How has the level of carbon dioxide changed over recent years, and what is contributing it? Groups work together to research and present their findings in a creative way. Also built into the lesson plan is a visit to a sustainable house,...

Discuss wants and needs with your elementary ecologists and get them to consider what would happen to our natural resources if we all got everything that we want. Learners play a card sorting game and take an ecological footprint quiz on...

This is an exceptional series that you can use in an environmental or engineering unit. There are four lessons: "Sustainable Transportation," "Designing for Safety," "Changing the Landscape," and "Engaging in Policy." Each lesson...

Introduce youngsters to the term ecological footprint. Learners identify ways in which humans affect the environment. They look at the problems associated with the use of natural resources, and focus on ways to preserve natural...

You don't need to tip-toe around an enlightening resource. Young environmentalists learn about ecological footprints in the fourth lesson of 15. Answering a questionnaire helps them see how their own families and homes affect the...

You can lower your ecological footprint by recycling! Lesson four in this series of five has individuals, through the use of a computer, calculate their ecological footprints. Through discussions and analysis they determine how many...

Pre-assessments are great to help teachers determine what information their classes lack, what misconceptions they have, and how in depth to teach specific concepts. The first in a five-part series is a pre-assessment of middle...

Unplugging from technology for one day per week will decrease your carbon footprint—are you up to the challenge? Part two in a series of three allows individuals to explore their personal carbon footprints. By first taking a quiz at home...

After three eye-opening lessons about our environment, scholars revisit a 10-question survey, reflect on their new-found knowledge, and take action by writing to a representative or creating a public service announcement about climate...

Scholars become experts on the eight major impacts of climate change through a jigsaw and grand conversation. They then research and present what they learned about effects specific to their region.    

Sometimes, the best solution to a problem can be found by walking in someone else's shoes. Here, scholars use character cards to take on the roles of people around the world. They determine how their character's life affects our...

Scholars independently explore several websites to calculate their ecological footprint. Using their new found knowledge, they answer six short-answer questions and take part in a grand conversation with their peers about how our...

The total world population is predicted to pass 8 billion by 2025, which is less than 10 years from now. The video focuses on human population growth and the impact it has had and is having on our planet and other populations. It...

Roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty with this elementary and middle school compost activity. All you need is a large plastic container, a couple old newspapers, some organic waste, and a few hundred worms and you're ready...

Motivate young conservationists to stand up and make a change. After learning about the efforts in Cascade Nation Park to reduce carbon emissions in order to preserve the wilderness, students work in groups creating action plans for...

Here is a lesson plan that walks youth through an online carbon footprint calculator produced by the University of California, Berkeley. Once learners finish inputting information, they compete a worksheet with the results. This is...

Is there a correlation between a country's wealth and the extent of its ecological footprint? What exactly constitutes an ecological footprint, and how does one country stack up against the rest? This is a unique lesson to incorporate...

Carbon is essential to life; yet, too much carbon will stifle life here on Earth. Our planet hangs in a delicate balance and the increased greenhouse gases threaten to harm the environment. Now that we have recognized human contribution,...

Four Brits embark upon their own personal cycling tour in order to understand the carbon cycle and how we can live a low-carbon lifestyle. Local food is sought out along with other ways to reduce one's carbon footprint. Encourage your...

Students explore environmental issues by completing a food production class activity. For this carbon footprint lesson, students discuss the types of foods they eat, where they come from and what types of methods are used to transport...

Students examine their ecological footprint. In this technology based lesson plan, students calculate patterns of consumption and suggest ways to decrease their resource usage. This lesson plan includes several multi-media resources,...

Eighth graders discover their own ecological footprint and create a plan for reducing this figure. They extend this to the school and community to see how they are doing on this scale. They discuss the concept of the ecological...