Scroll through this infographic created for the EE Week 2013 theme, Taking Technology Outdoors, to learn more about how tapping into student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math can lead the way to a greener, more prosperous future.
Concepts of math in and of themselves might seem far removed from the natural world, but when you take a closer look at the world, the way we study it, and the way we interact with it, you might be surprised to find out how much of what we know about the environment is rooted in math.
The scientific community needs help collecting data over lengthy time periods and wide geographic areas, and hundreds of thousands of helping hands from people with an interest in the environment make for light work. People of all ages, abilities, knowledge levels, and skillsets can participate in citizen science, gathering data to help scientists, emergency responders, community managers, and more to make discoveries and informed decision-making.
NEEF, with major funding support from the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas (MCFA), is offering funding for teachers, after-school programs, and nature organizations for projects that support the integration of Greening STEM into current or new programming or curriculum.
Get your friends together and plan a community cleanup to help out in your neighborhood or at your school! This quick how-to guide will get you started with everything you need to know.
Use this activity guide to learn more and explore the topic of water quality. With activities to do both on and off the worksheet, it's perfect for your next environmental investigation! You can use this activity guide in school, at camp, at a park or at home!
Young explorers! Print out a copy of this activity worksheet, grab a pencil and head out into the backyard or a park to start your pollinator investigation! Look for a patch of flowers and watch closely to see what sort of animals visit them. Then, follow the activities on your worksheet to record your observations, monitor what types of pollinators you see, and help attract more pollinators. You can use this activity guide in school, at camp or at home for a fun afternoon!
By incorporating engineering lessons into the other STEM subjects across all grade levels, educators allow students to combine what they've learned in an effort to solve real problems. These lessons and activities encourage students to investigate all the “making, moving and improving” activities involved in the work of an environmental engineer. The processes carried out in these lessons teach useful correlations, deeper understandings and real world applications of skills that students may not usually attribute to the world of engineering.
The environment is a compelling context for teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as it provides teachers with a diverse range of real-world challenges that engage students in hands-on opportunities to apply and reinforce STEM concepts across multiple subject areas. From calculating planting area and productivity in the school garden, to designing model wind turbines, to tracking invasive species with GPS technology, environmental projects inspire students to apply STEM by empowering them to develop innovative solutions to local problems meaningful to them.
Explore the past, present, and future of environmental engineering through this infographic. From the ancient Roman aqueducts to the renewable energy sources of tomorrow, engineering has the potential to help us meet some of the world's greatest challenges. Learn more in the infographic below and use the Engineering a Sustainable World Educator Toolkit to find free lesson plans, activities and resources for teaching about environmental engineering.
