Colorado State University

Little Shop of Physics and CMMAP teamed up for the for the 8th time to offer summer courses at Colorado State University for primary and secondary science teachers. The courses provide college-level content on the basic physics of the atmosphere, weather, climate, climate modeling, and climate change as well as demonstrating dozens of inquiry-based activities suitable for use in classrooms. Each teacher also got a bag of science tools so that they could take back with them to do these activities in their classroom.

This is the first year we were able to offer 3 different courses for teachers of various levels and interests. Overall, 35 teachers took the courses. Based on teacher feedback surveys, teachers in all of the courses gained a better physical understanding of weather and climate as well as a better understanding of how to communicate this knowledge.

Here’s a breakdown of the 3 courses:

The Science of Weather and Climate 
Dates: July 9-11, 2014
This 3-day course was intended for elementary and middle school teachers. We used a mix of activities and discussion to learn about the essential science principles (energy, motion, forces, light  and color) that explain the workings of weather and climate.

Weather and Climate Across the Globe
Dates: July 14-16, 2014
This 3-day course was intended for high school and middle school teachers of earth system science and physical science. We took an in-depth look at energy transport and the motion of air and water in the earth system, explained in some detail how patterns of weather and climate emerge.

Climate Change: Past and Future
Dates: July 17-18, 2014
This brand new 2-day course was intended for teachers of earth system science and physical science. We took an in-depth look at the long story of climate changes in the deep past and how greenhouse gases are likely to change climate in the 21st Century and beyond.

Pictures from the summer courses can be found here.