Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Effie Wolters

6-8 Chemistry and Earth Science Teacher

After getting my degree in chemistry from the University of San Diego, I joined Teach for America and served in the Twin Cities corps. I taught 8th grade Earth science for four years at an IB middle school in Minneapolis Public Schools. While teaching, I received my 5-8 general science license and my master's degree in Teaching Instruction. Though I loved teaching, I left for more flexibility to travel with my partner who works overseas. I am currently living part-time between Minneapolis and Belgrade, Serbia, but I am excited to return to teaching in the future! In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places, spending time outside, reading, and baking. 

Lesson Plans

6-8 Thumbnails (2)
Lesson Plan

Rising Temperatures: Data Analysis Lesson
This lesson gives students the opportunity to experience a simplified version of how mathematicians and scientists use data analysis and statistics to determine how much our planet is warming due to climate change. Students will create a data table and scatter plot and use linear regression to make predictions about the future. 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students look at a global temperature anomaly graph and discuss how this graph shows a trend of warming temperatures.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students analyze real-world temperature data from a city by creating a data table and scatter plot.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students connect what they discovered about their city to the overall trend of rising temperatures.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Renewable Energy Algebra Lesson: Peak Sun Hours
In this lesson, students explore solar energy by calculating the peak sun hours needed for solar panels using algebra. They apply their calculations to real-world data to assess the feasibility of using solar power in their area and predict whether their homes could be powered by solar panels based on their findings.

Inquire: Students work through a practice problem and discuss what they already know about solar energy.
Investigate: Students learn background information about solar energy, then use algebra to calculate the amount of peak sun hours needed to make a solar panel effective, and compare their calculated values to real-world data to determine if this amount of sunlight is possible in their area.
Inspire: Students make predictions and discuss if they think their home could be powered by solar panels using the calculations from class as evidence.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Renewable Energy Algebra Lesson: Solar Energy
In this lesson, students complete real-world calculations related to residential solar energy use, including the number of solar panels needed to power the average house and how many solar panels could fit on their own home or a local building.

Inquire: Students complete calculations to determine if the average American home could be powered using solar panels.
Investigate: Students explore the Google Project Sunroof site and use data from their home addresses to solve problems.
Inspire: Students discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using solar energy and explore equity issues related to the affordability of solar panels.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Renewable Energy Algebra Lesson: Wind Energy
In this lesson, students use algebra to calculate the number of wind turbines needed to power a local community.

Inquire: Students watch a short video introducing wind energy and discuss the possibility of wind energy powering their community.
Investigate: Students complete a series of mathematical calculations related to wind energy.
Inspire: Students discuss the benefits of wind energy using their calculations to support their ideas.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Renewable Energy Algebra Lesson: Biofuels
In this lesson, students are introduced to biomass energy and use algebra to calculate the amount of land needed to produce biofuel using different plants.

Inquire: Students watch a video on biofuels and discuss how biofuels are similar to or different from other renewable energy sources.
Investigate: Students complete real-world math problems that compare the amount of land needed for various biofuel crops.
Inspire: Students use a map to explore the current use of biomass in their region and discuss potential benefits and drawbacks to increasing biomass energy in their community.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Renewable Energy Algebra Lesson: Student Project
In this lesson, students use what they have learned about renewable energy to create their own plan to implement green energy in their community.

Inquire: Students watch a short video and discuss if renewable energy can completely power their community.
Investigate: Students explore an example of a community powered by renewable energy, draw a map of their community, create a renewable energy plan, and complete calculations to maximize the production of solar, wind, and biomass energy.
Inspire: Students share their plans with the class through a gallery walk and have a final discussion about the viability of using renewable energy to fully power their community.
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Coping with Climate Anxiety: Mental Health Lesson

In this lesson, students learn about climate anxiety and create a climate anxiety toolkit.


Step 1 - Inquire: Students discuss statistics about the prevalence of climate anxiety in children and young people and try out a strategy to cope with this anxiety.


Step 2 - Investigate: Students research and practice a strategy to manage anxiety and create a one-page mini-poster about this strategy.


Step 3 - Inspire: Students share their mini-poster with the class and discuss what they learned from each other.
Grade 6-8
Subject Health
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan

Extreme Weather Lesson: Are Winters Getting Worse?
In this lesson, students discover how climate change could be making extreme winter weather worse.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students discuss extreme weather events they have experienced and watch a video about extreme winter weather.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students dive deeper into the polar vortex and lake effect snow, learning about how they may relate to climate change.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students complete a jigsaw activity to explore two different examples of extreme winter weather events related to the polar vortex and lake effect snow.
Grade 6-8
Subject Earth and Space Sciences
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Varied Content Thumbnails (2)
Worksheets

Renewable Energy Algebra Worksheets
In this collection of worksheets, students will calculate peak sun hours, wind energy from turbines, biofuels, and more. Each worksheet can be completed independently. 
Grade 6-8
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Worksheets
6-8 Thumbnails (7)
Lesson Plan

Social Studies Lesson: Climate Change Claims
In this social studies lesson, students use compelling questions and credible sources to survey their community on climate change beliefs.

Inquire: Students generate compelling questions using the Question Formulation Technique and select one question to research.
Investigate: Students identify credible sources to answer their question, gather evidence using these sources, and write a claim and counterclaim to answer the question.
Inspire: Students create a survey to evaluate their community’s perspectives on some of the compelling questions.
Grade 6-8
Subject Science,Social Studies
Resource Type Lesson Plan
Varied Content Thumbnails (10)
Curriculum Planning Guide

Curriculum Planning Guide: Grade 9-12 Math
In this Climate Curriculum Planning Guide, high school teachers will find examples of lesson plans, activities, and strategies for implementing climate change into Math instruction. The guide includes resources for teaching topics such as Number & Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics & Probability.
Grade 9-12
Subject Mathematics
Resource Type Curriculum Planning Guide
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
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