July & August In Review
Integrating Climate Literacy into Your Classroom – On July 19, 2023, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) co-hosted two in-person sessions at AIB for th 2023 Smithsonian National Educational Summit under the “Life on a Sustainable Planet” conference stand. To begin, Dr. Carol O’Donnell moderated a Deep Dive panel focused on Addressing Climate Literacy in L-12 Schools, featuring panelists Dr. Carla Easter (NMNH), Fank Niepold (NOAA), and Maya Garcia (Beyond100k), This was followed by a workshop organized by Katherine Blanchard (SSEC) Jennifer Collins (NMNH) and Haley Crimm (NOAA). This interactive session “Integrating Climate Literacy into Your Classroom” saw 35 in-person attendees discussing, brainstorming, and learning about climate literacy and personal and collective action. Ultimately, participants’ feedback will be integrated into revisions for the inter-agency Climate Literacy Principles and Climate Literacy Guide, which will be released by NOAA under the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program (USGCRP), of which Dr. Kirk Johnson is the Smithsonian Principal, in December 2023.
Serving K-12 Schools: Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC)
Dr. Carol O’Donnell delivered a keynote address to Pittsburgh Public School teachers at Allegheny Tradition Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. The speech addressed integrating equity and inclusion in K-12 STEM phenomenon- and problem-driven 3-Dimensional learning programs aligned with the newly adopted Pennsylvania State Science Standards, called STEELS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy, and Sustainability). She used environmental science exemplars from the Smithsonian Science for the Classroom K-5 and Smithsonian Science and Technology Concepts for Middle Schools curriculum. There were 147 K-12 teachers present.
Serving K-12 Schools: Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) Dr. Carol O’Donnell led an instructional seminar with teachers from the Male Life STEAM Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. The training also focused on the STEELS Pennsylvania State Science Standards and was given to approximately 40 STEAM Educators.
