PHOTO OPP:  K-12 teachers touring an oyster farm – please wear waterproof boots

WHAT:

Teachers from 11 public school districts and one Tribal school are going to Goose Point Oyster Farm to learn how climate science is affecting oyster cultivation from both an economic and sustainability perspective. Teachers will visit the business for half a day, and spend the second half developing career-connected classroom activities to engage their students in STEM and career awareness.

The externship, led by Educational Service District (ESD) 112’s STEM experts, is part of a $3 million Climate Science grant from Governor Inslee to connect the work of scientists and the effects of a shifting climate on local businesses with classroom curriculum.

WHEN:

Friday, October 19, 2018
9:00 – 11:30 am

WHERE:

Goose Point Oyster Farm
7081 Niawiakum St Hwy #101
Bay Center, WA 98527

The media is invited to attend to hear first-hand how our changing climate is impacting the oyster business and to see how teacher training can bring climate science to life for SW Washington students.

About the Climate Science Grant

All nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington are launching programs for science teacher training around Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and climate science, thanks to grant money made available to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by Governor Inslee. Distributed by OSPI, the ESDs are sharing $3 million from the state’s general fund for teacher professional development, development of instructional materials and student events. With an additional $1 million provided to community-based nonprofits to partner with public schools around NGSS, the $4 million appropriation makes Washington the first state in the country to dedicate significant funding for climate science education and NGSS.

With an allocation of $304,140, ESD 112’s work includes a series of free teacher trainings and seminars aimed at helping K-12 educators develop authentic learning opportunities for students; bringing current events together with science for the benefit of public education. Throughout the school year, there will be six 1-day externships for teachers developed in collaboration with local climate-related STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) businesses or organizations.