Course: Climate Unity

Climate Unity

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
Arundhati Roy (Indian Author and Man Booker Prize winner)

In this area you can find resources to support your teaching about the Climate Crisis. Materials will be added to over time here and are especially suitable for KS2 and KS3, but many will also be adaptable for younger children as well as for older young people.

‘The UNCRC's Children’s Advisory Team has created a Global Charter that reflects the key demands and messages of children and young people from around the globe on their rights, the environment and climate change. The link also includes a digital art gallery from around the world.’ Children's Global Charter | General Comment No. 26 on Children’s Rights and the Environment (childrightsenvironment.org)

Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems

A small group of HIAS colleagues have been working together on these materials; they include:

Kate Broadribb kate.broadribb@hants.gov.uk: School Improvement Manager (Secondary), HIAS
Jayne Stillman jayne.stillman@hants.gov.uk: County Inspector/Adviser Visual Arts, HIAS
Minnie Moore minnie.moore@hants.gov.uk: Rights and Diversity Education Adviser, HIAS

Announcements Forum

Please find below links and documents which will assist in resourcing your teaching about the Climate Crisis.

Climate Education – Subject Guidance

Climate Unity project 2025: Small worlds - little things make a big difference

Information pack File

Climate Unity project 2024 - Artivism (The Crown)

Climate Unity project 2024 - Artivism (The Crown)

Climate Unity Primary Conference 2024

Climate Unity project 2023

Climate Unity project 2023 - One world for us all File

Climate Unity Conversations: One world for us all 2022-23

Following on from the successes of ‘Our Climate Change Forest’ project 2020-21 and the ‘Climate Unity’ project 2020-21, this continuation project titled 'Climate Unity Conversations: One world for us all' addressed a range of perspectives on the climate issue facing us all and provided an opportunity for these perspectives.

The theme was to create two-dimensional artwork in response to Climate Crisis conversations, with the artwork provided used in a digital exhibition. The artwork produced consisted of drawing, painting, collage, textiles, mixed media and photography.

Climate Crisis Installations 2021-22

Our Climate Change Forest 2020-21

Hampshire schools have communicated their messages about Climate Crisis in an art installation during summer 2021. It has featured in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral and some have moved on to The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey.

The art installation shares the responses to the issue of Climate Change and it communicates schools’ messages and children’s voices about what they are thinking about the many issues that concern them.

The Climate Change Installation Summer 2021-22 File

Climate resources for schools - British Council

Life below water URL
It’s time to tackle plastic pollution! Look at why we need to save our seas, oceans and marine ecosystems from plastic waste and how we can take action.
Zero hunger URL
Make your pupils consider potential solutions to world hunger by using skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and collaboration.
Zero waste URL
Help your pupils develop core skills by exploring issues and solutions to protect our climate and environment.
Affordable Clean Energy for All URL
This resource will support you in developing students’ core skills through the study of solar electricity.
Sustainable cities and communities: Clean air URL
Explores the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development and their target on air pollution.

Useful Links

Education Nature Park - Annual Report 2023/2024 URL
See below for the link to the annual report for the National Education Nature Park. This report includes a summary of the wealth of subject resources being developed to support sustainability teaching and learning across the curriculum.
DfE Climate change and sustainability strategy for schools URL
Climate Change Lessons - Eden Project URL
Find exciting new action-based resources, created by The Eden Project, to help students develop a deeper connection with nature. A greater understanding of and hands-on engagement with the natural world can nurture invaluable curiosity and respect for the ecosystems we all depend on.
The ‘Changing Climates’ Curriculum URL
This links to a Global Dimension curriculum resource which schools can use to begin planning.
WATCH: Greta Thunberg's speech to world leaders at UN Climate Action Summit URL
Teachers may also wish to talk about children and young people’s ideas on the climate crisis and the impact of them. Here is a link to Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations, which might be very useful for work with older children, particularly in secondary schools.
Protect Our Planet - Raspberry Pi URL
The Dalai Lama with Greta Thunberg and Leading Scientists - Mind & Life Institute (mindandlife.org) URL
Click on the following link for a recording of Greta, the Dalai Lama and other leading scientists as they discuss the current climate crisis; there are also links on the website to five short films on climate feedback loops which are suitable to use with secondary age students.
How to reduce your carbon footprint – 20 top tips - FutureLearn URL
Transform Our World: #EcoLockdown (transform-our-world.org) URL
How Will You Reboot the Future? › Global Dimension URL
www.globaldimension.org.uk/articles/fairtrade-event URL
45 minute conversation with environmental activist Jonathon Porritt, Fairtrade Foundation’s CEO Mike Gidney, and the creative team behind our new campaign films to look at how our choices around food can help to reboot the future exploring questions including:

· why is food so important in creating a more sustainable future?

· why is it important to know where our food is from?

· what hope can we offer to today's young people?
Is eating meat bad for the environment? | 6 global impacts - FutureLearn URL
Eve: the off-grid life of a nine-year-old climate activist - YouTube URL
UK Schools Sustainability Network INSET video on Climate and Sustainability - YouTube URL
COP26 School Resources | Climate Change & The Environment URL
PSHE and Science PowerPoint lesson URL
With the chance to win an eco-school trip for your class and lots of other eco goodies, Recycle Week is the perfect opportunity to showcase your creativity and show pupils how their actions can make a difference. You can start with our PSHE and Science PowerPoint lesson to guide pupils through what recycling means, then take on one (or two) of our creative missions to enter into our competition prize draw!
Transform Our World: bringing environmental action into the classroom with quality-rated resources URL
www.theecoheroes.com URL
The interactive resources are Key Stage 2 and include Maths, English, Science, Geography and PHSE yet they also encourage children, teachers and parents to be Eco Heroes.
PlanetSuperLeague.com URL
Inspire people to take action against Climate Change through competition inspired by football:

Our platform makes sustainability accessible and fun for everyone, educating them on their journey towards a more carbon-efficient lifestyle. There are many activities to choose from that either directly reduce your carbon footprint or educate people about the world we are working to save.
Climate Change, diversity and equality URL
The climate outreach website is packed with resources, videos and blogs which explore the lack of diversity in images of people and nature, the impact this has both on people and on climate engagement, and how we can and must make imagery more inclusive and impactful.
The Regenerators - BBC Bitesize URL
BBC Bitesize recently launched The Regenerators, an ambitious new initiative that will educate and inspire children, young people and families to take simple steps to build a greener future. There are online lessons for primary, interactive quizzes as well as tips on how we can all have a more positive impact on the environment.
COP26: How can schools reach net-zero emissions? | Teach First URL
Transform Our World - The Green Gazette URL
The United Kingdom Schools Sustainability Network (UKSSN) brings together networks of students to connect and collaborate on issues they care about, fully supported by school staff.

They have recently launched their first newsletter, put together by students - The Green Gazette - which can be viewed via the button below.
KS3 Climate Resources URL
Launched by Friends of the Earth late last year these key resources offer a free of charge, cross-curricula set of lesson plans that look at climate change through the lens of climate justice and active hope.

Each lesson is matched with objectives in the English and Northern Irish National Curriculum and they’re designed to be downloaded and used off the shelf, either as a set or as individual lessons, according to teacher need. The resources are based on Friends of the Earth’s decades of expertise and campaigning insight, from spearheading the world’s first climate change legislation to supporting impactful grassroots action. They also respond to the issue of eco-anxiety, providing activities and exercises to support pupils and teachers to navigate these difficult, emotional issues.
Schools resources | SustainableLifestyle (sustainablelifestyleideas.com) URL
Schools Climate Action Planner (transform-our-world.org) URL
Transform Our World and partners have launched a free, online, easy-to-use action planning tool to help teachers and students prioritise the actions their school can take to reduce its environmental impact.
Urban Farm at the Hurst School URL
This technology has huge potential. The benefits of this type of agriculture and how we source food could be a real factor in contributing to climate change reduction as well as alleviating food poverty. It is a great example of sustainability for us and something that could be scaled so a fabulous case study.

Topic outline