Climate Literacy Tools for In-Service Teachers

Many teachers in the United States do not feel adequately prepared to teach about climate change in their classrooms. A National Public Radio (NPR)/Ipsos poll conducted March 21-29, 2019 found that 86% of U.S. teachers agree that climate change should be taught in school. However, this same poll found that more than 55% of teachers do not teach climate change. Of those 55 percent, 65% said they do not teach this topic because it is outside their subject area. Further, 17% say they do not have the materials and 17% say they do not know enough about climate change to teach it. In addition, oil companies and organizations that do not believe in climate change provide inaccurate literature to teachers. As one example, in 2017 the Heartland Institute nationally distributed to thousands of science teachers a publication called, "Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming." This document is full of inaccurate and misleading information about climate change. We have created a model of teacher-friendly materials to be made available online and in print that provides accurate facts and information about climate change. In addition, it includes some basic ideas and lessons for incorporating climate change into curricula for various academic levels, which teachers may adapt for their own grade level needs. We hope to provide K-12 teachers with accurate and accessible information that they can take directly into their classrooms.