A Column for Educators

by Julie Devaud (Poland, 91-94)

"What About Earth Day?

April 22 is Earth Day, and we will see festivals with booths for crafts, recycling campaigns, music and much more. But let's have our students take a look at some of the major and complex issues revolving around life here on our "big blue marble." Can we find a way to balance the needs of people with the health of the earth? Students of all ages can research the concerns in their own neighborhoods and cities while learning to take a global perspective.
Here are some sample questions to put to your students:

As cities grow, how do we balance the need for affordable housing with the need for open space and farmland?

What is biodiversity--why is this so important?

Bioengineering of our foods can lead to higher yields but at what cost?

What threatens the health of our oceans? What should be done to protect them?

Should we try returning species to the wild? Should we raise endangered species in captivity?

What contributes to traffic problems? What can we do?

Is it fair or even ethical for the U.S. to put limits on the development of other nations to preserve the environment?

Your students can find information on thousands of sites on the Internet which deal with the environment. Here are a few useful addresses:

www.unicef.org/voy This has an online forum for students to discuss the urban environment
www.envirolink.com This has links to many resources
earthtimes.com has an online newspaper covering international environmental news. A new student edition is in progress.
www.worldbank.org This has lessons on several environmental issues.
www.oneworld.net/index.html This has over 120 websites devoted to human rights and sustainable
development

Other resources for educators:

Global Response, an environmental action and education network, will send you exactly what you need to get involved in advocacy issues with your students. This group sends Young Environmentalist's Actions with suggestions of how to involve your students. Use this information to supplement your science, social studies, and language arts curricula. Topics include rainforest destruction, air and water pollution, endangered species, and environmental justice issues. Write for information to: Global Response, P.O. Box 7490, Boulder, CO 80306-7490.

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, (GLOBE) Program is a worldwide science and education program coordinating the work of students, teachers, and scientists to study and understand the global environment. GLOBE is an international partnership, involving countries around the world. GLOBE builds excitement about science, math, and advanced technology among young people. Students conduct valuable scientific work and immediately see the results of their studies. For information call toll-free in the U.S. 1-800-858-9947 or e-mail to:  info@globe.gov . Or write the GLOBE Program, 744 Jackson Place, NW, Washington, DC 20503.

Growing Ideas: A Journal of Garden-Based Learning is an excellent newsletter published three times a year by the National Gardening Association. Whether you are growing things on a windowsill, in a GrowLab, or in an outdoor classroom, this journal offers engaging resources to support your efforts to create hands-on science lessons. It offers inquiry-based activities for classrooms and curricula. The January 2000 edition focuses on worms and composting. Write for a free copy to: Growing Ideas, National Gardening Association, 180 Flynn Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401.

Teaching Tolerance is an award-winning magazine published by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal and education foundation. Full of excellent articles about teaching on economic and social justice, teachers will find many curriculum ideas for teaching with a global and environmental perspective. The magazine publishes books reviews, book excerpts, teaching resources, and great graphics. Write for a free copy to: Teaching Tolerance, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104