Educating Our Youth on Climate Change: Strategies and Resources 

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it's essential that we educate our youth on the subject. As school districts, educators, and parents, it's our responsibility to ensure the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make a positive impact on our planet. But where do we start? How can we effectively teach our children about climate change and inspire them to take action? 

Fortunately, there are numerous climate change solutions for educators that can help make a difference. From incorporating environmental education into our curriculum to implementing sustainable practices in schools, there are many ways we can educate our youth on climate change and empower them to become environmental stewards. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the most effective strategies and resources for teaching about climate change and inspiring our children to take action. Whether you're an educator, parent, or environmental enthusiast, this post is for you! 

Why Teach Our Youth About Climate Change? 

Climate change is a global issue, and teaching our youth about it is essential in order to empower them to make a positive impact on the planet. Our youth are the future environmental stewards. It is necessary for them to understand the science behind climate change and how their actions can have a significant effect on the environment.  

Recent studies show that climate change education can be an effective climate change mitigation strategy, including resulting in reduced carbon emissions on par with rooftop solar integration (link). 

Teaching our youth about climate change will help them develop an understanding of how their decisions today can have an impact on the planet. Not just in their own lifetime, but for generations to come.  

Strategies for Teaching About Climate Change 

• Environmental Education Curriculum: One key strategy for addressing climate change in the classroom is to focus on state and national standards for environmental education. These standards offer a framework for educators to develop age-appropriate curricula that help students understand the causes and effects of climate change. Incorporating environmental education into your curriculum and lesson plans is a great way to start teaching about climate change. While it is great for this topic to be discussed in science education, it doesn’t have to be! Climate change is a complex issue that can easily tie in to social studies, writing, and many other subjects. 

• Hands-on activities: Engage students in hands-on activities such as gardening or outdoor field trips to show them the effect of climate change on the natural world. Interactive, full-body activities engage the senses, which research shows enhances learning.  

• Digital resources: Today, it is particularly important for education to incorporate technology and twenty-first-century skills. Use technology to enhance learning with educational videos or online simulations.  

• Social justice: As you teach, foster a sense of environmental justice by discussing the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities. Not only will you be making progress towards a better future, but you'll also be offering your students insight to the social impact of this global issue.  

Resources for Teaching About Climate Change 

When looking for resources to teach about climate change, it is important to use resources that are science and evidence-based from reliable sources. Scientific organizations like NASA or NOAA offer educational resources to support curriculum and teach students about environmental education. These organizations provide up-to-date information that can help teachers stay informed about new developments in the field, and bring engaging materials into their classrooms. 

Professional development opportunities are a great way for teachers to learn about climate change science and effective teaching strategies. Project WET offers both virtual and in-person climate change training with our Climate, Water and Resilience guide. This curriculum helps educators teach middle and high school students about climate and climate change using interactive, objective, science-based activities that students will enjoy. 

In addition, nonprofit and advocacy groups like the United Nations or the Sierra Club share valuable information on climate change and promote action on this critical issue. They often provide opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges related to climate change, such as community service projects or activism campaigns. 

Challenges and Solutions for Teaching About Climate Change 

Climate change, while an important topic, is also a potentially controversial one. That’s why it's important for educators to address this issue with sensitivity and careful consideration of how best to engage students in learning about climate change. Of course, using science-based, credible sources is necessary when teaching about climate change. But also be sure to consider the perspective of your students. What issues are most important to them? What will they be most impacted by with climate change? What bias might they have towards this topic? Knowing that can help shape your approach to better engage your students in learning about this topic.  

Teaching about climate change can be challenging, but with the right approach and resources, it can also be an opportunity for students to learn about how they can make a difference.  

When addressing climate change, it’s important to share facts while also avoiding a sense of hopelessness or doom among students. To do so, educators can emphasize positive actions and progress related to climate change. Use social media to search and find positive climate news to share with your students. Encouraging students to engage in activities like recycling, energy conservation, or advocating for policy changes that support sustainability is another great way to promote action and positive impact. 

In conclusion, educating our youth on climate change is not just a challenge, but a necessity. Educators play a key role in showing our students the importance of taking action to combat this global crisis. By providing age-appropriate information and effective teaching strategies, we can engage our students and offer them hope for a positive future. If you are a teacher looking for professional development opportunities, consider learning about Project WET's climate change curriculum - Climate, Water and Resilience. Take a training and start sharing your knowledge and ability to make a difference. Let's work together to support environmental justice and progress towards a sustainable future for the next generation.