Classroom Guides

ATW Classroom Guides have been designed for educators to use along with ATW’s weekly programs and the ATW Special Edition programs. The ATW Classroom Guides provide educators with suggested service projects, research topics, hands-on activities, debate topics, field trips, classroom speakers and more. The goal behind these guides is to assist educators in their use of current events and news within their classroom and to help their students become more familiar with the events of the world around them.

ATW in the Classroom
Download the ATW in the Classroom Guide to use with your students while watching the weekly ATW episodes. The Guide provides educators with writing prompts, graphic organizers, student worksheets and additional online resources.

ATW: Special Edition Classroom Guides
Click the links below to view the Classroom Guides related to the current and past ATW Special Editions.

Science Exploration & Inquiry
Health & Wellness
Recycling & the Environment

Science Exploration & Inquiry Classroom Guide
For use with ATW Special Edition - Wonders of Science

Service projects:
Create a Science club within your school or classroom.

Research topics:
What everyday items are made from recycled products? How are they recycled?
Is the speed of light faster or slower than the speed of sound?
How does the Earth’s rotation compare to that of the other planets in the solar system?
What are some alternative forms of energy and what would their effects be on the environment?
What other experiments did Isaac Newton perform?
How does a solar or lunar eclipse occur?
Does the Moon rotate around the Earth just like the Earth rotates around the Sun?
What is the difference between light reflection and refraction?

Hands-on activities:
Create a model version of part of the solar system to simulate how the Earth rotates and revolves around the Sun.
Create an experiment to test what types of household materials may be used to filter water.
Experiment to find out whether or not the amount of light a plant receives affects growth. 
Investigate whether or not the shape or size of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts.

Debate topics:
Do the choices that people make (i.e. using aerosol spray containers, water pollution) impact how the Earth functions?

Field trips:
Amusement park
Science Museum
Playground
Science laboratory

Classroom speakers:
University or college Science professor
Local Science museum staff member
Paleontologist
Chemist
Physicist

Health & Wellness Classroom Guide
For use with ATW Special Edition - Childhood Obesity

Service projects:
Set up a health-oriented (i.e. fitness, nutrition, yoga) club at your school.
Research a health topic and present the information to your class/school.

Research topics:
What kind of physical fitness or activities are most favored by students at your school?
How many calories are burned in the average physical education class at your school?
How many students would be outraged if soda and sugared drinks were removed from your school?
What percentages of students/children/adults in your town are considered over-weight, obese, etc.?

Hands-on activities:
Create a food journal.
Create an exercise journal.
Create a personal wellness plan.
Observe how fruit or vegetables break down vs. how fast food breaks down.
Create and complete an obstacle course.
Learn how to take your resting heart rate and active heart rate.
Walk as a class, every day. Chart your time and distance.

Debate topics:
Should soda and sugared drinks be removed from schools? Why or why not?
Should recess be mandatory for all students? Why or why not?
Should there be different requirements for physical education classes so that students receive more physical activity? Why or why not?
Should there be strict regulations for school lunches? Why or why not?
Should fast food restaurants offer toys or games with their children’s menu? Why or why not?

Field trips:
Fitness center
Yoga center
Grocery store
Farmer’s market
Farm
Hydroponic farm

Classroom speakers:
Yoga Instructor
Pediatrician
Doctor
Nurse
Health Educator
Aerobics Instructor
Local Farmer
Nutritionist

Recycling & the Environment Classroom Guide
For use with ATW Special Edition - Focus on the Environment

Service projects:
Set up a recycling initiative at your school.
Create a recycling club at your school.
Form a “Green Team” to help your school/community learn how to “go green”.

Research topics:
What types of recycling happens in your community?
Where do all the collected recyclables go in your community?
How many students use reusable water bottles, shopping bags, lunch bags, etc. at your school?
How many people in your community ride bikes or walk instead of driving?
What types of ecological damage and/or destruction are happening in your local community?
What kinds of local wildlife, if any, are endangered?
Do local stores, restaurants, etc. recycle their waste?
What is the difference between organic and nonorganic foods?
What are the benefits of reducing our carbon footprints on the world?
Why do we need to unplug our appliances when they are not being used? How much money/electricity, if any, is that saving?

Hands-on activities:
Paper making
Trash or treasure: Create something new with something old

Debate topics:
Should we as a global community recycle or not? Why or why not?
Are there positive or negative benefits to recycling? What are they?
Should global warming efforts be funded by national governments? Why or why not?

Field trips:
Recycling center
Dump
Environmental conservation center
Local, state or national park
Zoo

Classroom speakers:
Parks & Rec officers
Local farmer
Environmental conservationist
Environmental scientist
Meteorologist
Zoologist