America’s Climate Choices

The National Academies provide helpful analysis and advice to policymakers and stakeholders through its expert, consensus reports and other activities. Teacher resources including readings and videos are available for download. National Academy of Sciences. (2011). America’s Climate Choices. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://americasclimatechoices.org/ and http://dels-old.nas.edu/teachers/resources.shtml#clim.

Climate Change Atlas for Trees and Birds

These U.S. Forest Service resources include distribution maps and tables for different climate change scenarios, life history and disturbance attributes, ecological attributes, forest type maps and a sorted list of species importance values by state/county for different climate change scenarios. Trees and birds are available to study. Videos and online search capability are part of this website. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Services. (2010). Climate Change Atlas. Retrieved June 4, 2011, fromhttp://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/.

Climate Change and Waste

Businesses are addressing greenhouse gas emissions through waste management in the WasteWise program. The web site explores the connection between solid waste and climate change. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). WasteWise Climate Campaign. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/wastes/partnerships/wastewise/climate/index.htm. Another link has a climate change and waste kit. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Climate Change and Waste: Reducing Waste Can Make a Difference. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/ghg/folder.htm.

Climate Change Education

This hub / portal web site systematically organizes links for people looking for science education on global warming and the facts about solutions. There are sections for kids, teens, students, adults, schoolteachers/ educators, and scientists. Climate Change Education Org. (2011) Portal Web Site. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.climatechangeeducation.org/.

Climate Change Information Kit and Publications

The United Nations Environment Programme and the U.N. Framework Convention produced a Climate Change Information packet suitable for student research as well as numerous resources that address the international scope of the issue. United Nations Environment Programme. (2011). Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.unep.org/climatechange/.

Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wetlands: A Toolkit for Teachers and Interpreters

Produced by the EPA, National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, this kit contains an online video, flash cards, and a Global Warming wheel. There is a case study specifically for the Great Lakes. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Climate Change, Wildlife, and Wetlands: A Toolkit for Teachers and Interpreters. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/toolkit.

Climate Discovery

This is an online course series on Climate with optional credit. NCAR. (2011). Climate Discovery. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu/climate_change_series.html.

Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science

To promote climate literacy, current climate scientists, educators, and representatives of a range of U.S. agencies produced - Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2009). Climate Literacy. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/education/edu_index.jsp&edu=literacy

Communicating and Learning about Global Climate Change

This guide is designed to give a brief overview of Project 2061’s recommendations for the relevant ideas and skills that all students should learn. It focuses on an understanding of climate change, scientific inquiry, and trade-offs and constraints implicit in making choices about technology. The guide maps out K-12 learning. American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2007). Communicating and Learning about Global Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011 from http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/climate_change_guide_2061.pdf

EcoKids Planet Protectors

After presenting information about global climate change, this animated game explores ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Earth Day Canada. EcoKids. (2009). Planet Protectors. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/climate/co2effect/index.cfm.

Exploring the Environment: Global Climate Change

More lessons on the topic of global climate change are at this web site. There is a variety of different topics other than climate change that were developed for Exploring the Environment series. Wheeling Jesuit University/NASA-supported Classroom of the Future. (2004). Global Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/climate/GCmain.html.

Extraordinary Road Trip

This high tech, student-friendly site by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that is worth exploring. eXtraordinary Road Trip is an educational computer game designed to teach players how to analyze the transportation variables affecting air quality. XRT is thought-provoking, competitive, and fun edutainment for drivers of all ages. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (2011). eXtraordinary Road Trip. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.extraordinaryroadtrip.org/.

Facing the Future

Facing the Future engages students in learning by making academics relevant to their lives. Their materials empower students to think critically, develop a global perspective, and participate in positive solutions for a sustainable future. Units and lessons are available at this website for download. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.facingthefuture.org/.

Gateway to Global Change Data and Information

This portal has a variety of links to agencies and the U.S. Global Change Policy. “Ask Dr. Global Change” is a place to get answers to global climate change questions. United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). (2011). Gateway to Global Change Data and Information. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.globalchange.gov/ and http://www.gcrio.org/. Another government climate portal is at www.climate.gov.

Global Climate Change Activities

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research has created a module for middle school science teachers on global climate change. This is part of its Cycles of the Earth and Atmosphere web site. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). (2011). Global Climate Change Activities. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_4_2.htm.

Global Climate Change and Policy

A view of global climate change by the executive branch of the government and policy implications is found here. The U.S. Department of State. (2011). Global Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.state.gov/g/oes/climate/index.htm.

Global Climate Change Research Explorer

Global Climate Change: Research Explorer allows students to examine the same data that scientists and researchers look at in studying global climate change. Developed with the Exploratorium, the site was supported by the National Science Foundation. The Exploratorium. (2002). Global Climate Change Research Explorer. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/.

Global Climate Change Timeline

Quotes, current articles, and a timeline are features of this British site. New Scientist. (2009). Timeline: Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.newscientist.com/.

Global Surface Temperature Analysis

The basic GISS temperature analysis scheme was defined in the late 1970s by James Hansen when a method of estimating global temperature change was needed for comparison with one-dimensional global climate models. Graphs and tables are updated around the 10th of every month on this site. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2011). Global Temperature Trends. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/.

Global Warming Questions

Answers to frequently asked question about global warming are found here. This page is based on a brief synopsis of the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as well as National Climate Data Center resources. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2008). Global Warming. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPCC has been established to assess scientific, technical, and socioeconomic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. There is a section of the site with graphics and presentations about climate change. World Meteorological Organization (WHO). United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). (2011). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ipcc.ch/.

Michigan’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory

This inventory was prepared by the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Center for Sustainable Systems. (2005). Michigan Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 and 2002. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS05-07.pdf.

NASA’s Global Climate Change

Students can view movies on the Earth’s energy balance and explore the climatic and environmental conditions found in four different regions of the world. Possible consequences of a prolonged temperature increase are provided for each region. A section on “vital signs of the planet” tracks changes. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2011). Global Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http:// http://climate.nasa.gov/.

National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change

An assessment of climate change in the Great Lakes is presented. U.S. Global Change Research Programme. (2004). United States National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change Educational Resources Regional Paper: Great Lakes. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/education/greatlakes/default.htm.

National Climate Data Center

This is the definitive source of climate data for the United States and its individual states. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html.

National Wildlife Federation (NWF)

Global warming news, solutions, reports, and state fact sheets are available on this site. Their Climate Classroom for Kids has slides, games, teacher resources, and activities. National Wildlife Federation. (2011). Global Warming. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming.aspx and http://www.climateclassroomkids.org/http://www.climateclassroomkids.org/.

NOAA Climate Education Materials

Educational graphics on global climate change and the greenhouse effect are found at this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site. These graphics could easily be incorporated into a PowerPoint presentation. Forecast Systems Laboratory. (2011). Climgraph: Educational Graphics on Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gsd/outreach/education/climgraph/. Also see the Carbon Toolkit at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/education/carbon_toolkit.

Ohio Sea Grant Publications

A number of lessons from the Great Lakes Instructional Materials for the Changing Earth System, Activities for the Changing Earth System, and Global Change in the Great Lakes Scenarios from Ohio Sea Grant are appropriate for teachers who want more advanced lessons. This is part of Ohio Sea Grant’s Earth Systems Education initiative. Ohio Sea Grant Publications. (2004). Earth’s System Education. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~earthsys/pubs97.html.

Pew Center on Global Climate Change

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts for a new approach to a complex and often controversial issue. Their Climate 101 publications could be used as class readings. Pew Center: Global Climate Change. (2011). Home Page. Retrieved April 6, 2011, from http://www.pewclimate.org.

Save Planet Polluto - The CD-ROM

Save Planet Polluto is an educational, interactive air quality adventure that teaches the causes of air pollution and ways to improve air quality. It is available online or on a CD. Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. (2001). Save Planet Polluto. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.planetpolluto.com/cdrom.html.

Union of Concerned Scientists

According to this group, the mainstream scientific consensus on global warming is becoming clearer every day: changes in our climate are real and they are underway. At this site there is information on the Great Lakes, Michigan, and solutions. Union of Concerned Scientists. (2010). Global Warming. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

At the UN site, view current information on the Kyoto Protocol, the international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gases emissions worldwide. The Protocol entered into force on February 16, 2005. United Nations. (2011). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://unfccc.int/2860.php.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Site

This site contains a wealth of materials that educators and outreach professionals can use in presentations and classroom activities on climate change science, potential impacts, and mitigation options. There is even a link to a climate change kids’ site, action steps, and suggested ways to make a difference in your contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011). Global Warming. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/.

U.S. Geological Survey Global Change Teacher Guide

This site invites students to think about the Earth as a whole and to respect its fragility. The images presented show visible global change. Lessons involve tree rings as clues to climate change, the Keeling curve showing carbon dioxide increases, and maps to predict carbon dioxide amounts given off by vegetation. Time, change, cycles, Earth as home are the main themes. United States Geological Survey (USGS). (2007). Global Change Teacher Guide. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/teachers-packets/globalchange/globalhtml/index.html.

Vital Climate Graphics

This is a series of climate change graphics from the United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Program. (2010). Vital Climate Graphics. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/index.htm.

Wisconsin Climate Change Guide

Climate Change: A Wisconsin Activity Guide is a resource to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed and active participants in society’s climate change discussions. It touches on both the scientific aspects of climate change and social issues. This e-Appendix includes both .pdfs of the Guide, links, and references. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (2011). Climate Change Guide e-Appendix. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/teacher/climatechangeguide.htm.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The WWF Climate Curriculum for Teachers has 15 lessons and additional resources including the Stabilization Wedge Game. World Wildlife Fund. (2011). Climate Curriculum for Teachers. Retrieved June 4, 2011, from http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/curriculum/item5944.html.