The University of Reading’s Climate Education Summit is to be informed by your voices. Help us engage as many schools and young people as possible to create an action plan for better climate education.
The University of Reading is running an online Climate Education Summit on 15 September 2021, working with the Office for Climate Education, the Royal Meteorological Society and the Met Office. Our aim is to bring together young people, scientists, educationalists and policymakers, to create a new nationwide action plan for better climate education.
The views of young people, teachers, parents and school leaders, are key to the discussion and action plan – we want to hear from you.
The University has put together a range of resources that we hope will stimulate thinking, discussion and ideas amongst teachers and young people. What do you want to ask the speakers and invited guests about climate education? What do young people need to know to help us look after our climate? How could our education system better prepare young people for the challenges of a changing climate?
In advance of the event, submit a question to the panel, let us know what you think is needed from climate education, and book a free place at the Climate Education Summit.
Take a look at our range of resources below – which includes links to resources from supporting organisations, including the Met Office – and get involved in shaping the future of climate education in schools.
Primary schools
To help advance thinking about the future of climate education in primary schools, we have developed a video of Dr Ella Gilbert – one of Reading’s climate scientists – which you can watch with your class to help bring the subject to life. There are also free lesson plans for KS1 and KS2 children, teacher guidance and additional activities available.
Explore the resources available for primary schools.
Secondary schools
To fuel the discussion in secondary schools about what’s needed from climate education, we have produced a video of Professor Ed Hawkins MBE – one of Reading’s climate scientists and an IPCC lead author. You can watch this video with your class and use the supporting lesson plan, or additional activities provided, to engage your students in climate change.
Explore the resources available for secondary schools.
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
This year, the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition is taking place digitally from 8-11 July 2021. Scientists at the University will be revealing what goes into creating reliable flood forecasts to support global communities at their ‘What Happens When There’s Too Much Water?’ exhibit.
The University’s exhibition page includes more resources that can be used to engage children and schools with climate education. These include:
- A cloud spotting guide with the challenge to take a photo and share your photos of clouds, keeping an eye out for the ten main cloud types;
- A flooding simulator to see if you can predict – based on different soil, weather and river level conditions – whether a flood is likely or not;
- A poetry competition on the theme of rivers, rain, flooding or water in another natural setting. Submissions can be made in either the Up to Year 9 or the Year 10-13 category before 3 September. There is a prize of £100 and the winner will have their poem presented at the University’s Climate Education Summit on 15 September.
Explore more of the University of Reading’s research on flooding and water at this online event.
