The MD Commission on Climate Change is grateful to those who participated in the 2024 Climate Education Week Teach-In!
Towson University (17 projects)
Charles County Public Schools (7 schools)
St. Charles High School
Milton Somers Middle School
Matthew Henson Middle School
Arthur Middleton Elementary School
Henry E. Lackey High School
Dr. Mudd Elementary School
The Primary Day School
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (3)
Annapolis High School
Odenton Elementary
HHT Online Program
Montgomery County Board of Education
Maryland Public Health Association
Maryland Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
National Aquarium
Bowie State University (3 projects)
Prince George’s County (27 projects)
Board of Education
Bladensburg High School
Frederick Douglass High School
Benjamin Tasker MS
Laurel High School (2 projects)
Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School
Bowie High School
Crossland High School
Laurel High School
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Surratsville High School
DuVal High School
Online Campus
Parkdale High School
Dr. Henry Wise High School
Central High School
Bladensburg High School
Non-Traditional Program North
Robert Goddard Montessori
University of Maryland Global Campus (3)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (2)
Baltimore County Public Schools (12)
Hebbville Elementary
Dulaney High School
NTPN
Frederick Douglass High School
Benjamin Tasker Middle School
Laurel High School
Largo High School
MD Dept of Natural Resources Conservation Education Matrix Team
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Patuxent Research Refuge
University of Maryland Baltimore County (2)
UMBC Office of Sustainability
The Gunston School
Here are a few project summaries to inspire you!
Towson University Professor James Overduin reported:
My event was held on April 4 during my Thermodynamics course for undergraduate and graduate physics students at Towson University. I told the students "Today we're going to do something different! We're going to brainstorm how we might use physics to save the world!"
I
presented an idea I have been discussing with a research student. We are thinking of combining two ideas: (1) placing reflectors at the stable Lagrange point between the Earth and Sun to deflect some of the Sun's light, helping to reduce global warming, and (2) propelling these sails with a laser array on Earth, rather than using spacecraft. This idea was recently proposed by Yuri Milner in a much more ambitious scheme to propel sails to nearby stars ("Breakthrough Starshot"). Our proposal is more modest --- we are only sending sails part of the way toward our own Sun. But doing so might save the Earth! I invited the class to give feedback, and we had a lively discussion.
http://wp.towson.edu/joverdui/
Prince Georges County Public Schools registered to host 27 climate activities for this year’s Climate Teach-In. PG county students were given access to a wide array of fun and immersive learning experiences, including week-long climate art projects, Earth Day TikTok Challenges, swap meets, and community public service announcements.
National Aquarium
The National Aquarium, a strong supporter of Maryland’s Climate Teach-In, has registered to host a variety of climate talks for their visitors at their downtown Baltimore location. The National Aquarium's experienced staff presented several educational carts and climate talks as well as an awesome “Magic Planet” display to represent global issues and solutions that reached 1, 155 guests.
For Climate Education week, the NA had one-on-one climate-related conversations with 5,482 guests. These typically occur when a staff member stations at an exhibit and speaks to guests about the animal and the impacts on climate change for that animal and ecosystem.
Staff were able to focus in on climate change interpretation with at least 6,637 people!
The Primary School
73 Pre-K through second-grade students in my school began various units of study that focus on our environment, eco-systems, climate change, renewable energy and recycling.
Kindergarten students completed a unit about the importance of fresh water, the water cycle and how climate change is affecting it. They learned that some of the gases in our atmosphere are keeping the sun's heat closer to the Earth. Unusual and severe weather in many places is causing changes in our water cycle. The students made water cycle bags which demonstrate evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
Pre-Kers are in the midst of learning the three R's and designing an "I Can Help Our Planet Earth" book made of repurposed materials to better understand composting, recycling, reusing, reducing and other strategies that they can be a part of to benefit our earth. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Diane Hansen, teacher
UMD Global Campus
University of Maryland’s Global Campus showed “Dream Big For What You Want to Happen,” a short documentary on Olympic athlete and Coach Pete Vordenberg’s journey to raise the bar on climate conversations and solutions. After watching the documentary, listeners took part in a Q&A.
A second project at UMGC was Climate Stories Across Our Nation: George Donart, fisherman from Alaska, Dr. George Samuel, medical doctor from Maryland, Andrew Eyerly, UMGC alumnus, outdoorsman and conservationist, Keith Ohlinger of Porch View Farm in Maryland, and Dr. Paulo Maurin, coral reef researcher in Hawaii, shared their stories on how climate is affecting them and their professions. We then discussed how various professions
and communities can be part of solutions, and we held breakout sessions.
This session had people from about 16 states, and Guam, Japan, and Korea.
Sabrina S. Fu, Ph.D.
Environmental Portfolio Director
https://umgc-edu.zoom.us/my/sabrinafu
Towson University
Professor Sarah Haines, Biological Sciences, wrote:
My class participated in the Climate Teach-In this year through my course 'Water and the Environment". We discussed how global climate change is affecting the water cycle, and how that in turn is affecting agriculture. We have discussed global climate change and its connection to water in many other ways throughout the semester- deforestation, water access, tourism effects, etc.
Professor Sumanth Reddy, Bowie State University wrote:
I deeply appreciate all the work that you do for BSU and the world. Your dedication and passion are truly inspiring.
Sumanth Reddy, PhD
What is Climate Literacy?
According to the Climate Literacy Framework from the US Global Change Research Council, Climate Science Literacy is an understanding of your influence on climate and climate's influence on you and society.
