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National Programs

Several national programs are very popular with teachers and available through coordinators in every state. Extension agents can become facilitators to provide workshops for teachers in these programs.

Project Learning Tree: - http://www.plt.org

PLT is an interdisciplinary environmental education program for educators working with students in PreK through grade 12. PLT helps students gain awareness and knowledge of the natural and built environment, their place within it, as well as their responsibility for it. Curriculum Available:

  • Project Learning Tree PreK - 8 Environmental Education Activity Guide:
    PLT's PreK - 8 Environmental Education Activity Guide contains 96 hands-on, interdisciplinary activities that cover a vast array of topics such as water and air quality, ecology, forests, wildlife, urban environments, trees and plants, recycling, biodiversity, and land use. The activity guide is separated into five major themes. Each theme covers the areas of Environment, Resource Management and Technology, and Society Culture. The Activity Guide is designed to meet the common components of national education reform by using the constructivist approach to learning, whole language teaching, cooperative learning, problem solving, and authentic assessments.

  • Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk: A new high school curriculum is available that helps students explore the different aspects of environmental and human health risks that affect their everyday lives. Project Learning Tree's "Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Risk " incorporates science, social studies, math, geography, and language arts. The module is designed to be infused into existing curriculum and is correlated to the national science standards. Through eight hands-on activities, students analyze, explore, discover, and learn about risk assessment, risk communication, risk perception, and risk management. In addition, there are three Special Topics that encourage students to apply the knowledge they develop from the activities to actual risk issues. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making are stressed throughout the activities.

  • The Introductory Handbook for Secondary Modules is a valuable guide for educators which explains PLT's mission, goals, methods, and conceptual framework. The handbook outlines the organization and design of the new secondary modules and highlights teaching techniques for topics such as teaching controversial issues and multicultural environmental education. More than 60 organizations are listed as contacts for additional information and materials. In addition, ten introductory activities are included in the handbook.

  • Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests uses forest-related examples to help students better understand the complexity of environmental issues. Students are encouraged to examine issues objectively, collect and analyze data, and become involved in decision-making experiences. Students learn how to present arguments clearly and how citizens can play a role in forest management decisions.

  • The Changing Forest: Forest Ecology focuses on activities that allow students to examine ecological systems of a forest, analyze interdependencies within a forest ecosystem, and explore factors that shape the development of forests. In addition, students develop critical thinking skills and discover the importance of scientific analysis when making decisions about forest issues. This module includes a special section on Fire Ecology.

  • Exploring Environmental Issues: Municipal Solid Waste emphasizes the importance of understanding waste management issues and options. The module uses hands-on experiences to help show the interrelationships among waste generation, natural resource use, and disposal. The activities guide students through the various waste management strategies and solutions while providing the necessary tools to make informed decisions and choices on waste management issues.

Project WET: - http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet/

The goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and the establishment of state and internationally sponsored Project WET programs.

The Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide was designed to:
q create a guide that represents the thoughts, needs, and concerns of a vast cross section of grassroots educators and resource managers and is relevant and meaningful to young people. The Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide was designed to:

  • to accommodate diverse learning styles with activities that are not only practical but also thought-provoking and engaging.
  • to address water from the widest possible angle with Project WET modules and existing regional water education programs bringing local issues into sharper focus.
  • to provide educators with a large selection of creative teaching strategies.
  • to promote the tenet of "water for all water users."

Project WILD: http://www.projectwild.org/

Project WILD (Wildlife In Learning Design) is a nation-wide interdisciplinary, conservation and environmental education program that emphasizes wildlife. The mission of Project WILD is to present a program that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment that results in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive action concerning wildlife and the environment.

Project WILD presents a balanced and fair approach to a variety of environmental concepts. The concepts are introduced through fun, exciting Project WILD activities that can be used to teach science, social studies, language arts, math, art, physical education, health, and music. The materials work well in the formal classroom setting and also for education programs sponsored by nature centers, zoos, and youth groups.

Through workshops, educators are introduced to the Project WILD program. They are also instructed on the use of the Project WILD activity guides that contain supplementary curriculum materials for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.