The Georgia BioEd team traveled to Athens on January 25th to meet with local researchers and learn about the lessons that they have prepared for elementary, middle and high school classrooms.

All Levels

ECOGIG

ECOGIG's mission is to understand the environmental impacts of hydrocarbon (oil and gas) input into the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more about their mission: https://www.ecogig.org/

A full list of their educational offerings is available at https://www.ecogig.org/get-educated

 

EcoReach

The EcoReach program at UGA seeks to connect researchers at the University with local classrooms to bring awareness of ecology and environmental issues to students. They have lessons for all levels that are aligned with state standards. The group will bring lessons to schools within a 30-minute drive of UGA.

Learn more and request a classroom visit at http://ecoreach.ecology.uga.edu/

 

Georgia Museum of Art

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia offers extensive tour options for pre-K through 12th grade students and teachers.

https://georgiamuseum.org/

Learn more about their offerings for schools here: http://georgiamuseum.org/learn/education-programs/school-and-teacher-programs/

 

UGA Radon Education

Radon is a natural byproduct of the decay of uranium, which is found in high concentration in granite formations. Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, and kills nearly 800 Georgians per year. The UGA Radon Education team works to increase awareness of the prevalence of radon in Georgia and educate the public about the ways to treat homes with high concentrations of radon.

Contact Derek Cooper for more information about Radon programs that can be brought to your school.

 

Kindergarten

Athens Forest Kindergarten

https://www.athensforestkindergarten.org/

 

Elementary

Coral Reefs and Biodiversity

William Norfolk created a lesson focusing on biodiversity in coral reefs and highlighting the impacts of climate change and pollution within a reef.

Suggested for: Grades 3-8

Contact William at william.norfolk@uga.edu for more information about this lesson.

 

Elementary and Middle School

Grow It. Know It.

https://site.extension.uga.edu/growitknowit/

 

Convergent Evolution, Lizard Predators

Julia Frederick created a lesson that focuses on evolution, camoflage, and behavior of lizards. Julia also has a lesson based on her current research on ticks as vectors of human diseases, which focuses on insect preferences and how to be "less tasty" to biting insects.

Suggested for: 3rd and 7th grade

contact julia.frederick@uga.edu for more information about these lessons.

 

Middle and High School

Engineered Crystal Growth of Magnesium Sulfate

Eman Abdelrahman and Matthew Seivert created a lesson centered around research on manganese blue crystals and crystal growth.

Suggested for: Grades 6-8 and 9-12

For lesson plans, please email Eman at ema88805@uga.edu or Matthew at mseivert@uga.edu.

 

High School Only

Pathogenic Pollution

This interdisciplinary unit looks at water as a resource with a constant and growing need that requires new processes for making clean water accessible to all people. It incorporates reading, writing, math literacy with science content and creativity through engineering design. This lesson was created as a GIFT internship product in Dr. Ding Xie's lab at Georgia Tech by Chelsea Sexton and Laura Rogers.

Suggested for: AP Environmental Science and HS Environmental Science lessons

To access the lesson plans, fill out the survey at bit.ly/pathogenicpollution. Please do not share the lesson directly, only the survey link.

 

Electricity through a Capacitor

Faraz Ahmad has created a lesson focusing on power systems, capacitors and electricity.

Suggested for: Grades 9-12

Email Faraz at fa45056@uga.edu for more information about this lesson.

 

Global Change and our Ecosystems

Cece Working created a lesson based on research in disease ecology and community ecology in domestic and wildlife populations.

Suggested for: Grades 9-12

Email Cece at cworking@uga.edu for more information about this lesson.

Other

Athens Science Cafe

The goal of the Athens Science Café is to facilitate a connection between the scientific community of Athens, GA and the Athens community at large. They host scientists and Athens area residents to hold a dialogue about the scientist's work. Check out the "Upcoming Events" tab on their website to learn about future events.

https://athenssciencecafe.wordpress.com/