Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Other Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
For students that have already been introduced to the water cycle, this lesson is intended as a logical follow-up. Students will learn about human impacts on the water cycle that create a pathway for pollutants beginning with urban...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Does Our Background Shape Our Thinking About Environmental Issues? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson where learners explore the positive and negative impacts of human activities on the environment today and in the distant past, and examine how attitudes towards the environment might be shaped by one's experiences growing up....
Article
Other

Skidmore College: Lifestyle Project

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A copy of an article published in the Journal of Geoscience Education. It describes how the Lifestyle Project got started, and how it is used with students to help them develop an awareness of how their daily habits and actions have an...
Article
Yale University

Yale Environment 360: The Oil Spill's Growing Toll on the Sea Life of the Gulf

For Students 9th - 10th
Marine biologist Thomas Shirley explains the impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in the short and long term. The total impact is hard to determine at this point of time, however. Shirley gives his best opinion of the damage that...
Unit Plan
Center for Educational Technologies

Cet: Exploring the Environment: Human Health Effects

For Students 9th - 10th
As an epidemiologist on the U.S. Panel for Climate Change, students are tasked with analyzing the latest data on climate-impacted human health conditions. A solid understanding of the mechanisms underlying the connections will allow for...
Lesson Plan
Other

Alaska Sea Grant: Investigation 4 Human Impact Survey

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine and record data about the impact human activity has on a local aquatic environment in this teaching unit. They then analyze the information and develop a plan for improvement. The unit depends on being able to take...
Graphic
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California Santa Barbara

University of California: A Global Map of Human Impacts to Marine Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
Maps in different categories such as fishing, climate change, and pollution were pulled together into a composite map that shows the impact of humans on the world's oceans. Analysis at the time (2008) showed that 40% of the world's...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Pov Borders: Environment

For Students 9th - 10th
Point of View is television's longest running showcase for independent non-fiction films. This particular feature provides insight regarding alternative means of energy, transport, and the consumption of natural resources. Video, games,...
Website
PBS

Pbs: Journey to Planet Earth: On the Brink

For Students 9th - 10th
A part of the PBS series "Journey to Planet Earth," this section examines "how severe environmental problems can lead to political crises and increased hostilities around the world." Includes video clips and educational resources.
Article
Population Connection

Population Connection: Population and Environment[pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A paper from the Population Connection that outlines the consequences to the environment if humans continue on the path of overpopulation.
Website
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: K Ess3 3: Environmental Solutions

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This NSTA vetted source includes resources to teach ideas on reducing the impact of humans on the environment. Included are assessment ideas, videos, examples, lesson plans, and photos of student work.
Lesson Plan
Other

Fuel Our Future Now: Gr. 6 8 Module: Designing a Vehicle for the Year 2020 [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this 6-8 teaching module, students learn about natural resources, human impact on the environment, and engineering design in vehicle transportation. Using real world scientific data and scientific reasoning skills, they investigate...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Animal Game Impact of Human Activity or Natural Disasters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A description of a lesson where students first listen to a story where they begin to think about and discuss the impact humans and natural disasters have on the environment. They then play a board game. This requires preparation...
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Organisms and Environments: Humans and Ocean Systems

For Students 7th - 9th
This tutorial overviews the ocean ecosystem and human's impact on it.
Website
Other

Baltimore Co. Public Schools: Chesapeake Bay Food Webs (Online Research Model)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Food webs lesson, which focuses on Chesapeake Bay habitats, integrates biological concepts with literacy knowledge and skills. Lesson directs students to answer the question, how does a human-caused stress placed on the environment...
Handout
Texas A&M University

Ocean World: The Dust Bowl and Aftermath

For Students 9th - 10th
Description of the Dust Bowl from a geological and climatological perspective and the human impact on these processes. Includes maps, photos, references, and links to related material.
Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: The State of Ecosystems

For Students 9th - 10th
Christian Samper details The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a report highlighting the detrimental impact of human life on the ecosystems of Earth over the past fifty years. Ecosystems have been deteriorating from a variety of waste and...
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...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Survival of the Sea Turtle

For Students 9th - 10th
Video describes the struggle of infant sea turtles as they deal with hazards and predators in their environment. [4:26] Includes a short quiz and a list of additional resources to explore.
Unit Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Carbon Imbalance: Algae to the Rescue? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A 95-page learning module that integrates biology, chemistry, and engineering. It includes in-class labs, virtual labs, and engineering design activities. Working with algae, students learn about and investigate how photosynthesis,...
Unit Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: History With Fire in Its Eye: An Introduction to Fire in America

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the National Humanities Center provides an interesting look at the history of fire in America, how we use it to control natural resources and how it controls us.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: The Frontiers Decade: Environment Decade

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Investigate man's impact on the environment. Observe different species to see how sensitive they are to human presence, and record your observations in a field notes log.
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.
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.