The links below will open in a new window. These are external websites and are not maintained by Inside the Outdoors.

Orange County Stormwater Program - This interactive watershed website teaches kids about water pollution prevention and watersheds. There are many resources for teachers and the community.

Clean Water Challenge Curriculum - Sponsored by the Wyland Foundation

Get to Know your Wild Neighbors - Various environmental activities with the target audience of 4th - 6th grade

National Park Service

• Teacher Resources
• Every Kid in the Park - 4th Grade Free Park Program and Teacher Resources
• Fire Ecology Lessons - National Park Service lessons with background information

Smithsonian's National Zoo Educator Resources

NASA

• Pi in the Sky Challenge
• Solar System and Beyond

NOAA Activity Book

National Wildlife Federation - Eco-Schools Program

Resources from the Institute of Engineering and Technology

National Environmental Education Foundation Resources - Also includes information about Environmental Education Week (which is in April)

OpenSciEd - Free Curriculum, Middle School will be completed by 2022 with the goal for other grade levels to be added.

Teacher Created - Various free resources along with books available for purchase.

Resources For Conducting Energy Audits

• www.greeningschools.org/resources/view_cat_teacher.cfm?id=192
• www.midamericanenergy.com/eew/inspection/index.html
• www.energystar.gov
• www.energysavers.gov

OCDE STEM - Resources, trainings, and events

STEM Resources

California Department of Education
OC STEM
National Science Foundation Classroom Resources
NASA Education Programs

STEM Activities - Elementary Science Focus

kitchenpantryscientist.com - Simple recipes for real science, some video clips
Nat Geo Kids - Many ideas, activities, lessons, images and video clips
Reeko's Mad Science Labs - Great science experiments, reference information, and fun stuff
PBS Kids - Science projects sent in by kids with comments and reviews
NASA - Great resource for information, images, and lesson ideas
Mystery Science – K-5 lessons that help support NGSS, many districts have a subscription to this site!
Science Bob - Science projects, experiments, and information
Science Buddies - Science projects and lessons
Science Kids - Lessons, experiments, projects, facts, videos and images
Science is Fun - Some experiments and projects, a lot of information and resources
Steve Spangler Science - Many great science projects and demonstrations with video clips. Also has a store for supplies.

STEM Activities - Other

Babble Dabble Do - Creative art and science project ideas focused on families
Teach Preschool - projects and lessons from a preschool classroom
Crafty Child - Easy crafts, games and activities for toddlers and preschoolers
Sophie's World - Blog with art projects, games, songs and other fun things
Learn Play Imagine - Many creative recipes, crafts, science projects, etc.
Funology - Games, magic tricks, jokes, science, recipes, arts and crafts designed for parents
Sesame Street - lesson plans, art, games, video links
Teachers Pay Teachers
Natural Wonders: A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators

Do you know of additional resources that would be valuable to teachers? Email us at insidetheoutdoors@ocde.us!

Return to Lessons, Curriculum and Background Information