Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Environmental History Timeline

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students develop critical thinking skills by interviewing a person who has perspective on environmental history. Students explore the concept of a timeline, including historical milestones, and develop a sense of the context of events.
Handout
Other

Environmental History: Between Science and Philosophy

For Students 9th - 10th
Gain a perspective on the origins of the contemporary environmental crisis, where an awareness of the environment came into being.
Website
Other

Radford University: Environmental History Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
Worrying over the environment is nothing new, just the term "environmental" is. Investigate the history of concerns dating back to ancient civilization and looking forward into the future.
Lesson Plan
The Newberry Library

Newberry: Environmental History: Map 7: Distribution of Woodland in u.s., 1873

For Teachers K - 1st
Lesson plans for K-12 using maps that show the distribution of wooded land in 1873. Students examine the impact of humans on the environment.
Lesson Plan
The Newberry Library

Newberry: Environmental History: Map 9: Conservation, Yosemite Ntl. Park, 1935

For Teachers K - 1st
Lessons for students K-12 in which they study original map of Yosemite National Park, ca. 1935 and explore appropriate human uses of the environment.
PPT
University of Michigan

University of Michigan: The Great Lakes: An Environmental History [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Michigan provides a PowerPoint presentation on the environmental history of the Great Lakes. Provides aerial shots of the Great Lakes from a satellite, various geographical maps over the Great Lake Region, and pictures...
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Introduction to Environmental History

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Historically chronicled, the environment's effects on people and people's effects on the environment are emphasized and brought to life through the many materials suggested here.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: History of the Epa

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete history of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency including a timeline, publications, biographies of administrators, origins of the Agency, and photographs.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source: Environmental Preservation Progressive Era

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to environmental preservation in the Progressive Era.
Handout
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Summary of the National Environmental Policy Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site from the EPA as a portal to find the text of the National Environmental Policy Act, passed in 1969, as well as a history of the act.
Handout
NOAA

Noaa: Environmental Restoration

For Students 9th - 10th
Your questions answered about environmental restoration after chemical accidents. A large section is dedicated to oil spills and how they contaminate the earth. Great information.
Handout
Other

Thoreau Institute: The History of Environmentalism

For Students 9th - 10th
This essay is a thorough investigation of the various political and philosophical changes which have occurred throughout the environmental movement. Examines the current situation and includes references. Excellent article.
Primary
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Epa History: Epa's Position on the Energy Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an EPA position paper written in January 1974 about the Environmental Protection Agency's position on the American energy crisis. The paper gives the roots of the problems of the energy crisis, the impact of the U.S.'s...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability

For Students 9th - 10th
Through this interactive module, history has shown that the multifaceted aspects of nature have been overlooked many times in the past. And thus, our pursuit to control our environment has failed and left us wanting. What does the future...
Handout
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Ask a Scientist

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A browsable collection of environment-related questions posed by elementary- and middle-school students to the scientists of the American Museum of Natural History in honor of Earth Day. Great questions and great answers.
Lesson Plan
Other

Teaching the Jah: Earth Day and the Environmental Movement

For Teachers 9th - 10th
As part of a larger lesson plan on the the environment and the environmental movement, this lesson focuses on the movement as part of a larger emphasis on social movements in the 1960s. Find information about the history of Earth Day,...
Website
NOAA

Noaa: Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory: What Is El Nino?

For Students 9th - 10th
This page tells you what El Nino is, provides links to animations and videos on El Nino, explains how to recognize El Nino, and discusses the history of significant El Nino events.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Rachel Carson

For Students 9th - 10th
Rachel Carson catalyzed the global environmental movement with her 1962 book "Silent Spring".
Website
San Diego Natural History Museum

San Diego Natural History Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides general information, exhibits, museum news, etc. about the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 10: Understanding American History

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module looks at how themes of American history can create a better understanding of the big picture of the nation's history.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: World His: Technological and Environmental Transformations

For Students 9th - 10th
World History learning module explores the concept of civilization while examing the culture and contributions of the Ancient River Valley Civilizations.
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Earth and Life History

For Students 9th - 10th
In this amazingly comprehensive tutorial you will learn about the geological and environmental changes that occurred during the geologic time scale.
Website
Other

Green Living Answers: History of Hybrid Vehicles

For Students 9th - 10th
What do you know about the invention and the history of hybrid cars? Here's a look at its beginnings in the early 1900's, modifications made over time, various kinds of hybrids, and finally, the events that lead to the present growth and...
Handout
Digital History

Digital History: The Peace Corps

For Students 9th - 10th
Some 150,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps since it was formed in 1961. Peace Corps volunteers live and work for two years in communities in the developing world. They must learn the languages of the people they serve. They...