Climate Change Lesson Ideas for Teachers
Lesson plans and Homework Help for Teaching Climate Change
Melting glaciers, changing temperatures, wild weather, they are all part of our everyday life and teaching our children about the effects of climate change has never been more important.
Whether you are a teacher, a homeschooler or a parent trying to help with an assignment the resources on this page will help you help your children learn more about the environment and the effects of our lifestyles on our world.
image credit Fox Glacier New Zealand
Why does it matter if the glacier's melt?
The earth's glaciers contain most of the world's fresh water. Glaciers have always melted but as this earth gets warmer they are starting to melt more quickly. This makes the sea level rise which in turn presents risks for low lying islands and also for animals that live in these frozen environments.
By Ansgar Walk (photo taken by Ansgar Walk) via Wikimedia Commons
All but 100 of 1,100 glaciers researched are receding
What is climate change?
The Bouldert Glacier (USA)
This glacier retreated 450 m (1,480 ft) between 1987 to 2003 and provides an illustration of what is going on.
Image via Wikimedia commons
7 Things Kids Can Do To Help Slow Climate Change - We can all make a difference.
These sounds like little things and you might wonder how any little thing you can do will make a difference but if we all do it then they become BIG things.
- Make sure you turn off any lights when you leave the room.
- Don't leave your computer or phone charger plugged in when you are not using it.
- Turn your computer game console off when you are finished - leaving it on standby uses energy.
- Recycle all your garbage - help you parents by looking after the household recycling and getting the whole family to recycle.
- Ride your bike or walk more instead of always asking your parents to drive you everywhere.
- Make sure you turn off the taps properly and don't run the water while you brush your teeth.
- Don't accept a paper or plastic bag in a store unless you really need it.
Melting glaciers will impact our beautiful coral reefs by reducing the sunlight reaching them.
Green House Effect and Global Warming
Homework Resources for Global Warming
- Wikipedia Global Warming Portal
Wikipedia have gathered together a wealth of information in one portal to make it easier to find what you need. If you are using this remember the usually rules apply - who wrote it? Is it referenced correctly? - The most terrifying video you will ever see
Great video on Global Warming and why you should care - About Energy
Simple explanations about energy and the environment. - 10 tips for combating climate change
Great ideas for assignments about what kids can do to help. - Fact sheets on clean energy
Australian material on clean energy including solar energy, wind power, bio-energy and more - Understanding Climate Change by the CSIRO
Detailed information that is perfect for answering school assignments. Produced by the Australian CSIRO. - A Student's guide to global climate change
Produced by the USA EPA climate division this is a great introduction to climate change for kids. It also features some really good activities that help make understanding it all much easier. - Climate Change Articles
This blog gathers recent climate change articles in one place. - Tracking a retreating Glacier
Great visual resource that really illustrates the problem. - The Union of Concerned Scientists - Global Warming 101
Enormous collection of resource put together and hosted by Scientists to share their concern of our environmental crisis.
Learning more about Melting Glaciers
Climate Change lesson plans for elementary school - Great classroom ideas for younger kids
- Oxfam Education Lesson plans
A series of resources produced by Oxfam UK - high quality and interesting lessons for younger kids. - Climate Chaos - a week of activities
Oxfam have produced one week of themed lessons on Climate Chaos suitable for 9-11 year old kids. - Climate Change Live
Lessons here for all class levels and across lots of subject areas
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
Image created by Pflatau used via Wikimedia commons
Watch Al Gore's film
Climate change lesson plans for older kids
- National Geographic's Greenhouse 101
A well produced video explaining the Greenhouse effect. - What's up with the Weather
This PBS show comes with excellent teaching resources. - Climate Change Education Links
Climate Change Education Organisation has a huge set of resources for parents and teachers on climate change. The website is a little cumbersome but it is worth persisting for some hidden gems.
The Maldives is in danger from Climate Change - Beautiful Islands like the Maldives could disappear.
image by Nevit Dilmen via Wikimedia Commons
The sea level has risen approx 20 mm per decade over the last 50 years
