Introduction to Climate Resilience

From our Sustainable Intelligence Program:

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Introduction to Climate Resilience: Elementary School

This lesson introduces students to climate resilience by emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in helping others during weather emergencies. Weather emergencies are becoming more serious and happening more often around the world because of climate change. The lesson starts by activating students’ thinking about weather and how different kinds of weather can both positively and negatively impact our daily lives. Students then consider which people in their community might face greater challenges during weather emergencies such as snowstorms, heavy rain, or heatwaves. They also look at how unfairness in society might be the cause of the increased challenges some people face. By thinking about the varying impacts of weather on different groups of people, students explore the concept of climate justice through a simplified lens. The lesson ends with students considering the ways in which people—including themselves—can help others during weather emergencies, promoting climate resilience by helping the most vulnerable people in their community bounce back in challenging times.

Introduction to Climate Resilience: Middle School

This lesson introduces students to climate resilience—the ability of people and communities to bounce back when faced with climate challenges. Students consider the likelihood that different groups of people will experience the negative impacts of climate changes (risk) and the factors that contribute to the degree of danger they might face (vulnerability). Students consider the two main strategies for addressing climate change—mitigation and adaptation—as ways to increase community climate resilience, and they reflect on the diversity of climate challenges and climate solutions that exist across the United States. Students participate in a role play activity in which they take different perspectives to consider how climate change affects individuals and groups differently based on social factors such as income, education, race and ethnicity, and age. The lesson culminates in students working together to develop climate action plans to help address climate change in their school community.

Introduction to Climate Resilience: High School

This lesson introduces students to climate resilience—the ability of people and communities to bounce back when faced with climate challenges. Students consider the likelihood that different groups of people will experience the negative impacts of climate change (risk) and the factors that contribute to the degree of danger they might face (vulnerability). Students consider the two main strategies for addressing climate change—mitigation and adaptation—as ways to increase community climate resilience, and they reflect on the diversity of climate challenges and climate solutions that exist across the United States. Students participate in a role play activity in which they take different perspectives to consider how climate change affects individuals and groups differently based on social factors such as income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and age. The lesson culminates in students using a “futures thinking” approach to consider potential and preferable futures for their own communities in the face of climate change. Students work together to develop action plans to help achieve the future they want—one that promotes climate resilience and climate and environmental justice.