Climate Change Collective: Teaching Kids About Climate Change
Teaching kids about climate change is an essential part of raising a generation that understands the importance of environmental conservation. As Jamie points out in his post, climate change education in schools is not consistent, but there is still lots of opportunity to have these important conversations at home. Though my kids have both come home from school as recycling experts!
Children are naturally curious and open to learning, and when we make climate change lessons fun and interactive, my kids become very engaged in the topic. As such, I thought I’d share some creative and engaging activities to introduce kids to the concept of climate change and environmental responsibility.
This post is a part of our Climate Change Collective conversations. Jamie at Jamie AdStories is starting off our conversation this month with his post “Is Climate Change Overlooked In Schools?.” Learn more about the Climate Change Collective below.
1. Read or create a climate change storybook
Children love stories, so why not create one that explains the basic concept of climate change? You can guide kids to create their own storybook featuring characters impacted by climate change—like animals losing their homes due to deforestation or polar bears affected by melting ice.
There are also great books about climate change and one we’ve particularly enjoyed is Wombat Underground. It lead to some great discussions with our kids about climate change, wildfires, and their impact on the environment.
Why it works: Storytelling helps children emotionally connect with complex issues, making them more empathetic to the challenges the environment faces.
2. Carbon Footprint Calculator Activity
Show kids how everyday actions contribute to climate change by calculating their household’s carbon footprint. There are many child-friendly carbon footprint calculators online. After calculating, discuss ways to reduce their footprint, like using less energy or choosing more sustainable transport options.
We talk a lot about our solar panels and what they do for our household as well as the environment – and often opportunities arise around us if we’re alive to our surroundings!
Why it works: It helps kids see the direct impact of their lifestyle on the planet, making climate change a more personal and relatable issue.
3. DIY Weather Station
Help kids understand the basics of weather and how climate change affects it by building a simple weather station. They can create rain gauges, wind vanes, and thermometers. Track the weather over time and compare it with past climate data to discuss how global warming is changing weather patterns. My kids love to put containers out to capture the rain, and one of our more memorable experiments was taking leaf-shaped ice from trees after an ice storm, then melting them with a hair dryer.
Why it works: These activities connect climate change with real-life, observable science, helping kids grasp the importance of monitoring environmental changes.
4. Nature Walk and Scavenger Hunt
Take the kids on a nature walk to explore the local environment. Create a scavenger hunt with a list of natural items for them to find (e.g., leaves, flowers, insects). While walking, talk about how climate change can impact the local ecosystem, like how changes in temperature can affect plant and animal life.
Why it works: Being outside and in touch with nature helps kids develop an appreciation for the environment, making the concept of protecting it more meaningful.
5. Climate Change Art Project
Encourage kids to express what they’ve learned about climate change through art. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or creating sculptures from recycled materials, art can be a powerful medium for kids to explore environmental issues. You can also organize an art show to display their work and explain the messages behind their creations. Recently we’ve reused old crayons to make new ones, and upcycled plastic bottles into lanterns for a Halloween lantern walk!
Why it works: Artistic expression allows children to process complex ideas in a way that feels creative and empowering. It’s so easy to have a conversation about upcycling when we’re using reclaimed items to create new things!
6. DIY Composting
Teach kids about waste management and how organic matter can be recycled into valuable soil through composting. Create a small compost bin together and explain the science behind decomposition – and play with the roly polies (pill bugs) that come to help with the process. Our kids help us put food scraps and yard waste into bins, then help distribute the nutrient-rich soil that can be used for gardening. The nice thing about composting, too, is that it can be done on a large or small scale – there as many composting systems as there are sizes of kitchen!
Why it works: Composting is a hands-on way for kids to learn about sustainability, the waste cycle, and how to reduce methane emissions from landfills.
7. Plant a Tree or Start a Garden
Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Planting trees as well as tending our garden brings up lots of opportunities to talk about the importance of plants in maintaining a healthy atmosphere and environment.
We also talk a lot about the benefits of our food coming from close to home, from our garden or our CSA box, rather than being transported long distances, and how important it is to support pollinators and keep our soil healthy!
Why it works: Gardening gives kids a tangible connection to the earth and helps them understand how their actions can positively affect the environment.
Final Thoughts
Teaching children about climate change through interactive and enjoyable activities helps them understand the importance of protecting the planet in a way that feels fun and engaging. These activities not only educate them but also empower them to make a difference in their world, one small step at a time. As they grow, they’ll carry these lessons forward, helping create a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
What other activities do you think would help kids understand climate change? Let us know in the comments below!
The Climate Change Collective
This post is a part of our Climate Change Collective conversations.
The Climate Change Collective was born out of an exchange that took place between Michelle and Jamie in the comments section of a Jamie Ad Stories blog post. Jamie and Michelle both care deeply about the impact of human activity on our planet and wanted to find a way to keep the climate change message top of mind for everyone. A tweet was sent out, bloggers responded, and we’ve all now teamed up to create the Climate Change Collective! Learn more about the bloggers behind this group in our post introducing everyone: Get to Know our 5 Fantastic Climate Change Collective Bloggers.
The idea is simple. The members of the collective will take turns writing a monthly blog post sharing their concerns and unique perspective about climate change. After the post is published, the rest of the group will keep the conversation going by sharing a link to the post on their blogs along with their thoughts and ideas. If you’re a like-minded blogger and would like to join our collective, please get in touch. The more the merrier!
Submitting your email address gives permission for A Sustainably Simple Life to send you email updates.
3 Comments
Molly | Transatlantic Notes
I really loved reading through these ideas as it shows how making climate science and information about climate change can be made accessible and fun. Future generations need to be equipped to deal with what the future holds, and that includes environmental sustainability. Great post!
JamieAdStories
These are fantastic ways to encourage young people to think carefully about climate issues. I especially like the use of a climate change calculator to consider personal pollution.
A Sustainably Simple Life
Thanks Jamie!