LibGuides: Environmental Education: High School

Books

1001 Ideas for Science Projects on the Environment by Marion A. Brisk (Princeton, NJ : Peterson's, 1997. ISBN: 002861707X)
Ideas for high school science fair projects in environmental science.

Assessing Toxic Risk: Student Edition and Teacher's Guide by Nancy M. Trautmann and the Environmental Inquiry Team (Arlington, VA : National Science Teacher's Association, 2001. ISBN: 0873551966 -- Available for purchase from NSTA)
This book is a collaborative effort among scientists, science educators, and high school and middle school teachers. Includes both a student guide and a teacher's guide. The student guide presents some basic concepts of toxicology, then presents some procedures, or protocols, that students can learn to do.

Chemical Manufacturing : The Process of Mixing by Dianne N. Epp (Middletown, OH: Terrific Science Press, c2000. ISBN: 1883822238) [660. 0712 E643c.]
Highlights the ways that mixing is used in different industrial applications. Offers background information on the importance of mixing and a detailed explanation of the machinery used in industry. It also contains inquiry-based activities that teachers can use to illustrate mixing in their classrooms.

Environmental Science Activities Kit: Lessons, Labs and Worksheets for Secondary Students by Michael L. Roach & Ginny Allen (Jossey-Bass, 1993. ISBN: 0876283040)
Provides 32 detailed, interdisciplinary environmental science lessons with complete directions for use, including summary, introduction, materials needed, preparation and step-by-step teaching directions plus worksheets and background sheets. For grades 7-12.

Green Means 1,2, & 3 [Videorecording] (San Francisco, CA: KQED-San Francisco, no year given.)
Series of short programs about environmental concern and consciousness. The stories profile ordinary people, businesses and communities who are doing extraordinary things for the earth's sake. For grades 6 and up.

The Life Cycle of Everyday Stuff by Mike Reeske and Shirley Watt Ireton (NSTA Press, 2001 ISBN: 0873551877)
Using common products like the telephone, this book helps students lean about the flow of energy and matter through the environment. Includes seven illustrated sections which can be used as standalone units or as a cumulative program. For grades 8-12.

Mission Possible!: A Teacher's Guide for Grades 9 to 12 : Students Building Solutions for Their Community's Recycling Needs by Julia F. Walsh (Springfield, IL : Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Bureau of Energy and Recycling, 1999.) [363. 7282 W225m]
This guide presents lessons on solid waste management and related educational materials emphasizing the 3Rs -- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle -- for grades 9-12. These units meet the "Applications of Learning" in the Illinois Learning Standards and align with some of the Illinois Academic Standards in Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

Organics? A Wasted Resource! by Gerald R. Culen (Champaign, IL : Stipes Publishing, 2001. Student edition ISBN: 1588740463, Teacher edition ISBN: 1588740471)
This resource is an entire sequence of scientific information about composting and how to set up a composting operation at home as well as strategies for investigating and evaluating issues about organic waste management. For grades 6-12.

Strong Medicine : Chemistry at the Pharmacy (Middletown, OH: Terrific Science Press, c1999. ISBN: 1883822106) [615.19 00712 S9239.]
Looks at chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry. Students get hands-on experience making aspirin and learning sophisticated chemical techniques like gel filtration. For grades 7-12.

Toxics in my Home? You Bet! : Learning Activities on Household Toxics for Grades 9-12 ( Sacramento, CA: Golden Empire Health Planning Center, 1984.) [371.3 078 T755.]
One-week school curriculum on chemical hazards in the home for grades 7-8. Offers step-by-step teaching instructions and masters for student worksheets/handouts. Innovative and activity oriented. Discusses safe use, disposal, and safer substitutes for common household products containing toxic substances. Also has modules for K-3, 4-6, and 7-8.

Web Resources

Analyzing Your School's Energy Consumption
Students will: 1. Define attributes of an energy efficient "green" school. 2. Identify areas of energy waste in their school by: a. comparing their school to that of a LEED certified school; b. identifying areas that are within the school's capacity to change; c. auditing the school's recycling program.
Center for Sustainable Systems Teaching Resources
The Center for Sustainable Systems has created several sets of teaching resources that can be used to support education surrounding sustainability concepts. These outlines and PowerPoints were created with a post secondary education audience in mind, but are also useful for secondary classrooms and for general information about environmental issues. Includes links to guides developed by the National Pollution Prevention Center.
Classic Trash
Classroom activity designed for 9th graders. Students will learn how to classify trash into categories; what options exist for dealing with trash; and how long trash will last in a landfill.
Environmental Activities for the Classroom : Product Life-Cycle Analysis
Classroom activity for grades 7-12. Designed to help students become aware of the environmental impact of products beyond that of packaging or other wastes generated from use. Students work through the product life cycle of a sneaker.
Environmental Inquiry
Supports teaching and learning about the environmental sciences through teacher education, curriculum research and development, and scientific inquiry for high school students.
No Impact Project » For Educators
This curriculum uses the "No Impact Man" film and book to help middle and high school students explore the effects their everyday behavior has on the environment, their health, and their well-being.
Water Quality for Freshwater Organisms
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate to students the effect increased water temperature has on the amount of dissolved oxygen found in water and in turn upon the gill beat rate of fish. For grades 8-12.