The LTER Education Digital Library Project is a collection of reviewed and annotated digital resources relating to the ongoing efforts of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network. Our educational resources are developed in collaboration with a diverse group of nearly 2,000 scientists, educators, artists, and educators associated with the LTER Network.

The objective of the Education Digital Library is to develop and contribute to a collection that incorporates LTER research and facilitates training, teaching, and learning of ecological science drawing on the resources of long term observations, experiments, and models. Incorporating the diverse expertise of our researchers, LTER educational resources examine a wide variety of habitats including agricultural lands, tundra, deserts, urban landscapes, and more.

We hope that our resources will be used to inform a broad community of learners in both formal and informal settings.

The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network is a collaborative, interdisciplinary group of natural scientists, social scientists, artists, and educators studying the interactions between humans and the environment. The US LTER encompasses diverse ecosystems throughout the continental United States, Alaska, Antarctica, and islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. Our review process aims to disseminate materials that are scientifically sound and pedagogically effective.

Please search for LTER education resources and lessons that fit your needs.

Search for Resources




Resource
Time Series: Uncovering the Hidden Processes in Science
One 45-60 minute period
Simmons Beth; Palmer LTER
Pod Investigation
2-3 50 min periods
Central Arizona Phoenix LTER
Analyzing the Data: It's time to tell the story about Buds, Leaves and Global Warming
2 45 minute class periods
LeTellier Lise - Harvard Forest Schoolyard LTER
Students explore how the timing of color change and leaf drop of deciduous trees in New England is changing. Students learn to collect data on important long-term ecological issues and processes. Student data is shared on the Harvard Forest LTER website. Students can access their data to graph and analyze, as well as access other school’s data.
Where in the Bay? Investigate how salinity impacts the distribution of estuarine fish in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
1 45-60 min class period
Pat Harcourt and Liz Duff - Mass Audubon
The Web of Inquiry
4, 50- minute class periods at least
Bonney D Johnson JC Hupton G; Central Arizona Phoenix LTER
Historical Aerial Photographs: Looking at Change over Tiime
1, 50 minute class period
Central Arizona Phoenix LTER
Now you Sea Ice Now you Don't: Investigating Penguin Communities Shifting on the Western Antarctic Peninsula
3.5 hours or 5, 45-minutes class periods
Palmer Station, Antarctica (PAL) Beth E. Simmons
Forest Tea Party
One, 50-min class period
HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER
Plant Diversity
1 class period
Ecology Explorers Education team; CAP LTER
Striper Prey and Salinity
2 hours
Liz Duff; Mass Audubon

Submit a Resource for Review

To submit your resource for potential inclusion in the LTER Education Digital Library

Please follow the link to submit completed LTER based K-16 lessons or other classroom resources.

Please include the following in submitted resources:

  • Identify grade level support K – 16
  • Resource URL hosted on LTER affiliated or partnered site
  • Identify Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) if appropriate. Please see NGSS EQuIP rubric for details EQuIP Rubric
  • Include LTER network logo, site logo and partner logos when applicable
  • Contact email for the LTER site Education Coordinator
  • Provide sufficient and scientifically accurate background based on LTER site research and or data

Submit a Resource for Review

Contacts

We are interested in hearing from you. For questions or comments relating to the LTER Education Digital Library please contact Marty Downs at the LTER Network Office: downs@nceas.ucsb.edu.

Updated