Earth Day TV Special: Where We've Been, Where We're Headed

In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, find out how environmental activists have shaped how we work, live, and play in a more environmentally responsible way.

Ecology

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K defines ecology and ecosystems and explains how all living and non-living things in an ecosystem interact and depend on the energy of the sun.

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The Effects of Global Warming in Alaska

In this media-rich lesson, students learn how global warming is changing the Alaskan environment and examine the consequences of climate change on the region's human and wildlife inhabitants.

The Effects of Pesticides on Children

Follow anthropologist Elizabeth Guillette as she studies the effects of pesticides on children in a farming community in Mexico, in this video segment adapted from Playing with Poison.

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Electronic Gadgets

Two kids learn some surprising facts about the parts in their computer game, in this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS.

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Elk

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K describes the yearly life cycle of elk and follows them from their winter habitat to their summer habitat and back.

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Endangered Relationships

This lesson uses videos from Nature’s "Crash: A Tale of Two Species" to explore the interrelationship between the horseshoe crab and a small migratory bird called the red knot.

Endangered Species

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K explores the many reasons why animals become endangered or become extinct.

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Endocrine Disruptor Hypothesis

Scientists discuss whether or not endocrine disrupting chemicals, which may cause birth defects and other health concerns, should be controlled in the absence of conclusive proof, in this video segment adapted from FRONTLINE: "Fooling with Nature."

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Energy Flow

This feature, adapted from Interactive NOVA: "Earth," follows the path of energy as it is transferred via the food chain from one type of organism to another.

Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem

This video segment, adapted from NOVA, describes the energy flow in a coral reef, including its food web.

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Engineer a Crop: Transgenic Manipulation

You're the geneticist now. In this interactive feature from the NOVA/FRONTLINE "Harvest of Fear" Web site, use the latest in genetic technology to engineer your own "supercrop" of tomatoes.

Environmental Hazards on the Farm

This interactive activity adapted from the National Library of Medicine identifies health hazards found on farms.

Environmental Hazards at the Coast

This interactive activity adapted from the National Library of Medicine identifies environmental health hazards in coastal areas.

Environmental Hazards in the City

This interactive activity adapted from the National Library of Medicine identifies environmental health hazards in a typical urban or suburban community.

Environmentalist Bill McKibben, 1990

In this 1990 archival news footage from Cambridge Community Television, environmentalist Bill McKibben speaks about the possible effects of climate change at an Earth Day celebration in Cambridge, MA.

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Environmental Justice: Opposing Industrial Hog Farming

Learn about the impact that large-scale hog farming has had on one minority community in North Carolina and how residents fought back to protect their water supply and property, in this video segment adapted from Earthkeeping: "Toxic Racism."

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Environmental Justice: Opposing a Toxic Waste Incinerator

In this video segment adapted from Earthkeeping: "Toxic Racism," learn how farm workers and farm owners formed a rare alliance in an effort to block the use of an incinerator in their Latino community by suing a major corporation for environmental discrimination.

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Environmental Justice: Opposing a Toxic Waste Landfill

This video segment adapted from Earthkeeping: “Toxic Racism” talks about the early days of the environmental justice movement and how the health of minority communities can be compromised by the disproportionate numbers of hazardous waste facilities located there.

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Environmental Justice in Dallas

Follow a Dallas community's fight to receive federal Superfund status to clean up the damage from a high-polluting lead smelter, in this video segment adapted from Earthkeeping: "Toxic Racism."

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E. O. Wilson: Ants and Ecosystems

This segment is from an interview with ant specialist and biologist E.O. Wilson, filmed for Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race."

Eradicating Malaria with DDT

Learn about the role of the controversial chemical DDT in the worldwide malaria eradication program, and hear from an expert who advocates bringing it back, in this video segment adapted from Rx for Survival.

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Ethanol Biofuel

In this video segment adapted from NOVA, learn about one scientist's idea for using biotechnology to make ethanol a more efficient alternative to gasoline.

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Exploring Environmental Change

Students explore the connections that can exist in a natural environment, and examine how changes to the environment, particularly those caused by human activity, can affect those connections.

Exploring the Arctic Seafloor

In this interactive activity adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn what some of the first imagery ever shot on the Arctic Ocean seabed tells us about life in extreme environments.

Exploring the "Systems" in Ecosystems

In this media-rich lesson, students use a systems thinking approach to explore the components and processes of ecosystems. They analyze both a hypothetical and a local ecosystem by identifying abiotic and biotic components and their relationships.

Extreme Measures

This video adapted from Nature describes efforts to protect salmon by killing or relocating species that prey on salmon.

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Factory Farms and Organic Alternatives

In this video adapted from the series Race to Save the Planet, learn how agricultural pesticides can help increase the amount of food produced, but can also damage soil and wildlife in the process. See how organic farming addresses some of these challenges.

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Farm Nitrates in the Water Supply

Learn how nitrate runoff from farm fertilizers can negatively impact human health and how a water treatment plant is tackling the challenge, in this video excerpted from Big River.

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Farm Solutions to Water Pollution

In this KET video from Common Ground and Cleaner Water, Tribby Vice, a Kentucky farmer, talks about the changes he has made on his farm to protect the water quality of the stream running through his property and the watershed in which he lives.

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Feasting on the Salmon Run

This video from Nature focuses on the annual “salmon run,” when brown bears descend on Alaska’s rivers to fish in rivers teeming with salmon swimming upstream to spawn.

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Field Biology

This video segment from the teacher video series Learning That Works uses a case study to highlight the effectiveness of a project-based, real-world approach to teaching science.

The Fierce Humboldt Squid

Historically, the Humboldt squid has roamed the waters of the Humboldt Current, ranging from the southernmost tip of South America to California. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, find out how they have been able to survive and thrive in their expanding range.

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Fishing for Safe Food

This interactive game adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a fun way to learn which types of fish contain low levels of mercury and are safe to eat and which contain high levels and should be avoided.

Fish Research

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K explains the Chinook salmon's life cycle in the Pacific Northwest and why it is an endangered species. A fisheries biologist takes students through some steps of fish research with explanations of the kinds of information biologists gather to perhaps help manage fish recovery.

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Flood Plain and Higher Ground Habitats

This video segment from NatureScene features the area of the Congaree Swamp where the high ground and the flood plain meet. Learn how a few feet of difference in elevation on a floodplain can yield drastic changes in what you’ll find living there.

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Florida's Everglades: The River of Grass

In this lesson designed to enhance literacy skills, students learn about the unique environment of southern Florida's Everglades and gain insights into the interrelatedness of living things, nonliving things, and climate.

Food Web

This short video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K illustrates how a food web works.

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Forests

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K describes rain, temperate and boreal forests and some of the animals that live in them.

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Fossils

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K explains how fossils are formed, discusses the Hagerman Horse fossil found in Idaho. It describes the tools Paleontologists use and why they study fossils.

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Frogs

A boy named Ben learns about the dangers of invasive species—in this case, frogs—in this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS.

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From Ridge to Reef: Adapting to a Changing Climate

Explore Pacific high island and atoll ecosystems, learn about the threats to island resources and residents, and discover how communities are preserving their future, in this interactive activity adapted from the Micronesia Conservation Trust.

From Salt Ponds to Wetlands

Biologists are working to restore the San Francisco Bay Area salt ponds to healthy wetlands for wildlife in one of the largest restoration projects on the West Coast. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, students learn why wetlands are important to wildlife.

Garbage

A boy named Oliver learns how to reduce the amount of trash he discards, in this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS.

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Global Trends Quiz

In this interactive quiz from NOVA, take the Environmental Challenge and test your knowledge of human impact on the world's natural resources and climate.

Global Warming?

Students examine the issue of global warming. They calculate how much carbon dioxide all the machines they use produce in one day.

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect

This video segment from Race to Save the Planet: "Only One Atmosphere" discusses the greenhouse effect and global warming.

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Global Warming Threatens Caribou

This video segment adapted from Arctic Mission presents the challenges faced by caribou herds unable to adapt to a warming climate.

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Global Warming Threatens Shishmaref

In this video segment adapted from Spanner Films, visit the Alaska Native village of Shishmaref, and learn how an entire town may be forced to relocate because of warmer temperatures, melting sea ice, and coastal erosion.

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Global Warming Threatens World Water Supply

Potentially half of the world's water supply may be at risk because of melting glaciers. Learn more about the consequences of global warming in this video segment adapted from FRONTLINE: "Heat."

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Global Warming Warning

This video from Nature examines how polar bears’ arctic habitat is literally falling into the sea as a consequence of global climate change, and how they may be helpless to adapt in time.

The Grand Canyon: Conservation and Development

This video segment adapted from NOVA explores the effects of the Glen Canyon Dam on the beaches, wildlife, and vegetation of the Colorado River.

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Groundbreaking Pesticide Ban

Learn how one child's willingness to share her experience of life-threatening exposure to lawn pesticides helped inspire a citywide ban of pesticides for lawn or garden use, in this video segment adapted from Playing with Poison.

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Gwich'in Tribe Protects Caribou and Culture

In this video adapted from Bullfrog Films, Gwich’in Chief Evon Peter of Arctic Village, Alaska, describes his people's connection to the caribou and their passion to protect Alaska Native land and traditions.

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Habitat

This video segment from IdahoPTV's D4K explains the 4 basic requirements of a perfect habitat and what a niche is within a habitat. You'll see videos of different animals in their habitats, such as; bear, moose, spiders and mountain goats,

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Healing Mother Earth for Future Generations

In this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College, meet Native Americans who are concerned about climate change and believe that action today can help future generations once again live in harmony with Earth.

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Health Risks of the BP Oil Spill

In this video segment adapted from Need to Know, learn about the possible short- and long-term health risks for workers involved in cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Helping and Harming: Human Impact on Salmon Populations

In this lesson, students use segments from the Nature episode "Salmon: Running the Gauntlet" to explore ways in which humans have impacted salmon populations.

Hog Wild

Wild hogs number in the hundreds of thousands and reside in all but two of California's 58 counties. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, learn how hunters are stepping up to be part of the solution to this problem.

Homo Sapiens Versus Neanderthals

This video segment, adapted from NOVA, explores reasons why Homo sapiens had an advantage over Neanderthals in the pursuit of territory and natural resources.

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Horseshoe Crabs and Humans

This video from Nature highlights the horseshoe crab and its immense value to humans.

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Horseshoe Crabs and Red Knots

This video from Nature describes horseshoe crabs as an essential source of nutrition for migrating birds.

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How Did Life Emerge Here?

This video segment adapted from NOVA describes the emergence of life on the islands of Hawaiʻi from a barren volcanic platform under the ocean waves to the rich explosion of life that covers the many climate zones of the islands today.

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How the Arctic Ecosystem Might Change

In this video segment adapted from the National Film Board of Canada, learn why the unique Arctic ecosystem may be replaced if global warming continues to melt sea ice.

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How to Prevent Future Bhopals

Henrik Selin, a professor of international relations at Boston University and author of the forthcoming book Global Governance of Hazardous Chemicals, assesses the risk of future disasters like the 1984 gas leak in Bhopal India, in this audio segment from PRI's The World Science Podcast.

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Humans and Salmon

In this video from Nature, learn about the adverse impact humans have had upon salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest.

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Hurricane Katrina: Wetland Destruction

Tour the wetlands south of New Orleans that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in this video segment from NOVA scienceNOW.

Illuminating Photosynthesis

This interactive feature from the NOVA: "Methuselah Tree" Web site details the process of photosynthesis and its role in the oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle.

Indiana Bats of Carter Cave

This KET video segment from Kentucky Life explores one of the endangered habitats of Indiana bats and describes the benefits of bats to humans.

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Intertidal Zone

This video segment from NOVA: "The Sea Behind the Dunes" explores the community of organisms that exists in the New England tidal marsh.

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Intertidal Zone and Sea Level Rise

Find out how scientific surveys are providing evidence that animal populations in Yosemite and along the California coast have shifted over time in response to rising temperatures.

Inuit Observations of Climate Change

In this video adapted from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, an Inuit community collaborates with Western scientists studying climate change. Inuit observations are recorded and included in the data collection process, expanding the scientists' understanding of changes in the area.

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Iñupiaq Whale Hunt

This video, adapted from material provided by the ECHO partners, provides a portrait of Iñupiaq whaling as a community activity, as told through the story of one hunt.

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Journey to the Farallones

The Farallon Islands aren’t just a unique habitat, they’re also a bellwether for climate change. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, find out how unexpected, recent climate change is affecting life on and around the Farallon Islands.

Juice Boxes

A kid discovers that an ordinary juice box is surprisingly high-tech and, once discarded, will last for 300 years, in this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS.

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The Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle

This video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department describes how humans are helping restore safe nesting grounds for the critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle to ensure its successful repopulation.

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La'ona DeWilde: Environmental Biologist

In this video profile produced for Teachers' Domain, meet La'ona DeWilde, an environmental biologist who integrates her Athabascan heritage and her Western scientific training to help remote Alaskan villages address environmental issues.

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Lava Landscapes

Learn how volcanic activity affects the surrounding land in this video from Nature.

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Leafy Spurge

This video segment from Evolution: "Extinction!" shows how biological control is successfully combating North Dakota's infestation of leafy spurge, a non-native plant.

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Liberty Lands

In this What's Up In The Environment? video segment, learn how a contaminated plot of land in Philadelphia was recycled into a beautiful public park called Liberty Lands.

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Life and Death of Salmon

This video adapted from Nature explores the life and death of wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest.

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Life Before Oxygen

This Interactive NOVA: "Earth" video segment looks at ancient organisms that lived anaerobically, the origins of photosynthesis, and the new forms of life this process made possible.

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Life Cycle of a Seed Plant

In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Alberta, learn about each step in the life cycle of a seed plant.

Life in Florida's Spring

In this video segment from Nature, get a close up look at life in the warm Florida springs and the numerous predators supported by the abundant life.

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Life in the Deep

Learn about some strange creatures that inhabit the deep oceans, including transparent sea cucumbers and oil eating tube worms, in this audio segment from PRI's The World Science Podcast.

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Life in the Water Supply

Take a close look at life in one town’s water supply in this video segment from Nature.

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Life of a Tree

In this interactive activity adapted from the National Arbor Day Foundation, take a sixty-two-year journey observing the inner layers, rings, and environmental factors that affect a tree's growth and life cycle.

Light Pollution

In this interactive activity adapted from the National Park Service, learn how light pollution affects the night sky, animals, and humans, and then explore several possible solutions.

Liquid Assets: A Water System

This segment from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets succinctly explains how water in New York journeys from its source to our faucets. Although water flows under our feet everyday, we are blissfully unaware of this service and take it for granted.

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Liquid Assets: Community Participation/Activism

This video segment from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets explains the problem that the city of Pittsburgh faces in terms of its watershed management and the work being done by an environment group in helping its citizens deal with it.

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Liquid Assets: Public Health

This video segment from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets connects public health to the availability of clean and safe drinking water and elaborates on the threats our bodies face due to increasing kinds and quantities of pollutants.

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Liquid Assets: Sustainable Water Use

This video from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets shows the transformation of Las Vegas’ water infrastructure. A desert community, Las Vegas is reducing water consumption and re-using wastewater, making optimal use of limited water resources.

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Liquid Assets: Wastewater

This video segment from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets describes the progression of wastewater management from its early days to present day wastewater treatment systems. The development of Boston’s first-ever waste management system is described.

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Liquid Assets: Watershed

In this lesson, students will understand what a watershed is, the factors which can pollute it, the modern-day problems facing watersheds (including pollution) and the ways in which they can be protected.

Living on the Coast

This video, adapted from material provided by the ECHO partners, illuminates how living on the coast affects individuals and communities, particularly humans' interrelationships with natural resources.

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Magazines

After learning that two-and-a-half million tons of magazines are discarded in America every year, a girl finds creative ways to reuse them, in this animated video from LOOP SCOOPS.

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Malaria Treatment and Prevention Strategies

In this video segment adapted from Rx for Survival, watch a graphic representation of the malaria parasite and hear from experts about the physical and economic effects of the disease on the human population, as well as treatments and preventive measures.

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Melting Permafrost

In this video adapted from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, see melting permafrost and hear Alaska Native peoples and Western scientists discuss its impact on Inuit culture and resources.

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Mercury Calculator

This interactive calculator produced by Teachers' Domain helps you determine the mercury levels in various types of fish, and enables you to make more informed choices about which fish are safe to eat and which should be avoided or eaten infrequently.

Mercury in San Francisco Bay

In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, examine the multibillion-dollar plan to clean up the mercury in San Francisco Bay.