‘Little and often’ approach

We’d recommend incorporating the theme across the curriculum on a ‘little and often’ basis rather than having a one-off focus on it, which could alarm pupils.

Weave the message into several subject lesson areas, firstly ensuring the children know how the world should work in theory, and then incorporating the causes and effects of climate change.

For Key Stage 1 pupils, it may well be better to look at issues as they relate to bees or butterflies instead of heading straight into how it is affecting human life.

Pull from pupils’ own experiences

When looking at climate change itself, you can pull on pupils’ own experiences, and what they’ve seen on the news.

This could be localised freak hailstorms in the summer, personality-based stories like Greta Thunberg and her fight for change, or factual reports about rising sea levels or temperatures over time.

Lots of climate resources available

When you come to looking at the bigger picture, you’ll find there are lots of resources to help you. Busy Things offers climate games and activities to explore the planet’s balance, different energy sources, deforestation and sea levels.

The Met Office is very good for giving background statistics. There are also lots of books and films that have climate change as an underlying theme, and there is a list of these on the Great Big Green Week website.

Play TREE WORLD! - it's a fun climate change game that brings the carbon cycle to life! Don't miss out on access to our whole climate activity range by taking a free trial of Busy Things.