Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. As temperatures rise, weather patterns shift, and ecosystems are disrupted, it’s more important than ever for students to understand the science behind climate change and its impacts.
Climate literacy for students is important in providing the knowledge they will need to address the impacts of the climate crisis they face. Empowering them with a solid foundation in understanding the science and history, recognizing interdisciplinary connections, and developing critical thinking skills and values will enable them as our environmental stewards to act as agents of change and action in their community and home.
In 2020, New Jersey became the first state in the country to require climate change education to be incorporated across subjects in K-12 schools. In my own hometown of Los Angeles, the LAUSD School Board unanimously passed a Climate Literacy Resolution, in February 2022. The Board resolved to integrate climate literacy and environmental justice across all subjects in the classroom, school gardens and outdoor education experiences. School principals also designate a Climate Champion who receives a stipend to assist other teachers in their school in finding ways to integrate climate literacy in their own subjects.
Using the School Garden to Teach Climate Literacy
The school garden serves as a living classroom and laboratory for learning about climate change and issues the students will face.
School gardens are dynamic, hands-on learning environments for teaching climate literacy in several ways: observation and data collection, understanding ecosystems and need for biodiversity, food security, plant adaptation, learning about carbon sequestration, indigenous knowledge, food waste, climate resilient gardening practices such as composting, water conservation, companion planting, and more.
Student Climate Resources
To further build climate knowledge in and beyond the garden, please see the following resources for educators, students, and communities:
- SubjecttoClimate.org – https://subjecttoclimate.org/
- The Climate Reality Project (Los Angeles Chapter) – https://www.laclimatereality.org/climateresources
- NASA Climate Kids – https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
- United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals for Students –https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/student-resources/
- Alliance for Climate Education – https://acespace.org/
- Climate Generation – https://www.climategen.org/
- The CLEAN Collection of Climate & Energy Educational Resources –https://cleanet.org/index.html
Use your school garden as a gateway to nurture the next generation of climate champions. Share your own climate literacy lessons in the garden with us!
