NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENT

The Energy Boardwalk     Grades 4 through 6
This activity is a fun way to expose young children to the many wise and wasteful uses of energy in their homes. Using a game board format, energy conservation tips are presented. Several items concerning disposable materials are included to emphasize the energy saved by reusing and recycling material.

Cycling Back to Nature Series     Age 10 and up
This series hopes to foster responsibility and appreciation of our ecosystems among our youth. Each resource includes over fifty pages of activities that interlock and overlap to reinforce the information.
     Soils Alive: From Tiny Rocks To Compost
     Food Production and Pesticides
     Biodegradable Polymers

Energizing Your Future with Energy, Economics and the Environment      Grades 2 through 12
Nearly every environmental issue relates to consumption of energy which are related to choices that we make based upon economics. There are many trade-offs when deciding how best to use a resource. Youth will learn a balanced approach to solving complex energy and environmental problems they will encounter in the future.

Energy for Environmental Stewardship      Grades Kindergarten through 12
The curriculum guides is intended for educators who want to help young people become wise stewards of the environment, and who believe that education about energy is an opportunity to do this. The guide reviews various resources that can be used to accomplish this goal.

Environment Management Power      Grades 6 through 9
The US Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the need to provide a full spectrum of educational programs in environment restoration/waste management with the challenge being to treat, store, and dispose of waste in ways that protect human health, safety, and the environment. This curriculum prepares youth to identify waste management issues, understanding their complexity, and take action to make a difference.

Mud, Muck, and Other Wonderful Things      Grades 1 through 3
Children will learn what it means to "be" a Steward of the Environment.” Children will learn how the natural world works by studying the lessons of the earth. Through fun activities, youth will learn how everything in the environment is connected. If you are looking for a nature based science program, you need to look at this curriculum.

Project Learning Tree      Kindergarten through Grade 6
Project Learning Tree exposes youth to our environment by increasing their awareness of diversity by looking at different cultural and social contexts. Each activity is arranged in an easily followed outline with the subject areas, applicable grades, learning principles, and skills listed.

Project Seasons      Kindergarten through Grade 6
This series of activities center around the four seasons and the various changes of our natural surroundings. The hands-on activities show children how everything is connected while increasing their natural science curiosity. There are over 150 individual lesson plans and activities for a complete year of seasonal activities.

Project Wet      Grades K through 12
This program is a collection of innovative, water-related activities that are hands-on, easy to use, and fun! The activities incorporate a variety of formats, such as large and small group learning, whole-body activities, laboratory investigations, discussion of local and global topics, and involvement in community service projects.

Project Wild      Grades 4 through 12
Project Wild activities are arranged to easily integrate into science, social studies, language arts, and mathematics classes. Seven sections focus on wildlife's interaction and impact on humans. Each activity is outlined with an objective, background, method, materials, procedures, and extension activities.

Introducing Yourself To Trees
Introduction to forestry, renewable resources, how trees grow, variety and names of trees and leaves.

Kentucky's Useful Forests      Grade 6 or above
The 4-H'ers will learn about the many benefits of Kentucky's woodlands as the source for many valuable products such as our buildings, homes and many of their furnishings, toothpicks, bats, equipment, fencing, musical instruments, paper for computers, novels, movie tickets, rock star posters, and coffee filters. They'll learn that wood sugars are used in baby foods and beverages, and that by-products are used in our clothing, packaging, carpeting, telephones, hair spray and cosmetics.
     Planting Trees Grade 6 and up

Exploring Natural Resources      Grade 5 and up
This project introduces 4-H'ers to natural resources, helping them to understand the interrelatedness of all things to the environment. Members will learn about the ecological relationships of soils, air, water, plants and wildlife. Members are encouraged to participate in related subject matter projects such as forestry, entomology, geology, horticulture, weather and conservation.

On Common Ground:      Grades 7 through 9
These guides provide challenging activities to help participants enhance their critical thinking skills while gaining knowledge about various natural resource topics. The activities provide valuable experience in working with others, resolving conflicts, and sharing ideas. The activities emphasize application of existing knowledge and creative problem solving.
     On Common Grounds: Wetlands
     On Common Grounds: Water Quality
     On Common Grounds: Recreational Trails
     On Common Grounds: Endangered Species

Geology Grade 4 and up
Through a study and collection of rocks, 4-H'ers will begin to understand and appreciate mineral resources, geological research and its effect on every day living and the laws of nature. They also will explore career opportunities in the earth sciences. Members may take this project for one or more years.

Water Wise: Introduction to Water
Water Wise is designed for use in grades 4 through 6, but units 2 & 3 may also have application for grades 7 and 8, especially if supplemented with additional resources. The content focuses on the water cycle, the aquatic environment, and the causes, effects and prevention of water pollution. Each chapter of each unit includes a chapter overview, background for instructors and suggested learning activities. Student information sheets and worksheets (to be copied and distributed to the students) accompany some learning activities.
     Water on Earth Unit 2
     Water Contamination and Water Treatment - Unit 3

The Weathermakers      Grade 5 and up
Through the experiments and activities of this first weather project, 4-H'ers will begin to understand what causes weather and weather changes; they also will explore the four Weathermakers and learn how to make air temperature observations. Materials to complete the experiments can be found in the home (except the purchase of an inexpensive thermometer).

Billboards in the Sky       Grade 6 and up
In this second weather project, 4-H'ers will learn to identify the basic cloud types and the weather to expect from each type. They will learn about severe weather and how to respond to life-threatening severe weather. They also build and use an air pressure sensor.

Weather Variables      Grade 7 and up
In this third weather project, 4-H'ers will learn about the different elements of weather. They will build and then read instruments which measure weather variables, relating what they learn to local weather. From this experience, 4-H'ers can become amateur weather forecasters.

Weather Forecasting      Grade 7 and up
Unit IV of the weather project covers the basics of understanding the television and newspaper weather maps and making forecasts using five general rules of weather forecasting. 4-H'ers are encouraged to make their own weather observations and relate those observations to how weather affects their daily lives and the world around them.