Climate change education resources

Use these free teaching resources and climate change classroom activities to learn about extreme weather events in the UK and beyond.

Climate change education

The British Red Cross created these free education resources about climate change to help people prepare for and cope with extreme weather events and the negative effects of climate change.

Learn about weather-related topics including heatwaves, floods and eco-anxiety with these climate change activities, and be prepared the next time you face extreme weather.

This is a teaching resources page. For information on how the British Red Cross helps people prepare for and deal with the impacts of climate change, visit the What we do section.

Free resources on this page include:

  • Weather Together: A teacher toolkit
  • Newsthinks: Topical resources about climate change
  • The pillowcase project: an emergency preparedness resource
  • Practical activities 
  • Red Cross and Red Crescent Climate centre resources

Weather Together toolkit: a resource for UK teachers and students

A climate change education toolkit to teach 10-16-year-olds how to prepare for and cope with extreme weather events, including resources on flood risk, how to prepare for the next heatwave, and eco-anxiety.

Watch the video to learn more about Weather Together and how to use the climate change resources in your classroom.

Take me to the toolkit

 

Newsthink: Topical climate lesson plans

A thermostat in a window during a blazing hot day.

Newsthink: Heatwaves

Explore the growing impact of heatwaves – in the UK and around the world – with this Newsthink resource. Suitable for learners aged 10-19.

Newsthink: Heatwaves
Automobiles halted in snow

Newsthink: Winter journey

As temperatures drop, consider how prepared you would be for a journey in the cold weather. Suitable for learners aged 11-19.

Newsthink: Winter journey
Typhoon-Rai-Phillipines

Newsthink: Climate change in the South Pacific

Using a short film, learners consider the impact of climate change on people living on the Pacific island of Tuvalu. Suitable for learners aged 11-16.

Newsthink: Climate change in the South Pacific
Firefighters spray water on fires in the Amazon rainforest

Newsthink: Amazon wildfires

How have the fires in the Amazon affected people’s lives and how can they adapt? Suitable for learners aged 11-16.

Newsthink: Amazon wildfires

Emergency preparedness resource (primary)

A drawing showing the kinds of things a British Red Cross virtual gift can buy - clean water, a sleeping bag and a first aid kit.

The pillowcase project

Explore how climate emergencies affect us and discover ways to be better prepared for extreme weather events by practising a range of coping skills, taking part in role-plays and scenario-based activities perfect for the classroom. Suitable for learners aged 7-11.

The pillowcase project

Practical activities for children and young people 

Rain and flooding activity: Build a rain gauge

Explore the effects of heavy rain and flooding while taking part in a science experiment to monitor the weather patterns in your area. Suitable for learners aged 7+.

Build a rain gauge activity

Eco-anxiety activity: Connect with nature

Explore the benefits that interacting with the environment can have to our wellbeing while building a habitat for nature. Suitable for learners aged 7+.

Build a habitat activity

Heatwave activity: Clothes and heat

Discover ways to keep cool in a heatwave with an interactive activity involving different colours and materials of clothes. Suitable for learners aged 7+.

Keeping cool science activity

Interactive learning for adults

Ready or Not? Flooding interactive learning

Do you know the ‘to dos’ and the ‘what not to dos’ when it comes to being prepared for flooding in your area? Try this ‘Ready or Not’ interactive learning activity to test your skills and improve your knowledge on how to cope with and prepare for flooding.

Take me to the activity

Ready or Not? Heatwaves interactive learning

Do you know the difference between the symptoms of heatwaves and heat strokes? Try our ‘Ready or Not’ interactive learning activity to test your skills and improve your knowledge on how to cope with heatwave emergencies.

Take me to the activity

Eco-anxiety awareness interactive learning

Have you ever felt worried about the condition of the planet due to the effects of climate change? Learn ways to reduce anxious feelings and connect with nature with this free interactive eco-anxiety course.

Take me to the activity

Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre resources

Y-adapt - by the IFRC and Climate centre

The IFRC and the Climate Centre developed Y-adapt, a curriculum for young people to understand and adapt to climate change with various games and playful activities.

Facilitate a Y-adapt session

Podcast: 'Can't Take the Heat'

A Red cross Red crescent climate centre podcast which explores how people will adapt to a warming world, featuring leading scientists and humanitarian volunteers.

Listen to the podcast

Climate games: Before the storm

Players learn about weather forecasts, making appropriate decisions for different lead times and encourages players to argue their choice. Suitable for community members/donors/disaster managers/volunteers/branch officers etc.

Game instructions

Climate games: The climate message

Learn how complex climate messages can often cause more confusion than clarity. Learners will explore how complex climate messages are transferred and explore options for appropriate use of climate messages. Suitable for community members both adult and youth.

Game instructions