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Gateway Blog Earth Day Teaching Resources
Gateway Blog Earth Day Teaching Resources
| Earth Day Teaching Resources |
 The environment certainly is a hot topic lately and with Earth Day coming up on April 22 many teachers are thinking about how they can help their students become more environmentally conscious. Here's a list of our favorites - visit the link at the bottom of this article to access all the applicable web addresses.Check out the online quiz provided by Zero Footprint Kids where students can calculate their ecological footprint. This calculator was developed especially for kids... The students answer questions in five categories - transportation, what they eat, home and school, what they use and what they throw away. At the end of the quiz students are shown their results and can compare their footprint to the averages in other countries. To assist the teacher, links are provided to other sites that have supporting resources. EekoWorld (Environmental Education for Kids Online) from PBS is an engaging web site designed to help students between the ages of 6 and 9 learn about the important role they can play in taking care of the earth. The site introduces students to the basic elements of ecosystems, fosters an increased awareness of pollution producers, examine both local and global conservation acts and understand the effects of pollution on plants and animals, as well as the land, air and water. Through two interactive games, students create their own unique land, air or water dwelling EekoCreature, help the creature overcome environmental issues, and explore their own EekoHouse, a simulation resembling their real home life that shows how decisions they make affect the environment and their EekoCreature. Supporting lesson plans are provided for teachers (kindergarten to grade four). High school teachers can visit the Exploring the Environment website, which has a number of interdisciplinary, problem-based learning modules. The projects engage student teams in addressing real-world problems related to subjects such as global warming and pollution. To illustrate the concept of sustainable use , the virtual fishing game at the Cloud Institute For Sustainability Education website does a nice job illustrating that maximizing short run profits (i.e. by overfishing) leads to long term problems (i.e. no fish!).  The EcoKids web site is an interactive web site for children and educators in Canada and around the world. The site provides curriculum-linked materials and activities for elementary schools to engage in environmental action. It offers topical information about the environment through interactive, fun, educational games and activities that utilize students willingness to learn. Online activities and resources are available for teachers and students all over the world to use. Canadian schools can register for the EcoKids club, which provides additional activities for classroom and school use for free.EPA Kids focuses on the science and impacts of global warming or climate change, and on actions that help address climate change issues. It is designed as a resource for both students and teachers. The site also features games, events, and links to other relevant sites for kids and educators. Schools for a Living Environment, from the WWF, is designed to help teachers give their students the knowledge they need to make a difference in our planet’s future. Access curriculum-linked, printable in-class activities for grades 3-8. Units include: - Forests Alive (grade 3) - Exploring Habitats (grade 4) - MacKenzie Valley (grade 5) - Diversity of Life (grade 6) - Marine Protected Areas (grade 7) - Water (grade 8) This is a free site but registration is required. We invite you to view these and other resources at http://www.lessongateway.com/teacher-resources/celebrations/earth-day/ or share your top rated Earth Day sites by going to the LessonGateway Earth Day category "contribute a resource " section. |