Resource Library

Two of the most serious threats to African wildlife today are habitat destruction and hunting/poaching. In this National Geographic lesson, 9th-12th grade students will investigate both of these issues and determine which problem should be addressed first or whether they must both be addressed simultaneously. This lesson connects to the National Geography Standards.

Learn about our nation's fossils at home or in the classroom with these activities developed by education specialists in the National Park Service, fossil sites, and various museums. Some of these activities have a site-specific element that can be adapted for use at home or in the classroom. Virtual site visits are also available within the following resources.

In this lesson plan full of activities, students learn about the impact of current transportation practices on public safety and health, understand the global impact of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and identify the effects of alternative fuels.

This activity guide is designed to provide teachers with a resource for incorporating the study of aquatic science, and specifically sharks, into their existing curricula. The guide is appropriate for grades 3-5 and adheres to Illinois Learning Standards and National Science Education Standards.

Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds is a classroom and community activity guide for teachers that addresses issues such as endangered species, marine debris, coastal geology, water use and much more. It is carefully aligned to the California State Science Content Standards for grades 3 through 8 and includes "Community Action" lessons adaptable for all ages up to and beyond 12th grade.

In this activity from Discovery Education, students research facts about marine animals and create an illustrated identification card for an animal of interest. Then, as a class, students connect their cards in a marine food web and discuss which are predators, prey or both and which species would be affected most should one become endangered or extinct.

In this lesson plan from Discovery Education, students learn about the migration patterns of whales and how scientists are tracking them in order to discover how whales are affected by changes in the environment. The lesson is appropriate for grades 6-8 and adheres to McREL standards in geography, technology, civics and life science.

In this lesson plan from National Geographic Xpeditions, students explore the weather phenomena El Niño and La Niña. They learn about when and where these weather changes occur and about the effects they have on everything in their wake. The lesson is appropriate for grades 6-8 and adheres to National Geography Standards.

In this lesson plan from National Geographic Xpeditions, students examine two maps that illustrate the tendency for people in the United States to settle near the coasts. They research environmental impacts on coastal ecosystems and conclude by writing reports on steps that are being taken to mitigate these impacts in specific parts of the country.