Exploring conservation through writing and literature may help teachers reach more students

Lesson planning using poetry and creative writing to teach essay writing principles, and scientific ecological knowledge.

Writing about a personal outdoor adventure for an eco-tourism web site can promote both ecological awareness and language skills for students aged 14 and up.

A class activity for grades 4-6 in which students learn about basic elements of poetry, such as rhyme and meter. After reading several poems, the class creates an environmental poem by having each student write a line of the poem anonymously. Doing so allows students to overcome apprehension of peer judgment of their work.

Activities for middle school students which enable them to critically and creatively explore potential and preferred versions of the future

Whether the genre is poetry, fiction or expository writing, the language arts curriculum offers unlimited opportunities for teachers and students to make connections with current social and global issues.

Yup’ik high school students in Alaska, disturbed by the signs and symptoms of climate change in their far northern village, came up with a creative ways to communicate these concerns to a group of student teachers in Washington state. Similar projects elsewhere could serve to strengthen the writing skills of middle and high school students, while giving pre-service teachers exposure to real student writing, and voicing local environmental issues to a wider audience.

Writing based on hands-on research teaches environmental science and develops literacy skills for grades 6-12 students.

Creating self-guided outdoor learning experiences that help 5-12 year old children appreciate a specific natural area and understand its connections with a larger context.