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General Sustainability
Here is a list of recommended resources for teaching and learning about global issues and sustainability. Below each resource you will find links to related Facing the Future lessons. View the criteria used to select these resources. See the menu on the left for resources on more specific topics related to sustainability.
High School Resources
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Earth Odyssey: Around the World in Search of Our Environmental Future
Mark Hertsgaard
Hertsgaard embarked on an odyssey lasting almost a decade and spanning nineteen countries. In Earth Odyssey, a 384-page book, he reports on the world's environmental predicament through the eyes of different people.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Book | ISBN 9780767900591 | $
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Global Issues: An Introduction
John L. Seitz
Global Issues is a 328-page introduction to many of the environmental, economic, social, and political concerns of modern life.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Book | ISBN 9781405154970 | $
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State of the World
Worldwatch Institute
This 288-page book gives a straightforward assessment of the world's environmental problems and solutions.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Book | ISBN 9780393330311 | $
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The Car and the City: 24 Steps to Safe Streets and Healthy Communities
Alan Thein Durning
This 73-page book explores ways for cars to help revive our cities and our lives rather than polluting our air, endangering our streets, and isolating us from our communities.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Book | ISBN 1886093032 | Free
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The People Speak
United Nations Foundation
Exchange ideas with young people around the world on issus such as poverty, global health, and climate change. Visit the multimedia section to watch videos, download podcasts, or send in your own videos, podcasts, and multimedia projects.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Interactive Technology | Free
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OnEarth
The National Resources Defense Council
OnEarth is an environmental magazine that explores the challenges that confront our planet and the solutions that promise to heal and protect it in areas such as politics, nature, wildlife, culture, science, and health.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Online Magazine | Free
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Vital Signs
Worldwatch Institute
This 176-page annual report tracks and analyzes 44 trends that are shaping our future, including graphs and charts to provide visual comparisons over time. Categories of trends include: food, agricultural resources, energy and climate, global economy, resource economics, environment, conflict and peace, communications and transportation, population and society, and health and disease.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Online Report | ISBN 0393331295 | $
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Ecological Design: Inventing the Future
Brian Danitz and Chris Zelov
What do flying bicycles, Rocky Mountain jungles, "living machines", and recyclable homes with their own "metabolism" all have in common? They are unique, inexpensive solutions to the design dilemma of sustainable living and are all featured in this 60-minute film.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Video | ISBN 9780965030687 | $
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Riveting Talks By Remarkable People
Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED)
TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. They offer free videos from inspired thinkers on various topics ranging from technology to culture and global issues.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Online Video | Free
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Buckminster Fuller Institute
The concept of Spaceship Earth was first developed by the architect, engineer, mathematician, and poet, Buckminster Fuller. The Buckminster Fuller Institute serves a global network of design science innovators "to make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone."
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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The Earth Charter Initiative
The Earth Charter Initiative promotes the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Earth Trends
World Resources Institute
Earth Trends is a comprehensive on-line database that focuses on environmental, economic, and social trends. Country Profiles present environmental information about key variables for several topic areas. View charts and graphs to find statistics for over 220 countries.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Education Reporting, Inc.
This website provides a list of classroom ideas, teacher materials, community resources, wikis and blogs related to green education.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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The International Institute for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development engages decision-makers in government, business, NGOs, and other sectors to advance policies that are beneficial to the global economy, environment, and social well-being.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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The Natural Step
The Natural Step is an international organization working to build an ecologically and economically sustainable society through education, scientific research, and services for business and government.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Solutions for a sustainable and desirable future
Keep up to date with the latest ideas and thinkers shaping our response to the problems of the 21st century. Solutions also offers Solutions Journal that addresses solving the mounting environmental, social, and economic problems of our time.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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United Nations
The UN and its family of organizations work to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease, and reduce poverty.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Worldchanging
Worldchanging is a media organization made up of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. They write about solutions to the planet’s problems and stories of new tools, models, and ideas for building a green future.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Middle School Resources
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Rainforest Heroes
Rainforest Action Network
The Rainforest Action Network works to protect tropical rainforests and the human rights of those living in and around those forests.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Action Project | Free
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E, the Environmental Magazine
Earth Action Network
E is a bimonthly clearinghouse of information, news and resources for people concerned about the environment who want to know “What can I do?” to make a difference.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Online Magazine | Free
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National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Society
National Geographic photographs and details many current global issues including climate change, refugees, deforestation, culture, and biodiversity loss.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Online Magazine | Free
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Making Every Day Earth Day
Earth 911
Earth 911's recycling database lists over 100,000 recycling locations across the country for hundreds of products from packing peanuts to computers. Information on the site is provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations, and consumers.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Redefining Progress
Redefining Progress works to shift the economy and public policy towards sustainability, measuring progress toward sustainable development through key indicators.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Take Action
Sierra Club
Inspired by nature, the Sierra Club works to protect our communities and the planet. Their Take Action page describes ways to get involved with your community, pledges you can take to reduce your environmental imapct, and current environmental issues.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education
The mission of The Cloud Institute is to ensure the viability of sustainable communities by leveraging changes in K-12 school systems to prepare young people for the shift toward a sustainable future.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. Here you can find links to projects to protect the environment at work, at home, and at school, and learn how to report environmental damage to the EPA.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
The U.S. Partnership consists of individuals, organizations and institutions in the United States dedicated to education for sustainable development. It acts as a convener, catalyst, and communicator working across all sectors of society.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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For a Living Planet
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) works to stop the accelerating degradation of Earth's natural environment and to help humans live in greater harmony with nature.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Elementary School Resources
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The Tree that Came Home
IslandWood
The Tree That Came Home is a children's story told through the eyes of a Douglas-fir tree that grew up in Puget Sound hundreds of years ago and experienced the many changes that took place in the region.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Book | ISBN 9780982163306 | $
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goGreen: The Database
Edutopia
GoGreen: The Database is a directory of curriculum, service learning projects, field trips, speakers, and online tools that integrate environmental and social issues into classwork and community service.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Kids for Saving Earth
Kids for Saving Earth provides educational materials, posters, and information support for environmentally concerned kids and adults.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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A School In the Woods
IslandWood
In addition to offering hands-on learning opportunities for grades 4-6 on location in the Puget Sound, IslandWood provides online learning resoures such as songs for teaching and learning about the environment.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Xpeditions
National Geographic
Find lesson plans, activities, maps, a virtual museum, and other ideas for teaching geography in grades K-12.
Links to resources containing related Facing the Future lessons:
Website | Free
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Please contact us if you would like to suggest a resource or comment on any of these resources.
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