The following are a selection of environmental websites. All of these sites have important information, but many are not specifically oriented to middle school students. However, we encourage students to explore sites that have either a professional or an advocacy orientation. We have marked with an asterisk the sites that we feel are particularly good for students.**
About Earth Science for Kids
http://www.kids-earth-science.com/
Online resources, links, and information about geology, environment, geography, and natural disasters.
Air Quality Lesson Plans and Data
http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/edu/docs/Curriculum_Info_Guide.pdf
A huge catalog of lesson plans on air quality arranged by grade level.
CBEP-Community Based Environmental Protection
https://www.epa.gov/communityhealth/community-based-environmental-protection-resource-book-protecting-ecosystems-and
This government web site integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health, and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being.
Center for Global Environmental Education
http://cgee.hamline.edu/
CGEE specializes in combining environmental education with distance learning technology.
** Discovery Channel School
https://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/
Large collection of teacher materials that augment their television shows.
** E-Patrol
http://www.epatrol.org/
Web site with information about ecology, endangered species, and energy usage.
Ecological Society of America – Education Section, ESA-EdWeb
http://www.esa.org/esa/
Information and curriculum ideas for teachers of elementary through high school on ecology.
** Ecoregions of the World
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/ecoregion_list/
This site discusses world ecology by regions, biodivesity, endangered species, and human impacts.
Education for a Sustainable Future
http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/
This site has curriculum that encourages interdisciplinary life-long learning.
Energy Quest
http://www.energyarchive.ca.gov/energyquest/index.html
Fun, colorful information about energy consumption and alternatives to fossil fuels.**
Envirolink
http://www.envirolink.org/
Educational materials and resources that discuss a wide variety of environmental issues.
Environmental Education Resources on the Internet
https://naaee.org/
Materials, classroom resources, and grant opportunities for the K-12 educator on the environment.
** Fantastic Forest
http://secondstory.com/project/explore-the-fantastic-forest
This is a site maintained by National Geographic. It is a cyber walk through the forest.
Finding Your Way with Map and Compass
http://www.njaudubon.org/Portals/10/IBBA/PDF/find_your_way_USGS.pdf
A web site designed to increase the students’ understanding of using topographical maps.
Green Teacher
http://greenteacher.com/category/free-articles/
Online Magazine articles for teachers to enhance environmental and global education.
Institute for Global Communications
http://www.igc.org/
Progressive organization that tracks women’s issues, peace issues, anti-racism issues, and ecological issues world-wide.
Rainforest Action Network
http://www.ran.org/
Educational materials, action alerts, and information on the rainforest habitat.
Kids for a Clean Environment
http://www.kidsface.org/pages/toc.html
Information, resources, and connections to other children world-wide who are interested in the environment.
Learning for a Sustainable Future
http://www.lsf-lst.ca/
A Canadian site organized to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development into the curricula at all grade levels.
New Jersey Sustainable Schools Network
http://www.sustainable.org/living/education-training-and-lifelong-learning/745-new-jersey-sustainable-schools-network
Discussion of community projects that could be replicated in Michigan.
Ocean Planet from the Smithsonian
https://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/search_educational_materials.html
Educational materials and information about the ocean ecosystem.
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
https://coast.noaa.gov/about/
Information and links regarding Ocean and Coastal ecosystems.
Ranger Rick Kids Zone
http://www.nwf.org/kids/
Ecology web site with games, curricula, and an online journal for the early elementary school aged child.
** Secondary School Environmental Web Based Kit from the United Nations
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0009/000963/096345eo.pdf
A nicely organized web based curriculum from the United Nations.
** Smithsonian Magazine’s Kids’ Castle
https://www.si.edu/Kids
Web site for ages 8-16. Kids’ Castle features articles written about issues that interest kids today: sports, history, the arts, travel, science, and air and space, all with great photos.
Sustainable Communities Network (SCN)
http://www.sustainable.org/
The site is designed to link people to resources and each other in the areas of education policies, agriculture, and growth.
U.S. Geological Survey
http://www.usgs.gov/
This site has topographical maps that show natural disasters, land usage, water usage and minerals.
** World Resources Institute
http://www.wri.org/
Educational resources on the environment and ecosystems throughout the world, including power point slides.