1. Kids
  2. Environment

PreK-5th Grade Classroom Resources

  • 3M Free Virtual Labs
    Spark students' interest in a scientific career. Make real world connections by designing a new electrical circuit, designing a heat resistant skillet handle or building an interactive wind turbine.
  • Bill Nye's Climate Laboratory
    Formally known as Bill Nye the Science Guy has recently become Bill Nye the Climate Guy. Courtesy of Chabot Space & Science Center of Oakland, California, Bill Nye has been able to complete his out Climate Lab creating awareness of environmental issues. Accompanying Bill's Climate Laboratory is an educational Web site created for elementary and middle school teachers, students, and families. Join Nye on fun missions and activities to reduce energy consumption and prevent climate change. You'll hunt down energy vampires, design a "green" home, grow a virtual garden, and compete to become a climate champion!
  • Edheads - Activate Your Mind!
    This site offers a variety of flash learning programs and lesson plans designed to meet state and national learning standards.
  • Energy Hog Campaign
    The Alliance to Save Energy's Energy Hog campaign is educating teachers, kids and parents about energy efficiency. Why? Saving energy lessens our dependence on foreign oil, improves our air and water quality, and reduces our energy bills. To help spread energy efficiency in the classroom, print out our Student and Teacher Guides.
  • Great Lakes Education Program
    The Great Lakes Education Program is a fourth-grade classroom and field educational opportunity focusing on Great Lakes and Detroit River resources. The program consists of three segments, each integrating elements of physical, chemical and biological sciences, history, geography, mathematics, literature and the arts. The program includes field experience, with pre-field learning activities, and post-field classroom activities.
  • Great Lakes in My World: K-8 Curriculum
    The Great Lakes in My World (GLIMW) curriculum offers 80 indoor and outdoor activities for K-8 students. Topics covered include lakes, sand dunes, wetlands, human communities, history and geology. The Great Lakes in My World curriculum was developed to help students instill a sense of place and promote problem-solving. The curriculum includes a 480 page book with 80 activities, assessment rubrics, student journal pages, Creature Cards featuring 66 Great Lakes plants and animals and a CD with additional resources. For more information please visit https://greatlakes.org/get-involved/great-lakes-in-your-classroom/ or contact Katie Larson, Education Coordinator, Alliance for the Great Lakes at KLarson@greatlakes.org
  • HippoWorks Helps Teach Kids about Global Warming
    HippoWorks has recently introduced a 12-part cartoon series that was designed to help children learn what they can do to stop Global Warming. "One by One, Ton by Ton, Let's Stop Global Warming" was formed to give kids an idea of how important environmental issues are. This is a great teaching tool for teachers and can be used to help promote energy conservation, awareness about endangered animals and other important environmental issues.
  • How Mother Nature Collection
    This is a book by Tom Schwartz, Reagent Press, Publisher. How Mother Nature Flowered. The Fields of Earth and Mars is a collection of three original Mother Nature stories: Flowering Fields of Earth; Saving Flowering Fields; and Flowering Mars! This collection is recommended for young readers transitioning from picture books.
  • Learn about the Moon through Games
  • NASA is sponsoring this online game initiative to increase science education. Game players will be assessed on how much they are learning by how they play the game. This game is free and designed for students 9-18 years of age.
  • Learn How Much You Weigh And How Old You Are If You Lived On Another Planet
    From NASA!  Use the Astro-Matic 3000 to learn how much you would weigh or how old you would be if you lived on another planet.  Students also learn facts about each planet.  Grades K-8.
  • Moon Munchies Educator Guide for Grades K-4
    Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long-duration missions to the moon. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon, and the plants could be used to supplement meals. In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and the International Technology Education Association, or ITEA, present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers -- while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. The lesson plans in this guide encourage students to participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment. The Moon Munchies Educator Guide is available as a complete guide or can be downloaded in easy-to-use individual lesson plans.
  • NASA's Kids Club Activity: Window to Earth
    This website allows you to experience the spectacular view of Earth that Astronauts have from space. Move through the pages of Window to Earth and see images taken from space of these geographical features: peninsula, glacier, lake, desert, cape, island, upheaval dome, strait, waterfall, reef and volcano. To take a peek and see how Earth looks from space, visit www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/clubhouse/Window_to_Earth.html.
  • Pathfinder Science Ozone Project
    Each fall students from all over the country participate in the Pathfinder Science research area, exploring ground-level ozone.  Ozone is a toxic gas, which is formed by a reaction between air pollutants and sunlight.  This research area is design for upper elementary through high school age students with two easy to follow, network-wide, standardized protocols are offered.
  • "Pee Wee's Family in a Nutshell" by Larraine Roulston
    The third book in the children's adventure series in composting, tells the tale of the endearing little red wiggler and friends who have adventures with composting. It follows "Pee Wee and the Magical Compost Heap" and "Pee Wee's Great Adventure: a guide to Vermicomposting."
  • Solar and Wind Energy Production at Schools
  • A total of 34 renewable energy systems have been installed at 28 schools statewide participating in Energy Works Michigan's Renewable Energy Program. The Renewable Energy Program provided incentives for schools that installed one or both of the solar PV or wind systems. Students can compare the daily performance of the solar PV or wind systems that were installed at different schools throughout the state. The performance data is collected by a data logger and weather station that are installed at each school.  For more information or to view the live production, visit the Energy Works Michigan Solar and Wind Systems Web site.
  • The GREENS Activity Guide
    MeetTheGreens.org kids' guide to looking after the planet has just added a new activity guide. It pairs hands-on activities to deepen kids' understanding of topics like recycling and global warming with campaigns to reduce junk mail and get drivers to stop idling cars. This innovative, Web-only project comes from WGBH in Boston, the producer of shows like ZOOM, ARTHUR, Frontline, & NOVA.
  • Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth by Rochelle Strauss. Published by Kids Can Press.
    Tree of Life: the Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (ages 8 and up) shows how living things are classified into five kingdoms -- and how each has much to tell us about all aspects of life on our planet. Awards include the ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award and the 2005 Skipping Stones Honor Award Winner (Ecology/Nature Books). It was also named a Green Earth Book Award Honor Book and named as one of the Best of the Best Books 2004, by the Chicago Public Libraries. 2004, 40 pp. ISBN 1-55337-669-2.
  • Water Science Experiments & Projects
    This site offers many useful classroom tools for conducting water-related science experiments. Included are many tips for teachers and opportunities to purchase cost effective and educational equipment. Project ideas include water testing for pollution and water treatment for drinking purposes.
  • Wetland Education
    Ducks Unlimited site provides a variety of resources on wetland education. Three new units developed for grade levels 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12, in wetland ecosystems series consists of an educator's guide and accompanying student journal, experiments, and activities.