Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Many teachers have trouble talking about climate change in their classrooms
Discussions of climate change have become politicized Some teachers are not sure of the science themselves Like any hot button issue, the loudest voice may not be
supported by the data. 58% of US Citizens accepted climate change as real last year More than 25% of teachers reported having arguments over this issue
(Pew Research Center poll, 2011) (NESTA Survey of Earth Science Teachers, 2011)
humanity is heating up the planet are often confused about the reasons
(Inman, 2012)
professional development opportunities Established six regional groups with a goal of fostering regular communication and collaboration among educators within those regions Focus projects in your communities Focus projects in citizen science
Reusable Bags
School/Community Garden
Kaneohe Bay patch reef that had been cleared of invasive seaweed using the Super Sucker and then had native collector urchins placed and monitored to see how well they were able to control the invasive algae. This project originates from the $500.00 Climate Stewards mini grant that focuses on continued improvement of the Image source: ryanphotographic.com health of Oahus coral reefs. This year, Hale Kula teachers agree to participate by housing salt water aquariums in five classrooms. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources agreed to provide small urchins to the school for students to raise and to actively engage in scientific research.
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On site teacher professional development, focused on the physical properties of water and what happens to sea level as ocean water warms.
As the Earth warms, its waters will also expand slightly. As Earths atmospheric temperature rises from global warming, the oceans will warm and sea levels will rise from the expansion of the water, as well as from the addition of water from melted land-based glaciers.
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Professional Development focused on the chemistry of ocean water and the impact changes in the chemistry have on marine life.
As CO2 increases in the atmosphere the pH of the ocean decreases leading to ocean acidification. Acidic ocean waters stress and react with the carbonate skeleton of corals.
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whether the program increases environmental and climate literacy of the teachers and the students whether the program increases the number and impact of climate stewardship activities at the school and in the community
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Kaneohe Bay Continued participation of Hale Kula and addition of schools in the Scholfield/Wheeler Complex and then to other schools in Central Oahu and the Leeward Coast School and community adoption of project management after year five to sustain climate stewardship activities
Image source: ryanphotographic.com
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e.g. Climate Change Here and Now: Impacts on Pacific Islands, Coastlines, and Ocean NASAs Aquarius: Ocean concepts in the classroom Webinar Series
Stewardship in Action!
National Contacts
Peg Steffen
peg.steffen@noaa.gov NOAAs National Ocean Service Communications & Education Division bruce.moravchik@noaa.gov
Bruce Moravchik
Richard Jones
Hawaii Contacts
rmjones7@hawaii.edu
"It is better to teach people in advance about the environment, than to reverse the damage they do..."
6th grade student
Climate Stewards