Science

Incorporate environmental themes and data into science classes to show students the applicability of science in everyday life. Use news stories to connect global issues to your local environment, assess the health of a local stream, or perform an audit of your school’s energy consumption and recommend improvements. Use the search function to the right to explore other ways to incorporate environmental themes into science lessons.

Hidden Relationships: Energy Sources and Water Usage

In this lesson, students will examine the major ways that water is utilized for a variety of energy sources. They will also participate in a photographic matching activity that compares energy usages to further understand the role water plays in energy consumption. Lastly, students will analyze the amounts of water used by various energy sources through a graphing activity.

William Finley, Wildlife Photography Pioneer

The historian Douglas Brinkley credits William Finley as being one amongst a group of photographers that helped popularize wildlife photography. Growing up in Northern California and Oregon, Finley spent his time roaming the wilderness and developed an interest in birding. He would often collect specimens of rare bird species and eggs.

 

New Interactive Map Tracks Ocean Dead Zones

The World Resources Institute has announced that new research from WRI and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) identifies over 530 dead zones and an additional 228 sites worldwide exhibiting signs of marine "eutrophication" -- or over-fertilized areas due to agricultural run-off. These areas and the information about them have all been put on a map that allows users to see what is happening where, including access to photos, articles and other information.

Human Impacts on the Environment

Students will learn about how humans can have negative impacts on the environment and endangered species. They will be asked to consider how human impacts can be measured, and what can be done to help.

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ARKive News: Galapagos Conservation

By researching, scripting and presenting their own news bulletin students learn about species and conservation issues in the Galapagos Islands.

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Primate Evolution: Family Ties

Learn more about how all present-day primates, including human-beings, have evolved from a common ancestor.

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Biodiversity and Evolution: Darwin's Finches

Explore the importance of biodiversity and how observing variation in the beak shape of Galapagos finches helped Darwin to formulate his theory of natural selection.

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Natural Selection: The Peppered Moth

Investigate a famous case study for evolution - the peppered moth.

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Design a Conservation Program

By designing a conservation programme, students learn about the importance of biodiversity as well as the economic benefits and services ecosystems provide.

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Animal Communication

Students explore why animals communicate with one another and the different methods used. Students develop key science skills by researching a species and selecting the relevant information to write a video narration.

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