Gardening

Schoolyard Habitat Projects

This spring, schools across the U.S. will undertake a Schoolyard Habitat Project as part of an educator professional development initiative known as PBLU.

TurfMutt's Spruce Up Your School Sweepstakes

TurfMutt’s Spruce Up Your School sweepstakes is offering K-5 teachers a chance to win a $5,000 grant to help make their school's play area more eco-friendly and green by adding trees, shrubbery and more. Two runners up will receive "Green Packs" - complete with eco-friendly, TurfMutt-branded school supplies for the whole classroom. Enter once a day, every day to increase your chance of winning.

Schoolyard Habitat Program

The Schoolyard Habitat Program helps teachers and students create a naturalized wildlife habitat for classroom field studies and observations. The Program provides technical and organizational assistance to schools to create outdoor classrooms that are effective as educational tools and sustainable habitats. Qualified schools or organizations serving K-12 students are eligible for funding and may receive up to $8,000 for projects.

  • Read more about Schoolyard Habitat Program

Invasive Species Lesson Plan Booklet

In the pursuit of her Girl Scout Gold Award, Tarin Rickett of Croton-On-Hudson, NY created an extensive lesson plan booklet focusing on Invasive Species. Realizing that invasive species pose a serious threat to ecosystems around the globe, Tarin's lesson plan booklet includes classroom activities geared towards 4th, 5th, and 6th graders (though they can be adapted for older age groups).

Why Do Some Birds Have Two Homes When We Have One?

Students research different physical and behavioral characteristics of birds and create theories about their migratory behavior. They research the natural history of different migratory birds and create diagrams of the bird's annual cycles of behavior. This lesson is best suited for grade 6.

Songbirds at the Crossroads of Migration

Songbirds at the Crossroads of Migration is a comprehensive curriculum guide that provides educators with information, hands-on lessons, and opportunities to involve students in learning about the importance of New Jersey's habitats and ecosystems as they relate to the needs of migratory songbirds. This lesson is best suited for grades 7-12 and adheres to New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards.

Green Roof Design

In this lesson for grades 9-12, students work in teams to design a heat- and water-conserving “green roof” of plant material for an urban apartment building. They address economic and community considerations of green roof design.

Students will:
Study design decisions that affect energy transfer between a building and the outside environment.
Identify and consider decisions involved in improving a building’s energy profile.
Analyze economic and community aspects of green roof options.

I-STEM Resource Network

The I-STEM Resource Network supports K-12 teachers and leaders working to implement high academic standards towards STEM literacy for all students. Their resources include lesson plans, curriculum units, professional development opportunities and more.

Resources pertaining to environmental education:

-Do You See What I See? Plant Identification

-Avalanche!

-Creating a 3D Model and Corresponding Topographic Map

TeachEngineering

The TeachEngineering digital library provides teacher-tested, standards-based engineering content for K-12 teachers to use in science and math classrooms. Their library is organized by subject areas, curricular units, lessons and activities.

Resources pertaining to environmental education:

-Energy-Efficient Housing

-Test and Treat Before You Drink

-How Far Does a Lava Flow Go?

PBS Teachers STEM Education Resource Center

The PBS Teachers STEM Education Resource Center offers television and online content to help students explore new ideas and new worlds related to STEM. The site provides nearly 4,000 science, technology, engineering and math resources as well as access to STEM education news, video collections, professional development opportunities and additional STEM resource providers.

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