Understanding Climate Change: Grades 7-12


The release of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) book, Understanding Climate Change: Grades 7-12, could not be timelier. As youth across the globe march for climate action, it is the responsibility of the teachers and other engaged adults to make the science behind cli- mate change accessible. This is ex- actly where this book, written by Laura Tuck- er and Lois Sherwood, shines. This


well-researched, easy-to-understand teacher’s guide will not disappoint as it contains background information, step by-step- preparation, and thought- fully-scaffolded lesson sequences for teachers as well as nine engaging hands-on activities for students that will not only support and build their knowledge on climate change, but also empower them to learn how they can change the future. If you are a Grade 7–12 educator or an informal educator looking for interesting ways to teach about climate change, this resource is a must. Please note that the black- line masters for the activities are not included in the hard-copy, but can be accessed online through the links included in the book. — (KZ)


NSTApress, 2019; ISBN: 978-1-68140-632-9 (pb); 160pp; US/CAN $31.95 from nsta.org/ store/. Member price US/CDN $25.56.


Wind Energy STEM Road Map for Elementary School


This book is sure to blow 5th-grade teachers away! Prob- lem-based learning


takes center stage in this curriculum guide that calls for stu- dents to work


though contemporary world issues such as resource scarcity and allocation, non-renewable energy reliability, and economic challenges within the context


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of creating a wind farm to generate renewable energy. Students will work through the engineering and design process with the help of their teacher, who is provided with endless resources and hands-on activities for this 25-day curriculum deep dive into the value and necessity of renewable resources. Stu- dents will design sail boats, learn about the Earth’s spheres, work together to allocate resources, and complete the Wind Farm Challenge. — (JT)


NSTApress, 2019; ISBN: 978-1-68140-446-2 (pb); 220 pp.; US/CDN $29.95 from nsta.org/ store. Member price US/CDN $23.96.


Nurturing Nature and the Environment with Young Children


Bringing a valuable perspective to the nature education movement, this book is an important resource for all educators. It shares ideas and perspectives on sus- tainability,


environmental education, and commu- nity learning, while inviting educa- tors to reflect on and reimagine their pedagogy. It would behoove educators attempting to bring an environmental ethos into classroom learning experi- ences to embrace the richly-described living systems principles, which may provide a useful lens through which to view the classroom, the community, and the curriculum. — (RS)


Routledge, 2019; ISBN: 978-0-81535-929-6 (pb); 156pp.; US$49.95 from routledge.com.


Wilder than Wild


If you or your students are looking to learn more about wildfires, then this film should be on your watch list. In this one-hour-long documenta- ry, filmmaker Kevin White includes unforgettable footage of the California wildfires that ravaged the state between 2013 and 2017. The film covers a lot of ground — from honoring the work of wildfire fighters and emergency coordi- nators, to understanding the important role that prescribed burning played in the lives of indigenous Californians. White wrestles with the modern ap- proach to fire suppression and brings to light the idea that sometimes we make


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policies


without fully understand- ing how systems work. Ulti- mately, the film strives to convince viewers of the benefits of wildfires, and encour- ages people


to take more proactive approaches to forest management, including the use of prescribed burning. Included is dev- astating footage of wildfires and their impacts on homes, towns, and lives, which may be upsetting to younger viewers. This film could be shown to middle school or high school students to extend their knowledge on climate change and the impacts of human mod- ifications to the environment. — (KZ)


Filmmakers Collaborative SF, 2018 (DVD); 57 min; US $89.00 for the screening kit from wilderthanwildfilm.org.


Investigating Environmental Change STEM Road Map for Elementary School


Noting changes in nature can be tricky for young learners, but this STEM Road Map makes the subject attainable and hands-on. It broaches a wide range of topics — seasonal changes, plant and animal life cycles, and weather patterns — through charting activities and inter- active storytelling, dispelling common student mis- understand- ings. Despite its positives, the book is based on the assumption that a school has a green space or


outdoor area available for making scientific ob-


servations and for designing an outdoor classroom to allow learners to further their investigations. Educators with- out such an amenity may not find this guidebook as useful as those educators who do have access to a spacious out- door area. — (JT)


NSTApress, 2019; ISBN: 978-1-68140-534-6 (pb); 163 pp.; US $29.95 from nsta.org/store


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