Climate Justice Professional Development
Teaching Climate Justice: Inquiry to Action
For currently practicing CPS K – 12th grade educators and support staff
This professional development was designed by CTU Climate Justice Committee members Ayesha Qazi-Lampert, Charles Stark, Nicholas Limbeck, and Quest Center for Professional Learning and Teacher Leadership staff.
Course Description
In this course, educators will collaborate to learn ways they can teach the topic of climate change through student inquiry projects that connect to issues of racial justice, climate solutions, and civic action. All live online sessions and asynchronous activities focus on educators learning to engage students in climate change for all content and grade levels. Participants will learn strategies to develop and facilitate inquiry projects that lead students to research the impacts of climate change to create civic action by students toward the goal of mitigating climate change. This offering addresses the CPS Framework for Teaching Components: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 3a, and 3c.
Course Objectives
Participants will learn how to:
- Engage students on climate change at many grade levels in a way that fosters student empowerment, hope, and advocacy.
- Adapt and integrate climate change curriculum with other subjects.
- Connect climate justice education to racial justice and their students’ personal experiences.
- Facilitate inquiry projects that lead students to research the impacts of climate change and the local actions schools and communities can take.
- Coordinate meaningful civic action by students toward the goal of mitigating climate change.
Session 1 Module
Main Topics Addressed:
- Teaching the Science of Climate Change and adapting it to your multiple classroom settings
- Understanding Environmental and Climate Justice
Session 2 Module
Main Topics Addressed:
- Drawing Out Connections: Climate Change and the Economy; Climate Change and Local Impacts
- Connecting Climate justice Education to Local Community Organizing
Session 3 Module
Main Topics Addressed:
- Inquiry to Action: How to plan and execute impactful student-led civic action for climate justice.
