It is exciting to me to teach climate change to students because it allows them to see how their actions directly impact the earth. They are eager to learn how they can change their behaviors to help the earth rather than hinder it. In relating earth systems and climate change to the current curriculum, students are able to see the interconnectedness of species and ecosystems. They are not only able to see how they are impacted by other ecosystems but they can see the ways that they impact those ecosystems and take a sense of responsibility for preserving the earth. 

They may be able to track the amount of pollution that they see in their neighborhood. They can also track the weather and severity of storms. Being near Ellicott City, they may be interested in looking at fooding data to see how the river pattern has changed within the last 50 years and how urbanization has impacted the amount of flooding that has occurred more recently.