Have your students felt a disconnect between the science units you are teaching and their own experiences? Have you wished for ways to make science more meaningful and engaging for your students? Would you be interested in a variety of quick tweaks and longer adaptations you can use to make your science classroom more inclusive, community-connected and culturally responsive? 

IslandWood is in our third year of convening a working group of teachers, the developers of Amplify Science, Educational Service Districts, and Seattle Public School’s science department leaders to help students make meaningful and authentic connections between the science they are doing in their classroom and their region, community, and personal funds of knowledge. Over the last two years, 6th Grade teacher teams have been developing a “Localizing Guide” for the 6th Grade Earth’s Changing Climate unit, and we would love for you to try out and provide feedback on the ideas they came up with.  

Asynchronous pre-work and a 30-minute introductory video will provide the opportunity to become familiar with the localizing guide and see how activities like interviewing elders about the climate they grew up in, incorporating local temperatures, considering Washington glaciers, and investigating the carbon content of neighborhood trees can help make the unit more relevant for your students. You will also have the opportunity to consider incorporating your community’s local assets and to decide which adaptations you want to try.  

Follow-up zoom sessions will provide an opportunity to explore additional adaptations, discuss how things went and share feedback about the guide. 

This pilot is intended for teachers who will be implementing the Amplify Science Earth’s Changing Climate Unit with students this Spring. Teachers who have already taught the unit this year, and those who support others in teaching the unit may also join but will not be able to receive the implementation stipend. The guide is designed to support localizing the unit to anywhere in Western Washington. Attending this professional learning with your grade-level team is encouraged.  The workshops are free and stipends are included thanks to funding by ClimeTime. There is a PDEnroller fee to claim the clock hours ($3 per clock hour). This Spring, we are also piloting a 6th grade Amplify Science localizing guide and are currently developing both Amplify Science and OpenSciEd localizing guides that will be piloted in future years. 

The stipend for this work will be paid by IslandWood. The maximum stipend is $75, and is dependent upon completion.