Summer Institute

This SEED Summer Institute has the following grant-funded objectives. Participants will:

1. Create a Climate Literacy Framework based on our Tulare County Climate Action Plan, NOAA’s Essential Principles of Climate Literacy, California’s Next Generation Science Standards, and the requirements of AB285 (2023) to teach climate change in grades 1-12. This framework will outline what concepts and skills students should be taught at each grade level and which outdoor education experiences and lessons students. 

2. Support K-12 teachers in implementing AB 285, which requires K-12 students to learn about the “causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change.” The bill requires that this material be offered no later than the 2024–25 school year.

3. Create age-appropriate, trauma-informed, standards-aligned learning sequences and high quality lessons that help students understand climate change in the local context by expanding on outdoor education experiences with community-based partners.

4. Begin a plan to ensure that every Tulare County student has access to regular outdoor education experiences during and outside of the school day, including Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). 

5. Build the SEED Network of community based partners, K-12 educators and leaders to support environmental education in Tulare County by coordinating opportunities and resources.

Tulare County Office of Education

We grounded ourselves in foundational documents, including the Tulare County Climate Action Plan, California’s curriculum frameworks and standards, California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts, and NOAA’s updated Principles of Climate Literacy. Here are some highlights from Day 1:

• Climate Change Data: Slow Reveal Graphs (Activity)

• Principles of Climate Change: CA Environmental Principles & Concepts (PDF)

  • SEED Climate Literacy Principles Note Catcher (Doc)

• Climate Literacy Concepts in the Next Generation Science Standards (Doc)

• Tulare County Climate Action Plan Overview: Policy Summary (Doc)

• Tulare County Environmental Education Survey: Results & Analysis (Doc)

• Modeling Climate Change Systems: "Fresk" (Activity)

Tulare County Office of Education

Teachers and partners at each grade band worked together to refine learning experiences for students, including pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip lessons. Here are some highlights from Day 3:

• SEED Climate Literacy Framework Draft (Sheet)

• Climate Emotions & Eco Anxiety: Climate Emotions Wheel (Activity)

• NGSS Science & Engineering Practice Modeling: Tulare County Climate Change Models (Slide 170)

• SEED Field Trip Sites (Padlet)

• Instructional Activities (Slide 189)

Tulare County Office of Education with California Educators Together

We worked with experts to refine our climate change field trip lesson plans so they incorporate Universal Design for Learning Guidelines and help students meet California English Language Development Standards.

Tulare County Office of Education with California Educators Together

We worked with experts to refine our climate change field trip lesson plans so they incorporate Universal Design for Learning Guidelines and help students meet California English Language Development Standards.