Overview

The Toolkit's materials are grounded in government-approved information (including IPCC reports, USGCRP assessments, recent research by Federal agencies) on climate science and impacts to wildlife and their habitats in specific eco-regions of the United States. Specifically, it features:

• An easy-to-understand overview of the science of climate change in question/answer format
• A glossary of climate change terms to build vocabulary
• Case studies of 11 eco-regions in the United States, highlighting regional impacts to habitats and wildlife, and information on what kids can do to help
• A 12-minute, high-definition video on climate science, impacts on, and solutions for wildlife and wildlands; segmented for ease of use in any setting
• Classroom activities keyed to national science standards, developed by participants in the 2008 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
• Additional updated materials and hands-on activities from EPA's popular climate change education resources library
• Links to a wide variety of educational resources for use in formal and informal settings developed by the 7 Federal agencies involved in the creation of the Toolkit
• Graphics developed by Federal agencies at the forefront of climate change research

The case studies and activities included in the Toolkit have been reviewed by scientists and educators across the 7 agencies involved in the Toolkit’s creation. The collaboration of these 7 Federal agencies to develop an educational kit on climate change is unprecedented. The results of the effort are of the highest quality in the areas of climate science, environmental education, and stewardship information. On behalf of all the agencies involved in the creation of the Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators, we invite you to use the information and lessons contained in it to educate, inspire, and engage students everywhere to become stewards of the Nation’s wildlife and the habitats on which they depend.

Audience

The kit is designed for classroom teachers and informal educators in parks, refuges, forest lands, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, etc., and is aimed at the middle school grade level.