August 28, 2024 Keep Up with NOAA Planet Stewards: Access our archive collections: past webinars, book club selections, and the newsletter! Did a colleague or friend share this copy of The Watch with you? Thank them, then sign up to receive it. See the sign-up link above!  |
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 Join us every month as we explore a wonderful series of thought provoking page turners. We've got a great selection of environmental justice, fiction, nonfiction, and even some cli-fi! You can find all our meeting selections, dates, times, and log in information on our upcoming events page. All are Welcome! Our first meeting will be at 7:00 pm ET on September 10, 2024. We'll discuss the film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, a drama written, directed by and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is based on the memoir of the same name by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and modern science was a mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But William had read about windmills, and he dreamed of building one that would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. His neighbors called him misala—crazy—but William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks; some scrap metal, tractor parts, and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him. |  NOAA Planet Stewards educators are a great source of inspiration through the stewardship education and activities they carry out in their schools and communities. Congratulations John Herrington!, a teacher at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School, and adjunct instructor for SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. He is a 2024 recipient of a Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators from the The White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. EPA. This award recognizes outstanding K-12 grade teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the environment as a context for learning for their students. John was recognized for transforming his school's central courtyard into an outdoor classroom with native foliage. He also engages members of the nearby Onondaga Nation to visit his class and teach about species restoration using Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and the correlation between land use patterns and socioeconomic status. Through a collaboration with the Onondaga Environmental Institute, John worked on a community-based watershed restoration project, which included tree planting to mitigate future flow and improve water quality. Read about the work John and his students have done, explore the stewardship other educators have spearheaded, and find out how you can get funding for your project! Are you a NOAA Planet Stewards Educator and received accolades for your work? Let us know and share the good news with our community! | Do you have an item you'd like to share in future issues of The Watch? Complete this form to recommend your submission. | Finding Careers at NOAA NOAA's Office of Education has released a new career development website on how to find a career at NOAA. The site covers both federal and contractor employment pathways into joining NOAA..  The Planet NOAA Podcast: Class is in Session! Our planet is a living classroom! Assistant. Secretary Jainey Bavishi and NOAA Education experts discuss how to build climate adaptation & resilience for AND WITH young people. Listen now! | High Tide Flooding  Rising waters can spell trouble for coastal areas. The impacts of high tide flooding can range from longer commute times to business closures and construction delays. NOAA plays a vital role in helping communities prepare for and respond to flooding threats. This podcast episode on high tide flooding features a panel of oceanographers from NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services.  Not all ocean reefs in the ocean occur naturally. Artificial reefs are human-made structures that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but like naturally occurring reefs, they provide food and habitat for a variety of sea creatures. In this podcast episode on artificial reefs, we learn about what they are, the benefits they provide, and how the first study was conducted to calculate how much of the seafloor is covered by them. August 28, 2024 | 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. ET Carbon Sequestration and Storage in Puerto Rico Mangroves Climate Conversations: The Future of Sports Thursday, August 29, 2024 | 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. ET Join The National Academies for a discussion of how climate change is threatening sports. Changing conditions are making some environments inhospitable to training and competition, with some sports at risk of disappearing altogether in affected regions. Meanwhile, unpredictable and extreme weather events pose risks to youth, collegiate and elite athlete performance and health, such as heat-related illnesses and air pollution from wildfires. Sports organizations, athletes, and communities will have to adapt to new realities. Explore the climate risks sports are facing, the health and equity challenges that climate change poses for athletes and communities, and measures that can be taken to protect the future of sports. Become a Long Island Sound School! Applications Due: September 30, 2024  With funding from the EPA, and facilitated by Connecticut Sea Grant and Mercy University, the Become a Long Island Sound School program supports schools that implement a school or community-based project and create a plan to increase ocean literacy by engaging students, families, and the public. All K-12 schools in the Long Island Sound watershed in New York and Connecticut are eligible, from inland areas with waterways that flow into the estuary to shoreline communities. Program funding provides stipends for lead teachers at each school and up to $5,000 per school to implement projects. Schools will also have access to a network of educators, connections with scientists, community organizations and stewardship sites, and possible travel funds for conference presentations. Many resources are available to help you prepare your application, and then submit it through the application form. | Call for Reviewers: My NASA Data  Audience: U.S. educators of grades 3-12
Application Deadline: Friday, August 30, 2024
Contact: barbie.buckner@nasa.gov Are you a teacher who is interested in using My NASA Data in your classroom? Are you looking to make an impact in Earth science education? Consider joining the My NASA Data Product Review Team and/or the Data Visualization User Working Group for the 2024-25 school year. Volunteers on the Product Review Team will review lessons and provide feedback about hands-on experience and resources. Data Visualization User Working Group volunteers will provide feedback on the newly modified My NASA Data Earth System Data Explorer, our data visualization tool for use in lesson planning or with students. | NASA's Climate Change Research Initiative  | | Audience: Graduate students and full-time STEM educators of grades 9-12
Application Deadline: Friday, August 30, 2024
Contact: matthew.d.pearce@nasa.gov NASA's Climate Change Research Initiative seeks applicants for a yearlong STEM engagement opportunity for educators and graduate students to contribute to NASA's work in exploration and discovery related to the science and study of climate change. Participants will work directly with NASA scientists to lead research teams, provide community STEM engagement events related to their projects, and develop research papers, scientific posters, presentations, and curriculum. Stipends will be provided. | Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA: Educator Workshops  Throughout fall 2024 Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA workshops are being hosted by OER for educators grades 6-12. The workshops are scheduled at 10 Education Alliance Partner sites this fall. Note: all registration pages for fall workshops will be live in the next week or two. |  True Blue Fellowship Submission deadline: September 1, 2024 Audience: Individuals, classes, groups, or clubs worldwide, ages 13-24  Bow Seat is thrilled to announce a call for applications for the True Blue Fellowship, previously the Fellowship Grant Program. The Fellowship offers peer-mentorship, capacity building, and funding of up to $2,500 USD to youth who are developing projects that address ocean, waterways, and/or climate issues through a creative arts lens. One of the biggest changes from the Fellowship Grant Program is that the creative arts must serve as the primary method of awareness and/or action in the project. | The 2025 Slingshot Challenge is now open for submissions! Application Deadline: February 7,2025 The National Geographic Society, with support from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, is asking 13-18 year-olds to join the Slingshot Challenge and submit a 1-minute video describing their idea for solving environmental issues. By joining the Slingshot Challenge you'll receive educator resources, opportunities to meet with National Geographic Explorers, and regular updates to help your students submit their one-minute video. Participating in the challenge is simple: - Learn more about the Slingshot Challenge — View the challenge resources, download the educator toolkit and learn about past award recipients.
- Register on the Videos for Change platform — You'll receive invites to events and be able to follow along with your students' submissions.
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NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) has released the Blue Carbon Education and Communication Toolkit. Blue carbon is the carbon captured and stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, such as tidal salt marshes, mangroves, and the deep ocean floor. Blue carbon ecosystems can help address climate change resulting from the global emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by removing and storing some of that atmospheric carbon dioxide for long timescales in sediments and deep water. Sanctuaries contain blue carbon ecosystems; by protecting and restoring these ecosystems they preserve and grow an important nature-based climate solution. This toolkit is designed for educators and communicators to use to teach others about blue carbon ecosystems. The toolkit includes: a Blue Carbon fact sheet, a Blue Carbon infographic, a Blue Carbon lesson plan, and links to Blue Carbon webinars and supplementary resources. Education Resources from NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) labs and programs Take a look at this list of educational resources from OAR laboratories and programs. These education websites, teacher materials, student resources, multimedia resources, and videos have been compiled by OAR all in one convenient place.  This season, your class will have the opportunity to learn from inventors, scientists, conservationists, storytellers, and more. Nat Geo is also welcoming back the popular Explorer Classroom Wildlife Series this fall, where your learners can join an interactive program to explore wildlife globally, while taking action locally! Explore upcoming episodes via the explorer classroom schedule and register your class today. All events are recommended for grades 3-8 (ages 8-14). | Protect our Oceans: Pristine Seas Collection  Dive into the Pristine Seas Collection to discover the wonders of our planet's marine ecosystems. This rich resource offers educators a variety of engaging materials, including educational videos, articles, and case studies. Plus, your students can participate in the interactive MapMaker Activity, bringing the importance of ocean conservation to life in the classroom. | Explore Black Birders Week with Black AF in STEM  Black Birders Week is an annual event that celebrates Black birders, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts. It highlighting their contributions to the natural world, and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the birding community. The theme of Black Birders Week 2024 was "Wings of Justice: Soaring for Change." This theme underscores the BAFiS Collective's commitment to bird conservation, environmental justice, and community care. Everyone is invited to join in celebrating Black birders, and advocating for more inclusive outdoor spaces." Black Birders Week 2024 featured a series of virtual and in-person events, including bird walks, educational content, talks, and community panel discussions. Participants had the opportunity to engage with Black leaders and experts in the birding community, learn about local bird conservation efforts, and explore the intersection of birding, Black communities, Black culture, and environmental justice. Check out the interviews, discussions, and virtual sessions on the BAFiS Youtube channel. | Find Sustainable Solutions with Arthur (K-2)  Encourage your early learners to explore how they can work together, talk through problems, and effect positive change with this fun children's cartoon episode from the hit PBS KIDS series, Arthur! Use the 11-minute animated story as part of a lesson on environmental science and as a way for your class to practice their civic skills, such as using empathy to work through disagreements, drawing on individual strengths, and putting ideas that matter into action. | Encourage Student Civic Engagement with the Climate and Our Planet Collection (6-12) Kick Off the New School Year with CLEAN's Most Popular Resources!  | | Back-to-School Focused Lesson Plans from CLEAN |  SciJourneys showcases the impact of women in science and STEM. In this three-lesson unit on "Building Resilience in Science", students will collaborate to enhance their science skills by creating questions, forming hypotheses, and planning investigations. Each lesson features innovative women in STEM and is supported by an engaging presentation, editable worksheets, and practical teacher tips. Streams of Data Earth Science Unit Streams of Data is a five-day lesson sequence that uses the phenomenon of flash flooding—namely, a specific flash flooding event that occurred in Ellicott City, Maryland—to engage fourth-grade students in learning science using real-world data. The materials give students opportunities to deepen their analytical skills as they work with data from a real-world event. Through the unit, students learn how to connect data with real-world events, consider the impact of data sources and limitations, and support arguments/conclusions with evidence. Teachers can access a lesson plan PDF of the unit, which outlines each day of the learning sequence. Supplementary materials support unit implementation, including links to data sources, information about creating data representations such as the hydrographs, the setup and use of stream tables, and more.  Ocean Odyssey Grants Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 The Ocean Odyssey Grants: Ocean Exploration Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility are live! This is the fourth year these grants have been offered by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMFS). The Ocean Odyssey Grants are investments in projects and partners that are leading efforts to increase inclusion in and/or access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and workforce development opportunities for diverse youth in middle school, high school, undergraduate, and/or community college to learn about ocean science and/or exploration. You can learn more about the grants on the Ocean Exploration website. Ocean Odyssey application packages are due by September 30, 2024. To learn more, register for the Ocean Odyssey Grant informational webinar to be held on September 5, 2024. Toshiba America Foundation Grants for Grades K–5 Application Deadline: October 1, 2024 Teachers of grades K–5 may apply online for a Toshiba America Foundation grant of not more than $1,000 to help introduce an innovative STEM project into their classrooms. Applications must be for project-based learning, and grants will not be awarded to individual educators.  National Society of High School Scholars Grants Application deadline: October 3, 2024 National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) grants are open to teachers, administrators, school social workers, counselors, homeschool educators, and test prep professionals. Register as an NSHSS Educator at no charge and apply for the following grants: - School Supplies Grant. Fifteen $500 awards
- School Club Cash. Ten $500 awards
- NSHSS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Teaching Grant. Three $1,500 awards
- Higher Education Grant. Four $2,500 awards.
These grants are awarded to help educators achieve their professional development goals, NSHSS is providing grants to help with the costs of tuition and course-related expenses for teachers and counselors who are enrolling in university courses in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025. NSHSS Educator of the Year Awards Application Deadline: November 5, 2024 One top award of $5,000, and nine finalist awards of $1,000These awards are presented annually to exemplary educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to preparing students for success in college and in life. Awardees model best practices in teaching or administration inside and outside of the classroom, are peer role models, and demonstrate outstanding leadership and excellence in education. | Sony Grants for Education In the United States, Sony focuses most of its charitable giving on technology, the environment, art, and culture, with a particular emphasis on education in each of those areas. While Sony may also consider support in other areas, the company seeks to apply its financial, technological, and human resources to encouraging the technical, scientific, creative, and artistic skills required of tomorrow's workforce. Sony accepts grant applications throughout the year. New Report Release: State of the Climate in 2023  From record land and ocean heat to massive wildfires, you can get a comprehensive picture of the global climate in 2023 by reading the "annual physical of the Earth System": the State of the Climate report. The report is now available, produced by NOAA and published and peer-reviewed by the AMS, with contributions from nearly 600 scientists worldwide. Read the full "State of the Climate" report, or download the "State of the Climate" Executive Summary for an overview. The report discusses global phenomena—from ice melt to tropical storms—and their impacts, as well as regional and national-scale climate trends and important events. Learn about cherry blossoms blooming early in Japan, ships traversing the Northwest Passage, the human impacts of extreme weather, and more. Read an American Meteorological Society blog post outlining some of the report's top findings. | Education/Equity Bytes Climate Ocean, Coastal Weather, Sea Ice, Ocean Life, Water Weather Extremes and Other Science News of Note |
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