Teacher's Toolbox

Natural Resource References
Web Sites and Print Media

Ohio wetlands.  Sponsored by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, this site
contains a wealth of information on wetland types, history of wetlands, mitigation, restoration, related educational resources, contacts and mapping.  http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wetlands/

Ohio Agricultural Products.  Identifies with OHIO PROUD logo, products that are at least 50% grown, raised, or processed in Ohio.  You can search by category, identify partners in your community, and access Ohio Farmers Market Directory.
http://www.ohioproud.org 

Ohio Sea Grant Publications.  These 2 to 4 page fact sheets cover the following categories: Aquatic Nuisance Species, Business and Aquaculture, Economics and Policy, Erosion, Fish and Fishing, Water Quality, Curriculum Materials, Education Publications, Careers and Research, Related Resources, and Natural History.  To order a brochure with the complete descriptions, email to cruickshank.3@osu.edu or call 614-292-8949.

Salamander Rain.  A lake and pond journal describing seasonal changes in a temperate pond community. Illustrations, notes, maps, and news article clips provide a good prototype for student journals.  Written and illustrated by Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini.  Dawn Publications

Bugs are Insects.  Through engaging narrative and colorful illustration, readers explore the physical characteristics of insects, their habitats, means for getting food, and the distinctions between animals with similar characteristics as well as distinctions among insects such as bugs and beetles.  Written by Anne Rockwell and published by Harper Collins Children's Books. 

Panoramic Photograph of Earth.  Taken from the International Space Station, the lights indicate populated, electrified areas.  You can scroll North to South and East to West.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg 

Water Efficiency Website.  Online information from EPA about saving water and reducing utility costs.  Improved efficiency through fixing leaky faucets, installing high efficiency appliances, etc. Take a virtual tour of a Water Saver home from California.
http://www.h2ouse.net

Bill Nye Videos from Disney Educational.  Sole source of all 100 of the Bill Nye the Science Guy programs.  Topics cover wildlife, nature, and the environment.  The site also has other very good resource materials.
http://asp.disney.go.com/Educational/TeacherStore/db/detailed_view.asp?product_id=68P96VL00

Index of Educatonal Web Sites.  This list of links covers a very broad range of topics, including but not limited to: animals, art, english, natural history and science.  There are also links to specialty sites for teachers, students, home schoolers, researchers, and even adult/continuing education.  
http://www.maxpatch.com/educational.html

Agriculture Council of America.  Educate consumers (including students!) about agriculture's role in daily life.  National Agriculture Week is the third week of March every year, but this web site also has valuable information that can be used anytime: lesson plans, science fair ideas, careers in agriculture, etc. etc.
http://www.agday.org/

Energy for Keeps - Electricity from Renewable Energy.  This is a comprehensive publication for middle and high school education that covers the history, availability, impacts, technologies, and management of the resources that are used to generate electricity.  Activities have been correlated to National Science Standards.  Available for free download from the editors, Educators for the Environment: http://www.energyforkeeps.org/ 

Wildlife Gardeners. Created by the National Wildlife Federation and the Junior master Gardener Program.  Contains novel, hands-on project-based learning as they have fun gardening for wildlife and building components of a wildlife garden habitat.  Youth are recognized as a Certified Wildlife Gardener by the National JMG Program office. Retail price of the curriculum Wildlife Gardeners is $29.95.  however, if you preorder your copy before March 1st, 2004, the price is $26.50. To place orders call (888) 564-5437.  For more information on the curriculum, visit http://www.k2demo.com/jmg/index.k2?did=6545 

Web site: Classroom Earth. www.ClassroomEarth.org  This site is a veritable "best of the best" collection of environmental education programs and resources for K-12 teachers, parents, and students.  This new site will help educators, after-school providers, and home-schooling parents to get started or improve their skills in environmental education.  It provides up-to-date information on the most successful, well-tested and effective national environmental education programs available today.

Eco-Hero Awards Program. Action for Nature (AFN) is seeking applications from students 8-16 for its 2004 Eco-Hero Awards Program.  This program recognizes the individual accomplishments of young people who have carried out environmental action projects.  Projects must be related to environmental action, advocacy, protection, or research.

Lesson Plans/Activities

Backyard Conservation Lesson Plans.  The Wildlife Habitat Council has completed a series of online, ready-to-use lesson plans for grades 3 through 12.  They teach students how to appreciate wildlife in their backyards and take steps to create additional wildlife habitat within their communities.
http://www.wildlifehc.org/managementtools/backyard-lessonplans.cfm

Educational Activity Books.  The National Association of Conservation Districts offers a variety of activity books on various conservation topics for less than 15 cents each.  To order a catalog of these and related materials, contact Windy Reistle at (800) 825-5547, extension 27.  For a preview of some catalog items, follow this link:
http://www.nacdnet.org/education/products.html

Protecting Our Watersheds.  Comprehensive package includes materials to engage students in taking action around problems they encounter in their watershed.  Materials provided are facilitator's guide, posters, activity notebook, handouts and a tote bag.  Works well with project GREEN.  You can order online at: 
http://www.earthforce.org/catalog/ 

Environmental Adventures.  A series of educational booklets for 8-11 year-old children.  They are multidisciplinary for use in language arts, social studies, math, health, and science.  There are titles such as: The Story of Land, It's Use and Misuse through the Centuries; Water in Your Hands; Dracons Visit Earth to Study Food and The Land, and more.  Sample sets available.  Call The Soil and Water Conservation Society at 1-800-843-7645 or 515-289-2331  ext. 24.

Professional Development

Stone Lab Courses for Educators.  Located at Ohio State Universities Island Campus on Lake Erie.  Some of the summer course offerings are as follows: Insect Biology for Teachers, Ornithology for Teachers, Stream Ecology for Teachers, Principles of Oceanography for Science Teachers.  
www.sg.ohio-state.edu