Five Learning Resource Units

"Ignite Science and Math through Environmental Issues!"

In 2000 the ATEEC Fellows marked the Institute's 5th anniversary by revisiting the 1995 to1999 themes. The 2000 Fellows had been introduced at that time to the Contextual Teaching and Learning model. Their curricular outcome was to share a contextual teaching and learning approach for each of the five themes, which are introduced here. 

Each Fellow was assigned to one of' the five themes. They met in groups to develop introductory statements, teaching and learning materials, and lists of resources to share with other educators interested in a contextual approach for their students. Their materials are available as free downloads in this Web site's Products area.

1995 Theme: State of the Earth

“The State of the Earth” was the theme of the inaugural ATEEC Fellows Institute in 1995. Before attending the 2000 Institute, the Fellows assigned to this theme read (or reviewed if returning) Al Gore’s Earth in the Balance and Gregg Easterbrook’s A Moment on the Earth, which presented conflicting views of the state of the environment. Based on their experiences at the Institute, the Fellows developed materials that introduce the State of the Earth theme, suggested problem-based activities, and listed Web resources for educators. Free in Products area.

1996 Theme: Environmental Disaster

Before attending the 2000 Institute, the Fellows assigned to this theme read (or reviewed if returning) Degrees of Disaster: Prince William Sound - How Nature Reels and Rebounds by Jeff Wheelwright. Unless you have older students who happen to live close to Prince William Sound in Alaska, then the Exxon Valdez oil spill – and all the legal and scientific controversy that surrounded it – may seem to them like distantly located ancient history. However, looking back at the spill, you may see that the case presents problems that are within anyone's context. As students contemplate the potential effects of an environmental "disaster" in their own community, they can compare their thinking to the events and issues of that notorious spill in Prince William Sound. Based on their experiences at the Institute, the Fellows developed materials that introduce the Environmental Disaster theme, suggested problem-based activities, and listed several Web resources for educators. Free in Products area.

1997 Theme: Environmental Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment means using the scientific method to determine how dangerous something can be. Risk analysis can be used to study risky human behavior or hazardous chemicals, but the scientific methodologies used to study each are the same. We often hear about risks to our health and to the environment from newspapers, TV, and other mass media. However, these reports on risk give us information on topics that affect our lives, but they may not be reports of studies that used all of the scientific steps in risk assessment. Based on their experiences at the Institute, the Fellows developed materials that introduce the Environmental Risk Assessment theme, suggested problem-based activities, and listed several web resources for educators. Free in Products area.

1998 Theme: Environmental Health

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death among Americans. Since 1973, newly identified infectious diseases and syndromes have been recognized worldwide, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other diseases such as pneumococcal pneumonia and tuberculosis, once considered under control, are re-emerging because of the development of drug-resistant organisms and other factors. Before attending the 2000 Institute, the Fellows assigned to this theme read (or reviewed if returning), Rodney Barker's And the Waters Turned to Blood and Frank Ryan's Virus X: Tracking the New Killer Plagues. Based on their experiences at the Institute, the Fellows developed materials that introduce the Environmental Health theme, outlined an epidemiology simulation exercise, suggested problem-based activities, and listed several Web resources for educators. Free in Products area.

1999 Theme: Environmental Justice

Does the decline of a local neighborhood represent an environmental injustice caused by pollution or some other environmental factor, or are other causes responsible for the neighborhood’s condition, such as general economic downturn in the community (i.e., market, production problems such as supply shortages or labor strikes) or natural disasters (e.g., flood, fire, tornado)? Based on their experiences at the Institute, including a simulated Brownfields town meeting, the Fellows developed materials that introduce the Environmental Justice theme, outlined an epidemiology simulation exercise, suggested problem-based activities, and listed several Web resources for educators. PDF download is free in Products area. The Brownfields in a Box CD ROM is available for order in Products area.