Overview:

Among the most frequent topics appearing in the press during the past decade are “global warming” and “greenhouse effect”.  The ongoing research on our planet’s climate is of such importance that whenever a new discovery is made, a new theory proposed, or a new model developed, a story about it is carried in major newspapers.  What do we and don’t we understand?  Can we catch the attention of our students and help them make a difference in their own future?

Review of Workshop:

Participants heard first-hand from professors about their ongoing climate-related research. Open discussions with these researchers allowed teachers to expand and probe their own understandings of climate change and the earth systems behind it.  Each content presentation was followed by inquiry-based learning activities/resources designed to help make the transfer of content back to the classroom.  Some time was spent discussing how to answer student questions about recently released entertainment media on the topic of climate. Teachers worked to create their own curriculum plan relating the earth systems and climate change. 

For documents and weblinks used in this workshop, please click on the appropriate box on the left.

 

 

Coordinators:

Annette Brickley
abrickley@clcofme.org
Professional Development Director
Earth and Space Science Community Education Center (ESSCEC)
Challenger Learning Center of Maine   

Deirdre Byrne
dbyrne@umeoce.maine.edu
Research Assistant Professor
School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine