A list of useful Environmental Education Resources
Papahana Kuaola
Papahana is a multi-faceted, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded to provide community education programs fully integrated with traditional Hawaiian knowledge. Focusing on environmental restoration and economic sustainability, our educatial program on Oahu and Molokai provide opportunities for participants to actively connect and re-connect in regard to their relationships and kuleana to akua, aina, kai, and each other.Website: www.papahanakuaola.com
Ohia Project curriculum - Moanalua Gardens Foundation
The goal of the Ohia Project is to assist Hawaii schools in implementing effective environmental education curricula to aid teachers and students in making informed choices for our island environment. The Ohia Project, comprised of three guide books covering grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-8, is the most popular environmental education curriculum in Hawaii. Since its inception in 1986, more than one-third of the K-6 teachers in the state have been trained in its use. However, the Ohia Project is now out of print and the DOE has developed new content standards in each subject area to identify important ideas, concepts, issues, and skills to be learned by all students. The Ohia Project needs to be aligned to these new standards. Also, current scientific data and cultural traditions need to be integrated. MGF is currently working with the Hawaii Department of Health to update and revise lessons in the Ohia Projectthat have to do with water. Lessons are being field tested for the current 2003-2004 school year. For more information, check out our water lessons.
Website: www.mgf-hawaii.org/HTML/School/ohia.htm
Project Kāhea Loko - A Teacher's Guide to Hawaiian Fishponds
Kāhea Loko is "the call of the pond." From the ocean currents surging through the stone-walled channels to the excited cries of haumāna (students) discovering fishpond life, the loko iʻa (fishpond) calls to us in many ways. From the broad perspective of the ahupuaʻa (major land division), the loko iʻa helps us to appreciate the connection between land and sea and to experience the rhythm of tides and seasons. From an intimate perspective, the pond leads us to discover how the tiniest life forms fit into the web of pond life. The goal of the Ohia Project is to assist Hawaii schools in implementing effective environmental education curricula to aid teachers and students in making informed choices for our island environment. The Ohia Project, comprised of three guide books covering grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-8, is the most popular environmental education curriculum in Hawaii. Since its inception in 1986, more than one-third of the K-6 teachers in the state have been trained in its use. However, the Ohia Project is now out of print and the DOE has developed new content standards in each subject area to identify important ideas, concepts, issues, and skills to be learned by all students. The Ohia Project needs to be aligned to these new standards. Also, current scientific data and cultural traditions need to be integrated. MGF is currently working with the Hawaii Department of Health to update and revise lessons in the Ohia Projectthat have to do with water. Lessons are being field tested for the current 2003-2004 school year. For more information, check out our water lessons.
Website: www.mgf-hawaii.org/HTML/School/ohia.htm
Project Kāhea Loko - A Teacher's Guide to Hawaiian Fishponds
Website: Project Kāhea Loko
Videos from the Pacific American Foundation
The Hanai I Ka Ipu Project
Salt-making traditions at Hanapepe: http://thepaf.org/video/hiki_vid3.php
Malama Kahoolawe: http://thepaf.org/video/mk_vid1.php
Aloha 'Aina Curriculum
The mission of Project Aloha `Aina is to provide Hawai`i’s youth with culturally relevant curricula to inspire them to embrace aloha `aina as a way of life. The program will foster foundational learning experiences that reflect Native Hawaiian culture and core values. In collaboration with community partners, the program will empower young adults to be leaders in their community, and support kupuna, makua, and `opio (all generations) in working toward their vision of aloha `aina.
Website: http://alohaaina.thepaf.org
Schoolyard Habitats
To help reconnect today's children to the outdoors, the National Wildlife Federation assists schools in developing outdoor classrooms called Schoolyard Habitats®, where educators and students learn how to attract and support local wildlife. These wildlife habitats become places where students not only learn about wildlife species and ecosystems, but also outdoor classrooms where they hone their academic skills and nurture their innate curiosity and creativity. Website: www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There/Educators/Schoolyard-Habitats.aspx
Every Student Learns Outside
For over 30 years, Project Learning Tree® (PLT) has used the forest as a “window” to help young people gain an awareness of the world around them and their place within it. Check out the Every Student Learns Outside site to learn more about the "No Child Left Inside" movement and to access activities from the PLT curriculum that have been adapted for use by families.
Example: Activity #21: Adopt a Tree. "Blending a walk in the forest with a fun and engaging PLT activity creates a powerful learning experience for children of all ages. Here’s one idea in a series from PLT that introduces the concept of forest cycles." Visit: www.learnoutside.org All the Way to the Ocean – Children’s Book
(resource for PreK-8’s “Pollution Search,” “Waste Watchers,” and “Earth Manners”)
Designed as a children’s book, Joel Harper’s “All the Way to the Ocean,” delivers a strong message to adults as well as kids about protecting oceans and keeping our sewers free from garbage. Important lessons about friendship and teamwork can also be found, as organized efforts through schools and neighborhoods to clean up our precious water resources are described.
Bryce Canyon Electronic Field Trip
(resource for PreK-8’s “Loving it Too Much,” “I’d Like to Visit a Place Where…,” “Web of Life” and Forest Issues’ “Who Own America’s Forests?” and “Tough Choices”)
Take an electronic field trip inside Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park. During this live, one-hour podcast, students will learn about the importance of the park, hunt for signs of land and aquatic dinosaurs, explore “hoodoos” (unique limestone formations), and see animals that live in this extreme environment.
American Bird Conservancy Video: Go Birding, Save Species!
(resource for PreK-8’s “Web of Life,” “Picture This!,” “Can it Be Real,” “Habitat Pen Pals,” and PLT’s Secondary Biodiversity Module)
Enjoy this one-minute video featuring our favorite feathered friends. Can you identify all of these spectacular birds? Visit www.conservationbirding.org for the full species list. The video was created to showcase the American Bird Conservancy’s web site that enables birders to find birding routes and lodges that support habitat protection.
(resource for PreK-8’s “Web of Life,” “Picture This!,” “Can it Be Real,” “Habitat Pen Pals,” and PLT’s Secondary Biodiversity Module)
Enjoy this one-minute video featuring our favorite feathered friends. Can you identify all of these spectacular birds? Visit www.conservationbirding.org for the full species list. The video was created to showcase the American Bird Conservancy’s web site that enables birders to find birding routes and lodges that support habitat protection.
Classroom Earth Attention High School Teachers! The National Environmental Education Foundation's Classroom Earth is an online resource designed to help high school teachers include environmental content in their daily lesson plans. This is not just for science teachers. Lessons are divided up by subject area, and include foreign languages, language arts, math, social studies, the arts, and of course, science.
Useful resources on the site include:
In the News: Find environmental news articles to connect to your classroom content.
Where in the World: Geographically-based environmental information, plus resources for incorporating geographically-based topics into your lessons.
Find your Course: Use the Browse Resources by Subject lists to find content-specific resources, or look for many traditional high school courses identified on the right sidebar of Subject Area Pages and the Resource Library.
- Look at Success Stories. The projects of other teachers can offer inspiration.
- Explore Funding Opportunities. Teaching about the environment does not require funding, but if you have a creative idea that needs funding, or want to allow an opportunity to enrich your skills, browse the funding resources.
- Discover Professional Development Opportunities. Are you looking for professional development opportunities to help you learn more about how to include environmental content in your high school classroom lessons? Look for tabs at the top of the home page or links in the bottom right hand corner.
Eco-Schools USA: The National Wildlife Federation has officially started the Eco-Schools USA Program. It is the new US component of an international network of 30,000 schools in 43 nations.
The Eco-Schools USA goals are simple: 1) green the school buildings, 2) green the school grounds, and c) green the educational programming at registered schools.
| Educational In Nature Series Overview: Why is water important? How do you measure a tree? What types of mammals live in the forest? How can ice cream come from a tree? Where does energy for manufacturing come from? Developed for fourth and fifth-graders, these supplements can provide you with answers to questions on these and a variety of other environmental subjects.Website: www.gp.com/EducationalinNature/subjects.html |
Hoike o Haleakala is another wonderful, Hawaii-specific educational resource.
ReplyDeletewww.hear.org/hoike