How to Think About Innovation
Provided by: 1y4e|Published on: May 30, 2026|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Engineering
Authors: Alidia Vane
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article explains the role of innovation in climate change solutions.
- Students will understand how previous innovative technologies are often no longer helpful, and how people can support innovation, even if they aren't inventors.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article includes advice for how everyday people can support innovation, giving students a sense of purpose in how they approach innovation and innovative solutions.
- This article is brief, which allows teachers to incorporate it without worrying about time constraints.
Prerequisites
- This article builds on students' background knowledge of climate change and its impacts.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This article mentions coal as a previous innovation that has now been found to contribute to global warming. Teachers can use this lesson plan to make additional connections to the community health impacts of coal production.
- After reading, students can research to find a new innovative technology to inform the rest of the class about. Some examples can be found in this video on desalination, this article on adaptation solutions for flooding, and this video on restoration projects supported by AI and drone technology.
- To make ELA connections, teachers can have students write persuasive essays, advocating for policy support for green innovation.
- To make connections to the Sustainable Development Goals, students can choose one of the goals and connect it to an innovative solution.
This resource explores the idea of innovation and its connection to climate change. It explains how coal was once considered an innovation but has become a problem that calls for more innovative solutions, such as renewable and sustainable energy. The article provides links to additional resources that examine sustainable innovation and the concept that being sustainable is, in itself, innovative. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
