![]() ![]() Older students begin to differentiate between weather and climate. In this article, we’ve highlighted lessons and activities that help elementary students develop an understanding of weather phenomena, identify weather patterns, and compare and contrast weather around the world. Teachers of upper-elementary students may want to introduce climate change at a very basic level, and focus mainly on simple actions that students (and their families) can take to reduce their carbon footprint. These concepts, along with knowledge about weather and climate, will prepare students for the more complex principles that will be introduced in later years. In the elementary grades, students can begin constructing a basic understanding of seasonal changes, biomes and ecosystems, the water cycle, and the role of solar energy in heating Earth’s atmosphere, land, and water. Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives.Īs the seven principles indicate, climate science encompasses concepts from physical, life, and earth and space sciences as well as science and technology and the history and nature of science.Human activities are impacting the climate system.Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling.Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes.Life on Earth depends on, is shaped by, and affects climate.Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system.The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system.Seven Essential Principles of Climate Literacy It defines seven broad concepts, many of which can be linked back to the elementary curriculum in some manner: Elementary teachers looking to ensure that their students have the proper foundation to learn about climate science in middle school and beyond can turn to the document Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences for guidance. While climate change is not explicitly addressed in the elementary science standards and curricula, many of its foundational concepts are. ![]()
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