Climate change teaching resources
KS2 lessons
This series introduces KS2 learners to the causes of climate change and its consequences for our planet, and explores different ways in which we can manage and adapt to its impacts.
KS3 lessons
These lessons introduce KS3 learners to the causes of climate change and its consequences for our planet, and explore different mitigation and adaptation techniques.
The series ends with a decision-making exercise, giving students the opportunity to critically appraise different approaches to addressing a problem from communities where WaterAid works.
KS4 lessons
This series of six lessons has been developed to meet the criteria required by GCSE exam boards (Edexcel, AQA and OCR) for learning about climate change.
Lessons explore human and natural causes of climate change, the scientific evidence, the social and environmental consequences of climate change, and different approaches to mitigation and adaptation.
The series ends with a decision-making exercise, giving students the opportunity to critically appraise different approaches to addressing a problem from communities where WaterAid works.
Films
Our series of films helps explain the complex topic of climate change to young people, introducing its causes and effects – both on the planet and on people’s lives – and exploring how WaterAid works with communities around the world to manage its impacts.
Suitable for pupils in Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, as well as youth groups and home study, these videos can be used as standalone lessons to introduce each topic, or to support existing work on climate change.
Climate change and water
Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene are basic human rights. They should be a normal part of daily life for everyone, everywhere – but they aren’t.
Many of the world’s most marginalised communities have no choice but to rely on collecting water from rivers and streams, often far from their homes. The job of fetching water usually falls to women and girls, meaning they end up missing out on work and school. And dirty water causes illness to spread, making it difficult for communities to break free from the cycle of poverty.
These problems are only worsened by the effects of climate change – making the climate crisis a water crisis.
As springs and wells dry up, women and girls must walk even further to find water. Droughts destroy crops, leaving families hungry and with no way of earning a living. And floods wash away taps and toilets, polluting water sources and spreading disease.