Environmental Education Resources: Useful Links3

Environmental Education Resources
for Secondary School Science Teachers

II. (More-Specific) Sites for Environmental Education

* = recommended site

Mystery at Hickory Hollow (http://www.cnas.smsu.edu/hickoryhollow) For middle school: Investigative teams of four students must solve a mystery then make recommendations, supported by evidence for their findings, to the town council. Complete plans and assessments.

National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) (http://www.nabt.org)

National Audubon Society (http://www.audubon.org) "Audubon Adventures, a dynamic, classroom-based lesson series, provides students with reading and writing lessons in the content areas of science and environment."(lower middle school) Other E programs, too.

National Energy Education and Development (NEED Project) (http://www.need.org) "The mission of the NEED Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs."

National Geographic Society (http://www.nationalgeographic.com) Education: Online Adventures, lesson plans, teacher community, and teacher store, educator favorites, extension sites. Also see NGS’s 2000/Biodiversity.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (http://www.noaa.gov) Weather, oceans, and links to other strong E agencies.

National Park Service (http://www.aqd.nps.gov) (see NatureNet: Education, Site Index, and more) Park EE resources online for students and teachers.

National Wildlife Federation (see EE) (http://www.nwf.org) "Explore NWF's educational pathways to understanding, appreciating and safeguarding the natural world." Many resources including "Earthsavers" and "Nature Link".

Nature Connect (Institute of Global Education) (http://www.pacificrim.net/~nature/.www.html) Online courses, training books, and degree programs.

Nature Conservancy (http://nature.org) Emphasis on conservation science, e-newsletter included.

*North American Alliance for Green Education (http://www.naage.org) The North American Alliance for Green Education is a non-profit consortium founded & guided by students. Membership is comprised of varied educational institutions and organizations from diverse bioregions.

*North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) (http://www.naaee.org) "NAAEE is a network of professionals, students, and volunteers working in the field of environmental education throughout North America and in over 55 countries around the world. Since 1971, the Association has promoted environmental education and supported the work of environmental educators. There are many environmental interest groups, and many organizations dedicated to improving education. NAAEE uniquely combines and integrates both of these perspectives, and takes a cooperative, nonconfrontational, scientifically-balanced approach to promoting education about environmental issues."

Orion Society (http://www.orionsociety.org/pages/os/education/index_education.html) "We work with educators of all levels from across the country to develop groundbreaking models for place-based, interdisciplinary environmental education, plan national conferences on a variety of topics, publish educational monographs, and sponsor teacher-training institutes with the goal of nature literacy always at the core."

Planet Pals Earth Day (http://www.planetpals.com/earthday2.html) Site specializing in Earth Day activities and links.

Project Earth (http://www.projectearth.com/flash_index.html) A very interesting and well-designed site worth checking out.

Project Learning Tree (http://www.plt.org) "PLT is an award-winning, interdisciplinary environmental education program for educators working with students in PreK through grade 12. PLT helps students gain awareness and knowledge of the natural and built environment, their place within it, as well as their responsibility for it. PLT offers exciting and challenging interdisciplinary, action-oriented activities that focus on the total environment -- land, air and water. PLT's lessons are designed to develop critical thinking skills and teach students "how" to think about complex environmental issues, not "what" to think." Lesson plan manuals available.

Rainforest Action Network (http://www.ran.org) "Through class presentations, each year RAN educates thousands of students about the importance of the rainforests, the reasons for their destruction, and things that students can do to help save them. To inform thousands more, RAN produces educational materials including a Teachers' Information Packet, a Kids' Action Guide, a Tree-Free Action Guide, and Rainforests Forever!, a curriculum supplement for elementary school teachers."

Recycler’s World (http://www.recycle.net) "Recycler's World was established as a world wide trading site for information related to secondary or recyclable commodities, by-products, used & surplus items or materials."

Rocky Mountain Institute (http://www.rmi.org) "The RMI website offers extensive information for citizens, communities, and companies. Our outreach department is a clearinghouse of information on resource efficiency, responding to calls and emails from individuals and organizations seeking advice on everything from home energy savings to sophisticated analysis of resource statistics."

Roger Tory Peterson Institute (http://www.rtpi.org/eduprogs) "The Roger Tory Peterson Institute recognizes that teachers have a special opportunity and ability to help young people develop a relationship with nature and consequently targets most of its resources on teacher enhancement and curriculum development."

Second Nature: Education for Sustainability (http://www.secondnature.org/about/about_programs_services.html) "We have researched and refined our work to accomplish our goals by promoting institutional transformation in four areas: curriculum change (teaching and learning), facilities and operations management, community collaboration, and interdisciplinary research."

SEEDS Foundation (http://www.greenschools.ca/seeds/home.html) Mission: "to support Canadian educators in promoting student literacy and active personal and societal responsibility for energy, sustainability and the environment."

Sierra Club EE (http://www.sierraclub.org/education) "Teaching young people to think about the environment is as important as teaching them to read and write. Through its environmental education programs, the Sierra Club nurtures leadership skills, promotes intercultural communication, and draws people of wide-ranging ethnic groups, cultures, and abilities into the battle to protect our environment."

Smithsonian Institute (http://www.si.edu) See "Education and Outreach" for comprehensive list of resources.

Smithsonian Institute Environmental Studies (http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/ecology.htm) Extensive resource list covering the following topics: Biodiversity, Global Climate Change, and Ecosystems.

Society for Environmental Education (http://www.ecology.org) Site under reconstruction.

Solstice (http://www.crest.org) California environmental site which includes the following: Energy and Environment, Discussion Groups, Community Calendar, Renewable Energy Policy Project, and the Global Environmental Market Place.

Special Species Project (http://www.specialspecies.com) "Project-based learning adventure for teachers and students. See what happens when teachers, nature experts and kids get together to explore plants, animals and habitats."

Stanford University’s Center for Conservation Biology (http://www.stanford.edu/group/CCB) CCB mission is to "promote human well-being by developing a scientific basis for managing Earth’s life-support systems and helping arrest environmental deterioration. In so doing it fosters wide collaboration with other scientists, social scientists, journalists, and representatives of NGOs, Federal and State agencies, and the business community."

State Education and Environment Roundtable (http://www.seer.org) "The Roundtable's work focuses on providing assistance and support to state departments of education."

Turning Point Project (http://www.turnpoint.org/) "The Turning Point Project is a non-profit organization, formed in 1999 specifically to design and produce a series of educational advertisements concerning the major issues of the new millennium."

U.S. Forest Service: Conservation Education (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/ce/) "The Conservation Education program (CE) helps people of all ages understand and appreciate our country's natural resources and how to conserve those resources for future generations. Through structured educational experiences and activities targeted to varying age groups and populations, Conservation Education enables people to realize how natural resources and ecosytems affect each other and how resources can be used wisely."

Virtual Galapagos (http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos) "Traveling virtually, K-12 classrooms investigate the Galápagos Islands' ecology to understand how wildlife adapts and evolves. This online space allows students to collaborate with the travelers and share their knowledge with the world. Sponsored by IBM."

Watershed Education Institute: Building EE Solutions (BEES) (http://www.beesinc.org) "BEES is a nonprofit organization that works with educators to develop innovative environmental education programs which are multidisciplinary, inquiry-based, and customized around a local issue. Our programs engage middle to high school students in an in-depth and hands-on examination of an issue, incorporate many perspectives, and include the use of technology tools, exposure to career opportunities, and practice in using workplace readiness skills."

Web-based Integrated Science Environment (WISE) from Cal-Berkeley (http://wise.berkeley.edu/WISE/welcome.php) "WISE is a powerful tool that combines advanced educational theories with cutting-edge technology. A straightforward interface and the vast resources of the World Wide Web draw new enthusiasm and curiosity from students, and a suite of support programs help teachers prepare for projects, assess student work, and connect with other WISE teachers across the globe."

Wilderness Society (http://www.wilderness.org) Action campaign to save America’s forests.

Wildlife Need Habitat (http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande) References, lectures given at International environmental conferences, management of parks and wildlife.

World Wildlife Fund (http://www.wwf.org) "Known worldwide by its panda logo, WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization with 4.7 million supporters and a global network active in some 100 countries. WWF's mission is to protect nature and the biological diversity that we all need to survive."

WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands (https://nt-private.dmv.com/wetland.secure/ecpubs2.cfm?itemid=2) "WOW!: The Wonders Of Wetlands is an acclaimed, comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum guide for educators of grade levels K-12. The latest edition, co-published in 1995 by Environmental Concern and The Watercourse (Bozeman, MT), includes more than 50 fun and effective learning-activities for both indoor and outdoor use. These activities focus on the three definitive wetland parameters: water, soil, and plants; there are animal-oriented exercises as well."

Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) (http://www.yesworld.org/) "YES! is a non-profit organization that educates, inspires and empowers young people to join forces for social justice and environmental sanity. Founded in 1990 by 16-year-old Ocean Robbins and 19-year-old Ryan Eliason, at a time when Nancy Reagan was telling young people to "just say no," we help youth say "yes" to living with meaning, purpose, integrity and commitment."

Zero Population Growth (ZPG) (http://www.zpg.org) "Zero Population Growth is a national nonprofit organization working to slow population growth and achieve a sustainable balance between the Earth's people and its resources. We seek to protect the environment and ensure a high quality of life for present and future generations. ZPG's education and advocacy programs aim to influence public policies, attitudes, and behavior on national and global population issues and related concerns." See "Education".

The University of Arizona
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
General Biology Program for Secondary Teachers
warder@email.arizona.edu