On August 7th, science educators from the Puget Sound region gathered for a two-day Localizing Amplify Science Teacher Institute at IslandWood’s Bainbridge Island campus.
Partner stories
These stories are a collection of educator professional learning experiences and opportunities provided by ESD, CBO and Tribal School partners.
Olympic ESD 114
The Olympic ESD 114 ClimeTime work is focused on increasing understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards while building a vision of science instruction consistent with the Framework for K-12 Science Education. Olympic ESD serves teachers in rural and remote areas on the Olympic Peninsula working to ensure equity and access to high quality professional learning opportunities in typically underserved communities.
Washington State Team Attends OpenSciEd Facilitator Academy to Launch Elementary Field Test
A team of 12 Washington state educators—OSPI, Regional Science Coordinators, and teacher leaders—attended the OpenSciEd Elementary Facilitator Academy in Denver, CO, June 19-24 with support from the Climetime project and Williams Foundation. This week-long immersion...
Schoolyard Science Storyline for 3-5 Teachers: What Makes a Weed a Weed?
This Spring, teachers used a simple clump of dandelions to anchor a Next Generation Science Standards-aligned storyline that motivated their students to go outside and engage with outdoor science observations and investigations. They questioned their own conceptions...
IslandWood Seasonal Change in the Schoolyard Course for PreK-2 Teachers
PreK-2 Teachers came together in the Fall to explore how plants, animals and people interact with seasonal patterns and consider the impact of climate change. They learned to incorporate schoolyards and communities into their classroom learning and reflected on how...
Community-Centered Climate Change with Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center
During this two-month course, teachers learned about the impacts of climate change on snowpack in the Snohomish Valley, specifically the impact that Snohomish River flooding continues to have on nearby human and nonhuman communities. This is the second year IslandWood...
In Washington, Students Learn About Climate Change Like Nowhere Else
Food justice classes and mock G7 summits are on the curriculum in the first US state to fund “climate change education” in public schools. In science teacher Ali Coker’s sophomore biology class, students became farming activists attending a G7 summit. Coker wove in...
Making Climate Change Accessible and Engaging
Teaching climate change to younger students can be challenging due to its complexity. In response to this challenge, Aubrei McGinn Pallini, a kindergarten teacher at Cathcart Elementary in south Snohomish County, sought assistance to integrate science and climate...
Rural Students Bring Climate Conversations into the Community
When Celia Cummings started teaching Waterville High School’s first environmental science class, she discovered that many of her students came from families that doubt the science of climate change. Celia was enrolled in a climate justice focused professional...
Coexisting with Carnivores- Olympic Peninsula
The Coexisting with Carnivores Pilot Project (CWC) launched with three participating middle schools on the Olympic Peninsula on February 3, 2023. CWC Olympic Peninsula is a partnership between Olympic Educational Service District 114, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe...