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Climate in the Classroom

Climate in the Classroom

Project Description

We work directly with regional educators to support them in their efforts to integrate climate change topics into their curriculum.

We do this through:

  • Finding and developing curricular materials which promote student awareness and understanding of the science of climate change, together with its causes, consequences, and actions we can take. These curricula could be used in schools, for homeschooling, and in extra-curricular situations, such as youth groups, after school clubs, nature centers, summer camps, etc.
  • Developing and giving one-time presentations about climate change to elementary through high school students as an introduction to the subject. Give the teacher, parent, or group leader follow-up curriculum materials.
  • Connecting and working with high school and middle-school students who might help develop curriculum and present in lower-age classrooms and/or wish to use education in climate change as their senior project, capstone project, or to fulfill another class requirement.
  • Providing opportunities for teachers to network and learn together through quarterly Teacher Conversation programs and teacher professional development workshops.

Project Leader

If you are interested in joining this project or you are an educator/school administrator who is interested in joining our mailing list, please contact Ellie Cosgrove.

Goals

  • Provide access to climate change curriculum and support regional teachers with curriculum development.
  • Identifying and supporting regional teachers who would like to be leaders in their schools and districts who will encourage colleagues to integrate climate change curriculum into their classrooms.

Connection to SOCAN Mission

One of SOCAN’s main mission objectives is to educate the public about climate science, and of the most effective ways of doing this is reaching students at all levels.

Background Information

The Next Generation Science Standards, adopted by Oregon, explicitly include the expectation that students will understand climate science, but many teachers need the support to do so. We support teachers in their efforts to find and develop curricula to meet these standards and provide professional development opportunities where they can collaborate with other teachers and practice teaching about these topics.

Education Resources

Link to Education Resources Page

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Oregon Legislative Districts

Oregon State CapitolPhoto Credit - Alan Journet

Oregon Congressional & Legislative Districts

Project Description

One of the most effective ways of communicating the importance of acting to address climate change is to show individuals what is happening in their own backyards.  This project follows that principle by providing Oregonians with a brief summary of what the trends and projections are for their locality – using the state Senate Districts and Congressional Districts as the geographic regional boundaries.

Project Leader 

To join this project contact Alan Journet

Goals

The Goal was to produce summaries for each House District. We now plan to produce one parallel summary for each of Oregon’s Federal Congressional House Districts.

Connection to SOCAN Mission

This project addresses the SOCAN mission statements of promoting awareness and understanding about the consequences of climate change and motivating concerned citizens to take action.

Background Information

Shortly after SOCAN was inaugurated, it occurred to us that a brief summary of climate trends and projections for each region in Oregon could be helpful in communicating the problem and urgency to local residents and representatives. Given this premise, a reasonable way to divide the state seemed to be on the basis of Legislative Districts – a format that could have real meaning for representatives. After offering this suggestion to statewide environmental / climate organizations and receiving positive responses but no interest in assuming responsibility for organizing the project, SOCAN thus engaged student interns from SOU and local willing experts to work with us on developing the summaries and bullet lists.

Resources

Link to Resources Page

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Presentations

Presentations

Project Description

The purpose of the project is to develop a set of presenters and presentations that can be offered to regional audiences.  It is anticipated that these presentations will be adjusted to suit the interests and understanding of the audience, and be tailored to meet the desired goals and needs of the audience.

Project Leader

To join this project or to request a presentation contact Alan Journet

Goals

To present scientifically based information on climate change to promote understanding and awareness of the problem and how we can address it.

Connection to SOCAN Mission

It is anticipated that this project will promote awareness and understanding about the causes and consequences of climate change and motivate individual and collective action through delivery of informed presentations discussing the most currently available science on various aspects of climate change, its causes, consequences, and counters.

Background Information

Delivering presentations on various aspects of climate change is a critically important activity offered by SOCAN. We have developed presentation slide sets that can be shared.

By offering schools, educational institutions, community and service groups informed presentations and programs on Climate Change, SOCAN can promote among area residents: a greater understanding of the basic science of climate change; its causes and consequences, regionally, nationally, and globally; what we can do to address the problem.  Addressing climate change involves both preparing for the consequences that are inevitable and reducing its causes so as to reduce the severity of future impacts.

Resources

Link to Resources Page  Includes list of speakers & topics

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