Supporting Elementary Educators and Students in their Understanding of the Concepts Underlying Climate and Climate Change: A New Elementary GLOBE book on Climate

Climate literacy in K-12 occurs primarily in middle and high school, where teachers and students can dig deeply into the science. However, it is important to introduce the topic of climate at an early age to build on a child’s understanding of the surrounding world without overwhelming them with frightening climate change impacts. To give teachers a resource to enhance science instruction during the elementary years, a series of Elementary GLOBE books have been developed. These fictional stories describe sound science and engineering practices that are essential for students to learn the process of science while expanding literacy skills, strongly encouraged in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

This presentation will introduce the main concepts developed in a new Elementary GLOBE book on climate, titled “What in the World Is Happening to Our Climate?”. This book complements six other Earth System Science modules within the Elementary GLOBE curriculum and is freely available on the GLOBE website (www.globe.gov/elementaryglobe). The book discusses the concept that climate is changing in different ways and places around the world, and what happens to the climate in one place affects climate in other locations across the globe. Supporting ideas clarify the difference between weather and climate, introduce climate science concepts, reveal the impacts of sea level rise, and help students understand that, while humans are contributing to climate change, they can also participate in solutions that address this challenge. Accompanying teacher’s notes and companion classroom activities will be described to help elementary school teachers understand how to approach the subject of climate change with their students.