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Right Here Right Now: Solutions Educator Guide

Right Here Right Now: Solutions Educator Guide

Guide Structure

Each section of the guide adheres to the following format to scaffold the learning I) activities and lessons, ii) stories, and iii) ways to engage youth. By beginning the engagement with the conference content via an activity, students learn about different aspects of the theme. Stories are the second element of the educator guide. The stories strive to connect students to the people and places impacted by climate change and create empathy. Ways to engage in each theme is the focus of the final resource section of the guide. After exploring a topic and who it impacts, learning about how youth can take action will allow students to find hope, energy, and purpose while exploring topics that may feel overwhelming. 

Theme Three: Solutions 

Begin by selecting one of the four themes below. Work through at least one activity listed in the theme with your students, then read through one of the stories and explore the ways to engage. Many activities and lessons have been chosen from the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) and include a teacher’s guide on how to best bring these lessons and activities into the classroom. For more information about CLEAN resources as well as support for teaching about climate energy, please visit the CLEAN website.

Past Program
Audience
Educators
Contacts
Link
Summit Webpage

Mitigation: Efforts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from human activities

Activities and lessonsImage removed.

Renewable Energy Living Lab: Smart Solar, Mike Mooney, Minal Parekh, Scott Schankweiler, Jessica Noffsinger, Karen Johnson, Jonathan Knudtsen, University of Colorado; Colorado School of Mines- https://cleanet.org/resources/49469.html 

  • Description: In this activity, students work through the process of evaluating the feasibility of photovoltaic solar power in 4 different US cities.  

  • Instructional Time: Activity will take about one 60-minute class period. 

  • Grade Level: Grades six through twelve 

Wind Energy: Exploring Wind Farms with Google Earth, Lehigh University- https://cleanet.org/resources/45598.html  

  • Description: In this activity, students use Google Earth to investigate ideal features of wind farms.  

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes about 1-2 class periods. Google Earth software (free download) is required. 

  • Grade Level: Grades six and up 

Using a mass balance model to understand carbon dioxide and its connection to global warming, Robert MacKay, SERC - Teaching Quantitative Skills in Geoscience Collection- https://cleanet.org/resources/41868.html  

  • Description: Students explore the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 40 years with an interactive online model. They use the model and observations to estimate present emission rates and emission growth rates. The model is then used to estimate future levels of carbon dioxide using different future emission scenarios. These different scenarios are then linked by students to climate model predictions also used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes two to three hours. Computer access necessary. 

  • Grade Level: Grades nine and up 

StoriesImage removed.

Is your carbon footprint BS?, How to Save a Planet podcast

What a rapid transition from fossil fuels to carbon-free energy alternatives looks like, The Hill

A climate change solution that's right under our feet, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe TED Talk 

Ways to Engage

Make a Climate Pledge with the Re-Earth Initiative

Take part in or start a climate strike with Fridays for the future

Get involved with the Solar Decathlon

Adaptation: Measures that are participatory, gender-responsive, adequately resourced, reduce vulnerability, and build the resilience of people and communities most affected by climate change. 

Activities and lessonsImage removed.

Adapting to a Changing World, Becca Walker, Mt. San Antonio College, InTeGrate; SERC- https://cleanet.org/resources/49445.html  

  • Description: In this activity, students assess individual and national opinions on climate change and explore strategies that communities are employing to adapt to aspects of climate change already affecting them in addition to those likely to affect them in the future. 

  • Instructional Time: This activity takes about one 50-minute class period. 

  • Grade Level: Grades nine and up 

Rising Tides: Protect Your Home from the Waves, Kate Carter, National Center for Science Education- https://cleanet.org/resources/58410.html  

  • Description: Warming oceans and melting landlocked ice caused by global climate change may result in rising sea levels. This rise in sea level combined with increased intensity and frequency of storms will produce storm surges that flood subways, highways, homes, and more. In this activity, visitors design and test adaptations to prepare for flooding caused by sea level rise. 

  • Instructional Time: This activity takes one 45-90 minute period 

  • Grade Level: Kindergarten and up 

HEART Force Wildfire Game, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder- https://cleanet.org/resources/58192.html  

  • Description: In this interactive game, students solve the challenges that their community faces during the course of a wildfire event by using available individual and community resources. Students work in three zone response teams to determine their responses in each round as the wildfire situation evolves. 

  • Instructional Time: This activity takes one 60-minute class period. 

  • Grade Level: Grades six through twelve 

StoriesImage removed.

A Young Scientist's Guide to Problem Solving and Innovation | Gitanjali Rao (Day 2 panelist) | TEDxChennai

Young Jordanians innovate to tackle food insecurity, UN News

How much warmer is your city?, BBC Visual and Data Journalism team

Ways to Engage

Learn about climate policy in your state to see what additional adaptation policies are needed:

Choose an action for climate adaptation in your region recommended by the EPA

Work with your city and local Universities to join the EPIC Network (Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network)

International Cooperation: Cooperation in technology transfer, financing, judicial, and redress mechanisms. 

Activities and lessonsImage removed.

Energy culture as a determinant of a country’s position in the climate talks, Tatyana Ruseva, Appalachian State University, CLEAN Community Collection- https://cleanet.org/resources/49913.html  

  • Description: In this activity, students compare countries and nation states with high- and low-energy consumption rates within a specific region of the world. Students are encouraged to draw linkages between a country's energy culture and its position in multilateral climate negotiations. 

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes about 2-3 class periods. 

  • Grade Level: College 

Gulf Stream Heat Budget and Europe's Mild Climate: A Problem-based Learning Activity, Warren C. Tomkiewicz, Plymouth State University , From the On The Cutting Edge activity collection- https://cleanet.org/resources/42693.html  

  • Description: In this role-playing activity, learners are presented with a scenario in which they determine whether the Gulf Stream is responsible for keeping northern Europe warm. They must also address the potential future of the Gulf Stream if polar ice were to continue melting. The students work in small groups to identify the issue, discuss the problem, and develop a problem statement. They are then asked what they need to know to solve the problem. 

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes two class periods plus homework assignment. Computer with internet access necessary. 

  • Grade Level: Grade nine and up 

Climate Action Simulation, Climate Interactive- https://cleanet.org/resources/58166.html  

  • Description: This interactive role-playing simulation is conducted as a simulated emergency climate summit organized by the United Nations that convenes global stakeholders to establish a concrete plan that limits warming to Paris Agreement goals. This game is a fun format for large groups to explore climate change solutions and see what it would really take to address this global challenge. 

  • Instructional Time: This activity takes two to four 60-minute class periods 

  • Grade Level: Grades nine and up 

StoriesImage removed.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the world?, TED talk by Hugh Evans

Global cooperation to protect the ozone layer can ensure a better future for us all, UN News

How we can make the world a better place by 2030, Michael Green TED Talk

Ways to Engage

Take action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Choose an action from the Ecochallenge “Land Sinks” category

Join the Extinction Rebellion

Strengthened Accountability Mechanisms: Periodic revision and renewal of nationally determined contributions, creating a window of opportunity to promote human rights policy coherence. 

Activities and lessonsImage removed.

Simulation of international negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, David Hastings, Eckerd College , From the On the Cutting Edge activity collection- https://cleanet.org/resources/42692.html  =

  • Description: In this activity, students engage in a simulation of the international negotiation process in order to convey how the international community is responding to climate change. Participants learn firsthand about the interests of different countries and the range of policy responses to mitigate future climate change. 

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes four class periods plus homework assignments. 

  • Grade Level: College 

The Paris Climate Agreement for Young People, United Nations Children’s Fund - https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/reports/paris-agreement-young-people  

  • Description: This guide provides an easy-to-understand overview of the Paris Climate Agreement. While a lesson plan isn’t included here, understanding the agreement is incredibly helpful when discussing accountability. For the lesson, read through this document and discuss as a class. 

  • Instructional Time: One class period  

  • Grade Level: Grades six and up 

Global Energy Flows, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, U.S. Department of Energy- https://cleanet.org/resources/44615.html  

  • Description: In this activity, students analyze data detailing global energy sources and sinks (uses) and construct a diagram to show the relative scale and the connections between them. Discussions of scale; historical, socio-environmental, and geographic variation in this data; and implications for future energy use are included.  

  • Instructional Time: Activity takes one to two 50-minute class periods. 

  • Grade Level: Grades nine and up 

StoriesImage removed.

Why this Indigenous rights activist does not take clean water for granted, RHRN story on Tia Kennedy

How are countries held accountable under the Paris Agreement?, MIT Climate Portal

My Climate Reality, stories from youth climate activists around the world, Mock COP

Ways to Engage

Join a 350.org campaign

Read the Greenpeace guide on holding your government accountable for climate change and take action

Connect your school and community to the UN Youth2030 Action Guide

SEDAC-  Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (sedac) - A Data Center in NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) — Hosted by CIESIN at Columbia University https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/  

  • SEDAC, the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center, is one of the Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) in the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Focusing on human interactions in the environment, SEDAC has as its mission to develop and operate applications that support the integration of socioeconomic and earth science data and to serve as an "Information Gateway" between earth sciences and social sciences. 

Fourth National Climate Assessment Chapter 14: Human Health- https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/14/#key-message-1  

  • A comprehensive assessment of the impacts of climate change on human health in the United States concluded that climate change exacerbates existing climate-sensitive health threats and creates new challenges, exposing more people in more places to hazardous weather and climate conditions. Pair this with NCA resources page on CLEAN- 2018 NCA Resources for the Hawai'i and Pacific Islands Regions (https://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/tools/nca_2018_hi.html). 

Americans for conservation and the arts- https://www.afcanatura.org/  

  • A Latina-led and founded 501 (c)(3) environmental nonprofit, AFC+A is Colorado and Puerto Rico based with an international reach. We house initiatives that advance community resilience, a citizenry of environmental stewards, leveraging arts and culture for conservation gains. 

Pawanka Fund- https://pawankafund.org/  

  • Indigenous led fund making effort supporting indigenous peoples initiatives engaged in promoting and protecting traditional knowledge, well-being, rights and self–determined development. 

World Resources Institute, Initiatives, Climate equity

CDC, the Center for Disease Control’s climate and health resources- https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/default.htm  

  • CDC’s Climate and Health Program supports state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies as they prepare for the health impacts of a changing climate. 

350.org - https://350.org/  

  • We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all. 

United Nations Development Programme, climate adaptation- https://www.adaptation-undp.org/  

  • Building on the experiences and lessons from a portfolio of initiatives in over 137 countries, UNDP advances a ‘whole-of-society' approach to accelerate adaptation and continues to support countries to mobilize public and private finance to implement their adaption priorities. 

Deep south center for environmental justice - https://www.dscej.org/ 

  • The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change in the Gulf Coast Region through research, education, community and student engagement for policy change, as well as health and safety training for environmental careers. 

Young Voices for the Planet- https://www.youngvoicesfortheplanet.com/ 

  • The mission of Young Voices for the Planet (YVFP) is to limit and mitigate the magnitude and impacts of climate change by empowering youth, through uplifting and inspiring success stories, to take an essential role in informing themselves, their peers and their communities—becoming leaders and changing laws, changing minds and changing the world. 

The Sunrise Movement- https://www.sunrisemovement.org/ 

  • Sunrise is a movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. We're building an army of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the corrupting influence of fossil fuel executives on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and well-being of all people. We are ordinary young people who are scared about what the climate crisis means for the people and places we love. 

Energy.gov resources for educators- https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-resources-educators 

  • The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy supports research and development of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to strengthen U.S. economic growth, energy security, and environmental quality. 

The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change, Paleontological Research Institute- https://www.priweb.org/science-education-programs-and-resources/teacher-friendly-guide-to-climate-change  

  • This book includes both the basics of climate change science and perspectives on teaching a subject that has become socially and politically polarized. The focus audience is high school Earth science and environmental science teachers, and it is written with an eye toward the kind of information and graphics that a secondary school teacher might need in the classroom. It is the tenth book in our Teacher-Friendly Guide series. 

Girl Rising - https://girlrising.org/ 

  • Girl Rising is a girls' education nonprofit that delivers research-proven educational programming. 

SPEAK: Vocal Empowerment for Young Women and Girls - https://speak.world/  

  • SPEAK supports young women in empowering their voices for self and civic advocacy. They have a specific focus on climate with Young Women’s Voices for Climate and utilize performance-based methods for young women to have a voice at public facing events and platforms. They offer a 12-session curriculum for vocal empowerment, online exhibits on top climate solutions, and examples of performances by youth for climate awareness.  

The Center for Creative Climate Communication and Behavior Change- https://www.colorado.edu/center/c3bc/  

  • Confronting the climate crisis by creatively communicating and changing human behavior. 

Mission Zero  - https://missionzero.io/about/  

  • Mission Zero, a Climate University accelerator, funds and supports students working on climate action. By working with faculty and donors, we are empowering the next generation of leaders to tackle our climate crisis. 

Inside the Greenhouse - https://insidethegreenhouse.org/  

  • We work to deepen our understanding of how issues associated with climate change are/can be communicated, by creating artifacts through interactive theatre, film, fine art, performance art, television programming, and appraising as well as extracting effective methods for multimodal climate communication. 

The CU Environmental Center - https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/scu  

  • Here you'll find history, guidelines, and proposals of the Sustainable CU Grant Program.  

CEDAR (the Community Engagement, Design, and Research Center) - https://www.colorado.edu/cedar/    

  • The Community Engagement, Design and Research Center (CEDaR) partners with Colorado and abroad communities to help build resilient and equitable cities and neighborhoods. CEDaR’s goal is to stimulate research and teaching on critical urban challenges, leading to innovations in design, policy and programs. Our work is rooted in a philosophy of engaged research integrated with service. 

CU Science Discovery - https://www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/  

  • Science Discovery manages programs that engage K-12 students and teachers in STEM and connect public audiences with the STEM research happening here at CU Boulder. 
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