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Science in the News: Lesson Ideas

Seth Berg and Pascale Creek Pinner, Smithsonian Teacher Ambassadors and State Teachers of the Year, share lesson ideas and tips for bringing Climate Change into the classroom.

Pascale and Seth In this audio podcast, two Smithsonian Teacher Ambassadors converse about bringing current science topics -- like Climate Change -- into the classroom.

Pascale Creek Pinner is 2008 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year and an eighth grade Earth/space science teacher at Hilo Intermediate School in Hilo, Hawaii. Seth Berg is the 2008 Colorado Teacher of the Year and is a Math/Science teacher at Telluride High School in Telluride, Colorado.

In their podcast Pascale and Seth discuss:

the Teaching for Understanding approach
their "Science in the News" lesson activity
evidence they and their students see of climate change in their own neigborhoods
tying in breaking science news into the curriculum at a moment's notice; and
how they keep up with their own professional development as teachers

[podcast]http://www.learningtimes.net/siconference/climate/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lessonplan-001.mp3[/podcast]

Running time: 22 min.

Note: June Teisan, 2008 Michigan Teacher of the Year and Smithsonian Teacher Ambassador (not featured in the podcast), was the third contributor to these materials.

About the Conference

Explore Smithsonian research and collections related to the evidence, impact, and response to climate change. Alongside Smithsonian scientists and curators, you’ll look at the issues surrounding climate change from the perspectives of science, history, and art.