Rainforest Alliance’s hands-on lessons to help students think critically about global ecosystems and sustainability while addressing the Common Core State Standards (English language arts and math) and NGSS.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Phenology Leader in your community! Join us for a discussion of the Nature’s Notebook Local Phenology Leader Certification Program, bringing educators together with new audiences, natural resource managers, practitioners, and other leaders across the US who are teaching about climate change through citizen science.

Exciting ecological research happening across the Americas provides meaningful resources for learners to more fully understand their local environment in relevant ways. Utilizing the Long Term Ecological Research Program’s network resources, and the Next Generation Science Standards EQuIP rubric, we will demonstrate the effectiveness of ecological phenomena to naturally provoke higher-level thinking.

Come explore a resource-linked climate change concept map to learn more about causes, impacts, and solutions. Navigate to your areas of inquiry: vetted K–16 activities, effective instructional methods, science and engineering practices. Consider how a weather/climate strand map can support your work. Advise further development. Receive links to both maps!

This session will apply several proven methodologies in promoting children’s construction of knowledge about nature. In-depth discussions will focus on experiential learning strategies, internal motivations that further children’s inquiries, role of language and problem solving skills, and metacognitive skills development.