TechnoEnvironment Details

Students research an environmental issue. To start, they learn about stewardship. Next, they select a topic and then conduct research. Instructions are provided for how to search the Internet, use Microsoft Word to organize facts, cite the source, and gather pictures related to the topic.

TechnoKids has created Fact Sheets on a range of environmental topics including acid rain, clear cutting, endangered reefs, fuel emissions, garbage, global warming, invasive species, kudzu invasion, moutaintop mining, nuclear energy, oil sands, overfishing, plastic pollution, and water consumption. Ideas for using environmental fact sheets:

Acid Rain Plastic Pollution Overfishing

• Background Knowledge: Many students may have limited knowledge of environmental issues. Have them read about a subject before they select a topic.
• Source of Information:Many information sources are written using jargon that is difficult to understand. Fact sheets are designed for middle school students.
• Offer a Starting Point: Students can start by reading the fact sheet and then extend their knowledge by researching additional interesting facts or solutions.

Students use Microsoft Publisher to create a poster to alert others about the environmental issue. The poster will contain a picture of the problem, clipart, solution that students can do, border, attention getter, and Word Art title. The poster will be a great way to publicize the problem and encourage others to get actively involved.

The poster teaches advanced graphic skills including how to:

• adjust object order
• align objects relative to the margins or other objects
• rotate or flip an object
• group or ungroup objects