Top 10 Reasons to Teach Climate Change. Delivered in May 2012 for teacher professional development workshop.

1. Climate Change Education
@CarolTang1
Director, Coalition for Science After School
May 2012

5. http://ncseonline.org/program/Climate-Change-Education

6. http://ncse.com/climate

7. http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/climate-
literacy
• The Sun is the primary source of energy for
Earth’s climate system.
• Climate is regulated by complex interactions
among components of the Earth system.
• Life on Earth depends on, is shaped by, and
affects climate.
• Climate varies over space and time through both
natural and human processes.
• Our understanding of the climate system is
improved through observations, theoretical
studies, and modeling.
U.S. Global Change • Human activities are impacting the climate
Research Program system.
• Climate change will have consequences for the
Earth system and human lives.

9. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
Wikimedia Commons

10. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#10
Aligns to California
math & science
standards

11. Math standards
• Data analysis
• Statistics and probability
• Graphs

12. CA History-Social Science
“Climate” mentioned 10 times in 9
standards
• 3rd grade: American Indians
• 4th grade: California regions
• 5th grade: American Indians + early settlers
• 7th grade: Middle Age Islam + Medieval
Europe +
Meso-America
• 8th grade: Industrial Revolution in America
• 10th grade: World War I
5

13. California State Science
Standards
6

14. California State Science
Standards
• Adopted in 1998 (print version 2003)
6

15. California State Science
Standards
• Adopted in 1998 (print version 2003)
• “Climate” is mentioned:
6

16. California State Science
Standards
• Adopted in 1998 (print version 2003)
• “Climate” is mentioned:
• 7 times
6

17. California State Science
Standards
• Adopted in 1998 (print version 2003)
• “Climate” is mentioned:
• 7 times
• 3 standards
6

18. Seventh Grade
• Earth and Life History
• 4. Evidence from rocks allows us to
understand the evolution of life on Earth. As
a basis for understanding this concept:
• 4f. Students know how movements of
Earth’s continental and oceanic plates
through time, with associated changes
in climate and geographic connections,
have affected the past and present
distribution of organisms.
7

19. High school standards
• Ecology 6.
• Stability in an ecosystem is a balance
between competing effects. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
• b. Students know how to analyze
changes in an ecosystem resulting from
changes in climate, human activity,
introduction of nonnative species, or
changes in population size.
8

20. High school standards
9

21. High school standards
Energy in the Earth System
9

22. High school standards
Energy in the Earth System
• 6a.Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run)
involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.
9

23. High school standards
Energy in the Earth System
• 6a.Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run)
involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.
• b. Students know the effects on climate of latitude, elevation, topography, and
proximity to large bodies of water and cold or warm ocean currents.
9

24. High school standards
Energy in the Earth System
• 6a.Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run)
involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.
• b. Students know the effects on climate of latitude, elevation, topography, and
proximity to large bodies of water and cold or warm ocean currents.
• c. Students know how Earth’s climate has changed over time, corresponding to
changes in Earth’s geography, atmospheric composition, and other factors, such
as solar radiation and plate movement.
9

25. High school standards
Energy in the Earth System
• 6a.Students know weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run)
involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.
• b. Students know the effects on climate of latitude, elevation, topography, and
proximity to large bodies of water and cold or warm ocean currents.
• c. Students know how Earth’s climate has changed over time, corresponding to
changes in Earth’s geography, atmospheric composition, and other factors, such
as solar radiation and plate movement.
• d.Students know how computer models are used to predict the effects of the
increase in greenhouse gases on climate for the planet as a whole and for
specific regions.
9

26. High school standards
10

27. High school standards
Climate NOT in Biogeochemical
cycles
10

28. High school standards
Climate NOT in Biogeochemical
cycles
• b. Students know the global carbon cycle: the
different physical and chemical forms of carbon in
the atmosphere, oceans, biomass, fossil fuels, and
the movement of carbon among these reservoirs.
10

29. High school standards
Climate NOT in Biogeochemical
cycles
• b. Students know the global carbon cycle: the
different physical and chemical forms of carbon in
the atmosphere, oceans, biomass, fossil fuels, and
the movement of carbon among these reservoirs.
• d. Students know the relative residence times and
flow characteristics of carbon in and out of its
different reservoirs.
10

30. High school standards
Climate NOT in Biogeochemical
cycles
• b. Students know the global carbon cycle: the
different physical and chemical forms of carbon in
the atmosphere, oceans, biomass, fossil fuels, and
the movement of carbon among these reservoirs.
• d. Students know the relative residence times and
flow characteristics of carbon in and out of its
different reservoirs.
So climate and carbon NOT linked in
Calif standards explicitly
10

31. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change

32. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#9 Aligns with Common Core stds

34. Common Core ELA
Grades K-5
Students Who are College and Career Ready in
Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, & Language

35. Common Core ELA K-5
• They demonstrate independence.
• They build strong content knowledge.
• They respond to the varying demands of audience,
task, purpose, and discipline.
• They comprehend as well as critique.
• They value evidence.
• They use technology and digital media strategically
and capably.
• They come to understand other perspectives and
cultures.

36. Common Core ELA K-5
• They demonstrate independence.
• They build strong content knowledge.
• They respond to the varying demands of audience,
task, purpose, and discipline.
• They comprehend as well as critique.
• They value evidence.
• They use technology and digital media strategically
and capably.
• They come to understand other perspectives and
cultures.

37. Common Core ELA
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-10
Grades 11-12

38. ...students must learn to read, write, speak, listen,
and use language effectively in a variety of content
areas...
...specify the literacy skills and understandings
required for college and career readiness in multiple
disciplines
Literacy standards for grade 6 and above are
predicated on teachers of ELA, history/social
studies, science, and technical subjects using their
content area expertise to help students meet the
particular challenges of reading, writing, speaking,
listening, and language in their respective fields.

39. 42

40. 32

41. Assessment
• Mixing up of environmental/health issues
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t litter
• Don’t kill animals
30

42. •October 2008
•3829 votes
•$463.69
•Included $20 bill!
43

43. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change

44. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#8 Promotes 21st
Century Skills

45. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#8 Promotes 21st
Century Skills
#7 Promotes Global
Literacy

46. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#8 Promotes 21st
Century Skills
#7 Promotes Global
Literacy

48. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#6
Students are more
engaged in science
learning if real-world
examples are used

49. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#5 Ultimate inter-discplinary science
#4 Illustrates process of science...and uncertainty
Jim Maragos/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

50. http://undsci.berkeley.edu/

51. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#3
Some students don’t
believe in CC

54. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#2
Parents care about their
children

55. What are you doing to help solve
the climate change crisis?
• Recycling
• Driving a hybrid
• Investing in green-friendly companies
• Not enough
• Do not know
26

56. What are you doing to help solve
the climate change crisis?
• Educating my children about a green-
friendly lifestyle
• Recycling
• Driving a hybrid
• Investing in green-friendly companies
• Not enough
• Do not know
26

57. Parents cited
their children as a
top source of
information
regarding climate
change
38

58. • Children have “phase”
where justice and fairness
are important
• Environmental education
• Success of recycling
programs
37

59. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
#1
CC is happening now
and we need solutions
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

60. Burundi: “When will aid come?”

61. Maldives

62. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change

63. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards

64. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards

65. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills

66. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy

67. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

68. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

69. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards ‣ #5 Ultimate interdiscplinary science
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

70. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards ‣ #5 Ultimate interdiscplinary science
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core ‣ #4 Illustrates process of science
standards
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

71. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards ‣ #5 Ultimate interdiscplinary science
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core ‣ #4 Illustrates process of science
standards
‣ #3 Some students don’t accept CC
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

72. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards ‣ #5 Ultimate interdiscplinary science
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core ‣ #4 Illustrates process of science
standards
‣ #3 Some students don’t accept CC
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #2 Parents listen to their kids
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in
science learning if real-world
examples are used

73. Top 10
Reasons to Teach Climate Change
‣ #10 Aligns to CA science standards ‣ #5 Ultimate interdiscplinary science
‣ #9 Aligns to Common Core ‣ #4 Illustrates process of science
standards
‣ #3 Some students don’t accept CC
‣ #8 Provides 21st century skills
‣ #2 Parents listen to their kids
‣ #7 Provides global literacy
‣ #1 CC is happening and we need
‣ #6 Students are more engaged in solutions
science learning if real-world
examples are used

81. Climate Change Education
@CarolTang1
LinkedIn
http://www.slideshare.net/ScienceAfterSchool/climate-
change-education
http://fora.tv/speaker/9442/Dr_Carol_Tang
May 2012