Focusing on Climate Change
July 2008
On a recent weekend in June, teachers from across Illinois gathered at the University of Chicago to talk about climate change.
The three-day Summer Teacher Institute on Climate Change was presented by the Center for International Studies in conjunction with five area studies centers at the University. Educators participated in workshops and heard from experts on a variety of topics related to climate change, with the ultimate goal of providing resources for the development of new climate change curricula to be used with a wide range of grade levels.
“Climate change is an issue affecting people in every country around the world,” noted Jamie Bender, outreach coordinator at the Center for International Studies. “In order for the next generation to make effective political decisions and changes in lifestyle, they need education now—in the classroom—about how climate change is affecting resources, the economy, policy, and national security. Hearing from experts about the gravity of this issue gave educators the tools to address this topic more effectively in the classroom.”
Institute participants examined the issue of climate change through three overall themes: global warming and its effects on the biological and physical environment, economic and social issues, and policy and national security. Additional topics included carbon sequestration; water access and use; and the future roles of China, India, the Middle East, and the United States in curbing carbon emissions.
The participants ranged from elementary and high school teachers to college professors and represented a wide variety of academic disciplines. The institute’s interdisciplinary nature encouraged teachers to incorporate climate change lessons into a range of subjects.
Sarah Arehart, outreach coordinator for the Center for East Asian Studies, expressed the hope that institute participants will use the experience to inspire their students to take real action on climate change. “The younger the students are when they learn these lessons, the more likely they are to become thoughtful, environmentally focused adults,” she said.
For more information about the Summer Teacher Institute on Climate Change, including slide shows and additional materials, please see the event’s website.
