Climate Change and Social Studies

Climate change is a story of people, power, place, and choice. From history and geography to civics and economics, use these classroom-ready social studies tools to help students understand how human decisions shaped the climate crisis. Build critical thinkings skills, and show students how collective action can shape what comes next.

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How to Teach Climate Change in Social Studies

Lesson Guide: The History of Climate Change External link Locked

Help students explore what the story of our planet’s past can teach us about the choices we face today—and the future we want to build. Teacher instructions and guiding questions included.

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Climate News, Clear Thinking with Heatmap External link

Spark student curiosity and boost climate smarts with real-world stories from Heatmap journalists, the people working to tell the inside story of the race to fix the planet.
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Blog: Is environmentalism still relevant? External link

The environmental movement sparked widespread awareness and action in the postindustrial era—but does it still meet the challenges of today? Discover how to connect the history of environmentalism with the realities of modern climate change in your classroom.
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Climate Project Standards Alignment External link

Information about how OER Project: Climate aligns with your classroom standards.
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OER Project: Climate Course Guide External link

Everything you need to know about teaching the course.

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History and Climate Change

Lesson Plan: History and Climate Change External link Locked

What role does history play in understanding climate change? In this lesson, students examine how climate change has shaped the past, influences the present, and may impact the future

Article: The Industrial Revolution and Climate Change External link

The Industrial Revolution ushered in a new era: one of unprecedented economic growth, but also one of human-caused environmental destruction.
A black and white photo showing nine men in antiquated attire posing in front of the trunk of a giant sequoia tree.

Article: Environmentalism External link

The progress of industrialization brought new challenges in resource management and caused environmental harm. Discover the movement that rose to confront these challenges.

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Geography and Climate Change

Lesson Plan: Geography and Climate Change External link Locked

Discover how geography and geographic skills can help students better understand modern climate change and the interaction between humans and their environment.

Overview drove shot of waterfront homes inundated by rising sea and waves.

Article: Climate Impacts: Sea-Level Rise External link

This data exploration focuses on global sea-level rise—its connections to greenhouse gas emissions and the ways it threatens human communities all over the world.
Data Investigation - Food Systems

Data Investigation: Food Systems External link

Good for some, but not for others? Explore data that predicts how warmer temperatures will affect crops in different regions.

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Civics and Climate Change

Lesson Plan: Civics and Climate Change External link Locked

Explore how governments respond to climate change through laws, policies, and international agreements, and examine how citizens can influence these decisions through civic participation.

Infographic: Who Caused Climate Change? External link

Explore historical, current, and per capita emissions to determine which nations have the most responsibility to act.
Policy Letter Writing

Activity: Policy Letter Writing External link

Time to write! Take what you’ve learned about climate policy and write a compelling letter to a decision-maker arguing your case.

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Economics and Climate Change

Lesson Plan: Economics and Climate Change External link Locked

Investigate how climate change is both a global problem and a shared economic challenge by exploring how the production, distribution, and consumption of everyday goods affect people and the planet.
Windmills perched high on a rocky hilltop against a clear sky.

Article: Working the Levers of Climate Action External link

Government. Business. NGOs. Individuals. These are the levers of power: What can each one do?

Infographic: What’s a Green Premium? External link

When it comes to adopting technologies at scale, the price tag matters. How can we lower the green premium for the innovations we need?
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Community: Ask, Connect, Share

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