Climate Change
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
Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping
Exploring Earth: Land Cover
Sustainable Futures collection of public programs
SustainABLE Kit
Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions?
Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem
Earth Day
Energy
NISE Network professional learning resources
Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC)
Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums
Professional Resources for Sustainability
Online Workshop Recording: Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences
Climate Hazard Resilience Forums
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Precipitation
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Drought
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Heat
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Sea Level Rise
Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC)
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: https://science.nasa.gov/learners/wavelength
- 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
Professional learning
- 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)
- 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
Climate change science
- NOAA: https://www.noaa.gov/climate and https://www.climate.gov
- NASA: https://climate.nasa.gov
- 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
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
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