Climate change is the defining issue of this century. Students have shown unprecedented levels of civic engagement in climate activism and understand that they will inherit a world that has felt the impact of climate change. Educators must be prepared to bring climate change into the classroom, and the Earth Institute is excited to support these efforts through our professional development event for K-12 educators, “E.I. Teach: Climate Change in the Classroom” from July 28-31. This newly launched effort will enable educators to provide engaging and meaningful learning opportunities for students around climate change and sustainability. A tentative agenda, a list of the speakers, and additional information about the event is available here.
Educators will be split into two cohorts: those teaching at the grades K-5 levels and those teaching at the 6-12 levels. Each cohort will participate in two consecutive half-day events. For educators teaching at the grade 6-12 levels, the workshop will take place on July 28-29 from 10:00am – 1:30pm EDT. For educators teaching at the K-5 levels, the workshop will take place on July 30-31 from 10:00am – 1:30pm EDT. All participants will receive a certificate of participation that will include the number of training hours. All educators, regardless of subject area expertise, are encouraged to sign up. If you’re interested in the K-5 sessions, please register here. If you’re interested in the grades 6-12 sessions, please register here.
All participants will:
- Get live access to the event and all of the session recordings
- Be able to interact with world-renowned scientists in small group settings
- Learn about ideas and strategies to teach climate change live or remotely
- Meet and network with fellow educators
- Walk away with relevant resources and lesson plans
Our climate experts will share their cutting-edge content and tools that will support educators in bringing climate change into their classrooms. Educators will learn topics such as our warming Earth and the human impacts, how we use science to design resilient and low-carbon cities, and why we should care about a very specific glacier in Western Antarctica, just to name a few.
The event will allow educators to have an opportunity to get a deep dive into the science of climate change, the interrelated components of the climate system, and broader societal implications. But perhaps most importantly, educators will better understand how to bring climate change into their classrooms and engage students in learning that will prepare them to become tomorrow’s leaders and decision-makers.
The Earth Institute’s approach to climate change education will emphasize project-based learning in order to support students on their journeys in addressing the extremes of the climate system, figuring out potential solutions, and advocating for change. Founded in 1995, the Earth Institute’s core mission is to foster a greater understanding of the science behind sustainability and the climate crisis and what we as global citizens can do. Along with Columbia University, the Institute is well-poised to advance its existing leadership and make a strong commitment to addressing the complex challenge of climate change.
Don’t miss out on this exciting new opportunity. Sign up soon — space is limited!
If you have questions about the event, please contact Cassie Xu (cassie@ei.columbia.edu).
