Select Page

MENU

CLOSE

Virtual Field Trips

Virtual Field Trips

  • Designed as extensions to our free K-12 Environmental STEAM Curriculum
  • Curated from our many EarthX partners
  • 5-10-minute videos leading students to contemplate possible environmental solutions
  • New additions to library added monthly January-April, 2021

Each video includes a brief lesson overview including :

  • Lesson Goal
  • Overview
  • Vocabulary
  • Guiding Questions
  • Standards (Both Next Generation Science Standards and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)

K-4

A Summer On Golden Pond K-1

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

A Summer on Golden Pond

Duration: 7:45
Produced by SchoolYard Films, Inc.
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: You Are My Sunshine, K-1 Grades

Goal

Students will learn about how the living things living in and near the lake rely on each other and how the changing seasons create changes in their lives.

Overview

Former biology teacher, Karlene Schwartz, introduces students to the stories of the loons and many other creatures that call Squam Lake home, which is located in New Hampshire. As her tale goes on, students can see how the seasons cause changes to the lives on the lake.

Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: You Are My Sunshine

The sun’s thermal effects can create changes in materials. The tilting of the earth on its axis causes a change in the energy transmitted by the sun to the earth. This causes changes in the weather, which contributes to the changing seasons. As the seasons change, the living things on the earth change with them.

Guiding Questions
  • What is one word Karlene would use to describe her feelings for Squam Lake? Why did you pick this feeling?
  • The plants and animals that live on Squam Lake changed a lot in summer and fall. What were some of those changes? How do you think the lake will change during winter and spring? Why do you think so? Will this winter and spring look like yours where you live? How will they be alike and different?
  • Change happens everywhere on the lake throughout the year. Can you think of a change a person could create on the lake? Will it be a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
Vocabulary
  • Lake
  • Inhabitants
  • Loons
  • Beaver
  • Lodges
  • Deer
  • Porcupine
  • Tupelo
  • Hemlock seedlings
  • Hen
  • Salamander
Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • K-ESS2-2
  • K-ESS3-3
  • 1-ESS1-2
  • 2-LS4-1

TEKS Science Objectives

  • K.b.8b
  • K.b.9b
  • 1.b.8c
  • 1.b.9c
  • 2.b.9b
  • 2.b.9c

Grade 5

Plastic Solutions

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

Plastic Seas – Plastic Solutions

Duration: 7:33 (cc)
Produced by EarthEcho International
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Trash to Cash, 5th Grade

Goal

Students will be introduced to a wide variety of solutions to the plastic pollution currently being implemented in parts of Australia.

Overview

Phillippe Cousteau talks with Jennifer Lavers, Heidi Taylor, Donna Shiel, Anthony Hill, and others from Melbourne, Australia, to uncover a variety of solutions to plastic pollution that everyone can do.

>Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Trash to Cash

The reuse of waste is one way to cut down on the amount of trash heading to our landfills. Plastics are one type of waste that take hundreds of years to biodegrade and often end up in our oceans and waterways.
Finding ways to deal with this type of pollution is vital.

Guiding Questions
  • What is one word you have to describe the plastic pollution problem? How does this describe it?
  • What are ways mentioned in the video that can reduce the amount of plastic in the environment?
  • It was mentioned that “I am only one drop, but it is many drops that make an ocean.” How does this relate to your impact on the plastic pollution problem? What can you do to make a difference?
Vocabulary
  • Food waste
  • Compostable
  • Organic
  • Debris
  • Emotional imagery
  • Accessible
  • Empowers
  • Methodology
  • Data collection
Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • 5-ESS3-1
  • MS-PS1-3
  • MS-LS2-5

TEKS Science Objectives

  • 5.b.3
  • 5.b.9c
  • 8.b.11

What's the Catch? Engineering Solutions

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

What’s the Catch? Engineering Solutions

Duration: 6:13 (cc) ENG/SP
Produced by EarthEcho International
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Locally Grown, 5th Grade

Goal

Students will learn about innovative solutions that are being implemented in order to help fish thrive and be abundant enough to support a growing world population.

Overview

Phillippe Cousteau hears from Dr. Louise Firth, Dr. Daniel Merrifield and Justin Ruscombe-King about innovative work being done to help fish populations stay healthy in order to feed a growing global population. Shown are an engineered coastal habitat and an aquaculture farm.

Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Locally Grown

Native plants on land have adaptations suitable to their environment just as native fish have theirs. As human population growth increases along the coasts, people must make adjustments to their coastal environments in a way that will create ecosystems favorable to the aquatic life living there. In addition, native species of fish should be encouraged to be raised for human consumption in a manner that keeps in mind the best use of natural resources.

Guiding Questions
  • Which coastal environmental solution do you think will produce the least amount of human impact on aquatic life sharing the ecosystem?
  • Mr. Cousteau states that long term sustainable seafood needs to cater to local fish species. How can aquaculture assist in that goal?
  • What would happen if fish were no longer available to your community as a source of protein?
Vocabulary
  • Fishery
  • Sustainable
  • Eco-engineer
  • Bio blocks
  • Water retention
  • Nitrobacters
  • Aquaculture
  • Contaminants
  • Ecosystems
  • Food deficit
  • Terrestrial
Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • 3-KS4-3
  • 3-LS2-1
  • 5-LS2-1
  • 5-ESS3-1
  • MS-LS2-5
  • MS-ESS3-4

TEKS Science Objectives

  • 3.b.9a
  • 4.b.9b
  • 5.b.9a
  • 5.b.9b
  • 5.b.9c
  • 7.b.10b
  • 8.b.11c

Grade 6

6th Grade Virtual Field Trips Coming Soon

Grade 7

Water by Design: Aquaponics 101

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

Water by Design – Aquaponics

Duration: 6:38 (cc)
Produced by EarthEcho International
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Energizing Your Lawn, 7th Grade

Goal

Students will learn about an innovative closed system of agriculture that creates an environmentally sustainable food source.

Overview

Phillippe and Ashlan Cousteau meet with executive chef and farmer Adam Navidi to find out how he uses aquaponics to grow food for his restaurant using less water than the average family uses at home on a daily basis.

Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Energizing Your Lawn

The growing of food to feed a growing population has changed from small farms feeding the local population, to food being sourced hundreds or even thousands of miles away. The resources demanded of this type of agriculture has environmental consequences. Alternative farming methods can help with these issues.

Guiding Questions
  • Aquaponics provides many benefits. Which advantage to this type of agriculture do you think is the most important to Chef Navidi? Why?
  • Hydroponics and aquaponics are similar forms of growing crops. Compare and contrast these two processes.
  • How can you use the information about growing crops shared in this video as you make food choices in your life?
Vocabulary
  • Aquaponics
  • Agriculture
  • Sustainable
  • Closed Loop System
  • Nitrosomonas
  • Nitrobacters
  • Hydroponics
  • Tilapia
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards

  • 5-LS1-1
  • 5-LS2-1
  • 5-ESS3-1
  • MS-LS2-3
  • MS-ESS3-4

TEKS Science Objectives

  • 4.b.9
  • 5.b.9a
  • 7.b.10b

Grade 8

Beyond the Dead Zone Pt. 2

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

Beyond the Dead Zone Pt. 2

Duration: 9:22 (cc)
Produced by EarthEcho International
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Reef-Life, 8th Grade

Goal

Students will be introduced to how the health of a reef off the coast of Florida is being monitored in order to find ways to protect it.

Overview

Phillippe Cousteau and US Geological Survey Marine Biologist Ilsa Kuffner dive below the surface to explore the invisible threats to corals that may impact all marine life in these waters.

Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Reef-Life, 8th Grade

Creating artificial reefs helps restore an ocean’s ecosystem. Through the creation of an artificial reef, research as to the health conditions of the area can be monitored to better understand how to keep reefs thriving.

Guiding Questions
  • If coral had a Twitter account, what hashtag would they use and why?
  • How do the marine biologists monitor the health of their cinder block coral? How can they use this data?
  • What can you do to help maintain the health of coral reefs and other marine life?
Vocabulary
  • Coral bleaching
  • Salinity
  • Runoff
  • Water quality
  • Symbiotic
  • Calcification
  • Calcium carbonate
  • Ions
  • Acidic
  • CO2
  • ph
  • Ocean acidification
  • Mitigate
Standards

Next Generation Science

  • MS-LS2-4
  • MS-ESS3-4
  • HS-LS2-6

TEKS Science Objectives

  • 5.b.9c
  • 7.b.13a
  • 7.b.13b
  • 8.b.11c

Sea Turtles and Their Ecosystem

View
Overview

View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

Sea Turtles and Their Ecosystem

Duration: 7:14
Produced by Sea Turtle, Inc.
EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Back to the Future, 8th Grade

Goal

Students will learn about the vital role sea turtles play in their ecosystem, how humans have affected their well-being and what can be done to counteract the negative influence.

Overview

Khrystyne explains the importance of the many varieties of sea turtles inhabiting Laguna Madre off of the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas coast. She will introduce students to two of the sea turtles recovering at their facility and discuss how human actions have threatened the health of sea turtles.

Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Back to the Future

As more humans settled the western part of the United States in the 1800’s, they had both a positive and negative impact on the ecosystems they found. When a negative impact was made, it affected multiple organisms. Sea turtles are experiencing similar effects from negative human interaction as well.

Guiding Questions
  • What one word would you use to describe a sea turtle’s presence on the Texas coast and why would you use it?
  • How would the Texas coast ecosystem change without a healthy sea turtle population?
  • Whether you live by the ocean or are a landlocked land lover, what can you do to bring balance to the ocean ecosystem?
Vocabulary
  • Ecosystem
  • Foraging Ground
  • Migrate
  • Productivity
  • Nutrient Content
  • Sponges
  • Overcompete
  • Entanglement
Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • 5-ESS3-1
  • MS-LS2-4
  • MS-ESS3-4

    • TEKS Science Objectives

  • 5.b.9b
  • 7.b.10b
  • 8.b.11c

    • High School

    Clear Water, Clean Water? Exploring the Floridan Aquifer

    View
    Overview

    View Virtual Field Trip Download Overview PDF

    Clear Water, Clean Water? Exploring the Floridan Aquifer

    Duration: 14:31
    Produced by SchoolYard Films, Inc.
    EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson Extension: Growing Pains, High School

    Goal

    Students will learn about the geology and ecology of an aquifer, what its current threats are, and how to best protect this vital natural resource.

    Overview

    Florida scientists, explorers, and citizens team up to provide a look at the health of the Florida Aquifer, the primary source of water for over 25 million people in the southeastern US. There are signs that human activity may be negatively affecting the water quality, both above and below the surface.

    Connections to EarthX STEAM Curriculum Lesson: Growing Pains

    Pollutants from common household products and nitrogen runoff from farms create a negative impact on living things, such as plants. They can also harm water sources that provide drinking water for humans, affecting them negatively for the long term.

    Guiding Questions
    • Connecting people to their environment is important to the team of citizens and scientists presenting this video. What environmental connection do you think is the most important?
    • The Floridan Aquifer is vital, yet unseen. How does this observation contribute to the issue facing the aquifer?
    • What #hashtag would you create to identify the connections of humans to the earth? What further actions could you take to promote this idea?
    Vocabulary
    • Aquifer
    • Cave fauna
    • Symbiotic
    • Niche crops
    • “You-pick”
    • Landscape level
    Standards

    Next Generation Science Standards

    • MS-LS2-4
    • MS-ESS3-4
    • HS-LS2-6
    • HS-ESS2-2
    • HS-ESS3-4

    TEKS Science Objectives

    • AS.c.4A
    • AS.c.9C
    • AS.c.12B
    • AS.c.12C
    • ES.c.5B
    • ES.c.9A
    • ES.c.9F
    School Yard Films
    Earth Echo International
    Sea Turtle Inc.
    en English
    af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sudanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu