Free Environmental Education

A Gray vs. Green Globe

The New Jersey landscape is highly urbanized. These built environments or “gray spaces” can negatively impact our living environment. These impacts include, exacerbating climate change, an increase in heat and flooding, degradation of habitat quality, and decreasing biodiversity. Green infrastructures, such as vegetated rooftops, rain gardens, outdoor planters, etc. can help improve water quality, manage stormwater, reduce flooding risk, provide wildlife habitats, and preserve biodiversity.

The learning objectives are to introduce students to impacts of urbanization and what one can do to help slow down those impacts.

Topics

• Impacts of urbanization.
• What is stormwater runoff? How does stormwater runoff impact the environment and cause flooding?
• What is green infrastructure and how can it be used to harvest rainwater and manage stormwater?
• How community gardens, green space, and green infrastructures work to conserve freshwater resources?
• What are the positive ecological and social impacts associated with green spaces, community gardens, and green infrastructures?
• How do community gardens reduce carbon footprints?

Classroom Activity

• Make planters using newspaper
• Sew seeds

Class Time: ~1.5 hours

Keeping Our Watersheds Clean

All life on Earth is united by its need, however sporadic, for water. It is for this reason that the cycling of water across the planet is one of the greatest factors in determining where and when life can persist. Understanding the water cycle and how watersheds operate allows us to recognize the potential for freshwater contamination. We know the water we dispense from our home faucets has undergone filtration to remove impurities and microorganisms, but what about the water in lakes, streams, and rivers which we use to swim or fish in? This lesson will allow students to explore the processes that lead to water contamination, how biological indicators such as pathogen indicators help us determine good vs bad water quality, and ways we can keep our freshwater clean as individuals.

The learning objectives are to educate students on the water cycle, how pollutants enter our natural environment, and ways in which the water is impacted by these influences. Students will also learn the actions they can take to promote and protect the health of a watershed. The observations made by the students in the activity will enforce their understanding of nonpoint and point source pollutants.

Topics

• What is a watershed?
• Why is the water cycle important?
• What are nonpoint and point source pollutants?
• What are physical water parameters?
• How much water on Earth is available to humans?
• What is runoff?

Classroom Activity

• Build a watershed model using household items
• Using the model, students will simulate flow discharge, pollution transports, and impacts of weather events

Class Time: ~2 hours

Eco-Friendly Living

Have you ever heard of The Law of Cause and Effect? This states that every cause has an effect, and every effect becomes the cause of something else. With this law, we can analyze our daily actions that contribute to the factors and types of pollution. We will be discussing the various ways we can start “living green” and explore the various measures we can take to reduce our environmental footprint.

The learning objectives are to help students understand how human activities impact the environment. Students will learn about being eco-conscious and how to measure their environmental footprint. They will also learn the general human activities that are detrimental to the environment, such as overpopulation, overfishing, burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and overconsumption of water. Students will engage in a discussion where they analyze their own individual actions. They will gain an understanding of the “little things” that matter to the environment.

Topics

• What is an environmental footprint?
• What does it mean to be environmentally conscious?
• What can you do to reduce your resource consumption?

Outdoor Activity

• Clean-up a local park or school

Classroom Activity

• Environmental lunch log worksheet & meal water consumption craft

Class Time: ~2 hours with outdoor activity, ~1 hour without outdoor activity

In your lesson inquiry, please note if you would like an outdoor activity, indoor activity, or both.

Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators of Water Quality

There are little creatures that call the bottom of streams, rivers, and lakes home. Little, but mighty, they provide a great deal of information that helps us understand the quality of the water.

The learning objectives are to have students be immersed in the major roles macroinvertebrates play in our ecosystem, how they’re considered biological indicators, and ways in which scientists collect and identify them for data to assess water quality.

Topics

• What is a bioindicator, and why are macroinvertebrates considered bioindicators of water quality?
• What is the purpose of water quality assessment?
• What are biological metrics?
• How do scientists collect and identify macroinvertebrates?
• How scientists use macroinvertebrates to evaluate water quality

Outdoor Activity (waterbody of your choice)

• Collect macroinvertebrates at a nearby body of water using equipment used by scientists

Classroom Activity

• Identify macroinvertebrates using a dissecting scope and/or a magnifying glass & an identification guide
• Perform a biological metrics exercise (grades 8-12)

Class Time: ~3 hours w/ outdoor activity, ~1.5 hours without outdoor activity

In your lesson inquiry, please note if you would like an outdoor activity, indoor activity, or both.

Fast Fashion & Water Quality

Clothing consumption is at a higher rate than ever with the accessibility of online shopping and ever-changing fashion trends. Without realizing, the clothing brands we purchase from can indirectly cause more environmental harm than expected. Learning about the lifecycle of clothing, brand transparency, and looking into what our clothing is made of is of great importance in creating sustainable and ethical purchasing decisions. We should feel good about the clothes we wear!

Class Time: ~45 minutes

Wild New Jersey/Land Use

With an area of roughly 8.7 thousand square miles and an estimated 9 million residents, humble New Jersey stakes claim to being the most densely populated state in the US. In spite of this urban sprawl, the diversity of habitats is nearly unmatched across its territory. Thanks to expansive coastlines, the unique pine barrens, and the touch of the Appalachian Mountains, one can quickly find themselves in awe of the variety of landscapes found within our borders. From High Point to Cape May, we take a journey exploring these habitats and their wild residents.

Class Time: ~45 minutes

The Passaic River: Industry Incarnate

Following a prehistoric glaciation, the Passaic River was born. As the industrial age took hold, the river suffered the influx and consequences of human activities. The establishment of the Clean Water Act and monumental efforts of the communities adjacent to the river helped to mitigate some of the damage. But the story is not over yet. To know where we’re going, we must first make ourselves aware of how we got here. In this lesson, we learn about the history of the Passaic River and its current status.

Class Time: ~45 minutes