What does learning about the environment have to do with math? Bow High School teacher Marcel Duhaime plans to show students the answer.

Duhaime, an algebra, pre-calculus and calculus teacher, is one of 19 teachers nationwide awarded Sept. 9 with a grant by the National Environmental Education Foundation in conjunction with The Weather Channel to bring environmental studies into typically non-environmental type classes, such as math.

“Marcel represents a generation of teachers who will help students flourish in the 21st century’s green economy,” said Diane Wood, president of the National Environmental Education Foundation. “Environmental education is more than just helping build an appreciation for the natural world, it’s about preparing our young people for the careers of tomorrow.”

The grant allows Duhaime to take two graduate- level online courses to learn how to intertwine environmental issues with his math lesson plans. The courses are offered by the Environmental Education and Training Program through the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point.

Duhaime, 45, a Hooksett native who is married and has a son in the fourth grade, said he’s been an avid outdoorsman his entire life. Some of his favorite hobbies include backpacking, sea kayaking and snowshoeing. He also spent several years in the Boy Scouts program, the Appalachian Mountain Club and served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

“I’m trying to bring environmental education to everybody,” Duhaime said. “And I’m trying to make it personalized for the kids so they want to get involved.”

Duhaime says he’s already coming up with ideas since collaborating online with teachers from around the country and the world who are trying to bring environmentally -centered lesson plans to their respective classes. Some of the ideas are simple, such as getting students to calculate Sawyerocean tides and air temperatures.

“I’m trying to get the raw data and present it to the kids to make models for predictions of the future,” he said.

Duhaime said today’s lesson plans are a lot different from as recently as 10 years ago, allowing for more hands-on learning through activities such as laboratory experiments using data.

“Math classes are a lot different than when I was in high school,” he said.