For Activities with Children Around Sustainability and Environmental Education.
There are multiple websites focused on educational activities and information for teaching children about environmental stewardship and sustainability of the earth. Many are built for young children, particularly those in the K-4 grade areas. Less is available for infant, toddler and preschool children. However, the K-4 grade materials are easily adaptable when considering our primary question is getting children to learn and understand the basic question, “Tell me again, how does the world work?”
The sites listed to the right all contain some activity or curriculum information for teachers to use. Many have downloadable curricula. Others have readily available lessons, activity plans, or fact sheets to help you with your planning. While a few have online web activities for children to do on the computer, most have teacher materials for use as hand-on activities with children, rather than using them as screen time for children.
For your convenience, the websites have been placed in alphabetical order and labeled with a key to show the primary area of environmental education that is the focus of the site.
The key shows sites that are focused on:
(w)= water systems
(a)= air systems
(e)= energy/solar/sun/weather systems
(n)=natural world systems(plants, animals and green space with emphasis on need for these for health and wellbeing.
Action for Healthy Kids
Focus on programs for getting kids moving and physically healthy through play. (n)
American Bird Conservancy
Focus on saving birds from harm and extinction. (n)
American Cetacean Society (ACS)
Focus on saving whales and dolphins from harm. (n)
American Forests
Focus on helping children learn about trees and their uses to humans. (n)
American Forest Foundation
Focus on the need to keep the world green with forests and the inhabitants within them. (n)
American Horticultural Society (AHS)
Focus on gardening for youngsters and ways growing helps the planet continue. (n)
American Plastics Council
Focus on teaching children about the safe use of plastics and proper recycling of plastic materials. (e)
Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA)
Focus on creation and administration of nature centers in local communities and schools. (n)
Association of Zoos and Aquaria (AZA)
Focus on curriculum materials on humane treatment of animals in zoos and aquaria. (n)
Bear Trust International
Focus on care and management of bears in the wild and teaching children about bears and their habits. (n)
Be Out There
Focus on activities for children in the out-of-doors, including a child health assessment report. (n)
Center for Sustainable Economy
Focus on calculating ecological footprint. (w,a,e,n)
Children and Nature Network
Focus on a collection of research, resources and materials to use for educating parents and others about need for children’s involvement in environmental experiences. (w,a,e,n)
Children’s Investment Fund
Focus on sustainable child care environment and natural playgrounds with grants available for these types of projects. (n)
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Focus on birds and their place in science curriculum. (n)
Council for Environmental Education
Focus on varied curriculum focused on water, nature and environmental awareness. (w,a,e,n)
Defenders of Wildlife
Focus on resource with wild and domestic animal facts and habitats. (n)
Discovery Research K-12
Focus on funding grants from national science foundation for projects/programs enhancing science and math learning your children. (w,a,e,n)
Earth Force
Focus on multiple activities for environmental awareness and involvement by children. (w,a,e,n)
Earthplay
Focus on development of healthy playgrounds for young children to enhance experiences in outdoors. (n)
Earthwork Programs
Focus on outdoor adventure programs for children. (n)
Edible Schoolyard
Focus on involving children in gardening and food sustainability through all areas of curriculum. (w,a,e,n)
Elementary School Integration Projects
Focus on projects that can be adapted for younger children and preschool classrooms. (w,a,e,n)
Environmental Concern, Inc.
Focus on schoolage habitats and other programs involving children with environmental awareness. (w,a,e,n)
Environmental Library: Endangered Animals
Focus on learning about endangered animals.
Enviroscape
Focus on curriculum materials and activities focused on environmental hazards and the ways to solve these through prevention. (w,a,e,n)
Exploratorium
Focus on online web activities and curriculum from San Francisco science museum. (w,a,e,n)
Flying WILD
Focus on educational programs about birding and their habitats and habits. (n)
Forest History Society
Focus on the need to protect trees and forests from overharvesting. (n)
Fund for Animals
Focus on stories about animals at risk for harm that have been rescued. (n)
Girl Scouts of the USA
Focus on needs of young girls for movement and health. (n)
Give Water A Hand
Focus on youth taking action in local areas to improve water usage and quality. (w)
Go Green Rating Scale
Focus on evaluating environments for health of program and children and families cared for with implications for homes and schools. (w,a,e,n)
Green Care for Children
Focus on training around healthy environments for young children. (w,a,e,n)
Green Hearts Institute for Nature in Childhood
Focus on development of green spaces that foster imaginations and enhance appreciation of nature. (n)
Green Teacher
Focus on teaching resources for hand-on science around sustaining earth. (w,a,e,n)
Groundwater Foundation
Focus on environmental education around water, earth preservation and local involvement of schools. (w,a,e,n)
Hike and Seek
Focus on hiking in nature with children, turning children onto the outdoors and preserving green spaces. (n)
Hooked on Nature
Focus on curriculum and resources that help to connect children and families with nature with multiple partner organizations linked to site. (n)
Humane Society Youth
Focus on humane treatment of animals and reasons why this is necessary. (n)
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD)
Focus on extensive directory of birds, their habitats, and characteristics. (n)
Junior Master Gardener Program
Focus on international youth gardening program with curriculum materials for teachers. (w,a,e,n)
Keep America Beautiful
Focus on environmental action by children and youth to recycle and do environmentally responsible behaviors. (w,a,e,n)
KidWind
Focus on wind energy projects and curriculum with children. (w,a,e)
KinderNature
Focus on multiple activities and curriculum for early childhood teachers to connect children to nature and sustainability principles. (w,a,e,n)
Ladybug
Focus on nature games for young children in online magazine form. (n)
Learning by Design
Focus on architectural design with children. (e, n)
Massachusetts Environmental Education Society
Focus on curriculum for teachers teaching environmental awareness. (w,a,e,n)
Mother Goose Programs: Math and Science
Focus on literature and curriculum activities around young children’s learning of math and science concepts. (w,a,e,n)
National Arbor Day Foundation
Focus on connecting children to nature and expanding environmental awareness. (n)
National Association of Conservation Districts
Focus on forestry education with many activity resources for use with young children. (n)
National Audubon Society
Focus on birds and animal care and ways to connect with the earth responsibly. (n)
National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
Focus on environmental awareness to take better care of the habitats around us. (w,a,e,n)
National Geographic Little Kids
Focus on curriculum activity for young children to learn about math and science. (w,a,e,n)
National Geographic Society
Focus on multiple curriculum plans for children to become a more responsible and educated environmental citizen. (w,a,e,n)
National Science Teachers Association
Focus on multiple resources for teaching math and science to children. (w,a,e,n)
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
Focus on multiple curriculum plans for children to become a more responsible and educated environmental citizen. (w,a,e,n)
Nature Conservancy
Focus on multiple resources, including USA map showing water sources for local areas. (w)
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
Focus on resources for teachers and students about sustainability. (w,a,e,n)
North American Association for Environmental Education
Focus on national guidelines for environmental education for teachers and schools. (w,a,e,n)
Pacific Lutheran University - Great Ways to Go Green!
Focus on ways to go green.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Just for Kids
Focus on environmental issues with content geared to kids.
Project Learning Tree (PLT)
Focus on educational programs about conserving forests, a part of American Forestry Foundation. (n)
Project WET
Focus on curriculum activities around the conservation of water throughout world. (w)
Rainforest Alliance
Focus on curriculum activities around the conservation of the rainforests. (w,a,e,n)
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
Focus on curriculum used to teach about birds in western part of USA. (n)
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Focus on description of elk, their habitat, and reasons for conservation. (n)
Roots & Shoots, Jane Goodall Institute
Focus on youth programs to strengthen local community efforts to enhance sustainability of environment and animals. (n)
School Power Naturally
Focus on resource materials and kits to educate about energy use and role of solar electric power in sustainability. (a,e)
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
Focus on multiple resources around animals and birds and the need to care and conserve their habitats. (n)
Southwest Center for Education and the Natural Environment (SCENE)
Focus on building natural environments and their connection to sustaining the earth. (w,a,e,n)
Try Science
Focus on multiple science activities to aid teachers in planning curriculum. (w,a,e,n)
Urban Resources Initiative
Focus on community based program of planting and maintaining green space in blighted urban areas. (n)
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Education and Outreach-Youth Resources
Focus on multiple activities and games for children around food, nutrition, gardening and sustaining earth. (n)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Focus on teacher resources around environmental protection and involvement of children in efforts to sustain earth and prevent harm. (w,a,e,n)
Water Conservation for Kids
Focus kids and water conservation
Water Environment Federation
Focus on curriculum activities for water education and conservation. (w)
WET in the City
Focus on hands on curriculum from Council for Environmental Education around water. (w)
Weather Channel Kids
Focus on weather related activity including games and information about weather change and sustainability. (w,a,e,n)
Whale Center of New England
Focus on curriculum about whales, ocean environments and other sea creatures. (n)
Wild Animal Baby
Focus on habits of wild animal babies and activities to play out their behaviors. (n)
Wildlife Conservation Society
Focus on connection to online sites featuring zoos and their programs for conservation. (n)
World Forum Foundation
Focus on environmental action kit to strengthen children to grow a greener world. (n)
World Wildlife Fund
Focus on fact pages of wildlife, their habitat and environmental efforts to protect. (w,a,e,n)
For Enhancing Understanding of the Environment.
Children’s Book Review: Growing Readers.
http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/topic/environment-ecology-earth-conscience
Lists of annotated bibliography of books, by age appropriateness, to help children understand environmental issues.
Mother Goose Programs: Math and Science.
http://www.mothergooseprograms.org/math_science_resources.php
Lists of annotated bibliography of books, by age appropriateness, to help children understand math and science topics.
An Annotated Bibliography of Children's Literature with Environmental Themes
http://teachers.net/archive/envirobks.html
Annotated bibliography of books for understanding environmental issues.
Acorn Naturalists: Books for Science and Environmental Awareness
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/Childrens-Literature-with-Science-Nature-Themes-C44.aspx
Annotated bibliography of books for understanding science and environmental issues.
Additional titles which may be useful for a variety of topics for environmental awareness:
A Cool Drink of Water by B. Kerley. National Geographic Society
A Drop of Water by W. Wick. Scholastics.
A Weed is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver by A. Brandenberg. Aladdin.
All Kinds of Families by N. Simon and Illustrated by J. Lasker
And Here’s to You! by D.Elliot. Illustrated by R. Cecil. Candlewick Press
A Nest Full of Eggs by P. Jenkins. Harper Collins.
Animal Dads by S. Collard and Illustrated by S. Jenkins
Animal Tracks and Traces by K. Kudlinski and M. Morgan. Scholastics
Ant by R. Stefoff. Benchmark Books
A is for....? A Photographer’s Alphabet for Animals by H. Horenstein. Gulliver.
Big Book of Bugs by T. Greenaway. DK Publishing
The Biggest House in the World by L. Lionni. Pantheon
Billywise by J.Nicholls. Illustrated by J. Cockcroft. Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Birds by K. Henkes. Greenwillow
Birds by National Audubon First Guides. Scholastics
Bright Beetle by R. Chrustowski. Henry Holt.
Butterflies and Moths by DK Publishing. Author
Children of the Earth . . .Remember, by S. Schimmel, NorthWord Press
Counting is for the Birds by F. Mazzola. Charlesbridge.
Crow Boy by T. Yashimo. Penguine
Dawn by U.Shulevitz. Farrar, Straus and Giroux/A Sunburst Book
Day Breaks, by B. verDorn. Illustrated by T. Graham. Arcade Publishing
Everybody Needs a Rock by B. Baylor. Illustrated by P. Parnall. Alladin Books
The Fascinating World of Butterflies and Moths by A. Julivert. Barrons
Feathers for Lunch by L. Ehlert. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich
The Flower Fairy Books by C. Barker. Penguin Books
The Forest Has Eyes by B. Doolittle and E. Maclay. Greenwich Workshop Press
From Seed to Plant by A. Fowler. Children’s Press
Fun with Sizes by P. Patilla and K. Asher. Millford Press
Good Enough to Eat: A Kid’s Guide to Food and Nutrition by L. Rockwell. Harper Collins.
Goodnight, Owl!! By P. Hutchins. Simon and Schuster
Half a Moon and One Whole Star by C. Dragonwagon. Illustrated by J. Pinkney. Alladin Press
Have You Seen Bugs? by J. Oppenheim. Scholastic Press
How Do Birds Find Their Way? By R. Gans. Harper Collins
How Tall, How Short, How Far Away? by D. Adler. Holiday House
Hush Little Baby and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by S. Long. Chronicle Books
I Get Wet by V. Cobb. Harper Collins
I Love Our Earth by B. Martin Jr. and M. Sampson and Photographs by D. Lipow
I Love the Rain by M. Bridges. Illustrated by C. Davenier. Chronicle Books
In for Winter, Out for Spring. Poems by A. Adoff, illustrated by J.Pinkney
Insects by DK Publishing. Author
Insects by National Audubon First Guides. Scholastics
In the Tall, Tall Grass by D. Fleming. Henry Holt
It’s Time to Call 911 by P. Overseas. Smart Kids
Let’s Try it Out in the Water by S. Seymour and N. Fauteux. Aladdin
The Listening Walk by P. Showers & Aliki. Harper Collins
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. Random House
The Magic Schoolbus Inside Ralphie: A Book about Germs by J. Cole and B. Degen. Scholastic.
Moonbathing by L. Rosenberg, illustrated by S.Lambert. Harcourt Brace
More Night by M. Rukeyser. Paintings by S. Shimin. Harper and Row
Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden by E. Pattou. Harcourt
My Amazing Body: A First Look at Health and Fitness by P. Thomas and L. Harker. Barron’s Educational Series
Night in the Country by C. Rylant and Illustrated by M. Szilagyi. Scholastics
Noisy City Day by S. Anderson. Chronicle Books
On the Day You Were Born by D. Frasier. Harcourt Brace and Company
Owl Babies by M. Waddell. Illustrated by Patrick Benson
Owl Moon by J. Yolen. Illustrated by L. Schoenherr. Philomel Books
Pigs Wild Cart Ride: An Early Learner Book about Motion by B. Graham
Plant by D. Burnie. DK Publishing
Polar Slumber/Sueño Polar by D. Rockhill. Raven Tree Press
Pop! A Book about Bubbles by K. Bradley and Photographs by M. Miller. Harper Collins
Professor Aesop’s The Crow and the Pitcher by S. Brown. Tricycle Press
A Quiet Place by D. Wood. Illustrated by D. Andreason. Simon and Schuster
Rain by P. Spier. Harper Collins
Rocks and Minerals by N. Morris. Crabtree
Roger Tory Peterson’s Numbers: A book for beginner bird watchers and counters by R. Hoglund. Universe
The Salamandar Room by A. Mazer. Knopf
The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by G. Gibbons. Voyager
See How They Grow: Owl by DK Publishing. Author.
Simple Machines by A. Fowler. Children’s Press.
Small Cloud by A. and A. Gusman. A Chinaberry Classic, Walker and Company
Smile if you are Human by N. Layton. Scholastics
Sails by S. Johnson. Lerner Publications
Snowflake Bentley by J. Martin. Houghton Mifflin
Sparrows by H. and K. Post. Boyds Mills, PA
The Story of Johnny Appleseed by A. Brandenberg. Aladdin.
The Sun, the Wind, the Rain by L. Peters and T. Rand. Henry Holt
Talking Like the Rain: A Read-to-Me Book of Poems. Selected by X. Kennedy and D. Kennedy and Illustrated by J. Dyer. Little, Brown and Company
There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by A. Walker and Illustrated by S. Vitale. Harper Collins Books for Children
Trees by DK Publishing. Author
Trees by National Audubon First Guides. Scholastics
Twilight Comes Twice by R. Fletcher and Illustrated by K. Kiesler
Water by F. Asch. Voyager
Water Dance by T. Locker. Voyager
The Waterhole by G. Base. Penguin.
The Whale’s Song by D.Sheldon. Paintings by G. Blythe. Dial Books
What Bluebirds Do by P. Kirby. Boyds Mills
What is the World Made of? All about solids, liquids and gases by K. Zoehfeld and P. Meisel. Harper Collins
What Makes a Shadow? By C. Bulla and Illustrated by A. Adams. Harper Collins
What is Bendy? By S. Warbrick. Rigby Interactive Library
Who Sank the Boat? By P. Allen. Paper Star
Wildflowers by National Audubon First Guides. Scholastics
Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna by N. Carlstrom. Illustrated by J Pinkney. Turtleb