April is Environmental Education Month! If you’re looking for a classroom resource that will get students thinking about the ecosystems around them in a way that is easy to prep and actually aligned to standards—this week’s episode is going to feel like a gift.
In Episode 9, we’re diving into Great Lakes Now, a Michigan-based media program that’s quietly become one of the best interdisciplinary tools you’re probably not using yet. Whether you teach science, ELA, social studies, or media literacy, this resource has something for you—and your students.
Great Lakes Now is more than just a monthly show—it’s an ever-expanding media platform full of real-world stories, Indigenous perspectives, and ecological investigations that students can connect to immediately. From shipwreck mysteries to moose-versus-wolf population battles to urban planning and water systems reporting, this content opens the door to rich, meaningful learning across content areas.
✏️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why Great Lakes Now is a perfect match for the classroom—and how it supports interdisciplinary teaching.
- How the show’s structure (short, theme-based segments) makes it perfect for warm-ups, bell ringers, or full inquiry units.
- How NGSS-aligned lesson plans built around the show’s content can help students explore ecosystems, data storytelling, and environmental stewardship.
- Why students LOVE this content—and how it can spark curiosity that leads to full-blown project-based learning.
- How you can use Great Lakes Now as a model for student media production (hello, mini science documentaries!).
We also feature some of the Great Lakes Now team’s favorite episodes and hidden gems—like the salty invader of Lake Superior, the mystery of an unlabeled home video, and a foraging segment that turned into a recipe-sharing frenzy online.
🎓 Want a Sneak Peek at the Lesson Plans?
We walk through one of our favorite NGSS-aligned lesson plans based on the episode Dynamic Populations, which follows the relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale. Students analyze real data, consider conservation challenges, and connect science, math, and storytelling in a way that feels immediate and relevant.
Did you know – there are 35 ready-to-use lessons available right now—and they’re all free.
🎥 Media Challenge: Make Your Own Great Lakes Now
We wrap the episode with a student media challenge inspired by the show. If your students are already creators on TikTok or YouTube, this one’s for them. From local lake ecosystems to urban wildlife to water use in your school, students can create science or environmental documentaries that matter. We’ve even created a media resource pack to help them get started.
