Marylin Lisowski
Mon, 03 Sep 2001 13:30:43 -0700
Quote of the week: "If we know the names of our neighbors and the streets in our neighborhood, why don't we also know our natural neighborhood, who and what lives there and why, who eats whom, who passes through and who remains, who's native and who's interloper." Ann Zwinger in "Reading the Forested Landscape" ---------------------------------- What's Your Ecological Address? ---------------------------------- Exploring the natural world around us is an important step towards environmental literacy. Yet many students don't know how water gets to their taps or the names of the birds and trees that are common in their neighborhoods. Abstract concepts such as food webs and water cycles can be made more tangible if students can visualize the connections between the water, land, climate, wild and human life that surrounds them and understand the ecosystem services that support their own lives. For a model of activities and resources that enable you and your students to map your ecological address, see the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources' "Discover Your Ecological Address" site at http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/ecoadr/ecoadr.htm. David Sobel's "Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years" (Heinemann, 1998) is a good resource for younger students. The sites below will help you find information for your local area. For related descriptions and resources of environmental topics such as water, soil, and waste, see http://www.enviroliteracy.org/ ---------------------------------------- TOPOGRAPHY MAPS State Department of Natural Resources Most state departments of natural resources provide teachers with free resources specific to their state. Contact information for many natural resource agencies is available at http://offices.fws.gov/statelinks.html. If that doesn't work, search your state's official website or the government pages in the phone book. Unites States Geological Service The USGS provides free or low cost maps to educators. One of their newest (and most stunning) maps shows the geological age of rock across the United States. Call 1-800-ASK-USGS and mention you are an educator. For state-specific resources, contact your local USGS office at http://interactive2.usgs.gov/contact_us/index.asp or access state fact sheets and local program information at http://water.usgs.gov/wid/index-state.html ---------------------------------------- WATERSHED EPA: Locate Your Watershed Plug in your zip code and this site will tell you what watershed you're in and provide an environmental profile of the area. http://cfpub1.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm EPA: Information About Your Drinking Water Click on the map to get information on your local drinking water source, read local water quality reports, and access area drinking water offices. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm For information about how to read the reports see http://www.waterqualityreports.org ---------------------------------------- WETLANDS National Fish and Wildlife Service: National Wetland Inventory You can locate all the areas designated as wetlands in your area by using the interactive mapping tool at this site. Information is also provided about plant species that occur in wetlands. http://www.nwi.fws.gov/ ----------------------------------------- WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE eNature.com Enter your email and your zip code to access pictures and profiles of local wildlife. The site also offers an electronic field guide to over 4800 North American plants and animals. http://www.enature.com/localguide/localguide_home.asp For a list of the endangered species in your state see the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at http://ecos.fws.gov/webpage/webpage_usa_lists.html?state=all National Geographic Society: WildWorld Designed to accompany the free WildWorld maps sent to schools across the country, this site presents information on the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems of the world. You can search by zip code to obtain a profile of your local ecosystem and conservation areas. The site includes an Educator's Guide for lower grade levels. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/ ------------------------------------------ SOIL National Soil Survey Center: State Soils Did you know your state not only has an official state bird or flower, but also a state soil? See a picture of your state soil series at http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/photogal/statesoils/list1.htm To reach your state soil office, see http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/soildiv/personnel/states.htm ------------------------------------------- LAND USE U.S. Geological Survey: National Atlas This site permits you to display and print custom maps that include the environmental, resource, demographic, and other characteristics that you select. You can construct maps that display urbanization, agriculture, and types of land use. http://nationalatlas.gov/ -- This is the ISTA-talk mailing list. 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