The purpose of this resource is to understand what causes the Earth's seasons with a focus on the Earth's tilt and spherical shape. Students learn how sunlight spreads over the Earth at different times of the year, emphasizing the solstices and the equinoxes. Students investigate the effect of the Earth.s tilt on the spread of sunlight by modeling different tilts using a three-dimensional polyhedron ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to further students' understanding of the causes of seasonal change using visualizations to compare the effects of incoming solar energy in the two hemispheres. The class reviews global visualizations of incoming sunlight and surface temperature and discusses seasonal change. Students use the visualizations to support inquiry on the differences in seasonal change in ... Full description.

The purpose of the resource is to measure the different types of fuels for fires. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to develop a classification system for a set of objects and learn about hierarchical classification systems. Any set of objects, such as insects or rocks, may be used as well. Full description.

This report discusses how natural processes and human activities affect the interactions of ground water and surface water, and the importance of considering ground water and surface water as a single resource. Topics include natural processes of ground- and surface-water interaction; chemical interactions; and the effect of landscapes on these interactions. There is also discussion of the effects ... Full description.

This is the education section of a larger site about the Aquarius underwater habitat in the Florida Keys. It includes classroom activities exploring concepts of buoyancy, pressure and light; a series of classroom activities exploring the biology of corals; and an on-line book about coral reef biology. Full description.

This USGS Fact sheet provides an overview of water quality considerations. Each brief section contains definitions and descriptions. The topics include how to measure water quality, why there are standards and guidelines, the effect of natural processes, the effect of human activities, pathogens found in water, and links to sites in USGS with additional information. Full description.

This site presents two lessons that work together to help students understand who and what pollutes our water systems, as well as what may be done to try to clean it up. The activities are interdisciplinary in nature and involve the use of critical thinking and analysis to solve a problem. Full description.

This distance learning course is a 28-session videotape series that explores wildlife conservation and management in the United States and throughout the world. The videotapes include lectures by professors from Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon University, and by specialists from state and federal natural resource agencies. The course is divided into four parts: 1) social and political aspects ... Full description.

Users can search this site for information on environmental pollution in the areas where they live. The materials presented here include a pollution ranking that shows regions and companies with the worst environmental records, environmental justice analyses that identify which ethnic or income groups bear more than their share of environmental burdens, and a searchable listing of toxic chemicals. Full description.