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Climate in the Classroom

About Climate in the Classroom

Since 2020, the Livermore Lab Foundation’s Climate in the Classroom program has provided interactive lessons, labs, resources and immersive discussions to 9-12 grade science students throughout California. The materials, initially based on LLNL’s 2020 seminal Getting to Neutral report, were revised in 2024 to incorporate the principles of Roads to Removal – a nationwide report by 68 authors and 13 academic and scientific institutions highlighting how the United States can remove one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These experiential and immersive classroom lessons offer 19 hours of student engagement and support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

To date, more than 3000 students in Kern County have participated – thanks to strong partnerships with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office and the Kern High School District.   In January 2024, a third cohort of carbon educators and students from California’s Tulare County began the immersive lessons, thanks to grant funding from the Department of Energy’s Carbon Safe – Tulare County Carbon Storage Project. 

Thanks to a strong partnership with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office, the lessons are also available in English and Spanish and free of charge, on California Educators Together, the state’s open education resource platform. 

For more information or to learn how your region/school might participate, contact [email protected]

Learn how this program is making an impact!

Below are examples of posters and public service announcements designed by participating students

Program Media Mentions

The Independent: Livermore Lab Foundation Offers Carbon Neutrality Education

Students in Joey Rodriguez’s science class at Livermore High School, are learning about carbon footprints and combating climate change, thanks to the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF). The world-renowned organization has created a Carbon Cleanup Initiative educational tool kit for use in high school classrooms. The curriculum is currently being tested by 30 teachers across the state, including one at Livermore High School. Read more by clicking the icon.

Stockton KCRA 3: Forecasting Our Future: These Stockton high school students are learning about climate change in the classroom

A new program with the Livermore Lab Foundation is providing special climate change lessons to select science classrooms in California. Read more by clicking the icon.

Lodi News Sentinel: Tokay High students will showcase their knowledge at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

A select group of Tokay High School students will have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge of climate change at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory later this year. Their work includes creating a carbon cleanup map of the San Joaquin Delta and how to convert biomass into something that can be stored underground. If this type of classwork sounds like nothing you have ever studied in school, it’s because you haven’t. Read more by clicking the icon.

Livermore Vine: Livermore High teacher inspires students with climate change curriculum designed by lab foundation

Livermore High School teacher Joey Rodriguez is one of a select group of California educators teaching with the Carbon Cleanup Initiative educational toolkit developed by the Livermore Lab Foundation (LLF). Rodriguez is bringing the science of carbon neutrality, capture and storage to the classroom, with hands-on activities that students can apply in the real world and even locally in Livermore. Read more by clicking the icon.

Bakersfield KERO ABC23: Students look to reduce their carbon footprint

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — As Earth Day approaches many are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. For one local teacher, that lesson is starting in her classroom. Read more by clicking the icon.

Pleasanton Weekly: Livermore teacher inspires students with climate change curriculum

Livermore High School teacher Joey Rodriguez is one of a select group of California educators teaching with the Carbon Cleanup Initiative educational toolkit developed by the Livermore Lab Foundation. Read more by clicking the icon.

Stockton FOX40: ‘They are curious’: Pilot program teaches Stockton students about climate change

STOCKTON, Calif. (KTXL) — A Stockton teacher is part of a select group of California high school educators taking part in a pilot program on climate change. Read more by clicking the icon. Read more by clicking the icon.

Stockton FOX40: ‘They are curious’: Pilot program teaches Stockton students about climate change

STOCKTON, Calif. (KTXL) — A Stockton teacher is part of a select group of California high school educators taking part in a pilot program on climate change. Read more by clicking the icon. Read more by clicking the icon.

Patch: Livermore Lab Scientists Launch Carbon Education Program

LIVERMORE, CA — In an effort to increase the public's knowledge on carbon neutrality, climate change and carbon dioxide removal processes, the Livermore Lab Foundation and the Lawrence Livermore National Lab is partnering together to launch the Carbon Cleanup Initiative, a public outreach program for residents. Read more by clicking the icon.

Bakersfield.com: Educational course on carbon management is coming to Kern

Kern County educators will undergo training this weekend on how to teach their students about the potential for fighting climate change through a locally promising process called carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS. Read more by clicking the icon.

KCSOS Staff News: KCSOS Assists Lawrence Livermore Lab on Piloting New Carbon Cleanup Curriculum

Throughout her 30-year career in education, Michelle Roy has always preferred science. As a multi-subject teacher, she would look forward to the experiments and reveling in the fascinating science-related discoveries with her students. Read more by clicking the icon.

SJCOE Outlook - May 2022: Carbon Cleanup in the Classroom

Livermore Lab and SJCOE STEM Programs partnership gives teachers new tools for the classroom. High school students learning about climate change want to do more than just understand the causes--- they want to learn how they can do something about it, said Jennifer Buck, a teacher at Tokay High School (Lodi Unified School District). See page 17 of the Outlook. Read more by clicking the icon.