Learning environments are right outside the classroom window. Project-based learning, teaching strategies, place-based learning and lesson plans all devoted to environmental learning can be found at www.ecoliteracy.org/teach.
The Center for EcoLiteracy provides curriculum integration and cross-discipline teaching strategies, hands-on teaching and learning projects, study of food for encouraging ecological understanding and information on gardens and the campus as learning environments.
Animals as educators
Learn about critters and how they help the environment in Curious Critters, a funny and visually stunning book of photography for children by David FitzSimmons.
Each animal tells about itself from its own point of view. Learn how the American toad, the blue jay, and the Chinese praying mantis catch insects, the Eastern screech-owl catches rodents, and the big brown bat eats moths and stinky bugs.
The ideas presented in the book address all Life Science standards for grades K-4: characteristics of organisms, life cycles of organisms, and organisms and environments. Coloring pages, word searches and other tools for teachers are available at www.curious-critters.com.