Teacher's Guide to Fifth Grade Environmental Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The Upper Mississippi River ECO-Center is an exemplary Title III, Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) environmental education project serving the seven school districts of Carroll County, Illinois. The Center has been involved in these aspects of environmental education: outdoor education, inservice training, curriculum development, reference center development, resource development, and information dissemination. This handbook has been designed for use by fifth grade teachers in Carroll County and as an aid to other schools and teachers developing environmental education programs. The activities which have been used and evaluated in the seven county districts, have been used primarily in fifth grade but most could be adapted to other grade levels. Evaluation of fifth grade students during the first 2 years of operation showed a significant increase in environmental awareness. Topics are: implementing environmental education, ECO-Center fifth grade environmental education, environmental awareness, man and the river, man and the elements, sewage treatment plants, school camping, school site activities, classroom instruction, and additional resources. (Author/NQ)