In this recorded professional learning session, Associate Professor Chris Eames shares curriculum connections and pedagogical approaches to support effective climate change1 education in Aotearoa2 New Zealand. The importance of wellbeing, hope and agency is highlighted, and we share a range of ready to use resources to support planning and teaching in the classroom.
Chris Eames is an Associate Professor in the Technology, Environmental, Mathematics and Science Education Research Centre (TEMS) at the University of Waikato. He has contributed to the Environmental Science Expert Group contracted to design an Environmental Science component for the Science framework for the 2025 PISA tests.
You can download the video and slideshow presentation.
Students need to see examples of positive change that is happening. Give them opportunities to act and play a part in that change...
Dr Chris Eames
Index
| Topic | Slideshow number(s) | Video timecode |
| Welcome and index | 1–2 | 00:00 |
| Introducing the Science Learning Hub, NZASE and Dr Chris Eames | 3–8 | 00:49 |
| What is climate change education? | 9–11 | 03:32 |
| Starting with the science: curriculum connections – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space Science | 12–16 | 06:16 |
| Pedagogy for climate change | 17 | 10:56 |
| Nature connection, Mātauranga Māori and Systems and critical thinking | 18–20 | 11:45 |
| Solutions and hope | 21–24 | 19:56 |
| Decision making and action taking | 25–26 | 25:57 |
| Teacher and student wellbeing | 27–29 | 29:13 |
| Integration | 30–33 | 32:23 |
| Resources | 34–37 | 37:31 |
| SLH links, keep in touch and thanks | 38 | 40:16 |
Related content
Watch part one of this webinar series Understanding the basics of climate change and the complementary session Exploring climate change education in primary schools.
The resources mentioned in the webinar can be found in this collection Climate change education – secondary which you can copy, edit and share.
Start by exploring our PLD article Climate change resources – planning pathways.
Climate change – a wicked problem for classroom inquiry provides pedagogical suggestions on ways to approach this issue in ways that help to avoid overwhelming students.
Agency in the Anthropocene3 article and presentation – provides current understanding and examples as well as exploring the PISA 2025 science framework and feature Chris.
To view all of our climate change resources, visit the Climate change topic – use the filters to see resources with a secondary level focus.
Useful link
Agency in the Anthropocene – a supporting document to the PISA 2025 Science Framework.
Acknowledgement
Thank you to Dr Chris Eames for sharing his expertise4.
This webinar series is a collaboration5 between the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao and the New Zealand Association of Science Educators (NZASE).
- climate change: The large-scale, long-term increase in the Earth’s average temperatures, with associated changes in weather patterns. There is significant scientific evidence that warming is due to increased quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with most of the rise due to human activity.
- Aotearoa: The Māori name for New Zealand, meaning Land of the Long White Cloud.
- Anthropocene: A proposed geological era marking the significant impact of human activities on Earth's geology and ecosystems.
- expertise: Having excellent knowledge or skills in a particular area.
- collaboration: Working together with a common purpose.
