Climate Change and Early Childhood Resources

Natural Start Alliance has compiled a list of resources focused on understanding the impacts of climate change on young learners (ages 0–8). Young children have a developmental need for outdoor play, yet a growing number of extreme weather events—heat, wildfires, poor air quality, and more—are increasingly keeping children indoors. The resources in this collection describe the basic issue and highlight positive measures being taken to address it.  

Amazing Adaptations of Succulents

Succulents are not just interesting plants, they’re also an engaging way to teach students in grades 4–6 about plant adaptations. In this activity from KidsGardening, students learn about the characteristics of succulents, compare examples of succulents and non-succulent plants, and discuss their observations as a class. The lesson is designed to be completed in about 45 minutes and includes background information for teachers as well as links to learn more about topics mentioned in the activity, such as photosynthesis.

Preventing the Lionfish Invasion: A Storyline From the EPI Classroom

This activity from Ecology Project International (EPI) engages learners in exploring the phenomenon of the Lionfish as a case study for understanding invasive species. The lesson plan features a collection of Google-based documents—e.g., articles, guided data analysis activities for students, video links, teaching guide, and more—that students work through to investigate the conditions necessary for the introduction and success of the Lionfish and evaluate scenarios for the introduction of the invasive species to a new habitat. The lesson plan also includes several resources in both Spanish and English versions.
 

Sharing Localization Models and Resources: A Virtual Session from The Lawrence Hall of Science
 
This free, 90-minute interactive session on October 7 is designed for educators interested in localizing high-quality science instructional materials. The session will feature four short presentations from educators and researchers showcasing concrete examples, models, and strategies for localizing High-Quality Science Instructional Materials (HQIM). Breakout discussions will offer space for reflection, connection, and sharing among participants.

2025 Earth Science Week Webinar Series

The American Geosciences Institute is celebrating the 2025 theme, “Energy Resources for Our Future,” with a series of free webinars.

• Monday, October 13—Spreading Energy Awareness with NEED—strategies and examples for incorporating energy content into your classroom from some energy education experts! Learn about educational resources on energy from the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, including how to get students to take action in their own communities.

• Tuesday, October 14—Geothermal: The energy resource of our past, present and future! Five specialists from Geothermal Rising will share insights on the historical and cultural applications, present-day misconceptions and challenges, as well as the technological innovations and exciting career paths driving the future of geothermal energy. 

• Wednesday, October 15—Shaping the Future of Energy Exploration with Geoscience and Innovation. Hear about exploration for a range of energy resources—from offshore hydrocarbon deposits, to helium reserves, and more. The final segment will cover a new activity that can be used to introduce K–12 students to a variety of energy resources (developed for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists). 

• Thursday, October 16—Geologic Mapping and Modeling. This webinar will showcase the techniques and benefits of geologic mapping and modeling. The development of the new Cooperative National Geologic Map will be featured, along with segments on 3D geologic models and a related educational activity.

NASA TechRise Student Challenge

Student teams in grades 6–12 can submit suborbital-spaceship and high-altitude balloon experiment ideas under the guidance of an educator to the NASA TechRise Student Challenge. Sixty winning teams will receive $1,500 to build their experiment, a spot to test it on a NASA-sponsored flight, and technical support from TechRise advisors. Teams of all skill levels may apply: No experience is necessary. Challenge resources (including videos, slide decks, and educator pacing guides) are available on the challenge website. (Deadline November 3)