Connecting Classroom Learning and Inquiry on Climate Change to Community Observations

Climate change is a global issue which is predicted to have increasing large-scale and local impacts. It is therefore important to encourage students to understand the science of climate change at a global scale and be able to relate it to their own communities and local experience. The ocean, with its key role in regulating climate, its familiarity to youth and adults alike, and its charismatic sea life, engages students and is an effective vehicle through which to teach climate change. At Ocean Networks Canada we have developed a climate change learning resource that connects classrooms, anywhere, to communities hosting freely available ocean data. Our presentation will describe this learning resource which progresses from hands-on activities to hypothesis testing to analysis of freely available ocean data. This learning resource models the scientific process and facilitates a learner-centered inquiry experience to teach climate change concepts. The activities further encourage students to pursue their own action plans for mitigating their own impact on climate. The resources were piloted with classes with positive feedback from teachers and measurable learning outcomes for students. The lesson plans are freely available so educators will be able to implement similar activities in their own classroom on the basis of this presentation.