Resources > FOR TEACHERS AND TEACHERS
In the coming weeks, ECI will be launching our Ambassadors Resource Center (ARC) which is a membership portal which will provide monthly lesson plans, inspiration and helpful hints. Check back soon for more information.
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
Every Body Counts, Every Drop Matters
written and edited by Donna L. Goodman
This classroom resource guide is designed to inform students about the world’s water resources and get them involved in preserving them. It takes an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural approach to explaining issues and concepts such as water cycle, hydroelectricity and dams, water and health, and water and culture. Each chapter is supplemented with fun and educational activities such as testing rainwater, making an aquifer or distilling seawater. Also included are features such as “What the Kids are Saying”, games, puzzles, fun facts and questions for discussion. Bibliography and resources for further research are also provided.
UN Cyberschoolbus Pumped Up for Peace
An educational project designed to connect school children from different parts of the world with one another to learn about water in a project implemented by Earthchild Institute affiliate NGO House of the Children
The Earth Charter
The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace. The Earth Charter Initiative is working in collaboration with the efforts of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In October 2003, UNESCO adopted a resolution “recognizing the Earth Charter as an important ethical framework fo sustainable development.” The resolution affirms member states’ intention to “utilize the Earth Charter as an educational instrument, particularly in the framework of the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development” (DESD).
iEARN (International Education and Resource Network)
Is the world’s largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world
Ollie’s World
A child-friendly, comprehensive resource centre – presenting information on all sorts of issues relating to sustainability principles. Site for educators and parents include: educational concepts about the programs; CD-ROMs; news and information; software and products; site for students include information on waste, water, energy, air. Links to sustainable education programs in Australia, US, and UK.
Global Warming: Early Warning Signs
Curriculum guide to Global Warming: Early Warning Signs, a science-based world map depicting the local and regional consequences of global climate change. Map illustrates the local consequences of global warming with “fingerprints” (direct, i.e. melting glaciers) and “harbingers” (events that foreshadow, i.e. droughts)
Center for Environment Education
Resources on educating for sustainability, healthy food in schools, global climate change, and community issues – offering best practices and case studies, tools for educators, news articles, guidelines, available grants, and announcement of workshops; Also has curriculum guides by topic for K-12 on topics ranging from agriculture and climate change to social action and solar energy; School administrator and teacher trainings, DVD series highlighting successful case studies, a dynamic online community;
Oxfam Education
Offers on-line case studies, lesson plans, and homework activity ideas on topics ranging from climate change to human rights to water in all regions of the world; online resource includes: Mapping Our World, Climate Chaos, and Oxfam Global Music Lesson Plans; extensive catalogue of publications, DVDs, posters, and teaching packs; guide to Education for Global Citizenship for schools, a free booklet for teachers that introduces the key elements of Oxfam’s Curriculum for Global Citizenship (knowledge, skills, values and attitudes), as well as providing case studies outlining best practice in the classroom, examples of appropriate teaching approaches, and resources for further reading.
EE Link: Environmental Education on the Internet
Provides opportunities for students and teachers such as an electronic wildlife fieldtrip of migrating shorebirds in Mexico, resources made for students and by students on case studies, projects, available literature on environmental education, awards and contests, and ability to sort information by topic area from groundwater to schoolyard ecology to wetlands. Resources for teachers include educational resources, lesson plans by grade level, activities linked with national standards, and other organizations
Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit
A manual for individuals and organizations from both the education and community sectors to combine education and sustainability, to address the potentially powerful alliance of school systems and communities working together to reach local sustainability goals and to reorient existing curricula to create locally relevant and culturally appropriate education.
Green Teacher
National Green Corps (eco-clubs launched in 100 schools in India), Centre for Environment Education (national institution to raise awareness about the environment and sustainable development in India), and ENVIS (Environmental Information Systems, a program of India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests)
Learning for a Sustainable Environment
Offers ten modules ranging from “A Whole School Approach” to “Storytelling for the Environment” to “Community Problem Solving”, workshop planning and facilitation skills, definitions of environmental education, offers action research guide and project strategies to develop workshop modules, examples of completed guides and case studies (i.e. indigenous knowledge in environmental education in the Philippines adapted from Australia), includes transparencies, resources, and readings.
WWF UK, One Planet Schools
On-line resource for ‘ One Planet Schools’: a place committed to reducing its impact on the planet here and now; a place which prepares young people to act as drivers for sustainability in the future; a place with a vision of how people and nature can live in harmony, on a thriving, green planet.
Action for Nature
Nonprofit that works to encourage youth to take action for the environment and protect the natural world in their own neighborhood and around the world. Tips for taking action, forum to share stories about environmental projects, games, links to other youth organizations, Information on the Action For Nature International Young Eco-Heroes Awards Program, which recognizes children and teens who have successfully completed a project that has improved the environment; its publication Acting for Nature, a collection of stories about young people who took personal action to help the environment; also has teacher’s guide on environmental literacy for K-12 and list of other resources.
One of the ways that citizens can help the environment around the home is through the use of recycling. Basically, recycling is the process of taking used materials and making them into new materials. By reusing these materials in many cases you are saving the natural resources that we are abusing, saving the environment by not throwing away items as trash and using those items in the world.
Global Response Kids
An international network of well-informed, committed citizens who protect the environment by creating partnership for effective citizen action and to mount successful campaigns. Collects information on the environmental crises, informs its membership and organizes public pressure campaigns to persuade corporate and governmental officials to make environmentally sound decisions; newsletters; discussions successful campaigns, current ones and old ones, including topics such as wetlands in Kenya, logging in Malaysia, and whales and fisheries in Russia; tips on how to get involved, write letters and adopt a species; website for parents and teachers with brochure on how to integrate campaigning in to curriculum.
Learning to Give
Curriculum division that educates youth about the importance of philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and civic engagement. Over 1,200 lessons and educational resources on topics such as Save the Earth Now, philanthropy.
Plant a Tree and Celebrate Earth Day!
Across the globe on Earth Day, people are looking for ways to give back to the environment in which they live. Planting a tree is a great way to celebrate Earth Day. When people plant trees they are doing more than just beautifying an area. Trees are beneficial to the environment in numerous ways. They help produce oxygen and filter out pollutants to clean the air. In addition, trees also help preserve water levels in the soil.
Global Warming Project
On-line collection of curriculum, interactive and activities on the fundamentals of Global Climate Change. Has curriculum and activities on global warming and climate change, teacher resources, links to other sources.
Kids for Saving Earth
Free education curriculum on-line or mail to educate, inspire, and empower children to protect the Earth’s environment. Topics include conservation, endangered species, rainforests, forests, toxic waste sites, health issues and other ecological issues; provides educational materials, posters, and information support for environmentally concerned kids and adults. Other programs include: The KSE Children’s Forest, The Arctic is Cool, The KSE Rainforest, and The Wonderful World of Water; network of other children; links to resources
Atmosphere, Climate and Environment Information Programme
Online source for kids to learn about the air and atmosphere. Posters for teachers (sustainability, air quality, climate change, ozone depletion); information sheets for students on topics such as acid rain, games, glossary, tips on action.
Green Teacher
A magazine that helps youth educators enhance environmental and global education inside and outside of schools. Issues with classroom ideas and activities for rethinking education in light of environmental and global challenges, articles and ready-to-use activities for ages 6 to 18, and resource reviews of new books, kits, games and other green resources; publishing new books on ‘teaching green.’
Educating Young People About Water
Searchable database by grade level, topic and/or instructional format of water curricula for developing a community-based, youth water education program. Classroom ideas, checklists, references, partner lists, and community action education materials; guides on creating water education programs and working with community partners and school-ground natural settings; guide to program strategies with case studies; guide to youth program; videos of successful youth water education programs.
Adopt-a-Watershed
Non-profit organization that promotes educational enhancement, environmental stewardship, and community development. The Place-Based Learning has a 5-step model for educational, environmental and community transformation to use the environment as a context for learning; provides a framework that integrates the exploration of the socio-cultural aspects and the environmental qualities of the watershed and encourages action that benefits both people and the environment; 18-unit watershed curriculum.
Environmental Education Curriculum
Online directory of environmental education programs around the world. Links to case studies and programs.
Air Pollution: What’s the Solution?
Program that utilizes real time data to discover the science behind outdoor air pollution on the atmosphere, weather and other sources. Lesson guides, learning rubrics, curriculum standards, testing equipment, assessment, place for students to publish research; extensive glossary; activity map; designed to allow a teacher flexibility of lesson selection and best fit into the existing curriculum.
Globalization 101
Online resource to promote greater understanding of globalization and its impact on various sectors. Lesson plan about the impacts of globalization on the environment and how different societies define and try to address environmental problems, using issues brief and mock negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol. Offers issues brief on topics from trade to health to human rights; will be available in Chinese, Arabic and Spanish; working on targeting for high schools, community colleges, and universities.
Project WET
Environmental curriculum and activity guide that facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources. 500-page curriculum and activity guide; available after training; adaptable curriculum.
Explore Sustainable Development
Online site for teaching about sustainable development globally. Interactive learning modules use charts, maps, case studies, photos, and data tables, based on World Bank data and resources, to teach about social, economic, and environment issues of sustainable development; definitions; learning modules; teacher guides; games and quizzes; student book; on-line student newspaper. Quizzes. Available in French, Spanish, and Chinese.
Kids Can Make a Difference
Program to understand the root causes of hunger and poverty and how to take action. Teacher guide, Finding Solutions to Hunger: Kids Can Make A Difference, has 25 lesson plans, statistics and resources, fund-raising ideas, organizations to contact, and a listing of available videos and books; newsletter on issues related to hunger and poverty, showcase students initiatives, and feature teachers’ experiences; facts on hunger, quizzes, place for students to speak , tips on action.
Get Smart About Energy
Online resource and information on renewable energy. Links to more than 350 lesson plans and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy for grades K-12 with a short summary that identifies curriculum integration, time, materials, and national standards; science project activities; student contests; posters, coloring books, etc. on topics from biomass energy to hydropower to wind energy; site for students with information on careers, research tools, site for parents to engage; information on rebuilding school buses, professional training opportunities for teachers. Links for home owners and community members; links to local, regional, national, and international programs.
WWF Vietnam Learning Guide for School Children.
Online curriculum guides and teaching resources to explore nature. 29 lessons for children to explore nature; topics and activities include: Water, Energy, Climate, Population, Recycling, Composting, Endangered Species; good activities, lessons.
Pachamama Teacher’s Guide
Introduction to environmental challenges; based on the book Pachamama Our Earth – Our Future and contains lesson plans and activities designed for educators of primary and lower secondary school students. Participatory pedagogy, link between the rights of indigenous people and the environment, action-component to lessons.
The Biodiversity Collection
Resources and frameworks to support integrating food systems, nutrition, and the environment into curriculum design. Guide provides dozens of ideas for developing lesson plans, units, and courses that focus on biodiversity; other guides include a compendia of general environmental education resources on a variety of topics, from conservation to ecology to oceans.
UNESCO Teacher’s Kit on Desertification
The case studies outline specific circumstances and solutions applied in twelve countries with an educational perspective so that pupils can relate the concrete projects to the geographical and socio-economical context they live in. The cartoons are depictions of a small village’s fight against land degradation and of young Chileans traveling to Europe and Africa to share their experiences with local communities suffering from the effects of desertification.
MOBIUS Curriculum: Understanding the Waste Cycle
Curriculum and information about recycling. Curriculum guide with lesson plans and activities; glossary, teacher guide. Available in Spanish.
Roots and Shoots Program
Global youth-driven network of young people concerned with communities, animals, and the environment, presents a model to engage youth based on knowledge, compassion, and action.
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