Climate Change: Relationships in Nature

How can understanding the relationships within ecosystems inspire us to take action for a more sustainable future? 

Humans are one part of a vast, interconnected, and interdependent world. Significant changes, including changes in climate, have cascading effects throughout this fragile system. By examining these connections, students can deepen their understanding of the natural world and recognize the meaningful role they play in caring for the environment and building sustainable communities.

This lesson includes a guided visit to the galleries, along with hands-on learning in a learning lab. Students will investigate the remarkable biodiversity in a variety of habitats and communities. They will learn how living things depend on one another, examine how ecosystems respond to change, and take a closer look at innovative solutions that support environmental sustainability. 

Students are empowered to reflect on their everyday choices, identify sustainable practices, and think critically about how their actions and the actions of others can contribute to the health and well-being of the Earth, today and for future generations.

What makes these lessons unique is that they are taught by trained Museum Educators with diverse areas of specialization, who develop individual lesson plans around set learning goals. 
 
This allows them the flexibility and adaptability to meet student interests and follow where their curiosity leads, respond to class needs and ever-changing conditions in the dynamic environment of a busy Museum, and incorporate the latest studies, pedagogies, and technologies. 

We also understand the value of learning from the real thing whenever possible, not relying exclusively on models and copies. Even in gallery lessons, Educators take every opportunity to let your students engage in hands-on learning with something real that has its own history and stories to tell. 

These tested approaches to learning mean that you may never get the same lesson twice, but they will always be engaging, interactive, and memorable.

During the hands-on labs, students have the opportunity to interact with many objects, some of which are heavy. If a student lifts and drops an object, it may result in injury to themselves, to others, or to the collections. Please ensure students are following safety instructions and handling objects responsibly.