Lois Sherwood

An updated and enhanced version of the popular NSTA Press book Understanding Climate Change, this practical curriculum allows you to engage your students in understanding one of the most key topics in science education. The ten-session unit provides extensive background information and step-by-step instructions for teaching this topic effectively within your existing curriculum. Each session uses three-dimensional methods to cover a different area of climate science, global warming, and environmental change. The authors include scaffolding suggestions, alignment with Next Generation Science Standards, and guidance on best practices for teaching this complex topic as either a four-week standalone unit or within your other chemistry, biology, or environmental science lessons. This update includes interviews with current "climate change agents," sharing stories of their work, career pathways, and what gives them hope for the future. Together the sessions provide a strong foundation for understanding the science behind the greenhouse effect and climate change. It encourages your students to conduct their own scientific research, develop conclusions, discuss ripple effects, and examine solutions leading to actions students can take on their own or as a group. Ideal for middle and high school science teachers both new and veteran, this field-tested unit helps you engage your students in climate change learning while providing them with a hopeful outlook for their future.

An updated and enhanced version of the popular NSTA Press book Understanding Climate Change, this practical curriculum allows you to engage your students in understanding one of the most key topics in science education. The ten-session unit provides extensive background information and step-by-step instructions for teaching this topic effectively within your existing curriculum. Each session uses three-dimensional methods to cover a different area of climate science, global warming, and environmental change. The authors include scaffolding suggestions, alignment with Next Generation Science Standards, and guidance on best practices for teaching this complex topic as either a four-week standalone unit or within your other chemistry, biology, or environmental science lessons. This update includes interviews with current "climate change agents," sharing stories of their work, career pathways, and what gives them hope for the future. Together the sessions provide a strong foundation for understanding the science behind the greenhouse effect and climate change. It encourages your students to conduct their own scientific research, develop conclusions, discuss ripple effects, and examine solutions leading to actions students can take on their own or as a group. Ideal for middle and high school science teachers both new and veteran, this field-tested unit helps you engage your students in climate change learning while providing them with a hopeful outlook for their future.

Get help teaching one of the hottest topics in science with Understanding Climate Change, Grades 7–12. This nine-session module is written to be practical and accessible. It provides both extensive background and step-by-step instructions for using three-dimensional methods to explore this complex subject. It fits easily into a middle or high school curriculum while supporting the Next Generation Science Standards. The material can be covered in just three or four weeks or used in part to supplement your existing curriculum. Best of all, your students will find the module truly engaging. Rather than spoon-feeding them information, the lessons spur them to investigate evidence of climate change and global warming for themselves. Understanding Climate Change is designed with the Learning Cycle and the BSCS 5E Instructional Model in mind. The module starts with an in-depth look at sources of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and the greenhouse effect. It then addresses misconceptions about climate change; in fact, an entire session is devoted to evaluating information to see if it’s accurate, verifiable, complete, and from a reputable source. Then the lessons prompt students to conduct their own scientific research, discuss ripple effects, and examine solutions. The authors deliberately structured this module to build a conceptual foundation without risking information overload. Your students will come away prepared to analyze what they hear about climate change outside of class. They’ll also be ready to use critical thinking skills to draw their own conclusions about what should be done and to come up with ways they can take action to mitigate the effects of climate change in their homes, schools, and communities.