1 of 6

Welcome to the Earth to Sky 2024 Hawai‘i Climate Science Workshop

2 of 6

This asynchronous pre-workshop assignment has three components, which we anticipate taking approximately one to two hours.

  1. What Schools Could Be (online community of practice)

  • About Your Island Community

3. Earth as a System–A Context for Climate Change (online learning module with annotated picture or diagram)

3 of 6

Component #1–What Schools Could Be

We will be using the What Schools Could Be online platform to engage with each other and share resources, activities, and events related to climate change in Hawai‘i.

If you have not already done so, please register for the Hawai‘i Climate Change Hui using this link. You may need to register on the main What Schools Could Be site first, then find the “collaboration” called “Hawai‘i Climate Change Hui.” There, you should see the featured post by Leon Geschwind. Please respond. The post to which to respond looks like this:

4 of 6

Component #2–Your Island Community

Identify the place of your school or organization. Please write these on the front or back of your picture or diagram for Component #3 which is explained on the next slide.

  • Mokupuni (island)
  • Moku (district)
  • Ahupuaʻa (land division)
  • 'Ili (subdivision, neighborhood, or a smaller area within an ahupua’a)

For more information about these land divisions, please see this site.

Here is another resource to help you identify your ahupuaʻa.

5 of 6

Component #3–Earth as a System:

A Context for Climate Change

Earth is a system of systems. To understand the complex causes and impacts of a changing climate, we need to begin with the Earth and its components—not just the atmosphere, but also the lithosphere (rocks and soils), biosphere (life), hydrosphere (water), and cryosphere (ice and snow). The relationships between these systems serve as drivers for the Earth's climate patterns, both globally and locally.

Before beginning this online module, draw a quick sketch or print a picture of your school site or organization site. This should be a landscape shot or diagram that you might consider to be representative of what makes your location special. You will be annotating and marking on this photograph during this online module.

*Please bring your completed sketch/diagram or annotated picture to the workshop to add to a large scale satellite image we will have displayed.

Don’t forget to include information from Component #2 on your picture/diagram!

Start the Online Learning Module By Clicking Here

6 of 6

Throughout the in person workshop, we will be allocating time for you to develop a learning product appropriate for you and your learning audience.

Please start thinking about which one of these products you might want to develop:

  • A lesson plan (that can be developed individually or collaboratively with other course participants) using tools and concepts shared during the course
  • A collaborative learning experience between formal and informal educators (possibly including a field trip and/or guest speakers)
  • A grant application to NOAA Ocean Guardians or Planet Stewards