This teachers' handbook outlines the philosophy of this program, the methods of teaching it, and the information needed to perform the investigations. The purpose of this program is to encourage students to identify an environmental area to work in and to provide them with the tools to investigate it. The program fosters the idea of unsupervised class time in which students can go out into the community to carry out their investigations. Teaching strategies are given to help teachers evaluate the students' work and to generate and sustain class discussions. A techniques section gives teachers the necessary information to perform the water and air quality experiments and population surveys, as well as some additional information and detailed drawings of needed equipment. Information on organizing this course and sections on required materials and needed resource materials are included. (MA)