The Arts

In this very hands-on lesson, students will learn about dendrochronology (the study of tree rings to answer ecological questions about the recent past) and come up with conclusions as to what possible climatic conditions might affect tree growth in their region.

ROOTS, or Restoring Our Own Trees Through Service, is an education initiative of Casey Trees that aims to provide teachers and students with methods to connect with their schoolyard environment. ROOTS utilizes familiar academic disciplines, such as math, reading, and science, to encourage teachers and students to use their backyard forest as their outdoor classroom.

In this lesson from National Geographic Xpeditions, students research environmental problems facing the ocean and think about how the art of photography can help solve these problems, using David Doubilet's photography as an example. The lesson is appropriate for grades 9-12 and adheres to National Geography Standards.

This lesson from National Geographic Xpeditions helps students understand the environmental importance of coral reefs and the threats to reef conservation. Through the process of gathering geographic information about a place (in this case, the Great Barrier Reef), students learn how a "geographic focus" can sharpen their insights about a conservation issue.

This lesson plan from the Georgia Aquarium explores the importance of estuaries and the impact that pollution in estuaries has on the food chain and local economies. The lesson adheres to Georgia Performance Standards and is appropriate for grades 6-8.