Teaching Climate Change to Children describes the journey of two literacy researchers to learn about climate change and support relevant literacy pedagogy for young children (pre-K–6). The authors argue that climate change and social justice are inextricable from each other; that children in the younger grades are capable of learning about climate change; and that reading, writing, and language study is well-suited to this work. Three anchoring themes are offered to support literacy climate pedagogy--interconnectivity, relationality, and action--with rich classroom examples and different entry points to engage with these themes, either by "starting small" or "going big." The text includes chapters on the importance of taking an emotionally affirming stance and on the potential of incorporating arts-based methods. With love for the Earth and one another at its core, this accessible book takes a broad view of what it means to cultivate sustainable futures for our planet, for teachers, and for children in today's schools.

Book Features:

  • A unique focus on teaching about climate change to young children, as opposed to adolescents.
  • Insights drawn from a yearlong teacher inquiry group with classroom teachers and from literacy methods courses with preservice teachers.
  • Explicit attention to the importance of humanizing and care-based practices in literacy climate pedagogy.
  • Classroom examples collected across four urban public schools where teachers used the activities and resources discussed in the book.
  • User-friendly textboxes with suggestions and questions to guide discussion, reflection, and action.
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Describes the journey of two researchers to learn about climate change and support literacy pedagogy for young children. The authors argue that climate change and social justice are inextricable from each other; that children in the younger grades are capable of learning about climate change; and that literacy study is suited to this work.
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  • Contents
  • Foreword  Carla Shalaby  xi
  • Prefacexiii
    Content and Organization of the Book  xv
    Jumping Into the Work  xvi
  • Acknowledgmentsxvii
  • 1.  Being of Use: Teaching Children About Climate Change Through Literacy  1
    The Imperative to Address Climate Change as an Issue of Justice  2
    Why Children and Elementary Teachers  4
    Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy With Children  5
    Seeds and Roots: Our Yearlong Climate Justice Inquiry Group  7
  • 2.  Lighting Our Way: Anchoring Themes for a Literature-Rich Climate Curriculum That Centers Diverse Books  11
    Anchoring Themes for a Literature-Rich Climate Curriculum  13
    Anchoring Theme 1: Interconnectivity  14
    Anchoring Theme 2: Relationality  20
    Children's Literature Can Root Explorations of the Anchoring Themes  27
  • 3.  Starting Small: Growing Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy by Enhancing Existing Curricula  31
    Making Space  32
    Textual Entry Point  33
    Skills, Strategies, and Practices Entry Point  37
    Topical Entry Point  42
    Place-Based Entry Point  44
    Starting Small Plants Seeds  46
  • 4.  Going Big: Growing Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy Through Unit Design  49
    Principles for Designing Literacy Units About Climate Change  50
    Exemplar Units From Pre-K to Teacher Education  62
    Tips and Tools to Support Literacy Climate Unit Design  69
  • 5.  Embracing Feelings: The Importance of an Emotionally Affirming Stance in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  73
    Big Feelings to Anticipate During Climate Education  74
    Lessons From Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Pedagogies  75
    Starting With Inner Work: Educators Making Space to Feel and Engage in Meaning-Focused Coping  77
    Classroom Practices to Support Emotionally Affirming Reading and Writing About Climate Change  79
    Embracing Feelings Prepares Us for Sustained Action  92
  • 6.  Nourishing Our Hearts: The Promise of the Arts in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  95
    Roles of the Arts in Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogy  96
    Examples of Various Art Forms From Literacy-Based Climate Pedagogies Used With Elementary Teachers and Children  101
    Sustainable Art-Making  109
    Arts Nourish Our Hearts  110
  • 7.  We Are Not Alone: How Elementary Teachers Can Take Action Now to Cultivate Sustainable Futures  113
    Growing Meaningful Literacy Pedagogy  114
    Cultivating Connections and Meaningful Professional Learning  118
    Caring for Each Other, Our Profession, and Our World When Our House Is on Fire  122
  • References  127
    Children's and Young Adult Literature  140
  • Index  143
  • About the Authors  153
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780807769782
Publisert
2024-03-22
Utgiver
Vendor
Teachers' College Press
Vekt
272 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
176

Foreword by

Biografisk notat

Rebecca Woodard is an associate professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois Chicago and faculty director of the Chicago Area Writing Project.

Kristine M. Schutz is an associate professor in curriculum and instruction and co-coordinator of the Language, Literacies, and Learning MEd program at the University of Illinois Chicago.