Dates: Tuesday, November 18th; Thursday, November 20th; Friday, November 21st
Times: 1 - 2 p.m. (EST)
Grades: 7-8, 9-12
Themes: Environment & Climate Change
Cost (per videoconference): $200
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In recognition of the climate challenges facing the entire planet, Global Nomads
Group will bring students together from around North America and other parts
of the world during International Education Week to discuss “going green.”
Students will talk about the environmental crises that are permanently altering
the face of Mother Earth and speak face-to-face with representatives from the
United Nations Environment Programme.
Throughout “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” young people will
share their ideas for taking action and helping to ensure the sustainability
of the planet. More specifically, youth will be able to explore these issues
through questions and answers of a leader at the United Nations Development
Programme. What’s more, young people will learn from each other what is
being done to take care of Mother Earth in a perilous phase of climate change.
As a result of this conference, students will be armed with new information
about how to make their home and school environments “greener.”
For more information, visit International Education Week.
Background:
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE - It's Not Easy Being 'Green'
"An overwhelming body of scientific evidence paints a clear picture: climate change is happening, it is caused in large part by human activity, and it will have many serious and potentially damaging effects in the decades ahead. Scientists have confirmed that the earth is warming, and that greenhouse gas emissions from cars, power plants and other man made sources - rather than natural variations in climate - are the primary cause. Due largely to the combustion of fossil fuels, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, are at a level unequaled for more than 400,000 years. As a result, an enhanced greenhouse effect is trapping more of the sun's heat near the earth's surface and gradually pushing the planet's climate system into uncharted territory." (PewClimate.org)
Dates, Topics, and Sessions:
Tuesday, November 18th:
How many 'Carbs'?!?! Measuring our Carbon Footprint
How can we be more responsible about the lasting impact we make on this Earth? In this session, students will learn about the potential causes and consequences of climate change and how it affects their daily lives. Students will also explore their contribution to the crisis through identifying their own carbon footprint. Naturalist Joel Robinson will be speaking to us and the journey he has been on in order to maintain a low carbon impact, despite active resistance to his truly organic way of life.
Available Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
Thursday, November 20th:
Global Climate Change - It's Getting Hot in Here!
How do issues of climate change affect the way countries interact with one another? In this session, students will discuss the environmental hazards of climate change and how these dangers affect the way countries interact with one another as well as what countries are doing to respond to this grave issue. Students will be speaking with a UN or government official.
Available Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST
Friday, November 21st:
Mean, Green, Fighting Machine - Virtual, Global, Environmental Youth Summit
Throughout the course of this week, we've looked at the bigger picture of climate change as well as our individual day-to-day actions that have had both positive and negative environmental consequences. We've also explored case studies of individuals and communities that have attempted to 'go green,' despite the odds.
In this exciting culminating session - in honor of International Education Week (a partnership of the U.S. Departments of Education and State) - students will discuss various ways they can get involved in combating climate change through a virtual, global, environmental youth summit. Young people worldwide will have the opportunity to discuss how they might become effective environmental agents of change with environmental experts and activists, as well as with each other.
Available Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM EST
The Global Climate Change program is aligned with these national standards:
Geography Standards
Human Systems
- Standard 9: The characteristics, distribution, and migration
of human populations on Earth’s surface.
- Standard 10: The characteristics, distributions, and complexity
of Earth’s cultural mosaics.
- Standard 11: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence
on Earth’s surface.
- Standard 13: How forces of cooperation and conflict among
people influence the division and control of Earth’s surface.
Environment and Society
- Standard 14: How human actions modify the physical environment.
- Standard 15: How physical systems affect human systems.
- Standard 16: The changes that occur in the meaning, use,
distribution, and importance of resources.
National Science Content Standards
Content Standard F: As a result of activities in grades 9-12,
all students should develop an understanding of:
- Personal and community health
- Population growth
- Natural resources
- Environmental quality
- Natural and human-induced hazards
- Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
What to expect from The PULSE
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