Welcome to the K-12 area for educators!

This area focuses on the special needs of K-12 educators and has tips for finding resources for K-12 classrooms, collections specifically designed for K-12 teachers, information on searching using National Science and Geography Standards, services for optimizing use of DLESE resources in K-12 environments, and information careers and professions in the Earth sciences.

Browse the Library resources and
collections

Finding resources by Grade Range

When searching for resources, you can specify the grade range by using the Grade Level drop-down menu in the search box on the home page or under Educational Resources -> Find a resource. You can also narrow an existing set of search results by clicking on the Grade Level drop-down menu in the results page.

We have developed examples of exemplary resources to use if you're showing DLESE to friends or colleagues and want to find quick listings of good resources:

K-5 (html)
6 - 8 (html)
9 - 12 (html)
Undergraduate (html)

Finding resources by Resource Type

When searching for educational resources in DLESE, you can set the type of resource that you are looking for. The types include activities (classroom, computer, lab, field), lesson plans, syllabi, case studies, visual (graphics and illustrations), audio, services (ask-an-expert...), and data, etc.

While a particular resource type can be used to support many kinds of teaching goals and types of learning and understanding, some types are more suitable for certain goals and levels of understanding than others. The Tying Resource Type to Learning Goal table has suggestions for how to use resource types to target learning outcomes.

Finding resources associated with Science Standards

You can search over two sets of standards, the National Science Education Standards (NSES), and the National Geography Standards. To search for resources using these standards, select Standards from the drop-down menu in the search box on the home page or under Educational Resources -> Find a resource. You can also narrow an existing set of search results by clicking on the Standards drop-down menu in the results page.

Finding resources to teach specific interrelated Concepts of Earth System Science

Browse the DLESE Concept Maps to explore research-based scientific concepts and find resources to guide your teaching of those concepts. These concepts are concrete and grade-appropriate. They are based on the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Benchmarks for Science Literacy (AAAS Project 2061) and are aligned with the National Science Education Standards (NSES). You will see how concepts interrelate within and between Earth system subjects such as the following:

Changes in the Earth Surface
Evidence and Reasoning in Inquiry
Solar System
Gravity
Flow of Matter in Ecosystems

Plate Tectonics
Scientific Investigations
States of Matter
Flow of Energy in Ecosystems
Weather and Climate

Teaching Boxes: Using resources aligned to standards in prepared lessons

About Teaching Boxes
Teaching Boxes Home with the following ready to use boxes :
- Evidence for Plate Tectonics
- Essentials of Weather
- Feeding Frenzy: Seasonal Upwelling
- Global Ups and Downs: Changing Sea Level
- Living in Earthquake Country
- Mountain Building

Collections for K-12

Examples of collections aimed at K-12 teachers and students:

The Digital Water Education Library (DWEL) is a reviewed collection targeted at K-12 teachers. It features exemplary digital resources related to the science, policy and economics of water. The resources have all been reviewed by practicing K-12 teachers and scientists. (Go to the DWEL website).
The NASA ESE Reviewed provides educators and students with a direct line of access to quality products reviewed through the NASA product review.

Other aids for finding good resources

Teachable topics: Lets you view resources picked specifically to cover such topics as tsunamis, the rover landings on Mars, and oceans. Our list of topics is growing.
Resources of Interest: Lets you find favorite resources that have been suggested by community members and appeared on the DLESE home page over the years. Many of these are especially relevant to K-12 teaching and learning about the Earth.

Services and tools

News & Opportunities has listings of grants and workshops, some of which are of interest to K-12 science educators.
Teach the Earth site at Carleton College contains additional valuable information and resources of interest to undergraduate geoscience faculty.
K-12 email list contains active discussions about issues related to teaching Earth system education. You are welcome to join the list.

Last modified October 30, 2007.

DLESE HOME | FAQ | GLOSSARY | SITE MAP | CONTACT US