Teaching Climate Justice
This course gives K-12 educators the opportunity to explore the important topics of climate change and environmental justice. The course begins with the fundamentals of weather, climate and global warming. The history of environmental justice and the emerging and growing climate justice movement is examined. Alongside this, the implications of the inequitable impact of climate change and global warming on marginalized communities is discussed and you will be introduced to the EPA EJSCREENING tool.
The course also focuses on how to inspire change and action. You will discover the important role that getting students out in nature to improve physical and mental health and inspire a commitment to care for the environment. This is especially important for students from marginalized communities in inner-city and urban areas. Teachers will examine how they and their students can partner with community organizations to access resources to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to address climate justice. As concepts and ideas are shared throughout the course you will have the opportunity to develop lesson plan(s) and discover other ways to include climate justice within your curriculum.
Dates and Fees
2023 Start Dates:
April 17 | May 22
Fees:
| PD hours/CEU Course: | $0* |
| Graduate Credit Course: | $128 |
*Thanks to generous funding there is no cost to enroll for teachers taking this course for PD hours or CEU units.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the fundamentals of weather and climate and the impact of global warming;
- Examine the history of climate justice;
- Analyze the implications of climate change and its disproportionate effect on marginalized populations; and
- Research local climate change and environmental justice organization, community partners and resources
Participation in the Teaching Climate Justice course gives K-12 teachers the competencies and confidence to teach about climate justice and make the topic relevant to their own local context.
Note: Course participants also have the option to join the live webinars taking place as part of our Teaching Climate Change Essentials course during the month they are taking the course. Dates and topics will be shared during week one of the course.
Teachers taking this course can earn recognition through teacher professional development hours, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Graduate Credit.
Course Overview
PD hours | CEUs | Graduate Credit
Course participants have the option to receive Professional Development (PD) hours, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Graduate Credits. Participants who complete the course can claim 15 PD hours, 1.5 CEUs or 1 Graduate Credits.
Note: participants will need to confirm acceptance of the professional development hours or CEUs by your district or state agency. Download this pre-made email template and instructions for use to get PD hours or CEUs approved through your district.
Meet the Facilitators
Stephanie Mihalic
Stephanie Mihalic has been an educator for over 40 years and is a life-long learner who enjoys nature and environmental studies. She has taught children with special needs, middle school, high school, and college graduate students and has mentored beginning teachers in schools and online. Her emphasis in education has been teaching science to diverse populations and supporting teachers with incorporating science literacy into their classrooms.
Beau Morton
Beau Morton (They/Them) is the Director of Environmental Health and Education at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. Among their responsibilities are leading education programs such as the Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Training. Beau has two years of middle school teaching experience at private schools in NYC, and is a co-facilitator for professional development sessions at Math for America. Beau also recognized the importance of exposing BIPOC and low-income youth to natural elements, and actively supports this mission. They hold a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Spelman College, a M.S in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from The New School, and a M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
FAQ
As an educator I want to support climate literacy, but I’m not a science teacher! Is the Teaching Climate Justice course relevant for me?
Our Teaching Climate Justice course has been designed to engage, support, and equip teachers of any subject or grade level with the knowledge, sills and resources to confidently teach about climate justice, develop lesson plans that include the topic and engage and inspire students.
What background knowledge is necessary to take the course?
None! We designed the course so that we can meet you wherever you are in terms of your knowledge and understanding of climate change and climate justice or your ability to develop lessons and curricula on the topic for your grade level or subject area.
What is the time commitment for the program? Can I complete coursework on weekends?
The course is administered completely online and takes 3 to 4 hours per week. We’ve designed it to fit into teachers’ busy schedules. Related coursework can be completed during any window within each week-long module.