Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Global Warming Webquest

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students collaborate as part of a climate action team and learn how society and the environment might be impacted by global warming. Student teams investigate how and why climate is changing and how humans may have contributed to these...
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Greenhouse Gases: A Closer Look

For Teachers 9th - 10th
One lesson in a larger module covering different aspects of the major greenhouse gases including some of the ways in which human activities are affecting the atmospheric concentrations of these key greenhouse gases.
Activity
Other

Tread Lightly: Tl Kids!

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Five different activities, including a quiz, hiking checklist, interactive maze, coloring pages, and story builder, teach the importance of enjoying the outdoors in a safe and responsible way.
Website
Other

Ecology

For Students 9th - 10th
Humans are having a negative effect on the ecology of Antarctica. Get the facts on krill harvesting, global warming, and ozone depletion.
Article
Other

Few: Human Impact on the Environment & Environmental Impact on Humans

For Students 9th - 10th
Human beings have an enormous impact on the natural environment, and ultimately on each other. The way we chose to house, clothe, shelter, and meet the needs for vital resources such as food, energy, and water, not only affect the...
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Human Activity: Lesson 2

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will describe how human activity can impact a natural ecosystem. It is 2 of 4 in the series titled "Human Activity."
Handout
Other

Informory: Famous Environmental Scientists

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a short biography about ten environmental scientists who have shown concern with the impacts of human activities on Earth and its biodiversity.
Website
Scientific American

Scientific American: The Buzz on Bees: In Depth Reports

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this multimedia article about the disappearance of bee colonies worldwide. Find out why it is crucial to saving this important pollinator from extinction.
Handout
A-Z Animals

A Z Animals: Reference: Habitats: Urban Areas

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how urban ecosystems sustain plant life and wildlife.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Sea Level and the Terrapin

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students build a model ecosystem to simulate the life and limiting factors of the Terrapin turtle.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Product Development and the Environment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students investigate the life cycle of an engineered product and how the product impacts the environment. They analyze a product using a simple life cycle assessment that assigns fictional numerical values for different...
Article
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat Network: Take Control of Herbicide Use on Your Property

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's what you need to know to make an informed choice on the best strategy to tackle backyard weeds.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: Human Actions and the Sixth Mass Extinction

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how human actions are resulting in a sixth mass extinction.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Life Science: Human Causes of Extinction

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In addition to habitat destruction, other human-caused problems are also threatening many species. These include issues associated with climate change, pollution,...
Unknown Type
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Biodiversity Quiz (Ecological Problems)

For Students 6th - 8th
Take an interactive quiz over ecological problems affecting the environment. After completing the quiz, check your score, and then revisit any incorrect question for further review.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Critical Zone

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore the critical zone of Earth's surface in this lesson plan.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Are You a Water Waster?

For Students K - 1st
In this activity, students monitor how much water is used if the water is left running while they brush their teeth. They use that information to calculate how much the whole family would use. They learn how much water can be conserved...
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Helpful Guide to Understand the Photic Zone

For Students 9th - 10th
The photic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis. This article explains the characteristics of this zone, the food chain that exists there, the adaptations of the plants and animals,...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Long Will Human Impacts Last?

For Students 9th - 10th
David Biello explains how the impacts that humans have made have become so pervasive, profound, and permanent that some geologists believe we merit our own epoch.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Geography: Environment: The Incredible Shrinking Sea

For Students 4th - 8th
Describes the economic policies of the Soviet Union that turned the Aral Sea, once the world's largest body of fresh water, into two smaller seas and desert. Includes a video. [10:29]
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Biology: Human Actions and the Sixth Mass Extinction

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how human actions are resulting in a sixth mass extinction.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Do the Green Thing

For Students 9th - 10th
Andy Hobsbawm shares a fresh ad campaign about going green- and some of the fringe benefits. [3:56]
Unit Plan
National Geographic

National Geographic: Human Impact on the Cloud Forest

For Students 6th - 8th
A study discovering and exploring the cloud forest canopy and how humans have influenced the ecosystem's biodiversity.
Handout
Other

Sustainable Scale: Ecosystem Functions and Services

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Authors make a case for the delicate state of equilibrium of an ecosystem. Also describes the important functions and services of ecosystems.