Ecosystems Curriculum Resources
see also Ecosystems
Background Information
Acid Rain Sourcebook
This site is a student's first source book including experiments and activities,
basic acid rain concepts, and things you can do about acid rain. Grades 4-8.
Backyard Jungle 
Fun activity lets students share photos and information about backyard or schoolyard
with a global audience. Suitable for grades 5-8.
http://www.backyardjungle.org/
BirdCast
http://www.birdsource.org/birdcast/
Funded by EPA, BirdCast is an exciting new collaboration that enables anyone
to track migrating birds as they move through the Mid-Atlantic region.
Eco Kids On-line:
Our Planet Our Future
This innovative, interactive environmental education web site for children,
families, and educators is loaded with information and includes interactive,
fun, educational games and activities that utilize participants' willingness
to learn. Kids are encouraged to form their own opinions, make decisions, get
involved and understand the impact their own actions have on the environment.
El Niņo and La
Niņa
From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration comes general information,
forecasts, the differences, and the impacts of El Niņo and La Niņa.
Environmental Education
at the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management website features quizzes, activities, volunteer
opportunities, and background information. It is designed to provide information
about the management of our public lands in the United States.
Environmental
Science Center Games
Online games about laboratory science and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
Ages 8 & up.
Everglades Educational
Resources
Are you interested in teaching your students about the Florida Everglades?
Check out this site to find activities and background information that will
help you tell the story of this fascinating natural ecosystem. Even if you
don't live near the Everglades, you will find valuable information that can
be applied to many ecosystems throughout the country.
Global
Change Teacher Guide
These activities give a very good introduction to the Earth's environmental.
They span a range of grade levels and provide very thorough introductions for
teachers.
The Global Water
Sampling Project
Collaborative project that allows the participant to compare water quality
of local water streams, lakes, etc. with other fresh water sources around the
world.
GLOBE Program
This site is a world-wide network of students, teachers, and scientists working
together to study and understand the global environment. Available in English,
French, and Spanish.
If Trees Could
Talk
This 8-module, middle school curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to download
social studies activities. 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.
www.lib.duke.edu/forest/curriculum/
Journey North
A global study of wildlife migration. Students in North America track the journeys
of a dozen migratory species and share their own field observations with
classrooms across the Hemisphere.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Journey to Planet
Earth
A PBS educational program that explores the fragile relationship between people
and the world we inhabit. Includes videos, teaching guides and internet resource
links.
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/
National Marine Sanctuaries
Find out more about the Sustainable Seas Expeditions! These scientific explorations
aim to discover the complexities of oceanic ecosystems. At this site, you'll
find historical information as well as daily reports of expedition activities.
Ocean Science Education Teacher
Resource Center
This site links by topic to a large collection of environmental web sites which
contain lesson plans and class activities.
Project Learning Tree
This national environmental education program includes correlations
with the national environmental education performance standards. This
program is recognized around the country as providing facilitators and
participants with well-conceived and inquiry-oriented activities. The
curriculum is available for a fee; the newsletter is free and there is
a sample curriculum online.
Oil Spill Learning
Center
At the Learning Center, you will find activities designed to teach students
about how contaminants might enter the environment and how they might be cleaned
up and removed.
Peace
Corps
The Peace Corps website provides you with curriculum and activities designed
to help you educate your students about global environmental issues. You have
the opportunity to obtain speakers for your classroom as well as correspond
with a current Peace Corps volunteer.
Prairie
Information from Fermilab
Web sites about prairies, sources of seeds and restoration tips, general agricultural
information and virtual weather.
Rainforest
Alliance Learning Site
Providing a rainforest curriculum for grades K through 6 this site provides
materials to teach current conservation challenges, cultural differences and
the wise use of resources, to help students understand the rainforest environment.
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/education/
Resources To Learn
More About Endangered Species From
the Fish and Wildlife Service, a list of materials that may give
you some ideas to help a species near you get on its road to recovery,
because recovery is the ultimate goal for each threatened and endangered
species.
Science Netlinks
This site provides standards-based lesson plans that incorporate reviewed Internet
resources, and can be selected according to specific benchmarks and grade
ranges. Each lesson is tied to at least one learning goal and uses research-based
instructional strategies that support student learning. The lessons are written
for the teacher, but include student-ready materials such as student sheets
(student reproducibles) or E-Sheets (online worksheets that enable students
to engage directly in Internet activities).
Southwest
Florida Water Management District Interactive Education Resources
Great virtual, interactive field trips that will help you to teach
about wetlands and watersheds. Explore Florida's Green Swamp, Hillsborough
River and Springs Coast Watershed. Includes lots of other neat resources
too such as educational tabloids, teacher's guides, and comprehensive
educational kits.
www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/infoed/educators/interactive.htm
Square
of Life: Studies in Local and Global Environments
Elementary school curriculum that allows classes to compare their
inventory of a 1 meter outdoor square in their school yard with another
class across the country or the globe. Registration to participate is
twice a year in spring and fall. Site contains lesson plans, activity
instructions, reference materials, discussion area, standards comparison
and a help contact.
Take a Dip
From April 1 - June 6, 2003, students will team up around the globe to test
fresh water. Join this collaborative project, comparing the water quality
of your local river, stream, lake or pond with other fresh water sources
around the world.
Teaching Earth Science
(NASA)
earth.nasa.gov/education/
The unique vantage point of space provides information about the Earth's air,
land, water, and life-and the interactions among them-that is not available
using any other means.
Toxic and Algal
Blooms
Interactive information about how toxins can pose risks to the human body.
U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Endangered Species Page
Information and educational materials about endangered and threatened species.
Wetlands Education
Everything you need to help your student understand wetlands and how they fit
into the water cycle and the environment. A portal site of links to activities,
curriculum, education programs, resources and teaching tools to assist you
in wetlands and habitat education.
World
in Our Backyard
This guide is a resource of information and activities about wetlands, including
ways to study wetland characteristics, why wetlands are important, and how
students and teachers can help protect a local wetland. Grades 6-8.
World of
Fresh Water
(PDF version)Use these activities to help your students understand the effects
of pollutants on lakes, rivers, and streams. Grades 4-6.
Wyland Ocean Challenge
Learn all about marine ecosystems through free activities that support National
Science and Art Standards.
www.wylandoceanchallenge.org
Activities
Here are a few activities from the Kids' and Students' pages that could
be used in conjunction with one of the ecosystems curricula.
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