Resource Collections
Energy and Environment is a broad and diverse area of study. We've organized our resources into several topical themes to help you dig more deeply into your areas of interest. From educational curriculum units to websites devoted to deeply exploring a single topic area, our resource collection represents best practices based on both proven and emerging research and the work of our professional education staff.
Trained Volunteer Programs - Environmental Stewardship at Home - Energy - Weather and Climate
Water - Composting and Soil - Insects, Plants, and Wildlife - Podcasts, Blogs, and Newsletters
Additional Resources for Environmental Stewardship at Home
- Take Action on Radon: Radon is found in homes throughout Illinois. Learn how to get a radon test performed.
- Soil Testing: Find a soil testing lab near you.
- Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape: This brochure is a guide to the characteristics and benefits of selected Illinois plants to help home gardeners choose native plants appropriate for site-specific conditions.
Additional Resources for Energy
- Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory: Working to advance research and education focused on renewable food, fuel and fiber-based processing platforms.
- Ethanol: Learn the basics of ethanol production and use.
- Energy Education Council: Research, education, and outreach promoting the safe and efficient use of energy. Working with utilities to provide educational resources for public outreach.
Additional Resources for Weather and Climate
- Midwest Regional Climate Center: Services and research help to better explain climate and its impacts to the Midwest.
- Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program (WARM): Research and data about Illinois conditions.
- Winter Storm Resource Center: Links to the information you need to cope with severe winter weather.
- Illinois Drought Resources: Learn how to deal with heat and drought in Illinois.
Educational lessons
- Riding the Winds with Kalani: This weather adventure teaches about temperature, clouds, precipitation, and Earth movements (intended for K-2nd grade students). Spanish, Chinese, and Korean versions available
- Tree House Weather Kids: Learn about why the weather changes, how we predict the weather, and how weather can cause great destruction (intended for 5th-8th grade students). Spanish version available
- Shake, Rattle, and Slide: Learn about the work of earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers (intended for 5th-8th grade students). Spanish version available
- Weather and climate education toolkit: Teachers can use this package of weather, climate and climate change lesson plans and activities (intended for K-12 grade students) from Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant as is or adapt it for virtual learning and at-home teaching environments.
Additional Resources for Water
- Bioreactors, Water Table Management, and Water Quality: Explore techniques for minimizing nutrient loading into surface waters.
- Rain Garden - A Native Planting Guide for Rain Garden Beds: This guide provides a suggested rain garden planting plan.
- Stormwater@Home: Video series about rainwater management featuring homeowner nature-based solutions including rain gardens and permeable pavement.
Educational lessons
- All-Star River Explorers: Discover the basics of rivers and how they are formed.
Additional Resources for Composting and Soil
Educational lessons
- Claude's Got the Scoop on Soil: Students learn about how soil is made, who really needs soil, and what happens to soil if you don't take care of it.
- Adventures of Squirmin' Herman the Worm: Lessons about worms and how to make your own worm bin (intended for 1st-3rd grade students). Spanish version available
Additional Resources for Insects, Plants, and Wildlife
- Illinois Forestry: Educates landowners, environmental groups, natural resource managers, foresters, and loggers about forestry.
- Living with Deer in Illinois: This website provides residents of Illinois with information about how to coexist with Illinois deer.
- Pollinator Garden - Native Plants for Attracting Pollinators: This guide features a plant plan that creates year-round interest for people and extends the foraging season for pollinators.
Educational lessons
- Adventures of Squirmin' Herman the Worm: Lessons about worms and how to make your own worm bin (intended for 1st-3rd grade students). Spanish version available
- I Think Green: Youth investigate how living things interact with each other and with their environment.
- Trees are Terrific: Designed to help young children (5–8 years of age) gain an appreciation of trees, observe trees in their every day lives and develop an interest in learning more about trees. Spanish version available
- Exploring the Secret Life of Trees: Designed to help 3rd–5th grade students gain an appreciation of trees, observe trees in their everyday lives, and develop an interest in discovering more about trees. Spanish version available
