Another way to climatize your curriculum is to ask your students.  Intentionally bringing students voices into the center of what we as teachers are trying to do is one of Teach Earth Action’s pillars. We asked students to pick a class they are taking or one of their children’s classes and to climatize it. 

This is an assignment we do in our classes: 

Write out an extensive curriculum that would take up somewhere between 3-15 weeks of class that moves your learners to take action to mitigate and/or adapt to ecosystems collapse, species extinction and/or the climate crisis.  

We as a class have said repeatedly that we can act, must act and that we must do so soon, like now. So pick an action, a big meaningful action, as opposed to some of the  little feel good green distractions all around us. Now think about how you would design curriculum as a teacher to help empower your students so they can move to action....

Below are ten examples of what students are coming up with; they write course outlines, units, lesson plans, activities, and learning outcomes. The final products range from 25-50 pages including all the course materials. 

Auto major: The Future of Auto Mechanic’s Jobs as Electric Vehicles Replace Fossil Fuel Cars

Political Science major: The Geography of Climate Politics

Nutrition major: Our Planet and Our Body; Protein Wars: Plants vs. Flesh

Business major: How Small Businesses Can Boost Their Bottom Line Through Sustainable Practices

Engineering major: Infrastructure Design Necessary for a Renewable Energy Society

Nursing major, for her niece’s 2nd grade class: Introducing Grade School kids to How the Earth and Climate Systems interact, focusing on the Beauty and Wonder 

Education major, mom of 3 grade school kids: Caring for Earth through School and Home Activities Related to  Single Use Plastic

Economics major, written for his Uncle who is a teacher in the state of Punjab in India: Transitioning to Regenerative Farming in Punjab Before It’s Too Late

Business major, for his elementary school’s principal: “Be Aware, Take Care” events that Expose Kids to What Happens to Trash and Plastic

Psychology major: Healing Climate Anxiety and Nature Deficit Disorder in Our Public Schools