DocsTeach
Environmental Case Study: Hetch Hetchy Valley
What is more important: building a new school or preserving a nature reserve? Keeping a natural area clean or providing clean drinking water to a city of millions? Young scholars weigh these questions—almost literally—using an...
Population Connection
Lessons From the Lorax
Is progress progressing too fast? So believes the Lorax, the eponymous character from Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. Young environmental science students read the book and debate the arguments of the Lorax and the Once-ler regarding the value of...
Curated OER
Ethics In The Science Classroom - Pine Barrens
Students explain the complexities of environmental decisions, rather than to recreate the actual circumstances and outcome of the original case. They simulate a real environmental case a regarding the Pine Barrens of Long Island, NY.
Curated OER
Environmental Awareness and Children's Literature
Use an alternative setting for pregnant teens and young mothers, as well as special education children to examine environmental topics through literature. Included in this unit is a visit to neighborhood libraries to select children's...
SF Environment
Sort and Color!
Sorting is a very important skill that can be used in math and even science. Learners get familiar with some environmentally friendly vocabulary terms as they practice separating objects that can be recycled from those that can't. They...
Carnegie Mellon University
Debate
Set your environmental studies class up to debate a current topic regarding your choice of six suggested statements about energy use in the United States. Teams read material that you have gathered and then form their arguments. The...
ReadWriteThink
Persuasive Essay: Environmental Issues
Young environmentalists learn how to craft a persuasive essay about an environmental issue they consider important. After studying the components of a persuasive essay and examining a student model, writers brainstorm possible topics and...
Curated OER
Exploring Three Categories of Human Induced Environmental Problems
By exploring the three categories of human-induced environmental problems students can gain a global perspective.
Wild BC
Climate Change Bingo
Here is a 20-box bingo card to use when exploring ways that humans impact the environment. Various environmentally aware activities are listed in the boxes, and learners circulate the room to find someone who practices the different...
Curated OER
The East Fork Project
Students identify possible sources of health risks, types of exposures, routes of exposure, and populations that could be affected after discussing water pollution and environmental health hazards. After discussion, students conduct a...
Curated OER
That's Monkey Business!
Celebrating National Zoo and Aquarium Month by engaging pupils in an animal research project.
Teach Engineering
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
A series on environmental engineering introduces the class to issues that environmental engineers work to solve. This first lesson focuses on air and land issues, and looks at ways to reduce pollution.
Curated OER
Big Dam Construction in India
This complete and full resource includes everything needed to conduct a instructional activity on the environmental impact of large dams in India. Background information, handouts, answer keys, and web links are all there to help you...
Curated OER
Impervious Surfaces
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students compose personal mission statements that express their personal beliefs about their responsibility to the environment.
Curated OER
Debate: "Indoor Air vs. Outdoor Air Pollution: Which Is the More Serious Threat to Public Health?"
Students work in teams to synthesize their air, asthma, air contamination, and environmental health knowledge as well as additional research to represent a particular point of view persuasively. They create a handout and presentatin...
Curated OER
I Won't Live in a Toxic World
High schoolers examine four separate environmental health issues using fish-bowl technique, and discuss roles of both government and citizens in maintaining a pollution-free environment.
Curated OER
Air Module Scenario (Exercises #1-5)
Students, after researching/analyzing the concept of environmental health to air quality, role-play the basic principals of epidemiology. They act out a specific scenario to generate questions, draft a research plan, and generate...
Curated OER
Why Eat Organic?
Ninth graders explore the concept of organic eating. In this environmental stewardship lesson, 9th graders compare and contrast organic foods with conventional foods and discuss the benefits of eating organic foods.
Curated OER
Now You Have It, Now You Don't
Sixth graders compare corn-based shipping peanuts to Styrofoam shipping peanuts. For this hands-on environmental awareness lesson, 6th graders try dissolving two different types of packing peanuts in water.
SF Environment
Waste-Less Lunch
Is it possible to have a waste-less lunch? Can your class become leaders in conservation? Discuss the importance of reducing waste during lunch time with a fun lesson that can be extended to everyday practices. First the class examines...
Just Health Action
Whose Backyard? Toxic Waste Management Meeting and Environmental Injustice
Toxic waste is a global problem. What to do with environmental hazards and where to put toxic waste is a global concern. To better understand current issues around toxic waste management and how current practices can lead to...
Curated OER
The Great School Clean-Up
Students clean up their school grounds. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students take part in cleaning their school area and reflect on the experience.
Curated OER
The Fact of Global Warming
Students investigate the harmful impact of global warming by reading news articles. In this environmental care lesson, students analyze an article about the Kyoto Protocol and its goal of saving our environment. Students investigate...
Curated OER
Water--Where Has It Gone?: Earth Day
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students consider the plight of water as they consider water use and distribution. Students listen to an excerpt from The Well and consider...