OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE 3D THINKING VIA WEATHER, OCEAN, AND CLIMATE SCIENCE

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Education Program has been enhancing K-12 teacher preparation and practice, and ultimately student learning, for nearly three decades by offering teacher professional development opportunities in weather, ocean, and climate science. Each summer, we offer Project Atmosphere and the Maury Project: courses in atmospheric science and physical oceanography, that are supported by grants from NOAA, NASA, and ONR.

Additionally, DataStreme Atmosphere, Ocean, and Earth’s Climate System courses are offered each fall and spring semester to empower teachers to implement STEM concepts using real-world data and real-life events. Since all three topics are inherently interdisciplinary and require 3-dimensional thinking, the lessons are ideal for contributing to meeting science standards, like those associated with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Essential elements contributing to the high quality of these courses are the partnership between educators and scientists, and our partnership with California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U). More information about our program is available at http://ametsoc.org/educationprogram.

One activity that is literally “hands on”, helping teachers and students alike remember the horizontal and vertical motions and physical processes associated with high and low pressure systems, will be shared with session participants along with the lesson alignment to NGSS. Join us in practicing the “High and Low of It” and experience just one of the ways by which we teach “3D thinking.” Once completed, participants will have a great, scientifically-sound means to answer to the question, “What will the weather be like tomorrow?”

The future of low-cost, graduate credit teacher professional development opportunities via the AMS, through our partnership with Cal U, is bright as we leverage new tools and our dedicated mentor network while staying rooted in our mission to increase public scientific literacy.