Climate change is one of the key topics that is difficult to tackle in the classroom. Some teachers face opposition from parent, community, or school curriculum requirements that deny the existence or importance of climate change. But it’s important to give children facts by using global warming and climate change activities that help them understand what’s going on and what’s important. Try some of these ideas with your students. It involves discussion about what children can do to keep them healthy for years to come.
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Earth Day Worksheet Bundle
Invite students to talk about our planet using the Earth Day themed worksheets included in this bundle. They will learn about disposable plastic bottles, how to solve math problems, organize recycling, and write about the future of the planet.
1. Act locally
The right resources can make all the difference by helping young people see how to act meaningfully in their communities. This Climate Action Resource Kit from Wild Classroom at the World Wildlife Fund offers a useful slideshow and some great lesson plans to get you started.
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3. Understand the difference between climate and weather
One common refrain you might hear is, “I’ve got 20 inches of snow on the snow today, so explain how realistic global warming is.” That’s when it’s time to tackle the differences between weather (current circumstances) and climate (average conditions over time in a particular area). Create an anchor chart like this from Haley Taylor on Pinterest. Next, try out the sorting activity so that your kids can understand the difference between the two.
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4. Let’s become a weather detective
The weather and climate are two different things, but they are undoubtedly strongly connected to each other. One way scientists understand climate change is to see the weather over time. Learn how to track and explore the weather with the free printable kit perfect for elementary school students.
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5. Learn about the greenhouse effect
Global warming is a key component of climate change, in part caused by enhanced greenhouse effects. These climate change activities show children what the term means. Place the two thermometers side by side in a sunny place. Place one inside a covered glass jar and the other outside. Observe the temperature after about 20 minutes to see which is higher.
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6. Meet greenhouse gases
As children saw the greenhouse effect in operation, we’ll introduce the gas that will make it happen. These fun trading cards for six major atmospheric gases teach students what they are and where they came from. Each card has two sides, showing its positive and negative effects of gas. Get free printable cards from NASA here.
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7. Create an edible greenhouse gas model
Toothpicks and gumdrops are used to replicate models of gases that contribute to greenhouse effects and global warming, such as carbon dioxide, ozone, water vapor and methane.
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8. Learn about the conditions that affect ice melting
The accelerated melting of polar ice caps and glaciers is of great concern for climate change scientists. We’ll do a simple experiment showing how ice in water melts faster than ice on land. Place equal amounts of ice cubes in two containers. Add a small amount of water to one container and observe the results over time.
9. Explore how melting ice affects the surface of the sea
The Arctic ice cap is on the water, and the Antarctic ice cap is on land. Simulate the two melting by placing an ice block in a cup of water and marking the total level on the side of the cup. In another cup, add water to mark the level. Next, float a block of ice placed on the play dough in the second cup. Check the results in an hour to see how the “land” ice melts and the “sea level” rises.
10. Simulates a molten polar ice cap and iceberg
Ice melting experiments are a very useful climate change model for children and can help you see the sea level work, so you should give this a try. If you can’t do this directly, view the National Geographic video instead.
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11. Discover how melted sea ice affects animals
Humans are not the only ones affected by global warming and the melting of sea ice. Freeze about an inch of water at the bottom of a wide shallow bowl to create your own sea ice sheet. Place some toy animals, such as polar bears, on top and float ice on a larger water dish. What happens to animals when ice contracts?
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12. Trap particles to learn about air pollution
This experiment is very simple! Apply the smear to the two index cards. Place one outdoor (select a day without precipitation) and one in the classroom. After about a week, we will compare the two cards. Pay attention to visible particles and discuss what they are.
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13. Water plants with acid solutions
Acid rain is not in recent news, thanks to the incredible effectiveness of the EPA’s acid rain program. But it’s still good for kids to learn. Because when it is not checked, it can cause real damage to the plants and the environment. Try the experiment with two small potted plants. One with normal water as usual, water the other with a solution of water and lemon juice. How do two plants carry over time?
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14. Play carbon cycle games
Carbon is another major contributor to global warming and climate change. Learn how the natural carbon cycle works and how too much carbon throws away the cycle in this free printable game from Cosee.
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16. Margin for your beliefs
Check out organizations like Fridays for Future. Students can also make signs and march or take part in demonstrations (with permission from parents/guardians, of course). Don’t you want to march? Instead, hang a poster in the school hallway!
17. Recognize climate change anxiety
As students learn about global warming and climate change, they may begin to experience a lot of anxiety about their future. This is a real phenomenon, and it is becoming more common among children today. Here we learn how to help them deal with those worries.
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