The Problem
Two years ago we started a garden behind the school on the East River shore that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy. We know extreme weather is an effect of climate change. Our garden has had many challenges due to weather. For these reasons, we want to do more studying and learning about local weather through hands on meteorology lessons that will inform the way we take care of the garden. In turn, learning about the weather will be a good introduction for students as they learn about the reality and implications of climate change.
Our Plan
We will make a weather station by buying an anemometer, barometer, hygrometer, rain gauge, thermometer and weather journal. Members of the “Peace Lillies” (our gardening group) will collect the data and use it to help create weekly garden plans for planting, weeding, harvesting and planning. Our weather station will let us participate in citizen science groups and share our information in our school and community as a news service. That will help us get more publicity and bring in more volunteers to grow our garden. Weather data and tools will also be used by science teachers for a practical perspective on the reality of climate change.