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Climate Action

Climate Action !!!!

Climate Action is our new core topic and must be one of the three Topics covered in order to achieve a Green Flag Award. This topic covers learning about climate change and its effects, as well as actions that help reduce your carbon footprint.

The Climate Action Topic has natural overlap with all other topics.

Introduction to the Climate Action Topic

This video explains the concept of climate change and it's effects. It then explains why Climate Action is our mandatory Topic, and discuss ideas and examples for how to cover this Topic as part of your Eco-Schools journey.

A full playlist of Eco-Schools guidance videos can be found on our YouTube channel. 

Eco-Schools: Introduction to the Climate Action Topic
Climate Ready Classrooms

Navigating the science behind climate change and the actions which individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint can be daunting for young people and adults alike. Climate Ready Classrooms is a free accredited course on climate change and carbon literacy designed for young people aged 14–17 years.

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Climate Action Live Lessons

Interactive lessons to help your class understand what climate change is, its impacts, how we are contributing to this situation and how we can contribute to its solution. Supported with classroom resources and activities.

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Resources

Carbon Footprint Guidance

A guide to calculating your carbon footprint.

Climate Action Influencer

Activity to urge others to take climate action.

Climate Change Bingo

An introductory activity to gauge your group's feelings and experiences of climate action.

Climate Change Board Game

Learn some trivia about climate change.

Climate Change Social Script

Introduction to the concept of climate change using Boardmaker PCS Symbols

Climate Negotiations

Put yourself in the shoes of global decision makers.

Climate Storytelling Workshop

Think about how to have a productive conversation about climate change with an adult.

Craftivism Activity

Make an artwork inspired by the work of Scottish Artist Paul Bartlett.

Curricular Map: Climate Action

Experiences & Outcomes for the Climate Action Topic.

Emissions Matching

Learn about greenhouse gases and how net zero will affect young people.

Emissions Ranking Activity

Explore how different countries contribute to and experience climate change.

Energy Savers Activity

If we could all reduce our energy usage we could significantly reduce our carbon emissions.

Energy Source Game

Learn about the pros and cons of different sources of energy and heat.

Experiment: Greenhouse Gases & Insulation

Investigate the insulating effect of greenhouse gases over time.

Experiment: Greenhouse Gases & Temperature

Investigate how greenhouse gases are made and their effect on temperature.

Experiment: Sea Level Change

Demonstrate the consequences of sea and land ice melt as a result of global warming.

Fast Fashion

Explore your relationship with fashion.

Fast Fashion Alternatives

Learn about alternative options to fast fashion.

Fast Fashion Supply Chains

Do you know the steps that go into making a pair of jeans?

Film Club

Use films to start the conversation about climate change.

Host Mini COP Activity

Try hosting your own miniature COP conference

How Trees Prevent Flooding & Pollution

This activity, including a discussion and an experiment, will help pupils learn about how trees help to prevent flooding and pollution and influence our weather and climate.

Lunch Boxes Activity

Calculate the carbon footprint of the food we eat and see if you can design a low carbon lunch.

Map Your Journey

How big is your footprint? Challenge yourself to reduce your footprint by changing the way you travel.

Scavenger Hunt Indoors

Put your knowledge of climate change into action.

Scavenger Hunt Outdoors

Put your knowledge of climate change into action.

Scotland 2100

Map how climate change has impacted your community.

Seasonal Map Activity

Create a map of all the different environments in your local area.

Story time: Flooded

Author and illustrator Mariajo Ilustrajo reads her book Flooded, a beautiful story that introduces climate change and the importance of working together to build strong communities, with a follow up resource to create your own class newspaper.

Story time: The Last Wolf

Author and Illustrator Mini Grey reads her book "The Last Wolf", with resources to make a treehouse inspired by the story and grow trees from seed.

Story: Too Much Stuff

Author Emily Gravett reads her book ‘Too Much Stuff’. A great lesson on the importance of changing our relationship with things and the impact that our love for stuff can have on the planet, with a Boardmaker resource explaining the concept of sustainability.

Sunny Schools

Lesson plans on climate justice and solar lighting from SolarAid and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Sustainability Social Script

Introduction to the concept of sustainability using Boardmaker PCS Symbols

Traffic Survey

Find out how much traffic passes your school. Useful when campaigning for air quality improvements or road safety.

Video: Eco-Schools Climate Action Topic

This video will explain the concept of climate change and it's effects. It will then explain why Climate Action is our mandatory Topic, and discuss ideas and examples for how to cover this Topic as part of your Eco-Schools journey.

Visualising Climate Futures

Imagine a positive climate future.

What are trees made of?

Learn the importance of trees as carbon sinks by estimating the carbon content of a tree and discussing the role of forests in climate change. Created by LEAF Ireland.

Where to Start Activity

Activity to think about your role within the climate movement.

Youth Club Carbon Footprint Audit

See if you can reduce the carbon footprint of your Eco-Committee or Youth Club.

Climate Change & Southern Voices

Climate Justice lessons from FEE and the Siemenpuu Foundation.

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Climate Action Scenario

Lesson on climate change for ages 15-18 from FEE.

How Trees Prevent Flooding And Pollution

Learn how trees help prevent flooding and pollution as part of the water cycle.

Storytime: Stolen Sun

Join storyteller Allison Galbraith for an Inuit creation myth about animals rescuing a stolen sun, with follow up resources on understanding climate change, wind and solar power experiments and sharing thoughts on climate change.

Live Lesson: The History of Climate Change - Climate Action Week 2025

A lesson about the history of human induced climate change with follow up resources on climate change myth busting, wind and solar power experiments and sharing thoughts on climate change. A pre-recorded shorter lesson for high schools is also available.

Leasan beò: Seachdain Gnìomh Gnàth-shìde 2025

Bidh Seachdain Gnìomh na Gnàth-shìde am-bliadhna a’ leantainn sgeulachd atharrachadh na gnàth-shìde bhon àm a dh’fhalbh chun an latha an-diugh

Early Years to P3 Live Lesson: Animal homes

Take a tour of the Highland Wildlife Park to see how animals build their homes, follow up by inviting children to draw a home they would like to live in.

Live Lesson: Sustainable Homes - Climate Action Week 2024

A series of lessons and resources helping pupils to design their own sustainable home and garden, including sustainability concepts, engineering, design and climate ready gardens.

Live Lesson: Gaelic and Climate Justice

Live Lesson about the history of Gaelic in Scotland and how protecting languages links to climate justice with an Eco-Schools Action Plan based on the lesson.

Live Lesson: Getting to Net Zero - Climate Action Week 2023

A series of lessons and resources to introduce the concept of Net Zero, help pupils imagine what it could look like and how we will get there, including using your voice, nature's engineers, and the journey so far to Net Zero.

Craftivism

Watch the video from artist Paul Bartlett and make a collage as a gentle form of activism.

Live Lesson: Understanding and solving climate change - Climate Action Week 2022

A series of lessons and resources to help pupils understand the basics of climate change, how we are impacting the planet and how we can contribute to its solution, including an experiment, mystery activity and letter writing.

Live Lesson: Climate Justice

Lesson for high schools exploring the concepts of climate justice and human footprints and how we can challenge injustices with a letter writing resource.

Live Lesson: Climate change concepts and impacts - Climate Action Week 2021

A series of lessons and resources including carbon footprints, nature, food, sea levels and examples of action, including experiments and thought provoking resources.

Live Lesson: How to take climate action

Lesson for high schools based around COP26 covering climate change concepts and how to take action.

Live Lesson: Dealing with Disinformation

Lesson covering what disinformation is, why it matters and how to spot it, with follow up to write a report using reliable resources.

Live Lesson: Sustainable Transport and COP28

Lesson from Sustrans on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through transport choices with resources to conduct a travel survey, conduct an active travel barriers survey and create a public transport map.

Live Lesson: Robert Burns and the Environment

Lesson with the National Trust for Scotland all about Robert Burns's life and his connection to the natural world. With follow up resources to help you write your own nature poem and look after your wee bit of Scotland.

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