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The goal of Plumas Audubon's Birds and Climate Change curriculum is to CULTIVATE STEWARDSHIP in the next generation of learners, thinkers, and doers. This curriculum aims to cultivate stewards of the earth by opening an AWARENESS of climate change and its effects on the natural environment, wildlife, and society; building a RELATIONSHIP with the land, its resources, and the organisms who depend on such, including human communities; developing a sense of RESPONSIBILITY and CAPACITY to address both the problems and solutions to climate change; and fostering a feeling of EMPOWERMENT which calls stewards to take ACTION towards the well-being of the earth.
The curriculum is composed of five units, a concluding reflection lesson plan, and associated PAS Birding Journal for students to take into the field. It is desirable but not necessary to start at the beginning, do all lessons, and offer lessons in order as the curriculum units build on each other and are designed to guide students along the path of environmental awareness and knowledge, through critical thinking and problem solving, to decision making and action, and, finally, to a sense of stewardship within and for their communities.
Climate change is a daunting subject to teach to our youth, and yet, it is important. Our world is changing and our children are inheriting the consequences of the ignorance of the past and the disregard of the present. The effects of climate change and the rapid acceleration of it are troubling and alarming. We have attempted to present this information in an honest, yet digestible, manner.
Even in the face of climate disruption we can take heart; there is hope! Solutions abound! We all can choose to actively take part in solving the climate crisis. We hope you and your students come away from this curriculum with a renewed sense of empowerment, optimism, and courage for the future. May you “be like a hummingbird” and may you be well.
The curriculum is composed of five units, a concluding reflection lesson plan, and associated PAS Birding Journal for students to take into the field. It is desirable but not necessary to start at the beginning, do all lessons, and offer lessons in order as the curriculum units build on each other and are designed to guide students along the path of environmental awareness and knowledge, through critical thinking and problem solving, to decision making and action, and, finally, to a sense of stewardship within and for their communities.
Climate change is a daunting subject to teach to our youth, and yet, it is important. Our world is changing and our children are inheriting the consequences of the ignorance of the past and the disregard of the present. The effects of climate change and the rapid acceleration of it are troubling and alarming. We have attempted to present this information in an honest, yet digestible, manner.
Even in the face of climate disruption we can take heart; there is hope! Solutions abound! We all can choose to actively take part in solving the climate crisis. We hope you and your students come away from this curriculum with a renewed sense of empowerment, optimism, and courage for the future. May you “be like a hummingbird” and may you be well.
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ELEMENTARY UNITS
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MIDDLE / HIGH SCHOOL UNITS
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Unit 1 | AWARENESS: Why Birds?
Lesson 1.1: Why Birds Matter Lesson 1.2: The Language of Birdsong Lesson 1.3: Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt Lesson 1.4: What’s That Bird? Species Identification Lesson 1.5: Community Science: eBird and More Common Birds Slideshow Unit 2 | RELATIONSHIP: Habitats, Resources, and Reciprocity Lesson 2.1: Ecosystems, Habitats, Resources, and Survival Lesson 2.2: Environmental Reciprocity Unit 3 | KNOWLEDGE: Climate Change Basics Lesson 3.1: Weather vs. Climate Lesson 3.2: The Greenhouse Effect: A CO2 Experiment Unit 4 | RESPONSIBILITY: Effects of Climate Change: Our Earth, Our Actions Lesson 4.1: The Migration Game: Shifting Phenology Lesson 4.2: Connect the Dots: Global and Local Impacts Lesson 4.3: Unless Someone Like You Cares a Whole Awful Lot Unit 5 | EMPOWERMENT & ACTION: Service Learning for Our Communities: Bird-Friendly and Climate-Wise Gardening Lesson 5.1: Survey Your Schoolyard and Choose Your Plants Lesson 5.2: Plant Propagation: Growing From Seed Lesson 5.3: Get Your Hands Dirty! Dig In and Keep It Up! Conclusion | STEWARDSHIP: The Bird is the Word Conclusion: Reflections of Fledgling Stewards 
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Unit 1 | AWARENESS: Why Birds?
Lesson 1.1: Why Birds Matter Lesson 1.2: The Language of Birdsong Lesson 1.3: Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt Lesson 1.4: What’s That Bird? Species Identification Lesson 1.5: Community Science: Introduction to eBird Common Birds Slideshow Unit 2 | RELATIONSHIP: Habitats, Resources, and Reciprocity Lesson 2.1: Ecosystems, Habitats, Resources, and Survival Lesson 2.2: Relationships in Ecosystems Lesson 2.3: Environmental Reciprocity Lesson 2.4: The Human Relationship to Water Lesson 2.5: Sage-Grouse Debate Unit 3 | KNOWLEDGE: Climate Change Basics Lesson 3.1: Climate vs. Weather Lesson 3.2: The Greenhouse Effect: A CO2 Experiment Lesson 3.3: The Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Unit 4 | RESPONSIBILITY: Effects of Climate Change: Our Earth, Our Actions Lesson 4.1: Best Place for A Bird: Why Range Matters Lesson 4.2: The Migration Game: Shifting Phenology Lesson 4.3: Climate Change Cause and Effect: Global and Local Impacts Lesson 4.4: Exploring the Alternatives Lesson 4.5: Be a Hummingbird: You Can Make a Difference! Unit 5 | EMPOWERMENT & ACTION: Service Learning for Our Communities: Bird-Friendly and Climate-Wise Gardening Lesson 5.1: Survey Your Schoolyard Lesson 5.2: Planning and Design Lesson 5.3: Plant Propagation and Preparation Lesson 5.4: Get Your Hands Dirty! Dig In and Keep It Up! Conclusion | STEWARDSHIP: The Bird is the Word Conclusion: Reflections of Fledgling Stewards |
