EDUCATION

Teaching Native CLIMATE

The Native Climate education group will coordinate a Community of Practice (CoP) of K-12 teachers and informal educators across the Intermountain West. The CoP will work collaboratively to adapt climate education resources to be place-based and culturally relevant to Native communities. We will advance the ways that educators and education partners can do place-based learning to support climate resilience at the local and regional levels. This work will integrate with Native Climate’s annual summits and workshops, as well as through opportunities designed specifically for K-12 educators.   

Through sharing K-12 climate education modules with Tribes, we aim to foster climate awareness and action among Native American youth, who will be leaders in the ongoing effort to build climate resilience. All resources developed by Native Climate will be shared widely to increase awareness of the impacts of the climate crisis on Native American communities and to encourage respect for Indigenous knowledge and practices among western scientists and the public.  

Educator Resources

TEACHING NATIVE WATERS

The Teaching Native Waters program was operated through Native Waters on Arid Lands and provided professional development to educators serving native students.  The website includes information about the program and educator resources, including curriculum materials. Click on the title or icon for more information.

Native Climate Curricula

Teaching materials from the Native Climate team, the Teaching Native Waters program, and outside organizations which address the climate crisis

 

Four young children running down a gravel path, with hills in the background and dry scrubby grass around them

Elementary school

Curricula for grades pre-K to 5.  Click on the toggle boxes below for more information about each course.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Description:

A series of discussions, readings, and activities teaching students about TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) of the Yurok tribe. Can be adapted to be place-based to your region.

Authors/Producers:

Dr. Seafha Ramos, Science Delivered, Cherie Paul, and Maximiliano Quezada

Next Gen Science Standards:

5-ESS3-1.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

Seasonal Storyline

Green spring aspen leaves on a branch against a blurred background

Description:

A series of 10 lessons involving exploring the world around them via “wondering walks”, collecting data from the natural world in order to answer “should we” questions about how we interact with the world. While these lessons are intended for K-2, they could be adapted for a higher grade level.

Authors/Producers:

Learning in Places

Next Gen Science Standards:

K-ESS3-1, KESS3-3, 5-ESS3-1

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

Salish Sea Playing Cards

Deck of playing cards arranged in semicircle; the cards feature art in a Salish style of animals, plants, and microorganisms native to the Salish Sea area

Description:

This deck of playing cards was built to include organisms from the Pacific Northwest. Each card contains original artwork that can be used to analyze traits of organisms across different habitats. Each suit corresponds to different ocean habitats, and the increasing numbers represent increasing trophic levels.

Thayne Yazzie

Next Gen Science Standards:

K-ESS3-1, 2-LS2-4, 3-LS4-3, 5-LS2-1, 5-PS3-1

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

A girl standing in a field surrounded by trees uses an atlatl to throw a long arrow.

Middle School

Curricula for grades 6-8.  Click on the toggle boxes below for more information about each course.

Pueblo Farming Project

Description:

This Ebook includes a series of 5 middle school science lessons that examine traditional Pueblo Indian farming techniques. The Ebook also includes descriptions of the ongoing work of The Pueblo Farming Project, a collaboration between the Hopi tribe and the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center that examines traditional Pueblo Indian farming techniques to help us understand ancient farming in the Mesa Verde region of southwestern Colorado.

Authors/Producers:

The Montezuma School to Farm Project and the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.

Next Gen Science Standards:

MS-LS1-1, MS-LS3-2, MS-LS1-8, MS-LS1-5, MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-4, MS-PS1-4, MS-PS1-2, MS-PS1-5

Colorado State Science Standards:

1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.2, 3.3

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Science and Management

Description:

A series of 6 modules focused on Traditional Ecological Knowledge surrounding fires, forests, water, and fish in Northern California.

Authors/Producers:

Save California Salmon.

Next Gen Science Standards:

MS-ESS3-3 MS-ESS3-4 MS-ESS3-5 MS-LS1-4 MS-LS1-5 MS-LS1-6 MS-LS1-7 MS-LS2 MS-LS3 MS-LS4

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

Salish Sea Playing Cards

Deck of playing cards arranged in semicircle; the cards feature art in a Salish style of animals, plants, and microorganisms native to the Salish Sea area

Description:

This deck of playing cards was built to include organisms from the Pacific Northwest. Each card contains original artwork that can be used to analyze traits of organisms across different habitats. Each suit corresponds to different ocean habitats, and the increasing numbers represent increasing trophic levels.

Thayne Yazzie

Next Gen Science Standards:

MS-LS1-6, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-3

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

With Water We Thrive STEAM Curriculum

Description:

Students explore topics related to water, starting at the particle level, then moving to the individual, the local, and finally the global perspective. Students consider water sovereignty and their responsibility in caring for our water. Students are assessed using art activities that relate to what they’ve learned. While the curriculum is currently focused on the Truckee watershed in CA and NV, it can be adapted for any watershed.

Laura Smith-Fillmore, Ileah Kirchoff, Desert Research Institute.

Next Gen Science Standards:

MS-PS1-1, MS-PS1-4, MS-ESS2-2, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6, MS-ESS3-3

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

A girl standing in a field surrounded by trees uses an atlatl to throw a long arrow.

High School

Curricula for grades 9-12.  Click on the toggle boxes below for more information about each course.

Water Resources in a Warming World

Description:

This community college curriculum includes a series of 10 modules focused on water quality and testing, sustainability planning, climate modeling and change impacts, and green power. While it was designed for the community college level, these resources can also be adapted for the high school level. Readings and supplemental content used in the modules are open-access; neither students nor instructors need to purchase materials for these modules. The material on this page is based upon work supported by USDA under the Women and Minorities in STEM Award 2020-38503-31952.

Authors/Producers:

Dr. Judy Dudley, NIFA, FALCON, Desert Research Institute (Native Waters on Arid Lands)

Next Gen Science Standards:

HS-ESS2-4, HS-ESS3-5, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-3,  HS-ESS3-4,  HS-ESS3-6

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

Terra Prime Blueprint Deck

Three cards with artwork by Hieronymous Bosch and William Blake, accompanied by a series of general words

Description:

A 28 card conversation deck with 2 instruction cards used for study, strategy, or play in the classroom, the board room, or the dinner table. The front of each Blueprint Deck card contains a classical image consistent with the theme of that card. Each theme represents big questions that apply to almost any situation and challenges the user to think differently about a complex problem. Our website is launching with this campaign with a copy of our handbook, which describes strategies for using the deck, including games and ways to record a conversation.

Authors/Producers:

Manuel Montoya

Next Gen Science Standards:

N/A

(Used as a discussion tool for a variety of topics)

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH

Description:

Students consider how wildfires have influenced human activity (populations and migrations) in the Flathead, MT region. They learn about how smoke can affect the health of humans, and how the respiratory system maintains homeostasis after breathing in smoke. They then create a DIY air filter and consider how it can be used. Note: This curriculum is currently in the planning/pilot phase. Native Climate is working with tribal educators to determine how best to meet the needs of indigenous students in Flathead.

Authors/Producers:

Desert Research Institute

Next Gen Science Standards:

HS-ESS3-1, HS-LS1-2, HS-LS1-3

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

With Water We Thrive STEAM Curriculum

Description:

Students explore topics related to water, starting at the particle level, then moving to the individual, the local, and finally the global perspective. Students consider water sovereignty and their responsibility in caring for our water. Students are assessed using art activities that relate to what they’ve learned. While the curriculum is currently focused on the Truckee watershed in CA and NV, it can be adapted for any watershed.

Authors/Producers:

Laura Smith-Fillmore, Ileah Kirchoff, Desert Research Institute

Next Gen Science Standards:

HS-PS1-1, HS-PS1-3, HS-PS1-4, HS-ESS2-5, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-2, HS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS