Teach Climate

October 7, 2019
By: Education

Climate Lessons Update – October 2019

Letter to Climate Change Educators

DC Field TripWith a complex issue like climate change, it can feel difficult to know how to approach teaching it. We want you to know that there is no right or wrong way to begin! Climate change intersects with all aspects of our lives, so it can fit into any subject area and will be relevant to your students.

Preparing students to design solutions to problems that align with their personal values in turn helps their communities and the world. Taking learning beyond the classroom is essential because students are not just being told it’s important, they have seen it themselves along the way!

Check out our new experiential learning field trip, which we piloted at the Summer Institute for Climate Change Education this past August, using geo-inquiry to understand climate change. And, attend our session at GEOFEST Minnesota to take a deeper dive into the lesson!

We hope to see many of you at additional conferences this fall, including Minnesota Educator Academy on Oct. 17 and National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Austin, TX, Nov. 22-24!

Onward!
Megan Van Loh, Education Coordinator
Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy

Climate Generation Happenings

#TeachClimate Network

Biggest Little FarmJoin the #TeachClimate Network, comprised of educators from all over the country who are dedicated to teaching climate change! Our first virtual meeting of the school year is Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00pm CDT. Before this meeting, we invite you to watch the documentary film, The Biggest Little Farm, to guide our discussion. Available to rent on Amazon, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, and Google Player. Join the meeting by following the Zoom link here: https://zoom.us/j/376267083

Take A Listen!

1A WAMUWAMU’s 1A radio program came to our Summer Institute in Washington, D.C. and interviewed educators about their experiences teaching climate change. Listen to the archived broadcast to hear challenges and successes from your peers around the country!

American Geophysical Union Partnership Featured in EOS

AGU-SIWe partnered with AGU for the Summer Institute in Washington, D.C. and educators got a tour of their new net-zero building, learning how green buildings are the way of the future. Check out this piece about our visit!

 

Opportunities for Minnesotans

Educator Workshop: New Science Standards and Climate Change

Teachers SI 2019Minnesota has new state science standards, and we want to equip middle and high school teachers with the tools and resources to bring core ideas to life in the classroom! Attend our free workshop on Thurs, Nov. 7 in St. Cloud as a pre-workshop to MnCOSE. Lunch provided and 6 CEUs. Register today!

Youth Climate Kickoff

Help spread the word—high schoolers can start the year off with climate action! Join youth from across Minnesota at the Youth Climate Kickoff, Saturday, October 12, 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. Learn tools for engaging your school in climate action, share projects you’ve done in your community already, and connect with other groups that develop climate justice solutions. Free, with lunch provided!

Youth Climate Kickoff

 

Resources

CLEAN Webinar Series

Register for the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) webinar series to enhance your knowledge and teaching about climate and energy education!

CLEAN

Project Green Schools

Project Green SchoolsLooking for resources on how to green your school? Check out Project Green Schools 13 Pathways to Greening Your School. They also have a Green Schools Society program (grades K-12) and National Youth Council (grades 5-12) that honor and develop bright, civic-minded, environmentally literate citizens in schools and communities.

Climate Central

Climate CentralClimate Central offers a wealth of graphs, maps, and data for teachers and students to see how climate change is affecting their region. Check out the gallery for new graphics highlighting current impacts around the world.

 

What We’re Watching

Biggest Little FarmCheck out the documentary film, The Biggest Little Farm, which chronicles the eight-year quest of a couple as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and dream to harvest in harmony with nature. We are going to discuss this film at our upcoming #TeachClimate Network Meeting on October 22!

 

Stories from the Field

We’re excited to announce that due to generous support from Ingersoll Rand’s Trane and Thermo King Brands, we will be expanding our Green STEM Careers Documentary and developing an accompanying curriculum resource this year! Read more here!

 

Moment of Inspiration

Climate Leaders

Millions of youth and adults around the world have been striking on Fridays to demand action on climate change. Maybe you attended your local Climate Strike on September 20th? Check out these 10 amazing youth climate activists, and meet our Youth Environmental Activists of MN Core Team who are leading change in the world.