WEB SITES FOR EARTH DAY & ECOLOGY – April 22, 2006

Home Website Lists

Access these sites through your computer’s Internet connection. Open the underlined address (URL). Information can be printed or downloaded to your computer. Be sure to follow links to other sites and find your way back with the "Back" button. Also, we note where we found broken links in our sampling of links within a site. Teachers will need to replace these links with their own.

All of the sites listed were active as of March 7, 2006. The evaluation is by the AVA Center staff according to the amount of information given, the general appearance of the site and its potential use in the classroom. This list is also sent through email if you have a school email address. Let us know if you would like to be added to our mailing list.

PLANET PALS – EARTH DAY             A GATEWAY SITE A MUST!!
http://www.planetpals.com/earthday.html
A huge site on Earth Day. Sections: Planet Pals Pages, Eco Helpers, Earth day Learning, Earth Learning, World Peace, Fun for Kids, Parent/Teachers and more. Each section is packed with information and ideas for activities. An outstanding site. Excellent

ACCESS EXCELLENCE MYSTERY SPOT
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/mspot/
"Interactive, online scientific mysteries developed by Access Excellence for classroom use. The mysteries encourage student problem-solving and inquiry."
AE Mysteries: Two Forks, Idaho; Yellow Jackie; Angry Red Planet; Croak; River of Venom and Arctica (see below). Croak and River of Venom are especially good for Earth Day. Includes Teacher-Developed Mysteries. An outstanding site. Excellent

ACTION BIOSCIENCE
http://www.actionbioscience.org/
Promotes bioscience literacy by providing information on several issues in environmental sciences. Presents seven bioscience challenges. Sections: Biodiversity, Environment, Genomics, Biotechnology, Evolution, New Frontiers, Education and a section in Spanish. Click on Lesson Directory for a long list of lesson plans on these topics. Excellent Also in Lesson Plans section

ALL ABOUT ANIMALS AND INSECTS - LINKS
http://www.suelebeau.com/animals.htm
A page of links for elementary students on animals and insects. Excellent

ALL ABOUT ENERGY
http://www.suelebeau.com/energy.htm
A page of links to websites on energy and renewables. Suitable for elementary students. Excellent

ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
http://www.suelebeau.com/environment.htm
A page of links to websites on the environment. Suitable for elementary students. Excellent

ALL ABOUT THE RAINFOREST – LINKS
http://www.suelebeau.com/rainforest.htm
A page of links for elementary students on the rainforest. Excellent

ALL ALONG A RIVER             NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/28022/
A site for students by students on rivers and river ecosystems. Sections: Physical Aspects of Rivers, Case Studies and Rivers of the World. More detailed than it looks at first. Suitable for students in grades 5-8. Excellent

AMAZON INTERACTIVE
http://www.eduweb.com/amazon.html
This site has two sections. Geography of the Ecuadorian Amazon provides basic information on the rainforest in Ecuador including who lives there and how they make their living. Part two is an Ecotourism Simulation Game in which viewers play the role of Quicha Indians in a rainforest village who choose to develop an ecotourism project to add income and to help preserve the rainforest. Excellent

ARCTICA – AN ONLINE MYSTERY
http://www.accessexcellence.org/arc/
Students are challenged to solve the mystery of what happened to the stranded polar expedition Arctica in 1834. Three people use crew journals, diaries, tests, artifacts and more to solve the mystery. Can your students? Note: This was a competition in 1997 but all the elements remain for students to solve the mystery today. Excellent

BIOMES/ECOSYSTEMS LINKS
http://www.geocities.com/mddavis53/Ecosystems.html
A full page of links to sites on different biomes. Sections: General Sites, Desert, Tundra, Polar & Mountainous Regions, Rain Forest, Chaparral, Savanna & Grasslands, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Taiga, Fresh Water and Marine. Excellent

BRIDGE – OCEAN SCIENCES TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/
This is a huge resource for teachers on marine education and conservation. Contains lesson plans, activities, informative sections, contests, and much more. An outstanding site. Excellent.

BUILD-A-PRAIRIE – ON THE PRAIRIE             NEW URL!
http://www.rbff-education.org/cgi-bin/search/rbff.cgi?ID=981491855
An examination of the prairie habitat including the interactive game Build-a-Prairie. Also includes: Live from the Prairie, Field Guide to the Prairie, Curriculum Goodies, Experience the Prairie, and Researching the Prairie. Excellent

CENTER FOR IMPROVED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
http://www.k12science.org/index.html
CIESE sponsors and designs interdisciplinary projects that teachers throughout the world can use to enhance their curriculum through compelling use of the Internet. We focus on projects that utilize realtime data available from the Internet, and collaborative projects that utilize the Internet's potential to reach peers and experts around the world. Below is a catalog of projects that are currently being or have been sponsored by CIESE . Each project has a brief description and links to the National Science Standards and NCTM math standards it supports."
Current projects include: Down the Drain: How Much Water Do You Use?, The Global Water Sampling Project, Bucket Buddies, Take a Dip: The Water in Our Lives, Population Growth, Air Pollution: What’s the Solution?, and more. Check out the Teacher Materials for lesson plans. Outstanding. Excellent

CHILDREN OF THE EARTH UNITED
http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/
Information by and for children on the earth and the environment. Sections: Creative Kids, Amazing Animals, Powerful Plants, Native Wisdom, Eco-Careers, Earth Issues, Awesome Activities, Great Books, and Nature Programs. Includes several knowledge-testing games and a Teacher’s section with several classroom activities. Excellent

CONFLICT YELLOWSTONE WOLVES – PROJECT
http://www.powayschools.com/projects/mt&r/ConflictYellowstoneWolf.htm
A project in which students study the controversy surrounding the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park. Although the wolves were re-introduced to their natural habitat, the surrounding ranchers have sued to have them removed. Students must research the issue, take a position and write an editorial supporting their position. Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site. Excellent

CONGO GORILLA FOREST
http://www.gorilla.org/
"Welcome to the Wildlife Conservation Society's online tour of the amazing Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. This huge 6.5 acre African rain forest environment explains WHAT a rain forest is, HOW it works, WHICH animals make it their home, WHY it is threatened and HOW people can help save it. With more than 300 animals, including one of the largest breeding groups of lowland gorillas, it is the most spectacular exhibit ever created at the Bronx Zoo."
Excellent

CORAL REEFS – 42EXPLORE         NEW!
http://42explore.com/reef.htm
Basic information for elementary students on coral reefs. Includes activities and webquests. Excellent

THE CREATIVE CONNECTIONS PROJECT
http://www.ccph.com/index.html
Links schools through email and the Internet with schools in various regions around the world. Has all kinds of online adventures and projects. Outstanding. Excellent

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE – KIDS PLANET
http://www.kidsplanet.org/
Information for students on saving wildlife. Sections: Get the Facts, Teachers Table (includes Curriculum Units), Wild Games, Web of Life (online book), Worldwide Wolves, Defend It!, and Cool Stuff. Excellent

DRAGONFLY TV – LIVING THINGS             NEW!
http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/livingthings.html
Investigations and video clips for kids on a variety of living things and nature topics such as: Baby Animals, Dolphins, Colorblind Dogs, Horse Ears, Kelp Forest, Lizard Habitat and more. Each topics has an investigation with a video report on their findings. Also check out: Do It (experiments), Games and Riddles. For intermediate/junior students. Excellent

EARTH 911 – MAKING EVERY DAY EARTH DAY
http://www.earth911.org/master.asp
A huge site with information on recycling, hazardous wastes, air pollution, water quality, and more. Plus in your zip code for information on where to recycle or turn in hazardous wastes in your community. Outstanding. Excellent

EARTH DAY AT KID’S DOMAIN
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/
Includes: History; Adopt a Rainforest Animal; Games; Downloads; Earth Songs; Earth Day Activities; Stories; Coloring Pages; Word Searches; Crafts; Clip Art; Links and more. Excellent

EARTH DAY SONGS
http://www.preschooleducation.com/searth.shtml
Twenty-six songs for Earth Day for preschool and primary school students. Each includes new lyrics for familiar tunes. Excellent

EARTH DAY THEMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
http://www.childfun.com/themes/earth.shtml
A list of activities for K-6 grade children for Earth Day. Excellent

EARTH PULSE – CONSERVATION
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/
A site from National Geographic on conservation. Themes: Ocean, Climate, Energy, Fresh Water, Technology, Wild Lands, Population, Heroes, Humans & Habitat, Wild Species, Ecosystems, Virtual Worlds, News, Wildworld Sights & Sounds, and Earthpulse Expeditions. Excellent

THE EARTH’S BIRTHDAY PROJECT – EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT THE EARTH
http://www.earthsbirthday.org/
Student/teacher focused site celebrating the planet through hands-on projects. Includes: Celebrate!, Butterflies & Bugs, Big gift, Bug Shop, Zwibbles, Earth’s Birthday Card and more. Excellent

EARTHFORCE
http://www.green.org/
The main focus of the site is the protection of the local watershed. The site provides schools with the information necessary to conduct water testing of their own. In the process they develop life-long habits of active citizenship and environmental stewardship. Includes several programs and activities to get students involved in their local environment. Excellent

ECOLOGY.COM             NEW!
http://www.ecology.com/
News, articles, quotes, and more. Sections: News Links, Feature Stories, Origins of Life, Ecology Today, Earth at a Glance, Ecoscene, About Ecology, Links, Quotes, and InfoKiosk. Includes: Test Your EQ!, a Students’ Corner, and Ecology Radio. Excellent

ECO-PROS – ENVIRONMENT OF PLANET EARTH
http://www.eco-pros.com/
A huge site on environmental issues. Looks at the problems of disappearing habitat, ecosystem management, waste management, and much, much more. Scroll down for the large list of topics. Excellent

ECOSYSTEMS TEACHER RESOURCE KIT
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Biomes/systems.html
General information and lesson plans on ecosystems. Excellent

EEK! ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR KIDS
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/
Information and activities for kids on the environment. Sections: Nature Notes, Our Earth, Cool Stuff, Get a Job, The Riddler, and Teacher Pages. Excellent

THE ELECTRONIC NATURALIST
http://www.enaturalist.org/
"The Electronic Naturalist is a new on-line education program providing a weekly environmental education unit. Each unit has artwork, text, activities, additional web sites, plus online access to a professional naturalist. Two reading levels are available for grades K-3 (Quick Read) and 4-8 (Full Read)."
Click on Topics at the top for a list of the topics and activities. Excellent

EMERGENT WETLANDS
http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/land/wetland/emergent.html
Information for students on wetlands, the types of wetlands and activities about wetlands. Excellent

ENATURE.COM
http://www.enature.com/
Field guides on animals, insects, trees and more. Online field guides include: Amphibians, Birds, Butterflies, Fishes, Insects, Mammals, Native Plants, Reptiles, Seashells, Seashore Creatures, Spiders, Trees and Wildflowers. There are also Birding Tips, Ask an Expert, Threatened and Endangered (lists of species by region), Backyard Habitats and more. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIE.COM
http://www.endangeredspecie.com/
"EndangeredSpecie.com is dedicated to providing all the best endangered species information, links, books, and publications regarding rare and endangered species.  This site also includes information about conservation efforts and endangered species organizations that are dedicated to saving and preserving the world's most endangered wildlife and plant life."
Sections: Causes of Endangerment, Why Save Endangered Species?, Endangered Species in Your State, Ways You Can Help Endangered Species (note: not a request for donations), Interesting Endangered Species Facts, Endangered Species Profiles & Photo Gallery, Laws That Protect Endangered Species, Endangered Species Organizations, Books on Endangered Species. Endangered Species Case Studies, Kids Endangered Species Corner, and Teacher’s Endangered Species Page. Outstanding. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES FACTBOOK - A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005770/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on endangered and threatened species. Sections: Utilities, What, Profiles, Causes, Help! (What You Can Do), Interactivity, Media Gallery (photos) and Teacher’s World. The Teacher’s section includes classroom activities and the Interactivity section includes quizzes, crosswords and puzzles. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES FIELD TRIP
http://www.field-guides.com/sci/endanger/index.htm
An online field trip for middle school students on endangered species. "Although endangered species refers to both the plant and animal kingdoms, this field trip's focus is endangered animals. How many species have made their way onto the endangered species list and how many have completely disappeared in the past fifty years? What efforts are being made to protect animals and what can you do to help?" Teacher Resources includes links to related websites. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES – LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/endangsp.html
A list of links about endangered species. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES RESOURCES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB             NEW!
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/endangered.htm
Links to resources on endangered species for elementary students. Includes several categories. Includes a Teacher’s Resources section with links and lesson plans. Excellent

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY RENEWAL
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
A gateway site for the U.S. Department of Energy and its programs as well as different forms of energy. Click on Education under Topics for a huge number of classroom resources and lesson plans on energy. An outstanding site. Excellent

ENERGY – HEAT, LIGHT AND SOUND – LIST OF LINKS         NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/heatener.html
A list of links about energy. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

ENERGY QUEST
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
Huge energy site for students. Categories include: Games; Art Gallery; Saving Energy; The Energy Story; Devoured by the Dark; Energy Library; Find It Fast; How Things Work; Time Machine; Transportation Energy; Weekly Energy News; Ask Professor Questor; ; Super Scientists; Science Projects; Teachers and Parents Resources and more. An outstanding site. Excellent

THE ENERGY PLANET – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/C004471/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on energy. Sections include: Traditional Energy, Future Energy, Biographies, Experiments, How It Works, Cultures, and General. Each section includes multimedia with photos and video clips. Note: The Scroll Down English button does NOT work. Click on English in the list of languages at the bottom of the introductory screen. Excellent

THE ENVIROLINK NETWORK                     NEW!
http://www.envirolink.org/
A portal for an enormous number of environmental website links. With topics from Agriculture to Wildlife, this is a huge resource. Includes: Envirolink U.S. Atlas, News Headlines, and Anima Concerns. Excellent

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LINKS – CLASSROOM RESOURCES
http://eelink.net/classroomresources-directories.html
Large list of topics with environmental education resources and materials. Excellent

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE – LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/jcheek1/environ.htm
A list of links about the environment. Suitable for elementary students. Excellent

ENVIRONMENTAL SITES ON THE INTERNET
http://www.ima.kth.se/im/envsite/envsite.htm
A huge list of links to environmental sites on the Internet. In the left column, scroll down to the subject index. Definite worth checking out. Excellent

EXPLORE THE FANTASTIC FOREST
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forest/
An online interactive visit to a forest habitat. Very well done. Suitable for elementary students. Excellent

EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT – CORAL REEFS MODULE     NEW!
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/
A learning module for grades 7-12 on the environment of the coral reefs. Sections: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Coral Reefs, Remote Sensing, Situation and Spheres. Students use real data to solve problems. Excellent

5 TIGERS ADVENTURES
http://www.5tigers.org/Directory/adventures.htm
Information and fun activities on tigers. Students learn about the threat to tigers, design a tiger habitat, captive breeding, the tiger trade and more. Includes Teacher Resources with links and lesson plans. Excellent

FRANKLIN’S FORECAST
http://sln.fi.edu/weather/index.html
Build your own weather station, learn about weather technologies and check the weather anywhere. From the Franklin Institute. Sections: Hot Air Over Water, Make Your Own Weather Station, Weather Right Now, Weather Events, Radar, Lightning, Weather Satellites, Weather Activities, and Weather Hotlist. Excellent

FRESH WATER AND FRESH WATER RESOURCES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB           NEW!
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/water.htm
Links to resources on the water cycle and water resources for elementary students by category. Includes Teacher Resources with links to websites and lesson plans. Excellent

GEOGRAPHY ACTION!                     NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/
A National Geographic site for children on geography and the environment. The current theme is Migration: The Human Journey. Past themes were: Biodiversity, Conservation, Habitats, Population, Rivers and U.S. Public Lands. Includes a wealth of resources including articles and lesson plans. Excellent

GEOGRAPHY ACTION! HABITATS
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/habitats/
"Beginning just beyond the window, and extending past the boundaries of your town or city across the Earth's surface, an amazing variety of habitats awaits—along with the plants and animals that live in them. Start exploring them with our Introduction. Then, get to know your "home" by identifying which of these habitat types you live in or near: Cities and Suburbs - Deserts and Tundra - Forests -Fresh Water Oceans and Coasts - Prairies."
Includes Games, Photo Galleries and much more. The Teacher’s Section has lesson plans. Excellent

GEO-IMAGES PROJECT
http://www-geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages.html
Groups of geo-images you can interact with. Click on the image, when the cursor turns into a bulls-eye, move it slowly across the image to move up, down, right, left, pan around or zoom in and out. Includes California, the Southwest, the Northwest, the Arctic Circle, Morocco, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and New Guinea. Excellent

GETTING GREEN FIELD TRIP
http://www.field-guides.com/sci/green/index.htm
An online field trip for middle school students on ways humans can protect the Earth. "Getting Green is all about what we as humans can do to minimize our negative impact on our planet Earth. Our dirt is filled with life. The sun warms our vegetable garden, the rains feed our plants, our plants provide food and oxygen, and so it goes. Organisms in the soil break down the plants and provide nutrients, creating a rich soil in which they can grow. Did you know that in a handful of dirt, there are as many living micro-organisms as there are people on the planet?" The Teacher’s Resources includes related website links. Excellent

GF AWESOME                     NEW!
http://www.gfawesome.org./homepage_flash.html
The kids site from Global Forest. Hosts Maurice the Mountain Goat and Lu Lu the Lynx host a range of informative articles, nature photos, factoids, cool activities and more. Sections: Cool Articles, Mad Gallery, Crazy Activities, GF Research, Tree Guide, Challenge a Scientist and Scientists’ Answers. Outstanding. Excellent

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH EXPLORER                 NEW!
http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/
"At this Web site, you can explore scientific data relating to the atmosphere, the oceans, the areas covered by ice and snow, and the living organisms in all these domains. You’ll also get a sense of how scientists study natural phenomena—how researchers gather evidence, test theories, and come to conclusions."
Sections: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Biosphere, and Global Effects. Includes maps, graphs, glossary, questions about each section. Suitable for grades 7 and up. Excellent

GLOBAL WARMING – 42EXPLORE
http://www.42explore.com/globewrm.htm
Basic information plus activities and webquests on global warming. Excellent

THE GLOBAL WATER SAMPLING PROJECT                     NEW!
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/waterproj/index.shtml
"From March 27 until June 2, 2006, students will team up around the globe to test fresh water. Join us in this collaborative project, comparing the water quality of your local river, stream, lake or pond with other fresh water sources around the world. The focus of the project is: ● To assess the quality of water based on physical characteristics and chemical substances. ● To look for relationships and trends among the data collected by all project participants.
All students are welcome to participate, however, it is recommended for high school students (ages 14-18) due to the nature of the tests required for the project. There is no fee to participate, however, please read the "Project Instructions" area prior to registering for participation."
Includes classroom activities and lesson plans. Excellent

THE GREAT PLANT ESCAPE
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/
"My name is Bud. My good friend Sprout and I are helping Detective LePlant on his search. You will find that plants are an important part of your life. We will need your help to find clues, do experiments, and solve problems as we journey into the world of plants. He promises lots of fun, but remember, we're here to solve a mystery!"
There are six cases to solve. Each has a Case Brief, Facts, Mysteries and Activities. Excellent

HABITATS/BIOMES – ENCHANTED LEARNING
http://www.zoomschool.com/biomes/
Information for primary students on habitats. Provides a basic explanation of what constitutes a habitat. Click on each of the habitats in the colored blocks for printouts to color and information specific to each. Excellent

HABITATS/LANDFORMS – LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/habitats.html
A list of links about habitats and landforms. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

THE HEADBONE DERBY – ECOLOGY STRIKES BACK!
http://www.headbone.com/derby/eco/
An Internet research learning adventure. Uses the Internet to research the environment. Includes a Teacher’s Guide. Sections: Yamquats Ahoy!; Where the Vacuumoose Roam; Tree Huggin’ Flower Power; The Orca Smorgasbord; Solar So Good; Pollen Nation; and The Green Landfill Blues. Excellent

HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
http://www.epa.gov/highschool/index.htm
A portal to a huge amount of environmental information for high school students. Sections: Air, Waste & Recycling, Water, Conservation, Ecosystems, Your Neighborhood and Health & Safety. A huge amount of information. Excellent

IN SEARCH OF THE WAYS OF KNOWING TRAIL – A VIRTUAL TRIP THROUGH THE ITURI FOREST IN CENTRAL AFRICA
http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/pagegen/wok/index_f4.html
An animated game where you travel to central Africa to follow a trail through the Ituri Forest. Excellent

INVASIVE SPECIES – 42EXPLORE                 NEW!
http://www.42explore.com/invasive.htm
Basic information for students on invasive species. Includes activities and webquests. Excellent

IT’S ELECTRIFYING!
http://sln.fi.edu/qa99/spotlight3/index.html
An online exhibit from the Franklin Institute on electricity. Sections: Franklin’s Kite, Introduction to Electricity, Theater of Electricity, the World of Electronics for Children, Electricity and Magnetism, Electrified Ben, Beakman’s Electric Motor, and Lightning and Atmospheric Electricity Research. Excellent

JOURNEY NORTH – A GLOBAL STUDY OF WILDLIFE MIGRATION
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
"Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with classmates across North America. They track the coming of spring through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, bald eagles, robins, hummingbirds, manatees, whooping cranes--and other birds and mammals, the budding of plants, changing sunlight and other natural events. Find standards-based lesson plan, activities and information to help students make local observations and fit them into a global context. Widely considered a best-practices model for education, Journey North is the nation’s premiere "citizen science" project for children."
Click on Spring’s Journey North for lesson plans and activities. Outstanding. Excellent

KIDS CORNER – ELEMENTS
http://www.elements.nb.ca/kids/index.htm
Fun environmental activities such as Calculate Your Ecological Footprint, Forest Adventures and Which Future Would You Choose?. A bilingual site with all sections in both English and French. Excellent

KIDS STUFF – WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
http://www.worldwildlife.org/fun/kids.cfm
A page of links to information from the World Wildlife fund about endangered species. Sections include: Endangered Species Fact sheets, What’s Your Biodiversity IQ Quiz, U.S. Ecoregional Map, Sizing Up Species and more. Excellent

LAB CAR HANDS-ON EXPERIMENTS - CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES                 NEW URL!
http://www.kineticcity.com/lab/HCHO/hchoarchive.html
Hands-on activities and experiments for upper elementary/middle school students. For Earth Day, choose from: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Make Your Own Paper; As the World Turns: Create Your Own Ecosystem in a Bottle; Ah-choo!: Make a Pollen Catcher; Sun Power: Harness the Power of the Sun; Squirrel World: Observe the Natural Habits of Creatures at a Tree Near You; and Rot Race: Don’t Just Throw Away that Banana Peel, Let It Rot. Excellent

THE LIVING EDENS
http://www.pbs.org/edens/index.html
A PBS series on wilderness areas around the world and the ecosystems there. Currently, Glacier Bay in Alaska. Click on past Living Edens sites for additional areas including: Anamalai: India’s Elephant Mountain, Borneo: Island in the Clouds, Bhutan: The Last Shangri-La and others. Each examines the geography, the wildlife, the plants and the ecosystems. Click on Web Resources for links and Teacher Resources for a lesson plan.  Excellent

LIVING THINGS
http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/
Informational activities from the Franklin Institute. A gateway to information on the environment and man’s role. Sections: Individuals, Families, Neighborhoods, and The Circle of Life. Each section has a large number of links to other sites. Excellent

MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS- NPCA                  
http://www.npca.org/marine%5Fand%5Fcoastal/flash.html
Information on the different marine and coastal environments.  Sections: Coral Reefs: Rainforests of the Sea; Marine Wildlife: Meet the Creatures of the Deep; Beaches: Are We Loving Them to Death?; and Wetlands: Murky Swamps or Precious Ecosystems?.  Suitable for elementary to junior high grades.  Excellent

MARINE RESERVES: WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
http://www.jason.org/digital_labs/CINMS/
An online simulation from the JASON Project. "The sea around Anacapa Island is one of the most biologically rich and economically important areas of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park. Because Anacapa Island is close to mainland harbors, it is a very popular place to fish and dive. In this simulation, you have been asked to represent one of the stakeholders in a working group to establish new marine reserve areas near Anacapa. You must develop a plan that will satisfy the group you are representing yet be acceptable to the other groups’ representatives." Includes Teacher Background and Classroom Activities. Outstanding. Excellent

MISSION: BIOMES
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/
A project for grades 3-8 on biomes. "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different part of the world? What would the weather be like? What kinds of animals would you see? Which plants live there? By investigating these questions, you are learning about biomes. A biome is a community of plants and animals living together in a certain kind of climate. Scientists have classified regions of the world into different biomes. Here you can explore coniferous forests, temperate deciduous forests, deserts, grasslands, rainforests, shrublands, and tundra. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate biomes, then test your knowledge about the biomes by completing each mission." Excellent

THE NATURAL WORLD: ENVIRONMENT – ARTICLES AND INFORMATION FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/environment-index.html
Links to articles from the New York Times on the environment and environmental issues. Includes: Statistics, Videos, Diagrams, Maps, Issues in Depth, Special Sections and Web Resources. Excellent

NATURE.NET WATER RESOURCES
http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/
From the National Park Service, a look at ecosystems. Sections: Ecosystem Management & Restoration, Invasive Species Management, Integrated Pest Management, Migratory Birds, Threatened & Endangered Species, Wildlife Health & Disease and Wildlife Management. Click on the links (Air, Geology, Natural Sounds and Water) in the Nature & Science box on the left for a lot more information. Excellent

NEIGHBORHOODS: ECOSYSTEMS, BIOMES AND HABITATS
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habitat.html
Information on the different types of ecosystems from the Franklin Institute. Excellent

OBSERVING A CORAL REEF
http://www.eduweb.com/jason/index.html
A JASON project in which students study a coral reef using data recorded between 1993 and 1997 to determine changes. Students compare images from 1993 and 1997 to determine changes. Note: This ties in with other JASON projects. Excellent

OCEAN ADVENTURE – FROM DEEP SPACE TO DEEP SEA – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/18828/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean floor. Viewers join the scientists as they climb into the submersible Alvin for a trip to investigate the vents. Sections: Dive Briefing, Ethics, Research Tools, Mysteries, Meet the Scientists, Interactivities, Fauna, Forum, Geology, Glossary, and Significance. Note: The Classroom Activities downloaded without a problem this year. Excellent

OCEAN CONSERVANCY
http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home
Resource for teachers and students on marine conservation topics. Huge amount of information on the oceans, water pollution, marine wildlife and more. Note: We could not locate the lesson plans included in previous years. Excellent

ONE WORLD JOURNEYS - EXPEDITIONS
http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/expeditions/climate/
Photo-documentary expeditions around the world looking at different habitats and what is happening with them. Expeditions: Florida’s Springs: Protecting Nature’s Gems; Chimpanzees: Messengers of the Forest; Cougar: Spirit of the Americas; Mercury Rising: Bearing Witness to Climate Change; Salmon: Spirit of the Land and Sea; Palmyra Atoll: Rainforest of the Sea; Jaguar: Lord of the Mayan Jungle; The Sonoran Desert: 5000 Square Miles of Silence; and Georgia Revealed: Searching for the Soul of the Caucasus. Outstanding. Excellent

ONLINE METEOROLOGY GUIDES
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/home.rxml
"The Online Meteorology Guide is a collection of web-based instructional modules that use multimedia technology and the dynamic capabilities of the web. These resources incorporate text, colorful diagrams, animations, computer simulations, audio and video to introduce fundamental concepts in the atmospheric sciences. Selected pages link to (or will soon link to) relevant classroom activities and current weather products to reinforce topics discussed in the modules and allow the user to apply what has been learned to real-time weather data.
"
For high school classes. Sections: Light & Optics, Clouds & Precipitation, Forces & Winds, Air Masses & Fronts, Weather Forecasting, Severe Storms, Hurricanes, El Nińo (see separate entry in list), and Hydrologic Cycle. Note: See also ONLINE METEOROLOGY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. Excellent

THE ORINOCO RIVER
http://www.miamisci.org/orinoco/index.html
"The very first vision of the Orinoco awakens your desire to understand it. In fact, the mystery of the river has drawn explorers, researchers, adventurers and artists for hundreds of years. But what is the Orinoco? What secrets does it hide? What does it have to do with us? What threatens its health as an ecosystem, and how can we conserve this precious area?"
Sections: Water, Energy, Biodiversity, Explorers and Inhabitants. All but Inhabitants have a number of lesson plans. Excellent

PASSPORT TO THE RAINFOREST
http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest/intro.html
Explore the tropical rainforest guided by expert biologists. Sections: Geosystem (What are rainforests, etc.), Ecosystem (images and information on the flora and fauna), Researchers (Meet the scientists, study field journals, etc.), Interact (the classroom can interact with the field –Note: Doesn’t seem to be operating this year), Resources (multimedia guide to resources on the rainforest), and Educators (special section for teachers with lesson plans and a kit to order). Outstanding. Excellent

PESTWORLD
http://www.pestworldforkids.org/home.html
A site for kids on pests such as insects and rodents. Sections: Amazing Pests, Threats & Prevention, Learning Games, Send a Pestcard and For Teachers (includes lesson plans and classroom resources). Excellent

PLANET DIARY
http://www.phschool.com/science/planetdiary/index.html
A look at current natural or human-caused phenomena occurring around the world. Events include: volcanic eruptions, large fires, disease outbreaks, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, algae blooms, astronomical observations, flora, fauna, drought, oil spills and more. Updated weekly. Includes an archive so events can be tracked, satellite images and background information on each phenomena. Sections: Current Phenomena, Universal Measurements (time, location, maps), Phenomena Backgrounders, Calendar and a Guide to Planet Diary. Excellent

POLLUTION LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/pollute.html
A full page of links to sites dealing with pollution. Sections: Research/Informational Sites, Online Lesson Plans, Online Activities, Offline Lesson Plans, and Offline Activities. Excellent

POLLUTION TEACHER RESOURCE KIT
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Environ/pollute.html
Links, lesson plans and classroom activities on various forms of pollution. Sections: Air, Land, Noise and Water. Excellent

THE QUEST FOR LESS - A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/quest/index.htm
"
The Quest for Less provides hands-on lessons and activities, enrichment ideas, journal writing assignments, and other educational tools related to preventing and reducing trash. Each chapter includes one or more fact sheets providing background information on each topic. In addition, each chapter includes an index showing the grade ranges, subject areas, and skills used for each activity to help teachers select the appropriate activities."
For grades K-6. Excellent

RAIN FOREST FIELD TRIP
http://www.field-guides.com/sci/rainforest/index.htm
An online field trip for middle school students on the rainforest. "Rainforests have been around for millions of years, and yet in the very brief span of half a century, mankind has destroyed a huge portion of the world's rainforests. On a daily basis, acres and acres more disappear. This field trip takes a look at what a rainforest is and why it is an important ecosystem, the animals and peoples of the rainforest, what types of rainforests there are, and provides some ideas that students can do to actively participate in protecting the remaining rainforests." The Teacher’s Resources section has related website links. Excellent

RAIN FOREST – LIST OF LINKS             NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/rforest.html
A list of links about the rain forest. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

RAINFOREST ALLIANCE                 NEW!
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/index.cfm
"The mission of the Rainforest Alliance is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior."
Includes a variety of Alliance programs and news stories. Click on Education for a link to the Learning Site. Excellent

RAINFOREST HEROES: KIDS THE EARTH CAN COUNT ON
http://www.rainforestheroes.com/kidscorner/
A colorful site on what kids can do and are doing to save the Earth. Sections: Kid’s Action, Heroes Corner, Jungle Gym, About Rainforests, Protect-an-Acre and Teacher’s Lounge. You can view the video Forest Family Forever online or order it. Excellent

RECYCLE, REDUCE & REUSE – 42EXPLORE
http://www.42explore.com/recycle.htm
Basic information on recycling plus activities and webquests. Excellent

RECYCLING – LIST OF LINKS                 NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/recycle.html
A list of links about recycling. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites
and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

RIVERS OF LIFE
http://cgee.hamline.edu/rivers/index.htm
"
Rivers of Life is a full model for contextual learning; a flood of projects, adventures, and resources to help K-12 teachers and students learn about and from their watershed."
Sections: Mississippi Adventure, Watershed Atlas Project, Teacher Support, Students, Inquiry Projects, and River of Resources. "The Mississippi Adventure, a comprehensive study of the relationship between you and your watershed. Using the legendary Mississippi River as a model, you and your students will both learn about your watershed, and discover ways to protect the natural system around you. The Watershed Atlas Project, an interdisciplinary project that takes students out into their local watershed to gain an intimate knowledge of the place they call home." Excellent

SALT MARSHES FIELD TRIPS
http://www.field-guides.com/sci/salt/index.htm
An online field trip for middle school students on salt marshes. "Students will be introduced to the coastal environment through participation in a field study of the beach, dunes, estuary, and salt marsh habitats." The Teacher’s Resources section has related website links. Excellent

SCI4KIDS                         NEW!
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/
A fun site from the US Dept of Agriculture on science and the environment. "Sci4Kids is a series of stories about what scientists do here at the ARS. Geared to kids about 8 to 13 years old, it is produced by the ARS Information Staff in Beltsville, Maryland. We bet you'll agree that much of what our scientists do is not what you might expect.
You may be a student today but may already be on your way to a career in science or farming or computers. Or maybe you're curious about some of the strange creatures that share the planet with you. (Other than your brother or sister.)
Science is not something far away in a laboratory. It's wired right into your daily life--to the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the water you drink. Whatever your interest in science, we hope Sci4Kids will help you find out that it can be fun as well as informative."
Click on things in the picture to go to the sections. Includes: Environment, Soil, Plants, Animals, High Tech, Nutrition, Insects, Farming, Science Careers, Test Tubes, Weird Science, Small Towns, Cities, Transportation, Satellite, Water, The Suburbs, and Aquaculture. There’s also information on science projects. Suitable for grades 4 and up. Excellent

SHADES OF GREEN: EARTH’S FORESTS – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/17456/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on the world’s forests. Extensive information on Forest Types, Forest Life, Forest Importance, Forest Threats, Time, and more. Check out the Teacher’s Area for lesson plans. Excellent

SMOG CITY
http://www.smogcity.com/welcome.htm
"Smog City is an interactive air pollution simulator that shows how your choices, environmental factors, and land use contribute to air pollution. In Smog City you're in control so your visit can be a healthy or unhealthy experience depending on the decisions you make. You'll see how ground-level ozone, the biggest part of summertime smog, increases or decreases when you spend a day in Smog City. And since ozone can irritate respiratory systems, cause breathing difficulty, coughing, and chest pain, knowing how and why ozone forms and what you can do about it is important to the residents of Smog City and everyone else on the planet."
Excellent

THE SOLAR COOKING ARCHIVE
http://solarcooking.org/
Solar cooking is being used to save energy, especially in parts of the world where resources are scarce. This site shows how to cook using solar stoves, the different kinds and more. Sections: News, Plans (designs), Multimedia (photos, audio clips, slide show), Resources, Documents, and Discussion. Excellent

THE SONORAN DESERT: 5000 MILES OF SILENCE
http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/sonoran/index.html
"What our ancestors called a wasteland, we now know is the last great treasure in the continental United States-the blazing heart of the Sonoran desert, the lushest badland of them all. Now, on both sides of the U.S. and the Mexican border are activities designed to protect the Sonoran desert. The opportunity is simple: in an effort to save this area for generations to come, there is a proposal to create the Sonoran Desert National Park. It will be the greatest transnational biological reserve on earth, a park that can be a benchmark for all the nations. Our One World Journeys team is travelling this historic El Camino del Diablo to learn why there are efforts to preserve this area for generations to come. Join us."
Sections: Live Expedition, Eco-Gallery, Natural History, Sonoran History and Travel Facts. Excellent

TAIGA – LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/taiga.html
A list of links about the taiga. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

TEACHER RESOURCES – NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE      NEW!
http://www.nbii.gov/education/index.html
"This area of the NBII provides educators, parents, and students of all ages with access to online resources that emphasize the teaching of biology, biodiversity, and ecology.  Included are activities, lesson plans, experiments, projects, resources, and references for classroom and home use.  The goal of this area of the NBII is to assist teachers and parents in educating today's students and shaping the biologists, resource managers, and environmental stewards of tomorrow. "
Includes background information and links to lessons and activities. This is much larger site than it appears. Excellent

TEMPERATE FOREST BIOME FIELD TRIP
http://www.field-guides.com/sci/forest/index.htm
An online field guide for middle school students on temperate forest biomes. "Young children are in tune with their environment. They notice the seasonal changes occurring around them and studying the temperate forest biome or deciduous forest presents a meaningful way to engage them in a variety of cross curricular learning activities. The following areas can be explored through looking at the temperate forest biome:…" The Teacher’s Resources section has related website links. Excellent

TERRA
http://terra.nasa.gov/
"Terra," Latin for land, is the name of the
Earth Observing System (EOS) flagship satellite, launched on December 18, 1999. The mission began science operations in February 2000. Terra is a multi-national, multi-disciplinary satellite carrying a payload of five remote sensors that, together, are measuring comprehensively the state of Earth’s environment and ongoing changes in its climate system. The mission is a vital part of NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise, helping us understand and protect our home planet."
Sections: Just Add Water, The Incredible Glowing Algae, Squeezing Water from Rock, A Delicate Balance, Earth’s Carbon Metabolism, From Space to the Outback, Tracking Clouds, Satellites Distinguish Dust from Smoke, Satellites Aid Burned Area Rehabilitation, Prospecting From Orbit, and Measuring Earthshine. In addition there is a gallery of images at Visible Earth. Excellent

TRASH TO TREASURE – RECYCLING CRAFTS
http://craftsforkids.about.com/library/bltrashtr.htm
"Learn how you can creatively recycle baby food jars, paper bags, orphaned socks, and several other items. Enjoy this ever-growing list of great ideas for using the things you might normally throw away to create great craft projects, games, and more."
Uses throwaways such as oatmeal boxes, buttons, soda cans and more to make fun crafts. Excellent

TUNDRA– LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/tundra.html
A list of links about the tundra. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

U.S. EPA –ENVIRONMENTAL KIDS CLUB
http://www.epa.gov/kids/
Join the Club and learn a lot about the environment. Topics: Air, Water, You and Your Environment, Plants & Animals, and Garbage & Recycling. Includes Games, Activities, Information, Drawing and Coloring Pages, a Teacher’s Section and more. Excellent

U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE – KIDS CORNER
http://endangered.fws.gov/kids/index.html
Includes a slide show, activity sheets, quiz, suggested classroom activities, suggested lesson ideas, Species in the Spotlight and more. Excellent

VIRTUAL ANTARCTICA
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~kpt/terraquest/va/
For two weeks in 1995, the scientific ship Livonia traveled to Antarctica. Daily dispatches and live chats let users join the guests and crew as they explored. See it all on this site. Sections: Ship’s Log, Expeditions, Ecology, Science, History and Guidebook. Excellent

VIRTUAL REALITY PANORAMAS
http://www-geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages/QTVR/QTVR.html
QuickTime Virtual Reality images of California, the American Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, Mexico, and Pacific Islands. You interact by clicking on the image. When the cursor turns into a bulls-eye, move it slowly across the image to move up, down, right, left, pan around or zoom in and out. Excellent

VIRTUAL RIVER – ONLINE GEOLOGY LAB                 NEW!
http://vcourseware5.calstatela.edu/VirtualRiver/
"Welcome to VirtualRiver. Here you will find two interactive exercises designed to help you learn about river processes like discharge, flooding, and flood frequency. Each activity requires you to make careful observations and measurements, do simple calculations, and answer questions about your work. A "Certificate of Completion" will be available to you at the end of each activity."
Suitable for upper elementary and up. Excellent

WATCHING OVER THE WORLD – TIME FOR KIDS
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/story/0,6079,56763,00.html
"Who's the latest environmental hero? YOU! Check out your green ideas, real hometown heroes, poll questions and more all-new stuff!"
Includes: You Be the Hero (kids tell how they help the environment), Hometown Heroes (profiles of kids who are "heroes"), Ask a Hero, Tour of Heroes and more. Very colorful site. Excellent

WELCOME TO ECOKIDS ONLINE
http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/splash.cfm
Ecology info for kids. Sections: EcoSmarts, Events, Gallery, Games, Storybook, Archives, Educator’s Area, and Play the Frog Quiz. Includes new activities. A fun, colorful site with good info. Excellent

WELCOME TO RECYCLE CITY
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Visit Recycle City to see how the residents of the former Dumptown learned to recycle their waste and changed the town into Recycle City. Sections: See, Find, Learn, and Get a Clue. Includes Games, Activities, Graphics, and Facts. A fun, colorful site. Excellent

WETLANDS – 42EXPLORE
http://www.42explore.com/wetland.htm
Basic information on wetlands along with activities and webquests. Excellent

WETLANDS – LEARNING ABOUT WETLANDS
http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/land/wetland/
An elementary level page on wetlands with Things to Study and Things To Do. Excellent

WETLANDS– LIST OF LINKS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/wetlands.html
A list of links about wetlands. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

WHAT’S IT LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE?
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/
Learn about biomes and ecosystems. Biomes of the World: Rainforest, Tundra, Taiga, Desert, Temperate, Grasslands. Freshwater Ecosystems: Rivers & Streams, Ponds & Lakes, Wetlands. Saltwater Ecosystems: Shorelines, Temperate Oceans, Tropical Oceans. Note: We have the video series that goes with these websites.  Excellent

THE WHY FILES
http://news2.news.wisc.edu/whyfiles/find_it/index.html?get=s&w=3
A long list of WHY files on environmental topics such as: Air Pollution, Gas Hydrates, Beach Erosion, Global Warming, and Oceans Under Siege. Each contains a main article plus many have links to related topics. Excellent

ADVENTURE IN THE RAINFOREST
http://teach.fcps.net/trt4/rainforest.htm
Links to a large number of resources. Divided into Student Resources and Teacher Resources. Very Good`

AIR JUNK: SPECKS, FLECKS AND PARTICLES IN THE AIR
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/airjunk/index.html
A fun site for kids on making air particle detectors and the kinds of particles they will find. Very Good

AMAZONIA: DISCOVER THE HIDDEN PARADISE – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/28368/ingles/mapa.shtm?tqskip1=1
A student-created site that explores the History, Physical Geography, Human Geography, and Biological Geography of the Amazon including the major environmental issues such as oil extraction, drug trafficking, etc. Very Good

AMERICAN RIVERS – RESTORE, PROTECT, ENJOY
http://www.amrivers.org/
A river conservation site. Sections include: River Conservation, Resources, Take Action, and Newsroom. Click on the photo at the top for video clips about rivers and river restoration. Click on Resources, then River ABC’s for information and activities for kids. Also a River Curriculum for teachers. Very Good

THE ANIMAL DIVERSITY WEB
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/
Click on the animals for the animal class: Mammals, Fishes, Marine Animals, Echinoderms, Birds, and Amphibians. Each section discusses what makes each class unique and the many species and subspecies. Very Good

AQUARIUS – AMERICA’S INNERSPACE STATION             NEW!
http://www.uncw.edu/aquarius/
"Aquarius is an underwater laboratory and home to scientists for missions up to 10 days long, but to call Aquarius a home is like calling the space shuttle Discovery a mode of transportation. Aquarius is made to withstand the pressure of ocean depths to 120 feet deep. Presently, Aquarius is located in a sand patch adjacent to deep coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, at a depth of 63 feet. The laboratory is attached to a baseplate that positions the underwater habitat (underwater laboratories are also called habitats) about 13 feet off the bottom. This means that the working depth of those inside the laboratory is about 50 feet deep. Located inside the 81–ton, 43 x 20 x 16.5–foot underwater laboratory are all the comforts of home: six bunks, a shower and toilet, instant hot water, a microwave, trash compactor, and a refrigerator even air conditioning and computers linked back to shore by wireless telemetry! Using Aquarius as a base for research diving expeditions definitely has its advantages."
You can take a virtual tour, view the lab through a streaming webcam and follow along on missions. During missions, you see a Mission Summary, Aquanaut Profiles, Expedition Journals and Mission Pictures. The Teachers and Students section includes several lesson plans. Very Good

THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – A SPECIAL REPORT
http://arcticcircle.uconn.edu/ANWR/
Information about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the current debate about drilling for oil there. "What follows in this Special Report is a description of the Refuge and its future as seen by the conflicting parties in the controversy. The designers of ArcticCircle hope that the airing of these differing perspectives will assist the viewer in deciding what action should be taken in shaping the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - and by whom. At the conclusion of the Report, you will also have an opportunity to share your comments with other ArcticCircle members in an electronic forum. Finally, those wishing to become actively involved can contact one or more of the organizations listed in the concluding remarks." Sections: Natural Resources, The People, Oil Exploration, Controversy and Debate and Commentary. Very Good

BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITATS
http://www.nwf.org/habitats/
Sections: Backyard, Schoolyard, Workplace & Community. Provides action plans for creating a backyard or schoolyard wildlife habitat. Very Good

BAGHEERA – A WEBSITE FOR OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES
http://www.bagheera.com/
Enter Bagheera’s lair and get information on our endangered species. Sections: In the Wild (Vanishing, Extinct, Classroom Activities); Image Center; Resources (link to C.I.T.E.S. Species Database), and Endangered Species. Very Good

CAR-FREE CITIES
http://www.carfree.com/
A site that proposes that cars be banned from cities and cities redesigned. Sections: Introduction, Moving People, City Design, Topology, Moving Freight, Life in the City, Districts, Existing Cities, Morocco, Blocks, Objections, Carfree Places, and more. Very Good

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY RECYCLING
http://www.csr.org/Earth_Week/home.html
Sections: Hey Teachers, Games & Activities, Recycling Works, Stuff Gets Recycled, Blue Works, and Help Reduce Waste. Very Good

CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM – WATERS RESTORATION
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/index.cfm
Information on the Chesapeake Bay, its environmental and economic importance and ways people are working to keep it a healthy ecosystem. Sections: About the Bay, Animals & Plants, Habitats, Water Quality, Land & People, Watershed Profiles, Bay Pollution, and Bay Restoration. Very Good

CLIMATE ARK
http://www.climateark.org/
A search portal for information on climate change and renewable energy. Very Good

CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM
http://www.panda.org/climate/
A program of the World Wildlife Fund to track changes in the world’s climates. Sections: Climate Causes, Climate Impacts, and Climate Solutions. Very Good

CONGO GORILLA FOREST                 NEW!
http://www.congogorillaforest.com/congohome
"Welcome to the Wildlife Conservation Society's online tour of the amazing Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. This huge 6.5 acre African rain forest environment explains WHAT a rain forest is, HOW it works, WHICH animals make it their home, WHY it is threatened and HOW people can help save it. With more than 300 animals, including one of the largest breeding groups of lowland gorillas, it is the most spectacular exhibit ever created at the Bronx Zoo."
Sections: Introduction, Congo Virtual Tour, Meet the Congo Residents, Conservation Choices, Play a Congo Game and WCS Home Page. Very Good

CREATURE WORLD – KRATT’S CREATURES
http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/index.html
Colorful companion site to the TV series. Sections: Creature World (clickable globe), Creature Crazy, Don’t Go This Way, Creature Clubhouse, Episode Guide and Creature of the Week. Very Good

DLTK’S EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth.html
Earth Day fun for kindergarten students. Sections: About Earth Day (songs, poem), Earth Day Coloring Pages, Earth Day Crafts, Earth Day E-cards, Earth Day On-line Games, and The Water Cycle. Very Good

E PATROL
http://www.epatrol.org/
Student focused site with information on Endangered Alert, Energy Savers, Eco-Info, E-Patrol Quiz, and Screensaver. Very Good

EARTH DAY AT PRIMARY GAMES
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/earth_day/earthday.htm
Holiday fun for primary students. Includes coloring pages, games and more. Very Good

EARTH DAY ENERGY FAST
http://www.earthdayenergyfast.org/
A wealth of information on the ways we waste energy and affect the environment every day. Promotes "pulling the plug" on Earth Day to save resources. Sections: Take Action, Threats to Nature, Global Warming, Energy Facts & Insights, Environmental Resources, About Earth Day, and Links. Includes a Teacher’s section. Very Good

EARTH DAY NETWORK
http://www.earthday.net/
Includes: How To; Today’s Headlines; Grist Magazine; What Happened Around the World on Earth Day 2005; Earth Car-Free Day, Earth Day Events; and more. Includes an Earth Day and Schools section and a Teacher’s Corner. Very Good

EARTH FLOOR – BIOMES                     NEW!
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html
Students explore various biomes. Sections: Biomes, Biomes Summary, How to Read a Climograph, Arctic Tundra, Desert, Taiga, Tropical Rainforest and Tropical Savanna. Very Good

EARTH FROM ABOVE
http://home.fujifilm.com/efa/
A large collection of aerial photos from around the world. These are aerial photos of the landscape, villages, natural features such as rivers and oceans and much more. Sections: Surface Navigator, Motion Graphics (full themed multimedia presentations with soundtracks), Photo Index, Download Area, Information, Exhibition Guide. Very Good

EARTHWATER STENCILS – STORM DRAIN STENCILING                 NEW URL!
http://www.earthwater-stencils.com/
"Storm drain stenciling is an educational, interactive tool to engage people of all ages in community involvement for watershed pollution prevention. It is an action project for students and community involvement for adults."
The stencils let people know that the runoff from the drain goes directly into nearby streams, lakes or rivers. Has detailed instructions. Note: This site sells the stencils but you could make your own following their directions. Very Good

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT QUIZ
http://www.myfootprint.org/
How much of a "footprint" do you leave? You would think that one person wouldn’t be very much but multiply the resource and energy usage and the figures are shocking. A good discussion starter. Very Good

ECOSYSTEMS/BIOMES GAMES
http://members.aol.com/bowermanb/ecogames.html
A large collection of games on ecosystems. Very Good

EDUCATING FOR CONSERVATION: U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE                 NEW!
http://www.fws.gov/educators/
Sections: Conservation Library, Pictures, Training Courses, Maps, Video (videos to purchase), and FAQ. Very Good

EDUGREEN             NEW!
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/explore.htm
A site for elementary students with information, games, puzzles, fun facts, e-cards and more. Sections: Life on Earth, Forest, Energy, Water, Air Pollution, Climate Change, Biotechnology and Solid Waste. Activities: Play and Learn, Network, Surf. Very Good

EL NIŃO ONLINE METEOROLOGY GUIDE
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/eln/home.rxml
An online guide to El Nińo with 9 sections: Definitions, ’97-’98 Event, Upswelling, Non-El Nińo Years, El Nińo Events, Sea Surface Temperatures, Impacts on Weather, Economic Impacts, and Detection & Prediction. Very Good

ENDANGERED SPECIES OF THE NEXT MILLENNIUM – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/25014/english.index.shtml?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on endangered species. Sections: Introduction, What?, Why?, How?, Species Profiles, Media Gallery, and Facts & Quotes. The Media Gallery contains several video and sound clips from the San Diego Zoo. Very Good

ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY
http://ei.cornell.edu/
A website developed to help students conduct environmental science research. Each section discusses the topic and provides suggestions for further research. Very Good

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY             NEW!
http://www.eia-international.org/
"
Working undercover to expose international environmental crime -such as the illegal trade in wildlife, illegal logging and trade in timber species, and the world-wide trade in ozone depleting substances - EIA has directly brought about changes in international laws and the policies of governments, saving the lives of millions of rare and endangered animals and putting a stop to the devastating effects of environmental criminals." Sections: Species in Peril, Success Stories, Forests for the World, and Global Environment. Very Good

ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD
http://scorecard.org/
Get environmental maps for different issues such as air and water pollution. Enter your zip code to get an environmental scorecard for your local area. See what pollutants are being released into your community and who’s doing it. Very Good

EPA WATER – KIDS STUFF – NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/kids/
Kids stuff from the EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. Fun activities and games. Sections: Masterbug Theater (slideshow), What’s Wrong with This Picture? (puzzle), Darby Duck and the Aquatic Crusaders, Splash (game), Ground Water & Drinking Water Kids Page, Office of Water Kids Stuff and Links. Very Good

THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM             NEW!
http://www.nps.gov/ever/eco/
Information on the ecosystem of the Florida Everglades National Park. Sections: Everglades 101: Introduction to the Ecosystem, Everglades Habitats, Endangered Species, Animal Profiles, Geology, Florida Bay Interagency Science Center, A Park in Danger: Threats and Restoration Efforts, Fire Management, Research, Species Checklist and History. Very Good

EXPEDITION: ENDANGERED - EXPLORING A WORLD AT RISK
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered/index.html
An online exhibit of the American Museum of Natural History on endangered species. Use the Expedition Guide at the left to choose your expedition. Includes: Endangered Animals, Endangered Habitats, Glossary, Causes of Endangerment, and more. Very Good

FRANK POTTER’S SCIENCE GEMS – LIFE SCIENCE I
http://www.sciencegems.com/life.html#6
A long list of links to lesson plans and activities on life science for K-12 grades. Very Good

THE FUTURE: OUR PLANET IN 2050 – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/C008050/?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0322
A look at three current environmental issues, what is happening and what can be done. Sections: Depletion of the Ozone Layer, Antarctica & Global Warming, and Electric Cars. Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site. Very Good

GARBAGE: HOW CAN MY COMMUNITY REDUCE WASTE?
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/intro.html
A PBS site that focuses on the enormous problem of garbage and waste products that we need to dispose of and ways to reduce it. Sections: Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, Sewage, Global Efforts, The Future, and Related Resources. Very Good

GEOTHERMAL EDUCATION
http://geothermal.marin.org/
Geothermal energy is widely used in some parts of the world. This site explains geothermal energy and provides classroom resources for teaching about it. Sections: Geothermal Facts, Worldwide Data & Map, Geothermal Slideshow, Ask an Expert, More About Energy, More Hot Websites, and Classroom & Public Education Materials. Very Good

GEO-TOPICS – ENVIRONMENT
http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/ecosystem.html
A page of links to environmental topics and information on habitats. Very Good

GROUNDWATER BASICS – KIDS CORNER
http://www.groundwater.org/kc/kc.html
Groundwater basic information and activities for students and teachers. Includes games and puzzles. Very Good

GROUNDWATER: NATURE’S HIDDEN TREASURE
http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/info/pubs/FS/e_FSA5.htm
Information from Canada about groundwater. Note: Click on Topics (green button) for a large number of environmental topics. Very Good

HAPPY EARTH DAY COLORING AND ACTIVITY BOOK
http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.htm
An 11-page coloring and activity book to download and print out full of tips for making the Earth a better place. Very Good

HAWAII’S LIVING TREASURES – A THINKQUEST QUEST
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002491/
A site by students for students. Follow the junior park ranger Kalani as she searches for Hawaiian wildlife. Sections: Hawaii’s Living Treasures, Bird Watching Game, Beyond O’hia Valley, and Resources. Includes video clips. Very Good

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html
Looks at the types of air pollution and their causes. Includes Classroom Activities. Very Good

JUNGLE PHOTOS
http://www.junglephotos.com/
"Welcome to Jungle Photos! Here you can see hundreds of images of animals, plants, scenery and people from the Amazon rainforest in tropical South America. All photos have explanations, so scroll down to read about the image. Our mission is to provide the world with accurate information and excellent images to inspire people to support rainforest conservation and education."
Sections: Animals, Plants, Scenery, People, Towns and Lots More! Includes maps, satellite images and children’s artwork. Suitable for elementary students. Very Good

KIDS FOR SAVING EARTH
http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org/
Materials for kids on the environment. Includes lots of classroom activities to print out. Note: We were able to see and print several sections for free. There is a paid membership, also. Very Good

LIMNOLOGY – FACTS AND FUN (THE STUDY OF FRESH WATER RIVERS AND LAKES) – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/11548/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on limnology, the study of fresh water rivers and lakes. Sections: Guide to Limnology, Background, the Water Cycle, Types of Water, Catchment, Algae, Tests, Salinity, Practice, Case Study, Articles & Contacts and Results. Very Good

LIVING IN HARMONY WITH WETLANDS
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/wetlands/
Information on wetlands habitats. Sections: Where the Wetlands Are; Not All Wetlands Are Alike; Wetlands Are Busy Places; Plant Life, Wildlife and Endangered Species; Where You Can Learn More About Living with Wetlands; Fun Facts: Wet Meadows and Agriculture; and People, Wetlands and Wild Rice. Very Good

LOS ANGELES RIVER CONNECTION
http://www.lalc.k12.ca.us/target/units/river/riverweb.html
A tour of the entire 50+ miles of the Los Angeles River, from its headwaters in the San Fernando Valley to its mouth in Long Beach, California. There are twelve points along the photo tour. Additional topics include: Plants, Animals, Birds, Microorganisms, Water, Human Impact, Art, History and Organizations. Includes maps, background information and Lessons and Investigations. Very Good

THE MICROBE ZOO             NEW!
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/
A site on microbial ecology that discusses the role of microbes in the environment. Sections: Information, Dirt Land, Animal Pavilion, Snack Bar, Space Adventure, and Water World. Something different. Very Good

NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/index.cfm?&CFID=7205202&CFTOKEN=6757300
A gateway to environmental and science issues and information. Very Good

   

THE NATURE OF WATER
http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/nature/e_nature.htm
Information from Canada about water and aquatic resources and ecosystems. Sections: Aquatic Ecosystems, Groundwater, Lakes, Permafrost, Properties of Water, Rivers, Sediment, Snow & Ice, Water & Climate and Wetlands. Very Good

OZONE DEPLETION
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/
"
Welcome to EPA's ozone depletion web area! Within this area you'll find information about the science of ozone depletion, information about the regulatory approach to protecting the ozone layer, and information on alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, as well as information on a number of other topics."
Sections: Chemicals, Resource Center, Ozone Science, Rules & Regulations, Enforcement, Alternatives/SNAP, Montreal Protocol, and Fun Stuff. The Fun Stuff section has two crossword puzzles and activities for kids. Very Good

THE OZONE HOLE TOUR
http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/
A look at the depletion of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and, particularly, of the discovery of a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The tour takes viewers through the process from discovery to current readings. The site includes images and video clips. Very Good

PEOPLE AND PLANET                 NEW!
http://www.peopleandplanet.net/
"Welcome to the People & the Planet website. This provides a global gateway to the greatest issue of our time: the future health and wellbeing of the human family as it presses ever more heavily on the natural resources of our planet. Happy browsing in our 16 topic sections and Picture Gallery - and please send us your feedback"
Includes: Population Pressures, Food and Agriculture, Health and Pollution, Coasts and Oceans, Renewable Energy, Poverty and Trade, Climate Change, Green Industry, Eco Tourism, Biodiversity, Mountains, Forests, Water, Cities and Global Action. Includes a Factfile, Glossary and more. Very Good

POWERING A GENERATION OF CHANGE
http://americanhistory.si.edu/powering/
A Smithsonian project "to document the story of electrical power restructuring in North America as it unfolds over the coming years." Sections: Throw the Switch, Powering the Past, Understanding Deregulation, Deregulation Perspectives, Visions of Power and References & Links. Very Good

QUEST OF THE RING LEADERS – GAME
http://www.hi-cone.com/ringleader/quest/welcome.asp
An adventure game. Become a Ring Leader and travel to distant worlds that are destroying themselves. Use your powers to save them. Very Good

RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Environ/recycle.html
Information on recycling and composting and then lesson plans. Also in Lesson Plans section. Very Good

SCHOOLYARD ECOLOGY LEADERS HANDBOOK
http://www.ecostudies.org/syefest/
A printable handbook for teachers who want to develop an school-based ecology program. "many of the strategies and resources included here are useful for anyone who works with teachers to get their students doing inquiry-based ecology on the school grounds." Very Good

SOLUTIONS SITE FOR KIDS
http://www.solutions-site.org/kids/introduction.htm
The site looks at environmental issues and the solutions people are finding to specific problems and how these solutions can be applied elsewhere. Sections: Population, Health, Development, and the Environment. Also Learn and Do; Contests; and Talk. Very Good

SONGS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2400/
Promotes the use of songs and music in environmental education. Contains articles (including getting children started in writing their own songs), lesson plans and more. Click on Other Related Sites for links to lists of songs. Very Good

SQUIGLY’S EARTH DAY FUN
http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/Holidays/EarthDay.html
Coloring pages, Crafts, Pencil Puzzles, Postcards, Online Games & Activities and Vote. Very Good

A THOUSAND FRIENDS OF FROGS
http://cgee.hamline.edu/frogs/index.html
Information on frogs for teachers and students. Sections: Teachers, Students, Science and Resources. Includes classroom activities in the Resources section. Very Good
                                                                           

TIGER HOMES                 NEW!
http://www.tigerhomes.org/education.cfm
"Tigerhomes.org is a privately-run exotic animal sanctuary that strives to stimulate a global interest in wildlife conservation, education, and habitat protection via the Internet. We serve our goals by inviting our members, fans, teachers, students, and the general public directly into the naturalistic habitats and lives of the sanctuary resident Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Lemurs, and other rare and endangered animals." Includes several Animal Cams, Video Gallery, Photo Gallery, Education Center and more. The Video Gallery includes online video clips of the animals. Very Good

TROPICAL RAINFORESTS – ENCHANTED LEARNING
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/rainforest/
Information for primary students on rainforests. Provides a basic explanation. Click on animal printouts for coloring pages. Very Good

UNDERSEA AND OVERSEE
http://sln.fi.edu/oceans/index.html
Information from the Franklin Institute about the oceans and how to protect them. Sections: Understand the Oceans, Undersea Life, Classroom Resources, and Career Resources. The Classroom Resources section includes lesson plans. Very Good

VIRTUAL COURSEWARE – GLOBAL WARMING                 NEW!
http://vcourseware5.calstatela.edu/eec/GlobalWarming/
A web-based activity on global warming. Includes a section for Educators. Sections: Demonstrations, Energy Budget Model, Future Climate Change, and Tutorials. Note: You have to register your class to participate but it appears to be free. Very Good

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS
http://www.student.richmond.edu/%7Ecj9jf/biomes.htm
"Take your students on a virtual field trip using the Internet and all it has to offer to learn more about different environments throughout the world. The goal of this webquest is to help your students visually see some of the different environments and actually experience what they are like and what the different sounds/animals of each environment are."
Has a large number of links to get started. Very Good

THE VIRTUAL NUCLEAR TOURIST – NUCLEAR PLANTS AROUND THE WORLD
http://www.virtualnucleartourist.com/
Provides a "virtual tour" of nuclear power plants around the world with information on where they are, what kinds there are, how they operate and more. Includes photos. A very large site. Note: Some info is no longer available due to security concerns. Very Good

THE VIRTUAL RAINFOREST                     NEW URL!
http://www.msu.edu/~brechtjo/VRainforest/
Users "can choose between two online tours of the rainforest, filled with beautiful pictures and interesting facts. The Virtual Rainforest was designed for all ages, but with particular emphasis on teaching children about tropical rainforests". Viewers choose the regular tour in which you navigate with the mouse through a photo of a rainforest to other pages. The second tour is a slide show. Good for elementary classes. Very Good

THE WARMING OF THE EARTH – A BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE OF GLOBAL WARMING
http://www.whrc.org/globalwarming/warmingearth.htm
Information on global warming. Sections: The Greenhouse Effect, Scientific Evidence, The Culprits, Potential Outcome, What the Skeptics Don’t Tell You, the Kyoto Protocol and References. From the Woods Hole Research Center. Very Good

THE WATER CYCLE                 NEW!
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html
A printable diagram of the water cycle. Available in several languages. Click on the sections of the diagram online for links to detailed information on each section ie, Condensation, Spring, etc. Very Good

WATER SCIENCE FOR SCHOOLS
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/index.html
"Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science for Schools web site! We offer information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge."
Topics include: Earth’s Water, Water Basics, Water-use Information, Water Q&A, Activity Center, Picture Gallery, Glossary of Water Terms, and more. Very Good

THE WATERSHED GAME             NEW URL!
http://www.bellmuseum.org/distancelearning/watershed/watershed2.html
"Welcome, ……….. , to the Watershed Game! There are two levels in this game: Novice and Intermediate. The novice level is for third and fourth graders, or anyone who isn't sure what a watershed is. You don't have to start with the novice level, but it'll give you a good introduction to the ideas in the intermediate level. And you can jump into the intermediate level anytime you like—just click on one of the pictures on the left to start making decisions about your watershed! In the intermediate level, you'll be in charge of your watershed, making decisions about recreation, agriculture, transportation, and many more things. Can you make the right choices to ensure a healthy watershed?"
Very Good

WEALTH OF THE RAINFOREST
http://rain-tree.com/index.html
Information from Raintree, Inc. on the wealth of resources in the rainforest that can be used responsibly. Includes a great deal of information on the medical benefits of rainforest plants. Sections: Rainforest Plant Database; Rainforest Information, Facts, & Preservation; Help with Rainforest School Reports; A Gallery of Rainforest Pictures; links and more. The photo gallery is outstanding. Very Good

WELCOME TO THE WETLANDS
http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/grade5/wetlands/page1.htm
Basic information on the types of wetlands. Sections: Wetlands of Alberta (Canada), Wetlands of the World, Wetland Animals, Types of Wetlands, Food Chains, Wetland Worries, and Links. Note: Some of the links were broken. Very Good

WETLAND WATCH                 NEW!
http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/scizone/e3/wetland/default.asp
Check out the webcam on the wetlands at the Ontario Science Center. Includes video clips of past cam shots. Play Croaker Concentration to match up the frog sounds. Also, play Secrets of the Marsh a game about food webs. Very Good

THE WILD HABITAT – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/11234/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on different habitats. Sections: Polar and Mountainous Regions; Savanna and Grasslands; Tropical Rainforest; and Woodland Areas. Each briefly discusses the habitat and the animals found there. Click on Fun and Games for games and animal quizzes. Very good for elementary students. Very Good

THE WILD ONES
http://www.thewildones.org/
Information for kids on the work of the Wildlife Trust. They learn about endangered animals and the people who work to protect them. Sections: Bioscapes, Sense of Place, Wildlife, Humans, and Curriculum. The Curriculum section includes lesson plans and other resources. Very Good

ALFY’S PICKS FOR EARTH DAY                 NEW!
http://www.alfy.com/teachers/teach/thematic_units/Earth_Day/Earth_Day_1.asp
Eight links for Earth Day for elementary students. Good

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
http://www.cc.utah.edu/~ptt25660/tran.html
Information on finding and developing alternative energy sources. Sections: Solar, Wind Power, Geothermal, Tides, Hydroelectric and Reference Page. Basic information for elementary students. Good

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY – NOVEMBER 15, 2005
http://www.americarecyclesday.org/home.html
Information about America Recycles Day which is November 15th. Includes basic information on why and what we recycle and ideas for participation. Note: Hasn’t yet been updated for 2006. Good

AMERICA’S PRIVATE LAND – A GEOGRAPHY OF HOPE
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/pub/GHopeHit.html
"Explore the State of Our Land! America's Private Land, A Geography of Hope tells the story of America's private, non-urban land. Private land is America's working land. It produces food and fiber, and much, much more: It also produces clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, healthy and productive soil, and scenic landscapes. But this story is more than a national report card on the state of our Nation's natural resources; it will help the reader learn to think about land (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) in a different way. A Geography of Hope is a call to action, a call to renew our national commitment to America's private land and private landowners. The Nation will never achieve its goals for conservation and environmental quality if farmers and ranchers and all other private landowners are not engaged in a cooperative effort to use the land according to its capabilities. You'll get the facts and figures on natural resources from A Geography of Hope, all woven into a framework of land stewardship and a vision for natural resource management in the 21st century."
A government publication you can download (free) or order (fee). Good

ARCTIC POLAR PAIRS – GAME
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/game/
A matching game in which you match up the animals as you learn about their habits and habitats. Then click on the Arctic Wildlife Portfolio to learn more. Good

ASK THE ANSWER WORM!
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/squirm/skworm.html
"Ask the Answer Worm! It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it--S.K.Worm, the official annelid, or worm, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service answers students’ questions about soil. Even their teachers can’t wiggle their way out of this one! Slither your way through these soiled questions and earn a very special diploma. You might even get hooked on Soil!"
Good

AUNTIE POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COLORING BOOKS
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/colauntie.htm
Twenty-four coloring pages to download and print to color, all on environmental topics. Good

BACKYARD CONSERVATION TIP SHEETS                 NEW URL!
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/
Tip sheets on topics such as composting, mulching, water conservation and more. Online and printable PDF files. Good

BIODIVERSITY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/19980901.html
A crossword puzzle from the New York Times on biodiversity. Good

BIO-TECH LIFE SCIENCE DICTIONARY
http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/search/dict-search.html
A dictionary of life science terms. Good

BIOMES AND ECOZONES – A RESEARCH GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
http://www.aresearchguide.com/biomes.html
A page of links to websites about biomes and ecosystems. Good

BIOMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/20000402.html
A crossword puzzle from the New York Times on biomes. Good

BURNING ISSUES – AIR POLLUTION
http://www.webcom.com/~bi/
Extensive information on the health issues of wood smoke and other fine particulates in the air. Includes fact sheets, tables and more. Good

CARE FOR THE WILD
http://www.careforthewild.org/
An organization dedicated to saving wildlife from poaching and habitat destruction. Children can adopt an animal or send in drawings of the animals shown on the site. Includes animal fact sheets. Good

CAUGHT IN THE WEB: STOP WILDLIFE TRADE ON THE INTERNET             NEW!
http://www.caughtintheweb.co.uk/site/c.omL4KkN2LtH/b.951745/k.736C/Caught_in_the_Web__Home.htm
Information for students on the trade of wildlife through the Internet. "The Internet is increasingly being used to buy and sell wildlife on a vast scale. This trade in live animals and parts of endangered species is causing untold suffering to millions of exotic animals traded as "pets" and pushing endangered species closer to extinction. Much of the global wildlife trade is illegal and those involved risk heavy penalties and prison sentences." Includes readings and more. Good

CAVE BIOTA WEBUMENTARY                 NEW!
http://www.cavebiota.com/
A collection of video clips on lifeforms in caves such as bats, millipedes, fish and more. Good

CHANGES IN THE ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET                 NEW URL!
http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/antarctica/ice.html
"The Antarctic ice sheet changes in size over the course of a year, as you can see in this animation. When it is summer in the southern hemisphere (our winter) the ice sheet decreases in size. As the ice sheet melts it releases fresh water into the ocean. In the southern winter (our summer) the ice refreezes, drawing fresh water out of the surrounding ocean, leaving the salt behind. These seasonal changes in the ice sheet can be examined by satellite imagery. NOAA keeps track of what the ice cover is on a daily basis in Antarctica."
Good

COMPOSTING FOR KIDS
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html
A slide show for elementary students on composting. Good

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL             NEW!
http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/
An international organization with a wide range of conservation projects. Good

THE CYBERZOO: BIOMES             NEW!
http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/biome.html
A student-created site that places animals in the context of their biome – a cyber zoo. Sections available: Biomes, History, Forum, Global, Animal List and Animal Movies. The Animal Movies section has video clips of animals such as geese, turkeys, bears, birds and more. Suitable for grades 4 and up. Good

DEATH OF THE DREAM – FARMHOUSES IN THE HEARTLAND             NEW!
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/farmhouses/
A companion site to the PBS program. Sections: The Film and More, Homes on the Prairie, Literary Connection, Virtual Farmhouse, A Sustainable Future and Resources. Good

DELAWARE RIVERKEEPER NETWORK
http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/index.html
Information on the Delaware Riverkeeper Network which is dedicated to preserving and protecting the Delaware River watershed. Find out what’s happening locally. Good

DINO PAL TIPS TO SAVE THE EARTH
http://members.aol.com/kidz4peace/dinopals/earthday.htm
A page with six simple tips to save energy such as turning off lights and planting a tree. A worksheet for primary students. Good

DISCOVER CANADA’S WETLANDS
http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/wetlands/wetlandframes.htm
An online book with photos on all aspects of wetlands. Most locations in Canada. Good

EARTH DAY 2006 – UPDATED FOR 2006
http://earthday.envirolink.org/
Includes the history of Earth Day and suggestions for Earth Day events. Good

EARTH DAY 2006                 NEW!
http://www.earthsite.org/
Information on the origin of Earth Day. Includes: Earth Charter, Earth Day, Earth Magna Charta, The 77 Theses, Earth Day Founder and more. Good

EARTH DAY GROCERIES
http://www.earthdaybags.org/
"The Earth Day Groceries Project is a cost-free environmental awareness project in which students decorate paper grocery bags with environmental messages for Earth Day."
Good

EARTH DAY ON YOUR BLOCK
http://www.allspecies.org/neigh/block.htm
Detailed instructions on planning and organizing an Earth Day block party and neighborhood cleanup/beautification project. Includes ideas such as picking up trash, planting a garden, a pet parade, a compost demonstration and more. Can be adapted to a school environment. Good

EARTHSAVERS WATER CONSERVATION TIPS FOR KIDS
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,22-5860,00.html
A brief list of tips for water conservation for kids. Good

EARTHTRUST- WILDLIFE CONSERVATION WORLDWIDE
http://www.earthtrust.org/
Site for an organization with wildlife conservation and protection programs, mostly focused on dolphins and marine life. Good

EARTHWORKS                 NEW!
http://www.earthworks-jobs.com/
"Jobs in energy, oil, mining, geoscience, seismology, geodesy, earth system science, environmental science, remediation, contaminated land, agriculture, forestry, ecology, plant science, meteorology, atmospheric science, oceanography, marine science, hydrology, hydrogeology, soil science, remote sensing, GIS, geomatics, geotechnical / civil engineering, asbestos surveying, EIA, EMS, waste management and related subjects"
This site has job postings and jobs wanted. Shows students the wide range of jobs available. Good

ECO-EARTH.INFO – THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PORTAL             NEW!
http://www.ecoearth.info/
A portal to a large number of links to websites on the environment and environmental issues. Also various news articles, discussion forums, blogs, and more. Good

ECONET             NEW!
http://www.owc.org.mn/econet/html/home.htm
Sections: Population, Competition, Symbios, Cycles, Biomes and more. Each section has several subsections with information. Includes Links. Good

ECOPHOTOGRAPHY                 NEW URL!
http://www.ecophotography.com/
An online gallery of nature photos from Jerry and Marcy Monkman. Focuses on New England. Photos. Good

ECOREGIONS – SIERRA CLUB
http://www.sierraclub.org/ecoregions/
Information on the ecoregions as divided by the Sierra Club. Each section talks about the ecosystems and the problems facing them. Good

ECOSYSTEMS/BIOMES
http://members.aol.com/bowermanb/ecosystems.html
A page of links to websites on ecosystems and biomes. Good

ECOSYSTEMS/BIOMES GAMES
http://www.quia.com/jg/515.html
Four word games on ecosystems and biomes. Matching, Concentration, Flashcards, and Word Search. Good

EL NIŃO AND LA NIŃA – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow5/feb99/index.html
An examination of the ocean events termed El Nińo and El Nińa. A student-created site. Good

ENDANGERED OR EXTINCT
http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/enexpg.htm
A list of endangered or extinct animals, each with an illustration and specifics. Good

ENDANGERED SPECIES COLORING BOOK
http://www.epa.gov/espp/coloring/index.htm
A printable coloring book for kids on endangered species. "This picture book will introduce you to 21 endangered and threatened plants and animals found in the United States. Print the pages and use your crayons to bring to life oceans, swamps, deserts, islands and a variety of plants and animals. If we all work together, we can continue to share the earth with these fascinating and important species and enjoy them in the wild -- not only in the pages of books." Good

ENDANGERED SPECIES CROSSWORD PUZZLE
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/20000802.html
A crossword puzzle from the New York Times on endangered species. Good

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT – LINKS
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/energy.html
A page of links to websites on energy and the environment. Good

ENERGY CONSERVATION
http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/GuidedTours/Energy/EnergyConservation.html
Activities for primary students on energy conservation. Good

ENERGY CONSERVATION GAME
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/em526/popupActivity.html
A brief matching game in which students match items to their energy saving equals. Good

ENVIRONMENT CANADA
http://www.ec.gc.ca/environment_e.html
Links to a long list of environmental topics. Note that a lot of the links are specifically Canadian but many cover North America and general information. Good

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON ENDANGERED ANIMALS                 NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/2878/
A site for students by students on endangered animals. "This page has been designed to increase the awareness of the effects that our actions have on the animal life around us by supplying specific information on endangered animals. We have chosen to first focus on forty endangered animals in California and Texas. However, the problems are not limited to those two states and the same ideas can be applied to plant and animal life worldwide." Sections: Search for Animal, State Listings, State & Federal Info, Add an Animal, The Animal Game and Other Links. Good

ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY COUNCIL             NEW!
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/
"The Environmental Literacy Council is dedicated to helping citizens, especially young people, participate wisely in this arena. An independent, non-profit organization, the Council gives teachers the tools to help students develop environmental literacy: a fundamental understanding of the systems of the world, both living and non-living, along with the analytical skills needed to weigh scientific evidence and policy choices."
Sections: Air & Climate, Land, Water, Ecosystems, Energy, Food, and Environment & Society. Each section includes relevant links. Good

E-SPECIES FACT SHEETS
http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html
Fact sheets on animals by continent. Good

ESTUARIES – CHARACTERISTICS
http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/habitats/estuaries1.htm
Information on estuaries. Good illustrations. Good

ESTUARIES: WHERE RIVERS MEET THE SEA                     NEW!
http://www.estuaries.gov/welcome.html
"This is the official Web site for National Estuaries Day and a resource for teachers, students and anyone interested in learning more about the magical places where rivers meet the sea National Estuaries Day is an interagency celebration that takes place the last Saturday in September (9/30/2006). The featured event is Estuary Live, a free, interactive field trip over the internet hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Estuarine Research Reserves in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Programs. From this Web site, you will be able to register in August 2006 and view the 2006 EstuaryLive program. Check the "Special Features" section on this page for updates."
Note: The 2004 and 2005 Estuaries Live online field trips are archived. Good

EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY             NEW!
http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/earthday/play.htm?f
A brief online book for primary students. They place the paper, plastic and cans in the right receptacles to bring wildlife back to the woods and stream. Good

EXPLORING ESTUARIES             NEW!
http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/kids/index.htm
Includes: About Estuaries, Visit an Estuary (virtual tour), Games & Activities, Teacher’s Page, Resources, Glossary and more. Includes a Coloring Book. Good

FREE CLIPART FROM EARTH DAY AT KIDS DOMAIN
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/clip.html
Colorful clipart from Kids Domain. Good

GET OUTDOORS! GET AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER!
http://sln.fi.edu/qanda/spotlight6-7/spotlight6-7.html
A photo journey from the Franklin Institute of the U.S. Good

GLOBAL FOREST             NEW!
http://www.globalforestscience.org/homepage_flash.html
An environmental action and education organization involved in forest research and conservation. Good

GREENSCREEN – THE GLOBAL HABITAT PROGRAM
http://www.greenscreen.org/
"Nature News for Kids by Kids". Articles by kids for kids on environmental issues. You can subscribe to print versions. The Links page has links for students and teachers. Good

GREENSCREEN LINKS FOR KIDS AND TEACHERS
http://www.greenscreen.org/links/links.html
A good links page for students and teachers. Good

THE GREEN SQUAD             NEW!
http://www.nrdc.org/greensquad/
An resources online interactive site for students in which they investigate ways in which their school can conserve, reuse and recycle resources. Students follow the Green Squad members throughout the school and click on the problem areas. Good

HAPPY EARTH DAY COLORING BOOK             NEW!
http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy.pdf
A printable coloring and activities book for Earth Day. Good

HELPFUL HINTS FOR PLANET EARTH
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/earthday/earthday.htm
A primary-level site created by students with information about Earth Day and activities. Good

HOW TO CONSERVE ENERGY FOR FAMILIES
http://www.familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,67-5862,00.html
A brief list of tips for conserving energy at home. Good

ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF WIND POWER DEVELOPMENT
http://telosnet.com/wind/
A history of wind power in the United States and abroad. Chapters: The Case for Wind Power, Early History Through 1875, 20th Century Developments, Government Programs, Recent Market Developments, and The Future of Wind Power. "Information on developments since 1975 is based primarily on my personal experience with the U.S. Federal Wind Energy Program, my extensive reading (and editing) of wind energy journals and research reports over the last twenty years, my conversations with wind energy researchers, interactions with members of the wind energy community, and my personal view of wind power developments and of the wind industry. Opinions expressed here are my own, of course" Good

INVESTIGATE BIODIVERSITY             NEW!
http://investigate.conservation.org/xp/IB
Sections: Basics of Biodiversity, Science Project, Expeditions, Saving Biodiversity, Conservation Careers, and Species Focus. The Science Projects includes a database of science fair projects. Good

INVESTIGATE THE ISLANDS
http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/webs/polis.htmlx
A look at an island ecosystem and how the plants and animals have adjusted. For grades 2-3. Good

KIDS DO ECOLOGY             NEW!
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/
Sections: Learn About Ecology, World Biomes, Marine Mammals, KDE Santa Barbara, EcoLinks, and Conservation Projects. Includes a For Teachers section with links. Good

KIDS ONLY – MANATEES AND DUGONGS             NEW URL!
http://www.cep.unep.org/kids/kids/
Information for kids on manatees and dugongs and the dangers that threaten them. Each page of information includes a printable coloring page. Good

LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
http://www.astrobiology.com/extreme.html
Information on life in places that used to be considered too extreme for living things such as deep ocean vents and more. Good

LIGHT POLLUTION             NEW!
http://www.njaa.org/light.html
Information on the problem of light pollution with details of the problem. Includes links and news articles. Good

LIVING WORLDS – BIOMES             NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/
A site by students for students on biomes. "Each biome section on this web site includes interesting facts about climate, location, animal and plant adaptations, land formation, and soil. The impact section includes information about social and environmental human disturbances that occur in each biome. This section also offers information on conservation efforts made in each biome. All highlighted words in the text can be clicked on for a better explanation. All pictures can also be enlarged by clicking on them. To start learning about biomes, choose a biome that you are interested in from the menu at the left. You can always participate in the discussion on biomes using the "Your Say" box on the right." Suitable for intermediate level students. Good

THE LORAX’S SAVE THE TREES GAME
http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/games/lorax/
A fun game for kindergarten/primary students. Catch the truffula seeds and plant them to grow a forest. Good

MAKE A RAIN STICK FOR EARTH DAY             NEW!
http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/lesson44.html
Instructions and a materials list for making a rain stick, used for centuries by man in hopes of bringing rain. Good

MANGROVE ACTION PROJECT         NEW!
http://www.earthisland.org/map/index.htm
"MANGROVE ACTION PROJECT:: Partnering with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based, sustainable management of coastal resources."
Articles and projects on the issue of threatened mangrove ecosystems. Sections: About MAP, About Mangroves, Get Involved, Issues, and Solutions. Good

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RADIO EXPEDITIONS         NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/radiox/frame.html
Heard on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, Radio Expeditions blends narrative, interviews, and digital sound to document stories of our world's threatened environments and diverse cultures." Expeditions: Yellowstone Fires, Landmark Trees, Y2Y: Yellowstone to Yukon, Caribou Crossing, and Humpback Whales. Good

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION             NEW!
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/
Official site for the NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection. Includes reports, events and more. Good

NJ DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION – EARTH DAY 2006             NEW!
http://www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/earthday/eday.htm
"The purpose of the site is to support and promote the state's interests and activities related to the annual celebrations of Environmental Education Week, Earth Day (April 22) and Earth Week. This two-week period of heightened public awareness provides an annual springboard to begin and highlight new and ongoing opportunities for environmental learning and stewardship amongst all ages. This website also serves to promote and/or link with other environmental education and Earth Day efforts being hosted throughout the state."
Good

THE NIGHT SKY IN THE WORLD             NEW!
http://www.lightpollution.it/dmsp/
Information on light pollution and how we can measure it from satellites. Includes: How We Surveil the Situation of the Night Sky From Satellites, The DMSP Satellite and its Operational Linescan System, The World Atlas of Sea Level Artificial Night Sky Brightness, Maps of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness, Maps of the Total Night Sky Brightness, Maps of the Growth of Light Pollution and more. Good

NJ OZONE ACTION
http://www.ridewise.org/ozone/ozmore.htm
Information on ozone pollution in New Jersey. Brief but informative. Good

OCEAN PLANET: SEA STORE             NEW!
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/ocean_planet_sea_store_fish.html
See how we use the ocean’s resources for trade, food and more. Sections: SEAcrets, PharmaSEA, SEAfoods, Inspiring FantaSEA, Via SEAways, SightSEAing, SEA Services, and Smart SEA Shopping. Good

ON CRAWFORD’S POND
http://home.insightbb.com/~g.mager/Pond/Crawfords-pond.html
"Crawford's Pond is not an ordinary pond that you would find in the meadow. As a matter of fact it is not even outside! I am Mrs. Crawford and our pond is in my 5th grade classroom. Every week my students are able to observe, ask questions and devise experiments to explore pond life. I have created a curriculum and my students have gathered research, all of which is presented in this site."
Good

POLLUTION – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005003F/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on pollution. Sections: Air, Water, Acid Rain, Soil, Food and Sound. Good

POLLUTION WORD SEARCH
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/word.html
A word search game on pollution. Good

RECYCLING COLORING BOOK
http://www.greenvalley.com/coloring/colorme1.html
Coloring pages to print out on recycling. Good

SCHOOL BUILDING ENERGY SURVEY
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/classactivities/SchoolBuildingSurveyIntermediate.pdf
A survey sheet students can use to determine the energy efficiency of their school. Good

SEA TURTLE TRACKING PROGRAM             NEW!
http://www.cccturtle.org/sat1.htm
Students can follow the migration of sea turtles being tracked by satellite. Good

SEEDS – NJ STATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DIRECTORY WEBSITE          NEW!
http://www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/
"This web site was designed, and is maintained by, the Environmental Education Program in the Office of Communications, part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The site is updated on a regular basis. Its comprehensiveness and currency are made possible through the ongoing cooperation of numerous department programs and staff.
The purpose of this web site is two-fold:
To promote the environmental education information and resources that are directly supported by DEP, either through its programs or through formal and ongoing alliances and partnerships; and,
To educate the public about the field of environmental education, including its purpose, goals and role in the DEP.The availability of the resources, expertise and materials listed varies from program to program. In most cases the materials are free of copyright restrictions and can be freely reproduced.
Users of these materials, projects and programs should note that they usually can be adapted to many instructional settings and audiences beyond what is recommended at this site."
Check out "Classroom Materials" for print-outs, activities and much more. Good

SOUTHEAST ASIA’S ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE – RADIO EXPEDITIONS                  NEW!
http://www.npr.org/programs/re/archivesdate/2003/nov/wildlife/index.html
Hear the audio of this NPR program on the illegal trade in wildlife. There are additional radio program links at the bottom for additional programs. Good

SPACE RADAR IMAGES OF EARTH
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/radar/sircxsar/
Uses radar images of the Earth from space to produce maps with uses for several disciplines. Sections: Archeology; Cities; Ecology & Agriculture; Geology; Interferometry; Oceans; Rivers; Snow, Ice, Glaciers; and Volcanoes. These are radar images, not photos. Detailed information is given of each. Good

SPECIES UNDER THREAT
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/species/data/species_sheets/
A list of 140 threatened species with specific details. Good

STRANGE DAYS ON PLANET EARTH                 NEW!
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/index_flash.html
Companion site for a PBS series on the changes in the planet and what the future may hold. Sections: Invaders, The One Degree Factor, Predators and Troubled Waters. See the For Educators section for Activity Guides for the four episodes. Note: The activities do not require viewing of the videos. Good

TEACHERS TOOLKIT THEMES                 NEW!
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes.html#ENV
Check out themes for topics with pages of links. Earth Day themes: Ecosystems/Biomes, Endangered Species, and The Environment. Each has several sub-topics including some with lesson plans. Good

THREATENING CLOUDS: AIR POLLUTION ON THE EVE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM – A THINKQUEST SITE
http://library.thinkquest.org/28313/?tqskip1=1
A student-created site on air pollution. Section: CFCs, Smog, Acid Rain, Ozone Depletion, and Global Warming. Good

THE TOXIC HOUSE
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/toxic_flash/toxic_house_flash.html
A site on indoor air pollution from the many substances in our homes. Click on the rooms in the blueprint to see what pollutants are present, i.e. in carpets or lead paint. Good

TREE MUSKETEERS
http://www.treemusketeers.org/index.asp
"
Marcie the Marvelous Tree inspired third graders in 1987 to launch TREE MUSKETEERS as the nation’s first youth environmental organization–a nonprofit charity where kids are boss! While taking action to help the planet, kids teach other kids to become active citizens and community leaders. Neighborhood by neighborhood, kids can rescue Earth!"
Get ideas for programs. Good

TROPICAL COLORING BOOK
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/education/kids/coloring-book/index.html
Printable pages for coloring. On screen they are filled in, click on the picture to get a copy suitable for coloring. Good

WASTE PREVENTION CLIPART
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/gallery/wasteprev/default.asp
Clipart on waste prevention so students can create their own posters and other activities. Good

WATER POLLUTION
http://www.njscuba.net/biology/misc_pollution.html
Information on the types of water pollution from New Jersey Scuba Diver. Good, detailed information. Good

THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE
http://www.wetlandsinstitute.org/
Official site of the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor. Not much information online. Good place for a field trip. Good

WETLANDS READING LIST FOR K-12             NEW!
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/science/readlist.html
A reading list of books on wetlands for grades K-12. Grouped by grade level. Good

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/whatwrng.htm
A page to printout showing people polluting. Students have to find the wrong activities. Good

WILDAID             NEW!
http://www.wildaid.org/eng.asp?CID=1
An organization dedicated to stopping the illegal trade of wildlife. Check out: The Illegal Wildlife Trade and Endangered Species Overview sections. Good

WILDFLOWERS COLORING BOOK         NEW!
http://www.nps.gov/plants/color/txhill/
Print out these pages and color. Includes a separate coloring guide for each page to tell what colors. Although the book is from Texas, many are common wildflowers. Good

WOODSY OWL
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/woodsy/
Known since 1970 for his "Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute", Woodsy’s new message is "Lend a Hand – Care for the Land". Includes Coloring Sheets and an Activity Guide with samples and where to send for the complete guide. Good

THE WORLD’S BIOMES
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html
A look at the world’s biomes: Aquatic, Desert, Forest, Grasslands, and Tundra. Good

YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART! – SING ALONG MIDIS AND LYRICS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/musicchild.htm
A list of songs with lyrics and midi files for children to sing along. Good

 

LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
 

ABOUT A TREE: THE LIFE AND WORK OF EMERGING EXPLORER MARK OLSON – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g912/molson.html
A lesson plan on extinct and threatened plant species for grades 9-12. "In this lesson, students will learn about Olson's efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants, and the reasons for the plant losses, and consider the issues surrounding conservation efforts in these dry tropical regions. Students will read articles highlighting the tension between wildlife conservation and agriculture, compare the perspectives of those who are most intensely involved in both, and form an opinion as to what might be done to resolve the conflict. Students will research both sides of the issue and write an editorial or letter to Congress supporting their opinion." Excellent

ACID RAIN – LESSON PLANS                 NEW!
http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/edu/Lessons/AcidRLessonPlan.htm
A set of five lesson plans for grades 6-8 on acid rain. Excellent

ACTION BIOSCIENCE – LESSON PLANS
http://www.actionbioscience.org/lessondirectory.html
Lesson plans in six areas of bioscience: Biodiversity, Environment, Genomics, Biotechnology, Evolution, and New Frontiers. Go to the Home Page for the articles on each topic. Excellent Also in Websites section

ALIEN INVASIONS: EXAMINING INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY – LESSON PLAN    NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050726tuesday.html
A lesson plan on invasive species for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students create an educational pamphlet on the origins, spread and impact of invasive plant species in their community." Excellent

ALLIANCE TO SAVE ENERGY LESSON PLANS
http://www.ase.org/educators/download.htm
A large number of online lesson plans on energy divided by elementary, middle school and high school. Excellent

ANSWERING THE CALL OF THE WILD: SPECIES REINTRODUCTION AND RESEARCHING ANIMAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990205friday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on animal conservation. "Students explore wildlife conservation by investigating the reintroduction of species into their natural habitats and by researching a species that is near extinction. Students will then defend the protection of the endangered species researched in class by creating an informational poster and by writing a position paper that explains the importance of preserving this species." Excellent

ARAL SEA IN TROUBLE – LESSON PLANS
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/14/index.html
A lesson plan/classroom activity on the Aral Sea which is in danger of disappearing. There are lesson plans for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12, each with a different focus. "The Aral Sea is in trouble, as are the people who live nearby. Help figure out why people in the Aral Sea region have so many complaints." Excellent

ARE HAMMERHEADS A KEYSTONE SPECIES? – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/seasshark.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on keystone species. "Students will first learn what a keystone species is, and then they will draw a simple food chain to see why tiger sharks are considered a keystone species in Shark Bay. Next, they will turn their attention to hammerheads, reading about the hammerhead diet and the reasons sharks (including hammerheads) are threatened by fishing practices. They will consider how scientists might go about trying to determine if hammerheads are keystone species, and they will conclude by creating public education brochures or reports describing why this would be such a significant discovery." Excellent

THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – CURRICULUM GUIDE
                                                                                NEW!
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/5/93.05.02.x.html
A curriculum guide for 8th grades students on the environment. "The unit will use a variety of teaching techniques and emphasis is placed onhands-on experiences. How Connecticut and New Haven are affected by these three problems (ozone, global warming and acid rain) will be emphasized. Also, the realities and myths of each problem will be discussed. Furthermore, an appendix of data supporting each problem will be included. This enables the unit to be adaptable to different student abilities and also provides practice in a critical area of science and math-interpretation of data." Excellent

BARBALOOT SUITS: PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/gk2/molson.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on biodiversity. "In this lesson, students will learn about how and why Olson studies plants. Students will compare a situation in which farmers unknowingly destroyed a plant species with the conservation themes outlined in Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, and then summarize the Seuss work through illustration." Excellent

BE AN ENERGY SAVER – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM526&page=teacher
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on energy conservation. "This lesson focuses on the scarce and nonrenewable nature of fossil fuels in order to stimulate student thinking about energy conservation. It emphasizes the fact that saving energy can be good for the wallet as well as the earth's future. Students play a memory game that challenges them to find people-powered substitutes for things that use electricity and gas. Students then use the federally-mandated Energy Guide labels to estimate the cost savings of energy- efficient home appliances. In a final activity, students explore positive and negative economic incentives that motivate people to conserve energy. Many federal energy-related programs and policies are featured in this lesson. These include, besides the Energy Guide label, Energy Star certification, the Fuel Economy Guide for motor vehicles, and a diverse collection of taxes, tax breaks and subsidies.
In this lesson, students examine options for reducing their dependence on energy resources, especially by substituting people power for other forms of energy and purchasing energy efficient home appliances. Students also explore some of the government programs that are influencing consumer choices in the marketplace."
Excellent

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE: DEBATING THE FATE OF ENDANGERED WILD SALMON AND THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF A DAM…..- LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990927monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "Students will consider what information they might need to determine how to rule on the issue of breaching a dam in order to possibly save wild salmon versus the potentially negative economic impact such an act might cause. They then will investigate this scenario in depth through a class discussion about the related article. After, they will divide into proponent and opponent teams that will address Congress regarding the breaching of Little Goose Dam." Excellent

BIONIC TREES: DEBATING THE VALUE OF GENETICALLY DESIGNED TREES TO DECREASE POLLUTION AND INCREASE CONSUMER PRODUCTS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040803tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on trees. "In this lesson, students examine and evaluate the use and value of DNA technology on trees in various contexts. They will then synthesize their knowledge by writing letters to their congressional representatives supporting or refuting the practice of genetically altering trees." Excellent

BIRD BATHS: CLEANING UP WILDLIFE AFTER OIL SPILLS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g35/dawnducks.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on the effects of an oil spill on wildlife. "In this lesson, students will explore the causes and effects of events such as oil spills and contaminations. They will then experience first-hand the feel of oil spills, determine an environmental problem that affects their community, and develop an "action plan" to minimize the risk to one form of wildlife. Finally, they will examine ways in which public and private organizations partner to keep the environment, and its wildlife, healthy." Excellent

BLAST FROM THE PAST: REVISITING CHERNOBYL 20 YEARS LATER – LESSON PLAN         NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050907wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the long-term effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. "In this lesson, students revisit the April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and compare the projected health, environmental, social and economic impacts to new scientific findings. They then create public service announcements educating the people of the region on these new findings." Excellent

BLOWING IN THE WIND – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM298&page=teacher
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the financial feasibility of wind generation. "Wind energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United States. Finally, students will explore the possible role of government in providing incentives for wind energy generation." Excellent

A BRIGHT IDEA: UNDERSTANDING WAYS TO HARNESS ELECTRICITY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050215tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on electricity. "In this lesson, students establish an understanding of electricity and then demonstrate that understanding by creating a basic experiment involving a lemon battery. They then reflect on the importance of electricity, especially in poorer and rural areas of the world which its supply is limited." Excellent

CAN CAPTIVE BREEDING SAVE SPECIES? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g912/breeding.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on endangered species. "When studying endangered and threatened species and habitats, students should become familiar with programs that strive to preserve biodiversity, such as captive-breeding programs and species-survival plans adopted by zoos, aquariums, and other institutions. This lesson asks students to research and assess these programs." Excellent

CAN RESEARCH SAVE THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g68/cleatherback.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8. "Students will learn about leatherbacks and the threats they are facing, and they'll read about how volunteers are helping to study the turtles. The students will look at some data that volunteers have collected and explain what the research shows and how it's important for leatherback conservation. The students will also consider how Crittercam can add to these studies, and they'll conclude by designing "slide shows" that illustrate information about leatherbacks and leatherback conservation." Excellent

CAN THE CHIRU BE SAVED? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/11/g68/ridgeway.html
A lesson plan on the endangered chiru of Tibet for grades 6-8. "This lesson introduces the "chiru" of Tibet. A small deerlike animal, the chiru is endangered because it is hunted and killed for its luxurious wool. Many people are working to save the few remaining chiru from extinction." Excellent

CAN WE KEEP THE LAKE CLEAN? – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/gk2/clean.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on freshwater lakes. "This lesson introduces students to the water cycle by having them help draw a picture of a lake ecosystem, adding human impacts that affect water quality. Students will help fill in the components of a drawing of a water system. They will conclude by creating their own illustrations of human-induced changes to the freshwater habitat of a lake ecosystem." Excellent

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH STUDENTS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/1991/earthday.html
A list of classroom activities for Earth Day for grades 3-12. Excellent

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED: A TIMELINE FOR CHANGE, A MODEL FOR CHANGE – LESSON PLAN
                                                                                                NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/gk2/chesapeake.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on the Chesapeake watershed. "In this lesson, students will conduct research on the Chesapeake Bay, from Captain John Smith's explorations of Native American settlements in the early seventeenth century to the present, and examine how these changes over time can help illuminate the interrelationships between people and places. They will then apply a similar approach to their local area. Through an examination of a timeline of change, students will make connections between present interactions with a place and its future and consider ways that they can help shape the future course of both the Chesapeake Bay watershed and their own community." Excellent

CHILLING PREDICTIONS: EXPLORING THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT GLOBAL WARMING HAS CREATED FOR THE ARCTIC – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051011tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the Arctic and global warming. "In this lesson, students will research and prepare an almanac on the Arctic. They then examine the laws that attempt to provide jurisdiction over this area and consider how these laws will be affected if geography of the Arctic continues to change due to the effects of global warming." Excellent

CLASSROOM CRITTERS – CURRICULUM GUIDE         NEW!
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1992/5/92.05.02.x.html
A curriculum guide for primary students on the care of plants and animals in the classroom. "As a primary level teacher with limited time and knowledge of science I’ve decided to approach the subject by introducing plants and animals, very small ones, to my classroom. In addition to their learning value, I believe they will make an important contribution to the aesthetic quality of the room. Further, they will be the focus for developing a sense of responsibility in the children as they assume responsibility for their care. As many students come from homes where they experience little nurturing themselves, I especially hope to stimulate those feelings in the children as they care for the plants and animals. By observing, doing and concluding, the students will learn how plants grow, how some animals live and about the interdependency of plants and animals. The visual richness and complexity of the aquarium and terrariums, self contained communities, provide many more opportunities for learning through observation and hands-on activities.
My unit objectives will be met by developing three ecosystems, an aquarium, a terrarium and a vivarium. Rabbits, guinea pigs and the like strike me as both limiting and overwhelming. Personally, I have concerns about the lessons we inadvertently teach when we have caged animals in the classroom. When we assume the care of an animal we must remember that they are dependent on us. We should ask ourselves whether we want to create a prison or a home for them. Consider the difference between putting two goldfish in a glass bowl devoid of plants and creating an ecosystem, a sophisticated, complex, natural environment. Animals are best kept under the supervision of a responsible adult so they do not fall prey to mishap. Animals that die for lack of proper care provide a lesson better not learned."
Excellent

CLIMATE AND CO2: ANALYZING THEIR RELATIONSHIP – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g912/co2.html
A lesson plan on climate for grades 9-12. "In this lesson, students will speculate on various scenarios of future world climates if the greenhouse effect increases." Excellent

COASTAL QUANDARY: DEBATING WHETHER TO EVACUATE OR DEVELOP DANGEROUS COASTS –
LESSON PLAN               NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051005wednesday.html
A lesson plan on coastal development for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students will learn about the debate among development and environment experts on evacuation coastal areas. They then take part in their own debate representing the different perspectives on the "evacuation versus redevelopment" dialogue." Excellent

COMMUNITY SCIENCE ACTION GUIDES
http://www.fi.edu/guide/index.html
Action guides for primary through secondary grades on environmental topics such as Protecting Resources Today, Making Tomorrow Safe, Producing Energy Now, and Using Water Wisely. Each guide has resources, lesson ideas, lesson plans and much more. Outstanding. Excellent

CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER CYCLE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/tgsouhegan.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on water pollution. "Students will review the water cycle and investigate how a region's water supply can become contaminated. They will look at a list of the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant levels for drinking water, and sketch the water cycle of a fictitious town that is affected by several pollutants. Students will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining what a group of concerned citizens in this hypothetical town might do to improve the quality of its water supply." Excellent

CONTRASTS IN BLUE: LIFE ON THE CARIBBEAN CORAL REEF AND THE ROCKY COAST OF MAINE – CURRICULUM UNIT                         NEW!
http://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/contrast/cover.html
A unit comparing the coast of Maine with a coral reef in the Caribbean for elementary students. "The striking contrasts between these two dynamic ecosystems are the theme of this website and are among the many topics visitors can ponder in Exploring Marine Ecosystems, a permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The activities that follow encourage students to consider the role of temperature, sunlight, waves, and tides in the creation of unique marine environments." The lessons are in PDF format to print out as well as online. Includes 3 lessons plans, a Background Essay and Resources. Excellent

CONVERTING ENERGY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=153
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on energy. "Purpose To introduce students to energy through the idea of energy transformations and conversions, and to develop students’ ideas of what energy is and how it can be measured." Excellent

CORAL BLEACHING: MAKING OUR OCEANS WHITER – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g68/bowercoral.html
A lesson plan on coral reefs for grades 6-8. "Coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef are some of the most productive and important ecosystems on earth, and they are vanishing at an alarming rate. Students will learn what coral reefs are and about the different types of reefs, the ecology surrounding these biological playgrounds, and the human impact on them. Additionally, this lesson will provide an opportunity for students to debate whether human contact should be impeded around coral reefs, a constructive approach for defending controversial environmental issues." Excellent

CORAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET SERIES – LESSON PLAN
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_coralseas/
A lesson plan on the coral reefs and their ecosystem from Discovery for grades 6-8. "Students will • speculate about the changes that are taking place in our galaxy; • research the latest ideas on Blue Planet: Coral Seas; and • discuss the consequences of events that may happen in the future."    You may borrow the Blue Planet series from the AVA Center.    Excellent

DELAWARE ESTUARY – A FOURTH GRADE UNIT
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow7/dec98/delaware.html
A unit on the Delaware River estuary for 4th grade students, developed by students from Vineland. Sections: Water, Oysters, Ethics, History, References and Author. The sections contain information, puzzles and activities. Excellent

DEPARTMENT OF CRANE-LAND SECURITY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/14/cranecam1.html
A lesson plan on the protection of endangered cranes. "You have just joined the Department of Crane-Land Security. Your mission is to join the security advance team for the sandhill crane migration. Where will the cranes go? How will you protect them? Will they be safe and have what they need during their travels? Your job is to learn about the locations these cranes visit and what you need to do to ensure a safe journey when you fly with them. We're counting on you!" Excellent

DESIGN A REGIONAL "ECO-PARK" – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/tgecopark.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on regional ecosystems. "Students will use the Web to find out about the plants and animals that live in their local area. They will design "eco parks" containing local plants and animals. If there is time, have students extend their research into the "real world" by doing some outdoors observations near school or their homes." Excellent

THE DIVERSITY OF LIVE – CURRICULUM MODULE             NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modulesMS/DiversityofLife/index.html
A curriculum module for middle school students. "The Diversity of Life Course emphasizes the use of knowledge and evidence to construct explanations for the structures and functions of living organisms. Students observe and maintain protists, plants, and animals in the classroom and study their characteristics. The study progresses from macroscopic to microscopic observation to discover the fundamental unit of life, the cell. Students then investigate organism subsystems and behaviors and consider their diversity of adaptive structures and strategies." For middle school students. Excellent

DIVING IN TO SAVE THE MONK SEAL – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g68/ccmonkseal.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 endangered species. "Students will use the Internet to learn about monk seal research and the ecosystem reserve that's been established in part to protect the seals. They'll consider the particular challenges scientists face in studying monk seals on projects such as Crittercam and they will write questions they would ask if they were conducting monk seal research. The students will conclude by writing plans they would use on a trip to study the Hawaiian monk seal." Excellent

DNA AND ENDANGERED SPECIES – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/brainpopdna.html
A lesson plan on endangered species for grades 6-8. "In this lesson, students will learn some basics about DNA and genetics and will then learn how DNA can be used to study and help endangered animals. They will visit a Web site with information about specific research projects, and write paragraphs explaining how DNA and genetics research might be used to help an endangered or threatened species." Excellent

DON’T DRINK THE WATER! – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/j/x/jxz8/Student_Webquests/Fields/QuestSAF/index.htm
A webquest for high school students on water quality. "DON'T DRINK THE WATER!!! Hundreds of people in your community have already become ill from unknowingly consuming microbe-infested H2O! Now you are among those responsible for curing their sickness and preventing this disease from becoming an epidemic. It's a challenge, but it's one that you must accept--and one that your friends and neighbors know you will achieve for the sake of your town's health and well-being. First, you and your co-investigators must identify and classify the microorganism that has contaminated the town's drinking water supply. Then, you will need to propose and test an environment-friendly biological remedy for this problematic situation. Your community anxiously awaits your successful solution!" Excellent

A DUCK’S BILL ON CAPITOL HILL?: TAKING A STAND ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LEGISLATION – LESSON PLAN          NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051228wednesday.html
A lesson plan on conservation legislation for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students examine the positions of various parties on proposed federal ecosystem conservation legislation, including private property owners, legislators, and conservationists, in order to represent their perspectives in a class discussion." Excellent

EARTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT – LESSON PLANS
http://theory.uwinnipeg.ca/lts/earthenv.html
A page of links to classroom activities and lesson plans on the environment. Excellent

EARTH DAY TEACHER’S LOUNGE
http://earthday.wilderness.org/teachers/classroom.htm
Nine classroom activities ranging from K-12 on Earth Day. Excellent

EARTH SCIENCE LESSON PLANS
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/earthsciences.html
A list of links to lesson plans on Earth Science topics including Acid Rain, Water Pollution, the Greenhouse Effect, Waste Management, Recycling, Alternative Energy Sources, Conservation and more. Divided by Early Elementary, Later Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Excellent

EARTH SCIENCE LESSON PLANS                     NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/earthsci.html
Earth science lesson plans for various grade levels. Examples: Earth’s Waters, Protecting Our Planet, Aquatic Habitats, Protecting Habitats and Species, Energy and Cars: What Does the Future Hold. Excellent

ECO-CHALLENGES – AFRICA – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/tools/eco/goals.html
A lesson plans on the two environmental threats to Africa: desertification and scarcity of clean water. For intermediate students and up. "In this lesson, students will address two of the more pressing issues confronting continental Africa Ń the related concerns of growing desertification and the scarcity of clean water. Students will examine these issues within the context of Africa’s development and the environmental, economic, and personal impact it has upon its citizens. More specifically, students will explore a variety of Internet resources, learn about Africa’s geography and natural resources, read and respond to African art and literature, and write and produce a documentary-style news broadcast report." Excellent

ECO-CYCLE: FINDING THE PARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ecocycle.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on ecosystems. "An ecosystem exists when plants and animals interact with each other and their physical environment. This lesson will use the Eco-Cycle Station to introduce students to ecosystems in Hawaii, as well as the plants and animals that make up the ecosystems. Students will seek out the key animals and plants as they read about the ecosystems."   Excellent

ECOLOGY LESSON PLANS             NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/ecol.html
Ecology lesson plans for various grade levels. Examples: Habitats of the World, Biomes: Coastlines and Seas, Champions of the Land. Excellent

THE ECONOMICS OF RECYCLING – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM218
A lesson plan on recycling for high school students. "You will be asked to indicate why Japan's recycling efforts (rates) are surpassing that of the US. Then you will predict how consumers, repair services and appliance makers respond when government changes incentives for recycling. Then given new incentives, predict what happens to supply and demand for a good and resulting impact on equilibrium quantities. You will do this by analyzing the effectiveness of Japan's appliance recycling law enacted in April 2001.Finally you will be asked to develop strategies for reducing the amount of waste disposal at landfills." Excellent

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES – WATER PURIFICATION – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=275
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on water. "This lesson was developed by Dr. Penny Firth, a scientist, as part of a set of interdisciplinary Science NetLinks lessons aimed at improved understanding of environmental phenomena and events. Some of the lessons integrate topics that cross biological, ecological, and physical concepts. Others involve elements of economics, history, anthropology, and art. Each lesson is framed by plain-language background information for the teacher, and includes a selection of instructional tips and activities in the boxes." Excellent

ECOSYSTEMS: TOOLS FOR MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS                 NEW!
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1992/5/
A collection of curriculum guides for math and science teachers focusing on ecosystems. Includes 10 guides such as: Ecosystems: Can I Help?, Biosphere 2 and Beyond, Classroom Critters (on this list), Organic and Inorganic Recycling and more. Excellent

ELEMENTARY ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/gk2/ecosystem.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on ecosystems. "This lesson teaches students the basics of species interdependency within an ecosystem or habitat. Students will perform a simple simulation to see how one species can affect many others, and gain a basic understanding of the importance of biodiversity. For older students, you may want to define and use the word "ecosystem" in the lesson." Excellent

EMISSION STATEMENT – EXPLORING HOW INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING AND ARE AIMING TO COMBAT IT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010725wednesday.html
A lesson plan from the New York Times on Global Warming for grades 6-8 and 9-12. "In this lesson, students investigate the emission of greenhouse gases by industrialized nations. After participating in an international global warming conference, students assess whether or not the United States should take part in the international climate accord." Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES – LIST OF LINKS - LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/endangsp.html
A list of links about endangered species. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

ENERGY – HEAT, LIGHT AND SOUND – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS                 NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/heatener.html
A list of links about energy. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

ENERGY SOURCES AND USE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=8&DocID=13
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on energy use. "This investigation uses many resources from Energy Quest, an Educational Supersite. The recommended readings and activities in this investigation would be most appropriate for fourth or fifth grade students. However, this site provides ample resources for adapting the lesson to a wide variety of reading levels.
You may wish to preview The Energy Story prior to introducing these activities, to gather background information on energy resources and to identify the most appropriate resources for your students."  
Excellent

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=139
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on waste management. "To use Internet resources to explore the side effects of technology; to design, implement and evaluate solutions related to the problem of waste disposal." Excellent

ENVIRONMENT THEME PAGE - LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES
http://www.theteachersguide.com/Environment.html
A theme page for teachers with lesson plans and activities. Sections: Trash and Recycling; Air Quality; Global Warming and Ozone Depletion. Excellent

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: A HANDS-ON APPROACH – CURRICULUM GUIDE         NEW!
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/5/93.05.10.x.html
A curriculum guide for grades K-2 on the environmental sciences. "Environmental Science is a vast pool of facts, experiments and concepts that describe the world around us. For the K-2 teacher, Environmental Science may seem too complex a subject to communicate to the students. On the contrary, Environmental Science is one of the easiest subjects to convey to the primary level student. The study of Environmental Science begins with the immediate surroundings of the K-2 child. Familiar topics such as weather, your home and garbage provide the classroom teacher with a foundation of knowledge great enough to introduce each lesson’s concept B . seasons community helpers, and the food chain are basic concepts taught in the primary grades. These concepts, which are integral parts of the study of Environmental Science, are expanded to allow for a firm understanding of the environment and how we can control it." Excellent

ENVIRONMENTS – CURRICULUM MODULE                         NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/Environments/index.html
A curriculum module for grades 3-6. "All living things depend on the conditions in their environment. The study of the relationships between one organism and its environment builds knowledge of all organisms. With this knowledge comes an awareness of limits. Changes in an environment can be hard on organisms. Such knowledge is important because humans can change environments. To do so without awareness of possible consequences can lead to disasters. The Environments Module consists of six investigations that introduce students to these basic concepts in environmental biology." . Excellent

EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT (CURRICULUM GUIDE)
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/
Features an integrated approach to environmental earth science through modules and activities. Modules: Strangers in Paradise (grades 7-12), Mars Landing (7-12), Rift Valley Fever (7-12), Korean Enigma (7-12), Volcanoes (7-12), Water Quality (7-12), Mountain Gorillas (7-12), UV Menace (10-12), Earth on Fire (10-12), Severe Weather: Hurricanes! (5-12), Yellowstone Fires (5-8), Temperate Rainforest (9-12), Global Climate Change (5-12), Tropical Poison (7-12), El Nińo: The Child Returns (9-12) and Florida Everglades (5-8). Each module contains a situation and what needs to be done. Includes an extensive teacher guide. An outstanding site. Excellent

THE FACTS OF LIFE: TELLING TALES OF EXTINCT SPECIES USING VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050104tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on extinct species. "In this lesson, students learn about the different ways scientists gather information about extinct animals. They then utilize these methods to create illustrated story books about a particular extinct animal." Excellent

FARMING IN SPACE – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY             NEW!
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/learning/farming/
A classroom activity in which students replicate the experiments being done on the space shuttles and International Space Station in growing food plants in space. "The Farming in Space activity has been designed to coordinate with the flight experiment. It offers teachers and students a chance to examine a number of basic principles and concepts in plant biology and crop production through hands on experiments using a simulated Biomass Production System and the same seed stocks that the researchers will be using during the flight experiments. Questions that students can examine are similar to those of interest to the scientists, and the materials used will reinforce students' understanding of proportionality and statistical summation. The basic experiment is suitable for upper elementary students and higher grades." For upper elementary and up. Excellent

FISHING FOR SOLUTIONS: PROPOSALS TO SOLVING THE GLOBAL OVERFISHING PROBLEM…. - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990310wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on natural resources. "In this lesson, students investigate the many ecological and economic issues related to overfishing the world's marine resources. Working in committees, students will research the related topics of equipment and fishing techniques, economic impact, 'by-catch,' environmental impact and pollution, and ecosystem preservation, culminating in the drafting of statements addressed to the other committees and to the United Nations regarding their topics and proposals." Excellent

FLY AWAY! – CURRICULUM UNIT                 NEW!
http://www.nps.gov/akso/ParkWise/Teachers/Nature/DENA_FlyAway/overview.htm
A unit for grades 3-8 on animal migration. "Students will use real tracking data from juvenile golden eagles of Denali National Park and Preserve to gain an understanding of animal migration. Using satellite telemetry data collected by Carol McIntyre, a wildlife biologist at Denali, students will discover the migratory pathways, winter range and summer range of Denali's juvenile golden eagles. Park managers need to know where these eagles spend time around the year so that they can protect them." Excellent

FLYING OFF THE THREATENED SPECIES LIST: CONSIDERING THE DELISTING OF BALD EAGLES AND OTHER THREATENED SPECIES - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010403tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students research the status of species that have been removed from the Federal Register of endangered and threatened species to help them determine whether or not the American bald eagle should also be removed from the list" Excellent

FOREST GRUMP: EXAMINING HOW DEFORESTATION AFFECTS PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF THE CANADIAN BOREAL – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030924wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on deforestation for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students consider the definition of an ecosystem as it relates to the Canadian boreal, discover how deforestation is affecting this forest and recreate ecosystems found in this forest. Then, students will write persuasive letters urging politicians or business people to help save the forest." Excellent

THE FRAGILE FRINGE – A GUIDE TO TEACHING ABOUT WETLANDS - LESSON PLANS
 
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/fringe/ff_index.html
"The intent of this material is to provide a basis from which a comprehensive study of coastal wetlands can be developed by the teacher on the basis of individual needs. Each teacher has students with varying needs and must, therefore, plan accordingly. The information and activities are provided as a framework and may be used and revised to accommodate different levels of students. Some activities may be used as demonstrations rather than student activities for younger students. Any grade level designation is only a suggestion; if it works for your students, use it."
Excellent

FROZEN SEAS – BLUE PLANET SERIES – LESSON PLAN
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_frozenseas/
A lesson plan on life in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans for grades 6-8. "Students will • research the behavioral and physical adaptations of an animal from the Arctic or Antarctic; and • create a poster and make a presentation about the animal." You may borrow the Blue Planet series from the AVA Center.  Excellent

GARBAGE LESSON PLANS
Two lesson plans on garbage for grades 3-5. Excellent
1/ GARBAGE – THE ROOTS OF TRASH
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=3-5&BenchmarkID=8&DocID=384
"Garbage 1: The Roots of Trash invites students to take a closer look at the everyday items they throw in the trash. Students are prompted think about what everyday products—such as bottles, cans, cartons, plastic, and food—are made of and how they are generally produced. They learn about natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, and work in teams to further research and report on how these resources and products are developed and used up before being discarded in the trash."

2/GARBAGE – RECYCLING
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=3-5&BenchmarkID=8&DocID=386
"In Garbage 2: Recycling, students apply what they have learned about throwaway products—and the valuable natural resources from which they're derived—by thinking about where garbage goes after they throw it out. They also examine their own ideas and habits about recycling and discover what a serious effect litter and mass waste disposal have on the environment. They should come to realize that recycling is one solution to limit this ongoing global problem. They learn about how recycling generally works, what kinds of products can be recycled, and what other valuable products recyclable materials can be turned into."

GEOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY ASSISTING AFRICAN CONSERVATION – LESSON PLAN        NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g912/geotech.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on conservation. "In response to continued growth of the global human population, the conservation of Earth's natural resources has become an increasingly pressing issue. In this lesson, students will study the impact of human population growth by conducting a study of its influence on Africa. Using the National Geographic magazine feature Africa MegaFlyover and other resources, students will examine research gathered through the conservation efforts of Dr. Michael Fay and the Wildlife Conservation Society. They will also analyze the role that geographic technology currently plays in mitigating population growth's negative effects." Excellent

GEOTOURISM: BE A FRIEND TO OUR PARKS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/gk2/geofriendly.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on geotourism. "This lesson will introduce students to the concept of geotourism, briefly described as "traveling without trampling." Coined by Jonathan Tourtellot, geotourism editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine, geotourism is more than just that, though. Geotourism is "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents." Most students at this age have not traveled extensively, but they are likely to have been to parks or other preserved areas. In this lesson, they will learn about what geotourism means and make up rules for visitors to one of our National Parks." Excellent

GETTING INTO HOT WATER: LEARNING ABOUT GREENLAND’S ECOLOGY AND THE MECHANISMS OF GLOBAL WARMING – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040609wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on global warming. "In this lesson, students study Greenland's ecology as a means to understanding the central role of water in global warming. Then they write essays that compare the effects of global warming on different world regions." Excellent

GIS: HELPING TO SAVE THE AFRICAN WILD – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g68/geotech.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on protection efforts for African wildlife. "There are approximately 6 billion people on our planet, and that number is growing! Population growth not only affects humans, it threatens plants and animals that rely on the same resources as humans (food, land, and water). In this lesson, students will learn about a geographic tool known as GIS, and about how it is assisting the conservation efforts of ecologically minded individuals such as Dr. Michael Fay and the environmentalists at the Wildlife Conservation Society." Excellent

GLOBAL CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: IS THE WORLD BECOMING MORE DISASTROUS? – LEARNING MODULE                     NEW!
http://www.aag.org/HDGC/www/hazards/toc.html
"The module is divided into Units, i.e., sections that are thematically coherent and that could, if necessary, stand alone. In addition, the module contains a Reference Section, Supporting Materials and an Appendix. The Supporting Materials can be used to facilitate the teaching of this module or simply to augment it with interesting ideas and information. Additional sections with further information may or may not be present, e.g., a list of acronyms, or a glossary. ……..Each Unit consists of Background Information that can be used as a hand-out for students or as the basis for an in-class presentation; an Instructor's Guide, consisting of suggestions on how to teach the various learning activities associated with a given Unit; Student Worksheets; and the Answers expected for each activity.
Some activities have their own Student Worksheet for ease of preparing hand-outs for students.
The activities are geared toward the theme(s) and concepts discussed in a particular Unit. The particular skills and themes emphasized vary among the activities. Choose one or more activities per unit to fit you class size, time, resources, overall course topics, and student skill levels. Be sure to vary the types of activities you choose throughout the module."
There is no grade designation but it appears to be for high school students. Excellent

GLOBAL CHANGE, HUMANS AND THE COASTAL OCEAN – CURRICULUM UNITS
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/6/Eleven curriculum units for primary through eighth grades on the coasts, the oceans and environmental issues. Excellent

GLOBAL CHANGE LESSON PLANS
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/globalchange.htm
"Global change is a relatively new area of scientific study using research from many disciplines to determine how Earth systems change, and to assess the influence of human activity on these changes. The Global Change section of the Learning Web consists of an introduction and five activities. In teaching these activities, four themes are important: time, change, cycles, and Earth as home.
" For grades 4-6. Excellent

GLOBAL WARMING – STUDY UNIT                 NEW!
http://www.studyworksonline.com/cda/explorations/main/0,,NAV2-79,00.html
An 8-part study unit on global warming for intermediate/junior high students.. "Is human activity partly responsible for current warming trends? What's the global warming "debate" all about? This eight-part series investigating Global Warming provides tools you can use to figure out the answers yourself.
Investigate the methods researchers use to study ancient and current climate patterns. Using that information, analyze and critique materials on different websites. On the way, you'll learn to read critically and most importantly to think critically. An accompanying teacher guide provides additional questions and activities."
Excellent

GLOBALIZATION COMES TO THE TABLE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.microsoft.com/education/GlobalTable.aspx
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on globalization. "Summary: Protests about globalization have become almost as much a fact of life as globalization itself--but how well do your students understand the complex issues at stake? In this project, teams of student explore globalization by researching the issues surrounding one of several controversies involving food, then grappling with those issues in a summit." Excellent

THE GREAT ENERGY DEBATE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/16/g912/energydebate.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on energy. "This lesson explores the controversial issues surrounding the energy debate in the United States. Students will research recent initiatives being taken in this area and analyze their implications. They will then assume the roles of pivotal stakeholders in this debate and testify to a mock congressional committee responsible for making decisions about public lands and energy resources." Excellent

THE GREATER SALT LAKE VIRTUAL TOUR AND LEARNING MODULE             NEW!
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/virtdept/contents.html
A virtual tour and learning module for senior high students. "This module introduces students to the geography, geology, ecology, and history of The Greater Salt Lake Ecoregion. Saline lakes are some of the most unusual, and misunderstood, physical regions of the world. It is often assumed that these are "dead" environments--like the DEAD SEA of Israel and Jordan. In fact, saline lakes in general and The Great Salt Lake in particular, supports a tremendous diversity of life. 
The Great Salt Lake Ecoregion is also one of North America's fastest growing urban regions. Along theWasatch Front can be found such rapidly growing cities such as Ogden, Sundance/Provo and Orem, Salt Lake City and its suburbs. And of course, in 2002 the region hosted the Winter Olympics.
This makes the region an ideal place to study human-environment interaction and the human dimensions of global environmental change. Whether you're visiting this web site for fun or study, we hope you have an enjoyable and stimulating trip."
Excellent

HABITATS/LANDFORMS – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/habitats.html
A list of links about habitats and landforms. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/tghazardous.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on hazards in the home. "In this lesson, students will survey their homes for hazardous materials and tally the results as a class. They will use the Web to find out about proper waste disposal methods and the potential consequences of improper disposal. Students will conclude by creating pamphlets or multimedia presentations showing what they have learned." Excellent

HOW BIG IS THE OZONE HOLE? – STUDY UNIT             NEW!
http://www.studyworksonline.com/cda/content/explorations/0,,NAV2-77_SEP938,00.shtml
A study unit for intermediate/junior high students on ozone depletion. "In this exploration, you will learn why ozone is important to life on earth and how it is measured. You will also learn about the controversy surrounding the ozone hole and see how statistical analysis of data can be used to determine whether the ozone hole is actually getting larger." Excellent

HUMAN IMPACTS IN THE AFRICAN RAIN FOREST: WHAT CAN WE DO? – LESSON PLAN         NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/fayhuman.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the African rain forest. "This lesson asks students to examine the human impacts that conservationist Michael Fay noticed on his Congo Trek, and Africa MegaFlyover projects as well as the areas that are so far free from human impacts. Students will write recommendations to the region's governments and businesses, explaining what should be done about human impacts and considering some of the underlying causes for environmental threats." Excellent

IF TREES COULD TALK – A MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
http://www.lib.duke.edu/forest/Education/Curriculum/
"This 8-module, middle school curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to download social studies activities that are based upon archival materials. The centerpiece of each module is a compilation of primary resources--documents, maps, newspaper articles, oral histories or photographs--from which students will be asked to gather, examine, and analyze information, and synthesize insights."
Excellent

IF YOU HEAR A HOOT, THEN THIS SITE IS KAPUT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM137&page=teacher
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on endangered species. "Should the Endangered Species Act of 1973 be left alone so the legal system is left to decide the toughest cases? Should the Endangered Species Act of 1973 be revised in order to increase economic growth without endangering listed species? Can this even happen? In this Economics Minute, you will learn about which species are covered under the 1973 Endangered Species Act, the different organizations and their philosophies on how to protect these species, and how each group's policies are driven by self interest as you weigh each group's costs and benefits." Excellent

IN THE WAKE OF A STORM: INVESTIGATING THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS CONCERNING PLANS TO REVITALIZE THE LOUSIANA MARSHLANDS – LESSON PLAN     NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051115tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on marshland restoration. "In this lesson, students share thoughts about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on Louisiana's natural environment. They then assume the role of advisors to examine the needs of special interest groups affected by preservation efforts, and respond to the corresponding needs of other groups." Excellent

THE INCREDIBLE PRAIRIE PICTURE SHOW –LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/gk2/prairiek2.html
A lesson plan on the grasslands ecosystem for grades K-2. "As a grassland ecosystem, the dominant vegetation of the prairie is grass. However, the diversity of plant and animal species is astounding, reaching beyond the well-known mammal species—bison and black-footed ferret—to the mountain plover, the tiger salamander, and countless grass and insect species. On an acre of prairie, there may be a million animals that eat grasses and/or other plants. In this lesson, students will use their prior and newly found knowledge to create their own vision of the prairie by creating a prairie ecosystem mural." Excellent

IS THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEEP WATER? EXPLORING NATURAL AND HUMAN THREATS ON FRESH WATER AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19991130tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 ecosystems. "Students closely examine, in small groups, various fresh water and marine ecosystems, researching the aquatic life they support, threats from nature and humans, and preservation efforts. Each group then creates a model of their researched water ecosystem that demonstrates both physical form and the natural and human threats to this system." Excellent

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL ON COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20041214tuesday.html
A lesson plan on the Kyoto Protocol for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students will investigate different countries’ varying levels of support of the Kyoto Protocol. They will then write articles for foreign newspapers from the perspectives of delegates at the current convention in Buenos Aires at which the protocol is being enacted, sharing their educated perspectives on the impact of the protocol on their countries." Excellent

IT’S ONLY NATURAL: EXAMINING SOME OF THE WORLD’S ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATIC CHALLENGES AND TECHNOLOGIES EMPLOYED TO THWART THEM – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050223wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the environment. "In this lesson, students consider a plan to stop flooding problems in Venice and then research other environmental and climatic challenges that have technological "solutions." They then create thematic world maps illustrating these problems and write reaction papers about whether or not technology should be used to stop or alter nature's path." Excellent

JUST TURN IT OFF – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=23
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on energy conservation. "In this lesson, students will probe the problem of what happens to a battery-operated flashlight when it is not turned off. Students will extend this context to household items like lights, radios, televisions, and computers.
This lesson is designed to begin to enable students to construct understanding of the consumption of energy by themselves as consumers. At this age, the concept of energy can be very misleading to students. Young children think of energy as being used up. They do not readily understand conservation of energy. Also, they do not understand that once energy is converted it is not necessarily in a usable form. These are misconceptions that students develop early and hold through much of their school careers."
Excellent

LAND AND PEOPLE LESSON PLANS
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/landpeople.htm
"
Land and People: Finding a Balance is an environmental study project that engages high school students in studying earth science resource issues. The project focuses on the interaction between people and the environment in three regions of the United States: Cape Cod, Los Angeles, and the Everglades. Each section of this project is devoted to one of the three regions."
For grades 7-12. Excellent

LEARNING TO GIVE: LESSON PLANS                 NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/index_page.asp
Lesson plans that focus on environmental and societal issues through organizational and volunteer efforts. A different but practical approach to the topics. Excellent

●ARE YOU A RIVER KEEPER? – CURRICULUM UNIT             NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit5/
A unit for grades 6-8 on river quality. "Learners will examine the health of a river by conducting scientific quantitative and qualitative analysis. They will measure temperature, discover macroinvertebrate diversity and pH levels. They will examine processes of sediment deposition and draw conclusions based on data. Through learning about the four sectors, learners will relate the roles each have in supporting healthy water for all stakeholders. Students will understand the role of the legislature and nonprofit organizations in maintaining a healthy river and relate concepts of community capital, stewardship, individual and collective responsibility. They will complete a service project presentation that will educate other students, connect public interest nonprofit groups and involve learners in an action plan to improve river quality." Includes 4 lessons. Excellent

●BUILDING A MINI-PARK AND BIRD SANCTUARY – CURRICULUM UNIT             NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit11/
A unit for grades 3-5 on creating a park and bird sanctuary. "The learner will: ● read trade books about others who have built or helped to build parks and gardens that were meant to bring joy and peace into their own and others' lives. ● design a mini-park and bird sanctuary. ● locate an area on their own campus or in the surrounding area of their school, obtain the proper permission to build the park and/or garden, do the scientific studies needed to prepare for the park/garden, purchase needed supplies. ● take all the steps necessary to build and maintain the park/garden."
Includes 7 lessons. Excellent

●ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND THE THREE ECONOMIC SECTORS – CURRICULUM UNIT  
                                                                          NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit27/
A unit for grades 9-12 on organizations focused on the environment. "This unit sets the stage for an introduction to the three economic sectors: "profit," "nonprofit" and "government." The students learn what makes an organization fit into its appropriate category. Taking that information, they apply it to researching environmental groups within the three categories. Students must decide into which sector they fall and why. The students then take their knowledge of nonprofit organizations and apply that information to the research of nonprofit environmental organizations. The historical focus of this unit is the 1960's and the students are introduced to the factors that led to the creation of the environmental movement. The unit has a strong economic focus as well that allows student to interpret data about environmental nonprofit organizations investigated. This information is used as students decide how to invest their time and money in a nonprofit environmental organization." Includes 3 lessons. Excellent

●●FOOD FOR THOUGHT: HUNGER, AROUND THE BLOCK, AROUND THE WORLD –CURRICULUM UNIT
                                                                                                                                                    NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit172/
A unit for grades 9-12 on world hunger. "Learners will describe proper nutrition and compare their own eating habits with what is recommended by experts. They will define hunger and malnutrition and investigate local organizations from the four sectors of society which provide food for the hungry. Learners will research governmental and nongovernmental domestic and global programs dealing with hunger and describe the importance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in feeding the hungry." Includes 4 lessons. Excellent

●HELPING OTHERS TO FEED THEMSELVES – CURRICULUM UNIT         NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit140/
A unit for grades K-2 on nutrition and hunger. "In conjunction with a unit on nutrition, the students learn what they can do to help people who are living in poverty to be able to provide the necessary nutrition to their own families. (You could do this unit during October for World Hunger Day or in March for March is Reading Month. You might also do it in April in conjunction with Earth Day.)
Teacher Notes: You will need to order in advance a free leader’s guide from Heifer International. The guide arrives in 7-10 days and includes a book, video and complete instructions and materials for the "Read-to-Feed" program. Call 1-800-422-0474 or go to Heifer International’s Website <
www.readtofeed.org>. "Read to Feed" is a reading activity in which children solicit pledges for each book they read. Through pledges from friends and family, readers earn money to "purchase" food-producing animals and training for hungry families who lack necessary resources.
Be sensitive to the socio/economic and ethnic effects on the perception of a balanced meal or good diet."
Includes 4 lessons. This unit uses a guide from Heifer International for the project. It is free. Excellent

●THIS LAND IS OUR LAND: PERISH OR FLOURISH? – CURRICULUM UNIT         NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit188/
A unit for grades 6-8 on the use of public and private land. "A comparison is established in Lesson One: How Does My Government Grow? between the well being of living things and our democracy. Learners will describe the importance of Core Democratic Values in a democratic government and analyze the way they support philanthropy. The learner then investigates science concepts regarding plant life as the comparison continues to be further developed. Learners also learn about the many influencing factors when deciding how to use private and public land. During the academic service component, learners will have the opportunity to provide direct service as they plant and/or maintain flowers. Learners are empowered with many choices as they are engaged in many hands-on activities and group interaction which emphasize critical thinking and substantive conversation throughout the unit." Includes 5 lessons. Excellent

●WATER RESOURCES AND THE ROLE OF THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR – CURRICULUM UNIT
                                                                                                                                        NEW!
http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit124/
A unit for grades 6-8 on water resources. "Water is an essential element for life as we know it on earth. We know that the amount of water on the earth is finite. It is not an infinite resource nor is it strictly a renewable resource. We, as inhabitants of the planet, are constantly using and reusing the water we have. We know that the amount of water on the earth is the same now as it was two thousand years ago and beyond. The big difference between now and past milleniums is the amount of water per person, distribution of the water in relation to our ever increasing population and the quality of the water at our disposal. This unit will direct students to study these issues and to understand the role government(s), business and industry, the independent and family sectors play in preserving our water resources." Includes 4 lessons. Excellent

LESSONS ON THE LAKE – LESSON PLANS
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of98-805/lessons/index.htm
"The goal of Lessons on the Lake: An Educator's Guide to the Pontchartrain Basin is to educate students, grades 5-12, about the environmental importance of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. The guide facilitates instruction for teachers, allows easy access to information on environmental issues surrounding the watershed, and captures the interests of students. The activities provide youngsters with an understanding and appreciation of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin and give them the skills to identify environmental concerns, make changes, and solve problems. The ultimate goal of Lessons on the Lake is that, in addition to learning about the watershed, students will also acquire a strong sense of stewardship."
Although this focuses on the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, there is a lot of general information on wetlands. Excellent

LIQUID DENSITY AND OIL SPILLS – LESSON PLANS
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/trythisoil.html
A lesson plan on grades 6-8 on oil spills. "Students are probably aware that oil and water form separate layers when mixed together, but they may not have thought of this fact in terms of density. They will conduct a simple experiment demonstrating the variable densities of corn syrup, water, glycerin, and vegetable oil. Students will then transfer this concept to an examination of cleanup methods used in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They will conclude by writing paragraphs hypothesizing what would happen during an oil spill if oil and water were the same density and therefore mixed together easily." Excellent

LIVING IN THE BIOSPHERE: PRODUCTION, PATTERN, POPULATION AND DIVERSITY – LEARNING MODULE                                                                             NEW!
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/virtdept/module/biosphere/toc.html
"Biogeography examines questions of organism inventory and pattern, organisms' interactions with the environment, and the processes that create and change inventory, pattern, and interactions. What organisms are present in the assemblage of a space is an inventory question. The productivity of that space is a question of the environmental interactions of the organisms there. The question of an organism's distribution in differing abundance is a pattern problem. This module uses time series maps and simple simulation models to illustrate how human actions alter biological productivity patterns at local and global scales. The module also demonstrates how human alterations of land cover change the dispersal processes that affect the distribution patterns and diversity of organisms."
For grades 9 and up. Excellent

MAD ABOUT MADAGASCAR: EXPLORING A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040330tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on biodiversity. "In this lesson, students research the biodiversity of Madagascar and write policy statements with recommendations on how to preserve this island hotspot." Excellent

MAJOR BIOMES OF THE WORLD – LEARNING MODULE             NEW!
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/virtdept/contents.html
"This module presents basic content on the distribution and nature of the world's major biomes. It considers the structure, characteristic growthforms, and taxonomic affiliations of the vegetation; major soil order(s); and common adaptive characteristics of the fauna of the tundra, boreal forest, temperate broadleaf deciduous forest, tropical broadleaf evergreen forest, tropical savanna, temperate grasslands, desertscrub, and Mediterranean shrub biomes. Study hints and critical thinking questions follow the content units."
For senior high students. Excellent

MANAGING THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=79
A lesson plan on the Everglades for grades 9-12. "This lesson uses the Internet to explore the Everglades ecosystem using the resources on the Everglades National Park website, providing students with experiences that they may not be able to acquire firsthand. This investigation is most appropriate for a 9th or 10th grade biology class." Excellent

MATERIALS 2: RECYCLED MATERIALS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=17
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on recycling. "In Materials 2: Recycled Materials, students are introduced to the idea that some materials can be recycled. They will investigate the types of materials that can be reused, as well as potential uses for each type of recyclable material." Excellent

MATHEMATICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS – CURRICULUM UNIT
http://illuminations.nctm.org/index_o.aspx?id=84
A curriculum unit with five lesson plans applying math to environmental concerns. For grades K-8. "In the following lessons, students participate in activities in which they investigate the data in connection with recyclable materials and develop plans to help the environment.  This lesson includes an individual activity for four different levels and one for parents to complete with their child at home.  The grade levels for the four activities are: K-1, 2-4, 5-6, and 7-8.  The fifth activity is appropriate for grades K through 8." Excellent

MAXIE’S MAGNIFICENT GUIDE TO KEEPING OUR PLANET GREEN – LESSON PLANS
http://members.aol.com/donnandlee/Green.html
A list of resources and lesson plans for teachers on teaching the environment and environmental issues. Sections: Earth Day; Rainforests; Classroom Gardening; Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle; Trees/Forests; "Green" Clip Art; Our Environment; Plants & Fruits/Veggies; Endangered and More. Excellent

METEOROLOGY CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
 
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/crclm/act/home.rxml
Nine 90 minute classroom activities on topics such as Pressure, Air Masses, Precipitation Along Fronts, etc. Each classroom activity is accompanied by a teacher guide. There are also projects and other resources. A very extensive site. See also ONLINE METEOROLOGY GUIDES Excellent

THE MIGHTY HUDSON STRETCHES ITS MUSSELS: COMPARING NOTABLE ECOSYSTEM DISRUPTIONS… LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000404tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on ecosystem disruption for grades 6-12. "In this two-day lesson plan, students investigate how human and natural disturbances can impact the functioning and health of an ecosystem. Students research 'disturbed ecosystems,' present their findings to the class, and visually represent similarities and differences among ecosystem disturbances." Excellent

MINE OVER MATTER: INVESTIGATING THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES – LESSON PLAN                                                                                                                         NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060104wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students learn about the January 2006 Sago, West Virginia coal mining accident. They then research coal mining in the United States and use their data to create illustrated posters. Students' work will reflect the history, uses, and methods of mining as well as address health and safety hazards and concerns." Excellent

MODELING ORBITAL DEBRIS PROBLEMS – LESSON PLAN
http://illuminations.nctm.org/index_d.aspx?id=376
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on orbital debris. "In this lesson, students examine the problem of space pollution caused by human-made debris in orbit to develop an understanding of functions and modeling. It allows the students an opportunity to use spreadsheets, graphing calculators, and computer graphing utilities." Excellent

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES: EXPLORING THE HIMALYAS, ANDES AND APPALACHIANS - CURRICULUM UNIT                                                                         NEW!
http://www.kidsgardening.com/TMI/teachers/introduction.htm
A curriculum unit for grades 5-8 exploring three mountain rangers and their plant life focusing on the diversity of plants and water resources. "Welcome to Mountain Adventures: Exploring the Himalayas, Andes, and Appalachians. This curriculum is designed to introduce students (grades 5-8) to the role and importance of native plants in the United States and abroad. As students conduct situational simulated expeditions in the tallest (Himalayas), longest (Andes), and oldest (Appalachians) mountain ranges in the world, they explore different themes related to native plants, such as biodiversity and ethnobotany. Throughout the five modules comprising the curriculum students also conduct related local activities, enabling them to learn about their surroundings and to consider local/global commonalities." Excellent

THE NILE IN CRISIS- LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/03/g912/morellcrisis.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the Nile River and its human settlements. "High school students should be able to analyze the interrelationships between physical systems (such as rivers) and human settlements and activities. This activity asks them to examine the current water situation in the Nile River region, focusing on the Blue Nile and the Egyptian Nile, and to investigate ways in which the damming of the Nile has changed this river significantly from the way it was in ancient times." Excellent

NINE LIVES, ONE HABITAT: EVALUATING POTENTIAL SITES FOR REINTRODUCING THE ENDANGERED FLORIDA PANTHER – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20021015tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students explore the concept of the reintroduction of endangered species into new habitats. Students research and promote possible sites for reintroducing populations of Florida panthers outside of their current habitat in the Big Cypress Swamp region of southwest Florida." Excellent

NO MAGIC BORDERS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/gk2/nomagic.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on pollution. "Governments all over the world have protected natural areas of particular value or beauty. Various regulations determine what is allowed and what is prohibited in these areas. Yet, for a number of reasons, regulations may not be enough to protect wild areas and the resources within them. For example, neither exotic plants entering our communities nor polluted air from industrial areas observe borders. An arbitrary line on a map will not keep wildlife such as grizzly bears, wolves, or birds from leaving a protected area in search of food or force wildlife to follow a traditional migration pattern. In this lesson, students will learn about how important it is to take care of our land and protect it from pollution." Excellent

NOT JUST A CORNY IDEA: EXPLORING CUTTING-EDGE METHODS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060207tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on alternate energy sources. "In this lesson, students explore the ways in which ethanol can be created using alternate energy sources. Students will gain a broader understanding of the promising practices currently being utilized so that "ethanol can realize its potential" as a viable alternative to oil." Excellent

NURTURING NATURE: ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF HUMANS IN ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010123tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the environment. "In this lesson, students identify some of Earth's most serious environmental problems and what causes them. They then look into legislation and regulations designed to address these problems, and write letters to a relevant environmental organization stating their views about the ways that the problems are being addressed." Excellent

OPEN SEAS – BLUE PLANET SERIES – LESSON PLAN
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_openocean/
A lesson plan on life in the open ocean for grades 6-8. "Students will • research facts about animal species featured in the video; • prepare illustrated cards with facts; and • create a food-web display."   You may borrow the Blue Planet series from the AVA Center.  Excellent

OUR MISSION: SAVE PLANET EARTH – CURRICULUM GUIDE             NEW!
http://www.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/5/93.05.03.x.html
A curriculum guide for grades 4-6 on environmental problems. "The purpose of this environmental unit is for students at the fourth to sixth grade levels, working in cooperative groups, to research several key environmental problems and brainstorm possible solutions after intense investigation. My students ‘ "mission " will begin in the Amazon Basin of South America Here the "scientists " will research the devastating effects that deforestation and global warming have on the rain forest’s ecosystem. After analyzing data and developing theories for preserving the rain forests, our "scientists" will travel to Yaldez, Alaska, to evaluate clean-up techniques after the March 1989 Exxon spill that poured eleven million gallons of toxic, crude oil into Prince William Sound. After experimenting with various clean-up techniques, our research group will reach its final destination, the Antarctic Ocean to determine the effects that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons have on our depleting ozone layer." Excellent

PASSENGER PIGEONS: NOMADS LOST – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=5&DocID=374
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on extinction. "This lesson will help the class consider the human forces that drove the extinction, including both the collective mentality regarding conservation and the new technologies that made extinction a possibility. The lesson will also show how the biology of this bird locked it into a death spiral once its population had declined below a critical threshold. Finally, the lesson will suggest some implications of the loss of an abundant species for the ecosystems of which it was a part and how events that occurred a century or more ago can impact our modern world." Excellent

PEOPLE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/endangered.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on endangered species. "This lesson provides students with an overview of some endangered species and of the ways that human activities contribute to species endangerment. When studying these topics, it is important to provide students with a sense of optimism and to help them figure out ways they can help protect species. Students will be asked to devise their own species protection plans." Excellent

PLANET EARTH – A SUITE OF INTERACTIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES ON ECOLOGY – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://www.powayschools.com/projects/mt&r/PlanetEarthMainPage.htm
Web-based classroom activities on ecology aimed at grades 5-9. Topics: Make a Difference in Your World, the Earth’s Treasures, Ecology Hotlist (list of ecology links), and Conflict Yellowstone Wolves Webquest. Includes a Teacher Toolbox. Excellent

POLLUTION – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/pollute.html
A list of links about habitats and landforms. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

POPULATION ISSUES IN CHINA AND INDIA – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/g912/population.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on population density. "China and India are the two most populous countries in the world, but they have taken very different approaches to population control. Students will gather population statistics for these two countries, read about population issues in both places, and determine whether India should adopt a one-child policy like the one implemented by the Chinese government." Excellent

POPULATIONS AND ECOSYSTEMS – CURRICULUM MODULE             NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modulesMS/PopulationsandEcosystems/index.html
A curriculum module for middle school students. "The Populations and Ecosystems Course explores ecosystems as the largest organizational unit of life on Earth, defined by their physical environment and the organisms that live in them. Students learn that every organism plays a role in its ecosystem and has structures and behaviors that allow it to survive. Students raise populations of organisms to discover population dynamics and interactions over a range of conditions. They learn that food is the source of energy used by all lifeforms in all ecosystems to conduct life processes. Reproduction (including limiting factors), heredity, and natural selection are explored as ways to understand both the similarity and the variation within and between species." For middle school students. Excellent

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE: ENDANGERED SPECIES – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/habitat68.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students will learn about endangered species in the United States, some of the reasons they are endangered (e.g. habitat destruction or the introduction of invasive species), and what is being done to protect them. Students will choose one species to focus on and examine the reasons it is endangered, and why it is important to make an effort to save it." Excellent

POWER PLANS: ROLE-PLAYING A COMMITTEE HEARING ON NUCLEAR POWER AND SAFETY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040810tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on nuclear power. "In this lesson, students will consider what they already know about nuclear power and its uses and then examine an accident at a nuclear power plant. They then research and create reports on nuclear energy." Excellent

POWER PLAY: EXAMINING THE CURRENT CLIMATE OF ENERGY CONSERVATION AND CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010521monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on energy conservation. "In this lesson, students explore their own attitudes and practices regarding energy use, and then examine the perspectives of others in order to develop their understanding of the current political debate on energy policy." Excellent

THE POWERS THAT BE: EXAMINING THE LEGISLATION UNDERLYING U.S. ENERGY POLICIES SINCE 1970 – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030414monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on energy policies for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students investigate past energy legislation, then write letters to Congress from the perspective of citizens trying to influence the original passage of these bills." Excellent

PRAIRIE CHICKEN PAGEANT – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/16/g35/prairie35.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on prairie chickens and the efforts to preserve them. "In this lesson, students will learn about the challenges of saving the prairie-chicken in its American habitat. They will study the habits of prairie-chickens and learn about what is being done to save them, and the conserve the areas in which they live." Excellent

PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT? SAYS WHO? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g35/molson.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on preservation. "In this lesson, students will learn about Olson's efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants, and consider the issues surrounding conservation efforts in a variety of contexts. Students will read National Geographic Kids News articles and identify different viewpoints regarding conservation issues. They will then explain the ways in which people's backgrounds and experiences influence their views of conservation." Excellent

PRESERVATION ISSUES: COMPETING INTERESTS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g68/molson.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on preservation. "In this lesson, students will learn about Olson's efforts to identify extinct or nearly extinct plants, and consider the issues surrounding conservation efforts in a variety of contexts. Students will compare the perspectives of those who are most intensely involved in both wildlife conservation and agriculture, and form an opinion as to what might be done to reconcile their conflicting priorities. Students will research two sides of a specific issue and construct arguments supporting specific viewpoints." Excellent

PRESERVING PARADISE: LOCATING ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD – LESSON PLAN                                                                                             NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060125wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered ecosystems. "In this lesson, students learn about the death of conservationist Joan Root and her efforts to protect Kenya’s Lake Naivasha. They then research other endangered "hotspots" around the world and design ad campaigns to help create public awareness of these ecosystems." Excellent

THE PRICE OF POWER: TAKING A STANCE ON THE DEBATE OVER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGULATIONS FOR COAL-BURNING POWER PLANTS - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020827tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on energy resources for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students learn about the current political debate over regulating power plant emissions. They then research, formulate, and present arguments regarding selective catalytic reduction systems for coal-burning plants." Excellent

THE PROS AND CONS OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g912/artificialreefs.html
A lesson plan on artificial reefs for grades 9-12. "This lesson asks students to consider whether artificial reefs (human-made objects in the ocean or sea) are good for marine ecosystems. Students will look at pictures of artificial reefs and read articles describing the pros and cons of these structures. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining whether they think a new artificial reef should be created in Florida waters." Excellent

PROTECT OUR PLANET – CURRICULUM UNIT
http://mars.ecesc.k12.in.us/units/planet/PROPLA~1.HTML
A curriculum unit for upper elementary students designed to promote environmental awareness. Contains eight lesson plans. Excellent

PROTECTING AFRICA’S WILDLIFE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/gk2/africawildlife.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on protecting wildlife. "In this lesson, students will consider how people affect the natural environment in their home area and in Africa. They will learn about two African habitats (the savanna and the rain forest) and some of the animals that live there, and focus on how cheetahs and chimpanzees make use of their habitats. Students will conclude by creating posters to encourage people to protect the savanna and the rain forest, as well as the animals in the area where they live." Excellent

PROTECTING HOLY COWS: THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION, INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE WORLD’S BIOMES – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19981021wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grade 6-12 on pollution. "In this lesson, students reflect on and research how humans affect animal life, plant life, and environmental conditions of specific biomes, particularly due to pollution and industrialization." Excellent

PUBLIC LANDS: PRESERVE OR DEVELOP? – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g68/preserveordevelop.html
A lesson plan on public land management for grades 6-8. "This lesson introduces students to the various ways that public lands are valued, used, and managed in the United States. Students will compare and contrast different types of public lands, then simulate the decision-making and communication involved in converting private land to public land, taking into consideration the location, terrain, and climate of the land, as well as the needs and desires of the region's residents. Students will imagine that they are able to bequeath a parcel of land to their state for public use, then create an argument for the best use of the property." Excellent

PUMP IT UP: EXAMINING THE USE AND IMPORTANCE OF GASOLINE AND OTHER ENERGY SOURCES AROUND THE WORLD – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040602wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on energy sources. "In this lesson, students explore the rising cost of gasoline and how it impacts people around the world differently. They learn about gasoline usage and alternate forms of energy used in several countries, and then consider the relationship between people in their country and oil." Excellent

THE QUEST FOR LESS – ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES FOR TEACHING K-6             NEW URL!
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/quest/index.htm
A teacher resource from the EPA on the environment, pollution, waste management and more. Click on the topics on the left for a list of activity sheets and lessons. Excellent

RAIN FOREST – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS         NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/rforest.html
A list of links about the rain forest. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

RAINFOREST ALLIANCE LESSON PLANS         ADDED GRADES 7-8
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/education/teachers/curriculum/index.html
A collection of lesson plans for grades K-8 on the rainforest. Each grade has multiple lesson plans plus additional information and activities. Outstanding. Now expanded to 8th grade. Excellent

RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING LESSON PLANS
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Environ/recycle.html
Information and links on recycling and composting and then lesson plans. Also in Websites section. Excellent

RECYCLING – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS             NEW!
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/recycle.html
A list of links about recycling. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Lesson Plans section. Excellent

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES – LESSON PLAN
 
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=26
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on renewable energy sources. "This lesson is designed to help students investigate and evaluate renewable energy sources. Most students can name several renewable resources, but have little understanding of them. It's important for students to examine controversial issues associated with renewable energy sources from multiple perspectives; by exploring benefits, drawbacks, and social ramifications, students will develop a deeper appreciation for these complex issues. " Excellent

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: ENDANGERED SPECIES SURVIVING ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001024tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-2 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students research endangered animal species that have 'beaten the odds' as they continue to survive longer than scientists had expected. Students write individual pages for a class book about endangered species." Excellent

SAND DOLLARS: EXAMINING THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF LAND DEVELOPMENT IN THE BAHAMAS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000301wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on development of resources. "In this lesson, students debate the issues of economic prosperity, cultural preservation and environmental preservation in examining the proposed development of land in the Bahamas." Excellent

SCHOLASTIC’S CELEBRATE EARTH DAY – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/earthday/index.htm
Seven activities for Earth Day. Excellent

SEASONAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET SERIES – LESSON PLAN
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_seasonalseas/
A lesson plan on seasonal changes in the oceans for grades 6-8. "Students will • research a marine invertebrate and create an illustrated report; and • contribute to a classroom exhibit." You may borrow the Blue Planet series from the AVA Center.  Excellent

SEEING THE FORESTS FOR THE TREES: EXPLORING TROPICAL FORESTS AS NATURAL RESOURCES - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020821wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on natural resources. "In this lesson, students explore changing logging practices in the Congo Republic and research the many roles of tropical forests as a natural resource. To synthesize their understanding, students write letters to loggers in Africa, urging them to adopt responsible logging practices." Excellent

SEEING THE HUMAN IMPACT ON AFRICA: WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM A PLANE? – LESSON PLAN   
                                                                     NEW!

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g68/africaplane.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the human impact on Africa. "After visiting the National Geographic magazine feature Africa MegaFlyover reading the National Geographic News article about Michael Fay, Africa Explorer Takes Off on Yearlong Aerial Survey, students will analyze several maps of Africa to see where the greatest levels of human impact can be observed. They will look at photographs from different parts of Africa showing both its human and natural landscapes, and will consider what these images might look like from the air. Students will conclude by writing letters pretending they are traveling on the MegaFlyover project and predicting the human impacts they will observe." Excellent

SHEDD EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES – SHEDD AQUARIUM – LESSON PLANS
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/
Lesson plans, activity guides and other resources on the ocean, ocean creatures, and aquatic habitats. Excellent

SIMFOREST SOFTWARE                 NEW!
http://ddc.hampshire.edu/simforest/index.html
"Students can plant trees from a pool of over 30 regional species, set environmental parameters such as rain fall, temperature, and soil conditions, and watch the forest plot grow and evolve over many years. A forest plot's sensitivity to natural and man-made disturbances can be evaluated, and emergent properties such as species succession can be observed. Graphing and analysis tools are provided to make inquiry more efficient. There are two versions of the SimForest educational simulation that you dan download from this site: the "back box" simulation and the "glass box" simulation. In the more advanced glass box version learners can inspect and modify the underlying forest growth model (however, the glass box version is still an early prototype--download at your own risk!)."
Click on Curriculum Materials for the curriculum guide. The software and curriculum materials are aimed for grades 7-12. There does not appear to be any charge for using the program. Excellent

SOCIAL STUDIES RECYCLING CURRICULUM FOR K-5
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/Recycle.html
Four to six lesson plans per grade for grades K-5 on recycling. Outstanding. Excellent

SOLAR ENERGY – CURRICULUM MODULE             NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/SolarEnergy/index.html
A curriculum module for grades 3-6. "The Solar Energy Module consists of four investigations that allow students to experience solar energy firsthand and to investigate the variables that affect solar-energy transfer." Excellent

A SORE SIGHT FOR EYES: EXAMINING VISUAL POLLUTION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000907thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on blight. "In this lesson, students consider 'visual blights,' including technology-related ones, in their communities. Students will closely examine one 'eyesore' and present planning recommendations to a mock local zoning board." Excellent

SPACESHIP EARTH – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=295
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the Earth as a system. "This lesson is entitled Spaceship Earth to reinforce the idea that our planet is–in reality–like a spaceship hurtling through space on a long-duration mission. There is no resupply from outside sources. Recycling is as much a part of the natural order of things as is the sunrise everyday. Pollution occurs when there are outputs that cannot be used as inputs for something else. Pollution is harmful and can be downright dangerous. The connections between parts of the natural system are imperative to its normal operation. By actively thinking through what it takes to keep people alive on a spaceship, the students will come to understand more fully what it takes to keep people alive on this planet." Excellent

SPECIES FOR SALE: ENDANGERED SPECIES AS COMMODITIES- A SCIENCE LESSON – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990504tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "Students explore wildlife conservation by investigating animal species that are near extinction due to their value as commodities. Students defend the protection of an endangered species researched in class by creating an informational poster and by writing a position paper that explains the importance of preserving this species." Excellent

SPIRIT BEAR SPEAKS: PROMOTING CULTURALLY SENSTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM IN THE GREAT BEAR RAIN FOREST – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060208wednesday.html
A lesson plan on ecotourism for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students learn about the recent groundbreaking agreement to preserve five million acres of Canada’s Great Bear Rain Forest. They then create informative ecotourism brochures highlighting such topics as Native Canadian culture and history, animal species and aquaculture of the Great Bear, responsible logging, ecotourist activities and accommodations, and others." Excellent

SPRAWL: THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL SITUATION – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/12/g912/sprawlnational.html
A lesson plan on urban sprawl for grades 9-12. "Since urban sprawl is such a noticeable part of today's American landscape, students may already be familiar with many of the characteristics of sprawl and the issues that accompany it. In this lesson, they will investigate how sprawl impacts the environment, people's daily lives, and the local and regional economy. Students will draw mental maps to illustrate their impressions of modern suburbs, and view maps and aerial photos of a nineteenth century town that has recently become a modern suburb. They will conclude by researching and reporting on the sprawl situation in a nearby metropolitan area." Excellent

SQUARE OF LIFE – STUDIES IN LOCAL AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTS – A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT  NEW!
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/squareproj/index.htm
"In this project students will plot square meters in their school yards and record the living and non-living things that are found therein. They will submit this information to the project database for all to view. Students will then compare and contrast their information with that submitted by other classes and prepare a brief report or presentation that will be posted to the project web site. Throughout the run of the project, classes will be encouraged to communicate with other schools via the Discussion Area."
For middle school/junior high students. Excellent

THE SUN TIMES – THE GLOBAL SUN TEMPERATURE PROJECT – A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT    NEW!
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/tempproj3/en/
"The Global Sun Temperature Project is an Internet-based multidisciplinary project which will enrich a student's learning experience through "Unique and Compelling" applications of instructional technology. In particular, this project taps into some of the exciting applications of the Internet in education by having students collaborate in large numbers across great distances to determine how proximity to the equator affects average daily temperature and hours of sunlight."  
For middle school/junior high students. Excellent

TAIGA – LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/taiga.html
A list of links about the taiga. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

TAKE A DIP: THE WATER IN OUR LIVES PROJECT – A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT     NEW!
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/dipproj2/en/
"this project taps into some of the exciting applications of the Internet in education by having students collaborate in large numbers across great distances to compare water quality data and organisms found at the water sampling site. By participating in this project, students also have the opportunity to interact with experts online, use an online asynchronous discussion board to to discuss project-related topics, and publish their own work to this project web site."
For middle school/junior high students. Excellent

TAKING CARE OF OUR OCEANS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/gk2/seascare.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on oceans. "In a 2000 report, the World Resources Institute stated the following: "In 1995, over 2.2 billion people—39 percent of the world's population—lived within 100 km of a coast, an increase from 2 billion people in 1990. The coastal area accounts for only 20 percent of all land area." According to 2002 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, over 50 percent of people in the United States live within 50 miles of the ocean or Great Lakes. High coastal population densities have an impact on marine life, such as sea turtles and manatees. In this lesson, students will consider why so many people live near the coast and learn about the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. They will make posters to educate coastal residents and visitors about human impacts on marine life." Excellent

TAKING FROM THE GIVING TREE: EXPLORING LEGISLATION RELATING TO THE PRESERVATION OF URBAN TREES – LESSON PLAN                                 NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060131tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on preservation of trees. "In this lesson, students explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of proposed and enacted legislation as it relates to preserving and planting trees in urban environments." Excellent

TALKING TRASH ABOUT THE OCEANS: CREATING A COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STOP OFFSHORE DUMPING – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000718tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on pollution. "In this lesson, students create a community service advertising campaign that raises awareness about the importance of keeping trash out of the marine ecosystem. Students work in teams to create different ad campaigns geared toward particular target audiences. Students implement their plans by producing posters promoting their messages." Excellent

TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT BACKYARD CONSERVATION - LESSON PLANS
http://www.wildlifehc.org/managementtools/backyard-lessonplans.cfm
Lesson plans and information for teaching grades 3-12 about conservation measures to take in our own backyards and our communities. Excellent

There's No Place Like Home - Exploring How Animals and Insects Adapt to Habitat Fragmentation – LESSON PLAN http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020108tuesday.html
A lesson plan from the New York Times for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students speculate about why animals leave their natural habitats and how various species react differently to habitat fragmentation. They then synthesize their understanding of habitat fragmentation by designing a shopping district that would aim to minimize the harmful effects of habitat fragmentation on certain species in their city or state." Excellent

THIRSTY FOR DROUGHT RELIEF: EVALUATING DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING DROUGHT CONDITIONS - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030128tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on drought. "In this lesson, students research a variety of drought-related concerns, acting as part of a ‘drought preparedness taskforce.’ They then propose next steps for the government to take in case of drought and assess the viability of these proposals." Excellent

30 GOOD REASONS FOR TREES – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/earth/trees.html
A science activity for elementary classes in which they produce a book 30 Good Reasons for Trees. Excellent

TIDAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET SERIES – LESSON PLAN
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_tidalseas/
A lesson plan on tidal changes in the oceans for grades 6-8. "Students will • discuss specific examples of how tides affect the hunting, survival, or breeding behaviors of animals; and • work in pairs to create their own "Tidal Trivia" game." You may borrow the Blue Planet series from the AVA Center.  Excellent

TILMAN’S ECOSYSTEM SURVIVAL KIT: THE EXPLORATION OF ECOSYSTEMS: A LESSON FOR THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM – LESSON PLAN                NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19981006tuesday.html
A lesson plan on ecosystems for grades 6-12. "Students will explore the relationship between species and how species survive and coexist in their specific environments. Students will read and discuss pertinent facts from the Times article 'Scientist at Work: Ecologists Measures Nature's Mosaic, One Plot at a Time.' Finally, students will conduct their own research project on a specific ecosystem." Excellent

TINKERING WITH MOTHER NATURE – GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://gmhsscience.com/GMO/
A webquest for senior high students on genetically modified foods and their effects on human, plants and animals. "A quote from the Bible reads "All flesh is grass."  The ancients were keenly aware of  the relationship between the foods we eat and our own bodies.  However, the foods they ate were designed as nature intended.  Today, many foods are genetically altered to increase yield or nutritional benefit.  How is this alteration affecting the plants, the planet and, ultimately, us?
You are attending the International Conference for Genetic Technology.  The focus question of the conference is "How should governments regulate the production and distribution of genetically modified food products?"  From discussion generated at the conference, a consensus opinion will be generated that will be used as the basis for a public service information product created and distributed by the Conference organizers."
We found a couple of broken links on this site. Excellent

TOO BRIGHT AT NIGHT? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=242
A lesson plan on light pollution for grades 6-8. "In this lesson, students will consider the negative consequences of nighttime lighting, enabled by the invention of electric lights at the close of the 19th Century. They will discover that there are unintended consequences resulting from our ability to illuminate the night, just as there are benefits. In particular, they will learn how excessive night lighting in suburbs and in rural areas from street lamps and other sources of "light pollution" have obscured our view of constellations, meteor showers, and even the planets. This has had an impact not only on our enjoyment of the night sky, but also on the science of astronomy which relies on observations of extremely faint objects that can be made only with large telescopes at sites free of air pollution and urban sky glow." Excellent

TOUR DU JOUR: PROJECTING THE IMPACT OF INCREASING GLOBAL TEMPERATURES ON THE TOURIST ECONOMY – LESSON PLAN                             NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20060315wednesday.html
A webquest for grades 6-12 on global environmental changes. "In this lesson, students learn how warmer temperatures have impacted ice drift tourism on the northern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. They then consider the ways a continued warming trend might impact other global tourist destinations in the future." Excellent

TOXIC TECHNOLOGY: EXAMINING MATERIALS USED TO MAKE COMPUTERS AND PERSUADING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO RECYCLE THEM PROPERLY – LESSON PLAN           NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051025tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on recycling in which students learn about the materials used in computers and the need to recycle them. Excellent

TRACKING GORILLAS IN THE MIST: EXPLORING THE INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY INTO CONSERVATION – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000411tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on conservation. "In this lesson, students investigate the technologies used in monitoring and tracking the habitat of the mountain gorilla to better understand how technology is being integrated into conservation efforts." Excellent

TREES – CURRICULUM MODULE                     NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/Trees/index.html
A curriculum module for grades K-2. "The giant sequoia is the most massive living organism on Earth. It is a tree, magnificent in dimension and awe inspiring in its longevity and durability. To stand in the company of such giants is to experience the scale of life. To a kindergartner the oak on the corner, the pines at the park, and the mulberry trees at school are giants. Systematic investigation of trees will bring students to a better understanding of trees' place at school and in the community, and will provide some solid experiences on the way to understanding all plants." Excellent

TUNDRA– LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/tundra.html
A list of links about the tundra. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

TURNING THE TIDE ON TRASH: MARINE DEBRIS CURRICULUM
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/OCPD/Marine/contents.html
A curriculum unit for junior/senior high students on marine debris, its impact on marine life and possible solutions. Excellent

UNDERSTANDING WILDERNESS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g912/wilderness.html
A lesson plan on wilderness for grades 9-12. "This lesson introduces students to the concept of wilderness and the role that wilderness preservation has played throughout American history. Students will conduct research on different historical wilderness issues or events and analyze those events in the context of the political and cultural climate of that particular time." Excellent

UP FOR RENEWAL: EXPLORING MODERN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES- LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050727wednesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on renewable energy. "In this lesson, students learn about China’s nationwide renewable energy law and its expanding wind energy industry. They then explore various types of modern renewable energy sources and the ways in which they are implemented" Excellent

URBAN ECOSYSTEMS– LESSON PLAN SERIES
A series of five lesson plans for grades 6-8 showing that cities are a special type of ecosystem. Excellent
 

1/ URBAN ECOSYSTEMS 1: CITIES ARE URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

                        http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=276

“Urban Ecosystems 1 introduces some of the principles of ecology, including the definition of an ecosystem as a community of living organisms interacting with its non-living environment. Students will be introduced to the study of ecosystems and models that are used by urban ecologists. The class will be invited to visit websites to see where the cities are on the planet, and they will have a chance to try some hands-on urban nature education activities.
A common student misconception related to this topic is that cities are separate from nature and do not need to be considered in the study of ecosystems. According to urban historians, this view is largely a phenomenon of the Enlightenment and Romantic period, which gathered particular strength in the new
United States following the American Revolution. The founders had a strong focus on agrarianism and there were very definite fears of urban growth corrupting American politics and society—as they felt had happened in the Old World.”

 

 2/URBAN ECOSYSTEMS 2: WHY ARE THERE CITIES? AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=6-8&BenchmarkID=4&DocID=277

“Urban Ecosystems 2 looks at the conditions that led to the development of early cities (i.e. food production), as well as some of the factors that caused the decline of early cities (i.e. unsustainable resource use). Students will visit a variety of online sites to see pictures and perform exercises. They will try to bring their learning back home again in the summary exercises that focus on their personal family histories and the history of their local urban ecosystems.
A common student misconception related to this topic is that because of technology, cities are not governed by the natural laws that apply to other ecosystems. In fact, because of their intensive resource use in nearby areas, cities throughout history give us very good examples of how unsustainable use of natural resources can result in disaster.”

 

 3/ URBAN ECOSYSTEMS 3: CITIES AS POPULATION CENTERS

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=6-8&BenchmarkID=4&DocID=278

“Urban Ecosystems 3 looks at the enormous increase in size and number of cities in the very recent past and the influence of fossil fuel use in particular on urbanization. In this lesson, students will visit a variety of websites that deal with urban population, fossil fuel consumption, and the signals (i.e. carbon dioxide emissions) that can be used to track population changes.

A common student misconception related to this topic is that “what is now has always been.” In fact, the last two generations have seen astronomical growth in the size of cities, in the proportion of the world population that lives in cities, and in fossil fuel use. 

 

4/URBAN ECOSYSTEMS 4: METABOLISM OF URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=279

“Urban Ecosystems 4 will show students that most of the materials and energy used by a city come from outside the city boundaries. Students will need to have at least a general working understanding of the concepts of flow (as in energy flow) and cycles (as in nutrient cycles) in order to get the most out of this lesson. The Development section includes elements of a tutorial. A general ecology text, or the ecology chapter of a biology text, could be consulted for more detail.”

 

 5/ URBAN ECOSYSTEMS 5: IN DEFENSE OF CITIES

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=280

“In Urban Ecosystems 5, the class will learn about the concept of an ecological footprint. They will use an online ecological footprint calculator to compare the environmental impact of different levels of resource use, kinds of transportation, and similar factors. The second exercise will explore the natural world that exists in their community, no matter how urban it might be. Finally, they will brainstorm the qualities and characteristics of what they might consider an excellent, livable community.”

USING VENN DIAGRAMS TO COMPARE TWO ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/venn.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on ecosystems. "The following lesson helps students identify and describe differences between two related ecosystems. By acquiring geographic information from a number of sources, and by using that information to complete a Venn diagram—two overlapping ovals in which one can chart the exclusive and shared characteristics of two ecosystems—students will understand the distribution of temperate and tropical rain forests and the unique characteristics of both." Excellent

WANTED: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: INVESTIGATING CAUSES, EFFECTS AND METHODS TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990520thursday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on pollution. "In this lesson, students examine the causes and effects of air pollution, as well as ways in which various industries and government organizations are aiming to control it. Students first use the Internet to answer a series of questions about air pollution and to compile a list of related Web sites, and then use these Web sites to create informative posters about specific air pollution topics." Excellent

WATER – CURRICULUM MODULE             NEW!
http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/Water/index.html
A curriculum module for grades 3-6. "Water is the most important substance on Earth. Water dominates the surface of our planet, changes the face of the land, and defines life. These powerful, pervasive ideas are introduced here. The Water Module consists of four investigations in which students explore properties of water, changes in water, interactions between water and other earth materials, and how humans use water."   Excellent

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g912/newswater.html
A lesson plan on water conservation for grades 9-12. "Most Americans take an endless supply of drinkable water for granted. This is not so in all parts of the world. The goal of this lesson is to familiarize students with the realities about water supply in other nations, as well as in the United States, and what the future holds." Excellent

WATT’S UP? A CO-NECT ENERGY PROJECT             NEW!
http://exchange.co-nect.net/Teleprojects/project/?pid=1&session=vvsj9ZSHz1G&cid=1
"Through this project, students monitor electricity use in their school, compare this data with other schools, develop and implement a conservation plan, and try to significantly curtail electricity use and spending."
A project for upper elementary students in which they learn how to monitor electricity use and develop a conservation plan. Covers 4 weeks. Needs a free sign-up. Excellent

WEATHERING THE WEATHER: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON YOUR COMMUNITY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990518tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan on global warming for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students investigate global warming through initial discussion of recent findings regarding weather patterns. Students act as city planning 'committees' concerned with how the trends in global warming will affect the agriculture, industries and other aspects of their city. Each committee develops a series of strategies to better prepare for global warming trends in their city, as well as proposes ideas for ways in which people in the city can combat the causes of global warming." Excellent

WE’RE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY – CURRICULUM UNIT
http://www.stf.sk.ca/teaching_res/library/teach_mat_centre/tmc/e11270/e11270.htm
A curriculum unit for grade 4 on the environment. Note that you can substitute your own books and videos for those in the unit. Excellent

WETLAND WELFARE: PREPARING ORAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT WETLANDS IN THE UNITED STATES – LESSON PLAN
                                                                                      NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050906tuesday.html
A lesson plan on wetlands for grades 6-12. "In this lesson, students research wetlands in the United States and create visual aids for use in oral presentations that make recommendations on preserving or restoring wetland welfare." Excellent

WETLANDS – LEARNING ABOUT WETLANDS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/land/wetland/
An elementary level page on wetlands with Things to Study and Things To Do. Excellent

WETLANDS– LIST OF LINKS – LESSON PLANS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/wetlands.html
A list of links about wetlands. Suitable for elementary students. Includes Research/Informational Sites and Lesson Plans/Activities. Also in Websites section. Excellent

WHAT’S SO KEY ABOUT A KEYSTONE SPECIES? – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g912/co2.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on keystone species. "Students will learn about Tiger Sharks through Web sites such as National Geographic: Filming Tiger Sharks. Students will draw food chains and conduct a simulation to see the relationship between members of the Shark Bay ecosystem and to understand why the tiger shark is considered a keystone species. They will conclude by writing paragraphs describing these relationships." Excellent

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE OCEANS? CAN PHOTOGRAPHY HELP?– LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g912/doubiletwrong.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the environmental problems facing the world’s oceans. "Students at this level should be continuing their studies of the world's environmental problems and the factors that contribute to these problems, as well as learning about and hypothesizing potential solutions. In this lesson, students will research environmental problems facing the world's oceans and will think about how the art of photography can help solve these problems, using David Doubilet's photography as an example." Excellent

WHEN THINGS START HEATING UP – LESSON PLAN
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=330
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on the heat generated by human activities. "Purpose To understand how and why heat is produced from things that give off light, from machines, or when one thing is rubbed against another." Excellent

WHO GIVES A HOOT? DISCOVERING THE INTRICACY OF FOOD CHAINS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20050308tuesday.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on food chains. "In this lesson, students consider an unusually large wave of owl migration and its various impacts on the environment and food chain. They then understand how different biological and environmental factors affect a food chain by creating a model and posing questions about a particular species." Excellent

WHO PAYS THE PRICE WHEN A SEA DISAPPEARS? – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/disappear.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on environmental changes. "This lesson asks students to learn about the problems in the Aral Sea region and to discover how the sea's water loss is affecting specific groups of people, such as babies and fishers. They will work in groups to prepare statements that these people might make, and will present their statements to a mock United Nations panel." Excellent

WHO SEES THE SEAS AS IMPORTANT? – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/gk2/thys.html
A lesson plan on the importance of our oceans for grades K-2. "In this lesson, students will learn about some people who think the ocean is so important that they have devoted their lives to studying it and its inhabitants. Students will learn about a specific type of fish, and compare it to other fish using information gathered by people who are studying these animals." Excellent

WHOOPING CRANES AND THEIR HUMAN FRIENDS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/gk2/migrationcranes.html
A lesson plan for grades K-2 on whooping cranes. "This lesson shows students how people are helping endangered whooping cranes by teaching cranes raised in captivity how to live in the wild and how to migrate. Students will view videos or photographs of whooping cranes being raised by mechanical crane-like puppets and being led in their first migration journeys by piloted ultra light aircraft disguised as birds. They will conclude by creating timelines showing the process by which whooping cranes are raised in captivity and taught migration routes." Excellent

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE REINTRODUCED WOLF?: THE EFFECTS OF REINTRODUCING SPECIES INTO HABITATS CHANGED BY HUMANS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000314tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students investigate the impacts of the reintroduction of animal species to the animals' natural habitats, the animals themselves and humans." Excellent

WHOSE RITE IS IT? EXPLORING NATIVE AMERICAN AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAWS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001120monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on endangered species. "In this lesson, students explore and debate, from multiple perspectives, a petition to allow Hopi Indians to take golden eagle hatchlings from a federal wildlife sanctuary for use in a religious ceremony." Excellent

WILD WILDLIFE: EXPLORING THE MORAL, ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF ANIMAL EXTINCTION - LESSON PLAN
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19991012tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on extinction. "In this lesson, students investigate the moral, economic and ecological impacts of the extinction of various animal species. Students first assess how and why people support and refute actions that lead to the extinction of animals. They then examine how the wild tiger population has grown from near-extinction due to conservation efforts. Finally, after research on a specific animal currently near extinction, students defend the protection of that endangered species through a persuasive speech." Excellent

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE MANATEE – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/manateeworking.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the endangered manatee. "In this lesson, students will research the manatee to find out why it is endangered. They will write speeches they might give to boaters who are interested in helping protect the manatee." Excellent

WORM BIN PROJECT UNIT
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/letsnet/NoFrames/Subjects/science/b2u1.html
A unit on decomposition of waste using worm bins for middle elementary students. " In this unit, students will learn about decomposition and the life cycle by creating worm bins. Through direct observation, they will develop an understanding of the effects different organisms, including humans, have on one another. They will collect and share scientific data with students in another school over email. Such activities will give students an opportunity to explore scientific concepts in a manner that makes science more personally relevant and meaningful.
    Students will be able to collect background information on the worm bin project using some of the resources provided as well as directed Internet and library searches.
    The plans for this unit are tailored to fit classroom situations where students and teachers have access to several computers that have internet access. To accommodate the fact that few classrooms will have access to a computer lab with full Internet access, students will work in research groups to explore internet sites and conduct internet research."
Excellent

ALL ABOUT WATER - LESSON PLANS
http://www.courses.dsu.edu/eled320-360/Spring%202002/Gottschall/Unit/teacherwebsite.htm
Five lesson plans on water, water pollution and water conservation, all for 3rd grade. Very Good

BRINGING THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT DOWN TO EARTH – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/activity/earth/earth-4.html
A classroom activity for grades 9-12 on the Greenhouse Effect. Very Good

DEAD ZONES: WHY ARE THE WATERS DYING? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/lessons/howarthlessons.pdf
A lesson plan for high school students on the factors that disrupt underwater ecosystems. Students read articles about oxygen depletion and how it leads to "dead zones" in the ocean. There are two scenarios for discussion. Includes discussion questions for teachers. Very Good

DOWN THE DRAIN: HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU USE? – COLLABORATIVE PROJECT   NEW!
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/index.html
"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."
For grades 4-8. Very Good

EARTH DAY FROM ABC TEACH – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/d_april/earth_day/
A collection of puzzles and activities for Earth Day. Very Good

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSON PLANS
http://www.geoec.org/lessons/index.html
A group of lesson plans on environmental topics. Very Good

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE POLAR REGIONS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/05/g912/polarregions.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the polar regions and their environment. "The polar regions are frequently neglected in discussions of the environment, but they shouldn't be. The environment of the polar regions is particularly susceptible to human impacts such as pollution and the depletion of the ozone layer. Moreover, the effects of global warming on the polar regions are likely to have major repercussions in the rest of the world. Students will learn about how environmental problems affect the polar regions, and they will create magazine ads to educate the public about these problems and to convince people to pay more attention to human impacts on the Arctic and Antarctic." Very Good

GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PROJECT – CURRICULUM PROJECT
http://www.monroe.k12.il.us/websites/bking/project_outline.htm
A project for grades 4-8. A curriculum project on recycling and waste management. Very Good

GLOBAL WARMING – CURRICULUM UNIT
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/letsnet/noframes/subjects/science/b5u1.html
A five-lesson curriculum unit on Global Warming for middle-senior high students. Very Good

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT IN A JAR – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/activity/earth/earth-5.html
A classroom activity for grades K-8 on the Greenhouse Effect. Very Good

HOW DOES ACID RAIN AFFECT AN ECOSYSTEM? – DIRTMEISTER’S SCIENCE LAB
http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/ecosys/index.htm
Students follow the Dirtmeister, perform experiments and share the results. Has a Teacher’s Guide. Very Good

HOW MUCH RAIN IN A RAINFOREST? – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/theme/rain1.htm
"Activity: Students compare the annual rainfall of the world’s major ecosystems, then create a bar graph comparing the annual rainfall of the Amazon rain forest to the annual rainfall in different regions of the United States. They will apply graph skills to see how rainfall varies in different ecosystems and parts of the world."
Very Good

HYDROTHERMAL VENT COMMUNITIES – LESSON PLAN
 
http://www.botos.com/marine/vents01.html
A lesson plan for grades 7-10 on hydrothermal vents. "This webpage will familiarize students with a hydrothermal vent habitat. Students will learn where vents are likely to form, how they form, and how physical conditions contribute to the development of a living vent community and to its eventual demise." Includes information on the various aspects of geothermal vents. Very Good

A LOOK AT THE POPULATION DENSITY OF THE UNITED STATES – LESSON PLAN        NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g912/density.html
A lesson plan on population density for grades 9-12. "Students will create maps showing the population density of the U.S. at different scales. This will enable students to organize spatial information in categories, analyze the information, and draw conclusions." Very Good

LOW-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE: A GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g912/nuclearwaste.html
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on nuclear waste. "In this lesson, students will learn how to analyze the problems surrounding nuclear waste. They will compare and contrast low- and high-level nuclear waste, and make decisions concerning how to dispose of low-level nuclear waste." Very Good

RAIN: FRIEND OR FOE? – LESSON PLAN         NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g68/rain.html
A lesson plan on rain for grades 6-8. "In this lesson students will use their knowledge of rainfall, vegetation, and the slope angles of hillsides to make decisions, predict outcomes, and analyze the effects of certain events or practices (e.g., overgrazing, forest fires, and clear-cutting woodlands resulting in deforestation). This lesson will help students appreciate the complex relationships between various physical processes and the features they help create. It is essential that students understand the physical processes affecting the Earth's surface and, using that knowledge, make intelligent predictions and decisions." Very Good

SLICK SEA SPILLS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
 
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/activity/earth/earth-2.html
A classroom activity for grades 4-6 on what happens in an oil spill. Very Good

TRASH BASHER – CLASSROOM EXPERIMENTS         NEW!
http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/recycle/
Twelve simple experiments for 1st grade students on trash and waste management. Very Good

TRASH TRAITS – MARINE DEBRIS – LESSON PLANS
http://www.marine.usf.edu/beachbuddies/background.html
Information on the problem of marine debris, what constitutes trash, and what to do about it. Developed for Tampa Bay but adaptable to New Jersey’s coast. Includes Background and 4 Lesson Plans. Very Good

Waste Not, Want Not - A Target Science Waste Management & Recycling Teacher Resource Unit
http://www.lalc.k12.ca.us/target/units/recycle/index.html
A unit of study on waste management and recycling. Sections include: Recipes for a Cleaner Environment, Lessons and Investigations, Los Angeles Waste Management and Recycling Project, and Related Web Sites and Other Resources. Very Good

WASTE – WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHERE DOES IT GO? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/enved/Rec_Lessons/waste.htm
A K-12 unit on waste management focusing on the various waste materials generated by the school. Students examine what wastes are generated and how they are disposed of. Very Good

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING FOR EARTH DAY? – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson059.shtml
Suggestions for classroom activities for Earth Day. Very Good

YOU BE THE PREDATOR – SIMULATING NATURAL SELECTION             NEW!
http://www.studyworksonline.com/cda/content/explorations/0,,NAV2-75_SEP898,00.shtml
An online activity in which student learn about natural selection. It starts with information on natural selection and then moves to a game which simulates predation by clicking on dots representing species. Suitable for intermediate/middle school students. Very Good

ADAPTING TO THE LAND – LESSON PLAN
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/act/adpland.html
A lesson plan for primary grades on how humans adapt to their environment and how the United States has different environments in different regions. Good

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/educat/lesson3.htm
A classroom activity in which students use a parabolic solar collector to "cook" marshmallows. Good

COMPOSTING LESSON PLANS – URBAN ECOLOGY WASTE REDUCTION PROJECT
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/physio/schools/318/complp.html
A collection of lesson plan in sequence on composting. Includes a list of foods found in school cafeterias suitable for composting. Good

CONSERVATION OF ENERGY – LESSON PLAN
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceConservationOfEnergy810.htm
A lesson plan for grades 8-10 on energy. "Objective: To demonstrate the law of the conservation of energy (blocks) without counting the units of energy directly." Good

CREATING A LANDFILL – LESSON PLAN
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceCreateLandfillPreventErosionIdea48.htm
A lesson plan on landfills for grades 4-8 in which students make their own miniature landfill. Good

EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WATER – CURRICULUM GUIDE DATABASE        NEW!
http://www.uwex.edu/erc/eypaw/
"Use the
Educating Young People About Water database to find a curriculum that is appropriate for learners. Curricula listings include education topics and goals, and other unique resources useful in creating a water education opportunity or event."
Includes 150 curricula. Good

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP MOSSES! – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/TyeE/
Information on mosses and their important role in ecosystems. Includes a lesson plan for elementary students. Good

GREAT BASIN DESERT ECOSYSTEM LESSON PLAN
http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/1999outwest/members/LachowskyR/lesson_plan.htm
A lesson plan on the desert ecosystem for grades 5-6. "Students will become familiar with the Great Basin Desert and how it differs from the other deserts of the Southwestern United States." Good

HAZARDOUS WASTE AWARENESS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceCIHazardousWasteAwareness610.htm
A lesson plan for grades 6-10 on hazardous waste. "Objectives: 1. Locate hazardous chemicals in the home 2. Describe the dangers posed by hazardous compounds in the home 3. Demonstrate a knowledge of safer alternative compounds to use." Good

HOW MUCH WATER CAN WE SAVE WHILE BRUSHING OUR TEETH? – LESSON PLAN            NEW!
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Mathematics/Process_Skills/MPS0016.html
A lesson plan for water conservation for grades 3-5. "Students will learn how much water they waste by leaving the water running when brushing their teeth in a day. They will also use the data that they collected to create a number of graphs. Activities can be extended to focus on water conservation and ecology, or on healthful dental habits." Good

"I’M WARM NOW" – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci161.txt
A lesson plan for grade 3 on water conservation. "Students are made aware of just how much clean fresh water is wasted as we wait for the water to become warm in our spigot. The students make predictions both in the amount of time and the quantity of water wasted. They collect data for both the kitchen and bathroom sinks. They use their calculators to find the class average of time and water wasted per sink. They are then introduced to PROJECTIONS and the students find the amount wasted per day per person and make projections based on the population of the city, state, and country per day, month, and year. A large graph showing these projections makes quite an impressive picture. They discuss possible solutions and place the graph in a strategic spot for other students to observe." Good

JUNK MAIL AIRMAIL – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci120.txt
A lesson plan on conservation of natural resources for 3rd grade students. "OVERVIEW: Most homes receive large amounts of unsolicited and unwanted mail every year. This mail costs millions of dollars and wastes valuable natural resources. Much of this junk mail ends up as litter or in overfilled landfills. PURPOSE: Students need to learn that they can make a contribution to the junk mail problem." Good

MAKE A RAIN STICK ACTIVITY – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://my.hsonline.net/~kidatart/htdoc/lesson44.htm
An activity for primary students in which they make a "rain stick" to help celebrate Earth Day. Good

MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.kinderart.com/recycle/makepaper.shtml
A classroom activity for kindergarten/1st grade students in which they use recycled materials to make paper. Good

MANATEE MANSION- CLASSROOM ACTIVITY             NEW!
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/manatee/classroom-activities-mm.htm
A classroom activity for grades 9-12 in which students design a manatee exhibit. Good

OIL SLICK EXPERIMENT
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/instructor/oilslick.htm
A simple experiment that shows how hard it is to eliminate an oil spill on water. Good

PEOPLE CHANGING THE ATMOSPHERE – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/space/sp-1.html
A classroom activity on air pollution. "Although students may understand the cause and effects of global warming due to the greenhouse effect, many may not establish the connection between their own behavior and its impact. By keeping a "CO2 Journal," each student establishes this connection, while simultaneously discovering what he or she can do to reduce global warming." Good

POLLUTED SOIL EXPERIMENT
 
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/pollutedsoil.htm
A simple experiment for elementary grades to see if plants will grow in polluted soil. Good

RECYCLING PAPER – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci167.txt
A lesson plan for elementary students on recycling paper in which students recycle paper by making it into new paper sheets. Good

SINK OR SWIM? BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/educat/sink_or_swim.htm
A classroom activity for elementary students in which they determine how packing materials break down in landfills. Good

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
http://www.kidsgardening.com/TMI/images/pdfs/2cra.pdf
A classroom activity for elementary students on biodiversity. Good

THREE PANDA DIORAMAS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY             NEW!
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/Panda%20Diorama%20Lesson.html
Three sets of instructions for making dioramas of the giant panda in its natural habitat. "In this activity, students research the giant panda's habitat and make a 3-D representation of the panda in its habitat by making any one of three dioramas. The choices for the construction of the dioramas are: individual shoe box diorama, small individual triangle diorama and group large box diorama." For elementary students. Good

WETLANDS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceWetlandsIdeaHS.htm
A lesson plan for grades 7-12 on wetlands. "Reading assignment: Read about wetlands. Use a variety of sources such as the Internet, Audubon Society nature guides, encyclopedias, etc. Pick one wetland system. Describe the ecosystem. Include water regime, common plants and animals, soil types if available, and any economic benefit to humans. Draw a food web for your ecosystem." Good

WETLANDS MIGRATION – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci45.txt
A lesson plan for grades 2-6 on wetlands. "OBJECTIVES: 1. Students will be able to operationally define migration. 2. Students will be able to visualize the dependence of wetlands for Migrating birds." Good

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/guests/whatdo.html
A primary lesson plan in which students draw scenes of different environments and then introduce unexpected visitors to those environments. Students have to show how those visitors would react to the environment. Good

WHAT’S A WATT? – LESSON PLAN
http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/educat/whats_a_watt.htm
A middle school lesson plan on electricity. Good

WEBQUESTS

ACID RAIN WEBQUEST
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/english/edservices/pedresources/webquest/rainwq.htm
A webquest on the issue of acid rain. "A local citizens' group has hired you, and a group of other researchers, to investigate acid rain. You will take on the role of either a Chemist, Ecologist, Health Scientist, or Economist and examine the issue from that perspective. Working within this team, you will create a web site detailing the problems caused by acid rain and recommending ways that these problems can be alleviated." Excellent

ALIEN INVASION OF HAWAII – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.nevada.edu/~karla/
A webquest for middle school students on the damage by introduced species to native species. "The Quest:  In this WebQuest, you will examine the damage being done by "introduced species" to native species of plants and animals in Hawaii, the United States, and throughout the world.  You will explore ways to save native species of plants and animals, prevent further damage by harmful "non-indigenous species", and investigate ways to increase public awareness about this important issue." Can be adapted to other areas. We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES WEBQUEST
http://www.dmrtc.net/~embrys/aesindex.htm
A high school level webquest. "This WebQuest was designed for use as part of a unit exploring alternative energy sources in Environmental Science: The Original World Wide Web, an advanced science course at Mitchell High School in Mitchell, Indiana (home of the Mighty Bluejackets). It employs constructivist, problem-based learning strategies along with Internet resources to investigate alternative energy sources and their impact on the environment and society. Non-renewable fossil fuels provide the majority of our energy in this part of the country at this time. In the future, we will have to rely increasingly on renewable and perpetual energy sources because we will deplete our reserves of fossil fuels." Excellent

AMAZON FOOD WEB – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.callunafineflowers.com/memorial_middle_school/WebQuest/index.htm
A webquest for middle school students on food webs. "The Museo de Sud America has employed you and your partner(s) as their research biologists. The members of the museum are concerned about the Selvas region of South America. This region is tropical rainforest and better known as the Amazon jungle. The rainforest is being destroyed on a daily basis and the museum wants to educate the public about the living things that form the forest. Their hope is to preserve the forest through education. Since the organisms within the forest are dependant upon each other, as well as we are dependant on the forest, the focus of this project is on the forest's delicate food web." Excellent

BARRIER ISLANDS: TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD – WEBQUEST
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/webquest/content/barrierisland.shtml
A webquest on development of barrier islands for junior/senior students. "Your job in this WebQuest is to develop an educated opinion as to whether or not people should build permanent structures on barrier islands. You will need to learn about the geological and physical nature of barrier islands, and how barrier islands change over time. You will look at development of barrier islands and find out how the beaches on these islands are maintained. You will find out how different states handle the protection or development of their barrier islands. You will also find out what happens to permanent structures that are built on barrier islands. Finally, you will form an opinion as to whether permanent structures should be built on barrier islands. Once you have done your research, you will prepare an open letter to the editor of a newspaper in which you outline what you have learned about barrier islands and state your opinion on whether permanent structures should be built there. Your letter should include information about the geology and ecology of barrier islands as well as the changes they are subject to. Your goal is to convince readers of the newspaper that your conclusion is correct, and to encourage them to write to the appropriate agencies in support of your position." Excellent

BAYQUEST – AN INTERNET WEBQUEST ON CHESAPEAKE BAY WATER QUALITY
http://www.pcee.org/ProfDevInit/Resources/bayquest.htm
There are numerous environmental problems effecting Chesapeake Bay. Your class has been hired to investigate the problems and causes of nutrient pollution in the bay. Excellent

BE A SOLUTION TO STORM DRAIN POLLUTION – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/miramesa/drains/
A webquest for senior high students on storm drain pollution. "Your task will be to use the web and the resource links to gather research data and information, and to develop and support your solution to pollution.
To help solve the storm drain pollution problem, you will produce an educational ad campaign which will require you to: ● Prepare a display board to be used as a visual aid illustrating storm drains, research statistics, and your solutions. ● Create an educational pamphlet featuring methods of cleaning up our storm drains -OR- ● Produce a 2-3 minute persuasive video describing storm drain pollution and your solution ● Create a logo to reflect your solution to pollution ● Present your culminating project including all the above elements for peer and teacher evaluation."
Excellent

THE BIG WIDE WORLD WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bww/
A webquest for grades K-4 about life on earth. "Some people think elementary school students should be coloring inside the lines, circling words in a search, or copying sentences from the board. Maybe that's okay, but we'd rather you figure out what life's all about. You know, what about this earth we live on and share with all the plants and animals. Also, what about people who live far away? What are their lives like? These aren't easy questions so you'll be working as a group to combine your ideas. Be sure to read the evaluation rubric for this WebQuest before going on to The Big Question and Your Task." Sections: Introduction, The Big Question, Windows on the World, Group Work, Conclusion, Scoring Rubric and Teacher’s Guide. Excellent

CORAL REEF – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/ndodd/webquest.htm
A webquest for 3rd grade students on coral reefs. "You can help to protect the coral reefs of the world!  In order to be a part of this important project you must first gather information about the causes of the destruction of the coral reefs. You will choose a coral reef  destination in the world to help save by writing a letter to the government in hopes to persuade them to save this valuable resource.  With another concerned citizen, you will create a type of advertisement to make the public aware of the dangers to the coral reef and to persuade them to help protect it." Excellent

CORAL REEF RESCUE – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/coralreefs/
A webquest for 3rd grade students on coral reefs. "Find out who (or what!) is the culprit in the coral reef murders. Along the way, you must also determine the most likely cause(s) of death of the coral reefs, the effects of coral reef death on other organisms, and one method by which this death can be stopped.
This is a very serious mission. You have been given top-secret clearance because of the sensitivity of the case - no one knows who the culprit is and everyone is on edge anticipating that the truth will come out. You must work quickly and efficiently with the other team members, but most importantly work quietly. Beware, there are unauthorized teams working on this same case, but their intentions are impure, they are out only for themselves.
Stay on your toes, beware of wandering eyes and never leave your research unattended. If you are careful, your team will crack this case wide open, we'll catch the murder(s) before its too late, and we'll figure out a way for the surviving coral reefs to be saved. I am your contact person during the course of this investigation. If you have questions, need help or advice, approach me, but please keep it quiet, you never know who is lurking around the next corner! Good luck - you'll need it."
Excellent

DEAD MOSQUITOES VS. DEAD CHILDREN – WEBQUEST
 
http://www.geocities.com/malariacontrol/webquest/index.html
A webquest on pollution for grades 9-12. "To create a logical argument supporting or opposing the worldwide ban on DDT 1.  Each student group member will research various opinions and facts about DDT and the controversy surrounding the proposed worldwide ban.
2.  Individually you will present the information you have researched to a group.
3. As a large group, you will compose a logical argument supporting or opposing the worldwide ban 4. The group will work together to form a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating your logical argument supporting or opposing the worldwide ban on DDT."
Excellent

DENALI PLANNING WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.nps.gov/akso/ParkWise/Teachers/Planning/DENA_WebQuest/intro.htm
A webquest for grades 7 and up on planning for the best use of Denali National Park land. "Currently, there is only one road into the park. It is 90 miles long and ends at an old mining town called Kantishna. Visitors must take a bus, bike or walk into the park beyond mile 14 of the road. The road is narrow and winding and is difficult and expensive to maintain. The road is closed in the winter.
Several different action plans are being considered for the future of Denali National Park and Preserve. You and the members of your group have been asked by the Denali National Park Planning Department to review and comment upon an action plan for the future of Denali National Park and Preserve."
Excellent

DESERT DETECTIVES - WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://studentweb.fontbonne.edu/~tgre565/webquest/
A webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on the desert biome. "Your mission is to travel to the planet Earth and explore the desert biome. You will report back to headquarters, using a variety of methods, about the climate, physical features, plants, and animals found in this habitat. Please include any special adaptations we might need to live there. Remember, time is very important. We must make a decision as to which environment best fits our needs soon, so do some of your researching everyday. Good Luck to you Desert Detectives!" We found a couple of broken links on this site. Excellent

DESIGNING AN OCEAN HABITAT – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.schenectady.k12.ny.us/users/title3/Future%20Grant%20Projects/Projects/ocean/ocean.html
A webquest for grades 1-4 on ocean habitats. "Ready, set, dive!!   We are building an aquarium of ocean animals for our town.  We will create a virtual ocean on the Web.  You will investigate what your animal looks like, where your animal lives, what it eats, and who eats it!   What will your animal need to live and be happy?" Excellent

DISASTER – THE EXXON VALDEZ WEBQUEST
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/encanto/disaster/
A webquest for 5th -7th grade students on the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Students investigate what happened and its causes and develop ways to prevent or mitigate future environmental impacts should another spill occur. Excellent

DISCOVERING WORLD BIODIVERSITY – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://web.syr.edu/%7Ejfboswor/biodiversity/biodiversity.html
A webquest for 12th grade students on biodiversity. "During this computer lab session, you'll explore some of the most threatened species in the world, several threats to species preservation and biodiversity, and many of the reasons for preserving the biodiversity of all of the world's communities." Excellent

ECO-QUEST- DESERT EDITION - WEBQUEST
 
http://members.aol.com/QuestSite/1/index.html
A webquest for grades 7-8 on the desert ecosystem. Students take on roles and investigate the desert through the eyes of their character. Sections: Teaching Guide, Introduction, The Mission, The Procedure, Roles, Summation, and Questionnaire. Role: Desert Ecologist, Meteorologist, Landscaper, Land Developer, Government Employee, and Utilities Manager. Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES WEBQUEST
http://www.websterschools.org/classrooms/dewittlibrary/webquest.htm
A webquest for upper elementary students on endangered animals. "The second graders have been studying animals.  They  are curious as to what endangered animals are.  Our library materials on this subject are difficult for them to read and understand.  You are an animal expert and have been asked to teach second grade students about endangered animals.  It is important for the students to not only understand the problem but to be a part of the solution. You and two other experts will work together to create materials to help them understand the concept and plan an activity that students can do to help animals." Excellent

ENDANGERED SPECIES – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/endangered/index.htm
A webquest for 4th grades students on endangered species. "The Endangered Animal Foundation needs contributions to continue its efforts to save endangered animals around the world. As an Endangered Animal Specialist (EAS), you have been hired to give PowerPoint presentations to encourage donations to the Endangered Animal Foundation.
As an Endangered Animal Specialist, you will research an endangered animal and present its description, habitat, food web, adaptations, reasons for endangerment, and other critical information to convince groups and individuals to do their part to preserve the unique animal species we have on the earth today."
Excellent

ENERGY CONSERVATION WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.ccsd.net/schools/carson/webquests/energy/energyquest.html
A webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on energy conservation. "To complete this task, you and your teammates will gather information on energy sources, how energy is used, and suggestions on energy conservation. This information will be recorded and discussed within your team. Each team will present their information to the entire class through a presentation. How this presentation will be structured will be determined by the teacher and or student input. At the conclusion of this group interaction, each individual will compile a list (at least five) of conservation suggestions which they can use at home or at school to save energy." Excellent

ENERGY QUEST – WEBQUEST
http://www.geocities.com/brookwebquest1/
A webquest on energy for sixth grade and up. "The year is 2050 and, to the surprise of all environmental analysts, humankind has completely exhausted all of our planet's non-renewable resources. In this day and age, energy has become something that is used globally, with the exception of few countries in the world. Humankind has become so accustomed to energy - using it to do work, to light cities, to power vehicles, to heat homes, to cook, grind and chop food, to play music, to give us pictures on television, to connect us to others via the Internet, and the list goes on and on and on… Without energy, society as we have come to know it, will cease to exist. Without the help of energy resource specialists like you, there is no hope... The fate of humankind is in your hands!" We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

THE FATE OF THE RAINFOREST – WEBQUEST
http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests/Rainforests/index.htm
A rainforest webquest for upper elementary students. "Today's changing world has created new challenges for the survival of the rainforests. New forces, man-made, are in conflict with each other and with the existence of the rainforests. This conflict becomes important as people gain awareness that changes in one area of the world have an impact on all areas of the world. There are several points of view as to how to best manage the rainforest:" We found a few broken links on this site. Excellent

FIXING DEER OVERPOPULATION – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/khaines/population1/webquest.htm
A webquest on deer populations for grades 11-12. "What's the truth and who says so? In the old days (say just before you were born), people could read books, study, and feel pretty sure they knew what was going on. Then things started changing. We realized everyone had an opinion and if we listened, we could learn something. We also found that a lot of topics weren't separate, but connected to each other. So thinking in little boxes didn't work so well. Then along came the Web. Ah-oh... Because anyone can publish a Web page and passionate people tend to want to get their ideas out there, almost any interest, concern or issue has its online community.
Guess what: you're going to use the Web for learning. And grabbing someone else's ideas without giving them a close look is worse than silly. Think of it as intellectual slavery. So let's break the chains.
As a group you're going to explore the topic of Deer Population Growth. Each member of your team will become an expert in one part of the topic. Then you'll have to come back together to answer a question that gets to the heart of 'what's the truth and who says so?' Local parks often are overpopulated by deer. There are several solutions to this problem but each solution ends up with some people not happy. Your job is to research the problem of overpopulation from one of four perspectives and then debate and decide as a group the best method to control the population. Of course there will be some math along the way..... We want you to do a good job, so why not read the evaluation rubric for this WebQuest?"
We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

FOOD WEBS ON THE WEB – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://academics.uww.edu/cni/webquest/HallOfFame/foodchain/foodchain.htm
A webquest on food webs for grades 4-8. "Imagine what life would be like without supermarkets.  You would have to hunt or search in the wild for your own food.  What would you look for?  What would you hunt?  What if you were being hunted?!  You are part of an ecological system called a food web.  Food webs are made up of food chains, which show what eats what.  Understanding food chains and food webs is a very important part of understanding the relationships between living organisms.  When one element of a food chain changes, for example, a decrease in a population because of pollution, all other members of the food chain are impacted.  Your job as an ecologist is to construct a food web made of three food chains (at least three organisms in length), and discuss a problem of and potential solutions for one of the food web’s players.  When you are finished, your group will present your food web to and share your analysis with the class." We found several broken links among the many on this site. Excellent

A FOREST FOREVER WEBQUEST
http://www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/MBergey/index.htm
A webquest for 5th grade students on the forest ecosystem and making wise choices in using our forests. Students research issues impacting our forests, take on a role/perspective and present a PowerPoint presentation to the "public" based on their findings. Excellent

FREAKY FROGS – WEBQUEST
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/sessions/frogs/
A webquest on the increasing number of frog mutations. "You are taking a nature walk with your friend and you decide to stop and look at the nearby pond. You hear the croaks get louder as you approach the water. You see the creatures hopping nervously as you walk by them. You grab one and observe what looks like a frog and yet it has 2 extra legs. Your friend catches 2 of them but one has only 1 leg. What causes freaky frogs? Discover some exciting, disturbing, and enlightening ideas from different sources regarding the subject of frog deformities. Form opinions about your findings and have fun doing it! Make sure your classmates, teacher and the world know how you feel." Excellent

GATOR GAZETTE WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://wneo.org/gasp/webquest.htm
A webquest for elementary/middle school students on the Everglades. "Get your Press Pass ready! You have now become the editors of your own single issue of a newspaper. Your job is to cover the controversy involved in the diverting of the water from the Everglades to farming and urban use. There are five required articles for your newspaper: 1) a news article about the diversion of water that formerly flowed from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades being diverted to farms and urban areas; 2) a news article about one of the animals you would find in the Everglades; 3) a human interest story; 4) an editorial; and 5) a letter to the editor. You may include other items such as political cartoons, drawings, pictures, etc. You may take whatever position you believe in—the need to protect and restore the Everglades or the need of the farmers and inhabitants using the area—that is based on what you discover in your reading." We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

GE FOODS(GENETICALLY ENGINEERED) – FRIEND OR FOE? – WEBQUEST
 
http://home.earthlink.net/~spcemonk/webquest.html
Foods are now being genetically engineered to increase certain nutrients, reduce fat and calories and much more. Many people feel that genetically engineered foods are dangerous. Student teams will examine the issues and report at the World Food Conference. Very detailed. Excellent

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/leewq2.html
A webquest on the effects of genetically modified foods on people and the environment for junior/senior high school students. "Genetically modified foods (GMF) have been dubbed as "Frankenstein foods" by critics who fear they could pose dangers to human health or the environment. Since 1994, GM crops have become common in the American supermarket and diet. Many of these plants contain genes from other organisms. Genetic modification has the potential to offer very significant improvements in the quantity and quality of the world’s food supply. However, there are concerns about the development and use of these genetic altered foods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has commissioned you to form a research team to investigate whether GM food is safe for human consumption.  Your team will assess the benefits and the risks of food biotechnology for an upcoming conference with the president. Based on your team’s research you’ll need to convince the president of your viewpoint." We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

GRIDLOCK – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/stanfillj/projects/grid/intro.htm
A webquest on gridlock for high school students. "Your task is to find a way to alleviate the condition of gridlock and to create a report or presentation of recommendations that includes supportive evidence. The report or presentation will be delivered to an agency that has some influence on the problem of gridlock in your reporting area. You are to: ● identify a problem ● propose a solution or remedy ● provide supportive evidence Your team will look at the current structure of how people move within the city, its suburbs and the transportation paths connecting them.  Your suggestions should lead to an improvement in transportation.  Considerations may include: ● alternative modes of transportation ● restructuring the way some employees currently work out off offices using on-line technology ● rezoning for business and housing to mix in cooperative structures ● urban housing development ● new pathways for moving people ● reducing the number of vehicles on the roads and freeways" Excellent

HELLO DOLLY – A WEB QUEST
http://www.powayschools.com/projects/dolly/
A webquest on cloning for high school students. Student teams take a position on the issue of cloning, research that position and prepare a presentation for a "Cloning Summit" to determine whether or not cloning should be banned. Sections: Introduction, Task, Process, Resources, the Summit, Take a Stand, Tell the World, Conclusion, At a Glance, and Teacher Toolbox. Excellent

HIDE AND SEEK IN THE RAINFOREST – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/webquest2000/student/scolleenmuldoon/home.htm
A webquest on the rainforest for grades 2-3. "We have been reading and learning about different types of animals in the rainforest. Now you get to play your favorite game, "HIDE AND SEEK." 
Your task is to research ("seek" information on) an animal that lives in the layer of the rainforest that has been assigned to you.  Record the information about your animal on the
"Hide and Seek" information sheet .  You will need to find out where your animal lives, what it eats, what it looks like, and what makes it special from other animals. 
Once you have completed your "Hide and Seek" information sheet, you will use this information to write a "Who Am I?" riddle. Other students in the class will try to guess your animal based on your clues and find your "hiding" animal on the class mural."
All the links lead to internal web pages. Excellent

A HOT TOPIC: GLOBAL WARMING - THE KYOTO PROTOCOL – WEBQUEST
http://cmcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/webquest/Scheinberg/Global%20Warming%20Webquests.htm
A webquest for high school students on global warming. "
With the convening of a new crop of U.S. legislators for 2003, there has been a call to review our participation in the Kyoto Protocol. In light of this controversy, the Congress of the United States is conducting hearings on the issue of Global Warming.  You have been invited to speak at the convening of the "Congressional Hearings on the Global Warming Issue, and the Kyoto Protocol" to be held in Washington.  You will represent one of the following interests on this issue and make recommendations to the committee along with your team members who represent the other interests on the list. Remember, look at the issue from the point of view of one of the following experts.  Use a PowerPoint presentation to convince Congress that they should or should not support the international treaty to reduce greenhouse gases called the Kyoto Protocol." We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

HOW WAS THE EASTERN AMERICAN ECOSYSTEM AFFECTED BY THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT BLIGHT? WEBQUEST
http://auden.webster.edu/~galgater/amchest/
A webquest for high school science students in which they examine how the ecosystem of the eastern part of the U.S. was affected by the loss of chestnut trees to blight. "The American Chestnut was the dominant tree in eastern North America and was an integral part of the food web in the area. This situation is a good example of how a species fits into the food web and what happens when a critical part is removed. By examining this case, and answering the following questions you will learn about the interdependency that all living creatures have on one another" We found a couple of broken links within this site. Excellent

A JUNGLE JOURNEY: RAINFORESTS IN PERIL – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.slc.k12.ut.us/ww2/tamarap/rforest.htm
A webquest on the rainforest ecosystem for grades 6 and up. "Welcome to our Jungle Journey: Rainforests in Jeopardy, teeming with rare species of animals and plants that exist nowhere else on earth. Hundreds of years ago, tropical rainforests encircled the globe, much like long green arms hugging the equator and covering twenty percent of the earth's surface. Reduced to a mere six percent, the diminishing rain forest shelters more than half of all of the plant and animal species living in the world today. Rapid deforestation has endangered the splendor of this tropical paradise. In this quest, you will learn about the interdependence of the plant and animal life that is so unique to this environment. You will also learn about the destruction of these precious natural resources and what we can do to preserve them. Today's changing world has created new challenges for the survival of the rainforests." Excellent

KID POWER: ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES – A WEBQUEST FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
http://www.cobb.k12.ga.us/~keheley/kidpower/kidpower.htm
A webquest for 3rd grade students on the environment. "Have you ever thought about what our environment will be like when you're an adult?  Will there be clean air?  Will you be able to swim in the ocean?  Will there be enough farmland to provide food for all of us?  Will we have trees to climb? Yikes!  These are hard questions!  What do you think?  For this activity, your teacher has given you a role to play." Excellent

LAGOON LAMENT – CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG? – WEBQUEST
http://home.cfl.rr.com/mrshebert/Lagoon/index.htm
A webquest based on the problems of the Indian River Estuary for grades 4 and up. Teams are established to work on a usage plan to protect the estuary while allowing some recreational use. Excellent

LANDFILL CONTROVERSY – AN INTERNET WEBQUEST
http://www.snc.edu/educ/mse/courses/summerIT/students/benesh-zoeller/
A webquest on landfills for grades 4-8. "You live within a community that has a sanitary landfill with a current life span of 50+ years.  Bordering states whose landfills are quickly reaching their capacity are looking to your landfill for disposal of their waste.  This issue has divided your community and it is causing great stress among your community leaders.  The following questions are raised: · If we allow communities outside our state to use our landfill what do we do with our waste once the landfill reaches capacity? · What kind of fee do we impose on these other communities for the disposal of their waste? · If we do not allow for outside communities to dispose of their waste where will it end up? · Do we have a long range plan for disposal of our own community's waste once the landfill is closed? · How can we economically reduce the amount of waste dumped in our landfill?" Excellent

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/makeadiff/
A webquest for 7th grade students on recycling. "In this lesson, students will choose roles to research about solid waste management, ways to recycle, and how kids can make a difference. They will then evaluate and share their information with the other groups and write a "Can Do" essay explaining paper waste reduction and a way they can help in their community." Excellent

MARINE BIOLOGY WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/US/science/mbiowqst/temp.htm
A webquest for middle/junior high students on marine biology and ecosystems. "You, as a marine biologist have been selected to help decipher important scientific data pertaining to life forms which have been found on a new planet, Tetramarina. There was a scientific team, headed by the world renowned Dr. Nemo, sent there to investigate the different ecosystems and inhabitants. Unfortunately the last data transmission received from the search party was incomplete, and there has been no further contact. You will observe that this last transmission also must be scientifically decoded because it is written in Latin and scrambled English! It is your job to help decipher this transmission describing the newly discovered marine species and also help to determine the environmental conditions of this new planet, Tetramarina. Good luck!" We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

MISSION: PROJECT RESCUE – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/projectrescue/
A webquest for 3rd grade students on wildlife habitats. "We interrupt this program for a special bulletin. Five crates, each containing an animal, were found on the side of the interstate. Apparently, the crates fell off the back of a truck. When Officer West arrived at the scene, the driver of the truck drove off before he could be questioned. We are glad to report that the animals were not harmed in any way. These animals must be returned to their homes as soon as possible. We need your help! The animals are counting on you to return them safely to their natural habitats." Excellent

MISSION TO STOP OCEAN POLLUTION – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/briggswq1.html
A webquest on ocean pollution for grades 5 and up. "Agents of the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction with members of the (EPA) The Environmental Protection Agency and International Public Policy Administration (IPPA) have reported many disturbing facts pertaining to ocean pollution.  Several industrial nations are dumping toxic waste in the oceans.  Oceans comprise over 70% of the Earth’s surface. Water is undoubtedly one of the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet.  Clean, uncontaminated oceans are essential to everything on our planet, including the continued existence of marine life growth and human survival. Since the industrial revolution many industrialized nations have been polluting our waterways and oceans with toxic pollutants that are destroying this precious natural resource. The destruction of water will have severe consequences to our marine life and planet." Excellent

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES FLYING TOWARDS SURVIVAL – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/fellows/Mass/webquest/ymindex.html
A webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on land use and butterfly habitat. "Sometimes it is difficult to come to an agreement when other people disagree with you and feel strongly about their ideas. Your class has recently studied the life cycle of a butterfly and your class agrees that the Monarch Butterfly's habitat should be protected. Your task is to seek information that supports your position, present your findings to the planning committee and convince them to preserve the Monarch Butterfly's habitat." Excellent

NUCLEAR FUSION WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/webquest/high/Science/NuclearFusion/nuclearfusion.htm
A webquest for high school students on nuclear fusion as a power source. "Your research team is in need of a highly sophisticated research facility to complete your work. An ideal facility has been located in a nearby town. Unfortunately, the town's residents have perceived the research to be dangerous and seek to prohibit your team from starting up in their town.
Your research team anticipates that you will meet up with this type of resistance wherever you choose to establish your laboratory because of typical public perceptions. The public unknowingly confuses nuclear fusion with nuclear fission (atomic energy). For many people, nuclear fission does not have a favorable reputation due to well-known nuclear accidents and even Hollywood's depiction of its dangers in the movies. So your team is convinced that to avoid any delays, you should pursue locating in this facility because of its suitability.
Your research team is committed to working closely with the public to educate them about the differences between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission and help them understand the potential benefits nuclear fusion can offer as an energy source. Your team is scheduled to present your plans to the town at the City's Planning and Development Council meeting in three days time. You will be prepared to present to them a clear message, persuading them to accept your proposal to move into their community."
Excellent

OFFSHORE WIND FARMS IN THE UNITED STATES? – WEBQUEST
http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/polson/webquest/webquest.htm
A webquest for grades 10-12 on wind energy. "While offshore wind farms have already been operating in Europe for some time, the first offshore wind farms are just now being proposed for development in the United States. Despite the many ideal characteristics of wind power, other aspects of wind power can create environmental and community concerns. Should the United States develop offshore wind farms as part of the national energy policy?
You are a member of an independent team researching wind power as a renewable energy source that will help meet the United States’ energy needs and reduce global warming. Your team will examine the potential as well as the concerns for developing offshore wind farms in the United States. Why are wind farms being proposed as part of the solution to the US energy needs? Who regulates the development of offshore wind farms? Who has concerns and objections? Can the needs and concerns of all groups be met? You and your team members will research wind power in the United States and in other parts of the world. What can the United States learn from other countries who have developed offshore wind farms? Are some offshore sites more feasible for development? Your team will combine their research to discuss what they have discovered and make a recommendation as a presentation to a public forum and write a persuasive letter to a member of Congress."
Excellent

OPERATION REEF RESCUE – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www2.lhric.org/kat/CORAL.HTM
A webquest on coral reefs for elementary students. "NEWSFLASH!!! Titanic Asteroid Approaching Earth's Polar Ice Cap! Scientists predict that the subsequent melting ice cap will destroy the ecological balance of the oceans, resulting in the eradication of the coral reef communities. In order to prevent the extinction of this essential biome, the government has recruited teams of specialists to respond to the crisis…● Marine Biologists ● Marine Botanists ●Coral Research Divers● Marine Environmentalists" We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

OVERPOPULATION: IS IT A PROBLEM? – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.dcboces.org/teachers/srenzi/
A webquest for 10th grade students on overpopulation. "In October, 1999, it was estimated that the world's 6 billionth person was born.  Many people feel that the world's population is growing too quickly and that serious problems loom large in our future as a planet.  Groups as diverse as the World Wildlife Fund to Zero Population Growth to the United Nations have all addressed this issue in recent years.  As a teenager who still has his/her whole life ahead of them, do you feel at all threatened by the possibility of there being too many people in this world?
My question to you is: Is overpopulation truly a problem in this world?  If it is, is there any solutions to this problem?  If it is not, what are some world issues that need to be addressed in your future?"
We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

PAPER OR PLASTIC – AN INTERNET WEBQUEST ON RECYCLING
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/paper/
A webquest for upper elementary grades on whether plastic or paper bags are better for the environment. Sections: The Process & Resources, Evaluation, Conclusion, Student Dictionary and Teacher Resources. Excellent

PLASTICS BY THE NUMBER – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.yorkville.k12.il.us/webquests/webqwille/webqkwillie.htm
A webquest for 7th grade students on recycling plastics. "You need to research the importance of plastics in our society, research the plastic coding system and the plastic recycling process.  Your final assignment is to choose one type of plastic and to route the process of the creation of that piece of plastic, how it will be used, what happens to the plastic when it goes to be recycled and what that plastic will become once it is recycled.  Then report out your findings in a presentation product which could be a poster, power point, video, pamphlet or other teacher approved assignments. ● Recognize the place of plastic in our society. ● Research and be able to recognize the plastic code system. ● Perform an activity to demonstrate the process of recycling plastics. ● Route the life of a plastic container and present findings in a final product." Excellent

POPULATION WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/cyesis/webinstruction/population/population.htm
A webquest for grades 6 and up on population growth. "Many people equate overpopulation with crowding, but density is less important than carrying capacity, the number of a given species that an area can support without imparing the environment. By this standard, many parts of the planet are already overpopulated. When it comes to population, it is not just how many people there are, it's how resources are distributed among them. In just a few decades, humans have brought about the extinction of untold numbers of species, and many more are now endangered. The concept that everything is connected is often called the "First Law of Ecology." In this quest, students will explore cause-and-effect relationships by creating a web page indentifying connections between a world of six billion people and the environment." Excellent

POWER! POWER! WE NEED MORE POWER! – WEBQUEST         NEW URL!
http://www.hallsville.org/elementary/stillwell/webquests/energywq/index.html
A webquest on energy for 3rd grade students. "You are about to set a record for the highest score on your favorite video game when suddenly the screen goes black! You hear on the news that there has been a power shortage in your state.  The Governor is asking citizens to find better sources of energy.  Only those citizens knowledgeable enough about energy to pass his Energy Quiz will be selected to present their reports to him." Excellent

RAIN FOREST DILEMMA – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Sparta/7374/intro.htm
A webquest for high school students on rain forest preservation. "In this Webquest, it is hypothesized that a group of investors affiliated with the Malaysian Office of Tourism Development want to  build a better road and accompanying bridge so people can drive directly to the park from  other cities in Malaysia or nearby Singapore.  In addition, they want to build a lodge about 4 kilometers from the Park Headquarters where visitors can spend the night further into the jungle. Currently the only places to stay overnight in the interior are several primitive hides built around salt-licks where one can occasionally view tapirs, wild pigs and tigers.
Your class will be assigned to groups representing various stakeholders in the decision-making process.  When you receive your assignment from your teacher, you will go with your group to the computer and read background information about the stakeholder and their needs. You will then decide if you agree or disagree with  the plan to build the road, bridge and housing based on the point of view of your stakeholder group. You also may come up with another alternative that is more compatible with your stakeholder's needs."
Excellent

RAINFOREST VACATIONS? – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/rainforest/
A webquest for 3rd grade students on ecotourism and the rainforest. "HELP! The native chief and community elders of a village deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian rainforest really need your expert opinions on a very important decision they face. They are trying to decide whether or not to allow ecotourism in their native village and area of the rainforest.
What is ecotourism you ask? Ecotourism is taking vacations or trips to places that have unspoiled natural resources.  For example: taking trips to cloud forests in Costa Rica, or exploring the Rainforest in the Amazon.
The chief's tribe needs to feed their families and have to cut down the rainforest to grow food so they can eat.  But the rainforest is endangered and disappearing very quickly. Instead of cutting down the forest, they have turned to ecotourism as a possible alternative to cutting down the forest. The money from vacationers might help the tribe survive so they arenât forced to cut down more of the rainforest.
But there are many considerations before deciding to allow ecotourism. How might this affect the land? The animals in the forest? The plants? The natives themselves? You will be working with a group of experts to decide whether or not to recommend ecotourism in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, where the tribe lives. You will present your combined expert opinion to the Chief and his council. The future of the tribe is in your hands!!"
Excellent

SAVE THE CORAL REEF – WEBQUEST
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/english/edservices/pedresources/webquest/oceans/oceans.htm
A webquest on coral reefs for elementary students. "The coral reef around Little Island is endangered. A hotel has been built on the island and tourists will soon be snorkeling around the coral reef. As a scientist working for the World Wildlife Organization, you've been asked to go to Little Island to gather information because scientists are concerned that the tourists might do more damage to the coral reef. The hotel opens in four weeks and your display must be ready for the grand opening." Excellent

SLIPPING AWAY: AN E-ROSION WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.blackcatracing.com/runoff/erosion_webquest.htm
A webquest for grades 9-12 on erosion. "You are given a role by your teacher that is key to the future development of a rural town that wants to strike a balance between development and nature. You are trying to advocate your biased land use to the Planning Commissioner (your teacher). Within your role you want primarily what is best for your group’s interests, but you are aware that you have to be partially aware of the sustainable nature of the land and community public opinion. You will assume one of the following three roles: • Representative for Association of Farmers • Representative for Association of Ranchers • Representative for Association of Off-Road Enthusiasts" Excellent

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT – A WEBQUEST        NEW!
http://www.biopoint.com/WebQuests/GBS/title.htm
A webquest for elementary students on solid waste management. "In your previous activity you investigated what solid waste is, where it comes from, and how much of it we produce. In this WebQuest you will decide what to do with it. As populations continue to grow in urban and suburban areas, it becomes more important to find ways to deal with the garbage that each of us produces everyday. Current landfills are filling up and space is at a premium. Many communities are beginning to investigate other options. While you complete this WebQuest over the next few days, realize that many of the issues you will deal with here are being considered by cities across the country." We found a couple of broken links on this site. Excellent

TO DRILL OR NOT TO DRILL? THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://studentweb.fontbonne.edu/~cchea565/webquest/
A webquest on drilling for oil in wildlife refuges. Suitable for middle school students and up. "Should the US Senate allow oil exploration and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Is the price of drilling oil worth the cost to the environment? How much Oil is in the Arctic Refuge? What are the Potential Impacts of Oil and Gas Development on Refuge Resources? After researching both sides of the issue your task is to develop a five minute oral report explaining your position. You will use PowerPoint to make your presentation to your classmates. The presentation must stae and provide evidence for your team's recommendation regarding whether or not the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be used for oil drilling." Excellent

UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://teacher.esuhsd.org/webquests/webquests/rainforest.html
A webquest for high school students on tropical rainforests. Suitable for junior high students also. "In this Web Quest, you will journey to the tropical rainforests of the Amazon in South America. You will explore the geography, culture and lifestyle of the people, plant life, animal life, climate, and environment. You will encounter groups that are destroying the rainforest for profit and for survival. You will also encounter a group that is using the resources of the rainforest without destroying it. You will create a journal as you travel through this web of information. Through your journal entries, you will discuss all the above listed areas and present a plan for the future of this rich environment." Excellent

URBAN SPRAWL OR PROGRESS? – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvideas/resources/urbansprawl/index.htm
A webquest on land use for high school students. "In this WebQuest, you'll play the role of a community member involved in the decision to annex the town of Stilwell into the larger city of Overland Park. By the end of the WebQuest, you will have researched the issue of suburban growth from the perspective of a community member and collaborated on a plan for appropriate growth of a community." Excellent

WATER: EACH DROP COUNTS! – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://newton.kamsc.k12.mi.us/quest/water/Water.htm
A webquest for upper elementary students on water and its uses. "In this Web Site You and two partners will be responsible for supplying the information listed below. QUESTIONS: 1/ What is an aquatic eco-system? 2/ What kinds of pollution cause acid rain? Be sure to include pertinent equations. With your partners brainstorm ways you can help prevent acid rain. 3/ What is an aquifer? Describe several ways humans pollute our aquifers. 4/ How much of the earth's water is fresh water. Where are the places that you find fresh water? 5/ Illustrate the life of a water drop. Be creative. You may want to trace your drop beginning with a dinosaur drinking. 6/ What is thermal pollution?" Excellent

WETLANDS WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://chsweb.lr.k12.nj.us/dscheinberg/Wetlandswebquest/
A webquest on wetlands for high school students. "You are a member of a team employed by the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency.  Each year a big traveling display is constructed to demonstrate one of the important environmental issues in the state.  The display is taken around to schools, universities, and Earth Day fairs and it includes brochures for students to take and learn about the theme.  The theme for this year's display is "Wetlands."  You will work with your team members to research the important issues, facts, and problems associated with the wetlands.  Each person on the team needs to concern themselves with one or more of the main issues:" Excellent

WHAT CAUSED THE RIVERWOOD FISH KILL? – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://studentweb.fontbonne.edu/~cleem565/webquest/
A webquest for middle school students and up on river pollution. "The citizens of Riverwood, USA have a problem on their hands. There has been a fish kill in the Snake River. The Snake River is used by the residents as a water supply and for recreation.The immediate problem to consider is whether or not the city’s water supply is contaminated and a health risk to humans. An investigation needs to be conducted to determine the cause of the fish kill. As future chemists, that is just what you are going to do." Excellent

WHERE DO ALL THE ANIMALS LIVE? – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.community.k12.mo.us/webquest/borgmeyer/quest.htm
A webquest for grades K-3 on animals and habitats. "There are many animals that live all around us and each animal has a favorite place to live. We are going to be learning about the different places that the various animals prefer to live and what they like to eat. You will be divided into groups and will study the animals that live in a particular area (habitat) and will make a poster showing two animals, two birds, and two reptiles that live there, the foods they like to eat, and their shelter." Excellent

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE FROM?... A SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S BIOMES – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/biomes/index.htm
A webquest on biomes for 7th grade students. "Now that you know some general information about the biomes, it is time to get to work. Your job will be to work with a team of scientists to gather information about one of the biomes of the world. Each team will consist of a Climatologist, a Biologist, an Environmentalist, and a Geologist. You will each conduct a web search for information in your special field of science and then collaborate to produce an informational display for the 1st annual Biomes Conference. This conference will be attended by others in your fields and the general public. You will need to prepare an educational display and be prepared to give short talks and answer questions. Your educational display should include the following: ° The information obtained by each of the four scientific researchers ° The areas of the world that are a part of this biome marked on a map or a globe ° Visual examples to help support your written information" We found a couple of broken links among the many on this site. Excellent

WHO CONTAMINATED PLUME TOWN, USA? – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/webquest/high/Science/HydroQuest/hydroquest.htm
A webquest on groundwater for high school students. "The purpose of this learning unit is to help you (the student group) understand basic groundwater concepts, get a flavor for hazardous chemical properties and foster an appreciation for our trusted friend below the surface. During the process of completing this HydroQuest you will be able to answer the following questions (and hopefully many more): 1/ How does a groundwater system work? 2/ How does groundwater become contaminated with chemicals? 3/ What kind of chemicals could be found in drinking water supplies and how dangerous are they? 4/ Should we worry about big business potentially polluting our water supplies? 5/ What can I do to prevent groundwater contamination? You will do this by assuming different roles and completing assigned tasks concerning a fictional town (Plume Town, USA), with fictional companies and fictional conditions. Did I mention that this is all fictional? The result of this quest will be a presentation of what you learned in the form of a written opinion paper and your participation in a classroom hearing which will include all affected parties in the case study. Your participation in this classroom hearing will play a big part in determining your grade for this unit." Excellent

AFRICAN SAFARI WEBQUEST
http://www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/public/webquests/sblackmon/african_safari_-_webquest.htm
A webquest for middle school students. "The Asheville Citizen Times is calling on its best journalists to report a mystery about an endangered animal from Africa appearing in the downtown area. Use this Web quest to find where this animal belongs and report to the people of Asheville your findings as you take a virtual journey to Africa to return the animal to its proper home." Very Good

AIR POLLUTION WEBQUEST: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BLUE SKIES?
http://home.sullivan.k12.il.us/teachers/williams/airpol..htm
A webquest for middle school students. "We are faced with a severe problem. This problem is the decreasing quality of our air. With the increase of factories, the increase use of motor vehicles, and the reduction of the rain forests the problem is going to continue to become more severe. It is your job to provide a detailed report on what is being done and what can be done to lessen the harmful effects of air pollution." Very Good

ARK HELPERS SOCIETY WEBQUEST
http://www.ufrsd.net/staffwww/stefanl/Webquest/animals/index.htm
A webquest in which students must create a brochure on an endangered species. Seems to be intended for grades 9-12. "Welcome to your future. As a member of the Ark Helpers Society, you will be assigned the difficult job of the preservation of one of Mother Nature's special children. Not happy with what has happened to some of her favorites, like the Dodo bird, the moa, the Tasmanian wolf and the Stellars sea cow, Mother Nature would like for you to help save some of her threatened and endangered animals." Very Good

THE BIOLOGY OF CORAL REEFS – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/mission/coralreefs/
A webquest for high school students on coral reefs. "The purpose of this web quest is to discover how coral reefs are formed and the factors that cause destruction of the worlds reefs. We will also look at some of the types of animals that live on the reefs and the importance of reefs to man." We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

BIOMES – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/dmatousek/webquest.htm
A webquest for 6th grade students on biomes. "You have a new summer job working for a travel agent. You have been hired to create brochures and posters that will persuade travelers to visit a specific geographical biome. You have the opportunity to be extremely creative for the summer!" We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/moniteau.k12.mo.us/mathys/carnivorousplantswebQ.html
A webquest on carnivorous plants for 4th grade students. "There are about 450 species of Carnivorous Plants in the world.  Fourth graders, working in pairs,  will learn about the characteristics of these beastly eaters.  They will then use their knowledge to "create" a 3-D model of a new species and make a field guide entry for it.  In addition, the students will plan a Hyperstudio Presentation to be shown at the Plant Preservation Society's Annual Meeting to share the discovery." We found several broken links on this site. Very Good

CHANGING SEASONS WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/seasons/
A webquest for 3rd grade students on the effect of the changing seasons on plants and animals. "The seasons are an annual cycle that tell us the time to plant, the time to harvest, the time to go swimming and the time to go sledding. The amazing changes of color,flying snows, blooming flowers, and hot days are signals of the seasons. 
Your job is to investigate the effects of these changes in the seasons on plants and animals. This knowledge will help the class make the decision as to which season of the year would be best for planting in our outdoor classroom to increase our plant and animal population."
We found a couple of broken links on our site. Very Good

CHEMICAL POLLUTION WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/sternwq2.html
A webquest on chemical pollution of the environment for high school students. "You are a member of an Environmentalist Organization.  Your goal is to convince the State Legislature to pass stronger Laws preventing the release of chemical pollutants into the environment.
Create a PowerPoint presentation or a 3-page typed paper on a certain chemical.  Provide:
1. The scientific name of a chemical pollutant.
2. The name of a corporation that is releasing it into the environment.
3. The effects of this chemical on the environment.
4. How the release of this chemical is being limited, and why you feel this is not sufficient.
5. If you choose to create a PowerPoint make sure you include appropriate graphics.
6. If you choose to do a paper include at least one drawing depicting chemical pollution in the environment.  You may also insert pictures
from the Internet or photocopied.  Be sure to include a reference.
7. Be prepared to present your project to the class at the end of the term."
We found a couple of broken links on this site. Very Good

COASTAL EROSION – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/kearny/coast/
A webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on coastal erosion. "This project will study coastal erosions: what causes it, what people do to prevent it, and the effects of those preventative measures. You and your 3 partners will play roles to simulate the various perspectives people bring into consideration while trying to determine the best solution to the problem of coastal erosion for their town. Your team will come together at the end, discuss the options, determine the best solution, and then compose a letter (with illustrations) to the Mayor of the city with your recommendation and why your team reached that conclusion." Very Good

DDT: TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/roosevelt/silentspring/
A webquest for 9th grade students on pesticides. "Pesticides? What's the big deal? Someone is regulating them aren't they? The use of DDT is currently banned in the United States but not in other countries. You are part of a United Nations Task Force that must decide whether or not to persuade other countries to join in on the ban of DDT.   In order to make a decision, you and your colleagues must gather information on this subject. To do this, your team will need to divide up the roles and explore each of the areas within your role." We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

DEPLETION OF FOSSIL FUELS – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/georgeswq2.html\
A webquest on the depletion of fossil fuels and the energy crisis caused by this. "The resource base from which the technically more adept developed world derives their food, water, and energy will eventually be depleted in such a way that the production rates will fall due to physical restrictions. You work for the environmental protection agency and you want to find the best solution for this growing problem by focusing on how the U.S is affected by fossil fuel depletion.  T his goal will be accomplished by using the 6-step public policy approach to write a three page written report and give an oral presentation on the effects of depletion of resources on ecological systems and the environment." We found a broken link on this site. Very Good

A DESERTIFICATION WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://education.nmsu.edu/webquest/wq/deserti/Desertification.html
A webquest on desertification for upper elementary/junior high students. "Working in small groups of three to five students, you will focus on the causes and the consequences of desertification, as well as the solutions. You will use the WWW to conduct your research. Additionally, you will investigate books, videos, and additional resources about desertification based on research topics explained in "The Research Topics" section. Each group will research one aspect of desertification. Then you will make a presentation at the end of your investigation based on what you have learned about the specific aspect of desertification. Try to be as creative as possible when planning your presentation."    We found a few broken links on this site. Very Good

DISAPPEARING NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS WEBQUEST
http://www.lz95.lake.k12.il.us/mss/lz95online/mintroduction.htm
Consists of three webquests for 6th and 7th grade students. 1/Prairie Restoration 2/Wetlands Mystery 3/Community Development. All focus on the disappearance of natural ecosystems. Very Good

DON’T TREAD ON ME: LAND USE IN MISSION BAY – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/mission/Landuse/landuse.html
A webquest for junior high students on land use and the effects of development on habitats. "In the next ten years the land surrounding Mission Bay High School will change dramatically. The land now occupied by Campland and the DeAnza Trailer Park will be turned over to developers. The developers will undoubtedly elect to build a large resort on the property. The Kendall Frost Marsh is adjacent to this property. It is not clear what impact the development will have on the marsh reserve. History has shown us that there are times when protected lands are traded off to make room for development." We found several broken links on this site. Very Good

DR. GREEN’S RAINFOREST MYSTERY – WEBQUEST
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/drgreen/
A webquest on the rainforest for 3rd grade students. "You and your research team at the Animal Protection Center are in the middle of an important conversation when your boss comes running into your office, waving a folder of papers in the air. He informs you that the notes were found among the journals of the renowned rainforest explorer and animal rights advocate, Dr. George Green. Unfortunately, Dr. Green died recently. However, he left all of his journals to our Animal Protection Center.
Since you and your colleagues head up the research branch of the center, you have a lot of experience in gathering and using data about rain forest animals' behaviors, physical characteristics, and living environments to make inferences and conclusions about their identity. Because of your extensive knowledge in this area, your boss hands the folder to you and tells you to complete Dr. Green’s findings about an unfamiliar animal. It is important that you work quickly because the animal could be endangered, and the center may need to start immediate protection efforts!"
We found a couple of broken links on this site. Very Good

EARTH DAY WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.scsc.k12.in.us/SMS/Teachers/Elliot/Earth%20Day%20WebQuest/Earth%20Day%20Webquest.htm
A webquest for 8th grade students on Earth Day and ecology. "  In order to have a variety of topics addressed in class a limit of 4 presentations from each topic area will be assigned.  A random drawing will be held to determine the order for selection. Your poster and oral report must be related to your assigned topic area.  You may select a topic discussed in class or choose one that you find on your own. LIMIT YOUR TOPIC TO ONE IDEA. (Example: If you choose to do a Poster / Oral Report on an Endangered Species choose one animal or plant. If you choose Recycling as your topic focus on one form of recycling such as the recycling of aluminum.)
Special Note:  Many issues are rarely simple and one sided.  Be prepared to discuss other points of view or priorities on the subject.  TOPIC AREAS Fresh Water Resources / Pollution Soil Conservation Endangered Species Trees (Forests) Air Quality / Pollution Oceans Recycling"
Provides links to search engine sites but no resource sites. Very Good

ECOQUEST WEBQUEST
http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCTA/NCTA/WebQuest/FLWilson/WebQuest/Index.html
A webquest for 4th-5th grade science students. "You are an environmentalist trying to win 1 million dollars.  Your hope is to be awarded the money and help save your ecosystem.  You will research the ecosystem and create a persuasive presentation demonstrating why you and your ecosystem should be awarded the money." We found a couple of broken links within this site. Very Good

ECOSYSTEMS WEBQUEST
http://www.osage.k12.mo.us/ues/johnson/Ecosystems/ecoquest.html
A webquest for 3rd grade students on ecosystems. Students research the types of plants and animals that live in different ecosystems and create a paper model of their chosen ecosystem. Very Good

ENDANGERED SPECIES WEBQUEST
http://imet.csus.edu/imet2/dunnagane/especies/task.htm
A webquest for grades 6-9 on endangered species. "You are a reporter for the local newspaper and your editor has given you your first assignment as a reporter. You are to research an Endangered Specie from the United States. You use your article to teach people about what an endangered specie is, what causes them, should they be safe or not and why do you think this. You are also to show an example of what an endangered specie is. Before you can do this, you must first acquire a basic understanding of what an endangered specie is, what causes them, what is being done to stop this problem, and how does species going extinct effect us, as humans. You will do research to gather information on your specified endangered specie." Very Good

ENDANGERED WHALES – WEBQUEST
http://www.swlauriersb.qc.ca/english/edservices/pedresources/webquest/whales/index.html
A webquest for 4th grade students on whales. "You are a group of environmental scientists working for Greenpeace. It will be your job as a team to investigate all endangered species of whales. You must also discover all the causes of why whales are becoming an endangered mammal.
Did you know that several whales are endangered? Did you know that some whales will become extinct before your children grow up? Whales are the last of earth’s giant creatures. As you work on this webquest, I am sure you will grow to care about them even more. You may even want to help them somehow!"
We found a couple of broken links on this site. Very Good

ENVIRONMENT: HOW CAN YOU HELP? – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.gumbo.appstate.edu/coop01/webquests/Environment/environment.html
A webquest for 7th grade students on the environment. "You CAN make a difference!  How can you help to protect the air, water, and land?  How can you clean up the water you drink and the air you breathe?  How do you do to contribute to global warming and where does acid rain come from?  Everyday you make decisions that affect your environment. 
Are you ready to take affirmative action?  You will need to become an environmentalist, a political activists, an author, an artists, and a dramatist.  The choice is yours!"
We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH AND THE HUMAN POPULATION – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/548/WQ/Ray/Ray.html
A webquest for 8th grade students on population growth. "Exponential Growth, what is it and what is it all about? Is it the concept that Thomas Maltus brought to the King of England with a warning that he must do something about the ever increasing population? Is it some obscure mathematical theory thought of by the ancient Greeks? Through this exercise in inquirery learning, your group is going to find out what it is and how it relates to the human population. If Mr. Maltus was right about exponential growth and the number of people on the Earth, how will it affect you, your family, and even when you start your own family. In an effort to help others who do not understand the perceived problem of too many people as well as you do; your job is to come up with methods to inform and educate the general population using the resources available to you." We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

FORESTS AND TREES – WEBQUEST             NEW!
http://www.eats.ecsd.net/curricular/webquest/trees_forests/
A webquest for 5th grade students. " "Our Forests Are in Jeopardy," read the title to the column on the first page of yesterday’s Globe and Mail.  As you place the paper on your desk, you are often left scratching your head and pondering whether such articles are reliable sources of information.  Are journalists, reporters and writers of such material, sometimes misinformed about the plight of our forests and therefore, either intentionally or not, misleading their readers?
Coincidently, the Alberta Forestry Association has decided that it is time to re-educate the people of our great province about one of our precious resources, forests.  In doing so, they have called on your expertise as a forest ranger to aid them with their mission."
Adaptable for New Jersey. Very God

GLOBAL WARMING – A HEATED DEBATE – WEBQUEST
http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/middle/contribute/quest/studentp.html
A webquest on global warming for middle school students. "To help the United States Senate decide whether or not to ratify the treaty, a special sub-committee has been formed by the Senate to study the issues involved. To do this, the sub-committee will be calling for presentations by various interest groups that may be affected if the treaty goes into effect – or doesn’t go into effect. You have been chosen to be part of a team that will represent one of these groups!!" We found several broken links on this site. Very Good

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT – WEBQUEST         NEW!
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t4prod/barrettwq2.html
A webquest for junior high students on the greenhouse effect. "Your objective is to do a research on the cause and effects of global warming on the environment and use the six steps of the Public Policy Analyst to find evidence of that the problems exists and develop a policy  that will allow you to develop public policies that you think will reduce or eliminate this conditio