EPA’s Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands
This kit provides thought-provoking information about the impacts of global warming on our forests, streams, mountains, and coastal areas. It includes:
- A short video, "Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wildlands",
- A CD-ROM with four case studies that discuss the potential impacts of climate change on selected national parks and wildlife refuges and areas surrounding them,
- A hand-held global warming wheel card that can be used to calculate household greenhouse gas emissions, and
- A set of 12 trail cards that highlight the potential effects of climate change on individual wildlife species and ecosystems.
Contact: Norman L. Willard, Esq. Region I EPA
617-918-1812
Willard.Norman@epamail.epa.gov
EPA’s Global Warming Kids Site
EPA has launched a series of educational climate animations for grades 5-9. The animations, entitled "Global Warming and Earth Processes," feature illustrated moving scenes of:
- How global warming occurs,
- The carbon cycle and global warming, and
- The water cycle and global warming.
The animations were designed to break down complex processes into a series of easy-to-understand components accessible to the intermediate grades.
The animations can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/animations.html. They require the Macromedia Flash plug-in (Version 5 or higher), which can be downloaded free of charge.
EPA’s Visitor Center for Educators includes the materials highlighted about as well as additional materials
For other EPA outreach materials on global warming and climate change. See http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/index.html.
Ask Dr. Global Change
"Dr. Global Change" is a reference service that assists researchers, students, educators, decision makers and the general public in finding information and data relevant to global environmental change. Answers are prepared by GCRIO staff along with US Government agencies.
Resource Guide for K-12 Teachers from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
50 Miles Street, Suite 3
Greenfield, MA 01301-3212
413-774-6051
The Climate Change Backpack
Available through the New England Science Centers Collaborative
Contact May Lou Kramber (603) 444-0949.
On Loan: Contact Joanne Morin, NHDES, (603) 271-5552
The Climate Change Backpack is a portable collection of teaching materials developed to incorporate the topic of climate change into traditional natural history interpretation. The Backpack materials can used for indoor presentations but are of more value when used outdoors in the presence of trees, plants, clouds, wetlands, and forest ecosystems. The Backpack comes with an extensive "Presenters Guide".
It covers the following topics and themes:
- Carbon in Plants
- Sugar maples
- Photosynthesis
- Tree stresses
- Carbon cycles
- Oceans and the Greenhouse Effect
- Oceans as part of the carbon cycle
- CO2 sinks
- Changes in ocean, sea level, weather
- Greenhouse effect
- CO2 and Global Warming
- Historic and prehistoric levels of CO2
- Scientific investigation of past climate change
- Correlation between CO2 and temperature
- Rates of climate change
- Effects on Tourism
- Secondary economic effects
- Global warming not just about heat
- Personal contributions to climate change
- Successes
- Things individuals can do to reduce the CO2 imbalance
- Successful efforts to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere
- Carbon inventories and embodied carbon
Information about Energy
- NH Partnership for High Performance Schools – an initiative of The Jordan Institute, a science-based, non-advocacy, nonprofit organization, aimed at encouraging and integrating the health of New Hampshire’s citizens, their environment, and their economy.
- Green Schools site describes an energy-saving program and provides lesson plans for elementary and middle school, bibliography of resources, teacher links, and an on-line forum. (Developed by the Alliance to Save Energy.)
- National Energy Foundation has several programs, including Energy Action Patrol (grade 5-8), Energy Action Team (grades 6-9), and Energy Action Technology (grades 9-12) that provide kids with opportunities to apply energy efficiency concepts in school and learn about the technologies.
- Arizona’s Annual Solar Competitions include a solar car race, solar bike rayce, a solar boat race, and a miniature solar car competition, all events in which students can participate.
- EnergyNet is an on-line project for grades 6-12 designed by a coalition of education and business leaders. Students are instructed in conducting energy audits for their schools, use computers to analyze their results, access the Internet to communicate with energy engineers, present their recommendations to the school board for action, and track and report on their energy savings. (Developed by Ameritech, Commonwealth Edison, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.)
- Energy Smart Schools result in healthier learning environments and a healthier planet, and save money for America’s school districts. Creative classroom activities are included at this Web site.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s "Student Resources on Renewable Energy" – From elementary school science mentoring to senior-level research participant programs, NREL’s educational opportunities help provide the link to a clean energy future.
- Energy Activities for Teachers and Students
- Watt’s Up? is a Co-NECT conservation project that includes different lesson plans for elementary (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12). The project lasts approximately three weeks or 15 school days.