Climate Action Toolkit
We’re delighted to launch CAT, the Climate Action Toolkit. CAT is a new set of teaching resources from Cambridge University that empowers primary school teachers to deliver engaging climate lessons to Year 5 and 6 pupils.
The Climate Action Toolkit is a set of enriching and engaging classroom activities designed and tested by Cambridge University for Y5-6 pupils (9-11 years old) to explore the urgent topic of climate change. Through five distinct themes, the project aims to:
- Spark curiosity and understanding: Fun and engaging activities will introduce pupils to the science of climate change and its societal impacts.
- Empower positive action: Knowledge and tools equip pupils to make a difference in their communities and beyond.
- Foster collaboration and creativity: Teamwork, problem-solving, and innovative thinking are encouraged through bespoke activities.
- Build confidence and hope: The toolkit emphasises our collective power to create a better future, leaving pupils empowered and optimistic.
What themes will learners cover?
Sessions cover the 5 following themes:
- Net Zero – The numbers and science of climate change
- Stay or Go? – How climate change affects communities, including migration, global politics and how communities themselves make decisions
- Hopeful Climate Futures – What does a future sustainable life look like? How can communities adapt to climate change?
- Making the future – Thinking like an inventor, design and innovation to solve climate change challenges
- Advocacy – The importance of communicating to bring about change.
How do these themes link together?
Climate change is a complex issue that can be understood in many ways. Each theme approaches a different aspect of climate change from a different disciplinary perspective.
How will this work in school?
5 hour-long lessons have been designed by experts from across the University of Cambridge and tested in primary schools.
Resources are suitable to be run as standalone activities, paced over multiple weeks, or all 5 sequentially as a single, off-timetable themed day.
The last approach of having a ‘Climate Change Day‘ has worked really well for schools where these resources have been tested and we would recommend this approach.
All sessions are designed to require with minimal printing or technology requirements, and to be delivered in-classroom with as little teacher preparation as possible.
Want to get involved?
We are looking for primary schools to pilot resources in the academic year starting September 2024.
This is totally free, and resources and teacher CPD will be available.
If you or your school would like to take part, please complete this online survey:
Teacher opinions & expression of interest
The first portion is anonymous to share your opinions on climate change education and help inform this project. The second part is an expression of interest to trial the pilot resources in your school
“When teaching 7-9 year olds, as someone who is wildly concerned about the climate crisis, it is very difficult not to scare children with the frightening truth of what is happening to our planet. Resources need to be frank and honest, but not make young children have climate anxiety. I am so pleased that this project is happening”
Primary school teacher, East of England
Creative: Imagining a hopeful climate future – sustainable island life
Literacy link: Climate change adaptation around the world
Active classroom: Stay or go? Climate change decision making
Numeracy links: Net zero and the numbers of climate change
