Teaching for Sustainability: Educating for Climate Action and Environmental Justice Across the Curriculum

Oct 17, 2023 9:30AM—2:30PM

Location

Bay School of San Francisco

Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (Available until September 22) $2,855 members; $2,405 group-rate 3+; $4,340 non-members

Categories Curriculum & Pedagogy, Hybrid, Leadership, Ongoing Program

Teaching for Sustainability: Educating for Climate Action and Environmental Justice Across the Curriculum

SESSION 1: October 17, 2023 | 9:30am - 2:30pm | Bay School of San Francisco

CHECK-IN: November 14, 2023 | 3:30pm - 5:15pm | Virtual

SESSION 2: December 12, 2023 | 9:30am - 2:30pm | Bay School of San Francisco

SESSION 3: January 23, 2024 | 9:30am - 12:00pm | ISEEN Winter Institute at the Holiday Inn, Dublin

CHECK-IN: February 13, 2024 | 3:30pm - 5:15pm | Virtual

SESSION 4: March 19, 2024 | 9:30am - 2:30pm | Bay School of San Francisco

SESSION 5: May 7, 2024 | 9:30am - 2:30pm | Bay School of San Francisco

ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROGRAM

This immersive and comprehensive ongoing program is designed specifically for teachers who are passionate about integrating climate action, environmental literacy, and sustainability across the curriculum. Five dynamic and interactive in-person gatherings and two shorter online sessions are planned to occur at strategic intervals throughout the school year, allowing educators to deepen the development of their skills and knowledge and build a strong community of practice. With an emphasis on pedagogy and experiential learning, participants will engage in collaborative discussions and hands-on activities, gaining practical tools and strategies to effectively infuse these vital topics into their teaching practice and existing curriculum. From exploring innovative teaching methodologies and resources to designing interdisciplinary lesson plans, this program will equip educators with the expertise and confidence to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious global citizens.

In addition to taking on leadership roles within the group to share about topics about which they are passionate, participants will be invited to have a group of their students present on their learning, a project, or action.

Finally, we will explore some practical and manageable ways for students and teachers to document what they have learned, made, and done throughout the year, and, in partnership with The Wild Center, will plan a Climate Summit to showcase and plan for the following school year.

The end goal is to give teachers and students the tools, strategies and stories they need to become solutionaries – positive outliers that will in turn inspire other educators and youth across the world. Together, we can create a brighter and more sustainable future through education.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will:

Gain a deeper understanding of climate change, environmental issues, and sustainability, enabling them to effectively communicate and teach these topics across different grade levels and subjects
Learn pedagogical strategies and best practices for integrating climate action, environmental literacy, and sustainability into their existing curriculum, ensuring a seamless and meaningful integration
Develop a repertoire of interdisciplinary lesson plans, activities, and resources that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and active engagement with environmental concepts. We will also look at ways to use literacy as an entry point for climate education (Non-fiction reading, information writing, note taking, talking, listening, researching, etc.)
Explore innovative teaching methodologies and planning frameworks, such as “Solutionary” teaching and learning, project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and place-based education, to create dynamic and immersive learning experiences for their students
Cultivate a network of like-minded educators, fostering collaboration, sharing of ideas, and ongoing professional support in implementing climate action and sustainability initiatives within their schools and communities
Explore ways to involve the wider school community and engage parents, administrators, and stakeholders in supporting and reinforcing environmental education initiatives
Create a comprehensive action plan to infuse climate action, environmental literacy, and sustainability across the curriculum, ensuring long-term impact and integration of these essential topics throughout the school year and beyond
Plan and implement a Youth Climate Summit, with the help and coordination of The Wild Center (free of charge)

AUDIENCE

K-12 teachers and administrators who are excited or curious about leveraging education as a tool for change and using environmental literacy and climate action as a way to amplify education and student engagement. We encourage teams of two or three from the same school to join us to fully maximize the learning and impact.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Session 1: Foundations of Climate Action and Environmental Literacy

Educators will delve into the foundational knowledge of climate change, environmental issues, and sustainability. They will explore the scientific principles behind climate change, gain an understanding of global environmental challenges, and examine the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Through interactive sessions, educators will develop a solid understanding of the urgency and importance of incorporating climate action and environmental literacy into their curriculum.

Session 2: Pedagogical Strategies for Integration

Building on the foundation laid on Day 1, educators will focus on pedagogical strategies for seamlessly integrating climate action and environmental literacy across various subjects and grade levels. They will explore effective teaching methodologies, such as solutionary teaching and learning, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and cross-curricular connections, to create engaging and interdisciplinary lessons and/or units. Educators will collaborate and share best practices to develop innovative and impactful instructional approaches.

Session 3: Celebrating and Planting Seeds of Climate Action

Developed in collaboration with the Independent School Experiential Education network (ISEEN), this session will provide a rare opportunity to learn with and from educators attending their Winter Institute to plan and implement a youth climate summit. Youth climate summits provide a platform for students and teachers to celebrate or envision the learning, projects and actions that will lead to a more sustainable school, community, and world. Students deepen their understanding of climate issues, explore innovative solutions, and collaborate with like-minded peers. Through engaging workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and interactive activities, youth climate summits aim to foster a sense of urgency and inspire young leaders to drive positive change in their communities. We’ll also look at solutionary teaching and learning in preparing students for and following up from a climate summit.

Session 4: Empowering Student Engagement and Action

Educators will focus on strategies to empower student engagement and action in climate action and environmental sustainability. They will explore effective approaches to fostering student agency, promoting empathy, and encouraging students to take informed and meaningful actions. Educators will discover how to facilitate meaningful discussions, encourage student-led projects, and leverage technology and media for impactful student engagement. We will explore some manageable ways teachers and students might document their work so they can share their own climate action story with their immediate community and more widely with schools across the nation.

Session 5: Celebrating Learning and Creating Action Plans

On the final day, educators will explore methods for assessing and celebrating student learning and growth in the areas of climate action, environmental literacy, and sustainability. They will examine authentic and meaningful evaluation strategies that align with the objectives of their curriculum. Additionally, educators will collaborate to create comprehensive action plans that outline steps to integrate climate action and environmental sustainability consistently throughout the school year, involving the wider school community and fostering a lasting impact.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

CATDC and The Bay School of San Francisco will be working together to do all we can to ensure your health and safety during our in-person session, monitoring closely nationwide, state, and local updates and recommendations. We ask that you do not attend if you are infected with Covid, have Covid symptoms, or have had close contact with someone who is infected in the last 10 days.

Starting February 2023, we will no longer check vaccination status at the first session of our workshops, but we strongly encourage all CATDC participants to be fully vaccinated.

Given the nature of our in-person programs which gather individuals together from a variety of schools and regions, CATDC may require or strongly recommend masking indoors and/or testing on a program-by-program basis. A host school/venue may require additional protocols which we will communicate to participants via email in a timely fashion prior to a program or session. All Covid-related refund requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Thank you for your understanding and your cooperation.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Cheney Munson

Obsessed with ideas of literacy, education, climate change and environmental justice for the last two decades, Cheney taught middle school ELA for eight years, and ever since has been a staff developer for The Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College Columbia University. He works in grades 3–12 with ELA, science, history and (sometimes) math teachers. He is currently a senior staff developer and their resident Sustainability Education Specialist. Cheney founded The Climascope Project which aims to work shoulder-to-shoulder with teachers to infuse climate change, sustainability and environmental justice into existing curriculum with practical and inspiring PD and easy-to-use resources. He prides himself on meeting teachers and students where they are and aligning climate literacy goals with school-wide goals around literacy, history, science, math, school culture, and pedagogy. He consults for Ted-Ed as their climate curriculum designer and is a PhD candidate in Sustainability Education at Prescott College. When not thinking about climate advocacy and literacy, he’s playing bluegrass and cooking in Oakland.

Cancellation Policy

Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.