Teacher planning and development

Enviroschoolsopen_in_new Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui is part of a nationwide environmental action based programme where young people and their kaiako are supported by local community facilitators to connect with and explore their environment, and then plan, design and take action in their local places in collaboration with their communities.

Their website contains local stories, news, and events, and opportunities to connect.

The Ministry of Education has calculated a carbon footprint for all schools. This has been sent to schools and can also be requested by each school by emailing: emissions.reduction@education.govt.nz

• Learn more about how the Ministry can support schools in reducing emissions – Reducing emissions in schools and kuraopen_in_new
• The On Our Way programme provides curriculum resources to help your school uncover, assess, and respond to your transport story – On Our Wayopen_in_new (PDF)

Earth Dreamers: Growing hope in response to the climate crisisopen_in_new. This resource has been designed by the Ministry to support the social sciences curriculum for teachers of years to explore the complex global issue of the climate crisis within their local contexts. With a strong emphasis on indigenous knowledge and place-based approaches, the focus is on investigating holistic concepts and taking action. There are four sections:

• He taura taiao e kore e motu – exploring our relationship with nature
• Enough is enough – examining consumerism, advertising and planetary limits
• Rise against the tide – taking action for the Pacific, and our shared futures
• Feeding our community – engaging with sustainable approaches to growing food.

NZCER has carried out a number of research and evaluation projects on education and climate change, education for sustainability, and environmental education, and publishes practitioner-focused journals including Setopen_in_new and Early Childhood Folioopen_in_new. Here’s a selection:

• For teachers: 2024 research report on climate education in Aotearoa – Ki te ako āhuarangi tōnui ki Aotearoa | Towards flourishing climate education in Aotearoa New Zealand | New Zealand Council for Educational Researchopen_in_new
• For school leadership: padlet of resources – Climate resources for whole-school leadership and governanceopen_in_new

Investigates climate change adaptation through broad community engagement. This initiative moved beyond traditional science research, with learning shared through a range of media.

• This short cartoon introduces how sea level rise and flooding is already impacting young people. Me, my mate, my home and climate change (cartoon) | Deep South Challengeopen_in_new
• Nadine Hura’s podcast produced as a result of her Vision Mātauranga research and hosted by the Spinoff Podcast Network. Ko Papa, Ko Rangi: Ahi Kaa | Deep South Challengeopen_in_new
• Hura’s article on the Spinoff is an uplifting summary Five climate lessons from Māori communities (that are guaranteed not to depress you) | The Spinoffopen_in_new

An article to support teaching climate change, with awareness of its potential for creating controversy or anxiety – Teaching climate changeopen_in_new (PDF)

• A large collection of articles to support planning and teaching on the topic of climate change – Climate Changeopen_in_new
• A film about climate change, and a range of resources to support its use in the classroom – Thin Ice in the Classroomopen_in_new

Earth Sciences New Zealand has a range of resources to help teachers and young people learn about the science around climate change – Resources for teachers | Earth Sciences New Zealand | NIWAopen_in_new

• An adaptation simulation game created to discover people’s behaviours and preferences on sea-level rise adaptation – Future coasts Aotearoa serious gameopen_in_new
• An online climate change and extreme weather adaptation resource for teachers – Township flood challenge gameopen_in_new
• Imagine the future – brought to life with this weather forecast from 2050
  
  

• Climate change projections based on modelled projections over the next several decades
  
  

• A literacy resource for use with older students, outlining how to use evidence-led communication when writing about climate change.  – How to talk about climate changeopen_in_new (PDF)
• ‘Cheat sheet’ for people preparing communications that aim to promote meaningful climate action.  – How to talk about climate change: a cheat sheetopen_in_new (PDF)

This list is just the beginning.  We’d love to hear your thoughts on what further links teachers would benefit from around climate change.  Email links and comments to schooltravel@gw.govt.nz.