- Join us on Monday, December 21 at 8 pm ET to discuss 
        Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals
.       Find Their Way by David Barrie

In January, we'll discuss Blackfish City, a young adult fiction book and have the author join us! This is a great opportunity for  students to read and join in the discussion. Mark your calendar for Monday, January 18! Find the entire book schedule for 2020/2021 here with information on how to join each meeting. 

Our apologies, There was an issue with the previous link to our reader's needs assessment survey. It's working properly now so open it up - do it now - and let us know what you want to see in future issues of The Watch! We appreciate you taking a few minutes to help us help you.  Find and complete the survey here.

Healthy coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse, culturally significant, and economically valuable ecosystems on Earth. In this podcast, hear from Lisa Vandiver, a Marine Habitat Restoration Specialist with NOAA’s Restoration Center and Rob Ferguson, a watershed management specialist with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, about how NOAA works with local partners on the island of Culebra to protect and restore the coral reef ecosystems and reduce the impacts of pollution. Access it here, then share it  on Facebook and Twitter  Find all of the latest podcast episodes from NOAA Ocean Service here!

Subscribe to NOAA Ocean Podcast feed: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/rss.html

This webinar highlights an extensive outbreak of a newly identified algae that threatens the survival of the coral reefs at Manawai with the potential to spread to nearby atolls in the Marine National Monument.  In response,a Google Earth Engine was created that enabled partners to remotely monitor ocean conditions and determine the drives that may be contributing to the pervasive spread of the nuisance red algae. Register for the webinar here.

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinars provide educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources, and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. This series targets formal and informal educators, students (high school through college), as well as members of the community, including families. Visit the archives of the webinar series here.

The NOAA Education website includes a new "education at home" resource collection, with individual collections on art activities, background reading, citizen science, educational mailing lists, experiments and activities, lessons and curricula, mobile resources, webinars, and videos and podcasts. The site strives to make it easier for all educators to find resources tailored to what they need via short(ish), curated lists of many of NOAA's finest resources.

Hey teachers! You’ve faced tremendous challenges due to the pandemic, now it’s time for you to have a terrific experience learning more about Weather and Physical Oceanography! Do you need new ideas for using data and hands on experiments in your classroom?

The American Meteorological Society 2021 summer courses, Project Ocean and Project Atmosphere, are accepting applications through 26 March. These competitive professional development courses are open to K-12 teachers and include online and in-person components and field experiences. All travel expenses are covered and participants receive stipends and earn graduate credit upon successful completion of the courses. Don’t miss this chance to learn from the experts, connect with other outstanding teachers, and have the earth science experience of a lifetime!  https://www.ametsoc.org/…/…/education-program/k-12-teachers/

To impact climate change, there has to be a shift in society’s culture, and art plays a significant role. It reflects our values, beliefs, relationships and view of the natural world. But it can also challenge those same things. Perceptions can be altered, ideologies transformed when art takes on a subject.

EARTHDAY‍.ORG invites you to join Changing the Culture through Culture: Artists Shifting Perspectives on Climate Change on Thursday, December 17th at noon Eastern. Join the live event here.

The Algae Academy is a unique module that teaches the fundamentals of algae and how algae can be applied as a solution for today’s global dilemmas. This five-day drop-in-ready curriculum fulfills the human impact education component in the Next Generation Science Standards that requires students to be able to apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. The workshop is free and available in three formats: 

•    In-person with lab supplies provided  
•    Online with teacher demonstration; lab supplies provided virtually
•    Online-only, video-based curriculum with no lab supplies 

 Apply for the Spring 2021 Session.

Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley are the hosts of “Dope Labs,” an educational science podcast hosted by two black PhD scientists. The show looks at pop culture and current events through a scientific and sociological lens. Shodiya and Whatley tell a changing America that their goal is to show listeners that science is at the root of everything and can easily translate into topics that people are already keen on talking about — from Simone Biles to Marvel Comics and popular television shows. Access this enlightening podcast here.

Climate Generation Humanities Modules
Innovation and Renewable Energy and Water Scarcity and Perseverance are interdisciplinary Humanities modules bringing the discussion of renewable energy and water to the English/Language Arts, social studies, and science classroom.

Climate Fiction and Nonfiction Reading Guide
This book guide will help you bring climate change literature to your English/Language Arts classes, book clubs, science classes, and beyond.

Feeling Words and Healing Words: A Poetry Journey – Young writers will explore a range of feelings and strengthen their emotional vocabulary, including learning strategies for expressing their feelings and experiences through poetry. Check them all out!

Different types of marine debris have been documented to impact every level of biological organization, and many uncertainties about impact remain. This webinar synthesizes recommendations for protected area managers seeking to reduce marine debris. The recommendations are based upon review of research, case studies, and experience from government, academia, and non-profits. This webinar will also provide some suggested actions and current examples from protected areas addressing marine debris in the US and beyond. Register here.

The Every Kid Outdoors program allows 4th graders and their families free access to federal lands and waters managed by DOI, USDA, Army Corps, and NOAA.  Fourth graders can go to the Every Kid Outdoors website and print out a paper pass and use it at places that normally charge an entrance fee.  NOAA and others have agreed to honor a special pass designed for current 5th graders (the 4th graders from last year unable to use their passes due to COVID) for one year only (Sept 1, 2020 - Aug 31, 2021).  Students can still visit the Every Kid Outdoors program  and find a special link at the top of the page for 5th graders.  Please share as appropriate with both 4th and 5th grade students and families. 

The Marine Science Team at foundry10 has launched The Ultimate Guide to Underwater Work. This free and publicly available website features interviews and resource links for over fifteen ocean-related career fields from marine geology to shark biology to professional mermaiding! Educators can access a customizable learner guide for in-person or virtual classrooms. Come explore!

Fun With Science, a virtual program from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), can excite students about science through engaging video experiments. Targeted for grade five, the experiments reinforce basic concepts about chemistry, density, air pressure, and states of matter and capture student interest through the use of attention-grabbing materials and activities  Each video lesson is between 5 to 10 minutes long  A Test Your Knowledge quiz accompanying each lesson can help students synthesize understanding. Access the resource here.

These courses will be starting in January so I encourage anyone who is interested to sign up ASAP while space is still available! Email office@intlfieldstudies.org with any questions.

Learn about abalone, a group of large snails that live in kelp forest habitats around the world. These humble snails "garden" the kelp forest and ensure there is space for the other plants and animals living there. For thousands of years, people living on the California Coast have harvested this beautiful animal and we will explore how they were used for food, tools, jewelry, and cultural ceremonies. We will end by looking at the status of abalone today, with 2 species on the endangered species list and the others in such low numbers they can no longer be fished. Learn how NOAA and  partners are teaming up to save this important animal. 

The webinar will last about 45 minutes with moderated questions and answers throughout and live American Sign Language interpretation. This webinar will be recorded and posted afterward with English captions and Spanish subtitles. (Grades 2-8 but all ages will enjoy) Register here.

The CLEAN collection has just added over 65 lesson plans, data visualizations, and videos appropriate for elementary learners about climate change and energy. Additionally, they have developed a support page providing pedagogical support. And don't forget, CLEAN pages are available in Spanish and illustrate aspects of the climate and energy system relevant to science disciplines as well as in engineering, policy, social science, and economics. Examples include Trayendo La Ciencia Del Clima a Su Clase and Trayendo Temas Sobre Energía a su Clase. Enjoy the CLEAN collection resource!

Ocean School is a free, innovative inquiry-based learning experience geared towards ages 11-15 and available online in English, French, and Spanish. Ocean School develops videos, virtual reality, augmented reality, and corresponding activities to help promote ocean literacy throughout Canada and worldwide empowering the next generation of ocean citizens, researchers, and innovators with the knowledge and tools to investigate and design innovative solutions for the accelerating challenges that face the world’s ocean. Check Ocean School out!

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge has developed distance learning packets to engage K–6 students in outdoor explorations at home, a refuge, or a neighborhood park. Just for Kids Learning Adventures online packets provide instructions and videos for completing a range of nature-related activities, organized by theme such as forests, seasons, winds and clouds, spring phenology, pond insect investigation, birding basics, wetland connections, pond science ... Find Just for Kids learning Adventures online packets here.

Explore bird anatomy and the adaptations that help birds thrive in the latest issue of Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s online publication, Science and Nature Activities for Cooped-Up Kids. Available for three grade spans (K–2, 3–5, and 6–8), the activities explore how gizzards work and include both adult-guided explorations and opportunities for independent study. The publication also suggests Family Quests such as going on a “bird feet hike,” sketching a bird in nature, or keeping an “I Wonder” board or list. Find the resource here.

This online handbook presents strategies and authentic activities to support science students in developing effective communication skills. The resource covers three general topic areas: Technical Writing in K–12 environments (Part 1), Technical Writing Guidelines for Students (Part 2), and Extensions and Applications (Part 3). Of particular interest are the printable checklists for students (Good Instructions Guidelines and Guidelines for Writing Good Descriptions), which can be found in the Technical Writing Guidelines chapter.