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Educator Resources & Curriculum

Two people tabling for the library in support of climate action studies.

Educator Resources 

A portion of SCCYCI's funding is utilized for building and collating climate literacy resources with partners including the Santa Clara County Office of Education and Fremont Union High School District. The resources, which can be integrated into multiple subjects and grade levels, include: Curriculum Field-Based Experiences Classroom-Based Experiences with Community Partners.

Educator Opportunities and Resources

Website page for Acterra's Introduction to Climate Change Curriculum

Acterra’s You(th) Be the Change Program (YBtC) provides educators with free climate change curriculum (available in English and Spanish), in-class experiences, and field trips for middle school students to learn about climate science and solutions both globally and locally — and take action! This program has support from Applied Materials, Santa Clara Open Space Valley Authority, and Santa Clara County.

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With a new law requiring the California course of study for grades 1-12 to emphasize the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to its effects, there’s an urgent need for quality educational resources. Our curriculum for middle schools is ideally positioned to meet these requirements. Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the curriculum ensures high-quality, relevant content that engages students deeply with scientific inquiry and engineering design. The curriculum is available in English and Spanish).

 

The programming and enrichment enable students to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of climate change science and its impacts around them.

  • Consider complex human-ecological systems and tradeoffs made when designing solutions.

  • Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret scientific data.

  • Demonstrate written, visual, and oral presentation skills to communicate scientific knowledge.

  • Apply techniques and tools to solve problems in their community.

  • Form students’ green teams.

Funding Opportunities

Silicon Valley Clean Energy logo

With the Student Sponsorships, Silicon Valley Clean Energy is providing funding to elementary, middle, high school and community college student-led projects that support our communities’ goal of fighting climate change by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

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Projects supported by the Student Sponsorships address the SVCE mission to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand education and outreach. Projects can range from art installations and student-led events to videos, journalism projects, student competitions, robotics and more. Previous projects included a podcast, art competition, short film, leadership training, climate education for youth, building a prototype electric vehicle and more!

 

Project Funding:

  • Grant funding can be used for resources materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, technology and other SVCE approved costs

  • Up to $10,000 for project funding

  • Teams must submit all receipts and accounting of money spent from the SVCE funding

 

Students attending schools in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and unincorporated Santa Clara County communities are eligible to apply. We are now accepting applications for the 2025 application cycle.

 

Applications will be open until January 31, 2025. Please email ashlie.pak@svcleanenergy.org for any questions.​

Outdoor Education

NEW!! AB285 Guidance for Teachers

EJ Grassroots homepage.JPG

Environmental Justice Curriculum Developed by Youth

Logo for EJ Grassroots

Student Created Lesson Plans 

Lesson plan demonstrates using Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass as an example of sustainable literature and provides questions for discussion and personal reflection. 

Three-week lesson plan that includes discussion on environmental-based literature, a multimedia project, and analysis on an environmental film. 

Word document breakdown of the lesson plan from the PowerPoint above. 

A two-semester lesson plan covering a span of American literature, including Silent SpringThe Sixth Extinction, Braiding Sweetgrass, and essays on climate justice and activism. 

Student letter outlining the purpose, goals, and focus of the American Literature Lesson Plan.

A one-to-two-week lesson plan where students analyze Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star, a novel that covers themes of identity, cultural diversity, and immigration. Originally created for an 11th grade class. 

This lesson focuses on Falter by Bill McKibben, a contemporary environmental novel that explores global warming, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering. Intended for an AP Literature course. 

Intended for 10th Grade World Literature, this three-day lesson introduces Greta Thunberg's The Climate Book, asking students to to evaluate their own understanding of climate change in their personal lives. 

A two-week lesson designed for a Voices of Modern Culture (VMC) course. Incorporates short stories and poems in climate literature, as well as an activity highlighting environmentalists. 

This four-week lesson plan engages students with the showing of two environmentalist films, Wall-E and Princess Mononoke. For each film, students will explore its themes and connect them to areas of sustainability and nature.  

* To learn more about about these high school lesson plans, please contact Andrew Goldenkranz

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