Oceans and Climate Teacher Training

Target Grades: 3-5

Cost: Free

Application: to apply please email  amadeira@maritimegloucester.org 

Goals: 

* Teachers will become updated on the current science of the climate crisis, its impact on our local environment and solutions relevant to our community.

* Teachers will explore climate crisis concepts and activities appropriate to their grade level and how to embed climate change information within content areas.

* Teachers will increase their understanding of the psychological impact of climate change on students and how to help them successfully meet the challenges ahead.

Basics: 

1. Attendees will earn 15 PDPs and 1 In-service Credit given by the Gloucester Public Schools for attending the first three days. 

2. There will be an additional paid two-day work opportunity for teachers who want time to develop and produce specific grade-level materials. This is open ended to meet the needs and talents of each teacher. Ideas might include: creating infographics for their classroom or school, lesson plans with climate change concepts embedded within existing content areas, script-writing, etc. We may have to limit participation for these 2 days because of funding llimitations.

Schedule: 

Day 1(Morning): Dr. Jayne Knotts will review current climate crisis science and adaptation issues for Cape Ann. Dr. Knotts is an environmental consultant (and GHS graduate) specializing in climate-change adaptation, and a research associate with the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston who works on climate-change adaptation planning for the greater Boston area.

Day 2 (Morning): A climate change educator will speak and lead a discussion on the social and emotional impact climate crisis is having on children and how to appropriately address topics within your classroom.

Days 1, 2 & 3: Maritime Gloucester’s staff will work with teachers around simplifying climate change concepts at each grade level and connecting global climate warming science to local impacts and solutions. They will present climate change activities and help teachers create activities to use in their classroom. The New England Aquarium will be providing material for this workshop.

Days 4 & 5: Teachers will come with a specific project idea for their classroom using the content of this workshop. Their projects need to address climate change in some way, and be reproducible as we will want put them on TownGreen2025’s website for others to see.

This workshop is sponsored by Maritime Gloucester and TownGreen2025. We have hopefully put together an interesting 3-5 day program addressing this critical topic.

Questions? Call Amanda Madeira (978-879-9953) or Susan Hoague (978-283-2586)