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In this 2-credit virtual course, we invite rural Colorado secondary earth and environmental science teachers to learn a new place-based, NGSS aligned science curriculum on natural hazards. The curricular unit includes a lesson on natural hazards (wildfire, flood or drought) that uses Colorado datasets, a scenario-based role-play game, and lessons for students to develop resilience strategies for their hometown to present at a community expo. Instructional strategies include project-based learning, gamification, design thinking, and community engaged learning. Additionally, the workshop will include a presentation from a Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) scientist on natural hazards in Colorado.

The CIRES Education and Outreach team at CU Boulder developed the curriculum, which is part of a program called the Hazard Education Awareness and Resilience Task (HEART) Force. HEART Force is designed specifically for rural Colorado classrooms to inspire youth action to increase community resilience to natural hazards. The HEART Force NOAA grant covers registration for this course, as well as provides an optional stipend for teachers who would like to teach the curriculum and hold a community resilience expo in their community. The course will meet once a week for a 2-hour zoom meeting from June 21-July 23, chosen by the course participants based on schedules. The class will not meet the week of July 26 to allow time for work on final projects. Expect to dig into local issues relevant to your community in this course, and learn from educators from around the state in a growing community of practice!

*Note: When you go to the registration page, find the course under the "Education" section. An $80 cost is listed with the course, but this cost will be covered when you register, you will not need to enter any payment information. If you register but do not attend the workshop, you will be responsible for the $80 registration fee.