Description
Tackling Climate Change through Environmental Justice is a curriculum that teaches students about climate change through a framework that explores how race and class shape contributions to and impacts of environmental change. Topics include systemic inequalities, environmental justice frameworks and heroes, local issues, youth citizen engagement, and perspective-taking as they relate to coal, fracking, landfills, transportation, and water.
Recommendations
The strengths of this resource are:
- it includes lots of helpful framing to ensure that conversations about race and justice are facilitated well
- it introduces learners to systemic oppression and injustice as environmental topics
- it offers cross-disciplinary connections and extension activities to make content relevant for learners
- it includes a focus on action
- it accounts for and addresses learners’ racial, ethnic, and class diversity
Users should note that:
- the “blind men and elephant” parable can be revised to “blindfolded men” to avoid using disability as a metaphor
- lessons can also be used as standalone activities outside of the curriculum
- the cultural context framing at the beginning of the curriculum can be used separately (with other curriculums or as training material)
At a Glance
Format
- downloadable document that includes background context, facilitator instructions, lesson plans, and extension activities
Audience
- Resource includes content for 4th – 12th grade learners
- We recommend using it with 6th-8th and 9th-12th grade learners
Facilitation
- Should be facilitated by an adult or youth leader
Last Updated
2021
