How are teachers helping students understand the climate crisis?

Podcast Learning & Education Society 21st century skills Learning environments Teaching methods Learning to thrive

23 January 2024

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Teachers’ Voices bonus episode 6

Join educational researcher Nina Alonso for this podcast series as she shares powerful stories from teachers around the world, talking in their own words about their own experiences.

How can teachers help students understand the relationship between carbon dioxide and global warming? How can they help students value science? What skills do students need to feel empowered to create change in a complex world?

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In this bonus episode, Nina celebrates International Day of Education with former science teacher, Sarah Horley. Sarah is Programme Manager from Teachers for the Planet, a program that aims to improve climate change education. Teachers for the Planet are showcasing teacher-led climate change education solutions. Three of the teachers showcased in the Teachers for the Planet repository share their solutions with Nina.

First, secondary school teacher Astrid Hugli in Switzerland explains how she helps students understand whether common statements about climate change are true or false. Astrid also helps students understand how to reduce their carbon footprint. “Instead of just doing theory, I prefer to activate them with models and with experiments,” she tells Nina. Astrid uses a game with her students called Climate Fresk.

Next, Nina meets Nicole Swedlow from Mexico. Nicole tells Nina about an organisation called Compass Education, “a global network of educators who have come together because they believe that a flourishing world begins with sustainability in schools”. Compass Education’s tool helps teachers focus on systems thinking – an approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of the challenges in the world.

Finally, Nina speaks to Scott Sinclair from a teacher’s network called TIDE – teachers in development education. They are asking: What are the educational implications of climate change? How is the world going to change and how will that affect schools? Teachers share their creativity and thoughts with each other through their magazine called the Elephant Times. Scott believes that teachers need to “connect and communicate in order to have a sense of the whole”.

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In this episode, Nina speaks from the Mbaracayu school in Paraguay. In Nina’s images below, there’s a sign encouraging people to pay attention with all the senses, and an animal’s burrow in the forest. Find more images and videos from Nina’s time at the school in the Teachers’ Voices WhatsApp group and on social media.

A sign in the forest encourages people to pay attention with all the senses.

Listen out for

Relating experiments in the classroom to the real world.
Integrating sustainability into everyday teaching.
Mobilising students to take action.
Encouraging conversations between teachers.

Find out more on BOLD

Learning to thrive animation – In this animation, explore the potential role of nature in children’s wellbeing and development.

Learning to thrive support – These materials help adults support children’s thriving in a challenging climate.

How can schools help children manage climate anxiety? Eva Amsen explores how schools can empower children to voice their concerns for the future.

How climate education can empower students – In this episode of Teachers’ Voices, Nina talks to teachers about their role in raising awareness of climate change among students.

How gender equality in education can benefit all children – In this episode of Teachers’ Voices, Nina meets Sonya Sanabria from Mbaracayu school.