ESL etc.

eslflow.com has a good-sized collection of environmental activities for the ESL / EFL classroom. Topics include climate change, pollution and transportation. The materials look to be mainly vocabulary exercises and readings. Let us know in the comments if you find any particularly good ones.

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Larry Ferlazzo just posted two multimedia plagiarism resources that could be useful for English learners. The first, Plagiarism, is an interactive slideshow that talks about what is and is not plagiarism. The information is all presented visually, which is nice because English learners can go through it at their own pace. The […]

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Facing the Future is an organization that makes activity-based, global issues curricula for students of all ages. In addition to the great stuff they offer for sale, they have a ton of materials available as free downloads. I especially like the lesson plans from Engaging Students Through Global Issues, and the Climate Change […]

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The Everyday Life Project features interactive activities (using text, pictures and audio) that take students through everyday activities. Activities include looking at the classifieds, using an ATM, and getting a prescription filled. Registration is required, but it is free.
If I were teaching a class in the US, I would definitely recommend this site […]

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On Fresh Air recently, Terry Gross interviewed Mark Schapiro, author of Exposed. Schapiro talks about the toxic chemicals that are released into our bodies and our environment by many of the goods that we consume.
He also talks about how the US policies on hazardous chemicals are much laxer than the EU policies. Thus, many […]

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I just listened to an interview with Peter Heller, author of a new book called The Whale Warriors. In it, he details his adventures with Paul Watson, a “pirate” who has dedicated his life to stopping illegal whaling.
I haven’t yet read the book (waiting for a used paperback) but the story is great: Watson co-founded […]

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The Story of Stuff is a great video that takes you through the lifespan of our stuff - extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. It points out the problems of running a linear process like this within a closed system (the Earth) and links to a lot of great resources. In addition to […]

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I just saw this neat post over at the Compact, a SF-based group aimed at reducing consumption.
Rachel came up with a “Cap ‘n’ Trade” system of gifts a few years ago. She encouraged the people in her life to take simple steps towards sustainability as a gift to her.
I gave friends, […]

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I recently found the Teaching About the War page over at Rethinking Schools. The have lesson plans, suggested readings, teacher resources and a bunch of other stuff. The lesson plans include activities on poetry and songs, in addition to more traditional reading, writing and discussion. The site is focused on the War […]

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The Battle of Algiers is a 1966 French film about the struggle for Algerian independence. The themes of terrorism, occupation and torture are quite well portrayed and could certainly spark discussion on current events. One problem is that it is subtitled, but with advanced classes this might be OK. Alternatively, if you […]

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