Encourage Children's Interest in Climate Change

With the help of the sustainable schools scheme children throughout the UK are being encouraged to become better informed about global warming and climate change. School life can now incorporate many sustainable key areas and principles and encourages children to work at developing an interest and understanding in climate change and control, as part of a community.

The National Curriculum

Education provides an opportunity for equality and development for every child. The National Curriculum aims to provide children with a broad understanding of a wide range of values, skills and knowledge. By introducing sustainable development into schools, through study programmes aimed at each key stage and subject, the curriculum provides a workable approach to understanding the importance of effective sustainable development.

How is Sustainable Development Taught?

Having a clear understanding of what sustainable development is, and how communities can work together to make positive changes, enables children to develop an interest in the world around them. Pupils are able to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the ways in which climate change affect society, the environment and economy.

Some subjects require specific study programmes, whilst others run alongside work done in different curriculum based learning modules. Links can be found in subjects like citizenship, geography and science, but can naturally extend into a broader range of leaning skills, like numeracy and literacy.

Citizenship

Children learn a wide variety of important skills through exploring understanding of decision-making and democracy, which forms part of the citizenship study programme taught in schools. Sustainable development also forms part of the study programme and enables children to understand the importance of their own actions, which impact on society, the environment and the economy.

By exploring the way in which actions create change children become more knowledgeable about effective roles in society, and cultural issues worldwide. Having a clear understanding of local communities also helps pupils to develop an interest in the way issues are explored and handled locally, nationally and globally.

Exploring Online Resources

There is a wealth of websites devoted to encouraging children to take an active interest in the world around them. Many have been created as projects that enable children to explore climate change, and the effects, in detail at a level that is specific to their age or level of understanding. It is important that children are able to recognise their global responsibility, and many of the resources available on the Internet provide good ideas and suggestions that encourage practical action.

Children are also encouraged to take their interest in climate change further by becoming involved in a variety of project based environmental studies, which are often sponsored by Trusts. Many of these projects operate an Awards scheme, which also helps foster a growing interest in sustainable development.

Practical Action

Positive action can be taken in a wide variety of practical ways. Local groups, across the UK, are able to increase awareness of the effects of climate change on the environment, and our society, through voluntary work, community festivals, talks, exhibitions and a wealth of other popular fundraising events.