Teaching Elementary Students about Climate Change: It’s Never Too Early

Recently, Kottie Christie-Blick, alumna of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, sat down for an interview with Minda Berbeco, Policy Director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), to discuss how she approaches the subject of climate change in her 5th grade classroom. In the interview, Kottie emphasizes the importance of teaching climate change and empowering students by teaching them ways to help slow down climate change.

Her students, inspired by their lessons, contributed to an article written by Kottie, published on the NOAA’s Climate Steward website, which encourages adults to talk with children about climate change honestly and at an age-appropriate level. "Even very young children can begin learning that we need to take care of Planet Earth, even if they don't yet fully understand why," Kottie writes. In her article, she shares tips and ideas for how to talk to students, as well as sample essays written by her own students on climate change and environmental topics.

Kottie Christie-Blick traveled to South Africa in 2011-2012 as a participant of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program. While in South Africa, she organized an international exchange of ideas between elementary students in South Africa and the United States. Together, the students studied and discussed ways they could take care of the environment via virtual methods such as blogs and Skype.

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education.

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