Education

Supporting Great Lakes literacy and place-based education

Michigan Sea Grant’s Extension educators and communicators support formal and informal educators by helping youth and adults learn about the Great Lakes. We also fund graduate student research projects, graduate fellowships, and work-study placements in our offices.

We help teachers participate in professional development, interact with scientists, and incorporate Great Lakes science into their classrooms. We are committed to reaching educators through the Michigan Science Teachers Association and other efforts.

From hands-on cruises and camps, to classroom publications and online STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) resources, Michigan Sea Grant’s education program supports science education and stewardship.

Educational Programs

Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI)

Michigan Sea Grant supports statewide efforts to increase stewardship of Great Lakes natural resources by promoting place-based education, a learning strategy to engage youth and adults in learning about natural resources through hands-on experiences.

Michigan Sea Grant co-leads the Northeast Michigan Great Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI) hub and supports the six GLSI hubs in Michigan. Through GLSI, students work with schools and community members to conduct projects that focus on natural resources and local community improvements.

Network with NEMIGLSI

Teaching Great Lakes Science

The Teaching Great Lakes Science website features a collection of ready-to-use STEM lessons and data sets about climate and weather, water quality, fish and fish habitat, beach health, and more. These lessons rely on real data from NOAA and other scientists to teach students to summarize knowledge, analyze data, and evaluate findings about Great Lakes science, technology, engineering, and math. All lessons, activities, teacher tools, and data sets are free and can easily be incorporated into formal and informal educational settings.

Find Free Lessons

Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL)

The Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL) fosters Great Lakes stewardship by providing hands-on experience, educational resources, and networking opportunities for an engaged community of educators, scientists, and citizens through:

  • Annual shipboard science workshops designed to link educators with Great Lakes scientists
  • Land-based watershed workshops resulting in community-school partnerships and action-oriented restoration activities
  • Hands-on field activities and support from Sea Grant education staff
  • Access to water quality monitoring equipment
  • Citizen science and volunteer activities.

Experience Great Lakes Literacy

Michigan Sea Grant bookstore

Check out the Michigan Sea Grant bookstore for maps, books, posters, and other educational materials.

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Additional resources

Networking

4-H Great Lakes Camp

Great Lakes Bowl (NOSB)