Crossing Boundaries

Global biodiversity using data for hotspots from Conservation International. Also relevant to the Citizenship curriculum.

Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species by the University of Michigan

These online video features bring curious visitors the latest developments in the fields of astrophysics, human biology, biodiversity, and evolution. The Bulletins contain additional resource links, educator resources, and a guide designed specifically for science educators to help them incorporate the Bulletins into classroom work. All of the Bulletins are produced through the collaboration of in-house writers, producers, and designers. They are offered here in sections that include "Astro", "Earth", "Bio", and "Human", and visitors are welcome to browse through the full-features, visualizations, and snapshots. First-time visitors might want to start by viewing either the feature on invasive species or "The Last Wild Horse: The Return of Takhi to Mongolia".

"We often think of rivers as following a given path for the course of its life, but really, the path changes over time as the flow cuts into the earth. The water flows through old and new and back again. In 1944, cartographer Harold Fisk mapped the current Mississippi River. It's the white trail. Then Fisk used old geological maps to display old paths. They're the old colored paths. And what you get is this long run of windy, snake-like things."

The CEC's new map layer for Google Earth lets users explore pollution data from over 30,000 industrial facilities in North America. With new information on chemical releases and transfers from Mexican industrial sources now available to the public, the CEC has created the first seamless, North America-wide map layer connecting citizens with point-specific industrial pollutant data in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

This AMNH resource collection takes students into the field and engages them in life science research: the inventory of plants and arthropods outside their own backdoors. Resources in this collection include lesson plans, profiles of scientists and Museum staff, essays, and Web-based interactives that help students explore, analyze, and apply their field observations.

"Understanding Sustainability is a flexible, self-contained two-week curriculum unit aligned with national science standards for middle school educators to teach sustainability issues. The curriculum unit features hands-on activities that explore sustainability issues, such as energy, consumption, water scarcity, transportation choices, and potential solutions. "

These lessons examine how environmental issues such as deforestation are intricately linked to many other social issues, and how organizations such as the Green Belt Movement use certain strategies to mobilize citizen action toward social and environmental justice. These lessons are directed toward grades 9 through 12, and college students for use in the following subject areas: social studies, environmental studies, political science, women's studies, international studies, world history, government and civics.

Students use current Earth image data to explain the movement of land animals tracked by satellites.

"Buy, Use, Toss? A Closer Look at the Things We Buy is an interdisciplinary unit that includes ten fully-planned lessons. This unit is correlated with national science and social studies standards and will lead your students through an exploration of the system of producing and consuming goods that is called the materials economy. Grades: 9-12 Subjects: Science, Social Studies"

Global Climate Change: NASA's Eyes on the Earth. Current news and data streams about global warming and climate change from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Signals of Spring-ACES captures the interest of middle and high school students. They learn formal science, but in the context of the ocean. Uses activities with NOAA remote sensing data improves environmental and ocean literacy.

This FAQ describes the Diigo Educator "upgrade" which is free and available by applying following the link on this page.

Crossing Boundaries is a year-long professional development experience that entails access to the Crossing Boundaries curriculum, sustained teacher professional development, and a variety of opportunities for students to see scientific and environmental careers in action. Secondary teachers and students will analyze biodiversity conservation issues in their local or regional environment as well as in the Brazilian Amazon and Chiapas, Mexico.

Understanding Science - how science really works

Citizen Science, Inquiry, and the Outdoors Through BirdSleuth, kids become real scientists!

conference on emerging technology applications for online learning

"Distracted by a mysterious rash of dying bees, researchers may be overlooking a more insidious pollinator crisis. It has little to do with bees and everything to do with booming markets from pears, raspberries, and chocolate."

CO2 map