Author Description

This project is designed to engage students in investigating specific environmental problems through concrete activities and direct experiences. In doing so, it fosters an awareness of the importance of informed concern about environmental issues. This resource is directed toward accomplishing the following goals: promoting students' understanding of the relationship between humankind and the environment; developing students' ability to identify and initiate action to solve problems; promoting an understanding of the complexity of issues, the difficulty of their resolution, and an awareness of different points of view; and developing students' process skills and knowledge of selected science topics. The materials are geared primarily toward students in grades 6 through 9 and include a variety of activities of different lengths and levels of difficulty, as well as extensions intended for older and younger students. This project consists of eight books: User's Guide, Planet, Air, Water, Land, Life, People, and Challenge and associated materials such as color transparencies, posters, and brochures. Each booklet is a self-contained unit. The units may be used as separate modules, or may be combined to form a course. The User's Guide includes: a list of enclosures, credits, origin of the project, contents and description, and a student assessment questionnaire. (JRH)