Click on your topic to take you to the resources
General Info:
Pebble
Mountain Pass Mine Grand Canyon Trust
Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine NASA
Rare-earth mining is dirty but key to a climate-friendlier future Talks about Mountain Pass and Bayan Obo. Science News Explores
Mapping the Impacts and Conflicts of Rare-Earth Elements Different places around the world with REE mining. Observatori del Deute en la Globalització
Rare earth elements facts Government of Canada
More Valuable than Oil (from Research Rocket)
The New Arctic Rush (from Research Rocket)
Environmental Pollution World Book
Energy Supply World Book
The Environment:
Pond
Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China
Steppe: A Civilization-altering Biome Most People Can’t Name How Stuff Works
Eastern Mongolian Steppes Unesco
Mountain Pass Mine, California, U.S.
Mojave Desert Encyclopedia Britannica
Mojave National Preserve: Nature & Science National Park Service
Ripples
Demand for minerals sparks fear of mining abuses on Indigenous peoples’ lands NPR 2024
Rare-earth mining is dirty but key to a climate-friendlier future Science News Explores
Harder article
You may need an adult to help you with this article.
From rare-earth to classroom: Building geoeconomic justice into digital education Unesco
Solutions
Recycling rare-earth elements is hard — but worth it Science News Explores
General Info:
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Flint World Book
Flint Water Crisis: Everything You Need to Know NRDC
When is water safe to drink? (Video 5 min.) Ted Ed
The Environment:
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Restoring Michigan’s Flint River U.S. Fish and Wildlife
The Flint: A good river with a bad reputation Charles Stuart Mott Foundation
Note: The main biotic element affected by this event were people, especially children.
Ripples
Community action helps people cope with Flint’s water woes Science News Explores 2024
Human Rights, Environmental Justice, and Climate Change: Flint, Michigan American Bar Association
6 years after water crisis began, what has changed in Flint — and what hasn’t (video 6 min) PBS NewsHour
Harder articles
You may need an adult to help you with this article.
Solutions
Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill: Gulf of Mexico
other keywords: petroleum, oil rig Back to TopGeneral Info:
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Gulf Oil Spill of 2010 World Book
Ocean (section on Ocean Problems→Oil pollution) World Book
Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 Encyclopedia Britannica
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Interactive (Smithsonian) Click the tabs to see the sequence of events.
“Effort to Contain Oil Spill Faces Setback” May 9, 2010 (DOGO news)
“Finally, Some Good News About The Gulf Oil Spill” May 17, 2010 (DOGO news)
“Gulf Oil Spill Is Finally Capped – For Now!” July 16, 2010 (DOGO news)
Harder Articles
Deepwater Horizon Blowout Animation Video (11 minutes) Gets pretty technical, but the graphics help. (Alertometer)
The Environment:
Pond
“ESTUARIES” (Kids Do Ecology)
“The Gulf of Mexico: Layers of Life” poster (National Geographic)
Nonrenewable: Oil (Petroleum) US Department of Energy Information
Environmental Pollution World Book
Initial Impact
“Gulf Coast Oil Spill Threatens Fragile Ecosystem” May 2, 2010 (DOGO news)
“Gulf Spill Still Threatens Millions of Migrating Birds” Video (5 minutes) (National Geographic)
“Affected Gulf Resources” click on the down arrows for more info (NOAA)
Infographic comparing this spill to others (Fast Company) 2010
“Gulf of Mexico- A Geography of Offshore Oil” Poster -see where oil rigs are located in the Gulf. (National Geographic)
Oil Spill FAQs (Live Science) April 28, 2010
Slideshow-Animals at Risk from Oil Spill Make sure to click through to page 2, to see Beach Mice and more. (Live Science) 2010
“Rice’s Whale” Extremely endangered whale affected by Deepwater Horizon spill. (NOAA) 2024
“Infographic: Deepwater Horizon – Where Did the Oil Go?” (NOAA) 2020
Harder Articles
Petroleum Look especially at the section on “Drilling for petroleum”. World Book
Ripples
Learning from Disasters Comparing the Exxon Valdez to the Deepwater Horizon (from Research Rocket) 2011
30 Years after Exxon Valdez, 9 Years after Deepwater Horizon: What We Found U.S. Government Accounting Office
Impact Over Time
2015 Article on effects of oil spill on Animals (Science News for Students) 2015
“Sea Turtles And The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill” (Sea Grant Programs of the Gulf of Mexico) 2021
Harder Articles
“The Economic Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill” Some difficult words, but concentrate on the kinds of jobs impacted by the oil spill. (Moody’s Analytics) 2010
Gulf Wildlife Impacts after 5 years Long article-skim for different animals affected. (National Wildlife Federation)
“5 Years After BP Oil Spill, Effects Linger And Recovery Is Slow” Text and Audio (8 minutes) (NPR) 2015
“Gulf Oil Spill” -lots to explore on the site, including long-term effects (Smithsonian) 2018
“Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster Extends Its Toxic Reach” profiles people whose health was affected. (Newsweek) 2016
Effects on Children (Science Daily) 2020
Human Health Effects -Long article, but look at the ripples chart. (Oceanography) 2021
Assessing the Impacts from Deepwater Horizon (NOAA) 2017
“Gluttonous Microbes Devour Gulf Oil” (DOGO news) 2010
“Gulf Turtle Eggs Relocated” Video (5 minutes) (National Geographic) 2010
“Eco Friendly Ways To Deal With Oil Spills” (Environment)
“What Does It Take to Clean up the Cleanup From an Oil Spill?” (NOAA) 2019
What is an oil spill trajectory? Video (1 minute) How NOAA predicts where the oil will go. (NOAA)
“10 Methods for Oil Spill Cleanup at Sea” (Marine Insight)
“6 of the Latest Advances in Oil Spill Cleanup” (Treehugger) 2020
“Oil spill disasters: Ways to limit environmental damage” Watch the video “Cleaning up oil spills with cotton” (3 minutes) (DW) 2021
Disposal of Oil
”Dirty disposal of oil cleanup material” (NBC News) 2010
Harder articles
“BP’s Waste Management Plan Raises Environmental Justice Concerns” (Dissident Voice) 2010
Solutions
“Gluttonous Microbes Devour Gulf Oil” (DOGO news) 2010
“Gulf Turtle Eggs Relocated” Video (5 minutes) (National Geographic) 2010
“Eco Friendly Ways To Deal With Oil Spills” (Environment)
“What Does It Take to Clean up the Cleanup From an Oil Spill?” (NOAA) 2019
What is an oil spill trajectory? Video (1 minute) How NOAA predicts where the oil will go. (NOAA)
“10 Methods for Oil Spill Cleanup at Sea” (Marine Insight)
“6 of the Latest Advances in Oil Spill Cleanup” (Treehugger) 2020
“Oil spill disasters: Ways to limit environmental damage” Watch the video “Cleaning up oil spills with cotton” (3 minutes) (DW) 2021
Disposal of Oil
”Dirty disposal of oil cleanup material” (NBC News) 2010
Harder articles
“BP’s Waste Management Plan Raises Environmental Justice Concerns” (Dissident Voice) 2010
General Info:
Pebble
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill World Book
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Encyclopedia Britannica
Environmental Pollution World Book
Ocean (section on Ocean Problems→Oil pollution) World Book
The Environment:
Pond
The Wildlife of Prince William Sound Phillips Cruises and Tours
About Prince WIlliam Sound Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation
Ripples
*new* A grim future for some killer whales Science News Explores
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill History.com
Learning from Disasters Comparing the Exxon Valdez to the Deepwater Horizon (from Research Rocket) 2011
*new*Op-ed: The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, how we see climate change then and now PBS
To Drill or Not to Drill (from Research Rocket)
*new* Native Alaskans Still Reeling 25 Years After Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill New Orleans Public Radio
‘The day the water died’: 37 years after Exxon Valdez, the damage still lingers KTUU News
30 Years after Exxon Valdez, 9 Years after Deepwater Horizon: What We Found U.S. Government Accounting Office
Solutions
Prince William Sound Marine Bird Surveys Suggestions on keeping marine birds safe. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dust Bowl
Back to TopGeneral Info:
Pebble
Dust Bowl World Book
Dust Bowl Encyclopedia Britannica
The Dust Bowl – ResearchRocket (Junior Scholastic)
Worst Drought in 1000 Years Science News Explores
The Dust Bowl National Drought Mitigation Center U. of NE
Historical Droughts: How do these historical New England droughts compare to the Dust Bowl?
“The 1965 Drought, New England’s Worst Ever” (New England Historical Society)
“The 1762 Drought” (New England Historical Society)
The Environment:
Pond
Prairie National Geographic
Healthy soils are life giving black gold Science News Explores
Memories of the Dust Bowl ResearchRocket
Ripples
Solutions
“Drought Resistant Practices” (USDA)
“New England Farmers Deal With Drought, Climate Change” some solutions for farmers. Text and audio (5 minutes) (The Public’s Radio) 2016
Making Your Land More Resilient to Drought (USDA) 2022
“Could No-Till Farming Reverse Climate Change?” (U.S. News and World Report) 2016
Want to help the planet? Rethink your lawn Audio (5 minutes) and text. (WBUR) 2022
Can We Protect Ourselves From Drought? (National Drought Mitigation Center)
8 innovative drought solutions that we can count On (RIPE) 2019
Tennessee Valley Authority Coal Ash Spill
Back to TopGeneral Info:
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Muddy Mess – Tennessee–Massive coal-waste spill sparks health concerns (from Research Rocket) 2009
Site of the Spill Infographic/map showing the spill and how the ash is produced. New York Times 2008
Toxic coal ash piling up in ponds in 32 states (from Research Rocket) 2009
Communities gather to remember Kingston Coal Ash Spill cleanup workers, 15 years later WBIR Channel 10, 2023. (Video 1.15 min)
Environmental Pollution World Book
Harder articles
At Plant in Coal Ash Spill, Toxic Deposits by the Ton New York Times
The Environment:
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Tennessee go to the land and climate section. World Book
Restoring Streams & Rivers Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Tennessee Rivers, Wildlife, & Recreation Go to the bottom of the page to see what wildlife lives in Tennessee Rivers. Harpeth Conservancy
The danger of coal ash, the toxic dust the fossil fuel leaves behind PBS News 2019 (Video 10 min. plus transcript)
Coal Ash Spill, Tennessee NASA satellite images
Exploring Tennessee’s Wildlife Habitats TennGreen Land Conservancy
Ripples
US utilities find water pollution at coal ash dumps (from Research Rocket) 2018
Nearly two decades after TVA coal ash spill, pain lingers for families of cleanup workers Tennessee Lookout 2026
EPA proposes gutting rules for handling toxic coal ash, a move that threatens groundwater PBS
Super Challenge article! Difficult, but very interesting.
How the Kingston coal ash spill unearthed a nuclear nightmare. Grist 2020
Solutions
General Info:
Pebble
Love Canal Story Map Expanded version of the artice we read for Presearch. Contains photos and a map. University of Buffalo
Learning about Love Canal Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper
Love Canal NPL Site This site has an overview, a map and what they’ve done to try to fix the problem. U.S. Department of the Interior
Environmental Pollution World Book
Portraits in Oversight: Congress and the Love Canal Disaster Levin Center
Love Canal and Its Mixed Legacy Article and 11 min video. New York Times
The Environment:
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Niagara Falls region-Fauna TourNiagara
Niagara Falls: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT The Niagara River was polluted before Love Canal. Thunder Alley
A Unique Natural Resource Text and video (5 min) Niagara Remedial Action Plan
Lois Gibbs’ Historic Love Canal Fight Living on Earth
Ripples
Harder articles
Solutions
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
other keywords: pollution, garbage, reduce, reuse, recycle, ocean Back to TopGeneral Info:
Pebble
Start with
Great Pacific Garbage Patch World Book
Great Pacific Garbage Patch Encyclopedia Britannica
Great Pacific Garbage Patch National Geographic
Danger in Our Oceans (from Research Rocket) 2022
Plastics World Book (the last section on “Plastics in the environment”)
Environmental Pollution World Book
The nurdles’ quest for ocean domination Ted Ed (video 5 min)
“What really happens to the plastic you throw away” Video 4 min (Ted ED)
Plastics: Material-Specific Data Data and charts about how much plastic is recycled. The answer is not much. (EPA) updated 2026
“Plastic pollution is an environmental injustice to vulnerable communities – new report” (United Nations) 2021
The Environment:
Pond
Open Ocean Monterey Bay Aquarium
Pacific garbage patch may be 16 times bigger than thought Science News Explores 2018
Meet the floating animals that call the Great Pacific Garbage Patch home NPR 2023
Harder articles
This floating ocean garbage is home to a surprising amount of life from the coasts NPR 2023
Ripples
Trash Tracker (from Research Rocket) 2020
Most plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from the fishing industry Our World in Data 2023
Harder articles
Polluting microplastics harm both animals and ecosystems Science News Explores 2020
Plastic Wars: Industry Spent Millions Selling Recycling — To Sell More Plastic Text, audio (4 minutes) and video (3 minutes) (NPR) 2020
Solutions
A Record amount of litter taken from sea. (from Research Rocket) 2023
Hawaii is turning fishnets and other plastic trash into roads Science News Explores 2026
Boyan Slat’s Ocean Cleanup Project Successfully Retrieves Plastic From The Great Pacific Garbage Patch DOGO News 2019
Camp Fire 2018 and other Wildfires
Back to TopGeneral Info:
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Camp Fire of 2018 Encyclopedia Britannica Camp Fire Simulation National Geographic (animation) California Struggles with Monster Wildfires News for Kids 2018 The New Normal – What Today’s Wildfires Tell Us About Our Future (from Research Rocket) 2018 California’s Fire Season Is Getting Longer And Increasingly More Destructive DOGO News 2019 |
Wildfire chronology 2017-2022
2017- “The United States Had a Snowy WInter, So Why the Fiery Summer?” Tween Tribune
2017-”Ferocious Fires Show No Sign of Slowing Down” Dogo News
2018-”California Struggles with Monster Wildfires” –about the Camp fire (News for Kids)
2019 “California’s Fire Season Is Getting Longer And Increasingly More Destructive” Good charts and graphs (Dogo News)
2020 “US West Struggles to Contain Massive Wildfires” (News for Kids)
2020 “California exceeds 4 million acres burned by wildfires in 2020” (NBC News)
2020 “Arctic Heat Wave, Wildfires – a Global Problem” (News for Kids)
2021 “Firefighters Battle Biggest Wildfire in Mass. for 20 Years, Appalachian Trail Impacted” (10Boston)
2022 A Summer Of Heatwaves And Wildfires (Youngzine)
2022 Dried out forests are on fire across Massachusetts due to record-setting drought Text, audio (4 minutes), video (2 minutes) (WGBH)
Wildfires in General
Start with World Book articles on “Wildfire,” “Chaparral” (password)
“GRASSLAND” the biome of the Midwest (Kids Do Ecology)
“Wildfires” (National Geographic)
“Wildfires” –Basic info and definitions (make sure to go to other pages and links) (Weather WizKids)
“Wildfires” (Ready.gov)
5 Ways Wildfires Threaten Western Wildlife (National WIldlife Federation) 2016
What Effects Do Wildfires Have on Humans and Animals? (Western Fire Chiefs Association) updated 2023.
National Interagency Fire Center –updated lists of where fires are burning now, and some statistics of past fires–click around the site to find pages like: National Fire News, Inciweb (map of current fires) and Fire Prevention.
“Fires: Current Conditions” (May take a long time to load) Up-to date fire maps and information on air quality. Click around to find other resources. (AirNow)
“FIRE DANGER – Why the risk of wildfires keeps growing” (Muse from Research Rocket) 2019 (password)
Harder Articles
“How the media covers fires” Text includes costs of wildfires and ways to protect fire-prone communities (in a link). (Wildfire Today) 2019
The Science of Wildfires (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) updated 2020
The Environment:
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Researchers conduct detailed case study of the Camp Fire Talks about abiotic conditions before the fire. Wildfire Today 2021
From the Ashes of Paradise: Community Plans Forged in Wildfire First paragraph talks about the geography of the area. FEMA
Paradise: Resiliency on The Ridge Butte County website (“Butte” is pronounced like the first syllable in “beautiful” – “BUTTE-iful.)
California’s Deadly Wildfires Defenders of Wildlife
Harder Article (Camp FIre)
How Wildlife Weathers California’s Deadly Wildfires Harder to read, but good pictures. PBS 2019
General Impacts of Wildfires
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (from Distant Flames)” Risks to humans from wildfires (NRDC) 2015
The Aftermath Of Wildfires (Youngzine) 2020
“Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19” also “Wildfires” (CDC)
“Racial and economic divides extend to wildfire smoke, too” (Investigate West) 2020
“Effects of Wildfire on Animals” (Oregon Explorer)
“Effects of Wildfire on Soil and Water” (Oregon Explorer)
Wildfires: How Do They Affect Our Water Supplies? (EPA) 2019
Effects of Wildfire on Vegetation (Oregon Explorer)
Black, Hispanic, and Latino People Care About Climate Change the Most, Survey Finds (OneZero) 2020
The Economic Impacts of Large Wildfires Text (difficult) but video (3 minutes) easier to understand. (University of Oregon Ecosystem Workforce Program) 2019
People Working in Fire Click on the links to find various jobs.(U.S. Forest Service)
- Don’t miss Interactive Story Map about Smokejumpers.
”Wildfires in California’s Wine Country Hit Vulnerable Immigrant Farmworkers” (NBC News) 2017
“With Smoke Overhead, Farmworkers Hit By COVID-19 Work Through Compounding Crises” (CapRadio) 2020
US Wildfires are a Reproductive Justice Issue How do wildfires affect pregnant people and babies? (Human Rights Watch) 2022
Harder Articles
“Western Wildfire Season 2022” Keep scrolling down for more information and how climate change is affecting the wildfires. (Climate Signals) 2022
How wildfires disproportionately affect people of color Contains wildfire vulnerability chart, and talks about greater vulnerability of some Native American communities. (ABC10) 2021
“Wealthier, Whiter Areas Are More Likely to Get Help After Fires, Data Show” (New York TImes) 2020
Communities of Color Are More Vulnerable to Wildfires (Eos) 2018
“INTO THE WILDFIRE” Long somewhat difficult article, but cool pictures of equipment scientists use to study fire (New York Times Magazine) 2013
“Living with Wildfire” video (27 minutes) (Idaho Public TV)
RIpples
Wildfire smoke seems to pose its biggest health risk to kids Science News Explores 2022
https://defenders.org/blog/2018/11/californias-deadly-wildfires
Investigators Confirm PG&E Power Lines Caused 2018’s Camp Fire NPR, 2019 (audio 3 min, plus transcript)
Solutions
“How to Prevent Wildfires” Scroll around to find lots of information. (American Red Cross)
“10 Tips to Prevent Wildfires” (U. S. Department of the Interior)
Firewise USA –a community program for residents to collaborate to make wildfires less likely. (National Fire Protection Association)
ReadyforWildfire.org has a manual (PDF) for retrofitting homes to make them more wildfire resistant.
Beavers offer natural solution to fighting wildfires. Citation is at the bottom, because this is from a database. (KidsPost in Gale In Context: Elementary,) 2022 (password)
“Firefighters Save Sequoia National Park’s Beloved Giant Forest From Raging Wildfire” (DOGO News) 2021
“Bots vs Blazes – DRONES AND ROBOTS HELP HUMANS FIGHT FIRES.” Click at the top for the citation–this is a database. (Muse 2019 from Research Rocket) (password)
“The Air Is Full Of Dangerous Wildfire Smoke And Viral Particles. What’s The Best Protection For Your Health?” (CapRadio) 2020
“Wildfire Resources” Resources for families with children before, during and after a wildfire (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
“Wildfires” Centers for Disease Control, What to do to prepare your property in advance and how to evacuate.
Harder articles
“Disaster Resilience Saves Six Times as Much as It Costs” Money invested before disasters helps. (Bloomberg City News) 2018
“After the Fire: Vulnerable Communities Respond and Rebuild” This article is long, but skim the headings for things that interest you. Look at the graphs. (American Progress) 2019
General Info:
Pebble
Johnstown Flood World Book
Swept Away National Parks Conservation Association
Johnstown Flood Historical Marker Explore PA History
Harder articles
You may need an adult to help you with these articles.
This Dam Break Was One of the Worst Manmade Disasters in American History. It Could Have Been Prevented. Text is long, but pictures are great! Popular Mechanics
An overview of the 1889 tragedy Lots of interesting pictures. Heritage Johnstown
The Environment:
Pond
A new documentary chronicles the rebirth of a Western Pennsylvania river The Allegheny Front
Rivers and Streams National Park Service
What Are The Major Watersheds In Cambria County? The Little Conemaugh is the one that contains Johnstown. Cambria Conservation District
The Little Conemaugh SCRIP
Conservation Regions Laurel Highlands area is the area around Johnstown. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Ripples
*new* How America’s Most Powerful Men Caused America’s Deadliest Flood How later historians discovered the South Fork Hunting and Fishing club actually did more to damage the dam than they admitted at the time. History.com
*new* Disaster Relief at the American Red Cross: A Look Back at the Great Flood of 1889 Red Cross
For Environmental Justice, look at the other articles and look at the behavior of the wealthy patrons at the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, and the effects on the poor factory workers that lived in Johnstown.
Solutions
Harder articles
*new* Johnstown flood 1889 catastrophe civil engineering part 5 See sections near the bottom: “Technical Advances after the 1889 Flood” also “Challenges in 21st-Century Johnstown” and “Conclusions”
Harder articles
indicates articles that address Environmental Justice.
Back to TopDefinition from the United States Environmental Protection Agency:
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys:
- The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and
- Equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.
Article explaining Envirornmental Justice for kids:
“Environmental Justice ….. What does that mean?” (Kids Environment Kids Health section of National Institute for Health)
