We’ve compiled a list of online resources enabling and empowering children, young people, and adults to learn about sustainability and climate change at home. Alongside this are a host of resources for teachers of all key stages to aid in teaching environmental and sustainability education online. There has been a phenomenal surge in online and home learning, and there’s loads to choose from, including: interactive mixed media websites, online courses, webinars, talks and podcasts, videos, reading and articles, children’s learning resources and teacher resources.
The majority of these resources are free to access, use, and download. Any resources that require payment have been marked as such.
Websites: Mixed Media & Interactive
World 101 – Offers a range of ways to learn; videos, talks, infographics, interactive, charts, articles and more, on climate change and linked sustainable development issues.
Khan Academy – Search for climate change or sustainability/environment, a range of mixed media learning resources.
Academic Earth – Search for climate change, brings up a range of mixed media learning resources.
NASA: Global Climate Change – This site is full of information about climate change and global warming you can learn from, mixed media. Also resources for educators.
World Atlas of Desertification – Explores desertification across the world, linked to the SDG’s.
What’s really Warming the World? – Boomberg have put together a series of dynamic graphs that show the difference between natural factors and man-made impacts on global warming and man-made actions. Put together from NASA research.
Geographical Association: Investigating Climate Change – this page is full of resources exploring climate change, it’s causes, effects, and solutions. Lots of links to further reading, articles, videos, talks, learning resources, education resources for different key stages.
Our World in Data – Interactive graphs, information and research on C02 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Centre for Alternative Technology – Resources for exploring sustainability at home, sustainability information, and online courses.
Zooniverse – gives people from all ages and backgrounds the chance to take part in real research with over 50 active citizen science projects, many of which are nature and environment based.
Courses
The Carbon Literacy Project – provides learning and training for organisations, educational institutions, workplaces and communities to better understand climate change and how they can reduce their impact.
OpenLearn – Has a range of free courses about ‘Nature & Environment’ that cover climate change, energy resources, animals, and other global natural systems.
EDX – Has a range of free courses from top American Universities on sustainability and sustainable development. The courses are free but there is an option to buy an accredited certificate.
SDG Academy – Lots of free courses of varying length all focused on sustainability and different aspects of sustainability and the SDG’s.
Udemy – Offer a range of video courses, search for sustainability, sustainable development, environmental ethics, climate change and more. Some are free, others vary in price, they often offer discounts.
FutureLearn – Offers a range of short courses on understanding climate change.
UNCC:E-Learn – This UN site offers a range of courses covering climate change and sustainability aspects.
Centre for Alternative Technology – are offering a series of free online webinars exploring sustainability tops. While these webinars are free there are limited places and booking is essential.
Videos
Our Planet – Now available on Youtube as well as Netflix, Our Planet is a nature documentary exploring the wonder of the natural world and the impacts of climate change.
Project Wild Thing – David Bond’s journey in rebranding nature.
Talks for the Future – Available each Friday through Fridays for Future YouTube channel.
Ted Talks – Lots of different talks on climate change and on sustainability and related topics.
YouTube – You can literally learn anything on YouTube, just search for what you’re interested in, I searched Environmental Sustainability and got a lot of documentary results that look really good.
Eventbrite – has a host of online webinar events that you can get involved in, search for climate related talks, virtual meet-ups, and film showings. Many events are free, some require you to buy a ticket.
Talks & Podcasts
Why It Matters – Podcast from Council on Foreign Relations, hosted by Gabrielle Sierra, each episode breaks down an issue that is shaping our world’s future, some are more climate based than others e.g. recent enquiry into the fashion industry.
PodBean – A podcast database, search climate change or environmental sustainability and there are lots of results to choose from.
Reading
What is Climate Change? A really simple guide – the BBC’s guide explaining climate change, greenhouse gasses, the causes, and the effects.
Climate Literacy – Solar for School’s guide to Climate Literacy and the essential principles of climate science.
Envisioning a Green New Deal: A Global Comparison, Backgrounder by Andrew Chatzky
EU Science Hub – Has lots of information and articles to read about environment and climate change and specifically what they are doing.
Global Change – Has a lot of information about climate change, it’s impact on society, and response options.
Pebble Magazine – Is a monthly e-magazine featuring articles about environment awareness, its emphasis isn’t so much on learning, but it does bring regular news and information on environmental and climate change matters to your inbox, as well as a lot of interesting and helpful tips for living more sustainably.
Guides to Climate Change – Beacons Development Education Centre have put together guides for climate change with offer an unbiased, up to date, summary of the facts and arguments around climate change. Available to download for free.
The Royal Society – Lots of links to information and articles surrounding climate change, and to the IPCC report.
Kings College – have been conducting research into understanding environmental education in Secondary Schools: where it is, what it is, and what the future should be.
Education in Science – Issue 274 is designed to stimulate conversation on sustainability and environment education.
Carbon Brief – Articles and information on worldwide emissions.
Met Office – Research on the causes and effects of climate change, and climate science information.
Cambridge University Press – a huge range of online texts on Earth and Environmental Sciences.
UN Environment Programme – science and data: key reports, publication, fact sheets, interactives and more detailing environment information from around the world.
Possible – resources, information, articles, and links for learning about climate change.
For Kids and Young People
Study.eu – How students an help protect the environment. How can you have your great University adventure and still do your part to help the planet? Well don’t worry, Study.eu have some great tips for you right here.
Fridays for Future – All the updates about the student strikes and upcoming strikes, plus explainers about the crisis, and resources and materials to help young people gain understanding and act.
Six Senses – Junior Marina Biology program.
Our Climate Our Future – a video program to educate young people on climate change.
Climate Kids – NASA’s Climate Kids site is full of resources to help kids learn about climate change.
BBC Bitesize – Has learning and revision on climate change for kids.
Earth Rangers – An interactive App for kids that teaches them about the natural world and the changing climate, links to teacher and parent resources to support learning, and to communal learning.
Dream Big at Home – Woodcraft Folk have put together a range of online resources for kids to stay connected and explore the environment. There’s weekly activities and challenges, online storytelling and sessions, and the opportunity to share their experiences and activities with the online community.
Climate/Science Books – Beautiful Children’s story books on climate change and science education, these are not free.
ATAAC Handbook – All Together Against Climate Change have created a handbook to help young people understand and act on environmental concern and climate change.
Pictures of the Changing World – BBC have collated a series of pictures, shown through the CBBC website – that show the earth’s changing climate.
Young People’s Trust for the Environment – are releasing home learning packs for the environment every week.
The Wildlife Trusts – activities for kids and families to do at home, articles, activities, quizzes, and more.
TEDEd – Earth School; 30 quests for children and young people around the world to celebrate, explore, and connect with nature.
Surfers Against Sewage – Digital Ocean School, new sessions added every week, a variety of ways to take part and explore the ocean and plastic pollution solutions online.
RSPB – wild challenges and activities for the family to explore nature at home.
For Teachers
Key Stages 1 & 2 (Primary School)
Oxfam – Climate challenge for 7 – 11 years to investigate the human causes of climate change and what can be done about it.
The Environmental Curriculum – NAEE’s enquiry into opportunities for environmental education in the curriculum for primary and foundation pupils.
Eco-Schools – Primary pathway and ten topics, resources and ways to link classwork to extra-curricular actions.
The Harmony Project – The Harmony in Education Teachers Guide is a new educational framework that suggests a new way of looking at and learning about our world, developed by Ashley Primary School over 10 years, this site contains lots of information for Primary teachers.
Big Dreams Little Footprints – Daily ideas for activities to help children develop resourcefulness and environmental awareness.
Cambridge University Press – have put together a range of worksheets to aid primary learning at home.
WWF – nature themed activities, educational resources, things to watch and do, quizzes.
Transform Our World – an online resource hub helping teachers bring environmental education into the forefront of education with a range of activities and resources.
Key Stages 3 & 4 (Secondary School +)
The Environmental Curriculum – NAEE’s enquiry in opportunities for environmental education in the secondary curriculum.
Eco-Schools – Secondary pathway and ten topics, resources and ways to link classwork to extra-curricular actions.
Climate4Classrooms – curriculum linked teaching resources about climate change for key stage 4 and above.
Geographical Association and IBG – Climate Change resources for key stage 3.
Cambridge International Education – are currently offering their educational Resource Plus resources for GCSE and A-Level students for free, (usually accessed via a subscription).
Teach the Earth: Teaching Geoscience Online – A range of online teaching resources, plus a community so you can share thoughts, ideas, and resources with other teachers.
InTeGrate Activity: Introduction to Global Climate Change through Classroom Discussion – An activity plan for a classroom based discussion helping students develop critical thinking skills.
Mixed Key Stage Resources
Solar for Schools – Have two online learning programmes: Solar Champions and Power Detectives, both suitable for primary and secondary key stages.
Thoughtbox Education – 500+ inquiry based lessons for primary and secondary education, developing key life skills for the wellbeing of people and planet.
Inquiry Mindset – Exploring global awareness through thought provoking photographs.
SDG’s in Action – An app by Common Sense which can be used to teach students about the challenges that societies and the planet face.
MetLink – The Royal Meteorological Society’s climate change teaching resources.
Fairtrade Schools – films, stories and home-learning challenges.
STEM Learning – Resources and links to energy and climate change resources, actions, animations, games and more to aid in learning, for mixed ages.
National Geographic – Teaching Global Climate Change and other courses for educators.
BBC Teach – Offers a range of teacher support articles.
Ellen Macarthur Foundation – Climate Change resources for teachers looking at resources and the circular economy.
WWF – Have a range of primary and secondary school resources for teachers to access and use.
Campaign against Climate Change – Have a huge list of resources for teachers offered by a variety of other organisations.
Practical Action – Have a lot of resources for teachers to engage students with learning about the natural world and climate change.
ThoughtBox – Are offering a Climate Curriculum made up of lesson plans and resources for children aged 5 – 18.
Action Aid – Offer a range of climate change teaching resources.
Climate Change Connection – Have a range of resources for schools, including infographics, handouts, lesson plans and more.
Common Sense Education – Have a put together a list of organisations and sites offering climate change education and resources for kids.
Urban Science Learning Modules – Focus on climate change, biodiversity, and UV light. They are linked to the curriculum and include instructions for practical actions.
Tide Learning: Local and Global approach to Climate Change – collated challenges and learning about climate change for teachers and learners, suitable for key stages 2 and 3.
Tide Learning – links images and frameworks surrounding Climate Change.
Climate Change in Urban Areas: Bangladesh Case Study – Built on research carried out by the University of Manchester into climate change resilience, vulnerability, and adaptation, this key stage 3 resource includes key terms, lesson plans, homework plans, suggested activities, background information, and further reading.
Size of Wales – Education resources and classroom activities for Key stages 2 and 3.
Practical Action – Engaging STEM challenges and resources for climate and environmental education, resources available for mixed key stages.
PEEP – Resources on climate change and what can be done to stop it for mixed age groups, also with a strong focus on science and ethics.
Ashden – are putting together a range of quizzes, writing, and art activities to aid young people’s learning at home, primary and secondary resources available.
Sixty Second Guide to Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action.
Carbon Footprint Calculators
United Nations Footprint Calculator
If you have a suggestion for resources to add to this list please email admin@se-ed.org.uk.
