Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program

ATTENTION TEACHERS! National Environmental Education Week is April 13-19. Visit www.EEWeek.org to learn about program and events in your area as well as get great ideas for your classroom!

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The P.I.E.R. Program, which stands for Protection, Involvement, Education and Restoration, was developed in Fall 2002 and began in February 2003. The purpose of the program is to educate students about the local coastal ecology, promote the benefits of environmental stewardship, and increase students’ environmental literacy and stewardship behaviors.

The program provides local teachers with a FREE curriculum about coastal habitats, invasive species, watersheds and fire ecology. Also, FREE field trips to parks around Sarasota Bay. The P.I.E.R. Program is offered to public and private schools and home schoolers in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

How to Participate in P.I.E.R.:

Curriculum and Field Trips for Grades K - 8

"Coastal Habitats," a unique curriculum developed in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory and Around the Bend Nature Tours, is divided into two grade levels, Grades K-3 and Grades 4-8. The curriculum provides lesson plans and activities about watersheds, habitats, wildlife, native and non-native plants, storm water run off and pollution. Each topic has background information, resources, lesson plans and activities. Lessons correlate with the Sunshine State Standards and National Science Standards.

To obtain a copy of the free "Coastal Habitats" contact Julia Burch at 955-8085 or julia@sarasotabay.org.

The P.I.E.R. Program field trips provide hands-on activities such as water sampling and water quality testing, conservation games, and plant and animal identification skills. Field trip activities directly correlate to the in-class curriculum lesson plans and activities. The field trips give students the chance to personally experience the beauty of the Bay.

Field trip destinations include Joan M. Durante Park, Coquina BayWalk at Leffis Key, South Lido Park and Quick Point Nature Preserve. SBEP provides onsite naturalists to lead the field trip and activities. In addition to field trips to bay restoration sites, field trips to Crowley Museum and Nature Center are also available.

To schedule a field trip please contact Around the Bend Nature Tours at 941-794-8773 or karen@aroundbend.com.

Curriculum and Fieldtrips for 9th-12th grades

We are currently working on developing a teaching resources and field study program for high school students and an environmental student internship program. The current advisory committee consists of representatives from SBEP, National Park Service, Manatee County Schools, Sarasota County Schools, Florida State Parks, New College of Florida, Florida Sea Grant and the Foundation for Teaching Economics. If you have any questions about this project please contact Julia Burch at julia@sarasotabay.org or 941-955-8085.

PIER Funding for High School and Upper Middle School Programs
PIER stands for protection, involvement, restoration and education. The purpose of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's PIER funding for high school and upper middle school programs is to provide funding and technical assistance to environmental education and research programs that target high school and upper middle school students in the Sarasota Bay watershed. Groups eligible for funding include public high schools, private high schools, public middle schools (grades 7th and 8th), private middle schools (grades 7th and 8th), home schooled children equivalent to 7th-12th grades and organizations with environmental education programs that target the above age groups. The maximum grant award is $3000 per school/organization per grant cycle and proposed projects must involve at least 5 students. There is no deadline for PIER applications, they may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed and awarded by SBEP staff. Environmental education or research projects that focus on coastal ecology, marine science, water quality, stormwater runoff, pollution, wildlife habitat, invasive species or marine toxins will be considered. All programs must have both a classroom and field/lab component. This ensures that student participants receive the background education and real world/hands-on experience to make their education experience as beneficial as possible. To learn more about the PIER program please click on Teachers or Students. To download a PIER Funding for High School and Upper Middle School Programs application click here.

Funding for Bay-Friendly Projects

Are you interested in doing a project to help the Bay at your school? Then SBEP may be able to help. We have funding for Bay-Friendly projects as well as enthusiastic experts who are willing to work with your school group to maximize the benefits of the project to your students and the Bay. Just contact Julia Burch at julia@sarasotabay.org or 955-8085 to discuss your ideas.

Need a Guest Speaker?

SBEP Public Outreach Coordinator Julia Burch is available to come talk to your students about watersheds and stormwater pollution. The talk can be geared towards any age group and features interaction with an Enviroscape (AKA plastic watershed model). To schedule a guest speaker please contact Julia at julia@sarasotabay.org or 955-8085.

New High School Curriulum Available!

As part of an Independent Study Project with SBEP, a New College student developed a new curriculum for high school educators. Each of three modules include classroom and field activities in the areas of watersheds, fire ecology and invasive species. This curriulum is free! To request a copy of the curriculum please contact
Julia Burch at julia@sarasotabay.org. We ask that educators provide feedback about the quality of the curriculum offered as well as any suggests for uimprovement. If you wish to review the curriculum please contact Julia Burch at julia@sarasotabay.org.

We are currently working on developing a field study program for high school students and an environmental student volunteer society. We need experts in the field to assist in developing these programs. If you are in high school or a high school educator and wish to participate and advise please contact Julia Burch at julia@sarasotabay.org or 941-955-8085.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES, AIDES AND LINKS

View some of the educational resources the SBEP, through its many partners and colleagues has to offer teachers. Teaching and learning materials are designed to help students learn about water conservation.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's Coastal Habitats Curriculum
The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has a new public outreach program called The P.I.E.R. Program. P.I.E.R. stands for Protection, Involvement, Education and Restorattion. The program provides a free Coastal Habitats Curriculum and free field trips to Manatee County and Sarasota County schools. To find out more information or to obtain a copy of the curriculum please contact 941-955-8085 or julia@sarasotabya.org.

A Map of the Sarasota Bay Watershed
To download maps of the Sarasota Bay watershed, including nearby bays such as Robert's Bay, Little Sarasota Bay and Blackburn Bay, go to http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu.

AAAS Atlas of Population and the Environment

The AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment provides maps, text, and graphics that quantify and illustrate the broader links between population dynamics and the environment. Analyses of individual topics bring together what is known about the ways in which people impact the Earth's environment. Lastly, the atlas contains six case studies that look at population-environment relationships in selected areas. For more information, check out http://atlas.aaas.org

After the Storm Television Special about Watersheds
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Weather Channel co-produced After the Storm, a television special about watersheds. After the Storm shows the connection between weather and watersheds and the importance of watershed protection. Key scientists, water quality experts, and citizens involved in local and national watershed protection efforts provide insight into the problems as well as solutions to today’s water quality crisis. For more information, check out www.epa.gov/weatherchannel

Aiming for Excellence: An Evaluation Handbook for Interpretive Services in California State Parks
This handbook provides measures and measurement tools for assessing the quality of educational and interpretive services. It includes visitor evaluation, performance appraisals, evaluation forms and a bibliography. It is available for downloading from the website. For more information, check out www.parks.ca.gov/default.htm?page_id=21700

Applied Environmental Education and Communication
Applied Environmental Education and Communication is an international peer-reviewed quarterly for both academics and practitioners. It features articles, a discussion and editorial section, and books and materials reviews. A special themed issue on environmental education and communication for biodiversity will be published in 2004. For more information, check out www.aeec.org

Aquatic Invasive Species: An Educator's Information and Materials Guide
This guide is a compilation of selected educational materials on aquatic invasive species, including curricula, posters and print materials, videos, books and compact discs, and web sites. The guide is available for down-loading at www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/ais_guide.pdf But for more information, make sure you check out the rest of this extensive website, at www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics

Assessing and Monitoring Floatable Debris
Assessing and Monitoring Floatable Debris is designed to provide guidance in assessing and monitoring floatable debris as directed by the BEACH Act of 2000. A copy of can be found on EPA's website. For more information, check out www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/floatingdebris

At Sea – A Cruise and Virtual Expedition to the Oculina Banks
Scientists and students explored deepwater coral reefs of the Oculina Banks, stretching 30 miles offshore from Ft. Pierce to Cape Canaveral, Florida. This remote MPA is designated a habitat of particular concern, and is a model for efforts underway to create new MPAs throughout southeast U.S. waters and the Gulf of Mexico. The team used a Remotely Operated Vehicle to study the current health of coral on the banks. For more information, check out http://oceanica.cofc.edu/Oculina2003/home.htm

Atlas of the Biosphere
The Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment's Atlas of the Biosphere contains numerous maps documenting environmental phenomena across the globe, such as water resources, ecosystems, land use patterns, and human impact, at a variety of scales. The Atlas also contains the data sets that were used to generate these different thematic maps.For more information, check out http://atlas.aos.wisc.edu/maps.php

Audubon Lesson Plans On-Line
Wild Republic's Learning Adventure features lesson plans about nature, animals and their habitat; this year’s focus is on birds. Educators at Audubon provided the necessary content for the 2003-2004 lesson plans, including Puffins, upwelling, coastal food webs, and more. Each unit is designed to enrich students' knowledge and understanding of birds, their characteristics and habitats. For more information, check out www.wildrepublic.com/lessonplans/2003/index.html

Avibase – The World Bird Database
Avibase is an extensive database information system about birds of the world, containing over 1.4 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies of birds, including distribution information, taxonomy, conservation status, and more. This site is hosted by Bird Studies Canada, an affiliate of Birdlife International. For more information, check out www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp

The Case of the Wacky Water Cycle
The NASA SCIence Files™ series is a distance learning initiative to integrate and enhance the teaching of mathematics, science, and technology in grades 3-5. Each episode includes hands-on classroom and home activities, virtual field trips, subject matter experts, a video broadcast, educator’s guide and web-based activities and materials. The Case of the Wacky Water Cycle began airing October, 2004. For information, check out http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov

Census of Marine Life
The Census of Marine Life assesses the diversity, distribution, and abundance of ocean life and to explain how it changes over time. The different elements include: Initial Field Projects; History of Marine Animal Populations; Ocean Biogeographic Information System; Future of Marine Animal Populations; Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research Working Group; and Known, Unknown and Unknowable. For more information, check out www.coml.org

Classroom Earth
The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF) launched Classroom Earth, a free website to help educators find the best and most usable environmental education programs available. It is a 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. For more information, check out www.ClassroomEarth.org

Clean Beaches Blue Wave Campaign
The Clean Beaches Council is a non-profit organization devoted to sustaining America's beaches. Their flagship program is the Blue Wave Campaign America's first environmental certification program for beaches. The goal of Blue Wave is to promote public awareness and voluntary participation in beach sustainability, including water quality, habitat conservation, public information and education. For more information, check out www.cleanbeaches.org/bluewave/bluewave.cfm

Clearing Magazine
The quarterly resource magazine, Clearing: Environmental Education Resources for Teachers, provides the latest news, information, perspectives, teaching ideas, and resources available to teachers of all grade levels and all subject areas with environmental and natural resources education. Published since 1978, Clearing has published over 100 issues. For more information, check out www.clearingmagazine.org

Coastal and Estuarine Science News
The Estuarine Research Federation offers Coastal and Estuarine Science News, funded by the Ocean and Coastal Protection Division of the EPA, to strengthen the link between science and management in coastal systems. Back issues are posted at www.erf.org/cesn You can subscribe to the mailing at www.erf.org/user-cgi/cesnlist.pl

Coastal Wildlife – Feeling the Squeeze
University College in Chichester, England hosted a video conference on October 1, 2003, with presentations on climate change, coastal habitats and coastal defense, a field visit, and workshop sessions. For more information, check out www.excitingscience.com/pages/924510

Coastwatching by Computer: Water Quality and the System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)
The NERR System-wide Monitoring Program tracks short-term variability and long-term changes in estuarine waters to understand how human activities and natural events can change ecosystems. It provides long-term data on water quality and weather at frequent time intervals. There are lesson plans giving step-by-step instructions for accessing and downloading the data and a graphing exercise to help use the data in your classroom. For more information, check out
www.nerrs.noaa.gov/Monitoring/welcome.html
www.waquoitbayreserve.org/education.htm#lp

The C.O.O.L. Classroom Website
The Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory Classroom, from New Jersey’s Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, is a series of Internet-based instructional modules aimed at middle and high school students, linking classrooms with active oceanographic research investigations. The website includes movie clips, downloadable worksheets and teaching guides, career cards, a glossary, and more. For more information, check out www.coolclassroom.org/home.html

Coral Reef Education and Outreach Library
This online catalog connects educators with the tools they need to raise public awareness of coral reefs. In the library, you'll find publications from the Coral Reef Alliance, such as the Coral Friendly Guidelines, as well as booklets, posters and videos from other organizations around the world. Also check out the Teachers’ Resources. http://fmp.coralreef.org/library/home.htm and www.coralreef.org/tools/teachers.html

Coral Reef Film Materials
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) worked with Disney Pixar© to develop a CD of educational materials related to the film Finding Nemo. The CD also contains "Fishy Facts" – short videos presenting basic life history information using clips from the movie. The GBRMPA ReefEd website also has many curricular materials, set to Australian educational standards. The MacGillivray Freeman Films'©Coral Reef Adventure Teacher's Guide has other downloadable film-related educational materials. For more information, check out
www.FindingNemo.com.au
www.coralfilm.com/edu.html
www.reefed.edu.au

Coral Reef Report
This new online magazine has been launched to “celebrate the power and mystery of the planet's coral reefs." The Coral Reef Report features articles, personal stories, and audio interviews with scientists and others. The site also features a rotating photo gallery. For more information, check out http://coralreefreport.info

Digital Library of Earth System Education
The Digital Library of Earth System Education is creating an online library of educational resources and services to support Earth system science education at all levels in both formal and informal settings. A quick search on “marine” came up with 152 entries. For more information, check out www.dlese.org

The Dune Book
North Carolina Sea Grant offers a comprehensive book on sand dunes. This publication describes the benefits of dunes and dune vegetation, as well as the best dune management practices along developed shorelines where people, buildings and roads are already in place. It also describes how to select and plant the best dune grasses for the North Carolina coast and provides tips and colorful illustrations on the most common dune species. For more information, check out www.vims.edu/bridge/index_geology.html

EarthCare
This resource features online stories about conservation, earth and ocean stewardship, ecosystems, and more. It showcases the Earth & Sky radio spots, along with links for more information. For more information, check out www.earthsky.org/shows/earthcare

Economic Values of the World’s Wetlands
This report highlights the high economic value of functioning wetlands. Seventy billion U.S dollars worth of goods and services from freshwater resources could be at risk annually if governments fail to manage their wetlands sustainably. For information, check out www.panda.org/downloads/freshwater/wetlandsbrochurefinal.pdf

Ecoventures: Focus on the Gulf
EcoVentures: Focus on the Gulf is a multimedia CD designed to help middle school students learn about the Gulf of Mexico’s aquatic environment and the issues associated with protecting and managing aquatic resources. Students enter the world of a fictional National Park to explore a variety of ecosystems and develop a management plan for the park. There are on-line activities, expert consultants, and a video encyclopedia. For more information, check out http://eea.freac.fsu.edu

Environmental Education Program, Lee County, Florida
Lee County, Florida, stretches from the shell-strewn beaches of Sanibel Island to the deep green of Six Mile Cypress Slough. The long history of the Environmental Education Program includes national recognition and awards from the National Science Teachers Association as one of the ten best Environmental Education programs in the US. Components of the program include the Aquatic Systems/ Mosquito Control program, Estuary Animals and Mudflats field trip, and Six Mile Cypress Slough wet field trip. For more information, check out www.lee.k12.fl.us/dept/ee

Environmental Inquiry from Cornell University
Environmental Inquiry is a website and curriculum series developed at Cornell University to help students conduct environmental science research and participate in communities of fellow student scientists. Students learn specific research protocols and then conduct interactive research projects. The four-part Cornell Scientific Inquiry Series includes Watershed Dynamics, Assessing Toxic Risk, Invasion Ecology, and Decay and Renewal. www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/Ext/NATURAL%20RESOURCES%20PUBLICATIONS.pdf
http://ei.cornell.edu

Environmental Science Teacher Exchange
The Environmental Literacy Council’s website teacher exchange allows educators to share labs, activities, and ideas with colleagues online. The topics are drawn from the College Board's suggested labs and field investigations for the AP environmental science course. There are lesson plans, classroom curricula, and an AP Environmental Science course outline. Find the marine-oriented offerings under Teaching Resources. For more information, check out www.enviroliteracy.org/category.php/17.html

Environmental Science: Understanding Our Changing Earth Curriculum – Request for Pilot Teachers
The American Geological Institute seeks up to 12 experienced science teachers in grades 9 through 12 to pilot test their comprehensive Environmental Science: Understanding Our Changing Earth curriculum in the fall semester of the 2004-2005 school year. The draft outline of curriculum and chapter headings are on the website and include watersheds and coastal processes. For more information, check out www.agiweb.org/education/hses/pilottest/index.html

EPA Water Quality Booklet
The kids' water quality booklet, What's Up with our Nation's Waters? (EPA 841-F-02-002), is ready for distribution. Order individual copies from NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198 or request larger quantities by email at ncepiwo@one.net. The website highlights earlier versions. For more information, check out www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/nationswaters

ESRI Map Book Offer
ESRI, a GIS software company, offers copies of the ESRI Map Book Volumes 16 and 17 for the cost of shipping only, $3.00 per book. Volume 16, Geography—Creating Communities, reproduces color digital maps produced in 2000, including images of seafloor topography and geologic analysis of Mars and Venus. Volume 17, Geography and GIS- Sustaining Our World features stories from more than 20 disciplines. For more information, check out bmanion@esri.com

Ocean Literacy Education Materials The National Geographic Office in Santa Barbara has quantities of the following materials available:

Ocean Atlas Teacher's Guides
Oceans for Life Brochures (ocean literacy - smaller quantities available)

If you’re interested, please send an email listing the items and quantities you would like, along with a current address. For more information, contact Sally Ziegler at Sally.Ziegler@noaa.gov

Smart Gear International Competition
A coalition of fishermen, scientists, and conservationists has announced a competition to seek innovative fishing gear that reduces bycatch. The International Smart Gear Competition is open to anyone, with prizes awarded to the designs judged to be the most practical, cost-effective method for reducing bycatch of any species. Competition participants are asked to develop fishing gears or methods that increase selectivity for target fish species and reduce bycatch of non-target species in ways that still allow fishermen to fish profitably. There are three categories for entries: gear that reduces sea turtle bycatch, gear that reduces cetacean bycatch, and gear that reduces bycatch of any other non-target species. The submission deadline is Dec. 31, 2004. For more information, check out www.smartgear.org

International Leadership Institute For Biodiversity Education
World Wildlife Fund and Disney's Animal Kingdom are looking for 40 leaders to participate in the International Leadership Institute for Biodiversity Education to be held October 11-16, 2004, Orlando, Florida. The goal of this institute is to provide the tools to enable participants to lead, engage, and inspire others to protect biodiversity. The institute is open to leaders who have a broad reach, experience in implementing programs, and creating effective partnerships. Funds may be available to support registration fees and travel for pre-service educators and those who work with pre-service educators. There is no cost for educational materials and housing during the institute. Applications are due June 11, 2004. For more information, check out www.worldwildlife.org/windows/institute.cfm

EETAP Resource Library
The EETAP Resource Library, now moved to EE-Link, makes environmental education resources more accessible. A major component of the Library is Info-Sheets, 1-2 page descriptions that summarize a specific EE topic and identify resources for additional reading. For more information, check out http://eelink.net/eetapresourcelibrary.html

Avibase – The World Bird Database
Avibase is an extensive database information system about birds of the world, containing over 1.4 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies of birds, including distribution information, taxonomy, conservation status, and more. This site is hosted by Bird Studies Canada, an affiliate of Birdlife International. For more information, check out www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp

Environmental Inquiry from Cornell University
Environmental Inquiry is a website and curriculum series developed at Cornell University to help students conduct environmental science research and participate in communities of fellow student scientists. Students learn specific research protocols and then conduct interactive research projects. Downloadable forms help students design feasible experiments and then analyze, interpret, and present the results. The website also includes discussion boards and an online peer review forum. The four-part Cornell Scientific Inquiry Series includes Watershed Dynamics, Assessing Toxic Risk, Invasion Ecology, and Decay and Renewal. Check out additional publications at: www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/Ext/NATURAL%20RESOURCES%20PUBLICATIONS.pdf.For more information, check out: http://ei.cornell.edu

Gulf Facts
Visit the Gulf of Mexico Foundation website for information about the Gulf of Mexico. Representing a wide range of interests (agriculture, business, fisheries, industry, tourism, and the environment), the Foundation promotes and funds research, education, and conservation programs. The focus area encompasses all areas bordering the Gulf – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Mexico, Cuba, and the adjacent Caribbean. The website covers geography, resources, history, environmental concerns, education, and more. For more information, check out: http://gulfmex.org/facts.htm

Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS)
NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program introduces the LiMPETS network for middle school, high school, and other volunteer groups to monitor the rocky intertidal, sandy shore, and offshore areas of the five west coast sanctuaries (Olympic Coast, Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, Monterey Bay and Channel Islands). The LiMPETS website describes the monitoring procedures used, both in general and at specific sites, along with some commonly found species. The collected data is set up in a manner that allows users to follow long-term changes. All of the information in this website is public and free to be used in any way. However, please credit the National Marine Sanctuary Program when information or photographs are used by other websites or in publications. For more information, check out http://limpets.noaa.gov

Living Waters: Aquatic Preserves of Florida
A one hour documentary, "Living Waters: Aquatic Preserves of Florida", highlights 12 aquatic preserves in Florida and features Clyde Butcher, renowned nature photographer. The Department of Environmental Protection through the Florida Coastal Management Program and the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas cooperated with several sponsors to create this educational and artistic documentary to educate, inform and entertain Florida’s citizens and tourists, letting us experience the complexity of the essential components of these water-bound ecosystems. For more information, check out: www.liveoakproductiongroup.com/Aquatic%20_Preserves/AP_Home.html There is a new education list serv within NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program. If you would like to subscribe to this list, instructions and details regarding the subject matter are included below.

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Launches External Newsletter
NOAA Coral Reef News is a new monthly e-newsletter established to provide current information on the activities of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and other relevant NOAA programs. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program supports effective management and sound science to preserve, sustain and restore valuable coral reef ecosystems. To subscribe to the newsletter, send an e-mail with "Subscribe coralreefnews" in the subject line to requests@willamette.nos.noaa.gov Back issues of the newsletter will be available at www.coralreef.noaa.gov For more information, contact Lindsey.C.Williams@noaa.gov

Seafood Watch Pocket Guides
The new Seafood Watch pocket guides are here! The Seafood Watch program has launched a new pocket guide for the Southeast region and updated the West Coast pocket guide. The Southeast guide includes several new species such as tilefish, conch, mackerel, and mullet. Seafood Watch has also added or updated species reports to their website. To learn more about these new recommendations please visit the All-Fish List on their website. For more information, check out: www.seafoodwatch.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch

Walt Disney's Sacred Planet
Walt Disney's new film, Sacred Planet has been released in IMAX theaters. Some of the film locations include old growth forests of British Columbia, underwater Borneo, New Zealand beaches. The images include the landscape, the people, and the animals indigenous to the land. For more information, including the downloadable Educator’s Guide, check out www.sacredplanet.com

The Why Files
Science touches our lives in countless ways. Yet people often think science is relevant only to a white-coated, lab-dwelling elite. The Why Files portray science as a critical human endeavor conducted by ordinary people. They use news and current events as springboards to explore science, health, environment, and technology, with plenty of focus on the ocean. Their real-life approach to science writing, and correlation to science teaching standards, can help you bring the news and science into the classroom. For more information, check out: http://whyfiles.org/index.html

Wonderful World of Weather
This standards-based Real Time Data Module for elementary students, developed by the Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at the Stevens Institute of Technology, allows students to investigate weather phenomena locally and in other places around the world. By using hands-on activities and real-time data investigations, the students develop an understanding of how weather can be described in measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind and precipitation. The lesson plans have been designed to allow teachers to select the ones which fit into their curriculum to allow for flexibility in implementation. For more information, check out www.k12science.org/curriculum/weatherproj/index_NEW.html

National Geographic
Lots of games and resources for students, teachers and parents.

Bay Buddies
For students who need volunteer hours or who just want to make a difference check out the Bay Buddies volunteer program.

Teaching resources from EPA.
Teaching resources from EPA.

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
Lists ecologically destructive exotic pest plants found in Florida. Are any of the plants on the list in your schoolyard? Apply for a Bay Partners grant or Florida Yards & Neighborhoods grant to remove these exotic plants and plant natives!

Habitattitude
Habitattitude - adopt a conservation mentality. Protect our environment by not releasing unwanted fish or aquatic plants.

Global Invasive Species Database
Learn about the invasive species infecting Florida and other communities around the world.

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

Makes a great class project!

In Florida http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/NAAMP/volunteer/regions/FL.html

Eco Challenge

Challenge your students to loose tons in a carbon diet. They can get their school and parents involved! Who can be the biggest looser to help save our planet?

Building a Wetlands
Wetland. Wasteland. The two words were synonymous until recently. Today wetlands are valued not only for the habitat they provide to a variety of plant and animal species, but also for the benefits they bring to our cities and water resources. The learning goals include teaching the function of wetlands and stimulating thought about the role wetlands play in the world.

Desal World
Welcome to Desal World, Florida's water theme park of the future! In this interactive service, the learning goals include problem solving in groups, understanding some of the issues surrounding limited water resources, learning about potential future sources of drinking water and stretching one's imagination.

Teacher's Guides from SWFWMD
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has many teacher's guides and student resources on wetlands, water conservation and landscaping. It's all FREE!

Tampa Bay Estuary Program
SBEP's sister program, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, also has awesome resources and free eco-curriculum for teachers. Check it out!

National Environmental Education Week
National Environmental Education Week is April 13-19. Visit www.EEWeek.org to learn about program and events in your area as well as get great ideas for your classroom!