Transatlantic Outreach Program Exploring STEM in Germany
Through the storyline of a class trip to four locations in Germany, students will explore sustainability, renewable energy, climate change, and ecosystems. At each stop, a companion reader will give students more insight into each topic. They will also engage in various hands-on activities to discover STEM in Germany. This curriculum is intended for middle school STEM educators but can be adapted to fit many grades, ages, and learning outcomes.
Through the framework of a homestay in Berlin, students will explore sustainability by examining four explorations: Introduction to Sustainability, Food Packaging, Urban Gardening, and Waste Management.
This unit contains four explorations on Renewable Energy. During a visit to Feldheim, students will explore the energy mix of Germany, and that of their own community. Then they will dive into three explorations to learn more about wind energy, solar energy, and bioenergy.
At the Klimahaus in Bremerhaven, students will learn about climate change. Each of the eight station at the Klimahaus will give students a better understanding of how climate change is impacting communities along longitude 8° 34’. They will also explore how our actions can contribute to climate change around the world.
In northern Germany, students will explore ecosystems at the Wadden Sea, the largest tidal flat in the world. The unit consists of four explorations: an introduction to the Wadden Sea and the East Atlantic Flyway, trends of migratory shorebirds, the energy flow in various habitats, and invasive species.
