CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION
Beyond the Facts
A recent UBC study cited in the Toronto Star explored the ways in which climate change was integrated into high school curricula. Overall, the study highlighted that climate change (when covered) is limited to factual and sometimes out-dated topics and data. Educators must strive to push beyond facts, allowing students to study climate change from a systems-thinking approach. Students must also be provided space to act on what they learn. Below are some sample lessons and ideas to integrate a holistic, systems approach to action-oriented climate education at the high school level.
CONFRONTING CLIMATE DENIAL
High School Interdisciplinary
The antidote to denial is action, as Naomi Klein mentions in her text This Changes Everything. The same fearful emotions that make people shut down and ignore climate change can be useful for inciting action. We need to reframe our approach to climate change and see it as an opportunity to build a better, greener world. Elements of Klein's text can be incorporated into many different classes (recommended at the high school level). Social Science, History, Political Economy, English, Science--it's all there.
Resources:
This Changes Everything (text and documentary)
Forget Shorter Showers
MEDIA STUDIES INTEGRATION
Developing Critical Thinking and Activating Learning
An accessible way to integrate climate change into an English or Science class is to develop activities that allow students to critically analyze the representation (or relative silence) of climate change in the media. For example, doing an audit of climate stories each week is an interesting way for students to learn from current events. Often, it is more interesting to highlight the lack of coverage or connections (Is climate change mentioned, for example, by journalists covering natural disasters?).
Resources:
Sponge Bob Pushing a Climate Agenda
Misrepresenting a 'debate' about climate change
Guardian changes language: 'Climate Emergency'
INTEGRATING THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Psychology and Sociology of Climate Denial
We are all responsible. That reality can be either paralyzing or empowering. Studying the psychology of climate denial allows students to better understand climate inaction. It also prompts students to take responsibility and apply what they've learned to encourage action in others. Applying psychological concepts and theories allows students to understand themselves and others better. Concepts/Theories: Cognitive Dissonance, Denial/Apathy, The Bystander Effect, Milgram's Obedience Study, The Lucifer Effect
Resources:
Zimbardo's Lucifer Effect
Heroic Imagination Project - The Bystander Effect
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL APPROACH
Holistic Approach to Teaching Climate Change
'The Work that Reconnects' is both a philosophy and collection of tools and methods developed by Joanna Macy that incorporate counselling strategies, spiritual principles, ceremonies, myth, and group dialogue. The practices have evolved into what is now often referred to as 'Deep Ecology'.
"The central purpose of the Work that Reconnects is to help people uncover and experience their innate connections with each other and with the systemic, self-healing powers of the web of life, so that they may be enlivened and motivated to play their part in creating a sustainable civilization." (Macy 2019)
There are many sample activities and exercises on the website that can be adapted and implemented in classrooms of all ages. The resources provided allow for educators to open up space for students/colleagues to address difficult issues (such as climate change), process and better prepare themselves for active participation in solutionary work.
One same activity is called "The Truth Mandala" In this activity, a group of students sit around a mandala that contains various symbols representing feelings of fear, sorrow, anger, deprivation, and hope. Exploring a challenging issue, group members take turns processing their emotions, exploring the root causes of those emotions and channeling them into action. As quoted in the sample prompts, "And here we realize that the anger we express has its source in our passion for justice." (Macy 2019)
ACTIVATING LEARNING
Community and Service Integration
Regardless of the subject focus, enabling students to design their own activities that integrate with local communities can be empowering. Give students the space and time to develop projects that showcase learning and have the potential to make impacts beyond the limits of the classroom. Some examples of student projects include:
- Community Mural 'The Future We Want'
- Street Art
- Workshops for other students
- Awareness Assembly
- Videos
- Community 'Carbon Cleanse'
- Spoken Word
- Social Media Campaigns
IDEAS?
If you have more ideas or lessons demonstrating how you can integrate climate change education, please share them here and I will post them on the site.
