NSTA Environmental Science Freebies and Educational Resources for Teachers

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) provides a range of free resources and materials specifically designed to support science educators. Among these are freebies accessible through the NSTA website, which include publications, activity guides, and supplier coupons relevant to various science disciplines, including environmental science. The organization serves as a central hub for educators seeking to enhance their curriculum with no-cost materials. Additionally, the provided documentation highlights various other free educational tools and programs that complement environmental science instruction, such as government-sponsored lesson plans, interactive web platforms, and multimedia content focused on ecology and conservation.

NSTA Freebies and Member Benefits

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning. With a membership of 55,000, NSTA provides resources for science teachers, supervisors, administrators, scientists, and business and industry representatives. One of the key offerings for educators is the access to free materials available through the organization's website.

Accessing NSTA Freebies

NSTA maintains a dedicated section for freebies accessible to science teachers. According to the source documentation, these materials can be found at http://www.nsta.org/publications/freebies.aspx. While the specific inventory of these freebies is not detailed in the provided text, the existence of this portal indicates a direct channel for educators to obtain no-cost instructional materials.

Supplier Coupons and Budget Helpers

In addition to direct freebies, NSTA offers resources to help educators manage budgets through its Suppliers Guide. The documentation references "Budget Crunch Helpers from NSTA Suppliers Guide," which allows teachers to obtain coupons and deals from several suppliers. This resource is available at http://ecommerce.nsta.org/suppliers/. This program facilitates access to discounted or free materials necessary for conducting science experiments and maintaining classroom supplies.

Scope, Sequence, and Coordination (SSC) Project

The NSTA Scope, Sequence, and Coordination Project is described as a "lesson plan goldmine." This project provides "MicroUnits" for science disciplines covering grades 9-12. These units are available at http://dev.nsta.org/ssc/ and serve as a comprehensive source for downloading new science lesson plans. For environmental science educators, these units likely offer structured curricula designed to integrate into existing teaching frameworks.

Complementary Environmental Science Resources

Beyond the specific freebies offered by NSTA, the documentation highlights a variety of other free resources available to educators. These resources cover diverse aspects of environmental science, ranging from water quality curriculum to citizen science initiatives.

It’s Our Water Curriculum

A significant resource mentioned is "It’s Our Water," a complete curriculum divided into five modules. This resource is designed to teach water quality topics and scientific principles using real-life examples of current water issues. Each module begins with a short video and introduces students to various professions related to water. This curriculum is suitable for educators looking to incorporate comprehensive water science lessons into their classrooms.

SciStarter and Citizen Science

SciStarter is identified as an "amazing resource" that connects the public and educators to citizen science projects. The platform serves learners in both formal and informal learning environments, making it simple and accessible for people of all ages to participate in real-world science. Educators can utilize SciStarter to find projects that allow students to contribute to actual scientific data collection and analysis, fostering engagement with environmental science outside the traditional classroom setting.

UNC-TV and North Carolina Specific Resources

For educators in or interested in North Carolina environmental science, several resources produced by UNC-TV and local agencies are available: * Sci NC: A multiplatform production combining broadcast programs, digital shorts, blogs, and interactive, fully aligned lesson plans adaptable for classroom or homeschool use. * "Our State" Series: Hosted by Tom Earnhardt, this series explores North Carolina’s diverse local landscapes and natural features, with nine seasons of content available. * Aqua Kids: An award-winning K-12 program focused on ecology, wildlife, and science. Several episodes filmed in North Carolina are available on YouTube, featuring topics such as the NC Coastal Reserve. * NC360: An immersive experience allowing virtual discovery of North Carolina’s natural and cultural attractions, curated by the NC Department of Information Technology. * Wake County Parks Virtual Field Trips: Offers engaging virtual field trip programs for groups including school classes, scouts, and homeschool communities, covering cultural and environmental topics.

Government and University Educational Programs

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs partners with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences to offer weekly lectures on environmental education, conservation, sustainability, and agriculture. Past talks are available online and can be used for continuing education credit.

Additionally, the University of Illinois Office for Math, Science and Technology Education (MSTE) has compiled a comprehensive list of math and science resources for educators.

Project WILD

Project WILD is highlighted as a resource for homeschooling or year-round learning. It offers a wealth of easy-to-do outdoor activities that require little to no preparation or materials, making it an accessible option for teaching environmental concepts.

Consumer Aerosol Products Council (CAPCO) Kit

The CAPCO Science Class Challenge Kit is a free resource for science teachers created by the Consumer Aerosol Products Council. The kit contains all materials necessary to teach students about the earth’s protective ozone layer, CFCs, and aerosol products. This specific freebie provides a targeted lesson on atmospheric science and environmental protection.

Additional Educational Tools and Platforms

Several other web platforms and publications are noted in the documentation to support science education.

Science Junction

Hosted by NC State University, the Science Junction (http://www.ncsu.edu/sciencejunction) is an interactive website promoting inquiry-based teaching in the context of National Science Education Standards. It offers network science projects where students collect data to answer science questions, a "Game Room" of science-based games, and a clearinghouse of online science education resources and lesson plans.

Quest: NASA K-12 Internet Initiatives

The Quest website (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/) provides information on NASA's K-12 interactive projects. It offers links for educators seeking grant funds and ways to integrate the Internet into their classrooms.

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC)

The ENC (http://www.goenc.com/) is described as a great information source for K-12 math and science teachers.

Bright Ideas Online Publication

Published by the International Technology Education Association, Bright Ideas is a quarterly publication free to teachers, supervisors, and teacher educators. It includes free activities, program spotlights, and information relevant to technology, science, and mathematics.

Astrobiology Supplement

An article on astrobiology, written at a high school level and based on lectures from the Frontiers of Science Lecture series, is available as a separate magazine supplement. This PDF is appropriate for educators, students, and researchers.

Conclusion

The National Science Teachers Association serves as a vital resource for educators seeking free materials, specifically through its freebies portal and Suppliers Guide coupons. Beyond NSTA, a robust ecosystem of free educational resources exists for environmental science instruction. These include specialized curricula like "It’s Our Water," citizen science platforms like SciStarter, and multimedia content from UNC-TV. Government and university initiatives further supplement these offerings, providing lecture series, comprehensive resource lists, and interactive web tools. Educators can leverage these diverse, no-cost resources to enhance environmental science education and engage students in real-world scientific inquiry.