A Role for Environmental Education in Climate Change for Secondary Science Educators

Abstract

A survey of secondary science teachers in the SE United States (n = 746) suggests that teachers are interested in and willing to teach about climate change despite the challenges with associated with state standards and opposing perspectives. Many recognize this as an opportunity to teach students about the nature of science, as well as engaging them in data analysis, systems thinking and critical thinking skills. Since many of the existing lesson plans focus on earth science, opportunities exist to make climate change locally relevant by incorporating local ecosystem impacts and policy questions into teaching activities.