National Environmental Education Week
National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the nation's largest celebration of environmental education. Thanks to all who joined us April 20-24, 2020!
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we released many of our EE Week resources early—in addition to sharing free online material from our partners—so that parents, educators, and caretakers could have immediate access to these environmental education tools.
On this page, you'll find links to activity guides, educational videos and infographics, citizen science resources, and much more. We realize this is a challenging time for many of us, and we hope you find these resources and activities to be informative, entertaining, and inspiring.
In addition to the EE Week 2020 Activities below, please visit our Environmental Education at Home and Environmental Educator Resources pages for more ideas on how you can celebrate this week!
Monday, April 20, 2020: Water Quality
Did you know that the average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day in and around their home? By taking simple actions each day, we can make a big impact on the water quality of delicate ecosystems such as wetlands, estuaries, and marshes. These resources will help you learn more about wetland ecosystems, the water cycle, and how you can improve water quality around your home.
Video Series: Greening STEM in Action
NEEF partnered with the Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Samsung, and Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Teaneck, New Jersey, to engage 7th-grade students in a water quality monitoring project and 8th-grade students in a macroinvertebrate and biomonitoring study at their local watershed. Our video series gives a glimpse into how educators, administrators, and students felt about the project.
Resources
- NEEF Articles on Water Education and Conservation
- The Watershed Sleuth Challenge
- Water Quality Backyard Activity Guide
Infographic
- (NEW!) Understanding Different Water Quality Tests
- Do Your Part to Protect Water Quality
- Invasive Aquatic Species and Recreation
Multimedia
- What happens when trash goes down the storm drain?
- Beneath the Horizon
An interactive website about oil spills focusing on the Gulf of Mexico
Tuesday, April 21, 2020: Biodiversity
Earth is teeming with an astounding array of creatures—from the incredibly small to the impossibly large—and this variety of life is called "biodiversity." The following resources will help you learn more about the plants and animals of the world, including why birds migrate, how frogs survive during winter, and what you can do to make your home an inviting place for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Featured Project: Citizen Science from WQED Pittsburgh
Resources
- NEEF Articles on Wildlife Biodiversity and Conservation
- Pollinator Activty Guide
- Pollinator Activities
- What is Biodiversity?
- Million Pollinator Gardens Challenge
- Project Noah: Online Wildlife Observation Platform
Infographic
Wednesday, April 22, 2020: Earth Day
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, do your part for the planet by helping advance the cause of science! Citizen science projects rely on the observations of everyday people to help professional scientists gather and interpret real-time information about our changing world. It can be as simple as recording wildlife in your backyard or performing water quality tests in your home and local area. The following resources have projects available for all ages and experience levels.
Video Series: Greening STEM in Action
Resources
- NEEF Articles and Infographics on Citizen Science
- EarthX Curriculum
- EPA Information and Resources for Remote Learning
- SciStarter
- ISeeChange
- Snapshot Safari
Thursday, April 23, 2020: Energy
Did you know that heating and cooling typically accounts for 35%–40% of your home energy use? Not only can efficient household energy use improve the air quality (and value) of your home, it's better for the environment, too. Learn how to spot the hidden ways your home or school wastes energy and some simple steps you can take to be Energy Smart!
Featured Project
- Climate Superstars
For the second year of the Climate Superstars Challenge, we have new tasks, new prizes, and an all-new Educator Guide to help teachers integrate the challenge into their lesson plans.
Resources
- #ActAndSave Home Energy Guide
- Play it Forward with the NHL®
- Home Heroes with Rocky Mountain Institute
- NBA Green Energy All-Star Team
Friday, April 24, 2020: Extreme Weather
Weather plays an important role in our daily lives. It influences everything from the food we eat and the air we breathe to less obvious things like traffic jams and the health of our pets. And a changing climate means more cases of extreme and unpredictable weather. Learn how extreme weather works, develop an Extreme Weather Action Plan, and discover some steps you can take to positively impact the climate both locally and globally.
Video Series: Greening STEM in Action
Featured Project
Resources
Environmental Education at Home
Environmental Educator Resources
EE in Action
Benefits of Environmental Education
EE Week Promotional Toolkit
By registering for EE Week, you will receive special benefits such as emails with discounts from our partners and access to Greening STEM infographics and activities. You'll also be the first to receive information regarding next year's EE Week 2021 festivities. Sign up today!
Greening STEM Hub
Samsung Climate Superstars
