The goal of the project, Improving 6th Grade Climate Literacy using New Media (CLINM) and Teacher Professional Development is to improve the climate literacy of California's 450,000 ethnically diverse 6th-grade students. The goal will be achieved through the development of a comprehensive online resource for teachers that utilizes educator-tested, peer-reviewed, grade appropriate, and standards-based education materials, meaningful connections to NASA data and images, and new media tools (videos, web, and phone applications) based on the Green Ninja - a climate-action superhero who fights global warming by inspiring personal action (www.greenninja.info). Our focus on the 6th grade has potential for high impact. Within California, the study of Earth system science is restricted to grade 6, the middle level "Focus on Earth Science." There is no grade 6 proficiency exam that measures student knowledge and achievement in science, and standards relevant to climate change are typically taught by out-of-field teachers who rely heavily on outdated textbooks to teach science. This is especially true in underfunded urban elementary and middle schools that enroll large percentages of underrepresented students.

The innovations and distinguishing features of this project include the specific project objectives: #1: Conduct a resources survey to identify the best resources and pedagogy for teaching 6th grade students about climate change. #2: Develop, refine, and evaluate education materials using iterative feedback from pre- and in-service teachers. #3: Develop Green Ninja media tools that utilize science themes to help inspire further education. #4: Create an online climate education portal to serve as a web space dedicated to teachers seeking resources for teaching climate change science, including a flexible, self-paced option for earning university credit. #5: Dissemination. Green Ninja social media tools will be used to accelerate teacher connections to CLINM's education portal and to build a community of teachers who are using the materials. A variety of traditional and online marketing and advertising techniques will be employed to promote the project. Promotion will also occur through our existing teacher networks and presentations at California Science Teachers Association meetings and other conferences that target science educators.

Anticipated project outcomes include improved teacher ability to present climate change topics and enhanced student understanding and interest in climate change topics. One of the key metrics for success is the number of teachers using our education materials. This and other evaluation strategies developed in consultation with an external evaluator will inform CLINM activities. CLINM's unique multidisciplinary team includes Earth system scientists, science educators, an expert in applying NASA data sets, models, and simulations in educational settings, faculty and student animators and artists, and 6th-grade classroom teachers. The CLINM project will collaborate with NASA GCCE-funded programs at Stanford University, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Idaho and will be evaluated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education. The management of CLINM will build on our more than two decades of experience with the Bay Area Earth Science Institute (BAESI), a professional development program that has served 2,000 teachers since 1990.