Though the science of carbon emissions and global warming is taught in many schools, curriculums often fall short in teaching a wholistic view of the climate crisis and the changes needed to reverse it. Students need to learn the greater concepts involved, such as the need for individual and systemic changes, or that climate change disproportionately affects historically disenfranchised, marginalized communities. Students also need to understand the history that brought us here, and engage with deeper causes of our climate emergency: capitalism and economic injustice, Western exceptionalism and anthropocentrism, and racial and gender inequality.
We’re continuously working to learn more about these issues ourselves, and thankfully there are some incredible organizations dedicated to bringing a wholistic climate curriculum to schools. If you are interested in developing impactful and engaging lessons focused on climate justice, student activism, and other crucial topics, we recommend using the resources below.
Recommended Reading
If you’re not sure where to start, or need some inspiration, we recommend reading A People’s Curriculum for the Earth. Created by the organization Rethinking Schools, this books is a collection of articles, essay, classroom activities, simulations, poems, and illustrations that help bring to life lessons about the environmental crisis and climate justice.
Teachers and educators all over the country have used this book to elevate their curriculums and engage students with difficult, complex topics in significant and hopeful ways.
