Project Learning Tree Helps us Understand and Teach About Climate Change

I wanted to share some great resources that have been created by Project Learning Tree, the award winning youth environmental education program, around the subject of climate change.  These are excellent resources if you are working with youth (and adults).  They will definitely help you better understand and teach around this subject.

September 25, 2018 

12 Videos to Help Us Understand ClimateChange

There is mounting evidence that Earth’s climate is changing. Still, there are so many different ideas and opinions on the issue that we don’t always know how to talk about it.

We do know that patterns of extreme weather, pollution, and the availability of natural resources are linked to climate change. But how? What role do we have in that? Better understanding of the science behind the rise in global temperatures can help us talk about our changing climate and take action. With a sound understanding, we can begin to think critically about the historical causes and—most importantly—make informed decisions about solutions for the future.

Click Here to see the 12 videos to help introduce the complex science of climate change to your students. 

Teaching About Climate Change

Climate change may be the single biggest challenge that faces our planet today, and it can be difficult to approach this topic anywhere, let alone in a classroom setting.

There are social and political challenges to navigate. Not everyone agrees about the causes, the scope, the effects, or the solutions. Science teachers are either hesitant to introduce this complex topic, or they feel unsure about the underlying science themselves. It can also be challenging to navigate and incorporate the related academic standards into a cohesive storyline or scaffolded curriculum.

Fortunately, you don’t have to figure out how to approach this controversial topic on your own. PLT has several resources for teachers to help middle and high school students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed and active participants in society’s climate change discussions.

These PLT resources explore both the scientific and the social aspects of climate change. Each lesson is designed to stand alone, however, the more lessons students complete, the better they will understand the many aspects of a changing climate.

Grades 6 – 8

PLT’s Carbon & Climate e-unit explores how climate affects living systems, the role carbon plays in climate, and what we can learn from past changes in the global climate. Unbiased and grounded in scientific facts, this unit helps students learn how to think, not what to think, about this complex issue. You can learn more from our Carbon & Climate Overview.

Grades 9 – 12

PLT’s Southeastern Forests and Climate Change module contains 14 activities that focus on the interactions between climate and forests and the ways forest management can help adapt to and mitigate future change.