Today’s blog is about the Global Climate Teach-In and climate education resources you can incorporate into what you already teach. – By Jackie Mueller, BLS Sustainability Coordinator
The biggest threat to our future is thinking that someone else will solve the climate crisis.
This year COCC and Bend LaPine Schools are partnering to unify our messages through the Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice, a global learning effort launched by Bard University. The Worldwide Teach-in gets people talking about climate and justice solutions. If we don’t talk about Climate Change, we won’t act to stop it. As educators, we can bring climate science to our students.
Students are excited for teachers and community leaders to step up and take action. Students from Bend High School and Caldera High School have formed Our Future clubs and recently participated in public testimony in support of SB 854 Climate Education bill. Many student have formed Green Teams at their schools with the help of teachers that volunteer their time for club meetings and actions.
On Wednesday, April 19th from 1:30 to 5:30, COCC is holding one of only two Climate Teach-ins in the Pacific Northwest. Several BLS teachers and their students are going to the event on the COCC campus. Follow this link for more information about speakers and live streaming.
It you are interested in teaching about climate change this year, check out the google drive of resources and search the resources below. You can also involve your students in DOTs.
DOTs: Do One Thing – Community Action Piece
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when talking about ways to address climate change, there is not an easy solution, but we can all DO ONE THING. We can all focus on solutions to reduce our individual impact as collective action make a big difference. If everyone committed to one thing, one shift or change, we would start to see the ripples of our actions. It can be as simple as reducing use of single use plastics, reducing meat consumption by one meal a week, biking more, carpooling, recycling, volunteering, or advocating for change. Work with your students to learn more about climate change and discuss individual actions and solutions.
Step 1: Educate about Climate
- For upper level high school, start a discussion about Project drawdown. This site has 6 units with 15-minute videos and additional discussions.
- Watch the Our Climate Our Future a simple but engaging video series for secondary students that explains the climate crisis and provides actionable ideas and opportunities for making a difference.
- Review the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World – Super easy ways to make change. Choose your level of commitment and take small steps to make an impact.
- Check out the google drive of Oregon k-12 resources for all grade levels and subject areas.
Step 2: Do One Thing
- Work in small groups to discuss individual actions that we can choose to take to either reduce our greenhouse gas emissions or something to sequester carbon.
- Have students write down their one thing. In the past teachers used cut-out construction paper green dots or handprints or leaves. Students can write their one thing on the colored paper.
Step 3: Create Art Installation
- Send what your students created to Jackie Wilson Mueller, Admin Office. All DOT’s (Do One Thing commitments ). We will create an art installation with the actions. If you find a simple creative way to get students to commit to one thing, will be showcased at the green school showcase and Rubbished renewed eco fashion show on May 20th.
- If it is easier for you to do this via Jamboard or Padlet, please share results to [email protected] and the students DOT’s will be included.
Climate Science Resources
Grades 9-12: The National Center for Science Education: Climate Change Curriculum
The Financial Times – Special Report (and Resources)
Searchable Resources
- Subject to Climate – Free, easy-to-use database that connects educators of all grade levels and subject areas to the resources they need to teach about climate change.
- OER Commons – Climate Education – Climate education resources for k-12 educators in multiple subject areas. This Hub is designed to be a library of educational resources about climate change and intersectional topics.
- CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network – Easy-to-read explanations of science and policy, designed to step students through the key principles of climate and energy. Suggested teaching approaches, selected for various grade levels with supporting materials and spanish-language versions of lessons.
- United Nations – Take Action Now – 10 Impactful actions to tackle the climate crisis. Start with your carbon footprint. Jump into energy saving tips, green travels and food hacks.
- National Center for Science Education -Supports teachers with tools and skills to overcome misconceptions and misinformation about climate change and evolution
Oregon Climate Policy and Action
- K-12 Climate Action State Standards Aspen Institute review of states and their level of action
- Oregon Educators for Climate Education – a statewide group of educators working toward Oregon legislation that would integrate and infuse PK-12 climate change education across all core subject areas. Advancing Climate Change Education in Oregon, GeoFest 2022
- Senate Bill 854 – Climate Education: Will requires each school district board to develop written plan establishing climate change instructional program for kindergarten through grade 12 no later than June 1, 2026. (In Senate Education committee as April 2023)
- Climate Change and Youth Mental Health – Oregon Health Authority report, June 2022 As the impact of climate change grows, students are feeling hopelessness, despair, anxiety and frustration about climate change. Students feel dismissed by older generations and angry that not enough is being done to protect their future. They are asking for adults to take action and to provide climate education.