Preparing for a Changing World: Climate Resilience in Schools

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2023 Issue

By Krystal Kavita Jagoo

The next generation is often thought of as the trailblazers of the future, but what does that mean when the future of our planet looks uncertain in terms of the vast impacts of climate change?

In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report called “Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in the United States,” which looks at the expected effects of the climate crisis on the education and physical development of children. It notes how extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding risks, and an increased prevalence of infectious diseases will reduce learning outcomes and contribute to learning loss for K–12 students.

The document also states that: “Exposures to climate-related stressors can occur in a variety of ways, some of which are distinctive to children, including through outdoor play and at school. Children … have less control over their physical environments, less knowledge about health effects from climate change, and less ability to remove themselves from harm.”

In light of these factors, it is important to not only consider how schools are incorporating environmental literacy in the classroom, but how they are responding to climate change on a practical level as well.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Krystal Kavita Jagoo, MSW, RSW, is an equity practitioner, educator, and artist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as Prism, Everyday Health, Healthline, and Auto Trader.

Education News

Helping Students Become Lifelong Readers

The best way to inspire today’s youth to read is by building a culture that celebrates their book choices and makes reading as fun and engaging as the media they already love.

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.

GIA GemKit Brings Gem Science to Any Classroom

Young students anywhere in the world can now experience the wonder of gems and minerals with GemKit™ by GemKids ®.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Krystal Kavita Jagoo
Krystal Kavita Jagoo
Krystal Kavita Jagoo, MSW, RSW, is an equity practitioner, educator, and artist. Her writing has appeared in such publications as Prism, Everyday Health, Healthline, and Auto Trader.

Advertisement

Read More

Paths to Success: Practicing Hope Theory in the Classroom

Throughout the decade I have spent working in education, I’ve seen the most positive impact when I’ve incorporated hope-based strategies into my teaching.

Helping Students Become Lifelong Readers

The best way to inspire today’s youth to read is by building a culture that celebrates their book choices and makes reading as fun and engaging as the media they already love.

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Whose Face Belongs Here? Navigating Race in the World of AI

Teachers need support not only in understanding the tools, but also in managing the ethical, cultural, and emotional complexities that AI brings to the classroom.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.

GIA GemKit Brings Gem Science to Any Classroom

Young students anywhere in the world can now experience the wonder of gems and minerals with GemKit™ by GemKids ®.