TeachersFirst Collection: Climate Change Resources
This collection of resources about climate change is selected to help teachers and students learn about the short and long term impact of climate change. As students read and see images of climate change then, now, and in the future, they will gain a better understanding. Younger students may have more questions as you explore together. Use these resources with your students to find ways you all can make a difference. Use this opportunity to teach about persuasive writing (letters to the editor or government officials), careers in science, and more.
View all of our resources tagged climate change.
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Interactives & Simulations: Weather, Climate & Atmosphere Education - UCAR Center for Science Education
Grades
5 to 12
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This site provides a small but worthwhile selection of interactives and simulations related to weather and climate. Choose from interesting activities such as launching a virtual balloon,...more
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This site provides a small but worthwhile selection of interactives and simulations related to weather and climate. Choose from interesting activities such as launching a virtual balloon, examining layers of the Earth's atmosphere, or "building" a tree using different climate options. Each activity includes a full explanation, and many include additional links or extension activities.
tag(s): arctic (34), atmosphere (25), carbon dioxide (9), climate (99), climate change (112), hurricanes (36), solar energy (35), sun (87), trees (18)
In the Classroom
Introduce Interactives & Simulations on an interactive whiteboard or projector, then allow students to explore on their own. Be sure to provide a link on your class website or blog for students to explore at home. Enhance learning by having students create an annotated image, including text boxes and related links, to demonstrate information learned from this site. Use a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here, for younger students, or Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Alternatively, students could create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Climate Time Machine - NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/CIT
Grades
4 to 12
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Is there a climate change? What conditions on the Earth have changed over time? Find answers to these questions and more with this free tool. Choose from the following in ...more
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Is there a climate change? What conditions on the Earth have changed over time? Find answers to these questions and more with this free tool. Choose from the following in the menu bar: Sea Ice, Sea Level, Carbon Emissions, and Average Global Temperature. Drag the slider to show the differences in each of the four areas from 1979 to 2022. Read an explanation of the consequences of these changes below the slider.
tag(s): antarctica (28), arctic (34), carbon dioxide (9), carbon footprint (8), climate (99), climate change (112), temperature (32)
In the Classroom
Want to get students' attention? Begin with the Average Global Temperature on an Interactive Whiteboard or projector. Start the slider slowly at 1884, and be sure to pause and back up when global temperatures cool. However, be sure to point out to students that although temperatures cycle a bit over time, as you progress to the present day, much warmer temperatures persist. Follow this demonstration. How does this visualization compare to Carbon Emissions? Spend time in class looking at the Sea Level changes and list the areas that will be affected the most because of sea level rise. Create reports or posters on the facts about those areas (population, points of interest, culture, and history) to understand what will be lost. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Create a campaign to halt climate change, starting with simple actions that EVERYONE can take. Take time to determine each student's carbon footprint and changes that matter.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Planet Nutshell - Joshua Gunn
Grades
4 to 12
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Planet Nutshell offers short, comic videos hosted on Vimeo explaining diverse topics such as Internet safety, financial aid, and climate change. Click More, then For Teachers, and choose...more
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Planet Nutshell offers short, comic videos hosted on Vimeo explaining diverse topics such as Internet safety, financial aid, and climate change. Click More, then For Teachers, and choose your topic, Many videos include a suitable grade range with the title and run three minutes or less in length. Share videos using the share link provided with the direct URL to the Vimeo site or embed code. Save videos for later viewing on your Vimeo account.
tag(s): climate change (112), financial aid (9), internet safety (117)
In the Classroom
Include videos during your Internet safety or climate change unit and view on your interactive whiteboard. Embed on your class website or blog and have students create animated movies online using CapCut, reviewed here. Consider sharing one of the short Internet safety videos with parents during an Open House or Meet the Teacher night.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Change: Lines of Evidence - Division on Earth And Life Studies, National Academies
Grades
5 to 12
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Find seven videos about climate change and the evidence scientists have about recent climate change and its causes. The scientific community, on the whole, has accepted the main body...more
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Find seven videos about climate change and the evidence scientists have about recent climate change and its causes. The scientific community, on the whole, has accepted the main body of evidence about climate change and the causes. If unsure what the controversy is all about, or possibly to validate your own opinion, become more knowledgeable about climate change and causes by watching these videos. Offered in seven segments, this content replicates a longer video by the same name, making for easier viewing and understanding. Develop an informed opinion about this highly controversial issue. These videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.
tag(s): atmosphere (25), climate change (112), earth (187)
In the Classroom
Watch the series of videos as a class or assign them for homework, in a flipped classroom strategy. If using the flipped classroom strategy, use a program like edpuzzle, reviewed here where you can embed questions at certain points in the video. Another idea that would put you at the top of the scale as a Common Core prepared teacher would be to use a program like Google Scholar, reviewed here, to help you find articles about climate change, greenhouse emissions, carbon emissions, etc. from many different sources. Then embed the article and video in a program like Actively Learn, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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UCAR - Center for Science Education - The National Center for Atmospheric Research
Grades
4 to 12
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At UCAR find games, activities, and lessons built around the theme of our atmosphere including weather, climate, and sun and space. Visit the Learning Zone (under Explore from...more
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At UCAR find games, activities, and lessons built around the theme of our atmosphere including weather, climate, and sun and space. Visit the Learning Zone (under Explore from the top menu) to view video and images identifying changes in the atmosphere and greenhouse effect on the earth. Try interactives such as the solar eclipse memory game. Explore the climate sensitivity calculator. Be sure to check out the teachers' section to find several classroom activities divided into the topics of weather, climate change, and atmosphere and chemistry activities.
tag(s): atmosphere (25), climate (99), climate change (112), glaciers (18), hurricanes (36), snow (24), solar energy (35), sun (87), tornadoes (17), weather (170)
In the Classroom
UCAR is a must bookmark site for any teacher of atmospheric science. Create links to activities on student computers for students to explore and play. Search and use the activities for hands-on lesson ideas, all aligned to National Science Education Standards. Challenge students to create a presentation using Prezi, reviewed here to demonstrate information learned at Spark. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Surging Seas: Sea Level Risk Finder - Cimate Central
Grades
6 to 12
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What is the impact of changes in sea levels? Use this tool to show various effects with different feet of sea level rise. There is plenty of data showing that ...more
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What is the impact of changes in sea levels? Use this tool to show various effects with different feet of sea level rise. There is plenty of data showing that sea levels have already risen eight inches since 1880. Most people are unaware of the areas of the world that are at risk, though hurricanes may make us temporarily aware. This interactive map gives incredible detail by zooming into neighborhoods and understanding the possible changes that can occur with sea level change. Enter a city, zip code, or click on the US map to begin. Use the slider to change the sea level from 1 to 10 feet. Choose various other data such as social vulnerability, population, income, and property values. The application is based upon two independently written, easily accessible, peer-reviewed papers.
tag(s): climate (99), climate change (112), earth (187), earth day (62), environment (245)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to discuss how climate change is affecting sea level, as well as other weather events that have been in the news. Be sure to talk about energy and how it is produced and why all combustion reactions produce carbon dioxide. Research the composition of the atmosphere and why changes in certain gases can cause such a problem. Be sure to have students check out the validity of different sources and sites for accuracy and statistics and data that backs up the viewpoint. Rather than scare students, discuss ways that everyone in the world can create a greener Earth for tomorrow. Challenge students to research and then create multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, Vevox, Animatron, and Renderforest.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Carbon Footprint Calculator - Carbon Footprint Ltd.
Grades
5 to 12
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Answer the questions on each of the tabs to determine the amount of carbon dioxide you are responsible for emitting by the products you choose and your lifestyle. You are ...more
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Answer the questions on each of the tabs to determine the amount of carbon dioxide you are responsible for emitting by the products you choose and your lifestyle. You are given the option to measure/calculate using money spent or gallons (or another unit of measurement). This calculator is quite detailed.
tag(s): carbon dioxide (9), carbon footprint (8), climate change (112)
In the Classroom
Have each student use the calculator to determine their total. Compare students in the class and the types of activities that cause a greater amount. Ask why some activities raise the carbon footprint more than others. Research the reasons for a better understanding of what causes a carbon footprint. Discuss ways that families could take action to reduce their carbon footprint. Most students are unfamiliar with carbon offsets. Discuss what these are and whether they are important or needed. Create a campaign or contest to reduce your community's carbon footprint and make a difference for the future. Have students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site (or things that will increase your footprint) using a tool such as WordItOut. Create infographics using the class footprint stats and a simple infographic tool such as Visme.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Environmental Education for Youth - GreenLearning
Grades
4 to 12
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Promote environmental citizenship through this site's "green learning" units. The curriculum ranges from examining how electricity works, understanding the balance of ecosystems, to...more
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Promote environmental citizenship through this site's "green learning" units. The curriculum ranges from examining how electricity works, understanding the balance of ecosystems, to a high school unit on sustainable futures. Enjoy the interactive wind turbine and carbon calculator. The animation for grades 4 - 7 is engaging, and the video presentations for high school students on sustainability is powerful. Green Learning provides educators with an array of hands-on activities, online learning opportunities, printable materials, assessment tools, and valuable resources such as environmental experts to contact. Each environmental concept taught provides opportunities for real world learning, encourages social action, and advocacy. Teacher friendly planning tools can help meet instructional time constraints, students learning styles, and promote cross-curricular connections. The site is free but requires registration. Membership provides access to additional educational materials and a monthly newsletter. This program comes to us from Canada.
tag(s): climate (99), climate change (112), conservation (104), ecosystems (115), electricity (63), energy (136), environment (245), natural resources (35), OER (54), persuasive writing (46), solar energy (35), sustainability (56)
In the Classroom
The e-Card project series (found under Programs) invites students to research a topic, write a persuasive letter to an individual they believe makes decisions that effect environment, then design and create an e-Card. Have your students share their work on the e-Cards website and view what other students have created.There is a range of lessons and activities here, some more complex than others. You may want to choose a few that fit your curricular needs and then allow small groups of students to investigate one together. Have student groups make an online Blabberize, reviewed here, of things they discover about their topic, and later rearrange the items to "explain" their topic to classmates visually. Blabberize is a photo editing tool that creates talking animations from a photo or other image.
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Skeptical Science - John Cook
Grades
9 to 12
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Confused about the counter claims about climate change and global warming? This unique website uses skepticism about the skeptics of climate change. Before you discount this site, check...more
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Confused about the counter claims about climate change and global warming? This unique website uses skepticism about the skeptics of climate change. Before you discount this site, check out its use of science in skeptics claims and announcements. Use this site to find pure science in understanding the headlines, comments, and claims found in media. Be sure to check under the arguments and resources tabs of this site. This site does include some minor advertisements.
tag(s): climate (99), climate change (112), environment (245)
In the Classroom
Use this site to discuss the actual science being used and various ways it can be interpreted. Brainstorm and research various opinions about climate change and why people hold those beliefs. Search this site for the science associated with these claims. Back up the finding of the science with content for better understanding of the world around us. Have others that still believe in claims not supported by science? Allow them to find actual science processes that back up their claim. Have students or student groups create an online, interactive poster known as an infographic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Climate Change - American Museum of Natural History
Grades
4 to 12
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If you are looking for good, condensed information about climate change, use this resource. Click on "Introduction" to view information about climate change indicators and facts from...more
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If you are looking for good, condensed information about climate change, use this resource. Click on "Introduction" to view information about climate change indicators and facts from the past to the present. View changes that are occurring throughout the globe. Although this site is very "wordy," there is lots to explore! Click on the underlined vocabulary words to learn more about the definition and where to find more information about the topic. On the left find a link for an Educator's Guide
tag(s): carbon (14), carbon dioxide (9), climate (99), climate change (112)
In the Classroom
Use this resource for some excellent background information. Search for more information on the Internet to determine facts and how these facts are used. Create Public Service Announcements outlining the key points. Create a campaign for making small changes in our lives that can add up to a big difference. Have students create multimedia presentations such as an interactive online poster using Visme. Research alternative energy sources and create proposals for change within your district.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dimming the Sun - NOVA/WGBH
Grades
6 to 12
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NOVA provides a wide array of information on global dimming, a crisis due to the masking effect of pollution on the true impact of global warming. See interactive timelines of ...more
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NOVA provides a wide array of information on global dimming, a crisis due to the masking effect of pollution on the true impact of global warming. See interactive timelines of global change, some creative pollution solutions, and more. There is a complete teacher's guide, including hands-on classroom activities and extensive related links. This site is a companion to the PBS television broadcast. Though a few links still require Flash, there is so much more information at this site that it is worth a visit
tag(s): climate (99), climate change (112), earth (187), earth day (62), pollution (57), sun (87)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a starting point for your discussion of global warming and environmental issues or as a research source for student projects. The interactive timeline would display well on a projector or interactive whiteboard to give students the "big picture" they so rarely have on their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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