Internet Sites for Curriculum
Utilizing the Schoolyard Laboratory

Experiments to do in any Schoolyard.  The data can be put online.
COIILS  http://web.stclair.k12.il.us/splashd/Experimt.htm

 National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Program   http://www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/
Lots of great stuff.  You can certify your schoolyard.


Students in a Project-based Learning Approach to Schoolyard Habitat Development (SPLASHD)
Online schoolyard experiments with assessments.  Examples include mark & recapture, pitfall trapping, and sweep net experiment.
http://web.stclair.k12.il.us/splashd/schlyrd.htm

Green Teacher
Green Teacher is a magazine by and for educators to enhance environmental and global education across the curriculum at all grade levels.
http://www.web.net/~greentea/index.html

Square of Life: Studies in Local and Global Environments
Square of Life: Studies in Local and Global Environments is an Internet-based multi-disciplinary collaborative project which will enrich primary student's learning experiences through "unique and compelling" applications of instructional technology.
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/squareproj/smallworld_teacherguide.html

Healthy School Environment: An Interdisciplinary Unit
Link to a page on the Cohasset Middle-High School web site with activities which can be done on school grounds such as: measuring temperature, measuring relative humidity, water quality, measuring air quality - oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, measuring radon levels, measuring adequate illumination, and measuring air flow.
http://www.ssec.org/idis/cohasset/LsnplnSi.htm

Texas Office of Air Quality: How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?
Activity measuring pollution particles in the air.
http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/monops/lessons/partlesson4.html
 
 

Connecting Outdoor Instruction to the Illinois Learning Standards (COIILS)
Site contains thirty-six online schoolyard investigations aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards.  They all contain student assessments and online data submittal forms.  Examples include capture & recapture, pitfall, sweep net, soil, soil-dweller, flower, animal sign and sound, solar, pollution experiments, and many more.
http://web.stclair.k12.il.us/SPLASHD/Experimt.htm

St. Clair County Make-the-Link Web Page
This site contains a grid of the Illinois Learning Standards by subject and grade grouping.   Clicking on Science Standard A will connect you to links to other web pages that contain science activities aligned to this standard.  Sample assessments are also included.
http://www.stclair.k12.il.us/makethelink/mlgrid.htm
 

Continuing Education Opportunities for Teachers

Project WET
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 through the establishment of state and internationally sponsored Project WET programs.
http://www.montana.edu/wwwwet/

The National Association for Interpretation
The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) is dedicated to the advancement of the profession of interpretation, (on-site informal education programs at parks, zoos, nature centers, museums, and            aquaria).
http://www.interpnet.org

Leopold Education Project
The Leopold Education Project (LEP) is an innovative, critical thinking, conservation and environmental education curriculum based on the classic writings of the renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold. The Leopold Education Project teaches the public about humanity's ties to the natural environment in the effort to conserve and protect the earth's natural resources.
http://www.interpnet.org
http://www.lep.org

Project Learning Tree
An award-winning, 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.
http://www.plt.org

Project Wild & Project Wild Aquatic
Project WILD is one of the most widely used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. The program emphasizes wildlife--because of its intrinsic and ecological values, as well as its importance as a basis for teaching how ecosystems function.
 http://www.projectwild.org/

Developing and Implementing a Schoolyard Lab
A two week summer course (graduate or undergraduate) at SIU Edwardsville.
http://www.siue.edu/~eabusha/outcl.html

Resources from classrooms
School web sites   Schoolyard Habitat Schools

Riverdale Middle School
Riverdale Middle School consists of 9.2 acres in a rural setting. On the south border of the middle school a stream (source is tiled farm fields) runs the width of the property. Our plans are to construct a butterfly garden, plant a prairie stand, build an outdoor classroom seating area, develop a wetland pond, plant a native woodland lot, and develop Purple Martin nesting sites.
http://www.riroe.k12.il.us/riroe/riverdale/middleschool/middle.html.html

Baker Junior High School
Baker Junior High, located in La Porte, Texas, is a suburban school that has developed an outdoor environmental site.  Photos and brief project descriptions are listed.
http://www.hti.net/~baker/environ.htm

Millstadt Consolidated K-8 School District
Millstadt Consolidated K-8 School District is located in a rural area of southwestern Illinois. It has developed a butterfly garden in cooperation with their town's park district.  Additional information about prairies is included.
http://www.millstadt.stclair.k12.il.us/dist/staff/costello/bflygardenpage.htm

Waddell Elementary School
Waddell Elementary is an urban K-5 school located in Manchester, Connecticut.  Provides background information for planting a wildflower garden area.
http://waddell.ci.manchester.ct.us/g_intro.html

Henry H. Houston Elementary School
The Henry H. Houston Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is currently in the initial planning stages of developing an extensive outdoor classroom as part of their environmental education curriculum.  Site has a book list.
http://www.thewildones.org/Curric/schHabitat.html

Taylor Road Middle School
The Taylor Road Middle School is located in the suburban area of Fulton County, Georgia. The School-Yard Wildlife Habitat, which borders the back of the school grounds, has had a long history since the school opened in 1990.  This site has links to lesson plans for the schoolyard.
http://www.trms.ga.net/habitat/

Belleville East High School Biology Department and Ecology Club
 a unique history of combining genuine research with ecological restoration. The BTHS East biology department has more than 200 students enrolled annually in "Wildlife Biology." This upper level elective involves an in-depth study of the classification, identification, and life histories of the living resources in the Midwest.
http://www.schools.lth5.k12.il.us/bths-e/campus.html

School Activities and Products

The Evergreen Canada Initiative
Learn how to transform your school ground and gain insights into the growing field of school ground transformation through the Learning Grounds Tool Shed.
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/lg-toolshed.html

Tree Canada Foundation: Greening Schoolgrounds
Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships.
 http://www.greengrounds.org/outline.html

St. Olaf College: School Nature Area Project (SNAP)
St. Olaf College working as a partner with Minnesota schools and communities, using local nature areas to further environmental education and benefit the environment through grants, training, and resource support.
http://www.stolaf.edu/other/snap/schools.html

Kids Gardening.com
Millennium Green, a registry to document and highlight schoolyards using gardens, greenhouses, and schoolyard habitats to enrich learning.  Uses a searchable database to browse registered school sites. http://www.kidsgardening.com/school/register.asp

STUDENT COOL STUFF

National Wildlife Week
Interactive Games
http://www.nwf.org/wildlifeweek/games/index.html

World Wildlife Federation, Kids Stuff
Endangered Species Factsheets
Virtual House,
Biodiversity IQ Quiz,
U.S. Ecoregional Map
http://www.worldwildlife.org/fun/kids.cfm

National Arbor Day Foundation
Free trees, teacher materials, student activities, poster contest, etc. http://www.worldwildlife.org/fun/kids.cfm

The Yuckiest Site on the Internet
Earthworms, roaches and other neat and yucky activities.
 http://www.yucky.com

**This portion will include research sources for early/late elementary, middle and high school learners (appropriate reading level resources)
Sound tracks???
Summer jobs/internships/scholarships

TEACHER COOL STUFF

Annual Events Worth Watching For

International School Grounds Day
http://www.nwf.org/habitats/schoolyard/isgd/indexbody2000.cfm

National Wildlife Week - Teacher materials and student activities.  Cool posters.
http://www.nwf.org/wildlifeweek/

National Arbor Day Foundation
Free trees, teacher materials, student activities, poster contest, etc.
http://www.arborday.org/

2000 Canon Envirothon Competition
North America's Largest High School Environmental Competition
http://www.envirothon.org/

Earth Day Information
http://earthday.wilderness.org/
http://www.earthday.net/
http://earthday.envirolink.org/   Earth Day 2000 Online

National Grants to support your Outdoor Classroom

1998 Youth Garden Grant Application due Jan 31,99 for 1999 grant
Guidelines: The National Gardening Association, in concert with leading companies from the lawn and garden industry, awards Annual Youth Garden Grants to 300 schools, neighborhood groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities and multigenerational settings throughout the United States. To be eligible, your organization must plan to garden in 1999 with at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18 years.  Amount: Each grant consists of tools, seeds and garden products valued at an average of $700.
Contact: National Gardening Association Homepage to download a copy of the application.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

Regional/State

Madison County Soil and Water District
Outdoor Classroom Grant
 These are awarded up to $500.  Deadline for application is around February 27 of the year.  Contact Madison County at 656-5166.  Awards up to $500 within Madison County school district.  All applications will be considered.   More than one is funded.

Lake Education Assistance Program (LEAP grant)
 for water, lake and watershed education educational field trips and activities.  Also for seminars and workshops. ($600 maximum)
http://www.epa.state.il.us/education.html

Project WET/Wild Schoolyard Habitat Grants
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Educational Services Section, 524 S. Second Street, Room 530, Springfield, IL 62701-1787  Attention:  Project WILD Action Grant Program,  Phone 217 524 4126.  These are due in September 15.
 http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Education/classrm/grants.htm
email:  teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us

Illinois Habitat Fund
Can be implemented in the public schools of Illinois as part of a Conservation Education Program.
http://dnr.state.il.us/grants/index.htm
 

National

1998 Youth Garden Grant Application due Nov, 2000 grant
Guidelines: The National Gardening Association, in concert with leading companies from the lawn and garden industry, awards Annual Youth Garden Grants to 300 schools, neighborhood groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities and multigenerational settings throughout the United States. To be eligible, your organization must plan to garden in 1999 with at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18 years.  Amount: Each grant consists of tools, seeds and garden products valued at an average of $700. Contact: National Gardening Association Homepage to download a copy of the application.
http://www2.garden.org/nga/EDU/NGA-EDU6.HTM

Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook
A free U.S. Forest Service publication entitled "Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook" is available from the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Clearinghouse by calling 800-760-6272.  The pocket-sized book offers technical information on siting, constructing, and maintaining hiking trails, as well as a list of references and recommended tools.

American Greenways Program
Greenway Grant for trails and ecological corridors
Amount::  $500 - $2500
Contact:  1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120, Arlington, VA  22207, (703) 525-6300.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Supports a range of conservation and environmental education projects.
Contact:  1120 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-0162

National Wildlife Federation
 Schoolyard Habitats Wild Seed Fund
8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22184-001
(703)790-4582
email: stowell@nwf.org
National Wildlife Federation awards 50 mini-grants, annually, to Schoolyard Habitats projects in communities near NWF headquarters and field offices. Contact us about potential mini-grant opportunities in your region.

Sea World
Anheuser-Bush Theme Parks sponsor the "A Pledge and a Promise Environmental Awards" program, which awards prizes to schools that have created programs
that demonstrate creativity, innovation, and positive environmental impact in the community.
Amount::  Three prizes (ranging from $2,500 - 12,500) are given in each grade category (k-5, 6-8, 9-12, college), with one grand prize ($20,000) going to the
project that best meets the award criteria.
Contact:  1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120, Arlington, VA  22207, (703)525-6300

Captain Planet Foundation Grant
Guidelines: The Captain Planet Foundation is dedicated to encouraging "innovative programs that empower children around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities." Foundation funds come from a percentage of the licensing and merchandising of the Captain Planet character and television series and other contributions. The grant is not exclusively limited to schools, but does require the involvement of children ages 6-18, making it ideal for all schools. Projects that the
Foundation will sponsor must promote understanding of environmental issues and focus on hands-on involvement of children. The organization will not make grants
for the purchase of real estate, general operation expenses or expensive equipment used by only a small number of children.
Amount: Grants awarded by the Foundation range from $250 to $2,500.
Deadlines: Proposals can be submitted at any time. Processing of a grant request may require up to three months before a final decision is reached and relayed back
to your school.
Contact: Captain Planet Foundation, (404) 827-4130.

Polaris Grants Central
This site provides free basic information in the form of directories, lists, hints and tips, resources, and articles for grant seekers. But first, here's a brief introduction to Polaris.
http://polarisgrantscentral.net

America the Beautiful Fund
1511 K Street, NW Suite 611
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202)638-1649
America the Beautiful Fund is a national non-profit that distributes FREE seeds.
Please call or write to them to receive an application.
 http://www.america-the-beautiful.org

 Chevron Corporation
Grants Administrator
P.O. Box 7753
San Francisco, CA 94120-7753
(415)864-7700
Chevron is awarding grants for environmental and educational programs in an
effort to make a difference in local communities. Environmental endeavors must
emphasize conservation or habitat and wildlife preservation. Educational efforts
must emphasize the promotion of excellence in math and science, human
resources development, equal access in access and quality in schools.
http://www.chevron.com/community/index.html

Cottonwood Foundation
10803 White
Bear Lake, MN 55110
The Cottonwood Foundation offers small grants to local community organizations
(including school-based groups) that use volunteer energies to protect the
environment and promote cultural diversity. Cottonwood is interested primarily in
funding that makes a difference for local community empowerment.
http://www.pressenter.com/~cottonwd/

Lilypons for Youth Matching Dollars
Lilypons Water Gardens
P.O. Box 10
Buckeystown, MD 21717
(301)874-5503
Lilypons Water Gardens, a retailer, awards matching dollars to youth and their
aquatic projects. Call or write for the two page Youth Matching Dollars application.
http://www.lilypons.com

National Tree Trust
Community Tree Planting Program
1120 G Street NW, Suite 770
Washington DC 20005
1-800-846-8733
The Community Tree Planting program (CTP) of the National Tree Trust (NTT)
facilitates tree planting on public lands. CTP grants consist of one-year-old,
regionally appropriate tree seedlings, two-gallon plastic containers, and a cash
subsidy to underwrite the cost of potting medium.
http://www.nationaltreetrust.org/CTP.htm

1999 Heritage Grant Information
 Eligible applicants include the federal government or any federal department or agency, Indian tribe, this state, all departments, agencies, boards and commissions of this state, counties, school districts, cities, towns, all municipal corporations, and any other political subdivisions of this state and shall be referred to the term "public agency". In addition, eligible applicants may sponsor an application through an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of a private or not-for-profit organization. For example, a club identifies an urban lake where they would like to improve fish habitat. They can approach the city and request sponsorship on a Grant Application for Heritage ? Urban Wildlife Habitat Fund dollars. The city then signs and submits the Application to the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The MOU and/or IGA must be submitted with the Grant Application.http://www.gf.state.az.us/noframes/other/hert_inf.htm

A.  Teacher Resources other than habitat management

Acorn Naturalists
Acorn Naturalists specializes in the development and distribution of science and environmental education resources. In both printed and electronic versions, we offer thousands of hard-to-find specialty products, including new curricula, field identification guides, plant and animal activity books, water quality monitoring equipment, audiovisual media, and unique tools for educators, naturalists, interpreters and camp leaders.
http://www.acorn-group.com/

EdGateway
FREE web-based tool which offers educators and their organizations the ability to find,
organize, and share events, discussions, organizational information, and documents. You can use EdGateway to share information about yourself, make it easier for others to find out more about your organization or project, create and participate in discussion groups, post events (workshops, conferences, etc.) access organizational, state and national calendars. Take the Tour to learn more about our resources, then join and become part of our network.
http://www.edgateway.net

Leon M. Lederman Science Education Center
 The Leon M. Lederman Science Education Center, named for Nobel Laureate and former Fermilab Director, Leon M. Lederman, is the centerpiece for education at Fermilab. It's a place to visit and a center for over twenty-five education programs. It houses an exciting set of interactive exhibits for visitors, a teacher resource center, a technology classroom, and a laboratory.
http://www-ed.fnal.gov/ed_lsc_facts.html

Center for Environmental Education of the Antioch New England Institute
Integrating EE into all aspects of the K-12 experience.
http://www.SchoolsGoGreen.org/

Amazing Environmental Organization Web Directory
This site bills itself as the: Earth's Biggest Environment Search Engine.
http://www.webdirectory.com/

B.  Resources to develop habitat on your schoolyard
The Butterfly WebSite
Join us in learning more about the fascinating world of butterflies. Here you can tour our photo gallery, learn how to plant a butterfly garden, take a field trip, find a pen-pal, chat with other butterfly-lovers and so much more! Take a look...
http://mgfx.com/butterfly/index.htm

University of Massachusetts Schoolyard Habitat Information
Has sections on organizing your group, fund-raising for the project, landscape design, plant selection, maintenance and more. In the back of the workbook is a resource guide with names, addresses and phone numbers of people who can help you.
http://k12s.phast.umass.edu/~masag/texts/gs7m.html

Wildones
"How to" for native plantings, ponds, how to deal with neighbors, and landscape issues.
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/wildones/

Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources
Listing of resources for school ground enhancement and study. Includes curriculum materials and planting guides.
http://new.chemek.cc.or.us/ncsr/secondary/schoolyard.html

National Wildlife Federation
 The National Wildlife Federation has encouraged educators and others in our school communities to create and conserve wildlife habitat since the inception of the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program in 1973. In 1995, the Schoolyard Habitats project was formally created to focus specifically on assisting schools, teachers, students and community members in the use of school grounds as learning sites for wildlife conservation and cross-curricular learning.
http://www.nwf.org/habitats/schoolyard/index.html

Prairie Habitat Development
From Beneath the Ashes
A project involving Fermilab scientist and elementary teachers and includes a wide range of activities for use in a of the prairie and a "how to" guide on prairie parcel restoration.    http://www-ed.fnal.gov/programs/ed_prog_teach_prair.html

The Edge of the Prairie
Provides description of the prairies and oak savannas in the Chicago region.  Links to a variety of sites on lanscape restoration, gardening, education and organizations.
http://www.bigeastern.com/eotp/ep_home.htm

Tall Grass Prairie in Illinois
This page provides a wealth of information on Illinois prairies - what they are, how they are formed, where they are and how to landscape with prairie plants.
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/tallgrass.html

Iowa Prairie Network
The Iowa prairie network page contains listings of useful prairie books, prairie related links and sources of native Iowa plants and seeds.
http://www.netins.net/showcase/bluestem/ipnapp.htm

C.  Tools to use for your schoolyard

The TopoZone
Interactive topography map of the entire United States.
http://www.topozone.com

Print:

Hammerman, D.R., Hammerman, W. M. & Hammerman, E.L. (2000). Teaching in the Outdoors. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers.
Clear and concise text on outdoor education(OE). Although there are some activties in here this book is really much more of a text on the history and philosophy of OE and research in the field.

Knapp, C. E. (1996). Just Beyond the Classroom: Community Adventures for Interdisciplinary Learning. Charleston, WV: ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools.
Where Ten Minute Field Trips focuses on the school grounds this text includes them but moves on to surrounding areas, using the entire community as an outdoor education laboratory. Contains 12 explorations plus background information on teaching strategies and philosophy.

Knapp, C.E. (1999). In Accord with Nature. Charleston, WV: ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools.
Outdoor education with a focus on developing students’ environmental ethics. Not an activity book but something for any educator who wants to go deeper than the surface in education.

Russell, H.R. (1990). Ten-Minute Field Trips: A Teacher’s Guide to Using the School Grounds for Environmental Studies. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: National Science Teachers Association.
Suitable for anyone needing a good, simple, "how-to" for the outdoors but more appropriate for teachers in grades 2-8. Full of ideas for bringing students to nature on the schoolyard. This is a smorgasbord of all subjects from animals to weather.

Swan, M.D. (Ed.) (1995). Tips and Tricks in Outdoor Education: Approaches to Providing Children with Educational Experiences in the Outdoors. 5th ed. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers.
Activity ideabook. Suitable for all grades, this can be used "cookbook" style or used as an idea book.

Vogl, R.L. & Vogl, S.W. (1985). Teaching Nature in Cities and Towns. Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers.
Collection of subject matter areas (birds, plants, mammals, insects, etc.) Each containing several linked activities.
 

Issue Investigation Starters
Action projects for classrooms, clubs, individuals, communities
suggestions for issue investigations ‘nuggets’ (13B)---offer a question and then suggest the pro and con viewpoint---web site starters may be useful, but not absolutely necessary

Afflluenza
Affluenza is a one-hour television special that explores the high social and environmental costs of materialism and over consumption.
http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/index.html

Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western
One-hour documentary on how sprawl impacts people's lives in cities, suburbs, and towns and what some people are doing about it.
http://www.subdividefilm.com

The Earth Times
Daily listing of articles on environmental topics.
http://www.earthtimes.org/environmentdirectory.htm

The Edible Schoolyard
Useful information about pesticide and herbicide use on your schoolgrounds.  How to investigate their use.
http://berkeleyhort.com/edible.htm

\  eabusha@siue.edu     Please email if there are other sites related to this  !!!

Last updated June 26, 2000.