Environmental Education

AMD Specific

1. AMD Awareness-Raising Curriculum

• developed by Friends of the Cheat (WV) for students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. The program is spread over a two-week period, with a frequency of one class period per day. It is divided in units consisting of sequential lessons and field trips providing students with a solid foundation about what a watershed is, stream ecology, acid mine drainage (AMD), and its effects on stream water quality, and AMD remediation basics.

2. Resources for Teaching AMD

• developed by Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. This list of resources (such as posters and coloring books) includes information on how to obtain hard copies.

3. "What's in Your Watershed?" AMD Education Module

• developed by Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. The module includes games, hands-on activities, and interactive discussion.

4. Abandoned Mine Drainage Education Coalition

• for those seeking a better understanding of abandoned mine drainage and watershed education. The Coalition provides sample lesson plans.

5. St. Vincent College's Wetlands, Mine Drainage, Frogs, and Fun

• provides AMD activity booklets and AMD-related lesson plans. Also includes links to other education resources.

6. Hands-on AMD Experiments

• developed by the West Virginia DEP, USGS, and NETL. These fun experiments include "Make your own litmus paper" and "Using stinky bacteria to treat acid mine drainage."

Wastewater/ Stormwater

1. Water pollution in "Anytown"

• contains some information on raw sewage. Students create a town and think about environmental services needed within that town. Background materials are based on Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding area.

2. Stormwater Curriculum

• developed by Friends of Deckers Creek (WV). This curriculum is directed toward middle school– and
  high school–aged students. It outlines the form and function of a watershed, and informs students about their effect on storm water pollution and watershed health. Contact Friends of Deckers Creek for a free copy.

3. EPA Wastewater Resources

• Small communities education
• Non-point Source Pollution Activities (geared towards more urban environments)

Watershed/ Earth Sciences

1. The GLOBE Program

• worldwide, hands-on, primary and secondary school-based Earth science and education program. GLOBE provides teacher training and a database of student environmental observations.

2. NASA Educator Resource Center

• helps teachers learn about and use NASA's educational resources.

3. Cacapon Institute Watershed School

• this e-school provides lesson plans, online activities, and useful links.

4. Department of Conservation and Recreation (VA)

• provides water-related lesson plans and other useful sites.

5. Powell River Project Education Center (VA)

• provides field-based education activities.

6. Macroinvertebrate Playing Cards

• print and play!

7. Project WET

• dedicated to reaching children, parents, educators, and communities of the world with water education. Project WET provides curriculum and workshops.

8. Girl Scout Water Drop Patch

• developed by EPA and the Girlscouts. Encourages girls to learn about watersheds and apply their skills.

9. Envirothon

• competition in which students can demonstrate their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. To form a team, contact your local conservation district.

10. Global Rivers Environmental Education Network

• provides water monitors and students with a place to store their water monitoring data, track their water monitoring projects, and find education resources needed to successfully implement a school-based water monitoring program.

General Environmental Education

1. Kentucky Association for Environmental Education

• includes a list of environmental education grants. This site also includes a comprehensive list of online environmental education tools and useful links.

2. Pennsylvania DEP list of environmental education centers

• a list of environmental education centers in PA.

3. AML Clearinghouse

• a list of training programs, lesson plans (including a few approved by the state of Pennsylvania), and general resources related to environmental education

The design and implementation of this website has been made possible through assistance provided by the the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR).              (c) 2005, ECRR - Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable