Sky Tables Resources

The point of Sky Tables is to start positive conversations about climate and sky in your community. How you do that is up to you but here are some great tips to help you get started.

The research on climate communication is surprisingly consistent. While many people respond well to facts and data others are more likely to engage when the conversation feels more personal and connected to the things they already care about. We’ve found its good to have a mixture of all ages resources on hand from things like the interactive graph (below) that helps people understand the science of climate to creative experiences like photographing the sky over your community and sharing your feelings about what it means to you. We have tons of different ideas below and we would love to learn from you what worked best for you. resources that talk about values your community shares. Ideas like protecting our beautiful sky, the importance of having clean air to breathe and clean water to drink and about today’s exciting innovations in energy technology. Some folk might care about national energy independence, protecting wildlife, new technology leading to great jobs or simply leaving a better world for future generations to thrive in. Your goal will be to meet them where they are at and encourage them to talk about the things they care to their families and friends.

A note regarding people who are adamant that climate change is a hoax or a conspiracy of some kind. In our view you it’s not up to you to set them straight and probably a waste of your time. Sky Day tip: Try to be kind and let them go on the merry way!

Here are some activities past sky tablers have found useful. Check them out and then (1) Make a list of things you could offer at your table (2) Decide which of those ideas would give you the most joy and (3) Decide which resources you need to have on hand. Then get out there, have fun and make a lot of new friends!

How do we know it’s us warming the world (and not something else?)

What does the sky mean to you?

Did you know Our word ‘sky’ comes from the Old Norse word ský which means clouds or the location where clouds hang out. Back then they didn’t have a term for atmosphere but that is what they were talking about.

The world needs a better way to talk about climate and global heating. A way that is motivating, unites us, makes the impersonal concepts of environment and temperature more relatable, something you can see and feel, and yes, something that gives you joy.

So when we at Sky Day talk about sky we are talking about our atmosphere - the place where clouds float by, where our water comes from and where the air we breathe hangs out. When we talk about sky we are talking about the one natural resource that truly connects us all.

Try this. Simply ask people to talk about their relationship to climate and sky. What does it mean to them? We’ve found that many people do have beautiful ideras about this and personal experiences they have never forgotten. Maybe you could interview people and post their comments on insta or tik tok? #skydayproject

Help a species struggling with climate.

Calling All Artists!

Know any artists? If you do perhaps suggest to them that they use their talents, vision and creativity to engage their community on the crucial issues of climate and ecological citizenship. It’s called being a citizen artist. For inspiration, listen to Umesh Bajagain (Nepal), Celia Berrell (Australia) and Dan Simpson (England) share their work for Sky Day on WBEZ Chicago’s Worldview.

Jelena’s sky scavenger hunt for future leaders!

This great idea for Pre-K through Second Grade. Give kiddos a couple days to hunt down each of the sky experiences shown. Then suggest they look for these very sky photos hidden in the Sky Galleries of Sky Day Project! Download and print this pdf. Can you find them all?!!

Help Your Local Forest Preserve

Trees are one of nature’s best climate solutions because trees take carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it away! In fact, trees are a prime example of a ‘Natural Climate Solution.’ So volunteer to help your local Forest Preserve thrive. They are looking for individuals and groups to help out all the time!

Interview Family and Friends

One of the best ways to help with climate change is just to talk to people like parents, friends and family. Be curious. What are they thinking? Are they concerned? Share with them what you know and what your concerns are.

Our advice - be respectful and a good listener. Consider sharing what you learn on Instagram or Twitter - #ComeTogetherForClimate. Did the conversation surprise you in any way?

Hold a Sky Concert

Nothing moves us like music. Use your talents - your voice - to reconnect us to our magnificent sky and celebrate the way it connects us all as one global family. You will have done your community a great service for we only protect the things we care about and only care about the things we are connected to.

Exhibit a Sky Show and Help With Climate

This idea from teachers Diane and Stephanie. Their students saw the sky photos sent in to Sky Day Project by a school in Puerto Rico just before they were hit by Hurricane Maria. They wanted to help so they painted sky paintings, exhibited them and then sold them to family and friends to raise money for that school. To which we say - Bravo! Why not do something similar yourself and donate the funds you raise to a worthy climate helping cause like donating to a carbon offsetting charity? The sky’s the limit to what you can do to help!

Plant a Tree
(Better yet, plant two)

Lightning Critiques of
Environmentalist Art

Switch to a More Climate Friendly Diet

Shoot for the Moon

In this cool video Nick and Meredith of Chicago's Adler Planetarium show you how to take awesome night sky photos using a DSLR camera! Then upload yours to SkyDayProject! We can't wait to see them!

Write a Sky-ku

While a poem cannot scrub away the pollution in our atmosphere, no-one should underestimate the power of the written word. Sky-ku are inspired by haiku and are a beautiful way to express your thoughts and feelings about our amazing shared sky. Learn more

Take a Sky Walk!

Sometimes the simplest things mean the most. So gather students, friends and family and go for a Sky Walk. Is there somewhere near you where you can share an awesome view of the sky? And while you walk, notice together how every day is a unique symphony of light and atmosphere unfolding right above our heads. Maybe ask the group to share a memory of when they once noticed the sky in some special way. Take a moment to reflect on how much we rely on our thin atmosphere functioning naturally every day. Doesn’t it only stand to reason we should take care of it for each other?

SKY DAY ACTIVITIES BY AGE:

Elementary School Middle School/Junior High High School Adults