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  <h2>Weather and Climate for Teachers<br /> 2008 Summer Teacher's Course</h2>

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   <p></p>

Weather, climate, and climate change are important topics in today's society.
Many science educators are expected to teach these subjects even with no formal
training in these areas.  The 2008 Weather and Climate for Teachers course,
sponsored by CMMAP, the
<a href="http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu" target="_blank">
Little Shop of Physics</a> and the
<a href="http://www.hach.com/" target="_blank">Hach Foundation</a>, provided
necessary teaching techniques and knowledge of atmospheric science to teachers.
<p></p>

The intent of the course was to provide a semester's worth of college-level
content on the physics of the atmosphere, weather, climate, climate change, and
climate modeling as well as demonstrate activities for use in the classroom.
The course involved thirty-nine teachers from Colorado and New Mexico.  It was
taught using the method of the Five E's.  Each of the Five E's (engage, explore,
explain, extend, and evaluate) describes a phase of learning. "Being taught with
this technique really made me appreciate the importance of getting kids out of
their seats and wrapping up information with an extend activity", one teacher
said.<p></p>

Brian Jones and Sheila Ferguson, from the Little Shop of Physics, provided the
"engage" and "explore" components of the lessons in the form of experiments and
activities. One participant commented, "I loved having my brain 'stretched' and
have a better understanding of the forces behind weather and climate.  The
format of the class was a good reminder to me that hands-on experiences are a
very powerful learning tool, whatever the subject."<p></p>  

Scott Denning, an atmospheric science professor at Colorado State University
and CMMAP's Director for Education, Outreach and Diversity, lectured for the
"explain" component of the lessons.  Topics covered included defining energy,
conservation of energy, weather vs. climate, radiation and seasons, pressure,
density, temperature, buoyancy, phases of water, latent heat and clouds,
convection and precipitation, forces and winds, radiation and global
circulation, fronts and storms, climate change and global warming impacts, and
mitigating and adapting to climate change. <p></p>

Rachel McCrary, Erica McGrath-Spangler, Anna Harper, and Todd Jones, atmospheric
science graduate students at Colorado State University, taught many of the 
"extend" portions of the lessons.  These segments included how to interpret
weather balloon data, how to read weather maps, and the difference between
weather and climate.  Dave Swartz, a science teacher at Rocky Mountain High
School, taught about day length and seasons.  Christine Aguilar, CMMAP's K-12
Science Education and Diversity Manager, extended Scott Denning's lecture on
carbon mitigation with a game.<p></p>

Teachers took home a box of science tools.  Some tools included heat packs,
which show that liquids release heat when they freeze, solar cells to charge
batteries, and infrared goggles to see infrared radiation outside.  More
importantly, teachers left with the confidence and knowledge to teach their
students about weather, climate, and climate change.  One teacher stated, 
"One thing I'm going to take away is a better appreciation and understanding for
the weather."  They also left with a better understanding and new view of the
world around them.  The course equipped teachers with tools and knowledge
essential to the modern classroom.  <p></p>
 
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