Science Partnership for Global Change Education
Climate Change Education for the Classroom
Topics
We are a partnership of dedicated educators and scientists who support middle school teachers, helping them create awareness and advocacy about climate related issues, whether it be in STEM subjects, history or social science classes. We strive to deepen both pedagogical and science content knowledge of Global Change, as well as highlighting student civic engagement and advocacy.
This website provides teachers resources that came out of our workshops. Our objective is to connect science content with activity-based lessons and pedagogy to create a powerful teaching approach.
The following are topics related to climate change that can be taught across the K-12 curriculum. Within each topic you will find a quick summary of the issue, helpful Powerpoint slides, a content video, hands-on activities, teacher suggestions for how sequence a teaching unit, readings, and suggested links.
The Science Partnership for Global Change Education (SPGCE) offers professional development opportunities and resources for teachers bringing climate change into their classrooms.
Natural Climate Change Causes
Many assume that humans are the only cause of climate change, but ice and marine cores reveal cyclical warmings and coolings over geologic time. These climate fluctuations are associated with long-term changes in how Earth orbits the sun. This is the drumbeat of climate change before humans began altering the climate system.
Human Climate Change Causes
Although humans have only been on Earth for its most recent history, through industrial processes we have profoundly altered the atmosphere by pumping heat absorbing greenhouse gasses into it, resulting in global warming. The pace of these changes over the last 150 years surpasses any natural cycles that have occurred over Earth’s last 1 million years.
Wildfires and Air Quality
Drought conditions and record heat are fueling deadly wildfires and affecting air quality from California, to Canada and the Mediterranean Region. These huge wildfires have made us question our forest management techniques and wildfire mitigation activities.
Rising Seas
The biggest global climate threat is rising sea level since 40% of the world’s population lives near a coastline. Rising seas are causing villages, cities, and nations to move to higher ground, especially in the developing world.
Rising Air Temperatures
Air temperatures have been rising since the industrial revolution. Every year, all around the world heat records are broken. Heat waves are hotter and last longer than decades ago impacting human health, especially in urban areas and developing nations.
Flooding and Droughts
We have all seen the news lately: unprecedented flooding, droughts, hurricanes, etc. The news has called it “weather weirding” and it’s one of the most visible consequences of a warming world, an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.
Ocean Acidification
Often called the “Other CO2 Problem”. Carbon dioxide is not only making Earth’s atmosphere warmer, it’s making the ocean more acidic. This impacts every ocean on Earth including coastal estuaries and other waterways. The speed of the acidification process is alarming as is its impact on marine ecosystems.