EnviroLink
This Web site provides a list of excellent environmental
resources for K-12 teachers.
http://envirolink.org/enviroed/envirok12.html
Garbage:
How Can My Community Reduce Waste?
This site demonstrates what actually happens to the solid
waste and sewage produced by individuals and industries around the world. It is
based on the PBS series "Race to Save the Planet," funded by the
Annenberg/CPB Projects.
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/intro.html
Composting in
Schools
This Web site gives information about composting in
schools. There are ideas for student research projects, a teacher's page, and
even a compost quiz.
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/schools.html
Planet Earth
The Planet Earth site includes interactive learning
activities about ecology. There's also an Ecology Hot List of Internet sites
that support ecology curriculum.
http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/mtr/PlanetEarthMainPage.htm
Earth Magna Charta
This is a document about global preservation and peace
written by one of the Earth Day founders. You can also sign up to become an
Earth Trustee.
http://www.earthsite.org/charta.htm#Prelude
John Muir Exhibit
This exhibit features the life and legacy of John Muir,
naturalist, writer, conservationist, and founder of the Sierra Club.
http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/
USDA for Kids Page
The United States Department of Agriculture has dozens of
activities and sites for children of all ages. Content areas include weather,
agriculture, nature, the environment, backyard conservation, fire safety,
history, science, 4-H, and more.
http://www.usda.gov/news/usdakids/index.html
Green Schools
Project
This project is designed to save schools money and teach
students about energy use and its connection to the environment. By educating
and involving students, teachers, and administrators, you can cut energy
consumption and costs for your school.
http://www.ase.org/greenschools
Mercury Rising
This richly visual Web site takes you to a rainforest in
Costa Rica to investigate the impact of climate changes on the environment.
http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/climate/
Acid Rain
The Environmental Protection Agency provides a look at the
causes and effects of acid rain.
http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/
Earth Science
Enterprise
Designed for kids, this NASA Web site shows how the Earth
and changes affecting it are examined using space technology.
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/
Some resources below are provided as PDF files. This allows for better clarity and printing. To open these files, you will need Adobe Acrobat® Reader™ software installed on your hard drive. If you do not have this software, click here for information on downloading the software.
Grades K-1
A Tree is a Community
A tree can be a virtual neighborhood, full of inhabitants
and activities. Invite your students to look at trees in a new way and then to
create one of their own.
What's in a Tree?
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/1_8_act2.html
Grades K-2
Another Look at
the Landscape
You never know what you'll see when you're a Nature Spy!
Have your students try looking at the world around them in a new way, focusing
on specific aspects of nature.
Nature Spies
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/1_3_act1.html
Grades K-2
Make Friends with a
Tree
Have students choose one tree to observe and learn about.
Tree Journal
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/tree.html
Grades K-1
Make a Tree
Turn your classroom into a forest to celebrate Earth Day.
Paper Trees
http://www.kinderart.com/crafts/papertrees.htm
Grades K-1
Environmental Alphabet
Have children practice letter recognition as they learn a
little about what the Environmental Protection Agency does.
A is for Air
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/kids/alphabet/a.htm
Grades K-1
Truffula Trees
"I am the Lorax.
I speak for the trees.
I've come here to celebrate Earth Day, so please.
Come join me and help spread the message I bring."
Be a friend to the trees and to each living thing. See
how many Truffula seeds students can catch to replant trees.
The Lorax's
Save the Trees Game
http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/games/lorax/
Grades K-1
Earth Day Bulletin
Board
Create an Earth Day bulletin board titled "Arctic
Animals," honoring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Have
children color the pictures of a caribou, a grizzly, a wolf, and others and then
write a descriptive caption for each picture.
Arctic Refuge Coloring Book
http://earthday.wilderness.org/arctic/color_book.htm
Grades K-2
Who Pollutes the Most?
Do your students know the number one cause of air
pollution? Have them find out with this connect the dots activity
MPCA: Kids Connect the Dots!
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/kids/dot.html
Grades K-2
Woodsy Owl
Have students color Woodsy Owl, America's environmental
champion since 1970.
Woodsy Coloring Sheets
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/woodsy/coloring.html
Grades K-3
A Work of Art
Don't throw that trash away! Have your students recycle it
into a work of art.
Whatsit?
http://www.eduplace.com/hac/acts/recycle/whatsit.html
Grades K-3
Don't Be a Water
Waster!
Do your students waste water when they brush their teeth?
Not sure? Then have them try an expreriment to find out.
Are You a Water Waster?
http://www.eduplace.com/hac/acts/recycle/water.html
Grades K-3
What We Did
for the Environment
Get children involved in caring for the environment. Have
each child choose an activity to do and color from The Happy Earth Day Coloring
and Activities Book. Display the finished pages on a bulletin board titled
"What We Did for the Environment."
The Happy Earth Day Coloring and Activities Book
http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.htm
Grades K-4
Remember to Recycle
Students will love these print-and-cut recycling kits. Use
them in the classroom, or have students color and cut them out for use at home.
Recycle Kits
http://www.planetpals.com/pprecycle.html
Grades K-4
Tropical Birds
Have children make a class book of cool tropical birds,
such as the Great Kiskadee and the Groove Billed Ani. After children color the
pictures, you might want to laminate the pages before binding them into a class
book.
Tropical Coloring Book
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids&teachers/kids/coloring-book/index.html
Grades K-5
Bags for the
Environment
Get local grocers to donate paper bags. Students decorate
the bags with pictures of Earth and environmental messages and then return the
decorated bags to the grocery store to distribute to customers (full of
groceries) on Earth Day.
The Earth Day Groceries Project
http://www.earthdaybags.org/
Grades 1-2
Classroom Seedlings
Have your students create their own nursery in the
classroom and watch plants grow.
Garden in an Egg Carton
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/1_8_act3.html
Grades 1-3
Hidden Pictures
Have your students create their own hidden wildlife
pictures.
Where's the Wildlife?
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/2_2_act2.html
Grades 1-5
Nature Mobile
Have students take a new look at nature and bring it into
their homes and classrooms.
Make a Nature Mobile
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/2_2_act1.html
Grades 1-8
Earth Day Quizzes
Test your students' knowledge about Earth Day.
Changing the Land Grades 1-2 (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_1-2_earth.pdf
Changing the Land Answer Key (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_1-2_earth_key.pdf
Resources Grades 3-5 (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_3-4_earth.pdf
Resources Answer Key (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_3-4_earth_key.pdf
Global Warming Grades 6-8 (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_6-8_earth.pdf
Global Warming Answer Key (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/quiz_6-8_earth_key.pdf
Grades 1-8
Earth Day Word
Scrambles
Can your students unscramble these Earth Day words?
Earth Day Word Scramble (grades 1-2) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_easy_earth.pdf
Earth Day Word Scramble Answer Key (grades 1-2) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_easy_earth_key.pdf
Earth Day Word Scramble (grades 3-5) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_med_earth.pdf
Earth Day Word Scramble Answer Key (grades 3-5) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_med_earth_key.pdf
Earth Day Word Scramble (grades 6-8) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_hard_earth.pdf
Earth Day Word Scramble Answer Key (grades 6-8) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/scramble_hard_earth_key.pdf
Grades 1-8
Earth Day Word Finds
Have students test their detective skills by finding
specific Earth Day words hidden in a puzzle.
Earth Day (easy) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/earth_easy.pdf
Earth Day Answer Key (easy) (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/earth_easy_sol.pdf
Earth Day (difficult)(PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/earth_hard.pdf
Earth Day Answer Key (difficult)(PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/earth_hard_sol.pdf
Grades 2-4
Composting Slide Show
Students can find out how to make compost and how to use it
to grow beautiful gardens. Using a scripted slide set, students can click
through composting steps, illustrated by young children.
Composting for Kids
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html
Grades 2-5
Recyclamobiles
Have children make a "Recyclamobile." Ask them to
bring from home some kind of box or container that could be recycled, such as a
cereal box or a plastic margarine container. Then ask them to come up with as
many other different uses for the container as they can. The uses can be serious
or silly. Next, have children write ideas on small squares of construction
paper, and attach the squares with yarn to the containers. Hang the
Recyclamobiles around the room for all to enjoy.
Grades 2-5
This Game is Rubbish!
The people of Rubbish World are being held captive by the
evil Rubbish Warlord, Hsart. Students try to save the people by making good
environmental decisions.
Rubbish World
http://www.brucecgull.com/game.htm
Grades 2-6
Four Frog Quizzes
Frogs are disappearing at an alarming rate. How much do
your students know about frogs and their current situation? To find out, have
them take any of four fun frog quizzes.
EcoKids: Frog Quiz
http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/fun_n_games/games/frog_1/index.cfm
Grades 2-6
Earth Day Match Games
Have students play a matching game about any of these
topics: renewable energy, biodiversity, water, air pollution, or solid waste.
Memory Games
http://edugreen.teri.res.in/play/memory/memory.htm
Grades 2-8
What are
YOU Doing for Earth Day?
Have students read what people are doing year-round to
celebrate Earth Day. They can also write what they've been doing for Earth Day
and submit it for posting.
WhaleTimes EarthDay
http://www.whaletimes.org/earthday.htm
Grades 3-6
Make a Globe
Students can make a globe of the earth from a balloon
covered with newspaper, flour-water glue, and paint. Although this is a messy
project, the results are very nice and teach a tremendous amount about
geography.
Papier-Mâché Globe
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/globe/
Grades 3-6
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is not just an industrial problem. Many
sources of hazardous waste can be found in the home. Can your students identify
items that are hazardous, and ones that can be recycled?
Garbage — Hazardous Waste in the Home
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/hazardous/
Grades 3-8
Environmental Slogans
In 1950, Smokey the Bear was created to help make children
aware of the destruction of forests by fire. Smokey's slogan was "Only you
can prevent forest fires." In 1970, Woodsy Owl was created by the Forest
Service, and his slogan was, "Give a hoot. Don't pollute." Woodsy Owl
now has a new slogan, "Lend a Hand—Care for the Land." Have students
come up with their own environmental character and slogan to use on an Earth Day
poster.
Woodsy Owl
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/woodsy/
Smokey Bear
http://www.smokeybear.com/
Grades 3-8
A Changing Environment
In this lesson, students will use observation skills to
analyze changes that people have made to the natural environment.
Environmental Explorer
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/education/ideask4/k4environ.html
Grades 3-8
Worm World
Have your students learn about earthworms, those busy
recyclers who break down organic matter. Older students might also be interested
in creating a worm bin.
Worms as Recyclers
http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/worm/pg000104.html
Grades 4-6
Bird Feeders
Birds are good to the earth, so let's be good to birds by
making milk-carton bird feeders. Have each student bring an empty, clean,
half-gallon milk carton to school. Then follow these easy instructions:
Cut a 4" x 3" rectangle out of one side of the
milk carton.
Below the rectangle, cut a round hole. Then cut a similar
hole on the side directly opposite.
Slide a straight stick or dowel through the hole. This will
be the perch.
Cut two small holes in the top of the carton, and thread
strong string or thin wire through them to form a hanger.
Grades 4-8
New Games from Old
If you have students who like to invent as well as recycle,
have them use parts from old games to create a new game.
Pass It On
http://www.eduplace.com/hac/acts/recycle/passon.html
Grades 4-8
Ecology Derby
Have students learn the fundamentals of Internet research
and discover challenging ideas about ecosystems and important environmental
issues.
Headbone Derby—Ecology Strikes Back!
http://www.headbone.com/derby/eco/
Grades 5-8
Earth Adventures
Have students join Miss Maggie on her earth adventures to
investigate problems all over the world.
Miss Maggie's Earth Adventures
http://www.missmaggie.org
Grades 5-8
Guess the Ecosystem
This game works a lot like Pictionary™. As a picture
appears, students try to guess which ecosystem is being drawn.
Biodiversity Performs
http://www.worldwildlife.org/windows/performs/
Grades 5-8
Ozone
The weather report tells that it is going to be sunny and
hot and that an orange ozone alert has been issued. What is ozone? What does an
orange alert mean? Why should you be concerned about it? Have students learn the
answers to these and other questions about ozone.
How Ozone Pollution Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com/ozone-pollution.htm
Grades 5-8
Environmental Cartoons
Have students try their hand at cartooning by creating
their own environmental cartoons.
Brucie and the Gang Protecting the Rivers
http://www.brucecgull.com/html/river_protection.htm
Grades 5-8
Connections to
Biodiversity
In the virtual house students can learn about our
connections to biodiversity and about how the way we live can affect our
planet's biodiversity.
WWF: Virtual House
http://www.virtualhouse.org/game.cgi
Grades 5-8
Shrink It
Can your students reduce waste by 10 percent with a budget
of $50,000? Have them give it a try.
Garbage — Shrinking a Landfill
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/landfill/
Grades 5-8
House Search
Students begin by choosing a topic: forests for life, toxic
chemicals, wildlife trade, endangered sea, or global warming. Then they search
the house for answers to specific questions.
WWF: Virtual House
http://www.virtualhouse.org/game.cgi
Grades 5-8
Mission: Save Our
Planet
There are tons of things students can do to save the
environment. Have them work in teams to create a booklet of strategies.
How to Save the Planet
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/planet.html
Grades 6-8
Cause and Effect
The solution to one problem can lead to new problems. Have
students learn about unintended consequences by symbolically acting out the
effects of pesticides.
Endangered Food Chain
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/food.html
Grades 6-8
Earth Day
Crossword Puzzle
Have your students solve this Earth Day related word
puzzle.
Earth Day (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/puzz_earth.pdf
Earth Day Answer Key (PDF file)
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/april/pdf/puzz_earth_key.pdf
Grades 6-8
City Manager of
Dumptown
Have students play a cool online recycling game where they
become the city manager of Dumptown. They can start programs that encourage
Dumptown's citizens and businesses to recycle and reduce waste.
Dumptown Game
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
Grades 7-8
What a Waste
By examining the complex social, economic, and
environmental problem of siting a resource recovery facility, students will
determine the advantages and disadvantages for the community.
Not In My Backyard: Siting A Resource Recovery Facility
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/TrashGoesToSchool/NotIn.html#anchor11151967
Grades 7-8
Landfills
Students will learn how a sanitary landfill is made and
operates, and will understand some of the associated pollution problems.
How Do Landfills Work?
http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/wmi/TrashGoesToSchool/HowDoLandfills.html
Monthly Themes
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