Elemental Excelerator, a Hawaii-based nonprofit investor in climate technology, is currently seeking applicants for its second cohort of its “Root for Innovation” program.
As Pacific Business News previously reported, the program aims to equip K-12 educators with the tools to integrate climate change education into their lesson plans. Elemental Excelerator hosts the program in partnership with SubjectToClimate, a national nonprofit that provides free climate education resources for K-12 subjects.
As previously announced, the application deadline is April 26.
PBN recently checked in with Antoinette West, senior manager of career pathways at Elemental Excelerator, to learn more about the program.
“Root For Innovation was an opportunity for us to deepen our relationship with teachers, students and the broader education ecosystem in order to influence the next generation of potential innovators, investors, entrepreneurs and climate leaders,” she said.
Overall, what is Elemental’s goal with the program? The goal of the Root for Innovation Climate Champion Teacher Fellowship is for educators to learn to develop Hawaii-centric, scientifically credible, and climate-focused lesson plans that seamlessly fit into their classrooms through a six-week summer training program. We hope that the experience not only creates opportunities to prepare students to understand and tackle climate change but also positions Hawaii as a leader in proactive climate education for the next generation. If this is accomplished, our Teacher Fellowship will:
- Recruit, train and support educators from across Hawaii to develop 100 pieces of climate curriculum in collaboration with SubjectToClimate by 2025
- Improve accessibility to climate curriculum for educators across Hawaii via SubjectToClimate’s lesson portal
- Help educators effectively teach climate change to inspire and launch climate careers.
Why do you think climate change education is important for Hawaii? Climate change education is something that every state needs. Our partners SubjectToClimate have made strides here by launching Climate Education Hubs in Oregon, New Jersey, Maine, Wisconsin and more to follow! And, while other states face threats of climate censorship in schools, it’s important for Hawaii to continue to invest in empowering young people to think about their unique skills and how they can apply them to making a positive impact on the climate resilience of their communities.
What was a highlight from the program last year? Ten Hawaii educators participated in the program last year and produced 31 Hawaii-centric lesson plans that are both science-based and can be easily integrated into existing curriculum.
What are examples of the lessons created? Teachers aligned their passion for Hawaii, the environment, their subject matter, and teaching into diverse lesson plans. … They also included interdisciplinary connections, social emotional learning, highlighted underrepresented voices and came with slideshow, student documents and teacher answer keys.
Lessons from last summer’s Teacher Fellows include learning about Native Hawaiian sustainability practices and fishponds, nonfiction reading about food deserts and food insecurity, a mock trial exploring the lawsuit brought by Hawaiian youth climate activists, analyzing the biodiversity represented in the Kumulipo creation chant, creating a children’s book about protecting species, exploring local tourism ads for rhetorical appeals, and learning how to be science communicators using Hawaii weather data.
Is there any other Elemental Excelerator news that you want to share? Elemental Excelerator is currently accepting applications for cohort 13 of our portfolio program, which will provide up to $3 million to climate solutions with deep community impact. Over the past 14 years, Elemental has invested in more than 160 portfolio companies and built a vibrant community of entrepreneurs with world-changing solutions, including Hawaii’s own Hohonu, Shifted Energy, Farm Link and Hawaii Ulu Cooperative. Learn more and apply by May 31.
