Sites for Teachers
Global Learning and Observations
to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)
GLOBE projects offers a worldwide network of students, teachers,
and scientists working together to study and understand the global
environment. Students and teachers from over 13,587 schools in
more than 100 countries are working with research scientists to
learn more about our planet. By participating in GLOBE, teachers
guide their students through daily, weekly, and seasonal environmental
observations, measuring variables such as air temperature and
precipitation. This is an excellent opportunity for K-12 teachers
to integrate computers and the World Wide Web into classroom activities.
Alliance to
Save Energy Educator Page
Great lesson plans for teaching about energy use and its effect
on climate change. Hands-on, multidisciplinary lesson plans
in the area of energy at the elementary, middle, and high school
levels. Green
Schools was
developed by the Alliance to Save Energy
and is a comprehensive program designed for K-12 schools. The
program creates energy awareness, enhances experiential learning,
and saves schools money on energy costs. Features specially
created for teachers include lesson plans, a bibliography
of resources, and comments from teachers currently using the
Green Schools curriculum. Check it out
US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Educational Resources The USGCRP maintains a list of links to educational sites focusing on global change information, including an extensive collection of lesson plan resources.
NEED
Energy backgrounders and teaching materials written for different
grade levels created by National Education Energy Development
Global
Warming: Early Warning Signs
A high school curriculum for teachers, through the Environmental
Defense Fund (U.S.)
Contains useful online education
resources.
NOW.
For Educators. Global Warming | PBS
Designed for social studies, debate, language
arts, government/ citizenship, and current events classes, grades
9-12
Global
Warming Unit
This teaching unit from LETSNet (Learning Exchange for Teachers
and Students through the Internet) consists of five lessons designed
for middle school and high school students.
Hot Times in
Alaska
The current scientific consensus is that the steady warming trend
seen in the global climate is caused by people. It is largely
a consequence of the emissions from fossil fuels that have been
burned in ever increasing quantities since the industrial revolution.
The effects of this warming trend — sea level rise, shifting
weather patterns, ecological change, and so on are showing up
first in the coldest environments, the polar and sub-polar regions.
This program will explore the extensive changes in the physical
and natural environments that are now becoming evident in Alaska,
and will take advantage of the many Alaska-based scientists
who have active research projects on warming trends and consequences. Teaching
guide
Teachers'
Guide on Climate Change and Global Warming
Teachers' Guide to High Quality Educational Materials on Climate
Change including lesson, Top Ten Things You Need to Know about
Global Warming
Global
Warming Project
In this project, students play the role of scientific advisors
to the heads of state. During the course of the activity students
must be able to explain the specific causes and proposed effects
of global warming and engage in debate to establish a mitigation
plan. The program requires the use of computers and WorldWatcher
software (download PC and Mac versions from web site). Recommended
for 7th-10th grades.
Energy
Policy: A Decision-Making Simulation
Students participate in a decision making simulation, where students
will serve as groups of advisors to the President (the teacher).
Downloadable lesson plans (grade 7-12) from the Forum for Global
Education.
Explorer:
Global Warming
A downloadable lesson plan complete with overhead masters for
students in grades 3-9. "This lesson plan covers the major
greenhouse gases, human activities that contribute to the change
of the Earth's atmosphere, and why there is a concern about climate
changes. Also addressed are strategies for dealing with potential
global warming and the major contributors to global warming. The
possible effect of a global warming on forests, agriculture, health,
wildlife, and the oceans are addressed."
Jiminy
Cricket's Environmentality Challenge
A free, fun, and exciting journey that can turn class work into
an adventure! By leading your students toward environmental education
in a fresh new way, you can motivate them while teaching concepts
from your regions' education Content Standards or Guidelines.
Green Teacher
A magazine by and for educators to enhance environmental and global
education across the curriculum at all grade levels.
Dr.
Art's Guide to Planet Earth
Book, performance, and online exhibit utilizing systems thinking
to increase understanding of how our planet works.
State Education
and Environment Roundtable
The State Education and Environment Roundtable works to improve
learning by incorporating environmental curricula into K-12 education.
California.
EnviroScape Features environmental tabletop educational models and tools demonstrating pollution and prevention.
Environmental Education
Center
A collection of fact sheets, brochures, curriculum activities,
projects, and more, for teaching students about the environment,
compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency. It has background
information, curriculum resources & activities, community
service projects, workshops & conferences, student jobs &
scholarships, grants, awards, contacts, and other links.
Curriculum & Activities.
EPA
NE: Websites for Global Climate Change: Environmental Education
NASA's
Earth Observing System page for Educators
Site includes Educational Links, Educational Publications from
the EOS program, NASA's Ask an Earth Scientist section, and explanations
of our program and the terminology used. The popular EOS Science
Poster Series can be found under Educational Publications.
Advanced
Supercomputing Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Tutorial
This
resource file was developed by NASA's Advanced Supercomputing
Division for both teachers and students interested in the
ozone layer. Stratospheric ozone depletion is a concern because
the ozone layer in the stratosphere keeps 95-99% of the suns
ultraviolet radiation from striking the earth.
Resource Listing
for Weather and Climate Instruction
This document is intended to assist those who teach weather and
climate at any level from pre-school through introductory college
level courses, by listing some of the available instructional
resources. Teachers will find information about resources from
the American Meteorological Society and Project Atmosphere including
the formation of the Atmospheric Education Resource Agent (AERA)
network, DataStreme, AAAS, the American Geological Institute,
and others, with information about audiovisual materials, computer
software, and data sources. www.nssl.noaa.gov/resources
National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Education Resources
Materials designed to be used in the classroom or as background
information on Weather, Climate Changes, Oceans & Coasts and
Satellites & Space. These items are designed for the teacher
to use in the classroom or as background reference material. CLIMATE
CHANGE
Climate Prediction Center
The Climate Prediction Center serves the public by assessing and
forecasting the impacts of short-term climate variability and
emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events.
Educational materials include information on the ENSO cycle, and
fact sheets and monographs.
Frequently
Asked Questions about Global Warming
This site can answer many questions about global warming,
including: What is the greenhouse effect, and is it affecting
our climate? Are greenhouse gases increasing? Is the climate warming?
Are El Niños related to Global Warming? Is the hydrological
cycle (evaporation and precipitation) changing? Is the atmospheric/oceanic
circulation changing? Is the climate becoming more variable or
extreme? How important are these changes in a longer-term context?
Is sea level rising? Can the observed changes be explained by
natural variability?
Office
of Global Programs Education and Outreach Products
NOAA
has the primary task within the Federal Government to routinely
provide climate forecasts and products to the nation and the Office
of Global Programs assists in this capacity by sponsoring focused
scientific research. This web site includes the “Reports
to the Nation on Our Changing Planet” publication series:
The Climate System, Our Ozone Shield, El Niño and Climate
El
Niño Theme Page
El Niño is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere
system in the Tropical Pacific Ocean having important consequences
for weather and climate around the globe. NOAA has primary responsibilities
for providing forecasts to the Nation, and a leadership role
in sponsoring El Niño observations and research. This
home page addresses some of the following topics: What is La
Niña?
What is El Niño?; The Impacts and Benefits of El Niño;
1997-1999 Information; Forecasts; List of impacts and prediction
benefits; and 3D Animation.
The
National Climatic Data Center
This web site is a pathway to connect with both national and global
climate data sets used by the government and the private sector.
A
Paleoclimatological Perspective On Global Warming
Paleoclimatology is the study of past climate. This web site features
information about global change, global warming and more from
the National Geophysical Data Center.
The Arctic
Theme Page
The education pages for this site include many educational
resources. For example, you can find information on tracking
the location of the North Magnetic Pole, what kind of research
is done by arctic submarines, the location of a virtual classroom,
how to understand latitude, and the page includes a polar climate
section for young children.
Weather and Climate Resources for Teachers
The Climate TimeLine Information Tool
Sun-Wise School
Program
EPA has developed
the SunWise School Program, a national education program for
grades K-8. SunWise Partner Schools sponsor classroom and school
wide activities that raise children's awareness of stratospheric
ozone depletion, UV radiation, and simple sun safety practices.
SunWise is a collaborative effort of schools, communities,
teachers, parents, health professionals, environmental groups,
meteorologists, educational organizations, and others. With
everyone's help, sun protection can grow beyond classrooms
to the entire community.
U. S. Geolgical Survey
Learning Web
The Learning Web offers lessons and activities relating to the
Changing world, Maps and Earth Hazards. There is also a USGS
Educational Materials list for more resources.
USGS
Learning Web: Changing World (Global Change)
A web site
with information on teaching about aspects of global change
to students from grades 4 through 6.
Global
Change
This teaching unit from the United States Geological
Survey is intended for students in grades 4-6, although some
activities can be used with older or younger students. The
unit consists of an introduction and many activities. Each
activity has background material, an experiment, suggestions
for further reading and extensions.
National
Safety Council's Environmental Health Center (Climate Change)
The National Safety Council's Environmental Health Center conducts
a variety of outreach and education activities on climate change.
Global
Systems Science Grades 9-12
"An interdisciplinary course for high school students (9-12)
that emphasizes how scientists from a wide variety of fields work
together to understand significant problems of global impact."
Including climate change, energy use, biodiversity and population.
A project of the Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley.
Earthguide
Earthguide
is an educational website with a focus on earth, environmental,
and oceanographic sciences, and global change. The site is intended
to be useful to K-12 teachers and students, as well as the general
public. The site includes stories that document research expeditions
by Scripps scientists, and makes available key diagrams, maps,
and images in earth and oceanographic sciences.
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Teacher Resource Section
NREL: Education Programs
Renewable
energy activities, curricula, online quizzes and resources
for teachers and students (K-12).
RIDEM/Educational
Resources Topics Page
North American Association of Environmental Education provides
resources for the student and classroom teacher on environmental
issues.
Energy
Quest
A service of the California Energy Commission, Energy Quest provides
energy education for children. A huge array of information and
activities on energy sorted by level of difficulty, as well as
resources for parents and teachers.
Energy Sourcebooks - Lesson
Plans Grades 1-12
Lesson plans and activities for elementary,
junior high, and high school students to explore alternative energy
sources.
Florida
Solar Energy Center (FSEC) - Teacher K-12 Resources
Online and downloadable resource materials for K-12 teachers.
Features Solar Matters, a hands-on, solar energy science unit
for 4-8th grade teachers and students, and Solar Wonders, an
energy science unit for high school teachers and students.
TeachEarth.com
A
portal to teaching resources for Earth science teachers, that
include: instructional materials, web-based classroom materials,
CD-ROMs, posters, fact sheets, workshops, fellowships and curriculum
development activities.
Environmental Literacy
Council
Site for K-12 teachers and students looking for international
and U.S. databases, research and policy papers, fact sheets,
lesson plans, and activities on the environment
EERE
Energy
Education and Training: Energy Lesson Plans
EnergyNet
Programs
available to schools across the nation, for grades 3-5 and 6-12
providing teachers with effective methods for meeting learning
standards and school improvement criteria. For information on
participating, go to the online order form.
Academy
of Energy
This website offers an information-rich, action-based journey
that provides valuable information, tests knowledge, enables access
to outstanding teaching and learning resources, and encourages
everyone to take action in terms of energy conservation.
The
K-12 Education site of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association.
This site provides resources and for teaching about energy,
transportion, and the environment.
Global Change and Environmental
Education Resources
A high school curriculum for teachers, through the Environmental
Defense Fund (U.S.)
Exploring
the Environment
The vision of the ETE online series is to promote science-literate
and reflective students who are knowledgeable of the earth's
processes and their responsibilities for stewardship. The problems
in the ETE modules and activities 
ask students to address human
activities and their impacts upon the environment. The modules
and activities incorporate environmental issues such as water
quality, deforestation, biodiversity, volcanoes, ozone depletion,
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is a federal information and referral center supporting polar and cryospheric research with information on snow cover, avalanches, glaciers, ice sheets, freshwater ice, sea ice, ground ice, permafrost, atmospheric ice, paleoglaciology, and ice cores. Though the data products are targeted for the science research community, education resources for teachers and students are available.
California Regional
Environmental Education Community
The California Regional Environmental Education Community (CREEC)
Network is an educational project whose mission is To develop
a communication network which provides educators with access
to High Quality environmental education resources to enhance
the environmental literacy of California Students. The
CREEC Network is one of the best sources for Environmental Education
resources in California.
Energy Ed Online is a service of the Energy Center of Wisconsin and is geared toward promoting energy education programs within Wisconsin schools. The site includes an online course for K-12 educators, Energy Eduction: Concepts and Practices, aimed at teaching energy definitions, natural laws of energy, energy flows, and related environmental issues.
Metropolitan
East Coast Assessment Education Module:
"Climate Change and a Global City"
The MEC Educator's
Pack is a package of GIS software, datasets and lesson plans designed
for educators who are interested in using GIS technology to explore
global climate change issues.
Global Energy
Perspective
An interdisciplinary module for Energy Education
-for middle school. The module uses the theme of global warming
thoughout lessons that focus on Science, Mathematics, Language
Arts, and Social Studies. Can be downloaded. Developed by the
Center for Energy and Environmental Education, University of Northern
Iowa. Grade Level: Middle School NPEEE
Review
Information
about a game "Global Change"
Educators can learn
how to host the Game in their community and become a Global Change
Game volunteer.
National
Energy Foundation
Creates and distributes instructional
materials relating to energy, conservation, the environment,
and natural resources.
Earth
Balloon, Inc.
Offering a K-12 enrichment program featuring
the Earth Balloon, an interactive environment through which
students learn about the planet.
Climate
Change Awareness and Action Education Kit
An excellent resource that embraces a critical-thinking approach
to climate change and uses a range of instructional methods to
involve students in the issue. Produced in a convenient binder
format, it allows ready access to lesson plans and to photocopy-ready
student materials.
Climate
Change Tool Kit: Teachers Guide
Thirteen fun, climate change
science activities designed for the classroom.Excellent hands-on
science experiments for the science classroom.
Climate Changes
Introduces students and teachers to the science of climate change
and the issues surrounding it. Illustrates how personal action can
have an impact. Includes strong science lessons, including grade
11 and 12 chemistry. http://www.insideeducation.ca/
Creating
a Climate of Change (Multi-media Kit) –
Secondary school teachers and students can make use of a multimedia
kit that addresses the basic concepts of global climate change
and the associated scientific, political, economic, social, national
and international issues. It helps students and their families
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using energy wisely.
Go for
Green (Guides/Materials)
The Active and Safe Routes to School program provides schools
with an action kit to help implement an active transportation
program that supports healthier students while reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
Quick Facts on Renewable Energy: It’s only Natural! (Kit)
Descriptions of renewable energy help teachers and students understand the various renewable energy sources and technologies with low GHG emissions.
Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions
to Climate Change (Book)
Stormy Weather provides an excellent overview of climate change,
the impacts and the solutions. Students will enjoy the clear and
lively style in which this book is written. It focuses on reducing
our use of fossil fuels and meeting our energy needs with cleaner
sources.
Teaching
About Climate Change: Cool Schools Tackle Global
Warming (Book)
More great hands-on activities
and information on climate change.
Way to Go! (Kit)
Way to Go! is a program to help students K-7 safely walk, cycle,
car pool or take transit to school. Active ways of getting to
school help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for
changing our climate.
Pembina
Offers teacher support workshop and also climate change action
and awareness kit.
Bringing
the Greehouse Effect Down to Earth
In this lab activity,
high school students compare the amount of Carbon Dioxide in
four different sources of gases.
[The]
Greenhouse Effect in a Jar
An elementary/junior high experiment that will serve as an introduction
to the greenhouse effect. Skills include observing and recording
data, use of a control, drawing conclusions from results, and
use of a model.
Re-Energy.ca
— A renewable energy education project kit
Site has do-it-yourself plans to construct working renewable energy
models. These models include a solar car, solar oven, wind turbine,
small-scale hydro generator and a biogas generator, all of which
produce usable energy. There are energy backgrounders, Web links
and other resources available on the site.
LivingWise
LivingWise focuses on educating young people on the importance
of conserving energy and water in their homes. It not only teaches
6th grade students how to save, but gives them the tools to start
today.
Bullfrog
Films
Films and videos about the environment, ecology, sustainable
development, indigenous people, cultural diversity, and science
and society for K-12.
EB Links
The site also provides secondary level educational activities
and many video
interviews with scientists about the carbon cycle, climate change,
...
Trash and
Climate Change Activity Book
This 11-page publication is designed to educate children about
the effects of product reuse and recycling on global climate change.
Through a series of word games, the publication describes how
children can prevent climate change by reducing solid waste.
Polar
Action Guide
Want to help protect the polar ice cap? Download
this PDF guide to find out what you and your family can do about
global arming's impact on the arctic.
Chemistry
and the Environment: Curriculum Materials on Environmental
Chemistry
Contains topical and interesting group of 26 activities that
emphasize the importance of chemistry to our environment. Divided
into three main themes: air quality, water quality and radon,
the book includes information on experiments, data interpretation
exercises and stimulus material that can support both field and
laboratory work. Each activity can be used as a stand-alone resource
or linked in with others in the same area. The activities provide
extra material for teachers on topics of fundamental importance
to environmental issues.
Curriculum
Guide to Confronting Climate Change in California
The guide is designed to complement the report and to make
its findings accessible to younger residents of the state.
The guide consists of multiple activities, which are closely
tied to and build upon the report. To make these student-centered
activities most useful to teachers, each activity is tied to
the content and skills standards required for grades 9-12 according
to the California Board of Education Standards for Science,
and History and Social Science. Although teaching materials
are geared towards students and teachers in grades 9-12, individual
exercises are adaptable to other grade levels.
Curriculum
Guide
TVA
Kids.com Teacher Resources K-12 Education Materials
Downloadable
energy education materials designed to enrich any science curriculum
and are graded for students at all levels.
Alliance
to Save Energy Lesson Plans
Hands-on, multidisciplinary lesson plans for K-12 teachers. Used
in the Green Schools project-a collaborative effort by teachers,
administrators, and facilities and maintenance staff which reduces
school energy costs at the same time it educates students. Downloadable
in pdf format.
Educational
Resources from CSS
Global Climate Change: Ozone Depletion 3. Energy Resources: Production
and Consumption.
Canadian Government — Resources for Teachers
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Presentations and Graphics
U.S. Global Change Research Program – Links to Educational Resources
Union of Concerned Scientists – Curriculum Guides
Union of Concerned Scientists – Global Warming Materials for Educators
New England Science Center Collaborative – Teaching Materials
Koshland Science Museum – Field Trips and Museum Visits
Global Science Systems – Student Books, Teacher Guides, Image Software
Center for Sustainable Systems – Educational Resources
