Climate Change
A compilation of climate change and weather public engagement and professional learning resources for informal science educators.
Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, climate refers to atmospheric changes over longer periods of time. Learn more about the difference between weather and climate
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/weather-vs-climate
NISE Network public programs
Exploring Earth: Rising Sea
In this activity, learners explore how to use topographical mapping techniques to track changes in sea level and have discussions about the effects of rising sea levels on the environment and coastal communities.
Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping
In this activity, learners model the way Landsat satellites use a thermal infrared sensor to measure land surface temperatures.
Exploring Earth: Land Cover
In this activity, learners model some of the ways natural processes affect Earth’s landscape through erosion and sediment pollution.
Sustainable Futures collection of public programs
In this collection of activities, learners explore sustainability science concepts in a variety of activities.
SustainABLE Kit
Activities and professional development resources designed to engage the public in sustainability.
Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions?
In this forum, learners take the role of a governmental funding agency and asks them to consider how nanotechnology should fit into the timeline and scope of future national energy policy.
Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem
In this stage presentation, learners hear a brief overview of energy sources and our current energy crisis and discusses a variety of ways that nanotechnology can improve the situation.
Earth Day
A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the Earth, Earth Day, and Earth science. Resources can be used for celebrating Earth Day April 22, Earth Week, and Earth Month.
Energy
A compilation of energy public engagement resources and activities; topics focus on energy sources, transmission, and storage including: electricity, solar photovoltaic panels, batteries, electromagnetic spectrum, and transmission using graphene. Also included are resources for annual events including Static Electricity Day, Nuclear Science Week, Earth Day, and National Chemistry Week
NISE Network professional learning resources
Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC)
Through forums and citizen science projects, museums engage the public in active learning and resilience planning around heat waves, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and drought.
Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums
NISE Network’s Sustainable Futures initiative supports museums and similar cultural organizations in their efforts to integrate sustainability into all aspects of their institution, including decision-making, operations, programs, and community partnerships. The program uses a broad definition of sustainability, which aligns with the UN global goals.
Professional Resources for Sustainability
Tools to help museum professionals plan and implement sustainability projects and programs.
Online Workshop Recording: Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences
Online professional development workshop recording about a variety of approaches and resources available for engaging a broad range of audiences in climate science (2022).
Climate Hazard Resilience Forums
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Precipitation
In this interactive forum program participants will discuss the social, economic, and environmental impacts of extreme precipitation in facilitated groups.
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Drought
In this interactive forum program participants will discuss the social, economic, and environmental impacts of drought in facilitated groups.
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Heat
In this interactive forum program participants will discuss the social, economic, and environmental impacts of extreme heat in facilitated groups.
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Sea Level Rise
In this interactive forum program participants will discuss the social, economic, and environmental impacts of sea level rise in facilitated groups.
Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC)
Through forums and citizen science projects, museums engage the public in active learning and resilience planning around heat waves, sea level rise, extreme precipitation, and drought.
Climate Change
Online digital libraries of educational materials
- Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) collection of climate literacy and energy education materials https://cleanet.org
- NOAA Climate.gov https://climate.gov/teaching
- MADE CLEAR https://madeclear.thinkport.org
- PoLAR Hub https://thepolarhub.org
- Pacific Islands Climate Education Partnership http://pcep.prel.org
- NASA Climate Kids https://climatekids.nasa.gov
- NASA Earth Observatory EO Kids https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/eokids/
- Howtosmile.org climate activities for informal science audiences https://www.howtosmile.org/topics/climate
- NSTA Our Beautiful Planet short films https://www.nsta.org/our-beautiful-planet
- CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE) resources
- Subject to Climate https://subjecttoclimate.org/external-resources
Professional learning
- National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) https://nnocci.org/
- NNOCCI Climate Communication Training Offerings https://nnocci.org/training/
- NNOCCI Message Framework for Effective Climate Communications
- NNOCCI https://nnocci.org/resources/publications-and-articles/
- NOAA The Essential Principles of Climate Literacy
- NOAA Toolbox for Teaching Climate & Energy
- NOAA Community Resilience Education Theory of Change
- Climate Change Educational Partnership Alliance Effective Practices Guide
- NPS Earth to Sky climate communication toolkit https://earthtosky.org/starter-kit.html
- CLEAN guide to teaching about climate
- PRI Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change
- Project Drawdown - resources for climate solutions
- Regeneration - lists of climate solutions categorized for individuals, groups, companies, and governments
- climatechangeresources.org
- Museums & Climate Change Network
- Yale Climate Change Communication program
- NSF 2022 Climate Science, Children, & the Media Forum video recordings
- Association of Children's Museums "Children’s Museums and Climate Change" 2022
- Climate Mental Health Network https://www.climatementalhealth.net/
Climate change science
- NOAA https://www.noaa.gov/climate and https://www.climate.gov
- NASA https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/
- NASA evidence https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/NASA Earth Observatory https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
- NASA sea level change data tools https://sealevel.nasa.gov
- US Climate Resilience Toolkit https://toolkit.climate.gov
- National Academies https://www.nationalacademies.org/topics/climate
- US National Climate Assessment report https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/
- US National Climate Assessment atlas https://atlas.globalchange.gov/
- Public Health Institute A Physician’s Guide to Climate Change, Health and Equity
- UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) https://www.ipcc.ch
- UN Climate Change https://unfccc.int
Communicating climate change science
- Yale Climate Change Communication program
- National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) https://climateinterpreter.org
- NNOCCI resources https://climateinterpreter.org/resources
- NNOCCI and Frameworks Institute reframing cards for creating effective climate communication
- NNOCCI swamp graphic showing effective messaging language: productive (green), proceed with caution (yellow), and unproductive/avoid (red)
- Frameworks Institute climate change reports https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/issues/climate-change-and-environment/
- Why Climate Change is Anti-Justice | Hot Mess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5KjpYK12_c - Aspen Institute K-12 Climate Action https://www.k12climateaction.org
- How to talk about climate change and health https://climateforhealth.org
- Climate Change 101 - Climate Science Basics and health
https://climatehealthconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Climate101.pdf - Climate Mental Health Network https://www.climatementalhealth.net/
Annual Weather Awareness, Seasons, and Climate Events
Groundhog Day (February 2)
- Use Exploring Earth: Bear's Shadow activity to make and experiment with shadows
- STEM topics to explore include: signs of spring (animals emerging from hibernation), signs of winter (clear, cold days), and seasons (February 2 lies midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox)
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
Severe Weather Awareness Weeks (March, dates vary by state)
Severe weather may include flood, fire, lightning, hurricane, tornados, tsunami, earthquake, heat, and cold
- Please note that dates of awareness weeks vary by state:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar - https://www.weather.gov/dvn/Awareness_Weeks
Earth Hour (mid-March)
Spring Equinox (March 19 or 20 in the Northern Hemisphere)
- Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons)
- NISE Network Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
World Meteorology Day (March 23)
- World Meteorological Organization
https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/world-meteorological-day - NASA Climate Kids https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/
- NASA Meteorology: An Educator's Resource for Inquiry-Based Learning for Grades 5-9
- NOAA SciJinks How to read a Weather Map https://scijinks.gov/weather-map/
Earth Day (April 22)
- http://www.earthday.org/
- National Environmental Education Week (week of Earth Day) https://www.neefusa.org/education/eeweek
- NISE Network Earth Day resources www.nisenet.org/earthday
Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June)
- Please note that dates of awareness weeks vary by state:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar - https://www.weather.gov/dvn/Awareness_Weeks
Summer Solstice (June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere)
- Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons)
- Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
Fall Equinox (September 22 or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere)
- Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons)
- Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
Winter Solstice (December 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere)
- Solstices and equinoxes provide opportunities for planning quarterly programs related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon (astronomical seasons) or your local environment (meteorological seasons)
- Moon resources https://www.nisenet.org/moon
- NASA Space Place seasons resources
More Weather Resources
- NOAA Educational resources https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections
- NOAA National Weather Service resources https://www.weather.gov/education/
- NOAA SciJinks How to read a Weather Map https://scijinks.gov/weather-map/
- CLEAN Weather resources https://cleanet.org/clean/educational_resources/collection/index.html?search_text=weather&q1=
- NASA Climate Kids https://climatekids.nasa.gov/menu/weather-and-climate/
- NASA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) educational resources https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/k-12-education/jpss-education
- NASA Meteorology: An Educator's Resource for Inquiry-Based Learning for Grades 5-9
- Howtosmile.org climate activities for informal science audiences https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/weather
- World Meteorological Organization https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/world-meteorological-day
Heat Resources
- NOAA HeatRisk tool https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/
- CDC Heat and Health Index tool https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/heatTracker/
Finding STEM Experts
- See the "Space and Earth Science" and "Environmental Sciences" sections of Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings