Integrating Geographic Information Science into a K-12 Curriculum on Climate Change

University Of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse WI

Investigators

Abstract

This project brings together University of Wisconsin-La Crosse geography/earth science and education professors and master teachers from the School District of La Crosse to collaborate and create cross-curricular climate change instructional modules. Instead of adding on to an already overfull curriculum, the newly created instructional modules take advantage of connections between climate change and traditional content included in life science, physical science, and Earth science courses. They incorporate hands-on, inquiry-based lessons, career connections, real-world data from regional and global datasets, spatial analysis, and geographical information systems (GIS) applications. The instructional modules will also be pilot tested in the classrooms of master teachers. After the pilot testing and revision, the modules will be disseminated through summer workshops. Additionally, this project will advance knowledge of how to improve geoscience education by characterizing the teaching of climate change in grades 6-12 in Wisconsin and exploring teacher and student understanding of climate change science.