Modeling Rare Plant Distributions Using ArcGIS part of Teaching Activities
Elizabeth Crook, University of California-Irvine
In this activity, students work with rare plant occurrence data from the Nature Reserve of Orange County, California to create species distribution maps in ArcGIS. Students are given shapefiles of species ...

Prairie Eco Services part of Project EDDIE:Teaching Materials:Modules
Kelly Knight, Houston Community College System
As densely populated urban areas continue to expand, human activity is removing much-needed greenspaces from our communities; in turn, we are also removing critical buffers that are needed to combat air and water ...

Virtual Landscapes Geological Mapping part of Teaching Activities
Jacqueline Houghton, University of Leeds
A virtual landscape is a virtual reality environment designed to develop geologic mapping and field skills. They include natural landscapes where the geology can be mapped, and interactive 3D block models of ...

Afghan Poppies, Climate Change and War: Thinking Systemically About Us and Them part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Karen Litfin, University of Washington-Seattle Campus
This contemplative practice inquires into the complex web of interdependencies linking global climate change, the War on Terror, Afghan poppy production, opiate addiction, and food security through the lens of systems theory. The exercise challenges students to consider these linkages not only conceptually but also somatically and emotionally.

Contemplative Inquiry on Climate Change: Playing with Perspectives part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Abigail Lynam, Fielding Graduate University
Hour long contemplative exercise to explore the psychological, emotional and spiritual dimensions of learning about climate change. Guided perspective-taking exercise in small groups of 3-4 students, with discussion and reflective writing.

Group Dialogue – Promise and Peril of the Past and the Future part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Abigail Lynam, Fielding Graduate University
This 1 to 1.5 hour group dialogue offers an exploration of the different ways we respond to learning about climate change. It guides reflection on students' thoughts and feelings (hope and despair), how they view the current moment, the past and the future with regard to human/nature relationships and how to create positive lasting change.

Engaging Contentious Political Issues part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Parakh Hoon
Faculty and students of politics inevitably engage with contentious debates about global inequality and development, conflict, and environmental sustainability. Teaching and learning outcomes in politics tend to ...

Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving Project for the Science Classroom part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Liliana Caughman
Students are assigned unique roles and work independently to solve a complex problem from the perspective of their role (i.e. sociologist, educator, historian, etc.) Students then work collaboratively to present their findings and action plan to the "tribal council".

The Benefit of Acknowledging and Addressing Students' Uncomfortable Emotions when Learning about Environmental Issues: Fostering Growth and Change in Action-Oriented Exercises part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Ellen Moore
Research reveals that if students are presented with negative information about environmental issues and they are not also provided with a plan for action, they often manifest denial on many levels. This exercise is designed to get students to directly address the emotions they face when learning about environmental issues and to make an action plan to address them in their individual lives.

Environmental Advocacy Project part of Curriculum for the Bioregion:Activities
Anita Harker, Whatcom Community College
This assignment requires that students research the historical context of an environmental issue within their own communities and apply different types of organizing/advocacy tactics for instigating social change.