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6 columns representing the 6 weeks in the Climate Action Project. Each column provides a brief description of that week's objective.
ScienceSTEM/STEAM

Take Action Global’s Free Climate Action Project

by Lindsay Zilly
written by Lindsay Zilly

In a world facing the pressing challenge of climate change, collaboration and innovation are more crucial than ever. The youth of today are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but also the torchbearers of change today. Take Action Global (TAG) has harnessed the power of interconnected minds and launched the Climate Action Project.

This free, six-week program unites students and teachers from over 150 countries, empowering them to collaborate virtually and tackle one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: climate change. Let’s delve into the transformative impact of the Climate Action Project, highlighting its significance, structure, and the potential it holds for a more sustainable future.

What is the Climate Action Project?

TAG’s Climate Action Project shines as a source of hope in a world where concerns about climate change cast a shadow. The initiative fosters a sense of global unity, transcending borders, languages, and cultures to address a common concern that knows no geographical boundaries. The project is not just an educational endeavor; it’s a movement that seeks to mobilize and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.

At its core, the Climate Action Project is a curriculum-based project about collaboration. It enables students and educators from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to connect virtually, sharing insights, experiences, and innovative ideas to combat climate change. This digital platform erases geographical limitations and replaces them with a shared purpose that resonates across the world.

What does the Climate Action Project Cover?

The Climate Action Project’s structure is designed to maximize collaboration and engagement. Over the course of six weeks, participating classrooms embark on a journey of discovery, exploration, and action. Teachers guide their students through a curriculum that covers various environmental topics, including climate science, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and more. This curriculum is not confined to textbooks; it encourages students to engage in hands-on activities, research, and critical thinking exercises.

One of the most impactful elements of the project is its emphasis on student agency. The initiative doesn’t merely deliver knowledge; it empowers students to be proactive changemakers. As they learn about the intricacies of the world around them, students are challenged to identify local issues within their communities. This approach nurtures a sense of ownership and responsibility, driving them to seek viable solutions.

A “Glocal” Perspective

What sets the Climate Action Project apart is its glocal (global + local) perspective. While the project unites students from around the world, it encourages them to focus on local issues that contribute to the broader climate challenge. By acknowledging the interconnectedness of local actions and global consequences, students learn that their individual efforts, when combined, can yield a significant impact. In a world where collaboration and empathy are essential life skills, the Climate Action Project not only equips students with knowledge but also cultivates values that transcend disciplinary boundaries.

Planting Seeds for a Sustainable Future

The impact of the Climate Action Project goes far beyond the six-week curriculum. By instilling a sense of environmental consciousness at an early age, the initiative plants seeds of change that can flourish over a lifetime. As students witness the tangible effects of their actions and connect with like-minded peers globally, they are more likely to carry their passion for sustainability into adulthood.

Furthermore, the project fosters a ripple effect within communities. Students don’t just become advocates for change within their classrooms; they become ambassadors of sustainability within their families, neighborhoods, and social circles. This bottom-up approach is essential for creating a cultural shift towards more responsible and eco-conscious lifestyles.

A Call to Action

The Take Action Global’s Climate Action Project has illuminated a path towards a more sustainable and interconnected world. Now, it’s time for all of us to take action and be a part of this transformative movement. Here’s how you can get involved:

  • Spread the Word: Share this post and information about the Climate Action Project with your friends, family, colleagues, and social media networks. The more people who know about this initiative, the greater the impact it can have.
  • Support Environmental Education: Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or community leader, prioritize environmental education. Advocate for incorporating sustainability-focused curricula and projects that empower young minds to understand and tackle climate change.
  • Empower Young Voices: Listen to the perspectives of young people and involve them in decision-making processes that affect their future. Support youth-led initiatives and encourage their active involvement in environmental discussions.
  • Lead by Example: Embrace sustainable practices in your daily life, from reducing plastic waste to conserving energy. By making conscious choices, you inspire those around you to do the same.
  • Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated on the latest developments in climate science, environmental policies, and sustainable technologies. Informed individuals are better equipped to drive change and make informed decisions.
  • Leverage Digital Platforms: Use social media, blogs, and online communities to raise awareness about climate change and the Climate Action Project. Your online presence can spark conversations that lead to real-world action.
  • Participate in Global Events: Engage in global events, such as Climate Action Day. Climate Action Day is a live, online event produced by Take Action Global. During the event, students and teachers will present questions to speakers and will showcase potential solutions for climate change. Schools and classrooms will be recognized for their efforts. The 2024 event will be held on November 7.

As we look ahead, the Climate Action Project stands as a testament to the fact that positive change is possible when young minds are inspired, informed, and united by a shared purpose. The future is in the hands of the youth, and initiatives like these remind us that they are more than capable of steering us towards a more sustainable and harmonious world.

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A heat map of San Antonio zip codes.
ScienceScienceSocial StudiesSTEM/STEAM

Exploring Extreme Heat Science: Five Resources for Educators on Climate Change

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

All over the world, people are longing for a cool breeze to relieve the extreme heat. As school begins, it’s important to learn about extreme heat. It is sobering to think that this summer may be one of the coolest ones that people experience from this point on. If you’re a middle or high school science teacher, or even if you’re not, you may be getting interested in the effects of climate change. Let’s explore some school-friendly resources helpful for educating students, parents, and staff about climate change. Let’s start with some vocabulary, then explore the resources available.

July 2023 was Earth’s hottest month on record by a wide margin. July’s global average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit) was a third of a degree Celsius (six-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) higher than the previous record set in 2019…. “It’s a stunning record and makes it quite clearly the warmest month on Earth in ten thousand years,” said Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Germany.

(source)

Clarifying Vocabulary

Before jumping into a list of resources, it might help to clarify vocabulary. You may have heard about these terms in the news or encountered them in reading. Here are some common vocabulary terms relevant to extreme heat.

  • What is Climate Change? This refers to the increase in global temperatures resulting from human-made greenhouse gases. Effects include “loss of sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, and sea level rise.” And, of course, more intensifying waves of heat (source).
  • What is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)? This is a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight. To calculate it, scientists use a complex formula. That formula includes “temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover.” The last, cloud cover, provides insight into solar radiation (source).
  • What is a Heat Index? This measures heat stress in the shade. It considers temperature and humidity.

These terms assist us in better understanding how to gauge the heat experienced.

How Extreme Heat Affects Schools

The Summer of 2023 is on track to be Texas’ most extreme with a high number of 100-degree or more days. In June 2023, the temperature went over 100 degrees 250 times. Some school districts are putting heat practices into place to safeguard students.

Consider Dallas ISD’s policy:

Teams can’t practice from noon to 6 p.m. to avoid heat issues. They also take a wet bulb, globe temperature (WBGT) index reading that combines temperature, humidity, wind and cloud cover.

Above 92.1, practice stops. 92.1 isn’t the outdoor temperature or heat index, though. (source)

The heat index and WBGT temperature provide useful information. They assist us in understanding how long one can be outside.

Bar graphs of Climate Change Indicators: Heat Waves.
Image Source: Climate Change Indicators: Heat Waves

As a K-8 educator, how long can you let kids play outside for recess or P.E.? It all depends on the heat index or wet bulb temperature. This comes down to a student’s sweat not evaporating (and not cooling off their bodies). Computing wet bulb temperature can be difficult, but to make it easier, you can use an online Wet Bulb calculator.

Some examples of wet bulb temperatures dangerous to human life:

Get out of the sun within 30 minutes if the WBGT is…

  • 86 (35° C or 95°F with  70% Humidity)
  • 85.6 (37° C or 98.6° F with 60% Humidity)

Get out of the sun after 45 minutes if the WBGT is…

  • 84.7 (38° C or 100° F with 55% Humidity)
  • 85.9 (40° C | 104° F with 50% Humidity)
  • 83.5 (42° C | 107.6° F with 40% Humidity)

Weather.gov has a list of suggested actions and impact prevention. For teachers who may be on “outside duty” this summer, it can be quite dangerous for older and immuno-compromised staff as well as for children.

A chart of the daily average global temperatures.
Image Source: The Visual Capitalist

Looking Back at the Data

An often-asked question is, “Was it really this hot back in the 1890s? How about the 1990s?” The answer may surprise you. You can use Weather Spark to see graphs for weather around the country. This set of charts from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows changes. You can see frequency, duration, season, and intensity:

Image of the August 2023, Monthly Forecast, CDC Tracking
Source: August of 2023, Monthly Forecast, CDC Tracking

Let’s take a look at a few resources you may find helpful in your work as an educator. Some are usable with K-12 students.

1. Mapping Extreme Heat

President Biden’s HEAT.gov website is a National Integrated Heat Health Information System. You can find a wide variety of heat-tracking tools online. What’s amazing is how many provide learners with access to a way to map the heat. Some tools like the Climate Change Tracker, allow you to enter a zip code and see the heat index:

A heat map of San Antonio zip codes.
Climate Change Tracker, Washington Post – https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2022/extreme-heat-risk-map-us/

Here’s a round up of those that provide raw data and graphs you and your grade 6-12 students can use:

There are many tools available that combine real data with maps. Others offer already-made maps you can view. Scientists update the maps on a regular basis. One example is this interactive map, an EMS Surveillance Heat Tracker (announced 8/9/2023):

As you can see from the map above, you can see how many times emergency services are deployed to assist those affected by extreme heat.

Source: Climate LIVE K12: Natural Solutions for Unnatural Problems

2. Columbia Climate School

The Columbia Climate School offers a series of webinars students can watch. Geared for students in grades 6-12, 8-12, or 9-12, they discuss climate change in easy-to-understand terms. Here are some of their titles:

  • Grades 6-12
  • Climate Justice in New York City
  • Grades 8-12
  • Paying Attention to Critical Climate Messages from the Polar Regions
  • The Climate Symphony: How Climate Variability Impacts Global Rainfall Patterns
  • Grades 9-12
  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Climate Mobility But Were Afraid to Ask
  • Harnessing the Power of Communities to Fight Flooding and Protect Our Waterways

You can check their K12 Student Educators Events page for a timeline. Past events display a link to the recording.

3. National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)

The NSTA offers a variety of videos on its Our Beautiful Planet website. Each seeks to showcase climate science research. Videos are five to seven minutes long and include classroom lesson plans.

Here are a few of the free resources available:

  • A Carbon Free Future
  • Fire on the Mountain
  • Saving Our Shores
  • After the Flames
  • Dust Rising
  • And many more

4. Melting Ice

Source: Land Ice Loss in Antarctica, NASA Global Climate Change

The growing loss of sea ice, glaciers, and more is raising a few eyebrows. There is genuine concern among scientists. Antarctica is losing ice mass due to melting at an average rate of 150 billion tons per year. Greenland is adding to the sea level rise with 270 billion tons of melted ice (source).

NASA’s Climate Time Machine offers a sobering look at changes in the following areas:

  • Sea Ice
  • Sea Level
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Global Temperature
  • Ice Sheets
  • Ocean Warming

Each offers a time-lapse featuring some change. You can watch global temperature rise from the year 1884 through 2022. It’s amazing to see the map change from blue to red the closer one gets to the present. The Sea Ice map shows changes from 1979 through 2022 as the ice melts.

NASA’s Images of Change also offers before and after views. Consider the change in the snow of the Sierra Nevada from 2022 to 2023:

5. Teaching Climate in Texas

You can model approaches like Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) for students. Given extreme heat waves blanketing the country and the world, you can also use Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Other strategies include:

  • Conducting a lab as well as
  • Encouraging students to take measurements and try wet bulb temperature experiments
  • Viewing relevant videos
  • Reading a story or novel on the topic
  • Working in a school garden (source)

What’s more, you can take advantage of resources such as:

Bonus Resource: University of Maine

The University of Maine also offers a variety of resources and websites. Be sure to explore these to see images of Earth.

Get a copy of this Multimedia Text Set as a Google Doc

When I first started reading about extreme heat, my hope had been to learn more about it. In my own journey to record temperatures, explore what wet bulb temperature means, I learned quite a bit. I have no doubt students in grades 6-12 would appreciate access to information about the world around them. Facilitate their exploration.

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