Social Studies

Transportation, land use, natural resources and trade are natural ways to tie environmental topics to social studies lessons. Encourage students to: analyze environmental legislation, use Geographic Information System resources (such as Google Earth) to look at environments globally, and explore the impacts of climate, environment and natural resources on historical events. Use the search function to the right to explore other ways to incorporate environmental themes into social studies lessons.

Oil Spill Solutions Lesson Plan

This lesson focuses on how engineers use various techniques to provide solutions to oil spills or other threats to natural water resources. Students work in teams to analyze an "oil spill" in the classroom, then design, build and test a system to first contain and then remove the oil from the water.

Fact Sheet: Subsea Oil Recovery System

Discuss the oil spill with your students using this fact sheet. The Subsea Oil Recovery System is a large structure that can be placed over the largest leak source in the Transocean Deepwater Horizon Rig. The system is designed to collect hydrocarbons from the well and pump them to a tanker at the surface, where they will be stored and safely shipped ashore.

Fuel Our Future Now

Developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the X PRIZE Foundation, the Fuel Our Future Now Online Knowledge Center provides science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) interactive resources and teaching tools.

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?

Environmental Catalysis Module

The NanoEd Resource Portal provides lessons for instructors that wish to incorporate cutting-edge nanoscience into their STEM curricula. In the Environmental Catalysis Module students learn what a catalyst is and become aware of the use of catalysis to promote environmental protection.

Green Reading List

One of the best ways to teach about the environment is to incorporate environmentally-themed fiction or non-fiction books into classroom lessons and activities. Check out the list below to find a diverse list of "Green Reads" for your students.

Global Warming Statistics

Students research real-time and historic temperature data of U.S. and world locations and analyze the data using mean, median and mode averages. Students use a calculator or electronic spreadsheet to compile their statistics and then graph the data using a spreadsheet or graph paper.

Promise of Place

Promise of Place is a project of the Center of Place-based Learning and Community Engagement. Promise of Place supports place-based education by facilitating collaborative efforts in research, program design, technical assistance, resource development and dissemination. Place-based education immerses students in local heritage, cultures and landscapes, providing valuable opportunities and experiences.

Investigating Biodiversity

Through the application of math concepts students examine the degree of biodiversity that exists in the everyday environment in order to develop an understanding of how scientists classify organisms. They also explore why biodiversity is important for living things.

Pages