An Educator's Guide to Climate Emotions
Scientific Reports
GradesK-12Science, Health
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Climate Psychology Alliance of North America
What it is
- This comprehensive guide walks teachers through the process of supporting students as they experience the many emotions that come from learning about climate change.
- The guide includes descriptions and explanations for some of the climate-related emotions, activities for teachers to use in the classroom, ideas for teachers and other staff to support students, and appendices with additional resources.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This guide links educators to a wealth of resources for incorporating Indigenous knowledge, introducing climate change through literature, engaging students in climate action, and so much more!
- Administration, support staff, and teachers of all subjects are given advice specific to their role in supporting students in their climate change education journeys.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to enter their email to be sent the Educator's Guide via email. You do not need to donate to the organization in order to recieve the guide.
- The section titled "Make Space for Climate Feelings" includes a list of helpful strategies to help students process their emotions.
- The links on "climate grief" and "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)" are broken, and so are some of the links in the resources section.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can use the Climate Emotions Wheel activity to introduce to students the strong emotions related to climate change
- The guide includes tips for differentiating by age group in the section "Consider Age-Appropriate Approaches."
- Teachers can use Project Drawdown's Table of Solutions as a tool to teach older students about climate action.
- Appendices E and G provide suggestions for educators of all subjects to incorporate climate change and climate emotions education.
- Teachers can practice journaling, meditation, and mindfulness in the classroom to assist students with emotional processing.
From the scientist review
This resource is a guide for educators in different positions at all levels about how to discuss climate change while considering the big emotions that come with the topic. It contains tips and suggestions for how to acknowledge the emotions of students of different ages and different backgrounds. The guide also includes reflection questions for educators and discussions about environmental justice and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on communities. The key point is to communicate that there is hope and to listen to students' concerns. This is a great resource for educators since climate doom and anxiety is a growing feeling among the population. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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