Challenge your students to examine how they are helping or harming the environment. Brainstorm a list of decisions that students make on a daily basis that affect the welfare of the environment, such as the products we buy and use. As a class, categorize these decisions as either environmentally beneficial or destructive. To further understand each individual's role in the global environment, trace local actions to their larger consequences. How do our decisions at home affect the people in El Salvador, for example? How do their decisions affect us?

Resolve to make a difference in your school. Come up with a list of things that students and faculty use while they are at school (such as paper, electricity, running water, pencils, markers, books, physical education equipment, lunch trays, etc.). Using a variety of resources, students can trace all of these materials back to their original sources. In small groups or individually, students can create a plan to conserve a resource in their school community.

Explore our fifth grade unit to learn how your class can conduct an environmental assessment and take action to conserve resources in your school community.

Share more ideas with your students about how they can help save rainforests.

To celebrate its third annual school-wide adoption of the Rainforest Alliance's free online curriculum, the Ann Street School in Newark, New Jersey held a "Rainforest Blooms at Ann Street" Day last December. For three weeks during November/December, teachers at Ann Street School tapped into the educational resources found on the Rainforest Alliance Learning Site.

Using the Rainforest Alliance curriculum, students discovered the wonders of the rainforest through hands-on lessons, stories, arts and crafts, and more. Kindergarten through eighth grade students investigated the migration of songbirds, compared local forests to rainforests by measuring rainfall, collected data on species, created collages and wrote poetry.

The Rainforest Alliance's interactive lessons are not only designed to introduce students to the tropical cultures and rainforests of Latin America, but to teach them to be good global citizens. The study of Latin America evokes pride and enthusiasm in the many Hispanic American students enrolled at Ann Street School. The Rainforest Alliance curricula help teachers discuss the cultural differences and similarities that exist between their own students and those living in Latin American countries.

Ann Street teachers remarked that their "students loved the activities" and "they were very excited to learn about the rainforests, especially because some of their students are from Brazil."

"The lessons interfaced with literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, art and music. The result was astounding, motivating and well done," noted Linda J. Richardson, Principal at Ann Street School.

Read more anecdotes from teachers and educators who use our curriculum.

Send comments about how you have used Rainforest Alliance Learning Site lessons, stories and other materials in your classroom to education@ra.org.

Volvo Adventure is sponsoring an international competition that rewards environmental action taken by young people, ages 10-16. The competition acknowledges students who are engaged in local environmental projects, helping to support environmental education in schools and their local community.

Action for Nature's annual International Young Eco-Hero Awards honors 8-16 year-olds who have designed and executed creative environmental projects and helped to teach others how to protect their environment. The deadline for applying is February 28, 2006.

The ING Unsung Heroes award recognizes K-12 educators pioneering new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning. Each year, educators submit applications that describe outstanding educational projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. One hundred finalists chosen from each of the fifty states receive a $2,000 award. Three finalists are selected for additional financial awards of $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000. The deadline for applying is May 1, 2006.

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