; Teona Harris, Clinton County Office, 816-539-3741 ext. 3
  • Kansas City--Bill Bohnert, Jackson County Office, 816-228-1161 ext. 3
  • Northeast--Lena Sharp, Monroe County Office, 660-327-4117 ext 3; Audrey Rayle, Lewis County Office, 573-767-5276 ext 3
  • St. Louis&emdash;Mary Burt/Theresa Dunlap, St. Charles County Office, 636-922-2833 ext. 3
  • Central&emdash; Linda Young, Cooper County Office, 660-882-6347 ext. 3;Tina Hovendick, Benton County Office, 660-547-2353 ext. 3
  • Southwest&emdash;Michelle Lee, Christian County Office, 417-581-2719 ext. 3; Fred Feldmann, 417-966-7289
  • Southeast-- Rachel Griffin, Ripley County Office, 573-996-3619 ext. 3; Wilma Carlyon, St. Francois County Office, 573-756-6488 ext. 3

What you should know if you want to work with Classroom teachers

Missouri ShowMe Standards - these are the general expectations of Missouri students. They set the overall goals for student learning, but are quite broad.

Missouri Grade Level Expectations or GLEs - these are what students are tested on in the Missouri Assessment Program or MAP. For many teachers and all administrators, student scores on the MAP are critically important because they are currently the only measure used to assess student progress for the No Child Left Behind act of 2001. The potential for a curriculum, field trip or activity to improve scores on the MAP are one of the first things a teacher would consider in determining whether to include something new in her or his lessons. Therefore, the more explicitly your material connects to the GLEs, the more likely a teacher is to use it.

No Child Left Behind is the federal law requiring all schools to demonstrate adequate yearly progress for all categories of students in school or district. Failure to demonstrate progress on standardized tests like the MAP may be cause for a school to be sanctioned, or even, if it fails to improve for a long period, be taken over or closed.

 

 

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