(CNSNews.com) - Attention, class: This is National Environmental Education Week, a time to actively engage K-12th grade students and teachers in "an inspired week of environmental learning" before Earth Day on April 22.

The event is organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation, a group chartered by Congress in 1990 to advance environmental knowledge and action. "Our ultimate goal is to activate environmentally responsible behavior in the general public," the group says on its Web site.

The theme of this year's Environmental Education Week is "carbon footprints." The lessons and activities are "designed to infuse environmental education into everyday learning."

With that goal in mind, the National Environmental Education Foundation is offering an online student carbon calculator to help kids figure out how much carbon dioxide they are emitting in the following categories: travel, what you eat, home, what you use, and what you throw away.

Students answer a series of questions, then the calculator gives the "tips" about different options for setting specific goals for themselves (for example, 'I will ride a bike instead of riding in a car'), the Web site says.

Students also are encouraged to join online discussion forums in which teachers and students share tips on reducing their carbon dioxide emissions/footprint.

"Students can compare their carbon footprints with students in other schools, boys vs. girls and more," the National Environmental Education Foundation said.

The National Environmental Education Foundation describes "EE Week" as the largest organized environmental education event in the United States.

The event is funded by Canon USA (the cameras and office products company). Alexandra Cousteau, the granddaughter of the famous French explorer Jacques Cousteau, is the event's spokesperson.

"We can no longer ignore the human footprint on our planet," Alexandra said in a news release. "If we are to achieve a sustainable society, we must consider our impact on the natural systems that support life on Earth. EE Week is an excellent opportunity for students and educators to focus on shrinking their own carbon footprint and that of their families, schools and communities."

The National Environmental Education Foundation says millions of students and educators are expected to take part in this week's lessons.