The following resources are for K–12 teachers to learn how to bring environmental lessons and practices into the classroom.

Reading With a Recycling Message

Trash Talk, a color tabloid for children aged 6–12, is a good resource for children to read about the environment. This free publication gives kids a fun way to learn about trash, conservation, and recycling. The paper has four pages of pictures, short articles, and games, all aimed at helping primary and middle school students understand how they can help protect the environment, use resources wisely and keep their communities clean. Read Trash Talk. 

Additionally, we have published a companion newspaper for junior high and high school-aged young adults called One Person's Trash…Your Guide to Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. This paper offers more sophisticated articles on subjects such as electronics recycling, alternative fuels and new uses for old products. Read One Person’s Trash.

One Person's Trash and Trash Talk are available in DC Public Libraries and Department of Parks and Recreation Centers citywide.

Helpful Links

• Classroom Earth—Sponsored by the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF), this includes key information on how educators can obtain the best and most usable environmental education programs available today.
• Environmental Literacy Council Teaching Resources—The Environmental Literacy Council's website has a teacher exchange that 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 a hyperlinked AP environmental science course outline. (Grade level: High school, Cost: Free)
• Journey to Planet Earth—Funded by the National Science Foundation, and re-edited for grades 6–12, this series of six 25-minute episodes helps students understand the most critical and timely issues facing the natural sciences in the 21st century. Through an interdisciplinary approach, these programs reach beyond the physical sciences and draw connections to politics, economics, sociology and history. Teacher guides and other educational support materials are also available. The companion website has informative background information and video clips. (Grade level: 6–12, Cost: Free)
• Raptors in the City—Raptors in the City is a real-time, inquiry-based science and technology program for grades 4–6 that stars the Peregrine Falcon. The online portion of Raptors in the City guides children through nesting season (roughly February to June) as they watch the still-rare falcons live via cameras mounted on skyscrapers. The curriculum supports one semester of study, and the students earn environmental, biological and technological lessons, as well as research skills, tied to national science and technology standards. Curriculum materials and books for falcon study are available. (Grade level: 4–6, Cost: $50 per classroom)
• EEK! Teacher Pages—This resource is designed to help you help your students use the EEK! Environmental Education for Kids! website. EEK! is an electronic magazine for kids in grades 4–8 and is brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
• ROSCOE’s Recycle Room
• Think Earth Environmental Education Foundation