It's elemental, dear educators: Discussing weather and climate in rural classrooms

This study examined how weather and climate are taught in rural fourth-to-seventh grade classrooms in Jackson County, Oklahoma. Rural students often have a firm grasp of STEM concepts but do not find interest in the traditional classroom setting. Southwest Oklahoma experiences extreme weather including drought, extreme heat, and high winds. We interviewed five teachers and conducted 16 anonymous surveys with students. The results indicated teachers use real-world, hands-on activities to engage students. They also feel confident teaching weather and climate but want more resources or training. Their students understand weather’s impact on their daily lives, especially severe weather, but cannot differentiate between weather and climate. Many of these teachers are using a place-based education technique that uses their local environment as a starting point for weather and climate lessons to better connect classroom activities to the students’ daily lives and improve knowledge retention.