Resource Library

When Rice Was King

Students will examine the complexity of large-scale, slave-worked agricultural enterprises, the origins of rice production and the role it played in the economy of the antebellum South, and how before "cotton was king," the plantation system had already been producing crops such as rice, indigo and tobacco. Teaching materials include maps, readings, photos and drawings.

ESL Environmental Lesson Plans, Quizzes and Worksheets

This resource offers numerous materials for teaching environmental topics to students learning English. Activities cover a variety of topics including recycling, climate change and air pollution. Materials range from beginner to advanced.

EPA's "Teach English, Teach About the Environment" Resource

This curriculum helps you teach English to students while introducing basic concepts about the environment and individual environmental responsibility. Each lesson plan has a language as well as an environmental objective. It also provides background on the environmental objective, a list of materials needed, a glossary of terms used in that lesson and a worksheet. While intended for adult students, there are beginner to advanced lesson plans, making it adaptable to other levels.

Finding Environmental Science in Annie Dillard's "An American Childhood"

Annie Dillard’s memoir about growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s offers a great opportunity for connecting English and the environment. Students will use the memoir to explore literary science writing how it differs from other writing.

The Nature Writing of John Burroughs and John Muir

Students will evaluate two types of nature writing and explain the benefits of both by examining Burroughs’ and Muir’s essays from "Alaska: The Harriman Expedition, 1899." Students will also assess their hometown from the perspectives of an outsider and a naturalist.

Earth Gauge in Antarctica

Follow Earth Gauge outreach coordinator Ann Posegate as she embarks on a media expedition to Antarctica. She has been selected by the National Science Foundation to cover a range of science stories, including important weather and climate research. Have your classroom follow her blogs as a fun, interactive way to learn about weather, climate, Antarctica and extreme environments.

In the News Articles

Classroom Earth's "In the News" archive offers articles on a wide variety of topics.

International Environmental Legislation

ENTRI (Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators) is a comprehensive online tool for accessing international environmental treaty data. There is status data for environmental treaties, treaty text and tools for searching for treaties by subject or country.

Antarctic Weddell Seal Expedition

Students can follow a research team as they discover how Weddell seals survive one of the harshest environments on the planet, Antarctica. The scientists post weekly updates of their research including video and sound clips, graphics and text. The program gives students the opportunity to experience science in action.

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