Science

Children’s Author, Amelia Lionheart, in her fictional JEACs book series (JEACs: Junior Environmentalists and Conservationists), endeavours to educate and create awareness through the means of fun adventure stories, about the vital importance of conservation and environmental issues. Join the JEACs as they embark on adventures around the world to advocate for animal conservation, environmental issues and solve mysteries. The youngsters deal with a variety of issues; they also believe in using their talents, doing fundraising and volunteer work and having lots of fun! The JEACs firmly believe some of the key factors in saving our planet are: PACE - Participation, Awareness, Co-operation and Education. The books are educational on many levels, and the facts about the animals are accurate; the rest is fictional. Real groups of JEACs in Calgary, formed by children who read the books, raised funds for several conservation and environmental organizations, including WWF, The Cochrane Ecological Institute and the Calgary Zoo. Visit the website at: www.jeacs.com, and check out the books,
read excerpts, etc. (Advanced readers of 7 years and older, [including adults], are also reading the books. The language level is high, but there is a Glossary at the end of each book.)

The books can be purchased directly through Amelia Lionheart, who may be contacted at: amelia.lionheart@shaw.ca for details. Amelia is in Calgary and will be happy to: sell the books at a discounted rate, donate a percentage of the sale to ACEE, sign the books if requested, and add a bookmark. She lives in Calgary, but is happy to ship books within Canada (the cost of shipping will be added to the total sale of books).

The books can also be purchased at the following Indigo/Chapters Stores in Calgary (you would have to pay full price there and the books will not be signed):

• Indigo - Dalhousie and Signal Hill;
• Chapters - Crowfoot, Spectrum and Shawnessy.

This Guide to Global Internet Energy Usage provides information about access to the internet around the world and the energy impact of online activities.

The Alberta Capital Airshed (ACA) provides unit plans for Grade 5 and Grade 9 containing ready-to-go classroom PowerPoint presentations, teacher's guides, and classroom activities. 

This article describes easy-to-use tools and methods for finding and identifying different types of rocks and minerals in your backyard!

The Into Nature guide from Back to Nature Network contains helpful tips on how to start an outdoor education program in your teaching. The second half features dozens of activities (beginning on page 24). More detailed lesson plans begin on page 51.

This guide to nature journaling from Project Learning Tree introduces ways you can integrate journaling to your teaching in a variety of subject areas. 

Lesser Slave Forest Education Society created a wetlands presentation video that describes peatlands (bogs & fens) and non-peatlands (marshes, ponds, & swamps). 

How to Germinate Beans in your Kitchen (Gr. K-6)

Upcycled Flower Pot (Gr. 7-12)

Biodegradable Paper Planter (Gr. 4-12)

How to make a Mud Kitchen (Pre-K-Gr.1)

Tailpipe Pollution Challenge (Gr. 5)

Birding 101 (K-12)

Teaching the 4 Elements by Shelagh Pyper from Fuse Consulting says, "Children lead with their hands, not their minds. In order for them to develop a relationship with the natural elements of Wind, Water, Earth and Fire (i.e. a connection to Nature) they need to explore the magic and wonder of these things with all their senses." 

Enhancing Student Voice through Climate Change Education is a DRAFT resource for high school teachers to help them teach environmental and energy topics such as climate change. The Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE) and the Environmental Law Centre worked on this together in 2017/18 and although funding did not permit us to complete this work, we do believe it is of high value and that it represents some of our favourite activities (which are denoted by an asterisk in the table of contents). In this spirit, and with that caveat, we offer it to the community for use.