Home
Email this page to a friend

Earth Day More Earth Day Resources

Whether you seek ideas for a community service project for Earth Day or ways to use innovative technologies to bring the environment into your classroom, TeachersFIrst has the reviewed resources to meet your needs. This extensive list is a full listing of TeachersFirst resource for Earth Day.

List too long? Explore our "Editors' Choice" resources for Earth Day, selected for their potential to engage and involve your students in both the understanding of scientific concepts surrounding Earth Day and in environmental activism for any time of the year.

You can also narrow your search to a specific topic for earth day or a certain grade range using our keyword search tool. Be sure to read the search tips to optimize your search of our reviewed collection.

 
99 record(s) found - search again
Earth Day Groceries Project Grade K to 8 - The Earth Day Groceries Project- 3729 Share
Have your students decorate paper grocery bags for Earth Day! The "Earth Day Groceries Project" is cost-free and one of the largest and oldest projects on the Internet. The project, managed by Mark Ahlness (a third grade teacher in Seattle, Washington), challenges students to decorate paper grocery bags for Earth Day featuring environmentally friendly messages. There are four steps to the project, all well-explained on the site. Be sure to visit the Project Starter Kit link. This link includes a PowerPoint presentation about the project, screensavers, project details, and more.

In the Classroom:
Use this interdisciplinary activity to integrate art, creativity, community service, science, and Earth Day events. Share the PowerPoint presentation with your class on a projector or interactive whiteboard to get students motivated about the project.

Display pictures of some of the bags on your class website. Provide this link in your class newsletter or on your class website; challenge parents to make this a family activity.

Earth Day Grade K to 5 - Kaboose- 2857 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash If you are looking for Earth Day activities in your elementary level classroom, don't miss this interactive site! Features of this site include Earth Day crafts, recipes, learning about the history of the holiday, several interactives (all related to the environment), printable pages, quizzes, and more. There are links for both classroom and home activities.

Be aware: this site does include advertisements. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
As you prepare for Earth Day, check out the many resources at this site. Share the interactives on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Set up a learning center for students to explore the interactives on their own. Have small groups investigate a specific topic on this site and report back to the class (a multi-media presentation would be great). Be sure to list this link on your class website for students to use both in and out of the classroom.

Earth Milestones since First Earth Day Grade 4 to 12 - MSNBC- 10994 Share
This resource requires Flash Despite scary environmental news, what have we done to make progress in taking care of the Earth? Find major milestones since the advent of the first Earth day with this timeline. Follow from 1970 to the present by clicking through the items or choose from the icons in the smaller timeline along the top. Click on the photos to enlarge. Read articles below about the environment or about Earth Day and Earth Week activities.

In the Classroom:
Search each event listed to learn more about the opinions, circumstances, and facts surrounding each event. Use the timeline as a springboard into discussions of various environmental topics. Use other applications such as Google Earth or sites that provide pictures and articles from past events. Compare air, water, or other pollution by viewing information or pictures from yesterday and today. Create campaigns of environmental issues. Use multimedia or conventional posters, websites, and podcasts to pass on important information. Have your students create an interactive online poster ("glog") using Glogster EDU, reviewed here. Have students create podcasts using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).

Earth Day Online Grade 4 to 8 - Envirolink Network- 1358 Share
The site includes information on both the history of Earth Day and current Earth Day Events. Schools and communities can add their own events. Includes a timeline of what led to the first event.

In the Classroom:
Plan your own all-school or community activity and share it in this online venue.

Earth Day Canada Grade 1 to 12 - - 2845 Share
Our Canadian users will want to visit this starting page for Canadian Earth Day acvitivities and information, and others will also find the selection of information and resources useful.


Explore a Tropical Rainforest: An Earth Day Project, 2009 Grade 6 to 12 - TeachersFirst- 9958 Share
Field trips may have disappeared into the cloud of economic distress, but TeachersFirst is cooperating with another non-profit, The RiverRidge Foundation for Environmental Research and Education (RiverRidge), in planning some special events for you to “be there” as scientists, just in time for April and Earth Day. RiverRidge has invited TeachersFirst users and their students to virtually Explore a Rainforest along with a group of 8th-12th grade scientists who will be visiting Costa Rica, April 4-12, 2009.

In the Classroom:
See the specific information for getting your class involved, including a step-by-step list and tips on the project wiki. Make learning personal and real for your young scientists.

Earth Day Grade 4 to 10 - Myvocabulary.com- 8080 Share
This website provides unique vocabulary activities that all correlate with Earth Day! Some of the activities are interactive and other activities are printable. There are word puzzles, a word bank, music list, and more.

In the Classroom:
Use this website to introduce your students to new vocabulary words, while you are teaching them the importance of protecting our Earth. The interactive vocabulary activities would work very well on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

Earth Day Network Footprint Calculator Grade 6 to 12 - Earthday Network- 7161 Share
This resource requires Flash This quick quiz provides the user with his or her ecological "footprint." Based on the answers given, the student can see how much space his or her lifestyle takes up in the world (based on foot eaten, modes of transportation, size of house etc.) and how that compares to others in the world. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This would be a great Earth Day activity, although younger students may not know how to answer some of the questions (the square footage of their house, the size of their hometown). The information gives students very concrete feedback about the environmental impact of their life on the planet. Taking the quiz takes only a few minutes, but the discussion it yields could easily fill a whole class period! If individual computers aren't available, share the site on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

Earth Day Grade 4 to 7 - Earthday.com- 5046 Share
This environmental education site, a cooperative effort across the entire U.S. government, is filled with creative ways to make learning about the environment fun! Click on the "In the Classroom" link to learn more about specific topics, play educational interactive, complete puzzles, or take a virtual trip to "Recycle City." The "For Kids" page provides an annotated collection of kid-friendly environmental Web sites filled with clever and interactive activities. Learn about the history of Earth Day, ways to celebrate in your classroom or at home, and more. There is quite a bit to explore!

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Read the history of Earth Day together. Have cooperative learning groups explore different ways to "take action" and then create a multimedia presentation to share with the class. Why not challenge students to create a video to share with the class using a site such as TeacherTube (explained here).

Earth Day on Your Block Grade 4 to 12 - - 2823 Share
Here’s a long page describing community-based activities around Earth Day themes. Some of these require extensive adult cooperation, but many are projects students could conduct mostly on their own. Some of the supplementary resources are unique to the Kansas City, MO area, where the page originated. Use this one as a resource when someone asks, "What can we do ourselves?"


Seussville Science Games Grade 1 to 3 - Random House- 1407 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash At this colorful site, Lorax teaches simple science with two interactive games (one about classification and the other about “Earth Day”). There is also a printable science page. To fully use this site it requires Flash, Shockwave, and Adobe Acrobat. All three can be downloaded here: TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Many of these activities lend themselves to the interactive whiteboard or projector, where students share the learning. The interactive activities could also be used to create a science learning center. Make sure you mark this site as a favorite for easy access in in late February and early March when you will want to include these activities in your Dr. Seuss unit in honor of Read Across America Day. You may want to use this site for Earth Day activities too! Be sure to include this website on your class newsletter or on your class website so students can access this site at home.

Environment Grade 1 to 3 - Manatee School District- 9549 Share
This resource requires Flash This site explores the environment: the establishment and meaning behind Earth Day, recycling, trash, air pollution, water pollution, and habitat destruction. Each topic includes several hyperlinked texts that take you to pictures, diagrams, or more information. There are also buttons on each page that say "read." This feature reads the information to the student. The site also includes interactives, online quizzes, and lots of other Earth friendly information. Each topic includes 10+ links to pictures, diagrams, and definitions. Of those many links, two were not working properly at the time of this review. However, nearly all links are working at this "hot topic" website. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector around Earth Day. Since each topic has links, read aloud features, and online quizzes, why not focus on one topic per week (or month) during your science class. Have students brainstorm ways that they can help to protect our environment. Have students work with a partner to explore various sections of this site (don't forget the headsets).

Recycling Lesson Plans Grade K to 12 - Pennsylvania Dept of Environmental Protection- 8040 Share
Includes lesson plan Find an activity to get kids moving on Earth Day as they start a recycling project appropriate for their age. This collection of lesson plans will get you going.


Kids' Planet Grade 2 to 8 - Defenders of Wildlife.- 4983 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Approach writing, reading, technology, and social studies through the lens of environmental science. Use the printable units and lesson plans (found at the Teacher's Table) for direction and content, then allow students to play the related "Wild Games" as an enrichment activity. Click on the "Defend It" or "Cool Stuff" links to find creative ways for kids to take part in wildlife conservation. Students can explore an interactive map of the world to discover the status of more than 50 species. A great Earth Day resource! This site requires Flash, Adobe Acrobat, and Java. You can get all three from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
There are many ways to incorporate this site into your Earth Day plans (or a unit on conservation or wild life). Save this site in your favorites, so students can visit often. Take advantage of the ready-to-go units of study. Share the interactives on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use this site for student research projects.

Celebrating Earth Day with Students Grade 4 to 12 - - 2843 Share
Includes lesson plan This is a general teachers' guide from the Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Biology. It offers a collection of Earth Day ideas, projects, and activities for students and classes.


Virtual Visit to a School Garden Grade 3 to 8 - TeachersFirst/Meriwether Lewis Elementary- 10826 Share
Watch the archived version of a live webcast from Meriwether Lewis Elementary School garden on Earth Day 2009, a cooperative project with TeachersFirst. See students explain concepts of organic vegetable gardening, natural building with cob, composting, rainwater collection, planting their new bioswale, Pacific Northwest native plants, and more. TeachersFirst's complete how-to information for making your own video field trips is linked from this page, as well.

In the Classroom:
Scroll down to a list of suggestions for using this archived webcast in your classroom. Talk about local sites where you might be able to take a team of students to create a local student created "video field trip" to share with other classes both in and outside of your school. See TeachersFirst's complete how-to information to try one of your own.

Act Green Grade K to 8 - Scholastic- 9987 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Act Green provides many avenues for students to learn about going green and to put their green ideas into action. The site includes “100 Ways to Act Green,” printables, and many other features! Join the site for free (no email address is required) and become part of the Green Team by fueling the Greenerator! Students earn points for taking green action and can even become Greeniacs! This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This outrageously green site can serve as a guide for Earth Day activities. Extend it further and start a class project that could expand throughout the entire school and community. Share the interactives and other ideas on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Highlight some of the “100 Ways to Act Green” in your classroom. List this site on your class website for families to use at home. Have cooperative learning groups explore various facets of this site and complete a simple video sharing their findings. Share the videos using a site such as Teachers.tv (reviewed here).

State of the air Grade 4 to 12 - American Lung Association- 9932 Share
How healthy is your air? Search by state and zip code to identify how your area "makes the grade." Identify the most common pollutants and their sources in easy to understand language. Identify the health risks of the pollutants and what can be done to reduce some of them. Compare and contrast different areas as well as the most polluted and cleanest cities. Use this site to learn more about the common pollutants: ozone and particulates using the "Pollution Basics" tab. This site also includes a blog, and personal stories submitted by readers of the site.

Caution: A contribution ad does appear on the side of the site, and students should be cautioned.

In the Classroom:
Begin your unit on air pollution with the quiz to determine students background knowledge and identify misconceptions. Use student groups to investigate various areas of the country or states and determine trends within the area/state. Students can follow with research in that area to look at various factors contributing to the air pollution in that area (industry, population, etc.) Students can present findings to the class in order to identify trends across the nation and in our lives that can affect air quality. Follow up with other activities and labs to understand air pollution and the factors that contribute. Access the "Key Findings" tab of the site to find an executive summary of information, tables, and trend charts that can be used for great discussions in the classroom. Create particle collectors using double sided tape or through purchase from Science supply catalogs to identify factors in students personal and school environments. As you approach Earth Day, have students create papers or online posters about air pollution and share them in their chosen “poor grade” locations.

EcoKids Grade K to 8 - Earth Day Canada- 9335 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash This clever, creative, and entertaining resource is a must for elementary science classroom! Click to enter the Room 26: Kids or the Teachers' Lounge. Kids from all over the world can learn oodles from this Canadian ecology site. Teachers will find a trove of information and instructional materials as well. You will appreciate the Earth Day activities and information. There are also numerous educational interactives highlighting the food chain, bugs, animal adaptations, acid rain, transportation, and other topics. Students can participate in interactive stories; play and learn with more than 50 ecology-based on-line games and activities; learn about a variety of topics including wildlife, energy, and environment issues; and print out word games or coloring sheets.

Be aware: recently, this site started to offer certain features of the Teacher's Lounge to "members only." Membership is FREE, but does require an email address. The link for students does NOT require membership to access the interactives, information, or printables. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
There is SO much to look at and explore, so browse through the offerings, create a plan for your students based on their age and ability level, then mark the site as a favorite on classroom computers. Upper elementary students can use it as an independent learning center. Younger children may need help with some of the text, so consider using an interactive whiteboard or projector and exploring the activities as a class. Click on “Downloads” on the bottom left to find printables, including coloring sheets of Canadian wildlife and various ecology-related worksheets and lesson plans. Click on the ‘games and activities’ tab and use the interactive whiteboard or projector for whole class eco-minded fun. ESL and ELL teachers, don’t miss the ‘teacher’ section for a cache of activities written for your ELL/ESL students. Interested students will use this one for hours, so some directions will be important for classroom use.

Word Search Puzzles Grade 1 to 5 - Primarygames.com- 8699 Share
This site offers user-friendly, interactive word search puzzles for vocabulary and reading enhancement. Some of the topics include the Olympics (both summer and winter), Dinosaurs, Farm Animals, Earth Day, butterflies, and various other topics and holidays. These are computer-based word searches, not printables. There is a link to a companion site with printables. NOTE: this site does include unobtrusive advertisements. The site requires Java. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share a search on your interactive whiteboard (use student FINGERS to circle the words!). Or make it a center as one of several options for spelling and vocabulary. Your students may ask you to include the link on your teacher web page so they can try some from home, as well.

World Climate Grade 5 to 12 - Robert Hoare- 8562 Share
Users can find average temperature readings by clicking on common locations or entering any world city into a search box. Answers show three readings, Average Maximum Temps, Average Minimum, 24 hour readings, as well as longitude and latitude.. Depending on the area, other data includes rainfall, sea-level pressure, station level pressure, and general information about the area's geography. Searchers must use native language spellings of larger cities and must settle for information about the main cities of the world.

In the Classroom:
Use the data along with world maps (or Google Earth) for students to draw conclusions about geographic features and weather or to collect weather data over a time period to compare seasonal differences between northern and southern hemispheres. As part of an Earth Day or climate comparison activity, have students create a color-coded climate data "globe" in small groups, showing major cities and their weather data by color. You can use basketballs and sticky colored contact paper to cut out continents and climate zones, or have students make the map on an interactive whiteboard using a globe projection and highlghter tools in different colors. Older students can use the raw data as part of study of climate and cultural differences, environmental issues, or related topics.

Dr. E's Energy Lab Grade 2 to 12 - U. S. Department of Energy- 8439 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards This resource requires Flash If you have any hesitation that students think energy is 'uncool,' think again. Tinker Bell delights the younger students with her short video clips about energy. They will spend oodles of time exploring the many facets of this site. Click on the various types of energy from the homepage to start the exploration. Interactives, lesson plans, crafts, printable sheets, and tons of information that we all need to know to survive on this planet is handily available here. The Game link includes "Funergy," "Energy Quest," and more! Visit the Teacher's link to find over 350 lesson plans and activities (with standards). The activities are divided into three levels (grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12). While some of the Dr. E's activities look like they are intended for a young audience, don't be fooled. Heavy information for the high school student is housed behind the "cutesy" cover. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
If energy is a subject you teach in your classroom, there are several pages at this site that would work well on a projector or interactive whiteboard. You will want to explore on your own to find all the teaching materials and activities, since there is SO much information. Share this site on your teacher web page during your energy unit, since many activities can include parents, as well. The alternative fuels, renewable energy, and conservation sections are also ideal for Earth Day activities. Have students use this site to research energy. Why not have students create blog entries demonstrating their knowledge?

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Kids Page Grade 2 to 6 - MPCA- 8048 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Find information and activities for elementary and middle school students on environmental issues. Check out the featured creatures of the month, frogs, and student research tools or share printable activities and coloring pages on environmental themes, including recycling, pollution, and more. Although the information was created for Minnesota's kids, it applies almost anywhere. The Frogs for Kids page has facts that are sure to be a hit as you study amphibians!

In the Classroom:
Use the printables as extra activities for Earth Day or to supplement your discussions of environmental concerns at any time of the year.

Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution) Kids Page Grade 2 to 8 - US EPA Office of Water- 8047 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Help your elementary and middle school students learn about water quality and conservation -- and what human behaviors affect them. Explore run-off, home and garden habits, aquatic life, terminology, and more in these simple interactive pages. If it's about water, you can find it here, along with lesson plans or activities to help your students understand. One link require purchase of a CD, but there is plenty to do without spending money! Middle school activities include the activity sheets in both Word and Acrobat formats.

In the Classroom:
Share these activities as part of your Earth Day plans or whenever you study about water and pollution. Be sure to include the link on your teacher web page so students can share the ideas at home, as well.

Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids' Stuff Grade K to 12 - U.S. EPA- 8041 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Find the perfect lesson plan for your grade level as you study water or plan for Earth Day. Each level has a several activities, many hands-on.

In the Classroom:
All lessons require Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

Recycling Paper Grade K to 3 - Zoom, PBS Kids- 7676 Share
Find easy-to-use, basic instructions for recycling paper for primary grades. This is an easy and interactive activity to use around Earth Day (or anytime of the year) when discussing recycling.

In the Classroom:
Create a classroom scrap paper bin and use all of those scrap pieces of paper to recycle! Add your own creative pieces. Place the link on the classroom homepage and have students try this at home.

Vermicomposting (Making Good Use of Garbage) Grade 2 to 5 - NIEHS Kids- 7291 Share
This page has good basic information on the value of worms in our environment, and they include some ways to make it fun, as well, such as with the "worms crawl in" song!(requires Quicktime). Click to learn about other Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle measures in conjunction with composting. Younger students will need someone to read for them.

In the Classroom:
This is a great site to share on a projector and read together while studying worms or the environment. What a wonderful way to bring Earth Day to a level students can participate in!

Recycle City Grade 2 to 6 - Environmental Protection Agency- 6528 Share
This resource requires Flash As Earth Day approaches, take your students on a visit to Recycle City for a virtual, hands-on experience with reducing and reusing waste. To get started, click on any part of the city, and discover what residents and businesses have done to improve their environment. The site includes a "Dumptown" interactive which gives students a taste of what it would be like to be a city manager in charge of selecting community programs for cutting the amount of waste destined for the landfill. Click on the Activities link to find information for teachers and classroom activities. This site requires Shockwave and Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. As they independently explore, challenge students to make up their own "scavenger hunt" (complete with questions and answers) of places they feel are worthwhile to visit in Recycle City, then swap with a classmate. Have students write fictitious blog entries from the perspective of the city manager (updating residents on changes and improvements in the city).

Scorecard Grade 6 to 8 - Green Media Toolshed- 6460 Share
Environmental pollution might be causing a bigger problem in your community than you may believe. And whose fault is it? Just enter your zip code into this site's search feature, and receive an online report detailing the pollutants in your neighborhood, who is responsible for them, and what health risks they produce. In addition, you can discover the geographic areas and companies that have the worst pollution records, and find out how to "Take Action" by faxing a polluting company, emailing the governor of your state, or network with environmental groups within your community.

In the Classroom:
Incorporate into an Earth Day lesson, and challenge students to take action within their own communities through letter-writing or personal action plans.

Earth Day Network Grade 4 to 12 - - 4285 Share
This resource requires Flash This web site from a consortium of several thousand environmental organizations offers a great collection of resources to build awareness of ecological issues and inspire both individual and collective action. These include several games that let students discover how well they and their families conserve resources. Try the Ecological Footprint Quiz.

In the Classroom:
The teachers’ section includes additional resources and lesson ideas.

The Wilderness Society - Earth Day Grade 4 to 12 - - 2858 Share
The Wilderness Society offers several student-oriented activities, including items for elementary students. This site concentrates on environmental education.

In the Classroom:
Teachers can register to receive classroom education ideas via e-mail.

Exploring the Secret Life of Trees Grade 2 to 9 - University of Illinois Extension- 10375 Share
This resource requires Flash This animated video explains in detail how an acorn becomes a tree. The audio uses simple terms, however some vocabulary may need further explanation with younger grades. The slides can be advanced or reversed with the buttons provided on the pages. This is a modern version of the old fashioned film strip. The narration is also available in Spanish.

In the Classroom:
This is ideal for use on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Due to the ability to easily pause the video, students can take notes directly from the whiteboard. Create a guided note sheet to accompany the interactive by capturing the screens into PowerPoint slides or a smart notebook and put blank text boxes over the writing so that students can enter the information as they watch it. This is a great one to save in your favorites for an Earth Day activity! Have student create their own “tree stories” using digital pictures of a tree they know and narrating it on Voicethread, reviewed here.

The Greens Grade 3 to 8 - - 10077 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Meet the Green cousins, Dex and Izz, who are on a mission to make the world a little greener. Watch videos of Dex and Izz attempting to educate a whole cast of characters, including Dex's mom, Izz's dad, Granny, her cat, and the crazy neighbor lady, on how to become a little more earth friendly. These characters keep Izz and Dex on their toes throughout each comically, animated episode. Each episode has corresponding links that are filled with educational information about recycling, reusing and reducing. There is also a simple Blog (written by Izz and Dex). This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. This site is a perfect addition to Earth Day activities! Incorporate literacy skills into the site by having students read the silly blogs of each character. Extend into a writing assignment by having students create their own personal Green characters and write their own blogs for each episode.

Planet Forward Grade 7 to 12 - The George Washington University- 10016 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash Use Planet Forward for first rate and up-to-date news and information about the environment. View the vast amount of resources on this site including: "In the Spotlight," "Viewpoints," and "Blog articles" among others. Use quizzes about environmental issues, widgets to place in blogs or sites, and videos about issues. Use the "Classroom Resources" page for great ideas, discussions starters, and guides. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Where do you start? There is so much information on this site that is continually updated and interesting! Use the "Facts, Myths, and What most Americans know about energy" page to initiate discussions and identify misconceptions for study. Create student groups in major environmental categories such as Air Pollution, Energy Use, and Consumer Issues to mine the site for information. Create blog posts about issues, and create students’ own surveys to identify local misconceptions to compare to those discussed on the site. Encourage students to apply their findings and information locally by writing for a local or school newspaper or to be interviewed about student work. Students can create videos, wiki pages, or other multimedia products to produce content, dispel or challenge myths, and create understanding of issues. Conventional products such as display boards, posters, and other announcements can also be created. Have students create online posters using a tool such as Tabblo (reviewed here). Make every day Earth Day by tying class topics into ecology issues. Use the "Fast Facts about Energy" section to choose eye catching charts as a starter to engaging discussions in the classroom. Use the charts and ask students to brainstorm questions and make observations in groups prior to class discussions. Use the questions as a springboard for student research.

The Dirt on Soil Grade 2 to 6 - Discovery Education- 9758 Share
This resource requires Flash View what lives in the soil. Learn the difference between soil and dirt, and look at soil profiles. Join the "Soil Safari" to navigate through the soil layers and view microscopic soil creatures and learn how chemicals can destroy the soil. The interactive Soil Safari challenges students to find a soil organism that can eat a certain chemical. They must find it in time to save the meadow! Hurry! Don’t forget you need Flash for the fun. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to earn about layers of the soil and organisms found there. Analyze soil core samples from areas in the community to determine soil composition and view some of the soil under a microscope. Use information from the site to identify environmental concerns in your or other areas. Have the students work with partners and try out the interactive challenge. This site could bring new meaning to “earth” day!

Real Trees 4 Kids Grade K to 12 - The National Christmas Tree Association- 9677 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Trees, trees, and more trees - that is what you find at this site. There are lesson ideas and activities for all grade levels (K-12). The activities are broken down into grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Each level includes several "Teacher's Guides." In grades K-2, the site's goal is for students to learn about trees and their parts using writing, science, and math! The Grades 3-5 section focuses on the life cycle of conifer trees. This level also discusses how real trees are recycled, the types of trees grown on farms, and new vocabulary words. In grades 6-8 students learn about the life cycles and scientific names of the trees and take a look (first-hand) into the life of a real tree grower. Grades 9-12 challenges students to dig deeper into the soil and check out how REAL TREE growers keep their crops healthy, how supply and demand works, and more details about conifers. There are many other highlights at this site: ready to go units, photos, and more. The TF editorial staff checked many of the links; there were two not working at the time of this review. However, the other 30-40 links did work. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to "spruce" up Earth Day or your study of plants and trees! The Teacher's Guides are basically ready-to-go units of study. Some of the activities are more interactive than others. If you are looking for a more "technology" friendly activity, consider having students create a wiki guide to the various trees in their hometowns (or around their school). Or have them create a video “Tree Tour.” Share the videos using a tool such as SchoolTube (reviewed here).

Human Footprint Grade 3 to 10 - National Geographic- 9512 Share
This resource requires Flash This interactive takes a look at the effect of typical human consumption on the planet. Students can see how the bread they eat or the newspapers they read tax the resources of our earth. There is also information about water consumption, diapers (and the crude oil they require), eggs, and more. The highly visual display of the site is well balanced with facts. Comparisons between the U.S., the U.K, and Japan provide interesting contrasts in resource usage between nations. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Fire up the projector or interactive whiteboard to use this site when beginning a unit on natural resources, agriculture, environment, green living, or cultural comparisons. Ask your students to research other items that might be included in the comparison besides newspapers, potatoes, gas, etc. Have them make charts or online presentations to display consumption information in a similar fashion. Save this site in your favorites to use for Earth Day.

Greenraising: Eco-friendly Fundraising Grade K to 12 - Greenraising- 9471 Share
Why raise funds on items that cause the Earth to frown? Your school fundraising becomes ‘green’ when you register at this site and start earning funds from eco-conscience shoppers. Your school earns 25% to 40% of all internet or catalog driven sales. (Read the site for details.) Greenraising supplies you with order forms and catalogs if you care to do a catalog drive. It sounds easy, and it definitely is green. TeachersFirst does not ordinarily mention fundraising sites, but the possibilities for a school service project looked interesting enough to list this one.

In the Classroom:
This fundraising organization may be a prudent way to fund your school’s wildlife or biology club. Why not kick-off this event near Earth Day? Also, teachers, you can coordinate your recycling and earth-loving lessons around this fundraiser.

Terrain For Schools Grade 5 to 12 - Ecology Center- 9299 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards Terrain for schools provides tips on sustainable living and lesson plans for common ecological topics in the classroom. In these days of GREEN, this site might be just the thing. This site is primarily for teachers with a wealth of lesson plans ranging from "Water: The Miracle Molecule," "Nitrogen Cycling: Manure in the Mix," and "The Economics of your Food." Lessons include an Introduction, objectives and CA standards, links to interrelated Terrain online articles, background information of the concepts, and practice questions or problems. Activities to use with the concept include kinesthetic activities as well as other varieties of activities that tie the concept to the students' lives. Discussion questions and teacher hints are also included with the lessons. All information can be downloaded as an Adobe PDF file.

Notes: Links on the side ask for donations to the organization and suggest places to volunteer. A store link is also included. This site is best suited for teachers, as it contains lesson plans. Links to articles can be provided directly from your class web page. Adobe Acrobat is required to download the lesson plans. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use the information on the site to enhance lessons on green topics. The background information is extensive and easy to follow. Use any of the discussion and activity examples to enhance your lessons. Students can create a multimedia presentation of concepts in order to improve awareness of ecological concepts in the community. Use these in conjunction with Earth Day to create local change.

Worm World Grade 3 to 6 - Discovery Communications, Inc. - 9284 Share
Worm World is a brief, simple web site that lists detailed information on various types of worms and their benefits within the environment. Students can research facts about earthworms, leeches, tapeworms, worm bins, and more. This site requires Media Player. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Integrate this site as a web treasure hunt for a recycling or Earth Day project. Let student imaginations run wild by having them present worm facts by using the worms as characters for T.V. interviews. Create a classroom worm bin and watch the little critters at work! Then share the adventure on a worm wiki with photos taken on by digital camera and captioned by students.

The Ozone Resource page Grade 8 to 12 - National Aeronautics and Space Administration- 9261 Share
This resource requires Flash Use this site to understand the ozone and how it affects our air quality and life here on Earth. Satellite imagery of ozone holes includes an updated daily picture and comparison over the last decades. NASA facts listed on the side include an opportunity to learn more about the information presented, watch satellite images from the last 7 days, view animations, compare year-to-date, and look at the annual records since 1979 using "Ozone Hole Watch." Information about the ozone and how it is measured is explained in detail here. "Explore the ozone with NASA" by viewing a short video that outlines the ozone and discusses new research and climate change. Use the "Resources for News Media" to view the Multimedia gallery for pictures of the largest ozone hole on record, the Arctic vortex, and Earth's Atmospheric Layers. Information about ozone depleting chemicals and ozone chemistry is also found here. View video of the ozone missions from NASA. "Ozone Hole 101" provides basic content about the ozone that is easy to understand for students. Read interesting information such as "Ozone levels drop when hurricanes are strengthening" and "Ozone hole is a double record breaker." This site requires Quicktime and animations require Flash. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Students can use the resources in "Ozone Hole Watch" to determine the trends in the ozone either daily or over the years. Further research involving political, consumer, and environmental trends can bring insights into effects on the ozone layer. Using the wealth of material on the site, students can use the information to create a "Handbook of the Earth" (as an example) to understand how the ozone affects us in our current and future lives. Students can also work in groups and be assigned portions of the content to study. They can then present their findings to the rest of the class (using a multi-media presentation). Students can use this information in conjunction with environmental or Earth Day activities in or out of class.

Freecycle Grade K to 12 - The Freecycle Network- 9252 Share
Need a bookcase or rug for your classroom or home office area? Perhaps you have extra, personally-purchased classroom supplies that you no longer use. There is a solution to both dilemmas—Freecycle! Check this site to see if there is a local Freecycle group in your area. With 4,336 groups and growing, there’s a good chance one is in your neighborhood. Twenty five states currently have participants. This grassroots, non-profit network’s aim is to get unused ‘stuff’ into the hands of someone who can use it, and most importantly, they want to keep it out of our clogged landfills. Teachers are the most resourceful people on earth, and Freecycle is here to help fuel that creditable reputation. Membership is free –check it out!

In the Classroom:
Share this site with your class as an idea for Earth Day or being “green.” Encourage your school service club or student council to consider launching a Freecycle project. Be sure to list the link on your class website, so parents can freecycle too.

Wasted Grade 3 to 6 - sciencemuseum- 8834 Share
This resource requires Flash This earth-friendly web activity challenges students to make wise choices in recycling plastics, donating old materials, reusing bags, and other "green" choices. "Wasted" is a simple activity that includes mice that eat up materials based on the students' choices. A lot of educational information is included within the activities. The activity presents a bedroom with items dropping in from the ceiling. Students must settle on a decision about each item fairly quickly, because the items continuously fall from the sky. Vocabulary is British. This site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This website would be a great addition to your Earth Day lessons. Share it on a classroom computer cluster or as a center option to see how "green" your students can be. The class will truly enjoy this educational tool. Make it more meaningful by starting a recycling effort in your classroom or school, as well.

Catalog Choice Grade 6 to 12 - Ecology Center- 8792 Share
This is an environmental site and should NOT be confused with catalogchoice.COM, a consumer site FULL of advertising. Catalog Choice(.org) provides free membership to "opt out" of catalogs. Their self-described mission is "a free service that allows you to decide what gets in your mailbox. Use it to reduce your mailbox clutter, while helping save natural resources." If you teach consumer skills, basic economics, or environmental issues, this site is a real world place to visit with your students as part of your class discussions on marketing, advertising, and environmental issues caused by junk mail.

In the Classroom:
If you teach about advertising techniques or information literacy, project both the .org and the .com sites on a screen or whiteboard so students can use a critical eye to see what the .com site is trying to do! Invite your science class to share the .ORG site at home and start an "uncatalog" drive to save some trees. Keep a running total of the number of catalogs your class has stopped and have students research the number of trees you have saved. As part of Earth Day or with your environmental club, share this resource with the entire school community. Encourage students to create tree-safe electronic "ads" for catalog choice (.ORG) that you can share on your class web page. Note: the site requires a free membership, so students should join together with a parent, especially since most catalogs are probably addressed to the adults in the house. Do not permit sharing of personal information (name and address) by students on the site!

ARTSEDGE: Mixed Media Messages: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Grade 2 to 5 - The Kennedy Center- 8612 Share
Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards This resource requires Flash This website provides a detailed lesson plan about recycling. The lesson plan challenges students to examine the process of recycling and then create mock television commercials. For the commercials, students are asked to focus on the benefits of recycling and to design a backdrop for the stage set created with recycled materials. The lesson plan is well organized into six 45-minute learning periods, however a teacher could easily simplify the material and adapt for what works with their students. Beware - the first link is not active (Eekoworld), however the second link provides the teacher's guide for the inactive link and you can access the Eekoworld activity directly from the teacher's guide by clicking on the words Eekocreature or Eekohouse. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
This lesson plan is a perfect addition to Earth Day activities. The detailed lesson plan/unit provides detailed descriptions, online web resources, standards, assessments, rubrics, and more. Be sure to check out the left-hand column that provides additional information for teachers about the standards, handouts available, and more.

The Recycling Game Grade K to 1 - BBC- 8495 Share
This resource requires Flash This interactive recycling game challenges students to determine if various items are made of plastic, glass, or paper. Students simply click on the items and drag the items into one of three bins (plastic, glass, or paper). spoken voice and word choices are British, so you may see some puzzled faces when the student first hear the terminology, but the illustrations will help them recognize the objects. And you will have a chance to talk about vocabulary in different parts of the English-speaking world. The website features a Teachers/Parents link that provides general standards for this interactive game. The entire activity requires Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Remember to turn on speakers or attach headphones for this activity. This website is a perfect "ready to go" learning center, especially around Earth Day. This challenge is a wonderful companion to teaching students about the importance of recycling.

Your Ocean Grade 4 to 9 - National Maritime Museum- 8490 Share
This resource requires Flash Don't miss this wonderful website - perfect for environmental awareness. This "student friendly" website is divided into 4 distinct sections - your energy, your waste, your stuff (products that come from the oceans), and your climate. The website is designed to use with students ages 11 - 14, but could be adapted for other ages. There are interactive games, quizzes, and a wealth of information. The website even provides students with simple tips and actions they can do to save energy and protect the environment.

Be aware that this site was created in the UK, so you may notice some minor spelling differences. Some of the interactive games and quizzes require Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This website would work as a group activity (on an interactive whiteboard or projector) or as a cooperative learning activity for small groups to complete together. This is also a good choice for Earth Day activities. Have cooperative learning groups explore one of the sections of this site and create a blog entry demonstrating what they learned.

Butterfly Curricula Grade K to 3 - The Butterfly Website- Rick Mikula- 8246 Share
This web page offers links to lesson plans for butterfly and life cycle units. [Unfortunately, a couple of the lesson ideas are now dead links, but the remaining ones are good.] The lesson plans are user-friendly and geared toward primary grades. You can also obtain information on applying for grants to create a butterfly garden at your school. That would make a fantastic Earth Day project for a classroom or entire school to promote team work.

In the Classroom:
As an anticipatory set or activator, try using a projector with a few of the images found at the "Photo Gallery" link at the left on this site. Your children will be very excited to OOOO and Ahhh at the beautiful pictures.

Smog City 2 Grade 5 to 12 - U.S. EPA and Sacramento Air Quality Management District- 8046 Share
This resource requires Flash Use this interactive air pollution simulation to learn about the effects of particulates, ozone, and individual choices on air pollution. The Create Your Own section allows you to test cause and effect of different factors in a controlled setting. Although the option to download the simulator is offered, it runs just fine in its online version. The site's disclaimer explains that the complex relationships between environmental factors have been simplified for this simulator, but the processes are still representative of the "real world" factors. This is a MUST for Earth Day!

This site is powerful and therefore may take some extra time to load - so prepare ahead! This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Younger students would benefit from a teacher-centered introduction on the simulator (using your interactive whiteboard or projector), followed by directed explorations to find specific answers to teacher questions. Older students can determine the most important factors in air pollution and explore means to solve the problem as part of a health, social studies, science, or government class. Have your students present their finding on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

Tox Town Grade K to 8 - Specialized Information Services- 7197 Share
Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards This resource requires Flash This highly entertaining and multifaceted activity is all about environmental health risks and toxins. Students have the option to visit a farm, town, city, or the US-Mexico border. Students simply click on the various items on the pictures to learn more about the toxins. There are audio explanations and interactive activities. Some pages also offer maps to learn more about the health risks in your local area. There is a lot of factual information and both interactive and non-interactive activities. This site required FLASH. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Teachers should begin their planning at the "For Teachers" link. The link provides standards, detailed activities, enrichment activities, and more! Be sure to try an interactive whiteboard or projector for this unique educational activity. This activity would be great for Earth Day lessons! Have older students complete a multi-media project about the toxins they learn about (blog, wiki, or video).

Kid's Regen.org Online Magazine Grade 1 to 8 - The Rodale Institute- 7056 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash This attractive children’s online magazine focuses on becoming more environmentally aware, enjoying nature, and learning to conserve and regenerate natural resources. Besides gardening and farming, the magazine offers articles on world cultures, fitness and health, arts and crafts, and food and nutrition, all focused on using the earth’s resources wisely. Links after each story of interest connect the reader to the magazine’s archives for other articles on similar subjects. An online glossary assists kids with those science words that might be difficult and makes this site easily accessible to second language learners and learning support students.

In the Classroom:
Use the articles to teacher comprehension skills with non-fiction that will engage your students or to model informational writing before you ask students to write their own articles. You could feature a section a day on a projector during April in honor of Earth Day! There are many opportunities for more able students to find enrichment activitites, as well.

Facing the Future: People and the Planet Grade 5 to 12 - - 5047 Share
Help students recognize that Earth Day is every day with this thought-provoking resource that addresses the interconnections between the environment, population, poverty, consumption and conflict. Start with the Teacher’s Corner page which provides an impressive collection of downloadable activities and interdisciplinary lesson plans aligned to national standards (click on "download curriculum" to access this feature). Informational text is provided in both 60 second and in depth versions. Choose based on the reading lefel of your students. Check out the "Service Learning" opportunities for practical ideas on engaging your students in critical local and global issues. Created by Facing the Future, a non-profit organization.


John Muir Day Grade 6 to 12 - Sierra Club- 4288 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files While this day of recognition (April 21) may be better known in California, Muir’s legacy of concern for conservation had a national impact, as is evident from this Sierra Club site. In addition to documents relating to creating the California holiday, teachers will find a John Muir Day study guide in Adobe Acrobat format that outlines Muir’s life and the conservation issues for which he fought.


Solid Waste and Energy Grade 6 to 12 - EPA- 3956 Share
Power from garbage? It’s not as silly as it sounds, and this EPA site offers lots of illustrations showing how solid waste and recycling programs can contribute to meeting growing energy needs. Try this one as part of an earth day event, or as the basis for a science project or demonstration.

In the Classroom:
Creative teachers will find lots of “raw material” in this one.

Backyard Conservation Grade 4 to 12 - USDA- 3823 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files The US Department of Agriculture offers this section with ten different backyard activities that can help teach conservation principles. Most of these could also be easily adapted to the environment around a school. The site includes printable PDF files for each activity. Try this one if you need a “take home” resource for a conservation or earth day activity.


Earth Day Trash Survey Grade 4 to 12 - - 2847 Share
Here's a plan for a relatively simple study of how what we throw out affects the environment. This one's nice because it lets students collect "real data" without requiring a lot of complex equipment.


Battle of the Bags Grade 2 to 12 - msnbc.com- 10757 Share
This resource requires Flash Paper or plastic? Do you know which to pick? Start with the quick video introduction or a quiz that asks your habits. Follow with interactive segments that explain why people choose what they use, resources required to develop the bags, the reality of recycling, and the advantage of reusing. View the impact of using the bags, specific laws, and viewpoints from users that impact their decision to use of either paper or plastic. Advise students to ignore the ads and headlines that appear on this page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to identify viewpoints, advantages, and disadvantages to using either paper or plastic. Plan a “paper or plastic challenge” in conjunction with Earth Day or your recycling unit. Consider surveying not only your classes, but also the school, parents, and greater community as to their habits. Gather data from your local supermarket. Compare with data from around the country or the world and identify reasons for the differences in the results. Use the information to create a debate for or against each resource. Create a campaign to educate others about the use of paper or plastic. Create a design for a bag that can be created simply and cheaply. Take photos of students’ bags and have students narrate the photos using Voicethread, reviewed here. Sell these bags with the message for sustainability. Find support from your local supermarket. Research recycling in your area.

350.org Grade 5 to 12 - 350.org- 10394 Share
This resource requires Flash Join the movement to urge citizens and lawmakers to take steps to reduce global CO2 levels to the number 350. Click on the "About" tab to learn the science, hear about the actions, and view media. Participate in activities such as "Days of Action." Register and sign up for email and text messages. Tip: rather than using your personal or work email, create a free Gmail account to use for memberships. If you plan to have students register individually, you may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service. Learn from people around the world about how they are spreading the word about climate change.

In the Classroom:
View resources from around the world to look at the organized events conducted. Use these ideas to create a local event or identify the ways others have created communities around global climate action. Use information on the site to create Public Service Announcements, newsletters, or blog posts. Invite students to research sites on both sides of the issue, analyze them, and check information for accuracy. Create a blogging challenge or pledge for students to follow for forty days as a way to create change one family at a time. How about creating a 40 day class wiki about 350 and other global climate action? Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

Tread Lightly Grade K to 12 - Taking It Global- 10310 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Use Tread Lightly to calculate your ecological footprint, join the forty day challenge (set to run from the end of October through December, each year) to adopt green habits, and view curriculum. There is a short introductory video clip that introduces the 40-Day challenge and the entire website. Click on the “40-Day Challenge” link to learn more. Click on "Get Involved" to download the Educator Toolkit, set up a virtual classroom on TIGed, and collaborate with others. Occasional art contests add to the multidisciplinary look at your environmental foot print.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for each student to identify his/her ecological footprint. Students can find areas of improvement and generate a class list of ways to help the environment. Students can create pledges for themselves and their family as well as create a campaign to raise awareness. Assign the creation of a public service announcement to educate others. Have students create informational commercials and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here. Have other groups create podcasts to share using PodOmatic (reviewed here). Join the TIGed community to collaborate with other schools around the world or identify the concerns of other students around the world.

Fuel Our Future Now Grade K to 12 - Discovery Education- 10225 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Resource aligns to standards This resource requires Flash Fuel ideas and passion for creating solutions to our energy future with this exciting site. Use the tabs across the top to choose from activities separated into Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. Each level contains links for videos, Virtual labs and Interactives, and Puzzles. Click on additional tabs to access information for Parents or Teachers. Visit the Teacher Toolbox for lesson plans and standards, extra videos and tools, resource documents, and student activities. Click the Parent Corner for great activities and energy conservation ideas.

In the Classroom:
There are so many resources here that can be adapted up or down to many grade levels. This would be a great inspiration for an Earth Day project. For example, the Middle School section offers "How Green is Your Vehicle," "Restructuring Infrastructure," and "What's the Deal with Emissions" among others. Read the Lesson Overview and Lesson Objectives. Use the Essential questions to drive instruction and discussions. Use activity worksheets and resources for further work. If you are looking for a multimedia project, instead of traditional paper/pencil, why not consider having students create podcasts about what they learned using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).

UN Water Grade 4 to 12 - United Nations Development Programme- 10170 Share
Water is a basic human need but also a human right. Explore the statistics, controversies, and issues concerning water use around the globe. Click on the "statistics" tab to learn important information about water resources, water uses, drinking water and sanitation, water pollution, environmental degradation, disasters, water, agriculture, and food security.

In the Classroom:
Identify similarities and differences in water issues around the globe. Have cooperative learning groups create online Venn Diagrams comparing two distinct areas and their water issues. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).

Students can choose an area or topic of interest either individually or as a group. Look at local water issues that many students may not be aware of including water quality and distribution. Create a campaign to increase water awareness that may or may not coincide with world water week (or day.) Have students create a video or podcast sharing their campaigns. For podcasts, use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). If creating videos, share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here.

Use these resources to determine how to help other countries in their need for clean water and how everyone can conserve.

Think Green Grade K to 12 - Waste Management- 10133 Share
Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Looking for great information on living green and saving the environment? Find great resources here on "Transforming Waste" and "Case Studies." Read posts from professionals in "Points of View." View videos in the "Resources" section. Look under "Classroom Tools" to view student resources by grade and teacher resources by grade, topic, and resources. Caution: the beginning of the site sometimes asks you to participate in a survey. You can hit the “no thanks” button to pass this section.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for lesson plans, videos, and other resources for teaching environmental issues to students of all ages. Share videos with younger students on a projector or as a center. Stay up to date with points of views from professionals. Have students review resources and determine points of views of other articles and resources on the web. Students can create individual, group, or class projects to increase awareness of environmental issues. Why not have students create age-appropriate multi-media presentations demonstrating what they learned? Have students create posters on paper or do it together as a class using an online tool such as Project Poster (reviewed here or PicLits (reviewed here. Have cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Have students create commercials and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube

The Biology of Plants Grade 1 to 4 - Missouri Botanical Garden- 10088 Share
This simple site, generously illustrated with videos, explains the basics of plant life to elementary students, including information on how seeds germinate, plant parts, photosynthesis, pollination, seed dispersal, and plant adaptations. Terms are defined in clear sidebars, and text is well-illustrated in the silent video clips. Watch a seed germinate in time lapse or seeds blow into the wind. The videos require Quicktime. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
The reading level for the simple text on this site is mid-elementary, so many students will be able to navigate it on their own or with a reading buddy. Introduce the site on your projector or interactive whiteboard. If your projector can zoom into the videos, you can share them in large groups. You can also have students explore the site as a science center or for review/reinforcement of plant terminology. Have students or small groups make their own illustrated plant life cycles on paper, PowerPoint slides, or in an interactive book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.

Mission H2O Grade 4 to 12 - Savewater- 10027 Share
This resource requires Flash Use this free game to identify how water is wasted and can be conserved in the home. Click Play Now to start the activity. This is part of a competition (that ends May 29, 2009). But the activities can be done without entering the contest. Choose from 8 rooms or places in the house that are identified by icons along the bottom and that portion pops-up. Click on the information areas designated with an "i" to view information about water use and conservation. Underneath each room, is an opportunity to play the game to save the family water. Many of the games are just for fun, but the whole experience is engaging. As this site originates in Australia, remember that many of the units of measure are different from ours. This site requires Flash. Get it here.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students move through the rooms and take notes on conservation ideas and statistics. Students can use these notes to create a pamphlet on water conservation or a project that can be posted on a wiki. Do you want to learn more about wikis? Check out the TeacherFirst Wiki Walk-Through (reviewed here).

Alternatively, post writing prompts that can be answered in a journal or a blog post about the thoughts, problems, and reasons for conserving. Students can analyze water usage in their homes or community and create suggestions or write a letter to the editor of the local paper or to local officials in favor of conservation.

Virtual Forest Grade K to 8 - Scholastic.com- 10020 Share
This resource requires Flash Teaching about our impact on the environment? Engage students through this game that moves through the choices in a daily life and the direct impact that they make. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this game as an introductory activity to an ecology unit. As students play the game, they will note ways that we have an impact on the environment. Brainstorm what they learned in the end, either as a small group or as a class. Groups of students can research more information on these topics or use class discussions. Students can survey peers or families to determine habits and impact. Create multimedia or traditional posters that bring awareness to these issues. Why not have the class create a video or videos highlighting their topic? Have the students share the videos using a site such as Teachers.tv (reviewed here). Or have students create an online book using a tool such as Bookemon (reviewed here) and share it via email with family members.

Bell Museum of Natural History Grade 2 to 8 - University of Minnesota- 10019 Share
This resource requires Flash Find interactive activities at the online activities page from this museum. Hover over objects on the "Touch and See Room" page to view information or participate in activities. Take the restoration challenge by restoring a barren landscape back to a prairie on the "Build a Prairie" page. Try the "Life in a Diorama" activity to view the connections in an ecosystem by simply hovering over areas of the diorama. Play the "Watershed Game" by entering your name and choosing novice or one of the intermediate levels. Students earn points and can improve upon their score while learning about watersheds. This site uses Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use these activities as an introductory activity as you study each of these topics. For example, students can play the watershed game and note information that they learned. Students can compile this information to use as a starter for class discussion or additional research into watersheds. Have students create multimedia presentations to share with the class, such as a podcast using a tool such as Podomatic (reviewed here).

Follow up by visiting a local watershed and identifying the animals and plants and our relationship and impact on the ecosystem. Or map a local watershed with voice explanations using a tool such as Mapskip, reviewed here

The Story of Stuff Grade 6 to 12 - Annie Leonard and Free Range Studios- 10018 Share
This resource requires Flash Watch the story of stuff movie, an interactive 20-minute video about where our stuff comes from and the effects of consumption on our society. Use the tabs along the top of the video to skip around to the specific chapters or click a link for more information about the topic. Play the video from the site or download to your computer. Other downloads include posters and related items. Subscribe to the blog and receive updates and new information. Playing the movie requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
The most difficult aspect in learning about the environment is understanding how the "stuff we use" impacts more than students can imagine. Use this thought-provoking movie to stimulate class discussions, get students thinking, and create awareness. Students can take aspects of the video and do group research of additional information needed to understand. Students can also create awareness campaigns, poll friends and families, blog, or create other multimedia articles. Looking for some creative multimedia options? How about having students create public service message podcasts ("Stop! Where do you think that ___ came from?") using a tool such as PodOMatic (reviewed here). Or create videos and share them using Teachers.tv (reviewed here).

Students can research the origins of many popular items in their lives, tracing the materials used and the resources needed to create and transport the materials and the product. Students can create a Google map or Mapskip (reviewed here) showing the movement of materials throughout the world from resource to send product to consumer.

Video: CFL Light Bulbs in Plain English Grade 2 to 12 - Common Craft- 9999 Share
This resource requires Flash This website offers a short video (about 3-minutes) highlighting the enormous benefits (both to your bank account and environment) of using CFL bulbs (rather than the old traditional light bulbs). The video focuses on energy, environment, electricity, ways to save money on your electric bill, how CFLs decrease and prevent pollution and global warming, and how easy they are to use!

This site does have a small advertisement at the bottom of the screen, click on the X to remove the advertisement. There is code provided to embed the video. The site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site in your science class on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge students to research another way to conserve energy and save money in their family budget. Have students create their own "in plain English" style video. All they need is a tripod, video camera (flip video would work), paper drawings, and a script. Share the "student-created" videos on a tool such as TeacherTube (explained here) and embed them in a class “Energy-saving” wiki. You may want to consider providing this link on your class website for parents to view at home.

Kids for Saving Earth Grade K to 8 - Kids for Saving Earth- 9809 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash Use this inspirational site to encourage helping to save the Earth. Kids for Saving Earth was created by a student, Clinton Hill, who died from cancer at the age of eleven. The friendly interface contains many suggestions for different activities, worksheets, music, or videos sprinkled throughout the website. Membership is not required to access materials though memberships with additional materials are available for groups and families. Sign up for free emails with new information through e-pals newsletters. View "Defenders of the Planet" to see schools all over using activities to make a difference in their area. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use many of these wonderful resources to understand environmental problems and find small ways students can make a difference. Share the video clip and other parts of this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Create action days at your school with students working to teach other schoolmates, families, and their community about environmental problems. Create posters, news reports, or other materials to make a difference where you live. Or have students create their own multimedia presentations: wiki, blog, video, PowerPoint, etc..

Water on the web Grade 9 to 16 - Water on the web- 9807 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Understand, investigate, and solve environmental problems related to water. Use "Basic Science" for High School students to investigate through activities using technologies on the website. Use activities divided into sections: Teacher (lesson plans) and Student ("Studying" lessons and "Investigating" lessons.) Complete the "Water Science" water resource management course for undergraduates as a two semester course. Use lake and stream water quality data monitored continually throughout Minnesota and other participating areas. View the data in real time as well as information about the area, its uses, and watershed characteristics. Manipulate data characteristics to customize information needed to study in the "Data" section of the website. Use the "Understanding" section of the site to view reference materials and background information for better understanding of water issues, techniques, and sampling of data or the "Resources" section for tutorials and other references. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use the site to monitor data from a specific lake or stream, or compare between several different lakes or streams. Identify issues that change data and research the issues and areas of the World they impact. Follow up investigations with a trip to a water treatment center or with actual data collection in a nearby lake or stream. Create podcasts, videos, website or wiki pages (or any traditional media) to share information learned about water quality. View data as an inquiry activity for students to questions and then focus research on finding and sharing answers. Culminate the research in April in time for Earth Day as students share their findings with others in the community.

H20 Conserve Grade 2 to 12 - Kai Olson-Sawyer- 9574 Share
Includes lesson plan Students calculate the amount of water their household uses by answering a series of simple questions. They also receive suggestions on what they can do to conserve water. Besides the water calculator, the site includes a helpful glossary, education tips, and links to articles on water and energy usage.

In the Classroom:
Click on the drop of water to get teacher support materials including lesson plans for elementary age children, suggested projects for high school students, and handouts on water conservation and energy. Create a class wiki for students to document what they are doing to conserve water or use a Google Docs spreadsheet to track the water your class saves as a result of changes they make to their water usage habits.

Planet Green Game Grade 6 to 12 - Starbucks- 9567 Share
This resource requires Flash How much do you know about energy and conservation? Use this free game to learn basic information. Students enter a name, choose a character, and a mode of transportation. Previous plays may generate a code that allows upgrades to hybrids. Move your character by using the arrows on your computer or by clicking on the map or destinations pictured along the bottom. Once you arrive, click on each destination to receive quiz questions and add green features to the building. Features added are shown after the quiz is completed. End the game whenever you need to, however the maximum points cannot be earned. Download a badge after completion of the game. Music plays throughout the game and can be turned off at any point in the game. Clicking on "Learning more about climate change" provides some great resources and ideas for classes or students to follow. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have students use the game to check on prior knowledge about climate change and conservation and energy issues. Have students compile a list of surprising facts and information learned throughout the game. Students can create a plan to increase the awareness of those in their school or community. Have groups of students create an action plan that includes a problem, data, and suggested solutions to the problem. Students can research green initiatives of other businesses, schools, and communities.

Think Green Grade 4 to 12 - Waste Management- 9489 Share
This resource requires Flash Use Think Green, a site created by Waste Management, to obtain information about everyday recycling and waste management as well as environmental protection. View "Our commitment" to view a message overview and their environmental commitment. Ads do appear under this tab but do not run generally on all pages of the site. "Waste As a Resource" offers information on Landfill Gas To Energy, Waste-To-Energy, Recycling, and Beneficial Land Reuse. The site also offers many "Case Studies" on how companies are being inventive in waste management and energy use. View "Media" for more information about "Burning Questions," "Fuel for Thought," "Secret Life of Landfills," and "Second Life." "Point of View" offers thoughts from others in academic and business institutions. Click "News" which is a pop up of news items. A caution that "Greenopolis" leads to an online community and may not be appropriate for all students. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this site for mining for information and examples of waste management and energy production. Use this site for background information and practical applications of what students have researched. Use examples to audit local businesses, residence practices, and waste management procedures to offer solutions. Use information to compare and contrast different environmental practices in terms of effectiveness, cost, and sustainability. Have students create videos to demonstrate their knowledge. Share the videos on a resources such as SchoolTube SchoolTube (reviewed here).

The Imagination Factory Grade K to 12 - Marilyn Brackney- 9483 Share
The Imagination Factory is a tool that can help teachers, students, and community members use creative ways to recycle by making art. The site offers a large compilation of activities and crafts made from what most people consider to be everyday trash. The site is easily searchable based on two search methods: by Category and by the Trash Matcher. Need a project for the beginning of the year? Look it up through the Category listing. Have old dryer sheets, dried markers, junk mail, and roll-on deodorant bottles you just don't know what to do with? Look them up by matching your trash to a project in the Trash Matcher!

In the Classroom:
This is a great way to utilize classroom trash while teaching students to go green! Once they get started, the students will probably supply their own enormous list of ideas for recycling trash and the ideas may be infectious...watch it snowball into other classrooms and into their homes! Teachers will be receiving unique recycled projects every day in those primary grades!

List this project in your class newsletter or on your class website. Suggest parents donate items listed on the Trash Matcher such as socks, sheets, dryer sheets and much more. Make sure to note that everything donated should be cleaned thoroughly prior to sending it to the classroom! Document your new green classroom/school with digital pictures and student writings on a class wiki and share the link with local newspapers! Secondary teachers can use this site for service project ideas for Key Club. student council, and more.

Green City Smackdown Grade 4 to 8 - TELUS World of Science- 9481 Share
This resource requires Flash The Smackdown is a challenge that pits two cities sustainable practices against each other. By choosing two cities, selected from a list of several in Canada, the goal of the Smackdown is to compare and contrast them to each other using statistics taken from population, labor, housing, water and waste, community, environment, and green mobility to see which community is more sustainable. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Incorporate these comparisons into lessons based on going green, sustainability, and environmental characteristics. Allow students to predict the Smackdown outcome(s) by selecting cities of their choice and predicting the sustainability success by using deductive reasoning about the characteristics of each city. Have students compile statistics from their own towns and surrounding areas, or “create” an imaginary class town with relevant statistics, in order to conduct their own personal Smackdown. Students can present their Smackdowns via Power Point presentations using various statistical graphs created in Excel.

Green School Project Grade K to 12 - Green School Project- 9470 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Don’t throw away those empty printer cartridges; make money by sending them to the Green School Project. This organization helps save the planet by recycling inkjet and laser cartridges, cell phones, and PDA devices. It doesn’t cost you a thing. They supply your prepaid shipping materials and free marketing materials. The site does require you to create an account (simple and free). Sign up at this site and start earning funds for your school immediately. Although TeachersFirst does not normally review fundraising sites, this project is an environmental lesson and project in one. This site also includes lesson plans, printable worksheets, literature lists, and web resources.

If you are looking for other "green" fundraising opportunities, check out the Greenraising: Eco-Friendly Fundraising site (reviewed here). This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Click on the left link, "Lesson Plans and Activities" for more ideas on teaching students about recycling. Check the site frequently, as they offer 'specials' which translates to more money. If you submit a lesson plan on recycling, you earn a $10 credit. How about holding a 'green' competition to see which classroom submits the most items.

Get parents involved. Make sure they are aware via your website and newsletter about submitting these items to the school. Many parents will be able to contribute items from their workplace that was otherwise destined for the landfill.

Breathing Earth Grade 3 to 12 - David Bleja- 9321 Share
This resource requires Flash SEE the relative contributions to carbon dioxide emissions country by country. Students roll the mouse over countries on a flattened world map to see what the carbon dioxide emission of each. The featured country's pertinent facts pop up, including emissions, populations, and birth/death rates. Countries are color-coded to indicate rates of carbon dioxide emissions. The pop-ups of births and deaths are fascinating (they occur in real-time). The bottom of the site includes a detailed legend; be sure to check it out. Note that spelling is Australian ("tonnes" vs "tons"). You can turn off the audio at the lower left. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
This site has countless uses in the classroom of various grade levels. Share this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard. With younger classes, use this map to teach about map legends. Use this when studying ecosystems, environmental issues, economics, current events, world birth and death rates, pollution problems, and conservation. Leave the site open for a few hours for students to see the changes. This site is an excellent resource for research projects on countries throughout the world.

Solar Energy Education Grade K to 10 - Tucson Electric Power Company- 9305 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash Learn about how solar energy begins and is used by all living things. Areas of the animated information can be clicked to find even more details about the formation of fossil fuels, photovoltaic cells, and differences between seasons. A text only version of the site can be accessed. A glossary provides easily understood definitions of many of the terms. Activities for teachers to use include: "Solar Energy Activity," "Photovoltaic Energy Activity," "Solar Thermal Energy Activity," and "Chemical Energy Activity." These are available as an Adobe PDF download. Additional resources are provides as weblinks that can provide additional information. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this animated site for students to gain background information about Solar Energy. Students can then work in groups to investigate various concepts from the animation. Student groups can also investigate renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources following this introduction. Students can create posters using conventional materials or many of the multimedia applications for a digital version. Students can create a pamphlet, draft a letter, or editorial for change in energy policies, etc. With younger grades, share the website on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

Seussville University Grade K to 3 - Random House- 9224 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash Dr. Seuss isn’t ALL about entertaining words and amusing rhymes. At this site, students see a more academic face to this beloved author. Click on links to access interactive activities and games in reading, math, science, and reasoning skills. Horton hosts the reading area which includes three printable pages and one interactive language arts activity. Yertle the Turtle helps the younger crowd learn numbers with an interactive counting game and several printable math pages. Lorax teaches simple science with two interactive games (one about classification and the other about “Earth Day”). There is also a printable science page. Sam I Am reasons rather reasonably with more interactives and printables. Be aware: at the time of this review, the “Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!” activity was “under construction.” To fully use this site it requires Flash, Shockwave, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. All three can be downloaded here: TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Many of these activities lend themselves to the interactive whiteboard or projector, where students share the learning. The interactive activities could also be used to create an interdisciplinary learning center (with math, science, reasoning, and reading). Make sure you mark this site as a favorite for easy access in in late February and early March when you will want to include these activities in your Dr. Seuss unit in honor of Read Across America Day. Be sure to include this website on your class newsletter or on your class website so students can access this site at home.

GreenPrint Grade K to 12 - GreenPrint- 9175 Share
Think Green when you print in your classroom! Save paper and trees with GreenPrint, which analyzes each print job for wasteful pages of banner ads, single lines of text and URL footnotes. Yes, it requires installing software(which you may have to ask others to do for you), but this free printer software allows you to quickly add and remove pages from the print job, saving energy, paper, ink, money, and ultimately trees. GreenPrint also provides EverGreen, a free font designed to allow more words to fit on a printed page, reducing paper use by 15-20% with no loss of readability.

In the Classroom:
Share this idea with your principal for a school-wide ecology movement that will also save school funds. As a special project, be sure to have students track paper use before and after as a whole-school applied science project and keep a display on the lobby bulletin board to share the number of tress “saved”!

GreenPrint is for non-commercial use and requires an internet connection. It installs on Windows 2000/XP/Vista. Check the Download page for computer system requirements. Read the Overview page for use instructions. Send the link to your Technology Department for permission to install the software and font.

Share this link on your class/school website or newsletter (if applicable). Many families are looking for ways to be more "green."

Math Hunt Grade 3 to 8 - Scholastic- 9012 Share
This website presents WebQuest-style math hunts. The math hunts connect to a variety of science or social studies topics: Antarctica, Earth Day, Human Body, Natural Disasters, the Rainforest, Black History, World Explorers, and numerous others. The math topics vary greatly from one activity to the next. Some are geared towards grades 3-5; others are more suitable for grades 6-8. Nearly all possible math topics are covered throughout the math hunts: decimals, percentages, ratios, measurement, algebra, fractions, basic operations, charts, graphs, averages, permutations, and countless others. There is a Teacher's Guide available with lesson plans, standards, objectives, and a skill chart. The skill chart correlates 16 math skills with math hunts for that specific skill. Be aware - the research websites were previewed by Scholastic, but you may want to preview all sites yourself before sending your students to investigate.

In the Classroom:
Use these interdisciplinary math hunts to integrate your science, social studies, language arts, research, and math lessons. Have students work independently or in cooperative learning groups to complete the math hunts. Be sure to check out the Skill Chart and Teacher's Guide for additional ideas. Why not allow your students to choose their own "math hunt" to explore. Remedial math students will enjoy this varied approach to skills practice.

Just For Kids - Solar Energy Grade 3 to 8 - The North Alabama Science Center- 8919 Share
This resource requires Flash This website provides an excellent explanation of the power of solar energy (see the link for More information). There is also a link to click that provides "real-time" information about solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature, instantaneous power, and energy since midnight at an actual solar station. Visit the Just for Kids link to find additional online activities (such as "Build a Roller Coaster") and several useful links for more information. Some of the activities require FLASH. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use this "kid-friendly" website to teach your students about the power of the Sun or as part of a class discussion on Global Warming or alternative energy. Challenge your students to investigate the current weather at the actual solar panel site (can you determine where it is?)and predict what the solar panels will do for the next 24 hours. Ask them to think of other ways and places where solar energy could be used.

Global Warming Grade 5 to 8 - Chris Clementi- 8893 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash This information-rich website offers a WebQuest (which could almost be an entire unit) devoted to Global Warming. It provides an eclectic look at this "hot topic." The teacher-creator also provides excellent video clips and learning activities. The culminating activity challenges students to create a short movie (using Windows Movie Maker) and to write a one-page newsletter about the specific topic they have researched. A short assessment tool is available at the "evaluation" link. For younger students, please view the videos before sharing them with your class. Some are rather graphic for elementary students. This website requires Flash and Adobe, get them from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Use this "hot topic" website to spark your students' interest in the environment. Even if you don't have time to complete the entire WebQuest, using the short videos and other information would be beneficial to any class studying the effects of global warming or even the environment in general.

Who's Got What? Grade 3 to 12 - sciencemuseum- 8831 Share
This resource requires Flash This interactive website displays the natural energy resources found throughout the world. This website is appropriate for any grade studying and/or researching natural resources and/or forms of energy. To use the map, you simply click on one of the eight symbols at the bottom left-side. Resources include gas, oil, sunshine, uranium, wood, coal, wind, and geothermal. This site requires FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
What a fabulous resource for any class studying various forms of energy and natural resources found throughout the world. This would be an excellent addition to a science class studying about energy, or a geography class learning about the resources found on the various continents of the world. Even earth science classes can locate resources and explain how the geology of these areas provides the resources.

EducaPoles Grade 3 to 8 - International Polar Foundation- 8735 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan This resource requires Flash EducaPoles' goals are to educate children and young adults about the science of the polar regions by offering fabulous interactive explanations of the science involved with climate change, teacher "dossiers" about hot polar topics, frequently updated news, publicity about upcoming polar events, etc. The offerings in the "Fun Zone" are actually quite instructional, but in kid-friendly format, such as an interactive comic book, animations, videos, and "games" which are actually quizzes. Subjects covered on this site include many hot environmental concerns such as the melting of the polar ice caps, endangered animals, wind power, climate change, renewable energy, polar bears and penguins, etc. ALL interactives and videos require Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Teachers can use the provided "dossiers" for lesson planning. The interactive explanations and animations are ideal for interactive whiteboard, projector, or partner explorations at classroom computer clusters or on laptops. Partner better readers with weaker ones in the elementary grades if students are working on their own, and turn up the sound for some great sound effects and audio. Teachers may also submit requests for more information about topics they don't see covered here. Videos appear to "stream" with a few bumps in the audio, so preview to be sure you can hear well enough! The audio text shows in screen so you can always follow along.

OneWebDay Grade K to 12 - - 8566 Share
"The mission of OneWebDay is to create, maintain, advance, and promote a global day to celebrate online life." Started in 2006, One Web Day is a day for awareness of the power of the Internet and activities to highlight its use in positive ways. While part of the mission of OneWebDay is a sort of "Earth Day for the web," a chance to highlight and preserve the things that make the web a healthy place to learn, work, and share -- all in an ethical way. Schools may want to take the day (or the closest school day)to highlight how much we benefit from the web and how students and families can use it safely and positively.

In the Classroom:
Some ideas to celebrate the day: Send class emails to the web sites you find most useful to thank them for their contributions to your class' learning. Find a school web site in another town or country and email the webmaster to relay a "hello" to a classroom there. Make a class wiki to share all the positive things you gain from the web---and invite parents to join in, too. Have students keep a web "diary" for 24 hours, noting every time they use or benefit from someone else using the web (even the weather man on TV gets his/her information from the web!). Predict how many "web contacts" your class will have, then add them up to see how close you came. Plan a OneWebDay event for your school and share it on the OneWebDay site or with the local press. With primary grade students, take the time to point out which activities you do in class come from the web (these children see "the computer" as the genie of all things and do not distinguish between the web and a CD game). Make a giant "web" out of yarn and "connect" everyone on the playground. Send an email from your class to the principal, telling him/her about OneWebDay. What else can you think of?

Climate Change Water Cycle Grade 3 to 8 - EPA- 8477 Share
This resource requires Flash This user-friendly site provides a detailed explanation of the water cycle and the impact of climate change on it. Students will be able to visualize the cycle by using the pictures and diagrams in conjunction with the reading. Students can follow up with the quiz/review at the end of the reading. Print is small and attention to detail is a necessity while reading this site.

In the Classroom:
Share the site on an interactive whiteboard as a whole-class lesson (have students play the parts of the two people talking)or assign students to navigate the site with a partner, then take the quiz at the end and share their score with you.

Blow Your Mind Grade 4 to 10 - TryScience- 8363 Share
This resource requires Flash This entertaining (and informational) website challenges students to design a prototype windmill. Students are provided with some background information about designing a windmill and presented with an interactive "design a windmill" challenge. The interactive activity requires Flash, get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. There is also a teacher's link available with additional details and ideas to use in the classroom.

In the Classroom:
Get your interactive whiteboards ready for designing a windmill. Students will love testing their designs. Have them hypothesize and keep track of what works and what doesn't.

Zero Footprint Carbon Calculator Grade 9 to 12 - Zero Footprint.net- 8169 Share
This tool allows you to calculate your contribution to greenhouse gasses by answering questions about lifestyle and behavior. A kids' version is also available. The calculator is intended for adults but is quite applicable to teenagers, especially those who drive a car. This site also includes ways to "offset" carbon emissions through tree planting, etc. Some of the information is part of initiatives for which the organization solicits funds, but the research and data are informative and sobering.

This resource was featured in a recent New Teacher Hotline Podcast as one of the Tech Toolbox resources. Hear more about it on the podcast .

In the Classroom:
Share this and the kids' calculator on your teacher web site and ask students to come up with a plan to decrease their carbon emissions as part of your unit on environmental issues. This could be a "real world" connection in geography study of natural resources or a science class on climate change.

Zero Footprint: Kids Calculator Grade 3 to 8 - Zero Footprint.net- 8168 Share
Use this interactive online calculator to determine the extent of your use of natural resources, including your carbon footprint, use of land, water, and trees based on your responses to a series of questions about your lifestyle and behavior. Students can compare their "footprint" to the average in several nations. There is a brief explanation of each "footprint" and an accompanying letter to parents and teachers (downloadable). Even adults will be interested in measuring their own impact on the environment.

This resource was featured in a recent New Teacher Hotline Podcast as one of the Tech Toolbox resources. Hear more about it on the podcast .

In the Classroom:
Share this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard, then assign it as homework or have students bring in the information to complete the questionnaire in class. A great follow-up assignment would be to have students write a family plan for ways they will change their behavior to reduce their negative impact on the environment, one household at a time.

Renewable Energy: POWERful Choices! Grade 3 to 8 - eFieldTrips- 8044 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This resource requires Flash This adventure takes students to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The journey focuses on renewable energy resources. This unique and interactive website includes three features - a printable "journal" for students to record answers, a Flash movie presentation (with many interactive elements), and a question/answer section to learn more about importance of conserving energy and utilizing the renewable energy resources. The journal activities may be challenging for younger students, but all ages will enjoy the interactive Flash movie. Get Flash from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard to teach your students about the importance of renewable energy resources. This adventure is informative, interesting and timely. Assign different environmental topics for groups to give presentations as part of your study of energy or global issues.

Climate Chaos Grade 4 to 10 - BBC- 7977 Share
This resource requires Flash One word describes this all-encompassing website: amazing! If you are teaching students about global warming, climates, types of energy, recycling or any other "green" topic - you must visit this website. At the website you will find interactive activities and games, guides and information about numerous topics, quizzes, votes, and chats! This site is frequently updated. Some of the activities require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this one on an interactive whiteboard or projector to help your students to understand the effects of global warming. Include the link on your teacher web page as you study weather, climate, and environmental concerns. This site would also make a great "scavenger hunt" for students to learn the basics about global warming. Ask each to write some questions for the hunt, then have the whole class try it! Have cooperative learning groups explore various facets of this site and create a multi-media presentation.

ESL Environmental Education Grade 2 to 6 - Charles LaRue- 7431 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files This site, intended for ESL/ELL students, has environmental education issues on six topics; Each topic is available in English, Hmong, Arabic and Somali. Students-- even those without special needs-- can listen to the very simple lesson while viewing a related picture online or they can opt for the print version and read the lesson themselves. English learners and special ed students would benefit from listening and following along with the written versions. Quizzes are available to check comprehension of the material presented. Topics include recycling, reuse, personal involvement in conservation, and hazardous waste disposal. The non-English language choices offered are less common, but this is an extremely useful site for adapting curriculum for ESL and special ed students.

In the Classroom:
If you teach environmental issues or ESL, this is a good site to know about when planning a lessons. Make sure you have headphones available for students to listen without disturbing others. ESL and Special Ed teachers may want to make regular ed/science teachers aware of this site to include with their environmental units.

Dimming the Sun Grade 6 to 12 - NOVA/WGBH- 6791 Share
Includes lesson plan NOVA provides a wide array of information on global dimming, a crisis due to the masking effect of pollution on the true impact of global warming. See interactive timelines of global change, some creative pollution solutions, and more. There is a complete teacher's guide, including hands-on classroom activities and extensive related links. This site is a companion to the PBS television broadcast.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as a starting point for your discussion of global warming and environmental issues or as a research source for student projects. The interactive timeline would display well on a projector or interactive whiteboard to give students the "big picture" they so rarely have on their own.

Garbage Grade 3 to 6 - Annenberg Media- 6529 Share
Need a quick, ready-to-go Earth Day activity? Try this interactive activity that tests students' knowledge of proper disposal methods for common household substances. Students must determine which items are hazardous, which can be recycled, which can be disposed of with the regular household trash, and which should be washed down the drain. After completing the activity, students can check their answers.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Provide this link on your class website for students to share with their families. Have students research and create their own quiz about other household items and how they should be properly disposed of.

Ecological Footprint Quiz Grade 6 to 12 - Redefining Progress- 5840 Share
This resource requires Flash Chose your country and language, answer a few general questions, then find out how much "nature" your lifestyle requires. You may be shocked to discover the amount of land and natural resources that are needed to support what you use and what you discard. Compare your results to the average for your part of the world and find out how many planet earths would be needed if everyone lived your lifestyle. This is an eye-opening activity and a very relevant addition to an environmental science unit. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Or have students work on individual computers and complete the activities. Have students follow up the activity with a writing project, such as a blog entry, sharing what they have learned.

Global Warming Grade 5 to 8 - US EPA- 4879 Share
This resource requires Flash Created by the Environmental Protection Agency, this visually appealing site is filled with interactive story books, climate animations, and cleverly designed animations for students. Links include Climate Change (What is It), Climate & Weather, Greenhouse Effect, What is the Climate System, Climate's Come a Long Way, The Climate Detectives, Games, Climate Animations, Climate Change Calculator, Stuff for Teachers, So What's the Big Deal, We CAN Make a Difference, and Can We Change the Climate. Use this site to supplement a unit on the Greenhouse Effect or as a springboard for Internet Earth Day activities. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have cooperative learning groups research the many links and activities at this site. Challenge groups to create a multi-media presentation: blog entry, wiki, PowerPoint, web page, or video.

Biodiversity Jr. Grade 3 to 6 - - 2832 Share
Here’s a site that highlights a selection of endangered species, explains the importance of habitats, and introduces the concept of biodiversity. Some of the examples are Pennsylvania specific, but the presentation is simple and the overall principles apply anywhere.

In the Classroom:
This would be a good "exploring" site for upper elementary students.

* Biomes of the World Grade 4 to 8 - TeachersFirst- 172 Share
Includes printable Acrobat files Includes lesson plan Introduce the earth's different biomes with this unit, created by . Biomes include coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, tundra, ocean, fresh water, desert, and the savannah. Each link includes information and pictures. Students can complete an on-line research project on a biome of their choice, using selected web resources, or they can learn the basics of biomes with the information provided in the unit. There are links to the introduction, to learn more about the project, and even a teachers link (with a TON of class activity ideas). This site does require Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Have students work in cooperative learning groups to explore this site. Challenge students to create multimedia presentations about the biomes. How about a Powerpoint? Or have students narrate a photo of the biome using a site such as VoiceThread (reviewed here). Other options include creating a wiki, blog, or video.

TeachersFirst.com • The web resource by teachers, for teachers.
Copyright © 1998, 2008 by The Source for Learning, Inc. All rights reserved.
Home| How to use TF | Terms of Use| Contact Us | Site Map