Lesson Plans and Activities:
- Black Death, The – Steve Ciszczon – 9.4
- Can that Skanky Landfill Smell Really Kill You? – Mike Fox – 9.2, 9.3
- Darker Side of Humanity, The – Mary Ann Bolinger – 9.4
- Gang of Fourteen (6-12) – a lesson plan about understanding the world’s climate distribution and patterns.
- Climographs
- Data for students to make Climographs
- How to Make a Climograph
- Great Energy Debate – Lesson from the National Geographic Society focusing on various perspectives regarding energy.
- Great Moments in the History of Trash – Mike Fox – 9.2, 9.3
- Historical Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production in the United States via the USGS provides spatial data addressing the topic.
- How Many is Too Many? A Study of Population and Resource Distribution – Tara Uebelhor – 9.2,9.3
- Human Environment Interaction: Example Alaska – Deb DeLion – 9.1, 9.2
- Rainforest Soil, Dr. Meredith Beilfuss, Butler University; A simple activity to help studentsunderstand various soil types (consistency/texture).
- A ten-question quiz on soils from the National Geographic Society
- R.I.P., Graves, Griffins, and Grafitti – Anne Gardner and Connie Yeaton – 9.2, 9.3 (3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 8.1, and 8.4)
- Washington State Cemetery Association newsletter article about Indiana limestone and artistry
- Southwest Asia Unit Plan – Jessica Niksch – 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
- State on the Road to Taking Over Crow Lane Landfill – Mike Fox – 9.2, 9.
- Three Gorges Dam: Is this China’s T.V.A. of the 21st Century? – Mark Riggins – 9.3. Part of an East Asia Unit. See the Resouce section for all lessons.
- We Are the World and We Are Hungry! – Cheri Hume – 9.2, 9.3
- World Cup, The – Ernie Ruble – 9.1, 9.2, 9.4
Other Materials:
Anatomy of a Hurricane a five-minute video from the Department of the Interior and the USGS available via YouTube about tropical cyclones.
California Wildfires: Causes and Consequences a short Power Point by Liane Brouillett. Follow up with an on-line activity from the National Forest Service utilizing historic photos (Lands in Transition: Complex Decisions in the Lake Tahoe Basin).
Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN), a part of the National Science Digital Library provides a reviewed collection of education resources about teaching and understanding the climate. Dedicated to middle school through undergraduate classrooms.
Decade Volcano Map – From the National Geographic Society and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior designated 16 of the Earth’s volcanoes worthy of study due to their explosive histories and their proximity to civilization. The site provides a world map plus an image and information about each of the 16 volcanoes.
Earth as an Apple: Focus on Farmland, an activity from Zero Population Growth, Population Connection, 2004.
The EPA offers a lengthy and in-depth (PDF file) activity surrounding the importance of Groundwater. Geology, math, water cycle, and much more are included in the activity. Great for study of human-environment interaction.
Every Drop Counts, an activity from Zero Population Growth, Population Connection, Counting on People, 1994.
Exploring Earth’s Volcanic Environments, an interactive website designed to help students learn about explosive volcanic activity by observing data and visuals, analyzing facts, and concluding impact probabilities. From the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island with a grant from the NSF. A logical, scientific approach to viewing and utilizing data and to making conclusions.
Flow: For Love of Water, a 2008 video that is 1 hour and 23 minutes long looks at the bottled water industry. Available via Hulu movies athttp://www.hulu.com/watch/233816/flow-for-love-of-water.
For a variety of links and activities addressing Global Climate Change, visit the GHW Standard 12 (Global Change) Lesson Plans and Activities page.
Great Lakes Atlas and Resource Book – Available from the U.S. EPA and the Governmnet of Canada, this book provides historical and current information about the Great Lakes’ physical and human environments. As well, the book looks to the future of the Great Lakes.
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, a clearing-house of oceanography resources as it relates to the Gulf of Mexico.
Indiana Magazine of History; Published continuously since 1905, the Indiana Magazine of History is one of the nation’s oldest historical journals. Since 1913, the IMH has been edited and published quarterly at Indiana University, Bloomington. Today, the IMH features peer-reviewed historical articles, research notes, annotated primary documents, reviews, and critical essays that contribute to public understanding of midwestern and Indiana history. As well, classroom ideas are provided via the magazine and via the website. As an example Don Adams’ students explored, “The Chronicles of Upper Burnet” by William Gregory Harrison. This on-line visual provides a background, the chronicles of Mr. Harrison, and a teaching (cemetery) activity.
The Jason Project, downloadable student edition curriculum — Operation: Monster Storms, Operation: Resilient Planet, and Operation: Infinate Potential. The curriculum materials for students are available free via computer download; lots of color and imagery. Focus on the Earth’s weather systems, ecology systems, and energy systems. Appropriate for high school, upper middle school. Plus, provides lots of facts, visuals, and ideas. Indicators 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, and 12.1.
Mesa Verde Migrations; an article by Tim Kohler and colleagues in American Scientist, 2008, 96(2), pages 146-153. Discussions about the reasons the early Puebloans left the Mesa Verde area: possible overpopulation, strain on resources, and climate change. To obtain the full article, you must purchase the issue for approximately $6.95 from American Scientist. Visit the website.
Tapped, a 2009 video that is 1 hour and 15 minutes long analyzes the bottled water industry from a variety of perspectives. Limited commercials. Available via Hulu movies at http://www.hulu.com/watch/192680/tapped?c=News-and-Information/Documentary-and-Biography.
To Sustain Life: Water and Development in Nepal – a five-day curriculum for middle school to high school students addresses various aspects of water comparing an American family and a family in Nepal. From Cornell University’s South Asia program and Educate the Children. www.einaudi.cornell.edu/SouthAsia/outreach/pdf/Nepal_water.pdf.
Tropical Rainforests, a Power Point by Dr. Meredith Beilfuss, Butler University.
USGS Human Health information and activities.
United Nations Program on Environment publishes a document “Vital Climate Change Graphics“, a PDF that can be downloaded. The 25-page document has easy-to-understand explanations and good graphics.
Water, Water Everywhere, an activity from Zero Population Connection, Population Connection, Earth Matters, 1998.