Our most recent events can be found by scrolling toward the bottom of this page.
Introduction to Climate Change
June 11, 2024, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Zoom
This is a basic introduction to climate change for any educators wanting to improve their background knowledge. The session will present climate change as simple, serious, and solvable. The science behind the greenhouse effect, some of the more profound and serious climate impacts, and the most important climate solutions will be presented. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions, and some tools for teaching basic greenhouse effect will be discussed. This session may be of particular interest to teachers of subjects other than sciences.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 3-5)
June 12, 2024, 6 – 8 p.m., Zoom
Grade 3-5 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the upper elementary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Coaching & Collaboration
June 25, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
Transforming Relationships for Global Sustainability
June 28, 2024, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monmouth University Campus
This professional development session will explore issues in sustainability through the lens of transforming relationships between humans and the environment. Practical ideas for sustainability initiatives in schools will be discussed. Workshop time will be provided for participants to plan for sustainability initiatives in their own schools with the support of session facilitators and in collaboration with other participants.
We will be meeting in the Turrell Boardroom (Bey Hall 201). You will find Bey Hall (#26) on the campus map. The main parking area is located directly in front of Bey Hall. You may use this lot when visiting campus. Unfortunately, there will not be any food or beverages served during the event, but you may bring your own or visit the student center (#42 on the map). Please keep in mind that our beautiful campus is located along the Jersey Shore. Though many students enjoy this benefit, it may add a few minutes to your summer commute. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 6-8)
July 1, 2024, 12 – 2 p.m., Zoom
Grade 6-8 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the middle school level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Workshop in Modeling and Using Climate Models in Teaching: Using the En-ROADS Climate Simulator for Understanding Climate Solutions
July 23, 2024, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monmouth University Campus
This session, which will be co-taught by Dr. Joe Coyle, a mathematician, and Dr. Catherine Duckett, a biologist and climate science educator, is designed for teachers of grades 8 through 12. The first part of the session will focus on modeling and using climate models in teaching. The second part will focus on climate solutions using the En-ROADS decision support model. En-ROADS is a tool that uses a slightly simplified version of the climate model used by the United Nations to help users understand the impacts of different climate solutions. In this session, Dr. Duckett will lead the participants in an activity that can be used directly in classrooms. En-ROADS also provides materials for teachers to use in their own classrooms. Some of these materials will be provided to registrants prior to the session. Come prepared to save life on the planet and negotiate with other participants to do so!
Wifi access will be provided, but each participant should plan to bring a laptop. We will be meeting in Edison Hall 201. You will find Edison Science Hall (#23) on the campus map. Please park in the main lot when visiting campus. Unfortunately, there will not be any food or beverages served during the event, but you may bring your own or visit the student center (#42 on the map). Please keep in mind that our beautiful campus is located along the Jersey Shore. Though many students enjoy this benefit, it may add a few minutes to your summer commute. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 9-12)
August 7, 2024, 4 – 6 p.m., Zoom
Grade 9-12 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the secondary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Experiential Learning Opportunity Aboard r/v Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe
August 16, 2024, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Please join us on Monmouth University’s r/v Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe for a day of experiential learning. After a boat safety briefing, depart from the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina and journey to Sandy Hook Bay and the New York Harbor entrance. Visit estuaries, practice using a trawl and/or a plankton net, measure salinity and Secchi depth, and more! Your guide will relate data you collect on your trip to climate change in our local area and generate discussion for creating experiential learning opportunities for your own students.
We will be meeting at 9:30 am at Slip #5, Pier 1, at the Atlantic Highlands Marina. You will find parking east of Shore Casino or at the SeaStreak ferry. For navigational directions enter “Sissy’s at the Harbor, 8 Simon Lake Dr., Atlantic Highlands NJ.” Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Participation will be limited to the first 15 to register. Priority will be given to teachers in partner LEAs. You will be sent a map showing the location of the slip and parking upon registration. This trip will be led by Jason Adolf, Ph.D.
Transforming Relationships for Global Sustainability
August 19, 2024, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Zoom
This professional development session will explore issues in sustainability through the lens of transforming relationships between humans and the environment. Practical ideas for sustainability initiatives in schools will be discussed. Workshop time will be provided for participants to plan for sustainability initiatives in their own schools with the support of session facilitators and in collaboration with other participants.
Coaching & Collaboration
August 21, 2024, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., Zoom
Please join us for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of sea level rise, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
Introduction to Climate Change
September 4, 2024, 7 – 8 p.m., Zoom
This is a basic introduction to climate change for any educators wanting to improve their background knowledge. This session will present climate change as simple, serious, and solvable. The science behind the greenhouse effect, some of the more profound and serious climate impacts, and the most important climate solutions will be presented. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions, and some tools for teaching basic greenhouse effect will be discussed. This session, presented by Catherine Duckett, Ph.D., will be a repeat of the June 11, 2024 event and may be of particular interest to teachers of subjects other than sciences.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades K-2)
September 10, 2024, 4 – 6 p.m., Zoom
Grade K-2 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the primary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Using a Climate Model in Teaching Workshop: The En-ROADS Climate Simulator for Understanding Climate Solutions
October 1, 2024, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Princeton School District Office
This session is designed for teachers of grades 6 through 12; it will focus on climate solutions using the En-ROADS decision support model (Energy-Rapid Overview and Decision Support). En-ROADS is a tool that uses a slightly simplified version of the climate model used by the United Nations to help users understand the impacts of different climate solutions. In this session, Dr. Duckett will lead the participants in an activity that can be used directly in classrooms, and discuss how to leverage the tool for learning and other potential activities. En-ROADS provides materials for teachers to use in their own classrooms. Some of these materials will be provided to registrants prior to the session. Come prepared to save life on the planet and negotiate with other participants to do so! A downloadable flyer of this event is available to share with your colleagues. The session will be held at 25 Valley Road, Princeton, NJ. You do not need to be a member of the Princeton school district to attend; this session is available to all teachers with preference given to partnering LEAs if space restricts the number of participants.
Lecture on Sea Level Rise
October 1, 2024, 7 – 8 p.m., Monmouth University Campus
The climate change driven sea level rise lecture will start with an overview of the Earth’s Greenhouse Effect and how it has contributed to sea level changes over the past 100 million years, followed by a discussion of present day sea level changes and the natural processes that will contribute to future relative sea level rise. The lecture will conclude with a discussion on how sea level rise contributes to more frequent and impactful nuisance flooding and coastal storm surge in New Jersey’s coastal communities. Time will be provided for questions and answers with the speaker, Tom Herrington, Ph.D.
The Politics and Policy of Climate Change
October 7, 2024, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Zoom
Climate politics and policy covers both domestic and international components of central political struggles as well as the structure of international agreements. We will also cover the rejection of climate science and other hurdles to mitigating climate change.
Coaching & Collaboration
October 23, 2024, 4 – 5 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
Transforming Relationships for Global Sustainability
October 28, 2024, 12 – 2 p.m., Zoom
This professional development session will explore issues in sustainability through the lens of transforming relationships between humans and the environment. Practical ideas for sustainability initiatives in schools will be discussed. Workshop time will be provided for participants to plan for sustainability initiatives in their own schools with the support of session facilitators and in collaboration with other participants. This session will repeat the event held on August 19, 2024.
School Leaders for Sustainability: A Panel Discussion of Challenges and Strategies
October 29, 2024, 6:45 – 8 p.m., Zoom
Many school leaders want to support climate change education and sustainability efforts at their schools, but they feel the challenges are too great to overcome. Three panelists representing different New Jersey schools will share their challenges and discuss the strategies that allowed them to be successful in their sustainability endeavors. Learn about successful projects in other schools as inspiration for what you can accomplish with your own teachers and students! This panel discussion is open to all, and administrators and members of boards of education are highly encouraged to attend.
Experiential Learning Opportunity with New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC)
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit
November 2, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Global Climate Systems and Human Society (Grades 6-12)
Grade 6-12 educators will explore the energy drivers of climate change, the effects on natural resources, and how these impact society. Real-world data transfer and climate models will enable teachers to closely examine resource availability and sustainable coastal ecosystems with both laboratory activities and field studies. Alternative energy sources will be explored as well. This workshop will provide the tools and experiences necessary to inspire student inquiry and problem solving. Educators will also learn how to utilize research-based frameworks to communicate climate science and facilitate solution development.
This workshop will take place rain or shine and will have both indoor and outdoor components utilizing NJSGC’s headquarters and Sandy Hook’s natural coastal environments. Please dress for the weather in comfortable clothing and footwear that may get sandy. Sunscreen and bug spray are always a good idea, as are hats when conditions are sunny and hot. Feel free to bring your laptop or notebook of choice. Coffee/tea and light snacks will be provided, but please bring your own lunch and a refillable water bottle. All field equipment will be provided by NJSGC.
Location: New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium, 22 Magruder Road, Fort Hancock, NJ 07732 (for GPS use “22 Magruder Road, Highlands, NJ 07732”; for directions, click here)
Native Plants for Climate Resilience
November 4, 2024, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Zoom
Climate Change and other aspects of extreme weather motivated by global heating will cause ecological instability. Human agriculture, planting, and landscaping practices can be further destabilizing, or by working with nature’s strengths, humans can plant for greater stability. Native plants, having evolved in a location and in ecological relationships with other native creatures, can stabilize ecosystems, slow the decline of animal populations, and potentially improve water quality and buffer flooding. In this session, we will review basic climate change and the major environmental assaults on plants and animals caused by climate change. We will study selected New Jersey plants and insects as examples of ecosystem components that average NJ residents can observe and impact in their home or town. We will review some common invasive plants, and participants will have a chance to use what they learned in an exercise to “fix Dr. Duckett’s yard.” Some concepts will be appropriate for teachers of all grades. This session will be presented by Catherine Duckett, Ph.D.
Coaching & Collaboration
November 16, 2024, 10 – 11 a.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 6-8)
December 5, 2024, 1:15 – 3:15 p.m., Zoom
Grade 6-8 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the middle school level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Coaching & Collaboration
December 11, 2024, 3 – 4 p.m., Zoom
Please join us online for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change education, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
The Politics and Policy of Climate Change
January 6, 2025, 4 – 5 p.m., Zoom
Climate politics and policy covers both domestic and international components of central political struggles as well as the structure of international agreements. We will also cover the rejection of climate science and other hurdles to mitigating climate change. This session will repeat the event held on October 7, 2024.
Interdisciplinary Instruction for Climate Education (Grades 9-12)
January 8, 2025, 3:15 – 5:15 p.m., Zoom
Grade 9-12 educators are invited to learn about incorporating climate change standards into lessons. Participants will learn interdisciplinary planning strategies and pedagogical approaches for integrating climate change education at the secondary level. Participants are encouraged to bring their own lesson plans for the workshop portion of the session. These plans will be examined collaboratively and updated to better infuse climate change standards.
Coaching & Collaboration
January 16, 2025, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Monmouth University Campus
Please join us for some professional networking. We will provide a brief review of climate change and human health, a question and answer period, and time to work together in a supportive environment. Teachers may bring lesson plans they need help with. Administrators may bring questions they have about implementation in their schools. We are happy to address any needs brought to this session and provide space for collaboration among schools and districts.
The presentation will take place in Edison Hall Room 201. You will find Edison Science Hall (#30) on the campus map. Please park in the main lot when visiting campus. Unfortunately, there will not be any food or beverages served during the event, but you may bring your own or visit the student center (#26 on the map). Please let us know if you have any questions. The event will be limited to the first 35 registrants, with priority given to those in partnering LEAs. CANCELED DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT.