For educators and students who want to dive deeper into curriculum areas such as climate change science or sustainable design, take action in their schools and communities, and connect with other environmental leaders across the country.
CURRICULUM RESOURCES
CLIMATE SCIENCE
Toolbox for Teaching Climate & Energy
NOAA
Grades: K-12
Free resources and framework for teaching climate and energy science, skill-building for taking action, and evaluating teaching methods from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Climate Kids & More
NASA
Grades: K-8
NASA’s Climate Kids free curriculum asks and answers important questions relating to climate change, such as “Do we care if Earth is getting warmer?,” “What is the big deal with carbon?,” and “What can we do to help?”
Our Climate Our Future
Alliance for Climate Education
Grades: 6-12
Alliance for Climate Education’s award-winning video experience that educates young people on the science of climate change and empowers them to take action with climate change videos, interactive trivia questions, climate change lesson plans and more.
Climate Generation
Grades: 3-12
Climate Generation provides free, comprehensive, cross-disciplinary, standards-aligned climate change curriculum for 3rd-12th grade in the form of curriculum guides, as well as online modules that can be downloaded for free.
Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)
Grades: K-12
Part of the National Science Digital Library, CLEAN is a reviewed collection of about 700 free, ready-to-use resources rigorously peer-reviewed by educators and scientists.
Project Drawdown: Learn
Grades: K-12
An initiative to encourage learning about climate solutions based on Project Drawdown’s research and insights into the top 100 solutions for reversing climate change with existing technology. Teachers Network, On-Line Classes, and Action Guides.
Sustainability / Sustainable Design
Sustainable Intelligence
EcoRise
Grades: K-12
An engaging, ready-to-use K-12 curriculum that builds a foundation of environmental literacy and sustainability knowledge across seven eco-themes: water, waste, food, energy, transportation, air, public spaces. Empowers students to become thoughtful stewards and leaders in their community with this standards-aligned curriculum available in English and Spanish.
Design Studio
EcoRise
Grades: 6-12
Design Studio guides students through a creative problem-solving process as they invent innovative solutions to a specific sustainability challenge. Through inquiry-based learning and design thinking processes, students are empowered to solve real-world issues and enact change in their communities.
Engineering a Sustainable World – Toolkit
National Environmental Education Foundation
Grades: K-12
These lessons and activities encourage students to investigate all the “making, moving and improving” activities involved in the work of an environmental engineer. The processes teach useful correlations, deeper understandings and real world applications of skills that students may not usually attribute to the world of engineering.
eePRO – Hub for Environmental Education
North American Association of Environmental Education
Grades: K-12
Online platform for environmental education, professional development and resources.
Renewable Energy
Fundamentals of Energy
Strategic Energy Innovations
Grades: 9-12
Students map the pathway of electricity from the power plant to its end use to investigate the components, functionality, and challenges of the energy grid, and calculate the monetary cost and CO2 emissions resulting from operating electrical devices.
Free with $40 Learning Lab subscription.
Renewable Energy Living Lab
Teach Engineering
Grades: 5-8
Students analyze real-world data for five types of renewable energy, as found on the online Renewable Energy Living Lab. They identify the best and worst locations for production of each form of renewable energy, and then make recommendations for which type that state should pursue.
Fundamentals of Solar
Strategic Energy Innovations
Grades: 9-12
Students learn solar photovoltaic technology basics including the photoelectric effect and photovoltaic cells, and explore the variables that impact solar power production. Leaves students with a comprehensive understanding of how and why solar energy is utilized as an essential renewable resource. Free with $40 Learning Lab subscription.
Fueling our Future: Exploring Sustainable Energy Use
Facing the Future
Grades: 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12
Students increase their knowledge of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources worldwide, and use multiple perspectives to evaluate the sustainability of transportation biofuels, Reflect on personal energy use by calculating daily electricity consumption. Free with $40 subscription to the Learning Lab.
TAKE ACTION AND CONNECT
STUDENT ACTION
Youth Action Network
Join over 300,000 youth across the country taking action in their own communities through the Alliance for Climate Education.
National Youth Council
Join Project Green Schools’ National Youth Council to engage with local and national government, corporate and professional leaders on climate and environmental issues.
Youth Climate Program and Summit
Get the tools and information you need to be able to host your own Youth Climate Summit, such as a free Climate Summit Tool Kit, modeled on the successful events at the Wild Center and in 30 other locations around the world.
Future Coalition
Connect with other students across the country through this network and community for youth-led organizations and youth leaders across the country and gain tools for engaging in youth activism.
GREEN YOUR SCHOOL
Eco Schools USA: National Wildlife Federation
Students partake in a seven-step project-based framework that includes a thorough assessment of their energy and water usage, waste production, school grounds, and other aspects of the school community.
The Center For Green Schools:
Equips supporters to educate students about global sustainability and deepen learning by acting in their schools and communities, through educational resources, professional learning networks, and industry-recognized tools.
Edible Schoolyard Project
Edible Schoolyards is an organization that trains educators, gardeners, chefs, and advocates from all over the world to seed and grow edible education in their schools, cafeterias, and communities.
Green School Society
Project Green School’s structured program and process for high-achieving, environmentally focused students to create extraordinary impact in schools, organizations, and communities while getting the recognition they deserve on a state and national level.
Sustainable School Leaders Network
Members of this network, now over 200 strong, play an important role in working to transform their school systems to use resources more efficiently, foster healthy policies and practices and help students be environmentally literate when they graduate.
Schools For Climate Action
A non-partisan, grassroots, youth-adult campaign with a mission to empower schools to speak up for climate action. Advocates for elected officials to combat the climate crisis in order to protect current and future generations.
Advocacy Guide for Environmental Education Professionals & Supporters
Helps educators become better and more confident advocates for environmental education (EE) with local and federal representatives and to bring more support and funding to the field.
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