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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 lesson, students will observe data for Lake Erie's temperature and oxygen content to find dead zones.
  • Students will analyze data, answer questions, and annotate maps to understand hypoxic conditions in Lake Erie.

Grade 6-8
Subject Biology
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • Students interpret depth versus temperature graphs from buoy data in Lake Erie in order to complete a worksheet exploring the factors that affect stratification in the lake and then create their own graph.
  • Depending on how much time is spent on the extension, this activity can take 50-100 minutes. 
  • A teacher answer key is included for the worksheet. 
Grade 3-5 | 6-8
Subject Earth and Space Sciences,Mathematics
Resource Type Activity - Classroom

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  • This activity spans about three 50-minute class periods, including one class period spent in the field making observations and collecting data about water quality. 
  • Students learn about the aquatic habitats of common fish and organisms in the Great Lakes. 
  • The activity wraps up with a discussion of factors impacting the Great Lakes and what actions we can take to protect this ecosystem. 
Grade 3-5 | 6-8
Subject Biology
Resource Type Activity - Outdoors

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  • In this resource, students will learn about invasive species in the Great Lakes Region and how they impact the Great Lakes food webs.
  • The resource can be used as a lesson itself and includes additional activities, creature cards, and lesson plans for grades 6-8 and 9-12.
Grade 6-8 | 9-12
Subject Biology
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this lesson, students will explore how the Great Lakes affect the weather and climate in Michigan, specifically related to growing fruit in the "fruit belt" region of Western Michigan.
  • Students will analyze temperature data and generate and evaluate hypotheses for the impact of the lake on the climate in surrounding areas and the growing season.
Grade 6-8
Subject Biology,Earth and Space Sciences,Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • In this 4-lesson unit, students will explore how climate change is impacting phenology, using Michigan cherry trees as an example.
  • Students will analyze data for temperature and cherry bloom dates in Michigan, create a scientific model to help predict phenological changes, learn how farmers are adapting to changes, and participate in a citizen science project.
Grade 9-12
Subject Biology
Resource Type Lesson Plans

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  • This guide for building a schoolyard rain garden in Michigan includes planning and designing information, a native plant guide, lessons to teach students about rain gardens, and instructions for designing, planting, and maintaining the garden.
  • In the lessons, 2nd-6th grade students will play a game to model the water cycle and how rain gardens and contaminants can influence it, design a rain garden, and create rain garden fact sheets to post around the school.
Grade 3-5
Subject Science
Resource Type Projects

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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 resource, students will learn about the steps Michigan's DNR is taking to preserve the environment and some tips for Michiganders to contribute to these steps.
  • Students will learn about recycling initiatives, forest clean-up programs, building upgrades, and other strategies to protect Michigan's outdoor areas.
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

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.

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: December 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: December 2024 - March 2025
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Ages of Globalization

Ages of Globalization is a free, multidisciplinary online course designed to empower a global community of learners —...

Format: Online: Asynchronous, Online: Synchronous
Paleontological Research Institution

Climate Change Adaptation

This guide on climate change adaptation explores existing and proposed adaptation strategies for a variety of cli...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
CLEAN

Teaching Climate (Spanish)

This Teaching Climate (Spanish Translation) guide is designed to help middle and high school science teachers in...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education

The Cloud Institute's Education for Sustainability Standards and Performance Indicators

The Cloud Institute's Education for Sustainability...

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
CLEAN

Climate Mental Health

This guide on climate mental health features many different resources to help teachers navigate teaching about climat...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
NOAA

New Jersey State Climate Summary

This guide provides a climate summary for the state of New Jersey, allowing teachers, curriculum specialis...

Format: Online: Asynchronous
CLEAN

Controversy in the Classroom: Strategies for Managing Climate Change Discourse

This article provides techniques for educators to address cl...

Format: Online: Asynchronous

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