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Elementary Climate Education

This is a curated collection of resources that aim to teach about Earth's climate for elementary students. 

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Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands
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Educational Use
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This video focuses on the science of climate change and its impacts on wildlife on land and in the sea, and their habitats in the U.S. There are short sections on walruses, coral reefs, migrating birds and their breeding grounds, freshwater fish, bees, etc. Video concludes with some discussion about solutions, including reduce/recycle/reuse, energy conservation, backyard habitats, and citizen scientists.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Biology
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Global Change Research Program
Date Added:
05/15/2012
Climate Change and Water
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
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Climate Change and Water - Perspectives from the Forest Service is a summary of a forthcoming report by the Forest Service and U.S. Department of Agriculture which will detail the likely impacts of climate change on the Nation's forested watersheds and highlight the importance of managing forests to provide clean, abundant water.

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
U.S. Forest Service
Date Added:
06/01/2008
Climate Change and the Polar Regions: Issue 20, June 2010
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This issue of the free online magazine, Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, highlights resources that help elementary teachers learn about climate change and teach their students important foundational concepts.

Subject:
Geoscience
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
The Ohio State University
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Climate Change and the Polar Regions: Unit Outlines
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This article assembles free resources from the Climate Change and the Polar Regions issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine into a unit outline based on the 5E learning cycle framework. Outlines are provided for Grades K-2 and Grades 3-5.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Jessica Fries-Gaither
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Climate Change and the Water Cycle
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Educational Use
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This unit consists of seven distinct activities that teach climate change, the water cycle, and the effects of the changing climate on water resources through the use of games, science experiments, investigations, role-playing, research, and creating a final project to showcase learning.

Subject:
Agriculture
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Hydrology
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Stephanie Haan Amato
United States Department of Agriculture
Date Added:
07/18/2022
Climate Kids: Planet Health Report: Temperature
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
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The term "global average temperature" is defined and its importance in monitoring climate change is discussed. A supplemental column makes the analogy between Earth’s temperature and human vital signs. This lesson is part of the Climate Kids website, a NASA education resource featuring articles, videos, images and games focused on the science of climate change.

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Geoscience
History
History, Law, Politics
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lecture
Provider:
NASA
Provider Set:
NASA Wavelength
Date Added:
11/05/2014
Climate Kids: What Else Do We Need To Find Out?
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
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NASA scientists, using several NASA Earth observing satellites, continue to seek answers to questions related to climate change. Several of those questions, focused on such topics as the effect of clouds and aerosols, and the role of the sun's cycles and the carbon cycle, are included in this article. Images of the respective satellites involved in the research are shown. This article is part of the Climate Kids website, a NASA education resource featuring articles, videos, images and games focused on the science of climate change.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Geoscience
History
History, Law, Politics
Physical Science
Technology
Material Type:
Lecture
Provider:
NASA
Provider Set:
NASA Wavelength
Date Added:
11/05/2014
Climate Literacy in the Elementary Classroom
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This article provides five strategies for building the foundation for climate science literacy in the elementary grades.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Mark S. McCaffrey
Susan M. Buhr
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Climate Misconceptions: A Top 10 List
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CC BY-SA
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This article discusses ten common misconceptions held by students and adults about climate change.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Geoscience
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Mark S. McCaffrey
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Climate Science: What We Need to Know
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This article presents the candid and informal response of a climate scientist who strives to communicate the essentials of climate change.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Geoscience
Physical Science
Technology
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Carol Landis
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Cloudy vs. Clear
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Educational Use
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Students analyze and interpret graphs to compare the flow of shortwave energy from the Sun toward China over the course of a year on cloudy versus clear days.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Ashwinraj Ravindran
Jessica Taylor
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date Added:
06/11/2020
Collecting Climate Data
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This professional development article identifies resources that show young learners (K-grade 5) how scientists study Earth's climate and make predictions. The online lessons either allow students to collect and analyze data or learn about tools and technologies that make data collection possible. The lessons are aligned with national content standards for science education. The article appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle, which examines the recognized essential principles of climate literacy and the climate sciences for elementary teachers and their students.

Subject:
Education
Geoscience
Mathematics
Physical Science
Physics
Space Science
Material Type:
Data Set
Lesson Plan
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle
Author:
Jessica Fries-Gaither
National Science Foundation
Date Added:
05/30/2012
Common Misconceptions about Polar Weather and Climate
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This article lists common misconceptions about weather, climate change, and the polar regions. It provides formative assessment probes and information about teaching for conceptual change.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Jessica Fries-Gaither
Date Added:
10/17/2014
Consequences of Climate Change: Lessons about Water Availability and Extreme Weather
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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This article from the free online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle provides appropriate science lessons for Grades K-5. The focus is on acquainting young learners with climate-change concepts that are not too complex for their grade level and will not frighten them. In each issue, the magazine develops articles around one of the seven essential principles of climate science. The author believes early lessons about water availability and extreme weather events will prepare students for complex climate concepts they will encounter in later grades.

Subject:
Ecology
Education
Forestry and Agriculture
Geoscience
Life Science
Mathematics
Physical Science
Physics
Space Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle
Author:
Jessica Fries-Gaither
National Science Foundation
Date Added:
05/30/2012
Conservation to Improve Biodiversity (Number Sense & Biodiversity #3)
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
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SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about how people are protecting living things and create their own plan to protect living things.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson features human actions to improve biodiversity. It would inspire students to lead initiatives on biodiversity conservation in their community. All materials have been fact-checked, and this lesson has passed our credibility process.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment for students to consider positive action in their community.
-Students will consider how responsible decision-making directly impacts them and their environment.
-This lesson introduces options for helping wildlife using multiple learning styles.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 3 of 3 in our Number Sense and Biodiversity unit.
-You can choose to use the animals featured on the IUCN’s Red List slides in the Teacher Slideshow or identify 1-2 species on the IUCN’s Red List from your local area and adapt the slides. To find other animals, you may search for a specific species you know is in danger or use the directions below:
-Click on Advanced Search.
-Click on Land Regions.
-Click on the Arrow next to the Land Region you live in. This further narrows down the region.
-Click on Habitats. Choose a habitat that describes your area.
-Click on Red List Category, and select all categories except for Least Concern, Data Deficient and Extinct.
-The species will appear in a list. To view them on the map, choose the map setting on the gray header across the top.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-As a possible extension, students can share their design with the class and/or community leaders using cause and effect language.
-In the Inspire section, the class can choose to brainstorm ideas together and vote to create one conservation plan.
-The Student Worksheet has an adapted version for younger students.

Subject:
Biology
Life Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
SubjectToClimate
Author:
Emily Townsend
Date Added:
06/29/2023
Correlation to Standards and Curriculum Connections
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
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The concepts that underlie the fourth essential principle of climate literacy ("Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes.") are too complex for students in early and upper-level elementary school, but the foundational knowledge can be taught within existing curriculums and standards. This foundational knowledge will lead to understanding in later years. The author shows the correlation to the national science education standards, identifies misconceptions among elementary school students, suggests formative assessment probes, and identifies lessons and activities to make curriculum connections. The free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle is based on the seven essential principles of the climate sciences.

Subject:
Education
Material Type:
Assessment
Teaching/Learning Strategy
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle
Author:
Kimberly Lightle
National Science Foundation
Date Added:
05/30/2012
Create and Evaluate (Art for the Earth #6)
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
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SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn watercolour techniques, identify their target audience and create a rubric, and complete their artwork.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson connects arts with science, and it is ideal to communicate environmental change. Students learn basic watercolor techniques and apply the technique to create an artwork that would make an impact in their community. The procedures and tools used in the lesson are suitable for achieving the lesson outcomes. The lesson has passed our science review process and is recommended for use.

POSITIVES:
-Students explore and utilize visual art techniques to evoke emotions and encourage change.
-Students identify a target audience and develop a rubric to evaluate the effectiveness of their project.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 6 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Art for the Earth unit.
-Watercolour paints, water, and paper are necessary for this lesson. Thick watercolour paper will allow for more control of the paint but is not necessary.
-Make sure to provide enough time for setup and cleanup.
-If students are completing reflections and rubrics, the Student Reflection & Rubrics Document must be printed beforehand or shared digitally with the students.
-The Inspire section is listed as 30 minutes long. The final parts of this project may take much longer, depending on what you intend to do with your students. Additional time will probably be needed for displaying artwork, completing reflections, completing rubrics, and distributing and collecting rubrics from the target audience.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Displaying options, target audience, and evaluation methods can vary depending on time, resources, student ability, grade level, and school environment.
-Ideas for target audiences: another class or grade level, the general school community, families, or an outside community that the class decides could benefit from this education.
-Ideas for displaying options: in a classroom space, hallway, or common room space; in a digital exhibition; at a school event (e.g., art show, classwork presentation evening, parents' night, etc.)

Subject:
Arts and Humanities
Geoscience
Physical Science
Space Science
Visual Arts
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
SubjectToClimate
Author:
Lindsey Pockl
Monica Lilley
Date Added:
06/29/2023
Creating Equitable and Just Classrooms with the Teaching Tolerance Project
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-SA
Rating
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This article provides an overview of Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center that provides educators with free resources around the areas of equity, justice, and tolerance.

Subject:
Applied Science
Environmental Science
Geoscience
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology
Provider Set:
Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: An Online Magazine for K-5 Teachers
Author:
Jessica Fries-Gaither
Date Added:
10/17/2014