The Watch. News You Can Use From NOAA Planet Stewards - 7 June 2021

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News you can use from NOAA Planet Stewards 

"No water, no life. No blue, No green"    - Sylvia Earle

 

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SUMMER WORKSHOPS FROM PLANET STEWARDS

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  • July 5-29th

  Community Resilience to Climate Change: A Virtual Workshop for formal and informal        educators working with Middle and High School-aged students – but all are welcome

   This is a self-paced virtual workshop for all educators on climate change impacts to human           and natural communities, and the actions you can take to build resilient communities in light of     these impacts. Find out more here and register.

  • August 17-19th

    Climate Justice: Exploring the Science of Climate Change in Your Classroom Workshop. Find out more here and pre-register.

    NOAA Planet Stewards and the Detroit Zoological Society are hosting a three-day workshop for educators to explore how global climate change is affecting the metro Detroit region, and how they can engage their students in taking action to address this global phenomena.

THE TIME IS HERE TO GET OUT, LEARN, INTERACT & EXPLORE!

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noaa in focus

Celebrate the Ocean! Join NOAA for National Ocean Month

and World Ocean Day on June 8th!

Sea Turtle


June is National Ocean Month

and NOAA is celebrating 

30 Days of the Ocean. 

Check out a new theme every week!

In June, NOAA Celebrates 30 Days of the Ocean! Join us and learn about our ocean world  and see all the special features we've put together - like a new series of graphics relating to the Ocean Literacy Principles as well as the events taking place at Capitol Hill Ocean Week!

Join Ocean Today host Symone Barkley on an incredible journey into the ocean, up in the air, on the shore as she watches whales migrate along our coasts. Learn how NOAA is tracking whales and what you can do to help using citizen science! Using the Whale Alert and Ocean Alert apps, you can help ships steer clear of migrating whales and report entangled whales. For more information and to register: https://www.facebook.com/events/ 2963236203951124/

whale watch party

NOAA.gov has a new look – See for yourself at NOAA Education and the National Weather Service

NOAA Education

NOAA Education has new features to help you navigate through the revised website and find resources you need for yourself and your students. Let NOAA Education know what you think by completing their customer satisfaction survey.

And check out NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) new education website .Organized by topic, visitors can explore weather-related science, safety, citizen science programs, careers, and more! The Data Resources for the Classroom section offers access to real-time weather data. Additional topics include tides and currents, air quality, storms, other weather variables.

A great resource on the new NWS education website is the simulation activity HotSeat: You Be the Forecaster. This activity is suitable for all ages. It teaches about the meteorology related to extreme weather events, and the decision-making process behind the NWS warning system.


NOAA's Marine Debris Program has a new Education Newsletter!

marine debris

This quarterly publication pulls together resources, projects, events, and activities from across NOAA related to marine debris - as well as highlighting national and regional efforts dedicated to keeping the sea free of debris through education and action! Each newsletter features student opportunities, educational materials, and a fun craft using repurposed or upcycled items. Subscribe today and stay updated on all things marine debris education! Here are a few items from the last edition:

Hurricane Debris Prevention and Preparedness in Puerto Rico: A Girls in Sciences Project

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Club Marina is a group of high school students interested in environmental science who are committed to protecting the environment. In an effort to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of marine debris, they’ve been hard at work creating videos about hurricanes and debris in Puerto Rico. In this series of Spanish videos, viewers have the opportunity to understand more about preventing marine debris, hurricane preparedness, and debris management.  Learn More >

Using Citizen Science to Understand Marine Debris

ocean clean up

Spring is here! As the temperatures increase and weather improves, many of us are drawn to the outdoors. But what if your trip to the beach could be more than just an enjoyable day? What if you could do scientific research at the same time? 

Learn more >


Pride in the Ocean Social Media Campaign

pride in the ocean

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is partnering with Pride Outside to share #PrideInTheOcean, a social media campaign to celebrate June as both Pride Month and Ocean Month. Our ocean is for everyone – no matter where you're from or who you love. You can participate by sending in an image of yourself in, on, or by the ocean with your pronouns and a short caption explaining why and how you take pride in the ocean. Throughout June, submitted images will be shared on Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Pride Outside social media.  You can read more about this effort and how to participate here.


Hurricane Season Is Here! Access NOAA Resources

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June 1 marked the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA's National Ocean Service provides a wide variety of emergency services in preparation for, response to, and recovery from hurricanes. Being aware of the power of these destructive forces, and the science behind them, can help you stay safe this hurricane season. NOAA research shows that tropical cyclone rainfall rates are likely to increase due to the effects of global warming. 

 NOAA’s Historical Hurricane Tracks is an online tool where you can search hurricane tracks by location, year, name, or category. Try it out: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/historical-hurricanes/ and stay safe this hurricane season.

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It's no surprise that summer weather hazards can escalate quickly!  Stay WeatherReady by visiting NOAA's summer safety website.

NOAA also has a collection of social media posts and graphics in Spanish to share with your community.


NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Announces Their New Wildlife Viewing Guidelines

Wildlife guidellnes

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is excited to announce the release of their new Responsible Wildlife Viewing guidelines in English and Spanish. These simple guides are designed to engage and educate everyone who spends time enjoying the coasts and coastal waters.

 


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In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Papahānaumokuākea

Webinar: Why We Need to Protect More of the Ocean  

June 15, 2021 at 6 pm EDT (1.5 hours)

ocean protection

Without the ocean, human life on Earth would be impossible. But increasing overexploitation and global warming are depleting ocean biodiversity and bringing the ocean to a tipping point, beyond which we may never recover. Register here.

The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources, and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. You can visit the archives of the webinar series to catch up on presentations you may have missed here.

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Salmon & Orcas Webinar: The Stories of Science with NOAA Fisheries

June 17, 2021 at 3pm EDT 

Salmon and Orcas

Seattle Times Journalist Lynda Mapes' new book ORCA: Shared Waters, Shared Home describes how NOAA Fisheries scientists seek to unravel connections between endangered Southern Resident killer whales, threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon, and the rest of the marine ecosystem. Scientists and news journalists will tell the stories of salmon survival and the native Northwest habitat our salmon and steelhead depend on -- and that we can all help restore.  Register here.

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Hydrographic Survey in Alaska on the NOAA Ship Fairweather

June 17, 2021 at 2pm EDT

Fairweather

The NOAA Ship Fairweather is a Hydrographic Survey platform whose mission is to provide modern bathymetric data for maritime safety. The Alaskan coastline has remained largely uncharted to modern bathymetric standards and a portion of the coastline hasn't been charted at all. In Prince William Sound the Fairweather focused her efforts on newly exposed areas due to significant glacial retreat. Special consideration was paid to areas around Barry Arm, a newly identified landslide area with dangerous tsunami potential. Register here.

See other NOAA Science Seminars and register to attend. Slides and recordings willl be available after the webinarr to those interested.

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A Leadership Journey: From Depths of the Ocean to the Sun's Surface

June 23, 2021 at 2pm EDT

Mr. Pica

Joseph Pica, Deputy Director of  NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), has had a career at NOAA that has spanned its full portfolio of science, service and stewardship from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun. Mr. Pica's journey is tied together by the themes of leadership and environmental information, with the former aimed at enhancing the value provided by the latter. As Mr. Pica discusses his experience, he will share examples of NOAA's valuable environmental information and how he grew his leadership capabilities that continue to be focused on the provision of NOAA's environmental information to serve the Nation. Register here.


Educator opportunities

Capital Hilll

Capitol Hill Ocean Week is June 8-10th!

Hear from people in communities across the country who are working to sustain the health of our ocean and Great Lakes. Learn from their perspectives on how to grow a more racially equitable and just ocean and Great Lakes conservation movement. Open to the public and free to attendees. Learn more and register>


Sustainable Communities Teacher Institute for CA Teachers

institute

Attention California teachers!  A free virtual institute  is being offered live June 21-25, 2021 from 9am–12pm online with afternoon time offered asynchronously. This institute will examine sustainable communities with a social, economic, and spatial justice, and ecological lens. 

The Institute will be followed by 2 additional meetings during the year, and end in a student environmental showcase. Teachers will be supported with resources and opportunities for engagement throughout the year. Join the California Global Education Project at California State University, Long Beach for Teaching for Sustainable Communities: Empowering Eco-literate Global Citizens.

$500 stipend for those who complete the entire program!

Register here!


For 6th-12th Grade Educators:

Climate Change & Water in the Southwest Workshops

climate change workshops

Dates and Topics:

  • June 21: Creating Meaningful Conver-
         sations  Around Climate Change
  • June 23: Using Data to understand
         Climate Change
  • June 28: Adapting to Climate Change
  • June 30: Earth Cycles

Engage your students in the latest science through hands-on activities about climate change! Whether you consider yourself a climate novice or expert, these workshops will help expand your climate change teaching. You will practice activities that engage students in experiments, games, and more! All of which are based on current USDA Climate research. Each workshop is focused on a different climate change theme; attend one or all. All activities covered in the workshops are NGSS aligned and freely available to educators at www.Asombro.org/climate.

All 4 workshops are 4:00-5:30 MST on Zoom and there is No cost to participants. Register by Sunday, June 20th, at https://asombro.org/teacher-workshops/.


ocean exploration workshop

 

NOAA Ocean Exploration Educator Professional Development Opportunity: Underwater Robots! 

22 June 2021, at 6:00 pm EDT (Registration closes June  14th!  Don't Delay!)

NOAA invites you to join Ocean Exploration for an online professional development event to learn more about underwater robots and how they are used in ocean exploration! This event is focused on grades 6-12, but all are welcome to attend. Participants will receive content, links to specific activities, and additional resources. The 90-minute event format will include:
  • A short introductory video interview with experts in the field of underwater robots;
  • A live 30-minute, interactive Q&A session with an underwater robot engineering expert, joining us directly from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer;
  • An introduction to relevant NOAA Ocean Exploration educational activities; and,
  • A guided tour of underwater robot educational resources available from several ocean exploration partners.

Webinars for Environmental Educators

Place-based learningg

Communities Grow Greener When Young People Have a
Voice | June 22, 3:00 PM ET


This webinar walks you through key steps in involving young people in local investigations and civic action to improve their communities, including building sustained relationships with community partners. Register here.

Demonstrating the Power of Environmental Education (EE) | July 7, 3:00 PM ET

Learn how to use the data from eeWORKS to back up the feel-good EE stories you hear about to support your work. You will hear from researchers and learn about communications tools you can use to help you structure and evaluate programs, provide professional development, apply for funding opportunities, make the case for EE to policymakers, and more. Register here.


Try National Geographic's Online Professional Development Courses for Educators.  

climate

Want to take a deeper dive into innovative instructional strategies? Try an online course with a cohort of peers. Empower your learners to make sense of our interconnected world by integrating geographic thinking skills and resources into your instruction in a National Geographic short course! Check out their courses here and sign up today! New courses begin June 23rd!

 


Oregon Natural Resources Education Program (ONREP) Professional Development Opportunities

osu

Join ONEP for two offerings this summer in their Professional Early Learner Series:

  • Fostering Natural Curiosity with Growing Up WILD 
         July 13 & 15, 2021 | Online

  • Fostering Natural Curiosity & Environmental Experiences July 20 & 22, 2021 | Online

Learn more & register>

Vsit the Oregon Coast website to learn more about the variety of webinars, workshops, and events being offered to engage and strengthen STEM/CTE education in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more here>


STEM In Nature Lesson Competition from ORISE

In recognition of National Great Outdoor Month, the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is hosting a lesson plan competition for teachers of any grade level or subject. To participate, submit a STEM lesson plan that incorporates the great outdoors. Three teachers will receive a mini-grant for their classroom. Visit the ORISE website for more information.

great outdoors

Climate Generation's Window into COP26: Interested in Attending?

Would you like to represent Climate Generation at the United Nations 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland in November of 2021? Climate Generation is accepting applications through the end of June from individuals working in education & engagement.

Open to all ages 18+, with priority selection of applicants in Midwest states and diverse backgrounds.

Fill out a preliminary application here. Invited applicants will be asked to submit full applications in June.


Student opportunities

alaska Live

From NOAA Live! Alaska:

  • Killer Whale Tales: Environmental Science through Storytelling, June 8 at 4 pm EDT

    Join Lynne Barre, NOAA's Recovery Coordinator for endangered killer whales, and Jeff Hogan, Executive Director of Killer Whale Tales, to learn about the Southern Resident population of killer whales, the challenges they face, and what you can do to be a steward for the whales and help conserve their habitat.

    Register here


noaa live


NOAA Live! goes to camp in July!

NOAA Science Camp will be providing virtual programming during the weeks of July 6-9 and July 12-16 for middle and high school students.

Register here and receive more information about the camp!

As always, you can find past webinar recordings on the NOAA Live! Alaska website and/or from the NOAA Live! website.

science camp

Also, do you want a FREE NOAA Live! Iron-On Patch? Order one on the NOAA Live! websiteFill out NOAA Patch Request Form

If you are a teacher with a specific classroom request, please e-mail Grace Simpkins at gsimpkins@whoi.edu to request a classroom set of patches!


whale shark


The National Museum of Natural History launches World Ocean Week Webinars in celebration of World Ocean Day

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is offering online live programs for families and all-age learners in honor of World Ocean Week and World Ocean Day. Offerings include:


Ed Resources

Wastewater Pollution Toolkit 

ocean water

The Wastewater Pollution Toolkit provides the latest science and strategies to help everyone understand wastewater threats. The resource summarizes the impacts of wastewater pollution to human and marine health; current management strategies and innovative solutions; and approaches to mitigate wastewater pollution through monitoring, management, and collaboration. 

The Wastewater Pollution Toolkit was developed by the Reef Resilience Network and The Nature Conservancy in consultation with expert advisors from across the globe .

Access the Toolkit


Connectivity Project Videos!

Connection flower logo

Connectivity Project is a compelling and inspiring short film series exploring the ripple effects of our actions in an interconnected world. With an accompanying study guide supporting these engaging films, a deep sense of awe, belonging, and responsibility are gained, both building community and inspiring informed choices and conscious action. This work is for middle school through college, as well as for community presentations with  congregations, environmental organizations or focus groups. Learn more at www.connectivityproject.com


Decoding Science: How does science really know what it knows?

science

 It can be complicated to explain how science works, how to use science to make decisions, and why knowledge changes, but some new resources can help. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has compiled a video, real-world science stories, and an interactive quiz to help your students understand how science works and why it’s important to their lives. Read more  at the Decoding Science website here and begin asking questions!


Fact-Checking in an Era of Fake News: A Template for a Lesson on Lateral Reading of Social Media Posts 

fake news graphic

Find out about a biology lesson that incorporates a new approach to teaching middle and high school students how to fact-check online information, then adopt something similar into your classroom! The lesson focuses on social media posts about genetic engineering (GE) of plants, but this promising approach to digital literacy can be adopted for other scientific topics and internet information sources. Find it on NSTA's website here.

misconceptions

From PolarTREC: What's Your Proof?

PolarTrec

In this lesson, students use real data to evaluate the effect of climate change on Antarctic fish. Denise Hardoy created this lesson plan after joining Dr. Anne Todgham’s team studying Antarctic Fish Development Under Future Ocean Conditions in fall of 2019. Access it here.


Virtual Field Labs From the U.S. Ice Drilling Program

clues from past climate

The U.S. Ice Drilling Program and the National Science Foundation are producing a series of Virtual Field Labs (VFLs) for students in middle to college levels. The VFLs take students along with a climate scientist as they collect and analyze data to answer a different climate question Climate Clues from the Past,  Abrupt Climate Disruptions are available now and  Sea Level Rise is soon to be released. Learn more and access the VFLs here.


Fun New Online STEM Lessons for K-12 from Towson  University

Towson K-12 lessons

The Towson University Center for STEM Excellence has developed a series of free NGSS aligned online resources for teachers and students engaging in distance learning. Each lesson is contained in a Google Slides presentation, which can be assigned to students through a single link. Instructions for Teachers (PDF) provides logistics on how to access and assign the lessons. Lessons include:

  • Bird Migration and Climate Change
  • Freshwater, Saltwater
  • How Do Scientists Know Things?
  • Ocean Acidification and Oysters
  • And more!

Watch their Distance Learning Resources Webinar on YouTube for an overview of all of their resources. Check back regularly as they continue to provide new programming.


Climate Tech: A short course from Axios

renewable

Take a 5-minute mini-classes in the technologies helping us meet our sustainability goals – from well-known solutions like renewable energy to futuristic ways of scrubbing carbon out of the air. Axios’ experts dive into the technologies driving the news today, how they work, and where they stand in terms of research and deployment.

Access the mini-classes here.


Conference Reports

12 reports


12 reports on what the U.S. may make possible on climate

From the International Energy Agency's May report on reaching net zero by 2050 to The Economic Costs of Climate Change: by the Kearney Global Business Council 2021,  Yale Climate Connections has devoted May's bookshelf to new governmental and non-governmental reports that envision how, and why, the U.S. might rise to this occasion. Free downloads are available for all of the reports in this list. Some organizations require that readers first register with their site. Read more here >


Don't forget these upcoming conferences!


Grants

Grants, Scholarships, Awards, Internships 

waste
  • World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Food Waste Warrior program provides grants (and stipends), toolkits, and lesson plans to empower K–12 school teachers and administrators to engage their students and take action on the issue of food waste. Two types of grants are available this year: mini-grants for schools, school districts, or nonprofits; and large grants for school districts, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations. All schools are welcome and eligible to apply. (Deadline July 20.) More information about the food waste educator toolkits can be found here.
  • Marine Conservation Internship: Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is seeking applicants for Fall 2021. This program will start on August 23 and end on December 17. The application deadline is July 5 2021. Visit www.REEF.org/internship for complete information on how to apply.
  • 2021 Nature in Neighborhoods Community Stewardship and Restoration Grants Program, Portland, Oregon:  If you want to restore and care for nature in your community in the Portland Oregon area apply for this grant!  A Metro Nature in Neighborhoods community stewardship and restoration grant can help get your idea off the ground. Projects can be completed in one, two or three years. Groups throughout greater Portland are encouraged to apply. Application deadline: June 22. Learn more & apply>

  • Call for Nominations for the Marine Debris Foundation Board of Directors: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking candidates to serve on the Board of Directors of the new Marine Debris Foundation. Candidates should represent diverse backgrounds and points of view, and have experience in marine debris, fundraising, or other non-profit work. Recruitment for Board of Director positions is open until June 30, 2021.

    Seeking nominees with one or more of the following areas of expertise: removal; assessment; circular economy; reduction; resource conservation; prevention; and foreign policy

    On December 18, 2020, the passage of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act established the Marine Debris Foundation as a charitable and nonprofit organization. The Foundation will encourage, accept, and administer private gifts to conduct activities that augment the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant agencies’ efforts to address marine debris

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