Unit 2
Global Warming and Climate Change
- Global Warming Kids Site
United States Environmental Protection Agency site on global warming has information on topics related to the changes in the Earth’s climate. - Global Warming is Hot Stuff
Information on the greenhouse effect and how it will affect the Earth, with ideas on how young people can help. - Kids and Youth - Environment Canada
Learn more about Canada’s role in helping with the issue of climate change. Lots of information about the role youth can play in helping the environment. - Tiki the Penguin’s Hot Earth
Go along with Tiki to explore the changing climate, and how it will affect people, places, and animals around the globe. - Climate Change Caravan
A Canada-wide tour to teach Canadians what they can do to help the climate. Links help explain about greenhouse gases and climate change. - Greenhouse Effect…
A clear explanation of how the greenhouse effect works and how it affects us. See the links on the left about climate change. - Stratospheric Ozone - Kidzone
Information and links to many sources of information for Canadian youth. - Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
A short explanation of how the greenhouse effect takes place.
World Biomes and Conservation Issues
- What’s it like where you live? Biomes of the World
The Missouri Botanical Garden supplies information about plants, animals, and climate conditions in biomes and ecosystems around the world. - World Biomes
BluePlanet describes the climate and other factors that make up biomes around the globe. - An Introduction to Biomes
Detailed notes about the makeup of biomes found on our planet. - Exploring the Environment: An Overview of Biomes
This NASA Classroom Of The Future site provides an easy-to-understand summary of Earth’s biomes. - Biomes
University of California informational site on biomes around the planet. - Habitats
Learn more about the different habitats of animals species around the world. - Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada
Short articles that describe the ecozones throughout Canada. Information is included about plants, animals and human activities in the area. - Ecoclimates of Canada
Some basic information on the ecoclimates (biomes) of Canada. - Earth Day Canada
Helping Canadians discover local solutions to issues related to the environment. - Eekoworld
Click on The Environment to see videos on ecosystems around the globe.
Art in your Ecozone
- Art of Atlantic Canada: An Interactive Exploration
Examples of art in various forms (e.g., paintings, sculptures) produced by artists in Atlantic Canada.
Economic Value of Amazon Rainforest
- Welcome to the Rainforest
This site, while run by a company who sell nutritional products, is a source of information on many rainforest issues, including the wealth of the rainforest, its plants, and its animals. It also has links to help you with projects on the rainforest. - Coffee and Conservation
An interactive page about growing crops in Amazonia. Ask your teacher for help if needed. - Rainforest Facts
Information about the rainforest, including agriculture and forestry (logging). It is a long article, but you can scan the headings as you scroll down to find the information you are looking for. - Protecting Forests Clearcutting and Logging: The War of the Woods
This series of videos by CBC television shows some of the concerns and issues dealing with the logging industry in Canada, and the growing concern over the cutting down of our forests. - Tropical Forests: Magical Rainforests
Learn about the issues affecting forests and the history of forest conservation. - Rain Forest at Night
This flash video site allows you to hear and see some of the animals who make the rainforest their home. - Rainforest Heroes
Join in on learning about the rainforests, how they are endangered, and what you can do to help save the rainforests. - Passport to the Rainforest
A variety of information about the rainforest, its resources, and what you can do to help. - Exploring the Environment: Tropical Poison
Read through this site and the links on the left to gather information about the destruction that is taking place in our forests throughout the world.
Deforestation
- Deforestation
A short set of webpages showing some of the damage that results from deforestation. - Two Worlds Touch
This website provides a short video that discusses how the lives of Aboriginal peoples in the rainforests have been affected by the deforestation of their homelands. - National Geographic’s Human Impact
Flash and video examples and information about how deforestation is affecting life on our planet.
Forest Conservation
- A Student Guide to Tropical Forest Conservation
Information about the value of rainforests and what people can do to stop deforestation. - What is Community Forestry?
Conservation and sustainable development of the Earth’s forest resources. - National Resources Canada - Canada's Forests
Explore the issues affecting Canada’s forests.
Challenges in Developing Resources
Commercial Fisheries: Canada
- Aquaculture Fact Sheets
These sheets, provided by the Government of Canada, have information about aquaculture in various areas of Canada. - Fished Out: The Rise and Fall of the Cod Fishery
A multimedia presentation including the history of the Atlantic cod fishery and the effects of the fishery’s collapse on the people of Newfoundland. - Lifelines: Canada’s East Coast Fisheries
Click on the headings to read about the history of the East Coast fisheries, including Aboriginal fishing, the cod fishery, the sea mammal harvest, and the lobster fishery.
- Canada: A Diamond-Producing Nation
An overview of the diamond industry in Canada. Ask your teacher for help if needed. - NPR - Mining for Diamonds in the Canadian Rough
An article about the effects of diamond mining in the Northwest Territories. There is some information about the effects of the mines on the people living there. Ask your teacher for help if needed. - Canadian Arctic Resources Committee: Diamonds and Sustainable Development
An article with recommendations on how to make Canadian diamond mining more sustainable for local communities and the environment.
Hydroelectric Dams: Canada
- How Hydropower Works
Find out how a water-turned turbine creates energy. - Walk through a Hydroelectric Project
Take the walk and learn about how hydroelectric power is created and transmitted. - The History of Churchill Falls
A detailed look at the history of the building of the hydroelectric dam at Churchill Falls, Labrador. - Hydroelectricity: The Power of Water
These CBC archive videos provide information and footage dealing with some of the issues surrounding hydroelectric power, especially in Canada.
Hydroelectric Dams: China (Three Gorges), Paraguay (Itaipú)
- Itaipú Dam: The world’s largest hydroelectric plant
Some information about the construction of this enormous dam in South America.
- Three Gorges Dam Reaches for the Sky
Agriculture: Canada
- Learning Zone—About Farming in Canada
Activities and information about Canadian agriculture.
Sustainable Practices
- Clean Air Online: Renewable Energy Related Links
This Canadian government site gives links related to renewable energy sources. - CanMET Energy: Renewables
This site from Natural Resources Canada has links to information about alternate sources of energy. - Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background information for Energy
The Canadian Science and Technology Museum gives information on energy and forms of energy, such as renewable and non-renewable forms. - Energy Quest
Information on types of energy, alternate sources, and how they work. From the California Energy Commission. - Energy Resources
Click on one of the types of energy on the left of the screen. You can find out how the energy source works, its advantages and disadvantages, and whether it is renewable. - The Energy Story
Click on the chapters to read a short article about a source of energy. There are lots of pictures and illustrations. - Tiki’s Energy Site
Join Tiki the penguin to find out about where energy comes from, how we use it, and how it affects the Earth. - Energy Facts
Follow the webpages to find out about renewable and non-renewable energy resources. There are illustrations. - Nova Scotia Power: Renewable Energy
Links on the right provide information about alternate energy sources that are being used in Atlantic Canada today. - Roofus’ Home
Join Roofus in examining how energy can be used around your home just as it is around his.
Sustainable Energy Resources
Wind Farms: Canada
- Wind with Miller
Learn how a real wind turbine works and help Miller build one to generate electricity.
Recycling and Composting: Canada
- MultiMaterial Stewardship Board - Newfoundland and Labrador
Programs throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to encourage recycling. - The 3 'R's in New Brunswick
A site with helpful hints on how to reduce and reuse materials before passing them on to be recycled. - Resource Recovery Fund Board — Nova Scotia
Ideas and background on recycling throughout Nova Scotia. - Recycle City
Visit Recycle City to see how a community can change itself into a modern, green community. - Composting in PEI
Suggestions on composting in your own home. - Backyard Magic: The Composting Handbook
The New Brunswick government offers ideas and suggestions for composting at home.
Geothermal Power
- Geothermal Energy — Energy from the Earth's Core
Read through this site to find some basic information on this energy from the earth’s core.
Hybrid Cars
- Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles
Information from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Click on the Technology Basics links at the left to learn how these types of vehicles work. (If you are reading about hybrid electric vehicles, note that “ICE” stands for “internal combustion engine.” This is the type of engine most cars and trucks use today.) - Electic Cars: Highly Bred
Some information on the newest hybrid cars released to the public. - A Student's Guide to Alternative Fuel Vehicles
A discussion of alternative energy cars—ones that do not burn gasoline, but some other form of energy.
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- Edugreen: Fuel Cells
Basic information on how fuel cells work. - Hydrogen Fuel Cell Basics
A short article on how hydrogen would be used to fuel cars in the future.