Climate and Energy Educational Resource Collection
The CLEAN Collection is a high-quality and rigorously reviewed collection of climate and energy educational resources and lesson plans aligned with the Climate Literacy and Energy Literacy frameworks, and the Next Generation Science Standards. Through peer-review, scientists and educators ensure scientific accuracy, pedagogic effectiveness, and classroom readiness for each resource. With nearly 1000 items in the CLEAN collection, there are multiple ways to find the resources you need. Type in a keyword, or click on the filter options, and off you go!
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Climate Literacy Principles
- Humans can take action 52 matches Humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts.
- Sun is primary energy 25 matches The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth's climate system
- Climate is complex 47 matches Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system
- Life affects climate; climate affects life 30 matches Life on Earth depends on, is shaped by, and affects climate
- Climate is variable 35 matches Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes
- Our understanding of climate 54 matches Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling
- Humans affect climate 40 matches Human activities are impacting the climate system
- Climate change has consequences 58 matches Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives
Teaching Across the Curriculum
Climate and Energy Topics
- Causes of Climate Change 30 matches Includes natural changes (cyclic variability, volcanic eruptions, solar output) and human-caused changes (due to GHG emissions and land use changes)
- Climate Impacts 60 matches Includes sea level rise; extreme weather; drought; changes to ecosystems, plants and animals; melting ice and permafrost; ocean warming; impacts to water resources, agriculture, public health and national security
- Climate System 59 matches Includes natural processes within the climate system: orbital patterns, solar radiation, oceans, atmosphere, water cycle, the natural greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, regional climates and differences between climate and weather.
- Energy Use 31 matches Sources of energy, usage trends, conservation, policy
- Human Responses to Climate 60 matches Includes policy, mitigation, adaptation, risk management, personal responsibility
- Measuring and Modeling Climate 57 matches Instrumental measurements, proxy data, climate model projections
- Nature of Climate Science 8 matches Includes the process of science and common misconceptions about climate science
NGSS Performance Expectations Show all
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas
NGSS Cross-Cutting Concepts
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Current Search Limits:
Middle School
Results 1 - 10 of 129 matches
In this hands-on inquiry-based activity, students face an engineering challenge based on real-world applications. They are tasked with developing a tool they can use to measure the amount of rain ...
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This activity was developed to give participants an understanding of Earth's water cycle by completing a WebQuest and building a model of the water cycle.
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This resources has passed the CLEAN review process
In this lesson, students will learn about the water cycle and how energy from the sun and the force of gravity drive this cycle.
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This activity includes two experiments that explore shadows and light and how mirrors can demonstrate how light travels.
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This highly engaging course is comprised of five modules. Each one clearly explains the concept using readings and videos. Students are presented with the current fire and climate data and then run ...
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What makes a gas, a greenhouse gas?
Students act out 4 different molecules (nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor) to discover which ones are greenhouse gases and which ones are not.Reviewed Collection
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In this activity, students will use hot and cold water to see how fluids at different temperatures move around in convection currents.
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What's the Bigger Picture? Using the Power of Art to Teach Science
In this lesson, students combine art and science to interpret and illustrate graphical art. They first learn about artists who develop images based on climate graphs and then create their own.Reviewed Collection
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Hurricane Resilience Part 1: Hurricanes Affect Us
In this activity, students learn how people prepared for and then responded to a hurricane by analyzing news headlines about Hurricane Florence (2018). Then they analyze data about the amount of ...Reviewed Collection
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Students work in pairs to pick black and white beads out of a bag to represent the percent of renewable and nonrenewable resources used in different countries, and then graph the information.
Reviewed Collection
This resources has passed the CLEAN review process