Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you might consider buying a new unit.

Each year, the National Book Foundation awards a number of prizes of up to $2,500 each to individuals, organizations, and schools that have developed innovative ways of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading. In addition to promoting the best of American literature through the National Book Awards, the Foundation seeks to expand the audience for literature in America. Through the Innovations in Reading Prizes, those individuals and institutions that use particularly innovative methods to generate excitement and a passionate engagement with books and literature will be rewarded for their creativity and leadership. For more information go to:
http://www.nationalbook.org/innovations_in_reading.html

Imagine a place where classroom learning is impossible — because nobody's ever built a classroom. For Rosa Guzmán, the daughter of a coffee farmer in a small village in Chiapas, Mexico, this was life. Until, that is, a school was constructed by Comon Yaj Noptic, a local coffee cooperative. With start-up funding from Starbucks and CI — and computers donated by the state government — the school gives students access to courses and tutors, allowing them to complete high school without leaving the area. There are young people like Rosa all around the world, youth whose good lives can get even better with our help. By supporting CI you aren't just helping us protect nature — you're also improving quality of life for the people who depend on nature the most. By forming cooperatives like Comon Yaj Noptic, farmers are able to share resources, combine their coffee yields — and even obtain a higher price on the market. Plus, when the unthinkable happens — like the hurricanes and droughts that mark our changing climate — the cooperative is there to help its members pick up the pieces. And every day, Comon Yaj Noptic is giving girls like Rosa Guzmán the chance to build a brighter future for themselves. That's the kind of work you help support. Want to learn more? Check out our Team Chiapas story today. For more information go to:
http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/R?i=DVCPHFYE-GslQhLec1oikg

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Discovery Education have launched a new online curriculum to help young people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance (calories in and calories out). The Energy Balance 101 Curriculum is available at no cost to K-5 educators and includes lesson plans, resources, and videos aligned to state standards. The entire curriculum can be integrated into classroom instruction, but teachers may also select the elements that best fit their needs. For more information go to:
http://www.energybalance101.com/

An invitation to all Middle and High Schools in Northern California (north of Fresno) to participate in the inaugural Northern California Solar Regatta which will be held on May 18, 2012 at the Lake at the Rancho Seco Recreational Area. The Northern Solar Regatta (NCSR) is a water race where 7-12 grade, student teams design, build and compete with solar-powered boats. This event is being sponsored by SMUD’s Energy and Technology Center, Community Solar Program and is also supported by the San Joaquin Office of Education. Each student team will be mentored by and educator or other school administrator. During the school-year leading up to the event, students will utilize SMUD-loaned solar modules to design and build the solar boats. On race day, students will compete in sprint, distance, and slalom races as well as be eligible for other awards which will judged on creativity, design and efficiency. For more information contact the following people: Brent Sloan 916-732-5878 Or Barry Scott 209-464-5663

The IRIS is offering free posters to K-12 teachers who wish to educate their students about earthquakes. Available posters include Earthquakes... Like Ripples on Water, A Century of Earthquakes, Sumatra: Andaman Island Earthquake, Exploring the Earth Using Seismology, and History of Seismology. The IRIS is also offering a free whitepaper that presents 5 tips to maximize the educational value of their posters. For more information go to:
http://www.iris.edu/hq/publications/posters

The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2010 was introduced to help schools find ways to become more energy efficient. To learn how you can support the bill as well as what the bill means for schools, go to:
http://ase.org/content/article/detail/6702

The Dollar General Youth Literacy grants provide up to $3,000 to schools, public libraries, and non-profit organizations to help with the implementation or expansion of literacy programs for students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Eligible schools and nonprofits must operate within Dollar General's 35-state market area. Learn more at:
http://www.dollargeneral.com/dgliteracy/Pages/mission.aspx

Get outside with your students and have them make observations of seeds ripening, leaf color change, leaf drop, and other interesting climate changes. It’s easy to participate and fun for all your students. Help Project Budburst reach their goal of reaching 5,000 phenophase observations this fall! To start now go to
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/

Horton and the Mayor of Whoville have teamed up in the fight against climate change. Download your guide to find out what their tips are for you to help in the fight.
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HortonESActiv508.pdf

As part of its Youth Investment Program, the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council will grant between $2 million and $2.5 million in funding to improve the lives of underserved youth by providing greater access to outdoor experiences from urban parks in the city to watersheds in the wilderness. In 2008, there are four different grant rounds three rounds focused on outdoor and environmental education programs and one on building parks and playgrounds. For more information, follow this link to the 2008 RFPs:
http://www.stewardshipcouncil.org/youth_investment
/guidelines_and_application.php?v=0

What early inventions can we attribute to Leonardo da Vinci? What item does virtually every household have that was dreamed up by a 14-year-old plowing a field? Test your knowledge about great inventions at
http://www.livescience.com/php/trivia/?quiz=inventions

How do you provide reliable healthcare Riders is an award-winning nonprofit that works to make sure all health workers in Africa have access to reliable transportation so they can reach the most isolated and vulnerable people. Riders' providers use low-tech motorcycles with high fuel efficiency. The organization also makes sure that the bikes are well-maintained, and the health workers ride them responsibly, so that they provide reliable transportation in remote areas and emissions are kept to a minimum.
http://www.riders.org/default.aspx

The Center for Global Development (CGD) in Washington, D.C. has a new online database called Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA) that documents the carbon emissions of thousands of individual power plants worldwide, giving people access to information helpful for reducing fossil fuel pollution in their regions. Check the power plants in your area at
http://carma.org/

Create a lesson plan and qualify to win a mobile digital camera lab plus as many as 43 different grants for hardware and software. The program is sponsored by Olympus. Deadlines are open. For more information, go to
http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/grant_awards

NASA offers a number of activities requiring students to apply their math skills to solve problems in space. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. Teachers' guides with answer keys are also included.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/
listbytype/Extra-Credit_Problems_in_Space_Science.html

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers 350 lessons and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy. It's website, "K-12 Energy Lesson Plans and Activities," organizes the materials by grade level and topic. A wide range of topics are available, including biomass, geothermal, hydrogen and fuel cells, ocean energy, solar power, transportation fuels, wind energy, and energy efficiency and conservation. Site visitors can learn about passive solar buildings, advanced photovoltaics, or basic wind turbines. They can also take an energy awareness quiz, estimate their carbon footprint, and then find ways to reduce it. Access the website at
http://www.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/.

The EPICS program invites high schools to create engineering projects in service-learning. Designed to engage and motivate high school students in the fields of engineering and computer sciences, this program offers much more by teaching them the professional skills needed to succeed in today's workforce.

EPICS is also offering summer training sessions to high school teachers and administrators who want to use the model for their students.

For more information about the EPICS program, visit
http://epics-high.ecn.purdue.edu/

Available for downloading from the NASA website is the poster and activity booklet, "What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements?" Find cool information about the cosmic origin of the chemical elements, the big bang, star life cycles, cosmic rays, and fusion.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/
listbytype/What_Is_Your_Cosmic_Connection_Poster.html

Extraordinary Road Trip is an educational computer game that teaches players how driving affects air quality. Players make transportation decisions for 25 characters to learn how these choices impact the environment. XRT is fun and free edutainment for teens and drivers of all ages.
http://www.extraordinaryroadtrip.org/

Teachers can order a free, student-produced video, "Easy Breathers," which helps teens and others make informed decisions about driving and air quality
http://www.easybreathers.org/index3.asp

Did you know that free online courses are available for middle school, high school and college students who want to learn about the weather? Meteorology Education & Training (MedEd) offers education and training resources to professionals, scientists, educators and students on meteorology and weather forecasting. Learn about the water cycle, global climate change, satellite imagery and more on atmospheric science, MetEd is part of the Comet Program, which is funded by NOAA National Weather Service. For details, visit:
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/comm_k12.htm

Visit the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) Earth Portal, a website dedicated to science-based information about the environment. The portal was created by a global community of environmental experts and features an Encyclopedia of Earth, environmental news, and forum where experts discuss different issues. Check out all the Earth Portal has to offer at:
http://www.earthportal.org/

The Alliance to Save Energy is launching "Generation E," a nationwide campaign to help youth tackle climate change by promoting energy efficiency. Youth can register to form an Energy Club, and the Alliance will support them with activities, resources, guidance, and recognition. To learn more, visit
http://www.ase.org/

Do Something is a not-for-profit organization that works to inspire, support, and celebrate young social entrepreneurs and community activists. For more information, go to
http://www.dosomething.org/grants

As a Global Warming Ambassador, you will introduce the Federation to the general public through presentations and community events, explain how global warming affects wildlife habitat, and tell people what they can do to confront global warming. To get involved, visit
http://www.nwf.org/volunteertypes/

National Geographic's Global Warming Simulation is an interactive map charting climate change. It also provides resources that promote eco-friendly practices. To learn more, visit
http://green.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-impacts-interactive.html

Global warming has increased the odds against survival for many wild creatures. The sea ice that polar bears call home is melting. In Yellowstone National Park, the whitebark pine seeds that grizzly bears eat are disappearing due to increasing beetle populations. Longer droughts are making food scarcer for California's bighorn sheep, and Pacific Northwest salmon must spawn in unnaturally warm waters. In Florida, the last remaining manatee families are battered by more frequent and intense tropical storms. Check the Sierra Club's interactive map to see endangered species in your area and how global warming is affecting them.
http://www.sierraclub.org/wildlife/species/map/

Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies (F.I.L.M.) is sponsoring the Youth Film Project to encourage Hollywood to create more movies with positive messages. Several F.I.L.M. movies are now available for rental or purchase on DVD, including Happy Feet, and Dreamer: Inspired by You. F.I.L.M. offers online activity guides that focus on the main themes (such as the environment) from the movies and accompanying books. To learn more, visit
http://www.youthfilmproject.org/

The five focus areas for U.S. applicants are education, health and human services, arts and culture, civic, and the environment. Grants are also available to organizations outside the U.S. Boeing also provides in-kind donations and services. Guidelines, including deadlines for applications, are available at
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/community/focus_objectives.html

Correspondence Match is a two-year exchange between Peace Corps volunteers and students in U.S. classrooms to promote cross-cultural learning. Teachers can choose any region of the world, any kind of program (e.g., environment, agriculture, business, education, health), and even a specific volunteer. Participants receive a handbook to facilitate the exchange. To learn more, visit
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/correspond/

Adobe will donate software to U.S. or international schools and qualified nonprofit organizations. Find out more at.
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/philanthropy/software.html

Energy Quest, the California Energy Commission's energy education website for children, received two "Dottie Awards" at a presentation ceremony in Sacramento.

The Commission's website won top honors in the Education and History category. And when all the numbers were tabulated and judges' votes added up, Energy Quest had the highest numerical score and was given the "Top Dot" award - the top website of all 80 finalists. More...