Opportunity for California K–8 Teachers
Test engaging, student-centered, and solutions-oriented K–12 climate change and environmental justice instructional resources in your classroom
Be a cutting-edge leader in your school site
Shape lessons that will reach students statewide
Earn a $750 stipend for completing the field test
Interested in participating? Complete the interest form or get more details below
What would I be testing in my classroom?
We are seeking dedicated educators to participate in a field test of Seeds to Solutions: innovative instructional resources on climate change and environmental justice. Each unit spotlights a phenomenon and is guided by student inquiry to understand and ultimately explore solutions to the phenomenon. Units are interdisciplinary and support students to move toward grade-level science, social studies, English language arts, and other standards.
| Grade | Topic | Unit Driving Question |
|---|---|---|
| K | Observing Our World | How can we understand the world around us? |
| 1 | Food Waste | How does the food we throw away impact our community and how can we throw away less food? |
| 2 | Open Space | How does open space help people, pollinators, plants, and animals? |
| 3 | Rising Temperatures | As California gets hotter, how do we keep our communities safe? |
| 4 | Electric Energy | What is the relationship between climate change and reliable, clean electricity, and how can our community become more energy resilient? |
| 5 | Fire and Forest Management | How can Californians use fire responsibly to care for our forests? |
| 6 | Food Systems | How does a changing climate impact our food and what can we do about it? |
| 7 | Land Subsidence and Groundwater | Why is the Central Valley sinking and what can we do about it? |
| 8 | Air Quality | What is causing unhealthy air quality in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and what can be done about it? |
| 9-10: Life Science | Water Restrictions and Ecosystems | How can we manage water in California communities and ecosystems in a changing climate? |
| 9-10: Physical Science | Consumer Products and GHG Emissions | What impact do consumer products have on global greenhouse gas emissions? |
| 11-12: Intro to Environmental Justice | Environmental Justice | Why does environmental injustice persist, and what can we do about it? |
| 11-12: Environmental Justice Case Studies | Environmental Justice | How does bringing together many different types of evidence make an effective case for environmental justice? |
What is involved in participating in the field test?
- Work with us to get permission from your district and site administrators
- Teach a grade-level unit in Fall 2024 (8-10 hours of classroom instruction)
- Attend a 90-minute training session to guide lesson implementation
- Complete surveys after lessons
- Collect anonymized student work samples
- Receive a $750 stipend for time spent outside of in-classroom teaching time
I’m interested! How can I learn more?
Please complete the interest form and we will contact you about participation. Completing the interest form does not obligate you to participate. Questions? Contact Roni Jones at rjones@tenstrands.org
About Seeds to Solutions™
Seeds to Solutions is a set of free, open-education instructional materials on climate change and environmental justice in California for grades K–12. The materials are designed to support teachers and empower students to be environmentally literate, engaged community members. They are being developed by the Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program, a partnership between Ten Strands, the San Mateo County Office of Education, and many community-based educational groups. Learn more about the project.