At our next Planet Stewards book club we’ll discuss Engage, Connect, and Protect: Empowering Diverse Youth as Environmental Leaders.

While concern about the state of our land, air, and water continues to grow, there is widespread belief that environmental issues are primarily of interest to wealthy white communities. Engage, Connect, Protect explodes this myth, revealing the deep and abiding interest that African American, Latino, and Native American communities ― many of whom live in degraded and polluted parts of the country – have in our collective environment. This book is part eye-opening critique of the cultural divide in environmentalism, part biography of a leading social entrepreneur, and part practical toolkit for engaging diverse youth.

Engage, Connect, Protect is a wake-up call for businesses, activists, educators, and policymakers to recognize the work of grassroots activists in diverse communities and create opportunities for engaging with diverse youth as the next generation of environmental stewards. And remember:

• For details on all our meeting dates, times, selections, and how to log in, go to our Upcoming Events Page.
• Make sure you receive reminder announcements! Sign up to our mailing list.
• See previously selected books and discussion questions in our Book Club Archive

Julie Houck, a K-5 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) teacher at Defiance Elementary School in Defiance, Ohio designed a project to reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through tree planting around the Defiance, Ohio area. She worked with her students, their families, and many local organizations to plant trees in a nature preserve, a therapeutic horse riding center, the Defiance Elementary School, as well as local church grounds and backyards. The project was planting 112 trees with a calculated 1,322 pounds of carbon absorbed for the first year which will continue to grow in years to come. Once the trees are fully grown, they will remove 5,555 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Students involved in the project showed an increase from pretest to post-test about their desire to do science, choose a STEAM- related career for their future job, and take care of the environment.

Read about this terrific stewardship project!

The CLEAN Collection is a high-quality and rigorously reviewed collection of climate and energy educational resources and lesson plans aligned with the Climate Literacy and Energy Literacy frameworks, and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Through peer-review, scientists and educators ensure scientific accuracy, pedagogic effectiveness, and classroom readiness for each resource. This 30-min webinar introduces the Climate and Energy Literacy Principles and how they are integrated with the CLEAN collection of climate and energy resources. These principles provide the foundation for understanding the science behind climate and energy concepts. Register for the webinar.

Join this Teacher's on the Estuary (TOTE) professional development workshop for grade 6-12 teachers. On the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Washington you will:

Gain knowledge of climate change and ocean acidification in the Pacific Northwest.

Explore sources of local environmental data and work towards incorporating data into inquiry-based science learning experiences.

Receive materials and activities in the Ocean Sciences Sequence (OSS) curriculum on Climate Change developed by UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science

What you will receive:

• Substitute Teacher reimbursement
• 15 STEM Clock Hours (free)
• Ocean Sciences Sequence curriculum ($200 value)
• Lunch and light refreshments
• $100 stipend upon implementation in your classroom

Register for the webinar.

Contact Chandler Colahan via email or phone (360) 428-1080 with questions.

High school teachers are invited to apply for a one-week, all-expenses-paid institute on the beautiful coast of Maine.

Teachers will:

• explore the inequitable impacts of climate change
• be inspired by sharing best practices for teaching climate equity
• build community
• converse with scientists
• enjoy the tranquility of Maine woods and seashore
• leave with a renewed sense of hope and purpose about making a difference!

Questions? Email: climateandequity@terc.edu and learn more here.

Who?

Students in grades 6 to 12 living in the United States (including the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories) or Canada and enrolled in a public, private, cyber, religious, charter school, or who attend a home school pro­gram can participate.

What?

Learn about Dr. Hilleman, and write a 500- to 1,000-word essay that responds to this prompt: “Dr. Hilleman made his impact on the world through the development of vaccines. What scientific issue would you take on if given the chance and why?” The essay should be written in English for U.S. submissions and English or French for Canadian submissions using complete sentences and appropriate grammar. One entry per person. See “Official Rules” for complete details.

Winners will receive:

• Cash prize: 1st place US $500; 2nd place US $250
• Winner certificate
• Recognition at a virtual award event on May, 2024. The event will be hosted by Dr. Paul Offit - VEC director, vaccine inventor and Hilleman biographer. The event will include special guests and student winners reading their essays.

Find out more information about the contest, how to enter, and examples of winning essays from past years here.

As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Each year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge recognizes the grand prize winner, 10 finalists, four honorable mentions, and up to 51 state merit winners – nationwide and in Washington D.C – who have demonstrated a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them..

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is now open for entries! Apply today!

Explore the Submission Requirements to learn more about the Categories

Subject to Climate is spotlighting the incredible contributions of Black individuals while also addressing the crucial topics of environmental racism and environmental justice with the following resources:

Redlining & Environmental Racism (Grades 6-8): Connect redlining with current issues of environmental and racial justice for your middle school students in this lesson plan.

Climate Justice Can't Happen Without Racial Justice (Grades 6-12): Teach about various Black inventors and the unequal effects of climate change experienced by some groups with this resource.

Black Leaders in Energy (Grades 7-12): Use this video to teach about the interconnectedness of racial justice and environmental justice.

Learn about ghost gear, its impacts, and ways to solve the problem while solving puzzles and completing activities.

Ghost gear is a harmful form of marine debris that affects our oceans, and many lakes and rivers around the world. This guide provides information on ghost gear, including what it is, where it comes from, what the effects are, and what is being done to address it in Canada and around the world.

The guide includes free, printable, engaging activities for youth G4-12 at home or for use in a classroom setting. The written materials and concepts are suitable for G8-12, and can be easily adapted by parents or teachers to educate younger students about ghost gear.

By educating students on carbon removal, you empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in solutions. Explore these resources curated for Grades 9-12:

Sequestering Carbon Activity: Teach about the technologies being investigated to directly remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Carbon Offsets: Teach about carbon offsets and the Kyoto Protocol through data investigations, discussions, and historical analysis.

Solving the Carbon Dioxide Problem Activity: Teach about climate solutions by sector, investigate sources and sinks of greenhouse gasses, and create a plan to remove 1,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2100.

Climate justice is an essential component of addressing climate change. The groups and nations that have historically contributed least to the causes of climate change are experiencing the most harm from it. These harms, in turn, often make existing challenges even worse, including those based on personal factors (such as age or health issues) and social factors (such as systemic racism and poverty). Finally, communities that face greater harm are also often excluded from the decision-making process, resulting in climate solutions that can disproportionately benefit people who are less impacted.

Overall, results from this report show that the audiences most worried about climate change are also the most supportive of policies that will advance climate justice. Because most Americans are alarmed or concerned about climate change, this suggests that the potential number of climate justice supporters is substantial.