These resources are crafted to align with Common Core Standards (CCSS) and help empower elementary teachers to integrate environmental education topics into their daily curriculum, including small group activities for a variety of subject areas. Visit our website to explore more free English Language Arts lesson plans and many more resources for all grade levels (elementary school, middle school, and high school). Even our youngest students can take climate action!
Teaching Climate Change To Grades K-2
Explore this Guide
Our K-2 Teaching Climate Change resource guide features a multitude of introductory lesson plans, exciting games and activities, and kid-friendly videos and books that are perfect to begin your K-2 climate change education journey. We hope this free resource provides you with the tools to incorporate climate literacy seamlessly into your classroom and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.
Lesson Plans
Unsure of where to start when teaching climate change to your young students in Kindergarten, First grade, or Second grade? These lesson plans are perfect for introducing this complex topic to younger learners. From fun reading resources to Social-Emotional Learning check-ins along the way, your class will be environmental experts in no time!
Ocean Habitat Changes Lesson
This lesson introduces students to climate change through a familiar topic: ocean animals! Explore how human activities contribute to the changing ocean habitat.
More Lesson Plans
Games & Activities
Make the introduction to climate change fun with these exciting educational resources, including hands-on experiments and interactive games that teach about the effects of climate change and why it is important.
Climate vs. Weather
In this activity, students will read about the differences between climate and weather. Have fun with your younger students while sorting various climate and weather phrases.
More Games & Activities
Videos & Books
Start your K-2 climate change education journey with these kid-friendly videos and reading resources, intended to introduce climate change topics in simple, digestible ways.
Saving Planet Earthly Read Aloud
The children's book, "Saving Planet Earthly," provides a clear introduction to the causes, consequences, and solutions of climate change.
More Videos & Books
Professional Development
Need a little extra guidance when tackling environmental teaching topics? Check out SubjectToClimate's Professional Development courses that have everything you need to know and are completely free. From a basic understanding of climate to writing detailed climate change lesson plans, these courses will help you bring climate science into every classroom. For more professional learning opportunities, check out our Professional Development page on SubjectToClimate.org.
Teacher Guides
Regardless of the subject you teach, it's possible to incorporate climate change education into any curriculum! Explore our other guides for Math and ELA, packed with plenty of math and English resources, including lessons, climate change activities, and more!
Free ELA Lesson Plans for Grades K-2
Our K-2 ELA Guide includes engaging activities, reading lessons, literature, and interactive tools designed to enhance early literacy skills while exploring climate science.
Free Math Resources for Teachers K-2
Our K-2 Math Guide features unit plans, interactive lesson plans, captivating activities, math facts, and custom-designed printable worksheets.
Next Steps
📚 ELA K-2
🧮 Math K-2
📖 Back to School K-2
🌎 Earth Day K-2
