1. 1 GCCE Student Kick-off September, October 2011 Anchorage, Alaska
As the sun wanes and leaves fall, science is becoming a hot topic in our district! From Whittier to Anchorage to Talkeetna, September and October were packed full of climate change lessons, leaf pounding inquiries and solar heating investigations.
It started with our GCCE Student Kick-off at the Anchorage House in mid September. Eight students and their teachers from Chenega Bay, Tatitlek and Whittier gathered for 3 days to learn about global issues from Professor Planet, tour an ECO-sustainable home in Eagle River (where worms help digest waste from the composting toilet and fish filter the water in the house---FASCINATING!!!) and make direct connections between our values, the daily choices we make, and our Civic Duty to care for this planet on which we live.
We processed A LOT of thought, information and discussion. Then we worked with the Alaska Teen Media Institute as they trained us to use FLIP cameras to record what we learn, and share the message with others in an artful, meaningful manner. There was even a bit of good old-fashioned rivalry as Joey accepted Mr.G’s challenge to make a better movie than his.
We saw the prototype on September now we’re spending the school year refining our techniques, crafting the finished product, ready to hit the theaters this spring!! Get your popcorn bowls ready
From Professor Planet and Civic Duty in Anchorage, we moved to Solar Homes and Water Heaters in Talkeetna. Homeschool students there have been building passive solar model homes, and fitting them with thermometers that are visible through a plastic window. Depending on window placement, students had varying ideas about which model house would gain the most solar heat. Luckily, we conducted these investigations on a fabulously sunny September solar day!
Event dates & Participation: 
Climate Change Student Kickoff, in Anchorage Alaska September 13-15, 2011 (8 students, 4 teachers, 5 different presenters over the 3 days) 
Talkeetna Homeschool solar investigations via UniteUs curriculum, in Talkeetna Alaska Sept 1, 2011 & Oct 6, 2011 (6 students, 1 teacher, 1 parent helper) 1
Chugach School District
Shoo Salasky
Dr. Riki Ott works with GCCE students to place a price on their values.