Teach students about the carbon cycle and how human energy use impacts this cycle. Fossil fuels – petroleum, coal, natural gas – make up the largest share of energy production and consumption in the U.S. They’re also part of the carbon cycle. Use the carbon cycle game in this lesson to model the flow of carbon and explain how fossil fuels fit into the cycle. The video in the lesson will help teachers connect the concepts to everyday life. Advanced students will be primed to discuss the associated public policy issues. Shared by PBS Learning Media.

Scope and Sequence connection: 6:1 Energy and Simple Machines; 6:4 Interdependence; 7:2 Energy and Matter; and 8:4 Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

The Teach Engineering website shares a variety of resources about renewable energy for teachers and students. The Living Lab portal enables users to evaluate the renewable energy sources in the U.S. Teachers can find also find maps and activities for students of all grade levels. Types of renewable energy discussed are: biomass, hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

The purpose of this toolkit is to help educate middle school students about the science of climate change, its impacts on U.S. wildlife and wildlands, and offer suggestions about what kids can do to help address the issue. The kit includes an FAQ on the science of global warming, case studies of different regions across America,  hands-on activities and more.  It was created by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (with six other federal agencies to aid educators in teaching how climate change is affecting the nation’s wildlife and public lands, and how everyone can become climate stewards.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

Students use real-world data to calculate the potential for solar and wind energy generation at their school location. After examining maps and analyzing data from the online Renewable Energy Living Lab, they write recommendations as to the optimal form of renewable energy the school should pursue. Shared by the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines.

Scope and Sequence connection: 6:1 Energy and Simple Machines; 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

With Canada's green learning resources, students of all ages use detailed construction plans to build working models of wind turbines, solar ovens, hydroelectric generators, and biogas generators. Students can also make use of related links and background information on the basics of renewable energy, solar heat, solar electricity, wind and water power, biomass energy and other clean energy technologies.   

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

A series of activities from National Geographic to teach students about our human footprint. 

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

A podcast about climate change to inspire students to think about their carbon footprint.   By Listenwise.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

Students and teachers can use this interactive to see how human population growth, air pollution, agriculture, mining, water use, and other human activities have impacted the environment. Shared by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

Students match the precipitation or temperature graph to the correct biome through this online "mission."  Students are able to search details about the biomes on the same NASA site. 

Scope and Sequence connection: 6:2 Weather and the Atmosphere and 8:4 Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

This lesson uses a group activity to teach students about the impact of human actions on natural resources. It is intended for high-school biology students but can be modified for eighth graders. Shared by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Scope and sequence connection: 8:4 Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

This NASA site includes satellite images of current scientific events happening on earth.  The images can be used as launching phenomena in various grades and units.  For example, blooming phytoplankton growth or the wildfire smoke images can be used to elicit questions from 6th grade students before teaching them about the interdependence between organisms in an ecosystem.   The images related to invasive species could be used for 8th grade students learning about the relationship between humans and their environment.

Scope and Sequence connection: 6:2 Weather and the Atmosphere; 6:4 Interdependence; 8:4  Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.

This short audio clip shares information about what happens when antibacterial household products get washed down the drain. Transcript and links to additional research on dioxin provided. By Science NetLinks.

Scope and sequence connection: 8:4 Humans and the Environment: Needs and Tradeoffs and LE 8: Human Influences on the Environment.

The movement and distribution of atmospheric CO2 concentrations are influenced by Earth’s seasonal changes. This short (1:20) 3-D visualization displays the movement of CO2 at different altitudes in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres over a one- year period. The accompanying narrative offers insight into how NASA scientists used tools, technology and computations in making this model.

Scope and Sequence connection: Earth Science (HS) and 8:4 Humans and the Environment: Needs and Tradeoffs

The Environmental Protection Agency shares this article about the different layers of ozone.  It also includes an interactive map on different EPA initiatives in specific states in the United States.   

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:3 Dynamic Equilibrium: The Human Animal; 8:4 Human Impact on the Environment and Health: Needs and Tradeoffs.