Dr. Duckett’s Climate Teaching Resources

OpenSecrets. (2024). We Are OpenSecrets.

OpenSecrets is a nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. This source would be suitable for teacher professional development or 11th and 12th grade project research. 

Project Drawdown. (2024). Home | Project Drawdown.

Project Drawdown offers well-written, basic treatments of 100 potential ways to drawdown carbon with clear measures of efficacy. This website would be suitable for preparing lessons for all grades; however, the reading level is best suited for 12th grade and higher, making it a good resource for professional development. 

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. (2024). Yale Program on Climate Change Communication – Home.

This resource from Yale University is valuable in providing research, articles, and reports that serve to understand the ways we communicate about climate change. This organization’s goal is to study various audiences in the world and their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Considering the level of these reports is situated primarily at the college-level and beyond, this source would be best suited for the professional development of teachers. 

Yale School of Public Health. (2024). Yale Center on Climate Change and Health.

This resource from Yale University contains various links to articles and research on the connections between climate change and public health concerns. Their research is directed at a mission statement of realizing health benefits for all people through climate action. This resource would be helpful for the professional development of teachers, especially in finding news and current research for consideration and potential lesson plans.  

Ad Fontes Media, Inc. (2024). Interactive Media Bias Chart.

This is an interactive graph that represents the reliability and biases of various media sources. It is a great interactive tool in demonstrating to students how to be critical of the media they consume. 

Climate Interactive. (2024). C-ROADS.

C-ROADS is an interactive tool that represents what changes can be made to the current projection of greenhouse gas emissions and temperature change if changes are made to our timeline of policy implementation to reduce emissions, prevent deforestation, and promote afforestation. Students will be able to try out different scenarios and see these projections graphed as they input data. 

Climate Interactive. (2024). En-ROADS.

En-ROADS is a climate simulator that allows users to input policy changes and observe how this affects various factors of our environment, economy, and society. This tool could be useful in representing to students (in middle or high school) how policy is especially significant in our response to the climate crisis and determining global health. 

Climate Central. (2024). Surging Seas: Sea level rise by Climate Central.

This resource includes interactive maps, drone videos, images, sea level tools, and more resources in understanding how sea level rise will affect different areas around the globe. This includes projections, analysis, comparisons, downloadable data, and local reports about coastal flooding and how this crisis will affect people, property and infrastructure. This could be a useful resource for students in middle school (with guidance) and high school students.

Cook, J. (2020). Cranky Uncle (Version 3.8.0) [Mobile application software]. Skeptical Science.

John Cook is a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne. He created this app with the team at Skeptical Science as a fun and engaging way to teach people about logical fallacies and various rhetorical devices as a means of fighting misinformation, primarily against climate change. This app is listed as suitable for ages 12 and up. 

Global Carbon Project. (2018). Global Carbon Atlas.

The Global Carbon Atlas is an interactive map that includes data on greenhouse gas emissions for every country. This would be a great tool for school projects and is suitable for use among middle school and high school students. 

HHMI Biointeractive. (2017). Earthviewer app.

Earthviewer is an interactive application that allows users to explore how the earth has looked throughout its geological history. This application would be suitable for all age groups to understand the different geological periods and how tectonic plates have shifted land masses around the globe with accurate time scales. 

Our Climate Our Future. (2024). Our Climate Our Future.

This is a great resource for finding lecture videos, activities, and resources. It is free to sign up and gain unlimited access to all of the resources that Our Climate Our Future has to offer. This would be most suitable for the benefit of middle school and high school students.  

NASA. (2024). Climate change | Evidence.

This is a comprehensive visual guide made by NASA to elaborate on the evidence supporting the climate crisis and to present the data in a clear manner. All the evidence is compiled in short summaries along with data, images, and citations suitable for middle school and high school students. 

American Museum of Natural History. (2014, August 24). Science bulletins: Keeling’s Curve – The story of CO2 #datavisualization [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains the origins of the scientific research on CO2 seasonal fluctuations and an average rise in CO2 concentrations named after the scientist who made the discovery, Charles Keeling. While the former is natural, the latter is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This video accurately represents the data accompanied with simple text that would be suitable for middle school and high school students.  

Biointeractive. (2021, Nov. 15). The Science of Climate Change | HHMI BioInteractive Video [Video]. YouTube.

This video is very well produced, presents solid science and methods of science, including how science determines what is known about climate change. There is some treatment of solutions including soil conservation and renewable energy. It would be most suitable for middle school and up.

GFDLCCVP. (2010, January 8). Climate modeling 101: Grid resolution [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains the fundamentals of climate modeling and grid resolution. Although the material is complex, this video explains it in a slightly simple way with helpful visuals. This would be beneficial for the professional development of teachers primarily, but could be useful in AP or advanced courses, although most of the material is college-level. 

Met Office. (2018, February 9). What is global circulation? | Part one | Differential heating [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains how the climate and the locations of biomes around the globe are determined by global atmospheric circulation as various parts of the world heat up differently. This process is known as differential heating. This introductory video would be best suited for high school students with clear explanation and visual models.  

Met Office. (2018, February 20). What is global circulation? | Part two| The three cells [Video]. YouTube.

This is the second part to the Global Circulation video (above). It describes how global circulation of the atmosphere is divided into three cells in each hemisphere: the Hadley cell, Ferrel cell and Polar cell. This video examines how air moves around each cell and how this controls the location of the world’s biomes. This introductory video would be best suited for high school students with clear explanation and visual models. 

Met Office. (2018, March 16). What is global circulation? | Part three| The Coriolis effect & winds [Video]. YouTube.

This is the last video in the Global Circulation series (the previous two are above). It examines how the rotation of the Earth influences our winds through the Coriolis effect: how the Earth’s surface moves faster at the equator than at the poles. This effect is what gives us jet streams and prevailing wind patterns. This introductory video would be best suited for high school students with clear explanation and visual models. 

MinuteEarth. (2015, May 26). How do greenhouse gases actually work? [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains how the greenhouse effect works. It discusses how gas is trapped in the atmosphere, the molecular functions of greenhouse gases, and briefly explains some of the historic data relating CO2 emissions to temperature changes. The visuals in this video are especially helpful, well-done, and serve an important purpose in the explanation of the content, making this video suitable for both middle school and high school students. 

Nielsen, M. [Hot Mess]. (2020, July 6). The basics of climate science | Essentials of environmental science [Video]. YouTube.

This is a broad introduction to environmental science and climate change. It explains the various biomes on earth, the greenhouse effect, carbon sinks, and some solutions to climate change. This video includes helpful visuals and examples that would make this a great introductory video well-suited for eighth grade to tenth grade.  

PBS Eons. (2017, December 4). The last time the globe warmed [Video]. YouTube.

This video serves the purpose of explaining the difference between how the globe has warmed across geological history and in more recent years (the Anthropocene period) because of human-induced climate change. Hank Green portrays the stark differences in “natural” warming in comparison to the rapidly changing climate of the modern age. This video is slightly more advanced, particularly at a level for professional development, but it could be useful for AP or honors students in high school. 

SciToons. (2013, Apr. 23). Modeling Our Climate [Video]. YouTube.

This video from Brown University is on modeling our climate. It is a clear animated discussion of how climate models work. It presents good discussion with examples of the kinds of models students are familiar with to build their understanding of modeling. There is a strong presentation of stratospheric cooling caused by anthropogenic climate change.

Allergy & Asthma Network. (2024, Oct. 31). The Impact of Climate Change on Asthma and Allergic Disease [Video]. YouTube.

This is a very clear and well-organized webinar with scientific citations, detailing climate impacts on asthma and allergic diseases. It would be most suitable for high school seniors or teacher professional development. It pays specific attention to environmental justice.

Deccan Herald. (2022, May 8). Wet-Bulb Temperature: Why Heat + Humidity can be Deadly [Video]. YouTube.

This is a succinct and simple explanation of the differences between dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures and how a high wet-bulb temperature affects the body negatively. This would be appropriate for middle school students and high school students.

Healthcare Triage. (2023, July 8). Ticks, Mosquitos, and How Climate Change Could Increase Disease [Video]. YouTube.

This is a serious video with research sources presented as subtitles, including a lot of text. Overall, it’s a good, data rich presentation on insects, making it better for teacher professional development or AP classes. The presenter also speaks to what can be done to reduce risks at the end of the video.

PBS. (2024, Oct. 26) Why Heat Domes Art SO Deadly | Weathered: Earth’s Extremes [Video]. YouTube.

This video includes discussion of extreme heat and how urban heat islands and urban infrastructure interact to create health risks. The risk changes under climate is presented and overall, it is a good basic review of expected climate impacts of precipitation and heat. There is discussion on how to make cities more livable in the face of climate change and warming temperatures. It would be most suitable for high school students as homework or for middle schoolers with teacher orientation in a classroom. However, one should provide a trigger warning about the discussion of deaths from heat.

PBS Terra. (2023, Sep. 5). These Diseases LOVE a Warmer World But Which Should We Worry About? [Video]. YouTube.

This video is an exploration of how climate change will deepen impacts on human health and major insect borne diseases worldwide and in the USA. The diseases discussed include West Nile, Zika, Lyme, and Valley Fever. It includes a detailed discussion of the risks of Lyme Disease in the USA and how to avoid insect bites generally. This video would be most suitable for middle or high schoolers.

PBS Terra. (2023, May 9). Too HOT and HUMID to Live: Extreme Wet Bulb Events Are on the Rise [Video]. YouTube.

This video provides a clear explanation of what wet bulb temperatures are and the impacts of high heat on human health from heat stress. There are clear explanations of how the research was done and a discussion of what areas in the US are most likely to be dangerous to human health. It would be suitable for high school students as homework or for middle schoolers with teacher orientation in a classroom.

PBS Vitals. (2023, Apr. 12). Got Climate Anxiety? You’re not alone [Video]. YouTube.

This video is on climate change anxiety, a spike in distress or fear about the effects of climate change, and how it is becoming an emerging mental health challenge. If you are part of the more than two-thirds of Americans who experience some form of it, you might be wondering what you can do to feel better. You might be a candidate for climate-aware therapy, or want to get involved in climate action. In this episode of Vitals, the narrator Sheena answers all this and more, with the help of Britt Wray, a researcher studying the intersection of climate change and psychology, and Merryl Reichbach, a climate-aware therapist. Overall, it is fairly optimistic and appropriate for high school.

PBS Vitals. (2023, Aug. 3). Heat: How Much Can the Human Body Take? [Video]. YouTube.

This video is a review of mortality in the last three decades due to heat. It examines causes of mortality in heat waves, mechanisms of body cooling, as well as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. For example, how one’s pulse rises and this puts stress on the heart. This would be most suitable for high school students.

PBS Vitals. (2023, Sep. 5). How Are Wildfires Making Us Sick? [Video]. YouTube.

This video features a discussion of health impacts of wildfires on breathing and cardiac distress, including detailed discussion of fine particle damages and other chemicals produced by combustion. There is coverage on how climate change accelerates the propagation of existing fires and provides ideal conditions for fire. Additionally, the speaker discusses the science of lung function in firefighters and the science of how we understand smoke risks. This video provides orientation on how to protect yourself and how to understand the AQI (Air quality index). It would be most suitable for high school students as homework or for middle schoolers with teacher orientation in a classroom.

PBS Vitals. (2023, June 15). Lyme Disease Cases Are Surging. Who Is Most At Risk? [Video]. YouTube.

This video from PBS focuses on vector borne diseases. It would be generally suitable for middle and high school students.

Rutgers University. (2017, September 25). Climate change and public health implications for New Jersey [Video]. YouTube.

This video from Rutgers University discusses how climate change is going to quickly present adverse health effects for the general population, even those who may have never had prior conditions. These experts cover the contributions of climate change to cardiovascular, respiratory, and heat-related illnesses, deaths from natural disasters, water- and food-borne illnesses, gastrointestinal issues, mental and behavioral impacts, and a change in the pattern of vector-borne diseases. This will not just affect vulnerable people, as the RU scientists claim, but everybody’s ability to breathe and live a healthy lifestyle. They also provide insights on what can be done in NJ to improve public health locally, and by extension, globally. This video would be best suited for professional development; however, it could be beneficial for high school students with guidance.   

SciToons. (2021, Aug. 4). Could climate change make us sick? [Video]. YouTube.

This video from Brown University presents a good treatment of vector borne diseases and climate change with solid science and appropriate simplification of complex issues. It would be suitable for middle school students and up. Through animation, it walks through a logical treatment of definitions and potential consequences, with an overall calm and non-alarmist tone.

Bureau of Meteorology. (2019, December 19). State of the Climate 2018: Behind the science—ocean temperatures and heat content [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains recent developments in ocean monitoring technology. The ocean is responsible for absorbing large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere and this has contributed to fluctuations and changes in its temperature. Andrew Lenton, Ph.D., explains in this video how this research can benefit public and scientific advancements in understanding climate change. This would be suitable for the professional development of teachers and possibly for higher-level high school students. 

GreenTV. (2014, November 24). Oyster farmers and ocean acidification [Video]. YouTube.

This video reports on a case study of how ocean acidification is affecting oyster farmers. Increasing acidification from rising CO2 levels is dissolving the shells of young oysters leading to lower populations. This video is comprehensive in that it explains the basic science of this phenomenon and relates it to the socioeconomic issues of a business suffering due to the climate crisis. This would be useful for viewing in the classroom from middle school to high school, as well as professional development for course planning and design. 

The Guardian. (2017, March 20). Sea level rise: Miami and Atlantic city fight to stay above water [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains how Miami and Atlantic City (and their respective states, generally) are going to be affected more drastically than other cities around the globe as it relates to sea level rise. Additionally, any improvements that are currently being made and resilience planning is largely ignoring marginalized socioeconomic groups (low-income areas, racial minorities, etc.) This video is an excellent example of how the climate crisis is not just about the environment, but how it will affect the people that live in these threatened areas. This would be suitable for high school students and the professional development of teachers.  

Oro Loma Sanitary District. (2015, October 29). Long overview of Oro Loma/Castro Valley Horizontal Levee Project [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains the development and basic science behind a horizontal levee which uses natural forces to build up and provide flood protection to marshes so that they are more resilient to rising sea levels. This video would be suitable for high school students as it is simplistic in its science, provides useful images, and accurately represents the support necessary from the community for a project of this size.  

PBS NewsHour. (2019, April 10). Antarctica is losing ice at an accelerating rate. How much will sea levels rise? [Video]. YouTube.

This report from PBS explains the importance of glaciers and ice shelves to the stability of the globe and at-risk communities on the shoreline. Included in this video are research methods, such as monitoring ice cores, as well as interviews with several scientists who speak on the importance of this issue and the drastic sea level rise that will come with melting ice in the Arctic. This video is suitable for high school students and professional development.  

PBS NewsHour. (2018, July 14). ‘Living shorelines’ use oyster shells and marsh grass to reverse coastal erosion [Video]. YouTube.

This video details how a living shoreline can protect and even grow vulnerable coasts in the face of the climate crisis. It also shows how research is being done in small-scale models to bring these living shorelines to life and interviews a wide range of scientists and civilians on their expertise and stories related to the development of these shorelines. This video could be suitable for high school students and professional development.

PBS NewsHour. (2019, September 18). What rising temperatures in the Gulf of Maine mean for the state’s lobster industry [Video]. YouTube.

This video investigates how rising sea temperatures have affected temperature-sensitive lobster populations and moved them up the coast to more habitable regions. Although this has presented some benefits for lobster fishing in Maine, if temperatures continue to rise this could threaten lobster populations over time. This video also describes the practices of lobster-fishermen in Maine and their efforts to be considerate to the population during their fishing and sorting processes. This video could be beneficial for high school students as a case study in climate education. 

TED. (2019, November 6). A coral reef love story | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | TED [Video]. YouTube.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is an accredited marine biologist and in this video, she discusses her fascination with parrot fish, the “lawnmowers” of the coral reef who consume algae and produce pulverized coral. They are especially significant to the maintenance of the reef, but they are being overfished and threatened by pollution. This video includes a larger commentary on how coral reefs lack protection and are threatened with extinction as a result of climate change. This would be a great video for middle school and high school students.

Verge Science. (2018, October 2). Sea level rise is so much more than melting ice [Video]. YouTube.

Using New York City as an example, this video describes what affects sea level rise. It explains the varied topography of the ocean’s surface, which is why some areas have more sea level rise than others. Overall, it is a comprehensive video describing factors that impact sea level rise such as warming oceans, melting glaciers, Antarctic gravity, Atlantic currents, and sinking land using simple explanations, models, and demonstrations. This resource would be best for grades 8-12. 

TED. (2014, June 25). Naomi Oreskes: Why we should trust science [Video]. YouTube.

Dr. Naomi Oreskes is a professor at Harvard University and specializes in the history of science and climate change. In this video, she explains that we shouldn’t trust science simply because of the scientific method, but instead for the credibility of evidence that brings the scientific community to a consensus. She delves into the fallacies behind the standard scientific method and explains that most science is inductive rather than deductive, contrary to popular belief. She uses examples from various famous scientists to explain her reasoning. This video is best suited for students in high school. 

TED-Ed. (2014, June 5). How to choose your news – Damon Brown [Video]. YouTube.

This video explains how media is often biased and lists the best ways to consume media to avoid biases or watch out for them. It covers primary sources, language that conveys bias, and more. This video would be well-suited for high school students and is accompanied with clear graphics that help illustrate the content of the script. 

National Youth Council of Ireland. (2020, May 7). An introduction to climate justice [Video]. YouTube.

This is a short video explaining the history of climate justice, including its interests in protecting marginalized socioeconomic groups. It helps to explain how environmental issues are social issues. This video also uses graphics so that students can easily follow along, making it suitable for both middle school (with guidance) and high school students.  

Scripps News. (2018, December 28). Political media’s bias, in a single chart [Video]. YouTube.

Vanesso Otero, the founder of Ad Fontes Media, explains her development of a map using two domains placed on the axes of a chart. The first axis is the tendency to report facts or editorialize (she refers to as representing “quality”). The second axis is whether the views of the media source are left- or right-leaning. This video would be incredibly helpful for high school students, especially juniors and seniors who will soon be able to vote, in understanding the contexts of the media they consume.  This video would pair well with an activity using the Interactive Media Bias Chart listed under the Websites/Software/Applications tab in this resource collection.

The Lancet. (2025). The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. Elsevier Ltd.

The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change is published annually; an established, international, and multidisciplinary project with the goal of monitoring health as it relates to climate change. Together, 57 leading academic agencies and UN agencies assess the commitments and progress of governments around the world and how they are adhering to the Paris Agreement. All content on this page is either Open Access or has been made free to read with registration. This source would be best for professional development, or in designing and retrieving information for lesson plans.

Mastrine, J., Nilsson, J., Alhariri, S., & Sowers, K. (2018). How to spot 16 types of media bias. AllSides.

This would be a great article for a lesson plan examining the kinds of language and vocabulary which may present bias in the media. It details the various types of biases and how to identify and assess them within a text. This would be most suitable for the professional development of teachers; however, high school students would benefit from activities relating to this article.  

National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2023). NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative: 2023 Annual Report.

The NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative: 2023 Annual Report emphasizes the research, federal, and community-based investments of the Initiative and the work being done to support collaboration and transformation in health sciences as it relates to climate change. It focuses on four core areas of research on health effects, health equity, intervention science, as well as training and capacity building. The goal of this report is to represent what is known on climate change and public health in an attempt to reduce health threats from climate change, and to foster health resilience in individuals, communities, and nations around the world, especially for those at a higher risk.

USGCRP. (2024). Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, D.C., USA.

Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change summarizes the most current information for improving climate literacy, the impacts of climate change, and solutions. Climate literacy is defined as “an understanding of how the climate system works, how human actions influence climate, and how climate influences people and other parts of the Earth system.” This guide is valuable in its coverage of the climate crisis and what’s being done to address it across the world. Teachers may find use in applying this guide towards their professional development. As the USGCRP claims, “[the guide] may be helpful in structuring curricula; assessing gains in people’s knowledge and understanding; stimulating dialogue among people with different interests, skills, and perspectives; and informing climate-related decisions and policies. The guide is also written for anyone who wants to understand how human activities are changing the climate, how climate change impacts people and our planet, and what can be done about it.” It may also be useful for high school students as the reading level is appropriate. 

Cook, J., Supran, G., Lewandowsky, S., Oreskes, N., & Maibach, E. (2019). America Misled: How the fossil fuel industry deliberately misled Americans about climate change. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. Available at

This informative document summarizes how the climate crisis was deliberately withheld from the public for years by oil companies. Additionally, it presents the ways that scientists and evidence supporting climate change were attacked, including the various ways that climate change denialists baselessly attempt to defend their claims. This would be useful for a lesson on logical fallacies and contradictions, as well as for providing a short history of Big Oil’s slow and ineffective response to the climate crisis. This would be appropriate for high school students. 

Heglar, M. (2020). Personal essay: Climate denial by another name. Drilled Media.

This article details how human rights are integral to climate justice because the system that allowed the climate crisis to escalate out of control is intertwined with systems of racism, economic inequality, patriarchy, and so on. Climate justice is an intersectional issue, and this is a thoughtful and passionate article which explains this concept. This would be suitable to read and discuss in high school classrooms. 

Lustgarten, A. (2020). The Great Climate Migration. The New York Times.

This extensive and interactive article details how climate change, drought, and food insecurity will and have already displaced thousands of individuals. It charts current climate projections, how this will affect immigration in coming years, and also investigates specific cases of climate migration throughout South America, Africa, and other countries which have forcibly displaced their residents. It effectively explains how climate moves people and the choices they must make for survival. This article contains chilling photography, graphs, and other elements that would make it more suitable for high school students. 

Epstein, P. R., & Ferber, D. (2011). Changing Planet, Changing Health: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Our Health and What We Can Do About It. University of California Press.

This text focuses on the implications of climate change on public health and society. Epstein and Ferber approach this task to purposefully represent what work needs to be done globally to improve current conditions. The authors connect the rise of various diseases (cholera, malaria, lyme disease, asthma, etc.) to environmental factors and suggest improvements that could be made for the health of humanity. They also consider what society could look like once these changes are made. While this includes preserving the planet as habitable and improving public health, it also considers changes that need to be made to our economy. As this text is rated at a college reading level, it would be best suited for professional development, especially as it concerns how to discuss the intersections of climate change with health. 

Hoffman, A.J. (2015). How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate. Stanford University Press.

This brief includes a collection of short, well-written essays with a sociological treatment of climate change. Hoffman is a professor at the University of Michigan, and his research includes environmental issues and sustainable business practices. This text is especially useful in the treatment of economic problems and parallels between the abolishment of slavery and the transition from fossil fuels. The readability is geared toward college-aged individuals and college graduates; therefore, it would be best-suited for professional development (and potentially, advanced students such as those in AP or honors courses). 

One of the main purposes of this text is to understand the sociological and psychological reasons that people believe in or reject climate change as a science (p. vii). He explicitly states that his two main audiences for the collection of essays in this book are other academics who can fill in the “missing bricks” of information and an educated public who can put this knowledge to use in a variety of fields (p. viii). 

Oreskes, N., & Conway. E. M. (2014). The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View from the Future. Colombia University Press.

This novel is a work of speculative fiction that reflects on what kind of society could emerge in several centuries if our ignorance and slow response to climate change remains the same—if scientific and critical discourse is prohibited. It offers a stimulating perspective of the future: the kinds of plagues, migration, and disasters that could unfold if accelerationists hold most of the power. This work combines good, basic climate science with communication, history, and business through a creative and satirical approach that makes the topic of climate change more approachable for the public. This book is at the college-reading level, and therefore it may be best for the professional development of teachers, or older high school students. 

Schlossberg, T. (2019). Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have. Grand Central Publishing.

This book focuses on just how impactful consumerism and capitalism are on climate change. It explores this theme by using examples in internet and technology, food, fashion, and fuel, demonstrating that whether or not we spend time thinking about climate change every day, our lives are always intertwined with it and our environment. Schlossberg’s tone is slightly humorous, as though to alleviate the constant pressure we all feel in thinking about climate change, but still maintains her realism in approaching the gravity of this topic. Overall, this book would be better for professional development due to its college-level readability.

Adams, J. J. (Ed.). (2015). Loosed Upon the World: The Saga Anthology of Climate Fiction. Saga Press.

This is a short story collection of speculative and cautionary climate fiction (or, cli-fi). While the authors in this collection do emphasize the harshness of the future we face, they also address solutions as a means of inspiring their audience. This collection includes notable and best-selling authors like Margaret Atwood, Paolo Bacigalupi, Kim Stanley Robinson, and more. These stories may be appropriate for readers from the 8^th to 11^th grade, however some include mature language and themes. Readers at both the middle and high school level will need guidance in approaching this material and stories should be carefully selected by the teacher with their students’ maturity in mind.  

Fagan, B. (2004). The Long Summer: How Climate Changed Civilization. Basic Books.

This text gives an anthropological treatment of past impacts of local climate changes on known civilizations. Fagan portrays climate as a key factor in human history because it determines agricultural prospects and inspires human adaptation. He approaches this topic by analyzing older civilizations and our own as systems with varying complexity, where increased complexity is positively correlated to the number of complications. For example, in examining some indigenous societies and systems comparing them to modern societies, he finds that these traditional methods are much more efficient than our own. This book has an approximate reading level of 9^th to 12^th grade.  

Figueres, C., & Rivett-Carnac, T. (2020). The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis. Vintage Books.

This is a cautionary text that examines two scenarios in the face of the climate crisis. In one, the conditions and regulations of the Paris Agreement are not met in the determined timeframe, in which Figueres and Rivett-Carnac outline what this means for humanity. In the other, they outline what needs to be done and what society might look like in a sustainable world with net-zero emissions. Although this text is cautionary, it is encouraging in that it promotes conviction and determination over despair in the face of existential disaster. This text would be well suited for high school students, especially juniors and seniors or those in AP and honors courses.  

Gaines, S. M. (2001). Carbon Dreams. Creative Arts Press.

This novel is well-written and engaging, offering insight into processes within the scientific community and how paleoclimates are studied. This is a work of realistic fiction centered around a geochemist who must abandon her research goals for something more profitable—oil exploration. It puts into context the ways that science is (mis)used by policymakers, and though it is fiction, Gaines makes a point in including accurate science and data. The characters in this novel represent larger arguments and positions on climate change and scientific theories, and it is especially interesting to read their debates on theory and ethics. This text could be suitable for students anywhere from an 8^th to an 11^th grade level. 

Kolbert, E. (2014). The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. Henry Holt and Co.

In this text, Kolbert recognizes the Anthropocene as the sixth extinction event. She acknowledges that since the dawn of mankind there have already been numerous casualties related to greed and unsustainable practices, and there are only more extinctions projected to occur if this fatal flaw continues to be ignored. This is an easier read and is a great resource for those who want to understand how exactly the climate crisis impacts animals and ecosystems (e.g., the reduction of biodiversity, invasive species, etc.). The readability of this book is appropriate for most high school students. 

Palmer, L. (2017). Hot, Hungry Planet: The Fight to Stop a Global Food Crisis in the Face of Climate Change. St. Martin’s Press.

This text focuses on key factors and what can be done to increase food security in the face of climate change. This combines improvements in education, agriculture, policy, and social practices. The valuable role women play in agriculture and food security is also highlighted in this text. As Palmer has a background in journalism, this text is easy to follow and clearly laid out. This book has become a staple in college classrooms across the U.S., and it would be appropriate for high school students in the 11^th and 12^th grades.  

Rush, E. (2018). Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore. Milkweed Editions.

This climate memoir is written by the creative non-fiction specialist, Elizabeth Rush, a professor at Brown University. It is notable for its lyrical approach to writing scientifically and its attention to voices that have been marginalized in the climate crisis. The readability of this text is anywhere from the eighth to eleventh grade, but most formulas place it at about a tenth-grade level. Therefore, we might suggest this as an honor’s reading for eighth graders if they are especially advanced, but it would be best suited for high-school students. 

The purpose of this text is to guide readers through an intimate journey to various places that have been drastically affected by the ongoing climate crisis and to represent the stories of individuals with widely ranging careers and community responsibilities. It also captures the essence of how the environment and all of the creatures living within it have been challenged and made to adapt to a rapidly changing ecosystem. 

Schmittner, A. (2021). Introduction to Climate Change [eBook]. Oregon State University.

An open access climate science textbook suitable for grades 11, 12, and professional development for teachers. The text can be downloaded or viewed as an e-text by using the button below. This text includes comprehensive chapters on each topic, diagrams, lecture videos, and exercises. 

Shelby, A. (2017). South Pole Station. Picador Press.

This novel is very well written, humorous, and engaging. It’s purposeful for understanding the process of science and how Antarctica is studied. It involves a diverse, interesting, and zany cast of characters who all feel called to this tiny enclosure situated in a frigid and uninhabitable biome—together, they study the climate and learn how to live with one another and themselves. There is also some commentary regarding the impact of politically biased federal agencies on the progressive pursuit of science. This book is relatively easy to read and would be suitable for students in 8^th to 10^th grade. However, there is some mature language; if teaching or recommending to younger students, approach with caution. 

Zalasiewicz, & J., Williams, M. (2012) The Goldilocks Planet: The Four Billion Year Story of Earth’s Climate. Oxford University Press.

This work of non-fiction is predicated on the notion that the earth exists in a “Goldilocks balance” that has made it “just right” in supporting life. Zalasiewicz and Williams are geologists and reveal in this text new discoveries in palaeoclimatology that demonstrate the recent, drastic changes in climate in relation to a vast history of geological time. The readability of this text ranges anywhere from tenth grade to college level, making it more fit for AP and honors high school students. The Goldilocks Planet effectively reviews basic climate science in its discussion of each geological epoch. 

Marilyn Rowland. (2019, September 8). Author Elizabeth Rush on her book, “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” [Video]. YouTube.

Author Elizabeth Rush talks with WCAI science editor Heather Goldstone about her book, Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore. Rush discusses the ways in which humans adapt to external changes outside of their control, from ecological transformations to political revolution. In this video, she also reads from select passages and provides further insight into the ideas of the book through a discussion. The interview format then opens to general questions from the audience.  

Michigan Engineering. (2017, February 15). How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate | Andrew Hoffman [Video]. YouTube.

In this video, Hoffman examines what causes people to reject or accept the scientific consensus on climate change. He articulates evidence from sociology, psychology, and political science and therefore presents the various and opposing cultural lenses the public uses to interpret science. Using historical shifts and markers of the past, he creates a lesson in understanding the crisis at hand in order to motivate the public to act. This talk reflects the key message of Hoffman’s book, How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, which “makes a powerful case for a more scientifically literate public, a more socially engaged scientific community, and a more thoughtful mode of public discourse.”  

Oregon Humanities Center. (2020, April 2). Elizabeth Rush: “On Rising Together: Creative and Collective Responses to the Climate Crisis” [Video]. YouTube.

In this talk, Rush speaks about a small community in Staten Island who were adversely affected and made to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy: Oakwood Beach. She describes the challenges, hurdles, and radical decisions the residents faced in overcoming this crisis. Moreover, as she does in her book Rising, she gives a voice to those disenfranchised individuals with special acknowledgement given to indigenous communities, gender, social vulnerability, and the ways people in precarious situations caused by climate crisis are taken advantage of (such as with insurance). This is a much longer video, and so it would be best to watch selections with students alongside reading her book. 

The Pell Center. (2020, March 4). February 24, 2020: Elizabeth Rush [Video]. YouTube.

Elizabeth Rush discusses her book Rising. This is a good introduction to why she wrote the book and its breadth, both poetically and scientifically. This would serve as informative supplemental material before or while teaching her book in order to provide background on her career and her process in writing the text.