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New Jersey Climate Change
Education Hub

The resources you and your school need to effectively teach climate change.

These comprehensive resources are built around the official NJ Student Learning Standards and expand on the work of the New Jersey Department of Education.

Teaching Resources

Search our database by keywords, resource type, grade level, subject, NJ Student Learning Standards, and more. All resources have been reviewed by a scientist and teacher team.

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  • In this article, students will read about Michigan-specific climate impacts and the actions the MI Department of Natural Resources is taking to fight climate change.
  • Students will learn about many Michigan-based climate programs and other, more general climate actions.
Grade 6-8 | 9-12
Subject Biology,Earth and Space Sciences
Resource Type Articles/Websites

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  • In this activity and coloring book, students will learn about watersheds, pollution, and stormwater runoff.
  • Students will complete puzzles, mazes, and word searches as they learn the importance of watersheds and how to prevent water pollution.
Grade 3-5
Subject Science
Resource Type Worksheets

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  • In this multi-day lesson, students compare the effects of different global warming scenarios on communities around the world and in Michigan, consider differences in vulnerability, and write fictional narratives to make predictions for the future.
  • The lesson includes curriculum connections, interactive maps, videos, student worksheets, a writing rubric, and links to all data and maps.
Grade 9-12
Subject Science,Social Studies
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this lesson, students will use aerial photos and dot planimeters to measure the proportion of land used for various purposes.
  • Students will measure, convert into percentages, and discuss how the land is used as a resource.
  • This lesson builds off of Land Use Lesson 1 and is part of an 8-lesson unit.
Grade 3-5
Subject Science,Social Studies
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • This lesson introduces students to aerial photography and its use in environmental science.
  • Students will learn what an "air photo" is, compare two aerial photos of Shelby Township, MI, and discuss the changes in land use from 1980 to 1995.
  • This is the first lesson in an 8-part unit about land use.
Grade 3-5
Subject Science,Social Studies
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this lesson, students will explore what makes Michigan unique and how Michigan's unique features are threatened due to climate change.
  • Students will spend four 45-minute class periods discussing what makes Michigan a special place to live, researching ecosystem regions within Michigan and the threats they face, and advertising the region they studied.
Grade 6-8
Subject Biology,Geography
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this lesson, students will learn how temperature affects extreme weather events and the implications of climate change on extreme weather.
  • In groups, students will analyze data for blizzards, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and severe thunderstorms to determine how they have changed in frequency and how this impacts Michigan.
Grade 6-8
Subject Earth and Space Sciences
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • This resource is a collection of maps and data visualizations to support students' understanding of what climate is, the health impacts of climate, and how scientists can predict future climate conditions in Michigan.
  • Each data/mapping tool correlates to a climate change lesson linked in the teaching tips.
Grade 6-8 | 9-12
Subject Earth and Space Sciences,Geography
Resource Type Graphs/Tables

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  • In this lesson, students will review citizen science data to determine when lilacs will be in full bloom in their city and when their city should host a lilac festival.
  • This lesson spans three 50-minute class periods, in which students will read about lilacs, learn the basics of phenology, analyze graphs, maps, and tables, and write a claim supported by evidence.
  • This activity is applicable for students who live in cities where lilacs bloom.
Grade 6-8
Subject Biology
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this 4-lesson learning module, students will participate in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute's citizen science project for intertidal crabs.
  • Students will learn about the invasive species and its impact on the local habitat, practice fieldwork skills such as measuring and identifying crab genders, collect data in a local intertidal region, and input their data in the GMRI website.
  • This module is designed for Maine educators who can take students to research intertidal crabs in the field.
Grade 6-8
Subject Biology
Resource Type Lesson Plans

Professional Learning

Find the right professional learning opportunity for you or your school, whether it is support for curriculum development or foundational knowledge about climate change.

New Jersey Agriculture in the Classroom

NJ Ag in a Box Series

New Jersey Agriculture in the Classroom (NJAITC) is seeking teachers in grades 3, 4, or 5 from 12 schools to particip...

Date(s) Offered: November 2024-June 2025
Stockton University

Climate Change Learning Collaborative

Professional Learning in Climate Change for K-12 EducatorsThis project is designed to prepare educato...

Format: In Person, Online: Asynchronous, Online: Synchronous
Date(s) Offered: November 2024 - February 2025
Monmouth University

Monmouth University Climate Change Learning Collaborative

The Climate Change Learning Collaborative events are designed for teachers and ad...

Format: In Person, Online: Synchronous
Date(s) Offered: November 2024 - March 2025
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Summary of Climate Change in New Jersey for Teachers

This 15-page guide outlines the state of climate change in New Jersey for teachers. It...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
CLEAN

Fundamental Concepts: Connecting Elementary Science Topics to Climate

The US Global Change Research Program has identified several Climate...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
SubjectToClimate

New Jersey Mentorship Program

Gain confidence in teaching climate change by building a relationship with an educator who can help you integ...

Format: Online: Asynchronous, Online: Synchronous
STEM Teaching Tools

Climate Learning Resources

This page features many resources on many different topics. These resources are divided into six sections: STEM...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
CLEAN

Teaching Climate

This guide is designed to help middle and high school science teachers incorporate climate topics into their classrooms. K...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
Paleontological Research Institution

The Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change

This thorough 294-page guide provides teachers with the information needed to educate their st...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
National Marine Educators Association

A Handbook for Increasing Ocean Literacy

This handbook was developed by the National Marine Educators Association, with the support of NOAA...

Format: Online: Asynchronous

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.