It is hard not to notice the unusually warm weather that hit Minnesota in the last few weeks, following what we like to call, “the winter that never was.” There has been some pretty interesting coverage that highlight these anomalies. Climate Central’s interactive map shows how early spring has arrived around the country
The big news in the world of climate change education this week has been the National Center for Science Education’s new climate change education initiative. “Long respected for its work in defending and supporting the teaching of evolution in the public schools…NCSE launched this new initiative to defend and support the teaching of climate change.” […]
It is hard to believe that November is already here! We have been busy posting the online classroom submissions and doing a few school visits with Will. Read more about the visits here. We hope to start hearing about any projects that you have worked on with your students in the next few months. Will […]
As those of us in Northern regions bid farewell to migratory species for the winter, and those of you in Southern regions are welcoming our summer wildlife, the topic of migration seemed like pertinent topic to write on today. Climate change is clearly impacting migratory species. Robins are being seen in the Arctic regions, and […]
Recent funding from the Minnesota Historical Society has enabled us to begin organizing Will’s vast archives. This project will be helpful as we develop our new curriculum focused on Minnesota’s Changing Climate that integrates items from Will’s archives. Over the next few months as we dive into the archives I will be sharing some of […]
Finding ways to make scientific research accessible to the non scientist is important, if not essential, especially on topics related to environmental issues. I thought I’d take today to review one of my favorite educational tools that makes science accessible to middle schoolers, The Natural Inquirer. The Natural Inquirer is a middle school science education […]
During Dr. Naomi Oreskes’s public forum a few weeks ago, she spoke about how she answers the question, “What can I do to help fight climate change? Should I buy a new hybrid car?” Dr. Oreskes said that she instantly responds that the best car is the car you already have. The amount of waste […]
An article today in Conservation Minnesota details some ways that Minnesota schools can make their school a more environmentally friendly place WHILE freeing up money for education. The article brought to mind two things that have surprised me as the parent of a kindergartner just starting public school this year. 1. Paper! Before our daughter […]
Climate Lessons Blog is back online after a successfully busy month of August planning, implementing and decompressing from our Fifth Annual Summer Institute for Climate Change Education. To experience the Institute virtually you can visit the Summer Institute 2010 page which is still be updated with lots of videos of the Institute and interview with […]
I came across this essay in one of my favorite monthly magazines, Orion, a few years ago. Rereading it today I was struck by how deeply I connected with it now that my own children are reaching the “why?” age of life. In the essay Sandra Steingraber, an accomplished environmental writer and ecologist, describes her […]