Island Foundation Continues to Support Lloyd Center’s Climate Science Learning Project with Second $15,000 Grant

cslpThe Lloyd Center has received a second $15,000 grant from the Island Foundation in support of the Center’s Climate Science Learning Project (CSLP). Aligned with the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks in science and engineering, the CSLP focuses on the projected effects of climate change on local biodiversity, introducing age-appropriate math, writing, critical thinking and life skills into core climate science lessons.

“The Lloyd Center’s staff and board are grateful for The Island Foundation’s $15,000 grant renewal. Last year’s grant was instrumental in sustaining and growing the Climate Science Learning Project for school children in Greater Fall River and New Bedford. The renewal of this grant ensures successful implementation of the fourth full year of the five-year project.” Lloyd Center Executive Director Rachel Stronach stated enthusiastically, “This contribution not only sustains the work that the Island Foundation supported last year, it also doubles the number of classrooms receiving full curricular implementation in New Bedford. This expansion includes two fifth-grade classes and two third-grade classes, the latter of which involves monthly programming with Lloyd Center instructors.”

Students will be immersed in experiential learning about the effects of climate change on biodiversity, in their science classrooms and in field projects. Fifth graders will participate as citizen scientists alongside Lloyd Center research scientists in collecting and recording data as part of the Lloyd Center’s Biodiversity Initiative.  A key objective of this work is to involve students in activities that inspire a passion for science, while facilitating discovery of the significant relationship between human communities and natural systems.

Thanks to the support of the Island Foundation, the CSLP is standardizing the curriculum as the project moves into its fourth year, through a comprehensive, hands-on biodiversity research project, appropriate to the age and education levels of each student.