![Cumulonimbus cloud over Africa](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/2022-01/4542423196_e63fb84b6f_o-1900x1200.jpg?h=42d52dad&itok=uNKDgYiw)
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
![Family traces water line on clear piece of plastic](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1598.jpg?h=f25c14f9&itok=iupUTYMP)
Exploring Earth: Rising Sea
![Family using thermometer to take temperature of their arm for the Heat Map activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1950.jpg?h=d3251556&itok=MHj6xU6d)
Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping
![Photo of person pouring water on soil and sand to demonstrate erosion](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/land_activity.jpg?h=dd99b896&itok=we6abGF7)
Exploring Earth: Land Cover
![Sustainable Futures logo in full color](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/_susfuturespub_logo_v_color_500px.jpg?itok=lgXKWbEd)
Sustainable Futures collection of public programs
![Child using putting marbles into tube with funnel in Water Roll SustainABLE kit activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/Hero%20Sustainable%20kit%208T3B0432.jpg?h=567ae0da&itok=HWidDjzU)
SustainABLE Kit
![A solar panel on a grey stand.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/2529/iStock_000007825813Small.jpg?h=89f72c7c&itok=85sBS19u)
Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions?
![Field of solar panels](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/Energy_solarpanels.jpg?h=8876dcd3&itok=A97_ICpU)
Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem
![Half of the blue marble for Earth Day hero](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/earth-day-hero.jpg?h=46c5a8bf&itok=sfKmveh3)
Earth Day
![Battery Stack activity components](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/batterystack1.jpg?itok=NUPq0_u_)
Energy
NISE Network professional learning resources
![NOAA CSRC logo](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/cscrc_noaa_logo_with_photo_v2_tight_crop_0.jpg?itok=KYDwOsIm)
Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities (CSCRC)
![Sustainable Futures logo in full color](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/images/catalog/_susfuturespub_logo_v_color_500px.jpg?itok=lgXKWbEd)
Sustainability in Science and Technology Museums
![Sustainability and Museums: Cover Guide featuring a father and young child interacting with a giant balloon](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-05/Sustainability%20Guide_2021%20cover.jpg?h=16ec4b77&itok=gp7rVJwX)
Professional Resources for Sustainability
![Blue logo for online workshop recordings](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/2020-12/online-workshop-recordings-logo.jpg?itok=9FGQyoMy)
Online Workshop Recording: Communicating Climate Change to Diverse Audiences
Climate Hazard Resilience Forums
![Climate Hazard Resilience extreme precipenation forum of peple talking around a table](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-11/forum%20Climate%20Hazard%20Resilience%20extreme%20precipenation%20forum%20of%20peple%20talking%20around%20a%20table.jpeg?h=2992ba0a&itok=X2_p9coW)
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Precipitation
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Drought
![NOAA Climate Hazard Resilience heat forum with people sitting around tables talking](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-11/forum%20-%20NOAA%20Climate%20Hazard%20Resilience%20Forum%20-%20credit%20Oregon%20Museum%20of%20Science%20and%20Industry%20-noaa_omsi_1.jpg?h=1c1a28dc&itok=whb3H6hG)
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Extreme Heat
![Climate Hazard Resilience Forum Heat sea level rise table with materials](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-11/forum%20Climate%20Hazard%20Resilience%20Forum%20Heat%20sea%20level%20rise%20table%20with%20materials%20.jpeg?h=2992ba0a&itok=9eeJp7-m)
Climate Hazard Resilience Forum: Sea Level Rise
![NOAA CSRC logo](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large/public/cscrc_noaa_logo_with_photo_v2_tight_crop_0.jpg?itok=KYDwOsIm)
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 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://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
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
![Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2021-10/Working%20with%20STEM%20Experts%20Guide%20cover%20including%20an%20image%20of%20expert%20%20puring%20a%20liquid%20and%20using%20a%20strainer%20with%20a%20girl%20and%20her%20family%20at%20a%20museum%20public%20event%20CREDIT%20Marbles%20Kids%20Museum%20CROPPED.jpg?itok=O819TbQo)
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