This activity is designed for a primary classroom (outdoors & indoors) investigation where students collect and investigate soil samples and describe the soils, looking for similarities and differences. Students develop a method of recording the data colleted and can present the information gathered.

In this lesson, students expand their understanding of solid waste management to include the idea of 3RC (reduce, reuse, recycle and compost). They will look at the effects of packaging decisions (reducing) and learn about engineering advancements in packaging materials and solid waste management. Also, they will observe biodegradation in a model landfill (composting).

As the carbon dioxide concentration of our atmosphere increases and our climate warms, the hay fever season seems to be getting longer and more severe. In this case study, students assume the a role of a public relations specialist contracted to communicate the link between climate change and pollen allergies. The activity focuses on the importance of scientific skills to careers outside science, and is most suitable for a lower-level introductory biology, human health, or environmental science course.

AQUASTAT - a global information system of water and agriculture developed by the Land and Water Development Division of FAO - provides comprehensive information about agricultural water management across the world, with emphasis on developing countries and countries in transition. The site includes a database of country data, country profiles, maps and GIS, water resources, online publications, and links to related sites and resources.

ARKive is a collection of photographs, videos, and fact-files illustrating thousands of species of animals, with emphasis on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of endangered species, and on species found in Britain. For each animal there are approximately 10 minutes of video footage, 6-10 still photos, and sound recordings (where appropriate), creating a complete profile of the species' characteristic behavior and appearance. The images are accompanied by a page of facts, including taxonomy, a physical description, conservation status, geographic range, habitat, and other information. There are also links to other animals with related taxonomic families, habitats, or conservation status.

In this video adapted from ATETV, learn how Bristol Community College promotes internships and co-ops to prepare students for work in technology-related careers.

In this activity (page 11 of the PDF), learners investigate how quickly water moves through various materials. They measure and compare the permeability of gravel, sand, and soil. Although this was created as a post-visit activity for a workshop about earth processes, it also makes an excellent stand alone activity.

This two-day lesson helps students understand abiotic and biotic factors. Once the concept has been grasped, they can trace the interactions of these factors within a system.

The COSEE network promotes a better understanding of the key role the ocean plays in global environmental cycles and processes. COSEE activities highlight the contributions ocean-science researchers make to scientific knowledge in these important areas. Each COSEE represents one or more ocean science research institution, an informal science education organization, and at least one affiliate organization representing the formal education community.

Children learn how seasonal weather changes affect everything, from the behavior of animals to the way we dress and play.

This activity is acid-base titration lab where students determine the percent of calcium carbonate in an eggshell.

This learning activity from the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) provides students with the opportunity to use analytical meters and instruments and perform acid deposition sampling. Students will collect samples from various sources over a period of time, then measure pH and develop graphs or charts. Users must download this resource for viewing, which requires a free log-in. There is no cost to download the item.

In this video, an environmental technologist visits an abandoned coal mine in Kentucky to talk about how a remediation system (a series of settling ponds and treatment cells) is neutralizing the acid drainage flowing from the mine and keeping it from damaging a creek downstream.

For years, our oceans have been hard at work absorbing the carbon dioxide that humans create through burning fossil fuels. Find out what effect that extra CO2 is having on our seas.

In this outdoor game, learners play the roles of gray or red squirrels gathering and storing a supply of food in "fall" and recovering enough of them to survive the "winter." Learners carry bags representing their cheek pouches for carrying food. Learners investigate the advantages and disadvantages of how these two kinds of squirrels store food differently.

Hear about how respect for Earth can help us attain a more sustainable lifestyle in the face of climate change in this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College.

The Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) provides a wide range of environmental and energy technology learning resources for students, teachers, and technicians; the Center does this, in part, through their electronic Environmental Resources Library (eErl) digital library. The Center's objective is the "advancement of environmental technology education through curriculum development, professional development, and program improvement in the nation's community colleges and high schools." ATEEC is housed at Scott Community College (Bettendorf, Iowa) and was established by National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Center funds.

This activity (on page 2 of the PDF) is a full inquiry investigation into aerial imagery. Learners will use the internet to gather free aerial imagery of nearby points of interest (or use laminated images prepped by educator). Then, they will imagine they are traveling in a spaceship to visit Earth for the first time and explore how their view changes as they approach Earthäóťs surface. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV GPS: Earthquakes.

This radio broadcast discusses the findings of a conservationist who flew over of most of the continent of Africa in a small plane at low altitude, photographing the ground below every 20 seconds, to form a grid map. The flyover was intended to evaluate human impacts on African ecosystems, including wildlife, vegetation, and soil. The researcher, Dr, Michael Fay, points out that humans have penetrated very deeply into every single ecosystem in Africa that was visited, exhausting soils, vegetation, and water systems. He also discusses the need for greater natural resource management to locate the places where humans have already exceeded what the ecosystem can sustain. The broadcast is 7 minutes and 45 seconds in length.

Multiple activity, comprehensive lesson plan includes background information, grading rubric, information on associated learning standards and assessment, as well as links to additional external resources. Activity explores the concepts of a hurricane's impact on the environment, society, and economics of a given community. Students map the potential storm surge and flooding on a topographic map and locate and report on past hurricanes in a specific geographical region.

This site is the open access journal for agrobiotechnology economics and management. The purpose of the journal is to lead the way "to socially responsible and economically efficient decisions in science, public policy, and commercialization" in agrobiotech management and economics. Here, users will find the complete current issue of the journal and back issues to the first edition published in 1998. Topics in the journal include insect resistance management plans, Bt cotton, farming in developing countries, and genetically modified foods. In addition to free access to content, users may choose to become a member of the site (also for free) and receive notification when new issues are published, expert forecasts in agricultural biotechnology, and increased influence over the content of the journal. This is a helpful resource for students, educators, and researchers working in agricultural technology fields.

Ag in the Classroom is a resource for teachers who teach about agriculture. Information is provided about grants for teaching agriculture, links for resources, conferences, and a teacher page. The teachers page contains downloadable issues of Acres of Agventures, Ag Mags for kids, many agriculture lessons, kits for teachers available to loan, and a 4 Kids Only page.

This video segment adapted from Big River: A King Corn Companion shows how agricultural chemicals from the Midwest that travel downstream in water runoff create a vast marine dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

In this 4:23 video adapted from Pathways to Technology, learn why, to be a successful farmer today, you need the latest computer technology. Community college student Adam Sheppard˘ď‹ď_s family has been farming the same land for seven generations. The geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) technology he is studying in school can help farmers know how much seed to buy, where to plant, and how much compost or fertilizer to use. Adam's internship at a co-op farm allows him to apply what he's learned in the classroom. When finished with school, he plans to bring his knowledge back home to his family's farm. The video is accompanied by a background essay, standards, and discussion questions. Users who sign up for a free account can download the video as well.

Learn how agricultural technology is changing farming, and one student's life, in this video adapted from Pathways to Technology.

In this 4:15 video adapted from Pathways to Technology, learn how one person turned a job-ending injury into an opportunity to build a new career. When Richard Guider lost his arm in an industrial accident, he needed to find new career opportunities. He began by attending community college, where he studied agricultural technology and water management. In school, he learned that a job can be more than just a way to earn a paycheck˘ď‹ďÓit can help make a difference in the world, for example, by keeping the fishing holes he loves free of pollution. The video is accompanied by a background essay, standards alignment, and discussion questions. Users who sign up for a free account can download the video as well.

See one adult student's experience attending community college, studying agricultural technology, and discovering career opportunities, in this video adapted from Pathways to Technology.

The goal of this course is to introduce participants to the basic concepts of meteorology and air quality necessary to understand meteorological computer models. This course, along with companion courses in Computational Atmospheric Science and Emissions, anticipates the Models3 environment under development by the EPA. Upon completion of the course, participants should understand the fundamental principles of meteorology. In addition, participants will be introduced to the application of these principles to air quality, especially through atmospheric modeling. Moreover, during the course a number of issues involved in simulating atmospheric processes in a computer-based model will be presented.

During World War Two, a fierce battle between American and Japanese forces on Kwajalein atoll left a trail of debris on the deep lagoon floor. This lagoon now has one of the largest collections of well-preserved aircraft in the world. In this video, as part of the first ever film crew allowed onto this secret military base, Jonathan explores a B-25, F4-U Corsair and Dauntless dive bomber still sitting on the bottom of the ocean, as if ready to take off. Please see the accompanying study guide for educational objectives and discussion points.

This video from First Alaskans Institute spotlights the Alaska Native community of St. Paul and its hands-on commitment to care for the land and animals on which it depends.

In this video adapted from Storyknife Productions, Alaska Native pilots share how they use traditional knowledge to read the landscape and predict the weather.

In this video adapted from KUAC-TV and the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska Native students contribute to research on how their environment is changing as a result of global warming.

In this media-rich lesson, students prepare classroom science fair projects that demonstrate the application of traditional knowledge to a scientific topic.

In this video adapted from Alaska Sea Grant, discover why multiple tsunamis resulted from the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964.

This comprehensive site is an introduction to sea ice: what it is, how it forms, how it is studied, how it affected historical expedition in the polar regions, and what role it plays in the global climate. The site contains a glossary of sea ice terms and references to additional information, which all serve as an excellent introduction. Data are also available from various collection methods for student interpretation.

This website introduces younger students to snails. Topics include their physical characteristics and living habits, diet, reproduction, locomotion, life history, predators, and many others. There are also links to additional material on snails, including lesson plans, stories, poems, and songs, clip-art, art and craft activties, and other resources.

Commercial fishing nets often trap "unprofitable" animals in the process of catching target species. In this activity, students experience the difficulty that fishermen experience while trying to isolate a target species when a variety of sea animals are found in the area of interest. Then the class discusses the large magnitude of this problem. Students practice data acquisition and analysis skills by collecting data and processing it to deduce trends on target species distribution. They conclude by discussing how bycatch impacts their lives and whether or not it is an important environmental issue that needs attention. As an extension, students use their creativity and innovative skills to design nets or other methods, theoretically and/or through hands-on prototyping, that fisherman could use to help avoid bycatch.

Bycatch, the unintended capture of animals in commercial fishing gear, is a hot topic in marine conservation today. The surprisingly high level of bycatch about 25% of the entire global catch is responsible for the decline of hundreds of thousands of dolphins, whales, porpoises, seabirds and sea turtles each year. Through this curricular unit, students analyze the significance of bycatch in the global ecosystem and propose solutions to help reduce bycatch. They become familiar with current attempts to reduce the fishing mortality of these animals. Through the associated activities, the challenges faced today are reinforced and students are stimulated to brainstorm about possible engineering designs or policy changes that could reduce the magnitude of bycatch.

In this decision case, a congressional staffer must weigh a number of competing concerns and issues, including popular reactions to genetically modified organisms, in deciding how to present information to her boss, an influential congressman drafting legislation to support agricultural research. The case explores the social and biological issues surrounding micronutrient malnutrition, including deficiencies of several vitamins and essential minerals, especially iron, iodine, and vitamin A, which affect at least one-third of the world's population, primarily in developing nations. Developed for a graduate-level seminar on "Genomics, Agriculture, Food Systems and Development," the case teaches about the issues surrounding genomic applications in agriculture and their implications to health, environmental stewardship, economic sustainability, and national development.

Get involved with this non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Site contains descriptions of its programs plus an online version of their newsletter, Bay Journal. Also features information on upcoming events, the latest news, workshops, and the Alliance's flag ship project, River Sojourns. These week long paddling and camping trips celebrate the rich history and ecology of the rivers that make the Bay unique.